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A Letter from the Headmaster

My Dear Parents and Guardians,

It doesn't seem possible, but the school year is rapidly coming to an end. As I look back over the months since last September, I am pleased to note that it has been a very good year. With graduation only a few weeks away, we shall be sending another class of Falcons into the world. It is nice to be able to report that a number of our 2008 graduates have been accepted at some highly selective schools and have received substantial scholarship awards and financial aid assistance.

The underclassmen have about a month and a half of school before the beginning of summer vacation. Please encourage your sons to put extra effort into guaranteeing a fine finish to the 4th marking period and to their final examinations. These two academic entities can either enhance or compromise their final grades. Some young men seem to believe that school-work and the need to study cease as soon as the warm weather arrives. Such an attitude is unfortunate because it can affect their grade point average and the transcript they will eventually be sending as a part of their college admissions packet.

Summer brings with it a lot of free time that young men have to learn to use to their advantage. I encourage you to have a conversation with your son about his summer plans. Summer is a great time to get some employment experience or to volunteer with a church group or a town-based social agency, to play on a local sports team or make use of the Xavier weight room, which will be open evenings for all students. In addition Xavier will offer a summer program that will include both academic and athletic components for young men from fifth grade and up.

Another recommendation I would make is that you monitor your son's required summer reading. Good students spread the reading throughout the whole summer as opposed to those who try to cram it into the last week before classes resume. Juniors should consider reading a book not required but one they are interested in and will be able to discuss as part of their college admissions interview next fall and winter.

It might seem odd to be writing about planning and thinking through ones summer vacation plans, but the reality is that idle time for a teen-ager can lead to some rather unhealthy behavior. I encourage you to be the kind of parent who knows where his/her son is, whom he is with, what activities are planned, and what time he will arrive home safe and sound. Some adolescents see that kind of parent as an interfering nagger; from my perspective I see just the opposite. Parents have to remember that when you meet your maker you'll have to give an account of your stewardship regarding your children. God wants you first to be a parent, then a friend.

Parenting is at all times a challenging vocation and especially so during the summer. That's the reason I am suggesting this late-spring conversation with your son. Perhaps it will help to make the upcoming months pleasant ones for all members of your family.

Happy summer planning!

Brother William, C.F.X.
Headmaster

PS: Remember to put attending church into that summer vacation discussion. God never takes a holiday!

The Congregation of the Brothers of St. Francis Xavier