THOUGHTS FROM OUR HEAD OF SCHOOL, JOSEPH VORBACH:
We started our week on Sunday this week with a fantastic Open House event for prospective families. This annual element of our fall calendar is very important to us as we try our best to give our visitors the most complete sense of what we have available and how we try to accomplish our mission every day. I'm very grateful for the hard work of all my colleagues, the generous spirit of so many students who volunteered to help out at the event, and the many parents who were either present to assist or who took time on Sunday to drive their child in so they could help out. It was a great event -- we were very encouraged by the turnout and the level of interest expressed.
The week is closing out with an instrumental pops concert tonight (Thursday) and 1/3 of the sophomore class spending the day all around the Northern Virginia area engaged in direct service for those in need. Thinking about both of these events, one is again reminded of the heavy lifting that goes on in the background to make them possible.
During the writing of this blog, I was asked to unlock a door for a parent so they could collect and transport cases of water and snacks down to the auditorium lobby. When we got down to the lobby, our music teachers and students were busy in last minute preparations -- joined by our string playing social studies and computer science teachers who are joining in tonight as well. The lobby was also bustling with the work of Music Booster parents setting up for the evening.
The sophomore retreat, which is actually three different days of 100 students going out into the community with chaperones, is a logistical project that Mr. Fitzpatrick, Dr. Coolidge, Mrs. Rugo and Father Thompson have pulled together. I know it is going to be impactful and I look forward to being part of it.
Last week, an internal communication from Mr. Patton began this way:
"A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for a time of adversity." Proverbs 17:17
Friends, though we have had an awesome start to the school year, many among us have been carrying heavy burdens at home caring for, and supporting, loved ones who are suffering with illness and, in some cases, end of life issues. Please pray for them to have strength in their time of sorrow and for the Lord's protection for their families. Our colleagues who are suffering in this way have shown remarkable strength as they persevere for our students and community with grace and professionalism. Thank you all for your prayers.
Re-reading it today prompted me both to want to share it with all of you and to extend the prayers to our wider community for those suffering and those giving them comfort.