Dear St. George Families,

     Often community can be described as an extended family, or a circle of love.  Many years ago, I heard Parker Palmer speak at Seattle University and he challenged this notion of a circle.  Circle implies "closed - no beginning or ending."  If I want to join this circle, where can I gain access?  Instead, the noted spiritual author shared with us the image of the mobius strip.  If one places a finger anywhere on the mobius strip, and traces it around, one moves from facing the inside to gradually facing outside.  Then, as one moves, again, we work from an inside perspective to the outer view.

     I think of this image and am constantly challenged by this.  What do we do at St. George School that allows and encourages all necessary points of view while strengthening our community?

    Service - not just for the sake of helping ourselves feel better, but rather to help us be grateful, and possibly live more simply.  This includes all service projects and our environmental efforts.  We take care of God's sacred creation.

    Parent Involvement - we are not a school that closes its doors to parent energy.  In fact, we rely on it.  We simply cannot provide a St. George education without the support of our parents.  Yes, the financial energy is oh-so necessary, however the sweat equity keeps us mission focused.  As the teacher, it means trying to ferret out and affirm the talents and gifts that my unique group of parents can provide for the class this year.  As a parent, being willing to step up and share time and valued skills with the school community knowing that my involvement strengthens the foundation of what St. George can offer.

    Gospel Message - bottom line, this is who we are and what we are about.   We are a Catholic school and as the saying goes, "Be it known to all who enter here that JESUS is the reason for this school.  He is the unseen yet ever present teacher in its classes.  He is the model of its faculty and the inspiration of its students."

     We sit in the state capital, and we look out on a world that needs our love. This is our time to give, this is our time to serve.  As we carry the baton forward and ready ourselves to hand it off to our children for the next lap, we model for them what it means to train well, to pace ourselves, and to go the distance.  St. George School exists to help us all be the person God calls each of us to be.  It is a mighty tall order, but one that we accomplish each day with every act of forgiveness and loving kindness.  We stand as if in a mobius strip, hands clasped, nurtured by our faith, and then we are moved to stand with our arms outstretched.  In so doing, we discover and uncover the Kingdom of God in ourselves and in others.  I keep each of you in my prayers as we journey together this year. 

St. George, pray for us!

Jack Nelson