Dear OLG Families,
This summer, as I was preparing for the school year to begin, I was reminded of the song we used to sing at graduate school Masses, We Are Called, which is based on the passage from Micah 6:8 “He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.” And thus, our school theme came to light. “We Are Called: Embracing the Yes!”
We are each called constantly to grow and to change, and when we do it right, and with purpose, we end up changing the world as we know it, all around us. When we act justly, we think about our choices, and the ways that we treat others; where what is fair and what is equal are not always identical, but rather what allows for each individual to have what they need to thrive as people. As for mercy, this is all about ways that we as a people are called to forgive, to show compassion, and most of all, to remember to love another. At times the hardest thing though, is to remember to be humble, something that God likes to remind us of all the time. God reminds us in small ways, when things don't go as we plan, or something happens unexpectedly, that He is the end and the beginning, not us. We are simply here to be His hands and feet, to serve and give back, just as Jesus did. When we walk with God, and we put our faith in Him, we are reminded that we are not alone.
With this reminder, we can then ask ourselves the question that Micah began with, “What does the Lord Require of You?” For me, I felt that God called (or required) me to be at Guadalupe, to be in this community, and to live out the directive provided to us in Micah. I find constant ways to say yes, even when it means saying no to something else. Yes, I will do recess duty. Yes, I will read a book to a class. And so on and so forth. And at times, I must also say no, because I cannot do one more thing, or have a prior commitment. Sometimes, a no is also an opportunity for someone else to say Yes, and walk together, versus carrying the work alone. To me, sharing that yes, what it means to be a community.
Last week I was provided with constant examples of people saying yes, recognizing the ways they too have been called. Through our staff inservices, the packed Ice Cream Social, and the happy voices and laughter throughout the halls, I witnessed the "yes". Or when we sent out a request for some help with campus beautification and without hesitation, I walked out to see two parents actively planting pots in the front, and even more families and teachers coming to help on Sunday. More people who said "YES!". This campus radiates people who say Yes and answer the call to share their gifts of time, talent and treasure. How fortunate we are. Thank you.
Next week, we will share once more these gifts and talents at our K-5 Curriculum Night, a mandatory night for all parents. We will get to hear from the teachers, our P.O. and many others, learning about what help our students to grow, and what makes our community thrive. We will review the new and updated Family Handbook and get us back to some basics from pre-Covid days, that help to define us as a Catholic school. There will be opportunities to sign up and volunteer for events, recess supervision and beyond. We encourage each of you to find your why as families, and ways that you too might be called.
Thank you for starting the year off so well. We look forward to the days ahead. Please do not hesitate to ask questions if you are new to the community, when I see you in the parking lot at pick up time, or at morning drop off. Remember too, especially those returning, that 34th Ave is reserved for ELC pick up and drop off, as it can get a little hectic down there, with many cars and lots of small children.
Looking forward to seeing you all around campus, and for our K-5 families, I look forward to seeing you next week.
