Dear St. Edmond’s Families,
This Wednesday we invited motivational speaker Mr. David J. Flood to speak to the boys in a school assembly. His message was direct and inspirational, rooted in three challenges: 1) Look on the inside of people, 2) Look two adults in the eyes and thank them, 3) Make sure no one eats alone at lunch. Mr. Flood’s message emphasized the importance of dignity and respect and awareness - these values are crucial to creating an empathetic community. Much thanks to Mrs. Rottura for organizing the program. She and I met again with Mr. Flood Wednesday evening as he spoke to a small group of parents about the challenges of parenting in this day and age. He gave us as parents three questions to consider: 1) How well do you listen? 2) Do we teach our kids to figure it out? 3) Do we let them fail? I am grateful for the faculty and you parents as we continue God’s work of educating our kids.
Starting this Monday, students in grades 4-7 will take their ERBs. The assessments will occur over the next two weeks, and we ask the boys to be on time for school as we adhere to a precise schedule for implementing the tests. Further details and the explicit testing schedule from Mrs. McClellan is available here.
Spring musical practices for The Music Man, Jr. are in full swing as the 41-person cast prepares for the April 8, 9, and 10 performances in the Rollins Center. I am grateful for Ms. DeHart’s amending the starting time to 6:00 p.m. for the Friday, April 8, showing. The school will provide pizza and drinks in the cafeteria that Friday afternoon for the boys in the play who will stay after school in order to prepare for the performance. I hope all our SEA families make an effort to come out and support the cast and crew that weekend; it promises to be a great show.
Last night we had 23 SEA dads on campus in the Anthony N. Fusco, Sr. Great Hall for some NCAA Sweet 16 basketball revelry. I am grateful for all who attended. It was truly nice to watch the games together, to chat and reconnect as we continue to return to a sense of normalcy. The culture here is a genuine one, and you parents, of course, are key to making that happen. Big shout-outs to Mr. Brian Johns ‘88 for the technology (we watched two different games concurrently) and to Mr. T.J. Voell ‘85 for the pizza and sandwiches (and chips and cookies and Philly pretzels). Alas, the Jesuit school lost (Gonzaga) but the Augustinian school won (Villanova) last night; regardless, my bracket is cooked. I will endure much shaming in the Jordan household as a result.
This Sunday we celebrate the 4th Sunday of Lent. Richard Rohr’s focus this week in his daily meditations has been on the Apostle Paul, the mystic who embodied Christ’s suffering and struggle as he preached the word, a journey that ultimately leads to love. Rohr asserts “as the primary fruit of a Spirit-filled life, love is about more than our relationships with individuals. For Paul, it had (for want of a better word) a social meaning as well.” Our work with and for one another is the essence of the Holy Cross mission; it invites us to create new ways of seeing and being. Sunday’s second reading from Cornithinians captures this transformation:
Whoever is in Christ is a new creation:
The old things have passed away;
Behold, new things have come.
Enjoy your weekend as spring continues to unfold.
In faith,
John
