Peaceful Footsteps, Great Memories

The first day, Opening Day, was beautiful; the first week, though not quite over, amazing.

Our peer mediators have been busy training this week. The Academy has such a peaceful atmosphere, such a respectful student community. This is due, I think, in no small measure because we work hard on hearing and respecting each other. When tensions do arise, as they do in any family, we have a trained group of peer mediators to help manage the conflicts. The mediators received three days of intensive training this week- we take this oh so seriously.

We prayed around the theme of footsteps on Opening Day, and came back to the theme each morning this week. The marble stairs of our 1926 building are worn down from generations of footsteps. We thought about the students here for generations before us, and about those still to come. We intend to walk gently and purposefully this year, peacefully and carefully. Friday held a first meeting with teachers, a picnic in the gym [we were rained out of the backyard...], and lots of screams and hugs and laughter as old friends rediscovered each other in the hallways.

As I write this after school the noise level is increasing - we have a jv and a varsity volleyball game in the gym tonight. Meanwhile the tennis team is on the road, and our cross country team is out running, running, running...footsteps through Rogers Park and back again. The journalism students are packing up from a day of supervising Picture Day[I looked like that back then!?!?!] while the student council is preparing welcome gifts for the freshies as they finish their first full week here. School may be out - the day goes on and on.

We remembered St. Gregory the Great today. He told our story....the story of Benedict and Scholastica. We will create our own stories during this year....and some will be told here.

An exhausting, exhilarating first week for all of us....and, yes, everyone already has homework!