Academy Newletter 4/25/09

I write this letter after attending a joyous event—the wedding ceremony of our Academy Athletic Director, Nick Butler, and Janet Landry.  I know you join me in wishing Nick and Janet all the best as they begin their life together.   Nick will be out of the office until Tuesday, May 5 so please direct any athletics related questions directly to your son’s coach or to Kris Fritsch or me. 

 

Last evening was one of my favorite events of the year—“Father (Uncle, Grandfather, etc)/Son Game Night.”  Everyone had a great time playing board games, card games, and, of course, that SJJ favorite, Battleball.  It was a close match, but the “Fathers” ultimately prevailed defeating the sons two games to one.  IN fact, we had such a good time that we’re going to see if we can squeeze another “Father/Son Campout” into the schedule in May. 

 

Thanks to Jim and Lisa Zoltowski, parents of Zach, for helping to arrange a great service project yesterday.  Twelve Academy students did spring yard clean-up at the Sylvania Post of the American Legion.  The boys enjoyed a beautiful and were treated to brats for lunch thanks to the kindness of the Legion. 

 

Also yesterday, Sean Wheelock, Harry Thaman, and Amir Horani represented the Academy at the Lucas County Commissioners’ “Youth Sustainability Summit” at the main branch of the Toledo-Lucas County Library.  David Mann from the Commissioners’ office told me he was very expressed with the boys’ knowledge, experience, and ideas.  

 

Five teams of Academy students participated in the Knowledge Master Open Spring Challenge last week.  This is an online computer that students from all fifty states participate in.  700 teams nationwide competed, including 34 in Ohio.  Our leading team composed of Harry Thaman, Dominic Scarlett, Amir Horani, Sean Wheelock, and Dominic Zirbel finished second in the state and fifty-eighth in the nation—an outstanding accomplishment!!

 

Eighth grade students continue to work on their year-end project/exhibition.  I am attaching the directions that were originally given to the boys so you can check on your son’s progress.

 

Friday, May 1 and Monday, May 4 the 7^th grade students will work on a project with their junior Big Brothers—building bottle rockets out of two-liter pop bottles.  Save your empty two liter bottles for us and we’ll make them into rockets and have a contest to see whose rocket stays airborne the longest.  It should be a blast(off)!

 

We need pictures!  As you attend various Academy events, sporting and otherwise, please consider e-mailing me any pictures you take.  We are always looking for pictures to add to the website or use for promotional materials.  Any photos you can pass along are greatly appreciated!

 

Finally, after opening with good news, I close with some sad news as the Academy lost a good friend last week when Jeff Fretti, SJJ class of ’79, passed away while vacationing with his sons.  Jeff, with his good friends and classmates, Michael Perriatt and Andy Anderzack, helped start the Academy basketball program and coached a team for three years.  He loved working with the Academy boys and was looking forward to returning to coach next year, but, sadly, that won’t happen.  Our sympathy and prayers go out to Jeff’s family and many friends.