Good afternoon. The half-mast flags that greeted us in carline this morning are reminders that today is a day of remembrance. The events of September 11, 2001 defined a generation, and perhaps for some of you here in “Military City, USA” they also prompted your own service. Reflecting eighteen years later, what stands out in my mind is the fervent solidarity expressed in so many quarters in the aftermath of the attacks. May today’s observances prompt a renewal of that spirit. As Pope St. John Paul II wrote over thirty years ago in Sollicitudo rei Socialis—
[Solidarity] is not a feeling of vague compassion or shallow distress at the misfortunes
of so many people, both near and far. On the contrary, it is a firm and persevering
determination to commit oneself to the common good; that is to say, to the good of all
and of each individual, because we are all really responsible for all.
As today we renew a commitment to solidarity on a national level, here are some ways we can move toward solidarity within the Crusader community:
Class Sponsors. If you are like me, you have probably had older couples telling you for years, “It happens so fast…” And maybe, also like me, you have realized that they were
right. But perhaps you have not considered this—that older children need their parents’
involvement with their school just as much as the younger. Come find out what this
involvement could look like. The Class Sponsors kick off tonight @ 7 p.m. in St.
Anthony Hall. If you are the parent of a 7th-12th grade student, please join us and learn
how you can support your son or daughter’s journey through the Middle and Upper
Schools.
Progress Reports. Many schools will send home an update on student grades midway
through the quarter. While this has not been a tradition at Atonement, thanks to our
RenWeb software you can check your child’s grades at any time. I encourage to take a
few minutes to do this now that we are halfway through our first quarter.
Coffee, Love & Logic. My thanks to those who made time to attend “Coffee with Mr.
Watson” this past Friday. With 25 attendees, we experienced our highest turnout to
date. Discussion centered around Atonement’s internal and outward-facing
communication processes and structures. We did not get to our second topic, so Love &
Logic will be our focus at October’s Coffee (Friday, October 4).
I have truly enjoyed getting to know you and your children. Thank you for your welcome, prayers, and support as I have been settling in. I think we are off to a good start.