Page 3 - Priorities #35 2006-October

Peace,
Tim Molak
Head of School
3
From the Head of School
Construction seems to bring
new surprises every day, and it is exciting to see our Trinity Project plans come to fruition after seven years
of preparation. While the noise and rerouted traffic and limited parking are a temporary distraction, they are also uplifting to all who have worked for this year to come. Science teacher Paul Trudelle, who lives on the campus,
summed it up nicely during the teachers’ first week of school. “Wow! I’ve never seen this place so alive!” he exclaimed.
Seven years ago, while the board of trustees was developing the concept of the Golden Jubilee Campaign and new master plan, I spent a lot of time walking
the campus and thinking about its future. Often, the founding monks came to mind, and their courage in founding this school was a strong factor in my desire
to see the school well prepared for the next fifty years. Nothing could bring more pleasure now than the opportunity to celebrate their amazing tenacity and accomplishments at our Founders Day celebration anniversary on Nov. 11. While our official 50th anniversary of the opening of the school is in fall 2007, this year we commemorate the first Mass celebrated by Father Egon on the newly purchased Priory land and to honor Father on his 90th birthday.
“Being Benedictine” is the theme that our trustees, faculty and staff are observing throughout this school year. It is so appropriate for us to spend this year reflecting on the meaning and significance of what it means to be a Benedictine school in the 21st century. At the first Parent Association meeting, I gave a short presentation on this theme and the story leading up
to the purchase of the ranch house and the arrival
of our first students. We are very proud of our past, enlivened by our present and intrigued by our future – great to have you along for the ride.
A top responsibility of each advisor is to create the kind of close relationship that a student will call on if a difficulty arises.
Fun, it turns out, has a serious role to play in a Priory education
The church bells still chime, but
passing bells have been replaced with
wrist watches and large wall clocks
all over the campus. Research shows
that the 5 to 10 minutes of passing
time actually results in many more minutes of inattention—and, for students, that time is essentially wasted. This year, students move quickly from class to class, and teachers do not wait for stragglers—they begin class on time. With these saved minutes, students have “purchased” a late start time one day a week. The new schedule, which was begun after a year of intense discussion by administrators, faculty and students, also offers some longer class periods. These periods accommodate science labs, orchestral instruction, and many other courses that require set- up and clean-up time.
Students who have graduated from the Priory in the last five or six years may remember their advisory periods as a nice, relaxing, sometimes playful time. There was a reason for that. A top responsibility of each advisor is to create the kind of close relationship that a student will call on if a difficulty arises. Relationships develop naturally when people are chatting and enjoying themselves. The role of the advisor has always gone deeper and this year is
even more tightly coordinated than ever. Whenever
a faculty member notices a change in a student’s performance, that information is communicated quickly, in writing, to the counseling team, who check out each report to see if a pattern is developing.
This proactive approach can avoid days or weeks of delay in starting a support process—or can help a worried parent relax if in fact a child was just having a bumpy few days. I enjoy watching these Benedictine values of community and individuality come together in the advisory program. I enjoy seeing that something serious—raising children to become successful young adults—requires regular doses of friendship and fun.