Brick by Brick

Having Fun and Doing Good

That's the formula. Not 'Either/Or' -- but 'Both/And'.

Starting on Sunday, JPII students and staff are set to have a lot of fun with Spirit Week and its various competitions, activities, and themed-days.

Amidst the week of fun is also our chance to do good. Students will compete to raise money for the Haitian Health Foundation, whose founder, Dr. Jeremiah Lowney, will speak at the school on Monday, November 8. The Haitian Health Foundation assists some of the poorest persons in out hemisphere to meet their basic needs. I challenge JPII students to come through huge for the needs of Haiti's vulnerable with a big week of collections. At JPII, having fun and doing good go hand-in-hand. 

Check out the week's HHF activities here.

Gaining Speed and Strength

Its tough to single out one program/activity for special praise at a time when so much at JPII is clicking. But what we're seeing with Lions Cross-Country is all the right stuff and worthy of special note.

Upperclass leadership is being rewarded with an increasingly competitive squad and interscholastic success. Underclass harriers are proving to be competitive and promising of a bright future. Upperclass runners new to the team this year show what high school athletics can be at its best. I love the unity, chemistry, and personal and team success we're seeing this year.

My thanks and congratulations to Head Coach Sollars, Assistant Coach Kachigan, and a team of great Lions for putting together a breakthrough season of which we can all be proud. Catch these Lions if you can before the end of the season. 

Give and Take

Getting ready to serve as Assistant Chairperson visiting Arlington Catholic High School for the school's NEASC (New England Association of Schools and Colleges) accreditation visit. While I'm not eager to be away from JPII for three full school days (esp. my Philosophy students!), the experience will provide a helpful vantage point for the NEASC visit to JPII just two weeks later. This is the right stuff in this busy, NEASC-laden month. Stay tuned!