Falcon's Quill
Issue 23
12-February-19
Principal's Corner
Dear Parents,

Aristotle - “ Happiness is the meaning and purpose of life, the whole aim and end of human existence.”

The Four Levels of Happiness at HFCS
The essence of the Four Levels of Happiness is based on timeless principles going back to Aristotle who said that happiness is the one thing we desire in and of itself, everything else is desired for the sake of happiness.
 
Based on his study of the great philosophers and theologians over the years, Fr. Spitzer refined this model of the Four Level of Happiness. We can see that the level that is dominant in our lives will dictate our actions, choices, and ethics . We cannot understand ethics without understanding happiness. Furthermore, whichever level of happiness dominates our lives will determine the depth and endurance of our happiness. At HFCS our goal is to live and motivate our students to make level 3 our dominate level.

Happiness Levels 1-4
Level 1 represents my fundamental drivers in life such as physical pleasure, immediate gratification, and excitement. This may be manifested in seeking my favorite food, new clothes, or a nice car. The “happiness” that results from this satisfaction, however, is typically short lived, shallow, and impacts no one else except me. Level 1 is not inherently bad, we all need to satisfy those basic pleasures like food and drink, but if we get stuck in level 1 our lives become a roller coaster constantly seeking to satisfy our next desire. After the food is consumed it isn’t long before I am hungry again.
 
Level 2 is most evident in the need to satisfy my ego. The universe exists to serve me. I need to be constantly achieving and winning in my life, for example, being recognized at work, getting that next promotion, or making sure my project has top priority. In order for me to win, though, others must lose. I must keep my comparative advantage over others. My focus is on power and control. Like level 1, level 2 is not all bad. We all need to achieve in order to gain self-confidence, and credibility, but if my life gets stuck in level 2 as my dominant source of happiness, I will be constantly obsessed with seeking that next win, and paranoid that others are trying to keep me from it. This happiness is also not very pervasive, enduring or deep.
 
Level 3 is also somewhat about ego, but unlike level 2 it is turned outward. My skills and talents are aimed at serving others. It is still about winning, but it’s now more about achieving Win-Win results rather than Win-Lose. My desire is in seeking that meaning and purpose in my life. I want to make an optimal positive difference in the world. My happiness is now growing in its pervasiveness because it impacts other people.  It is also lasts much longer and is deeper.
 
Level 4 is what I ultimately seek in life. I fundamentally desire ultimate or perfect truth, beauty, love, goodness, and being. But I have to recognize that this ultimate goal is not found strictly in the material elements of the world, it is found in transcendence, what people of faith look for in God. Even if someone doesn’t subscribe to a specific religious faith, they still have the a fundamental yearning for perfect truth, beauty, love, goodness, and being. This happiness is the most pervasive, enduring, and deep.

IHM is offering this training. See the flyer HERE.

It is that time of year when we start planning for the next school year. If you are interested in enrolling any siblings of students who are currently attending Holy Family, please let us know ASAP by clicking HERE, or calling the office at 242-6168.
Missoula Children's Theater returns to Holy Family
Come one, come all! The Missoula Children's Theater has partnered with HFCS to perform Gulliver's Travels! There will be two shows on March 2nd, one at 2pm and one at 6pm.

Click HERE to buy tickets online paying with your PayPal account, or to pay with cash or check, click HERE and return this document with your form of payment to the school. You may also buy tickets at the door! We hope to see you there supporting HFCS students!

Auditions for students in grades K-8 will be held on Monday, February 25th, after school in the gym. You may access the permission slip HERE. Permission slips are due 2/15 in order for students to audition on 2/25.
Registration NOW open
All girls in 3rd through 8th grade are invited to come join us as we have fun learning and growing together. We will learn to honor our fabulously unique selves, our voices, our physical abilities and our gifts. In doing so we will activate our individual power!

Paper registration forms can be picked up at the front desk. Registration information will be sent home after online registration closes on Sunday, February 10th. Registration fee is $55.00 (scholarships are readily available).
 
GOTR begins the week of February 19th, and will be on Tuesdays and Thursdays (after school) from 3-4:45 pm.
trumpet_header.jpg
Congratulations to the following students for representing HFCS at the Colorado West Solo and Ensemble Festival on Friday, February 8th.

Michael Pierce (Percussion)
William Neese (Tenor Sax)
Kylee Mull (Bass Clarinet)
CJ Mullaney (Alto Sax)
Jack Kaul (Alto Sax)
Wednesday & Thursday
(4/24-4/25) at
Stocker Stadium
8am-2:30pm

  • Wednesday, 4/24, for grades 5-8

  • Thursday, 4/25, for grades 2-4
Middle school students and their parents are invited to a meeting about the Washington, D.C. and New York Trip happening in 2020.

Click HERE for more information.