As you may know, the Returning Thanks breakfast kicks off our annual fund which helps sustain the school’s operations such as awarding teachers raises, keeping tuition below cost for all children and providing financial aid for families who need it.

This year’s Returning Thanks breakfast was held on Tuesday the 18th of November and I’m very pleased to say that the generosity of our community is both inspirational and heartwarming. The community has already exceeded last year’s totals and the number is climbing.

As the advancement team and I were opening the envelopes and tallying the contributions, we came across a small envelope with a child’s name on the front and her little hand print traced in crayon across the sealed flap on the back. When we opened it, we found a one dollar bill neatly folded inside.

A short while later, by chance (actually grace), we cross paths with the child’s mother and asked how her little four-year-old came up with the idea of contributing to the annual fund. Her mother said that as she was busily preparing to go to the Returning Thanks breakfast that morning, her daughter asked, “What are you doing, Mama?”

She explained that she was going to a fund-raising breakfast where she would support the school by making a financial contribution. “What does financial contribution mean, Mama?” the little girl asked. “It means helping the school run by giving money.”

“I’ve got money, Mama,” the four-year-old responded, and she ran to her piggy bank, opened it up and pulled out a dollar bill. Running back to her mother, she said, “Here Mama, give this for me.”

Her mother undoubtedly smiled and took the time to make a learning experience out the moment, putting the dollar into an envelope and inviting her child to put her name and hand print on it. Her mother gave it to the table captain when the envelopes were collected that morning.

There are some things, you just don’t forget. This would be one of them.

Just as the woman in the Gospel who gave out of her need, sometimes the smallest gift can be the largest. As we build this school together, based upon teaching children servant-leadership, I see the whole community coming together to model such servant-leadership by creating a “culture of giving” where each member supports the school in the manner and amount they are able, not out of obligation but out of gratitude and love.

We are well on our way.

Welcome to the Saint Patrick Catholic School Chapel Reflections podcast. The Advent season is upon us and principal Steve Hammond shares his thoughts about preparing for the coming of Jesus Christ.

A while ago, in a Wednesday chapel, I was telling the children about the human race and how to win it. And I said that the human race had a lot of people in it. In fact, a whole world full of people.  But, unlike most races that have only one winner, the human race was a race that everyone could win. And you win it by treating others with compassion and kindness.

Some months passed and I had pretty much forgotten the chapel when a bright little first grader stopped me in the front lobby and asked me if I remembered the talk on the human race. And I said, “Yes, I did.”

With all sincerity, he looked at me and said, “Mr. Hammond, I think I can win it.  I think I can win the human race.”

That is what we are all about at Saint Patrick Catholic School.  Teaching kids how to win the human race.  Teaching them to use their gifts in building up each other in the ways they are able.  In supporting and nurturing…. the human race.  It looks like they are out of the blocks very well. 

Welcome to the Saint Patrick Catholic School chapel reflections podcast. Brought to you by principal Steve Hammond, this week’s reflection includes details about the history behind the Halloween holiday, connections with the Mexican tradition of Dia de los Muertos or ‘day of the dead’, and the idea that we are all in communion with the saints and can ask them to pray for us.

Well, come Sunday, a committee representing the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools and the Southern Association of Independent Schools will start a three day visit at Saint Patrick Catholic School.  The board, faculty and staff have prepared all last year and this August sent the committee an 80 plus page self study document which addresses the many standards these two organizations require of its member schools.  We are ready and look with excitement to the committee’s arrival.

The committee itself is a remarkable group of professionals.  Dr. Edward Krenson is chairing the committee. Dr. Krenson serves at the Executive Vice President of all private school accreditation for the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. It is rare that Dr. Krenson chairs committees anymore, but he wanted to for our school.  We are thrilled that the Superintendent for the Diocese of Richmond, Mrs. Francine Conway, is on the committee and, among other things, will give a special oversight to the spiritual formation program.  Dr. Jerry Beckman, a former Catholic school principal and current director of studies of The Randolf School in Huntsville, Alabama, will bring expertise in both Catholic and independent schools to the table.  Dr. Peter Bender, head of the upper school at Walsingham Academy, represents a school with a governance structure like Saint Patrick Catholic School.  A visionary educational leader, Dr. Bender understands both the opportunities and challenges of being a private, Catholic school.  Dr. Jon Frere has enjoyed a spectacular career as an independent school headmaster, most recently at The Webb School in Bell Buckle, a lovely area near Nashville, Tennessee.  Dr. Frere is now retired and consulting for private school education, in strategic planning, sports management, parent relationships and school administration.

We are honored to have such an experienced and wise team assisting us. Over three days, the committee will meet with students, parents, teachers, staff, board and administration in verifying standards and listening to the hopes and dreams the community has for children and education.  We will discuss with them our strategic plans and our methods for continuous improvement.

It is a remarkable and exciting time for Saint Patrick Catholic School. I mentioned to our staff last week that there was nothing to worry about in this accreditation visit.  We have been preparing for this moment since we opened the school’s doors.  Creating a faith-filled, dynamic and positive learning environment.  Developing a highly differentiated instructional program for children’s total formation.  Transparently solving challenges one at a time.  Ensuring our school is a place where all are welcomed and where Jesus is made present each day in the manner in which people treat one another.

Yep, we have nothing to worry about.  All we must do now is to just be who we are.  Still, it wouldn’t hurt to say a little prayer.

Love and prayers,
Steve

Six weeks into school. Routines are grooved. Expectations are established. There is a comfort level in the community that feels good. The school family knows much better who it is inside the mission. A non-coercive school learning environment based on total formation of each child through guided reflection in close collaboration between home and school.

Our graduated 8th graders (now 9thgraders!) have been visiting the school. It is such a joy to see them! One by one or in small groups – they are dropping by…just to say “hi.” Their visits are perhaps the best expression of gratitude we could receive as teachers. You know, they grow up so fast. Only a few months and they’ve changed so much. They are more “grown up.” They approach others…more confidently, more wisely. It is wonderful to see.

We’ll have a cookout for them soon. Throw some burgers on the grill. We can’t wait to hear what they are doing and how they are doing. We are just so proud of them we can hardly stand it.

With their parents, in the tender time between childhood and adolescence - this school has provided them a clear signal that they are ultimately responsible for their own destiny; that excuses, whether true or not, do no good; that a balanced, faith filled life, leading to the service of others, will guide them steadily to happiness and productivity.

And then I look at these little ones. Oh, my gosh. They have such a beauty about them. Just looking at them, you don’t whether to laugh out loud or to just cry for their sheer beauty and innocence. Made in God’s image to be sure. We’ll have a decade with some of these little ones and I don’t doubt for a moment that they will grow into strong, faith-filled, compassionate leaders who will make a difference in the world.

It really does take a village, doesn’t it? A community, working closely together, speaking with one voice in the most important mission in the world…assisting children to reach their highest destiny.

Now, that’ll get you up in the morning!

Principal Steve Hammond shares a special song as he reflects upon parenting and ‘letting go’ as our children grow older.

My office is next to Nurse Wohner’s clinic, so I get to see a fairly steady stream of children who make their way to see her. Besides being a professional of exceptional competence, Karen is kid magnet. They flock to her. She treats their hurts and scrapes, takes their temperature, gives them ginger ale for upset stomachs, and in her wonderful tone, reassures them, that: “Every little thing’s gonna be alright.” It’s priceless to watch.

The transition to school always brings a few challenges…new routines, getting up earlier, new studies and relationships. In the first few weeks of school, Nurse Wohner sees a goodly share of youngsters who just need a little reassurance more than anything else. She is just the right medicine.

Often, in passing through the clinic, I’ll enjoy the opportunity of chatting with a student and join Nurse Wohner in providing a soothing word or two. In one instance recently, it didn’t take much encouragement for a student to provide me with an amazing amount of his genealogy. He is mid grammar school and he could trace back to his great, great grandparents! One grandparent hailed from Nicaragua to which I replied, “All the way down to South America, hey, little man?”

Very thoughtfully he replied, “Well, actually Mr. Hammond, Nicaragua is in Central America. You know … that strip of land between North America and South America?”

Out of the mouth of babes.

Saint Patrick Catholic School is excited to launch its Chapel Reflections Podcast project! In our first broadcast, principal Steve Hammond talks with the school community about the JOY principle and the power of forgiveness.

A great launch to the school year. The wind is in the sails and the ship is moving out of the harbor.

There is already “that” rhythm through the school coming from understood routines and expectations. And then there’s “that” wonderful sound of productive “buzzing” from students working busily on task. The classrooms are alive. The teachers have worked hard getting their classrooms in spectacular shape. Organized and welcoming.

The entire school community came together for Chapel on Wednesday. That was sure a lively time! Well, nearing the end of the Chapel, the whole school started singing, “I’ve got that Joy, Joy, Joy down deep in my Heart” and one of the kindergarten students (first time at a Chapel) sang out so loud and with such passion that he really gave the school a virtual solo performance! Everybody was so taken with him that the whole room just burst out in applause when he finished.

Friday finished with a lot of happy faces. It is clear that everyone was a bit tired by the end of the day for working brain muscles that might not have been exercised so vigorously in a while. You could sure see it in Kindergarten nap time. Not a peep to be heard. I suspect there’s a lot more folks looking at nap time with more than a little envy.

Well, we definitely have that joy, joy, joy down in our hearts. This is going to be a great school year.

And Labor Day weekend comes at a perfect time. I think I hear the beach calling. See you on Tuesday.