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1 November 2022
Dear Parents,
As I began putting my thoughts together for this letter, Iām mindful that the days and weeks continue to fly by at an amazing pace. Friday of this week, Nov. 4, marks the end of our first marking period! If that is not convincing enough, look out your window; the trees are losing their beautiful colors with leaves literally flying off the branches, while our green, green grass is entering its dormant cold weather phase. Fortunately, the hardy mums are still vibrant in their myriad shades decorating many lawns, porches and gardens in our immediate area. I am not one for rushing the season, but by the end of this month, we will have seen Santa Claus riding down Fifth Avenue in the annual Macyās Thanksgiving Day Parade! However, before we get there, we have much to do.
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Today the Church celebrates All Saintsā Day, followed tomorrow by All Soulsā Day. Strangely enough, these two perennial days of prayer and celebration can often get lost amidst the parties and costumes of Halloween. All Saintsā Day gives us pause to remember all those people who now live in the glory of God. All Soulsā Day is set aside for us to honor the dead ā especially those who do not enjoy the full presence of God. The Catholic Church teaches us that these souls are in Purgatory and will eventually be brought into Godās full presence through the prayers and good works of those on earth. Allow me to suggest that you push aside the bags of candy that decorate your tables and thank God for all those āsaintsā who have journeyed with you and are now in heaven. Also, I suggest you say a prayer (maybe two!) for all those souls in Purgatory who are waiting to be brought into the full presence of God and enjoy all of the fruits of heaven. We should be thankful for all those family members and friends who have been role models for us, as we are for our children and charges. Many of the āsaintsā in our lives provided us with great witness of what it means to be children of God. Throughout the month of November, we will be be praying for the faithfully departed in our Book of Remembrance in the Our Lady of Perpetual Help Chapel at the Upper School. If you would like us to pray for your beloved deceased this month, please click here.
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Report Cards will be sent out Wednesday, Nov. 9, via email. Upper School report cards will be sent to the student, primary contact and secondary contact in our system. Lower School report cards will be sent directly to parents. Our grading software sends them out in batches, so it might be several hours before all students receive the email. Parent/Teacher Conferences for Upper School students will be held virtually on Thursday, Nov. 10. This past summer, parents were surveyed and most said that virtual conferences were preferred. Teachers will email the parents of their students on or before Nov. 7 with instructions on how to make a 5-to-10-minute appointment. If your son is doing well and you do not wish to meet with his teacher, please leave the time slots open for those who have more pressing concerns. If you have any questions that can be answered via email, please write to the teacher. Lower School conferences will take place Thursday, Nov. 10, in the afternoon and Mrs. Mone will send out further information.
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Friday, Nov. 11, we will commemorate Veterans Day ā a school holiday. Allow me to suggest you take the opportunity to thank anyone you know who has served or is serving in our armed forces. Each of our veterans deserve our thanks and respect for protecting the rights and privileges we enjoy in our great nation. I might add that it is a wonderful opportunity to pause and give a heartfelt prayer to God for all the men and women, living and deceased, who served our country in one form or another. Take a few additional moments to remember all those men and women in our armed forces today, stationed around the world, guarding our way of life, our liberties and our freedom. Ask God to protect them and provide them with all they need to continue defending our nation. In a very real way, you and/or your sons can help honor our veterans this coming weekend by volunteering with the Hudson Valley Honor Flight on Saturday, Nov. 5. From being physically present for a Patriotic Send-Off or a rousing Welcome Home, to potentially accompanying veterans on the flight to visit Washington, D.C. memorials, there are several ways you can recognize the service of our local veterans.
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In a few short weeks, we will be surrounded by family and friends at our Thanksgiving tables. Thanksgiving Day, as a national holiday, gives each of us pause to remember all of the blessings we have been given. You may consider taking time out of your morning - perhaps before you put the turkey into the oven or before you get in the car to visit with family - to say a quiet prayer thanking God for the blessings of your family, and to continue blessing your family, your community and our nation. In case you are looking for a table prayer, consider this one:
ļ»æO Gracious God, we give you thanks for your overflowing generosity to us. Thank you for the blessings of the food we eat and especially for this feast today. Thank you for our home and family and friends, especially for the presence of those gathered here. Thank you for our health, our work and our play. Please send help to those who are hungry, alone, sick and suffering war and violence. Open our hearts to your love. We ask your blessing through Christ your Son.
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Additionally, it would go a long way to individually thank those around you. Thank the person you are spending your life with; thank your children for being your gift from God; thank your sisters and brothers for helping you grow; thank your Mom/Dad, Grandparent ā whoever God has given to you. It is a wonderful gift to hear someone thank us for being who we are! All of us have much to be thankful for!
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Over the years, I have asked parents to have age-appropriate conversations with their sons and daughters regarding underage drinking and drug use in its many forms. With the legalization of marijuana, this conversation is even more important. In recent years, we have sought your assistance to curb the use of vaping paraphernalia and we have made great headway in this area. Today, the use of chewable THC (marijuana-infused) candy is becoming more and more problematic for our young people. Teenagers, being who they are, will experiment with many different illegal substances and now, legal THC items are available. Of course, there are age requirements, but I am sure these substances will find their way into the hands of teenagers. Please keep an eye on your children and if there is reason for concern, then take action. Please know that our School Counseling staff stands ready to assist you in any way necessary.
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As you know by now, we are debuting a new, semiannual event on Friday, Nov. 18, in the form of the President's Sweepstakes & Thanksgiving Bash. We will alternate between "The Bash" and the President's Dinner each year. "The Bash" will be a fun night out with music, dancing, photobooth, whiskey tasting, cigar roller and more. The Sweepstakes, as you may remember from 2020, offers you a shot at one of 10 incredible travel experiencesāor more if we sell over 300 chances. I hope you will join me here at the school in the Tully Gym on Friday, Nov. 18. But whether or not you can make it, please consider taking a chance on Iona Prep, and encourage your friends and family to do the same! Visit ionaprep.org/sweepstakes and thank you in advance for your generous support!
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And finally, though COVID numbers have remained steady in our school in and in the area, I would ask that you not forget the prevalence of everything from the common cold and stomach bugs, to the flu and even RSV. Since we had to spend much of the last few years in masks, everything seems to be coming back stronger. So let's all keep an eye on our health, continue practicing good hand hygiene, and making the decision to keep your sonsāand yourselvesāhome when warranted. The Good Lord meant for us to spend our holidays together, after all. | |
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In closing, know you and your families will feature prominently in my prayers during this month ā prayers of thanksgiving for each of you. On behalf of Dr. Casella, Mrs. Mone and our entire staff, allow me to wish all of you a very Happy Thanksgiving!
God bless,
Bro. Thomas R. Leto, Ed.D.
President
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