September/October 2020

9/10/2020

Welcome back! We begin the year opening under unusual circumstances but are ready to face the challenges of our day. Who would have thought we would be facing the challenges presented by the pandemic? When we ended classes a few days before our Easter break back in March, we all presumed school would be back in session by mid-April. The faculty and staff of St. Francis immediately accepted the challenge of online virtual learning under the direction of Mr. Braunscheidel and Dr. Stahl, along with Department Heads. Our young men were able to complete the year and, in many cases, excelled.

Many activities that had been planned were either cancelled or moved to the virtual mode through computer access. We were able to celebrate with the senior class of 2020 with a special celebration on Polian Family Field and actually had a graduation ceremony in July at Our Lady of Victory Basilica. We met the needs of our young men during the time away from school and began to formulate our plans for the coming year during the summer, changing on a daily basis based on the information and guidance we received from the State. We published our School Re-Opening Plan which will guide us as we re-open. Changes will continue to be made moving forward making sure the safety and welfare of our young men is our primary concern.

As we begin the new school year we are aware of the social unrest that pervades our area and our country. We understand the challenges of our times and the need to address those difficulties through discussion and education. As a Franciscan school we have tried to instill in our young men the idea of brotherhood, that we are brothers united with one another, and with the understanding that each person is created in the image and likeness of God. Please pray with me each day the peace prayer:

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace;

Where there is hatred, let me sow love;

Where there is injury, pardon;

Where there is doubt, faith;

Where there is despair, hope;

Where there is darkness, light;

And where there is sadness, joy.

O Divine Master,

Grant that I may not so much seek

To be consoled, as to console;

To be understood, as to understand;

To be loved, as to love.