Dear Parishioners,
Summer vacation is a great time for parents and school children alike. There is plenty of time to do fun things and experience life at a slower pace. Although the children have not been present for the past seven weeks, there has still been plenty of activity occurring at the school. The school is never on vacation!
The bathrooms are undergoing a face-lift, and the science classroom is being remodeled. We are installing handicap accessible stalls, new partitions and fixtures, resurfacing the walls and ceilings, and painting the bathrooms. The science classroom walls and ceilings are being resurfaced and painted also. New lighting, desks, and cabinets are also being installed in this classroom. I am most appreciative of the work of Bryan Birmingham, Peter Zepponi, Paul Eggert, David Major, Lynne Dowdy, Bill Kelly, Bryn Brugioni and Sean Ferry. These wonderful people are to the forefront in overseeing the completion of the project. I also wish to extend my deepest gratitude to St. Brendan’s Mothers’ Club, St. Brendan’s Men’s Club, the School Advisory Board’s building committee, and the parishioners of this wonderful parish who so generously provided the funding (through the auction and annual fund campaigns) for the projects.
Mrs. Donovan, Mrs. McHugh, Ms. Proehl, Mrs. Dowdy and I spent three days this past week at a conference in Watsonville entitled Education in a Changing World-Transforming the Classroom. The face of education as we know it is rapidly changing. We got to learn about powerful technology tools, heard first–hand from the pioneers of the tablet movement, explored new trends in education and developed professional relationships with over 400 other educators from around the nation. We are now exploring ways to implement some of the ideas into our school’s program.
Some of the teachers will be attending a religion workshop day entitled “Love for Wisdom and Passion For Faith” next Friday. They will be attending workshops in the areas of pedagogy, spirituality, morality, social justice, prayer and Christology. All teachers of religion maintain their Catechetical Certification by attending courses every three years in each of the afore mentioned areas.
In addition to attending professional development courses, and reviewing/revising their curricula, teachers are busy getting their classrooms ready for the students. As principal, it is exciting to watch the teachers go about their preparations for the new school year. There is an air of anticipation and excitement.
Meanwhile, as school personnel continue to prepare for the start of the school year, I hope that the students and their parents, and you continue to enjoy these relaxing and rejuvenating summer days.
Blessings,
Carol Grewal
Principal
