It was great to see many of you at Academy Parent Night. For those of you who were unable to attend we are mailing a packet of information home to you. Please call if you have any questions regarding any of the forms or notes.
The boys have a three-day weekend while we spend Monday participating in the “Ignatian Educators Conference” held right here at SJJ. We will join with the staffs of the other four Jesuit high schools in the Detroit province. School attending will be St. Ignatius from Cleveland, Walsh Jesuit from Stow, Ohio, University of Detroit Jesuit High School and Academy from Detroit, and Loyola High School from Detroit. I’m sure it will be an interesting and enriching day for us all.
On Wednesday and Thursday the 7th grade students will meet their Junior “Big Brothers” for the first time and enjoy a pizza lunch with them. I met with the Big Brothers on Friday to go over our expectations and hopes for the program for the year and they are looking forward to meeting the 7th grade boys.
Also on Wednesday, our T.E.A.M. (Titans Exploring and Achieving More) program will continue with a presentation for the staff at BCSN, the local cable station that focuses on covering high school sports. They will demonstrate how they cover events, discuss all the work and responsibilities, and invite the boys to participate. SJJ Broadcasting instructor Tom Cole, who also works for BCSN, will be the main presenter.
We still have space left for students with or without their dad/grandfather/uncle/cousin/brother, etc. to join us at the Academy Campout on Friday night at the Beaver Creek Preserve. You’re welcome to spend the night or just come for the evening. Call Mrs. Fritsch at extension 342 to make a reservation.
By now all students should be checking Powerschool and their individual e-mail accounts on a regular basis. If you are having trouble accessing Powerschool or e-mail please let us know right away.
A reminder that our first after school movie will be next Monday from 3:15-5:30 p.m. in the theater. Pizza and pop will be provided. I’ll include the title in next weekend’s e-mail in case you have any concerns about the selection. We try to select movies with a positive message for boys that helps develop and affirm the values and qualities we believe in at SJJA.
This week we are joining with the high school and having a mission collection to support “Give to Grow,” an organization started by Beatrice Thaman, younger sister of 8th grade student Harry, that collects vitamins for the children of Guatemala who battle malnutrition. Any student who brings in a bottle of vitamins, preferably a large bottle of a multivitamin, who be given a dress down pass for a day the following week. The work of “Give to Grow” is vital and life changing and I can attest to the power of good nutrition for the children of Guatemala. For the past four summers I have had the opportunity to travel to Guatemala City with groups of SJJ high school students. We spend a significant amount of time at a pre-school and an elementary student. The students as these schools started receiving breakfast and daily vitamins over a year ago and the change in them that I witnessed in June was remarkable. Please support the collection and help “Give to Grow” continue to make a difference in the lives of the children of Guatemala.
A few calendar notes to help you plan ahead: Thursday, October 2 the 8th grade will visit St, Francis De Sales High School in the afternoon and on Friday, October 3 the students will visit Cardinal Stritch in the morning and Central Catholic in the afternoon; Saturday, October 11 is Father/Son Game Night (uncles, cousins, grandfathers, etc are welcome to attend); Saturday, October 18 is a 7th and 8th grade Fun Night—parent chaperones are needed—call Mrs. Fritsch to volunteer).
Looking even further ahead: Lego Robotics Saturday, December 6
Power of the Pen Saturday, January 31
MathCounts Saturday, February 7
Enjoy the long weekend—best wishes to all of our teams and students competing this weekend.
