Page 3 - Priorities #12 2000-April

From the Headmaster
DMe a r P r i o r y C o m m u n i t y ,
arch is a special month at the
Priory - the beginning of
spring, looking to graduation
ahead, and another academic year soon
to come. We celebrate the Feast of Saint
Benedict (March 21). Students organize a
week of activities, March Madness, that
brings everyone out in the sunshine (we
hope) on Red Square. Our admissions office sends out the acceptances for the fall and Priory students begin the course selection process for the next year.
This month, we completed the last step in our year-long self-study for the Western Association of Schools and Colleges. A visiting team of educators, volunteers from other private, Catholic schools, evaluated our report and from March 6-9 visited the campus to observe us and prepare their accreditation report. We have the report and in June will know WASC’s decision on our accreditation.
The process was a very positive experience for the school community. I thank all the students, parents, faculty and staff who participated. I especially commend Brother Edward for his leadership.
The report includes a number of commendations and recommendations, based on our self-study and the committee’s observations. Among the commendations:
• the Benedictine Community for their visible support of the spiritual growth of the faculty and students;
• the administration and faculty for providing flexible programs that address a variety of student needs and interests;
• the students for their openness to and participation in communication among all age groups, fostering positive relationships within the student population; and
• the entire school community for its commitment to both the Catholic and Benedictine identity, which supports the school’s mission.
Among the recommendations:
• tie student learning goals expressed in the school’s philosophy to the performance objectives in the subject areas;
• modernize the library content;
• consider new and alternate models of faculty compensation, including faculty housing;
• Increase interaction between dorm and day students as a way to increase cross-cultural interaction (a goal of the school).
It gives us a great sense of achievement that the visiting team confirmed the many positive choices our students have in their curricular
plan. Countless hours of inspiration and preparation are behind those choices. They lead students to discover areas of particular interest or passion, then deepen their abilities and knowledge.
The committee especially commended the faculty for “their success in building a rigorous, dynamic program that leads to effective, in-depth student learning.” This program is the hallmark of our Benedictine educational mission. Students benefit in many tangible and intangible ways from their exposure to the monks, our contemplative campus, our diverse and integrated experiences, and our committed faculty/staff.
The theme of this month’s magazine is “The new millinneum - a time to achieve.” It is our intent to celebrate not awards but instead the joy of the possible. That is Tony Melendez’s message on page 22-23. Our students continue to discover about themselves that
much is possible - and they
pursue their possibilities.
Hopefully, for everyone, this
process is the Benedictine
experience of work and prayer -
St. Benedict’s motto and the
motto on which our school life is
based.
Sincerely,
Tim Molak
Headmaster
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The committee especially commended the faculty for “their success in building a rigorous, dynamic program that leads to effective, in-depth student learning.”
All the teaching monks as well as many faculty, parents and Trustees, welcomed the visiting committee from the Western Association of Schools and Colleges at a Sunday evening reception. Brother Edward Englund (left) headed the WASC accreditation study.