“He who is faithful in a very little thing is faithful also in much…”
—
St. Luke 16:10a
This past weekend, my family celebrated the birth of our nation (243 years ago)
and that of our middle son (9 years ago). At my son's request, we spent much of Sunday hiking and swimming at McKinney Falls State Park in Austin, one our family's favorite places. I am always delighted by how well-preserved the park's woods and waterways are given that it is situated within the "Austin city limits." This past weekend, I learned why.
After attending early Mass at St. Anthony's in Kyle (we also "attended" Kyle Donuts afterward—highly recommended), we arrived at McKinney Falls. As we parked and began to head down the trail, I kept noticing groups of two or three people—including some Boy Scouts—carrying garbage bags and long-handled trash grabbers. They were volunteers cleaning up the park so that families could be refreshed by a day in nature without the distraction of obvious marks of consumer culture.
Their small morning offering reminded me that, similarly, much of what makes a school (or any community) special comes from loving attention to the little things. Several saints come to mind who built their teaching around this truth. When Atonement becomes a place where we—staff, parents, and scholars—do the little, hidden things for God and for one another, we will be on the path to becoming a truly great school.
One of the “little things” I intend to take up is the setting aside of a few minutes per week in order to write to you, Atonement families, and offer a personalized glimpse into the life of the Academy. Not only should this habit be helpful to you, but I hope it will also allow you another avenue for getting to know your new head of school. In a few months, a weekly epistle might seem excessive, but for now the pace seems appropriate. Here are a few more things to look for in coming weeks:
Coffee with Mr. Watson. As was my custom at my previous school, I will be offering a monthly opportunity to learn more about Catholic classical education, ask questions about the Academy, and connect with other parents. We will meet for coffee and conversation at 8:30 a.m. on the first Friday of the month. Since the school was closed on July 5th, our inaugural Coffee will be this Friday, July 12th. If you are planning to attend, please RSVP with Mrs. Johnston at the front desk by 12 p.m., Thursday, July 11th. (We will determine our location based on interest.)
Parent-Only Orientations. This is a new twist on our back-to-school ritual. Choosing a Catholic classical school for your child makes demands on you as a parent in ways that another school may not. It is critically important for your child’s success that his or her primary educators (parents) and professional educators (teachers) start the 2019-2020 school year on the same page. Therefore, we will hold the Lower School Parent-Only Orientation on Wednesday, August 7th from 7-8:30 p.m., and the Middle/Upper School Parent-Only Orientation on Thursday, August, 8th from 7-8:30 p.m., both in the Common Room. Students will have the opportunity to meet their teachers and drop off supplies on Friday morning, August 9th. Stay tuned for details.
Senior Sunrise Rosary and Breakfast. I am all about leadership. One of my greatest joys is assisting teachers and students to grow into virtuous leaders. It is an ideal toward which I, too, am striving. In the coming year, I will look to our rising Seniors to model magnanimity and humility as they set the tone for the student body. Therefore, I am inviting all members of the Class of 2020 to join me on campus for a sunrise rosary, Mass, and breakfast. We will meet Friday, July 26 at 6:15 a.m. in the piazza, have some brief instructions, and then process in prayer around the campus. We will return to the Sacred Heart Chapel where Father Lewis will offer mass, then gather for breakfast in St. Anthony’s Hall. (“Wait!” I can hear them saying, “That’s too early!” Yes. It is—for the faint of heart. This is how I know that I, who will also be rising early, will be spending the dawn hours praying with and getting to know young men and women on whom I can depend.)
Southwest Gardeners? The first day of school is only a month away, and our courtyard planters need help. Do you have skill and experience (and hopefully success!) gardening in our unique climate? Are you a “Master Gardener”? Are you willing to donate or fund the purchase of hardy yet beautiful greenery? If any of the above apply, please join us in welcoming students back to campus by helping us refresh the piazza planters. If you are willing to serve or support our beautification efforts, please contact Mrs. Johnston to register your interest.
I look forward to getting to know you at these and other events in the coming weeks. Please make sure to introduce yourself. Let us continue to pray for one another, and that our young scholars will be sensitive to God’s leading in their lives.
Your servant,
Matthew David Watson
Head of School
The Atonement Academy