Page 3 - Priorities #14 2000-September

From the Headmaster
Dear Parents, guardians, Aalumni and friends,
s is the tradition, we celebrated our first two weeks of classes this year with a field day that
student body officers planned. The
entire school had lunch under the oak
tree in the playing field and then
organized by class for a series of competitions and events — spirit yell, tug of war, obstacle course, relay races, jump pit, the joust and (new this year) sumo wrestling.
Studentsandstaff lovethisday,andthe surrounding hills echo with boisterous Priory spirit. The shared experience helps build a stronger Priory community. All classes intermingle and people get to know each other in a different light. The “united” feeling at the end is magical.
We are introducing a new kind of magic to unite the larger school community, thanks to Internet technology and the creativity of an alumnus, Bob Kamangar, Class of 1984. I am excited about our new WPS Online Community, a fast and practical way to give each of you access to our terrific collective resources.
Here are some of its services. To try them out, go to www.woodsidepriory.com and click on Online Community. You will need your Community ID number, which is on the mailing label of this magazine. The ID number assures that only WPS community members have access to the site.
Directory: Forty-three years of parents, students, faculty and friends are included. You can search by first name, last name, graduation year or decade, colleges attended, location, or industry.
So, if you are in college and considering a particular graduate school, you can access other WPS grads who are there or recently graduated. If you are relocating, you can ask the community for advice about schools and housing. If you’re looking for a job or have one to fill - search our directory by industry.
With WPS Online, you know you have something in common with the people who respond.
Chat: This is a great place for a group to meet and confer. Studentscandiscussahomeworkproblem.
Grads can hold a mini-reunion, or organize a time to meet over the holidays. It’s also okay just to drop in.
Events: You can register online and R.S.V.P. forseveralschoolevents,including alumni reunions.
Profiles and My Profile: This is your personal web page. You can post your resume, put pictures of a new baby, a
description of a home you want to sell...it’s up to you. My Profile is your workspace to design this page. You will have a personal address.
Mentoring: If you have career knowledge and are willing to share it, become a mentor! Career contacts, advice and support are important resources alumni traditionally offer each other. We have a considerable talent pool in our alumni and alumni parents.
To become a mentor, go to the site and click on the “mentor” button. Select “become a mentor” and fill in the registration form. You will have complete control over the level of service you offer. You can keep your name confidential to users, if you wish.
Gifts to the school: Credit card donations can now be made on-line using the VeriSign Secure Site.
Bob’s company, Golden Parachute, markets this online application to the larger, well-known universities and businesses. When he asked if we would like to be a “test site,” we knew it was for us.
Good tools are in the Benedictine tradition. Consider the medieval monks who saved human knowledge through the Dark Ages. Their handmade pens and brushes were the desktop publishing systems of their day. Our goal is to share our community’s knowledge, and with this new tool I think we’ve found an effective way.
All of us at the Priory are thankful daily for the many personal gifts you share with us. This is an especially important message in this Annual Report issue, when we recognize by name our many supporters. Your interest and support, in a variety of ways, allow us to carry on the important mission of Benedictine education.
Sincerely,
Tim Molak Headmaster
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I am excited about WPS Online Community, a fast and practical way to share our terrific collective resources. You will need your Community ID number, which is on the mailing label of this magazine.