Page 3 - Priorities #63- Winter 2016

As I write this letter, Portola Valley has been as cold as I can remember. Frost on the front soccer fields and the roofs of our buildings makes me feel like I am back in Nebraska.
This time of year is so special in a number of ways for us. Our two Open Houses set a record for attendees, our Thanksgiving student chapel allowed us to reflect on thankfulness and the blessings bestowed on each of us, Advent Vespers inspired us with its music and message—Peace on Earth— and our new statue of Saint Benedict reminds us to live a life of Ora et Labora that provides balance in our daily schedule.
This April, a group of Priory faculty and staff will be attending the International Benedictine Col- loquium in Rome. They will be joined by representatives from the other 22 Benedictine schools in the United States and all over the world. The Priory has attended these events for the past 20 years. The last one was in Manila, and we once again look forward to sharing ideas, work and prayer with our OSB colleagues.
This issue of Priorities contains a bit of the past and a bit of the future:
• It was 40 years ago that Father Pius assisted in bringing the monks of Saint Anselm College to the Priory—Father Martin among that first group—thus creating an American/Hungarian alliance which has deepened the richness of our heritage.
• It was 25 years ago that our first group of girls came to the Priory. They were true pioneers in every sense and their presence then and now is priceless.
• In September we hosted our annual alumni reunion, and at the reception Friday night, we hon- ored Father Pius for his decades of service in teaching hundreds of Priory students German and Latin.
• Our Board Building and Grounds committee is in the final design and planning stages for our new two story STREAM (Science, Technology, Robotics, Engineering, Art, Math) building which will be on the site of our current Fine Arts Studio. New construction will increase the size of that facility from 3500 square feet to over 12,000. It will contain 3 labs, a Robotics space, 4 art classrooms, a digital lab and a generous amount of open space and majestic views. Construction is to begin this summer with completion in August 2017.
• We put the spotlight on three of our current students—Monica Mallon; who is a candidate for County Supervisor; Brooks Royals, our latest Eagle Scout; and Candy Yin, our fantastic pianist who held a concert in China for over 500 people. Their talents are reflective of many more students who are sharing their passions with “a world in need of their gifts.”
Finally, we have the honor of having two Hungarian artists, father and son, Peter and Paul, working on our campus, creating and painting wall murals in the Middle School breezeway, the Upper School breezeway, and inside the Rothrock Performance Hall. They have works all over Europe and the United States. Father Maurus made initial contact with them and we are very excited about the completion of their unique works.
Our 60th anniversary is in 2017-2018, so these murals will be the first step in that community-wide celebration.
Happy New Year from all of us.
Tim Molak Head of School
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HEAD OF SCHOOL