From the Principal’s Desk 2.17

Merry Christmas Dear Friends,

The final installment of my thoughts on Christmas this year deals with ‘where’.

So where did Christ come?  He came at the center of the world, the middle of the star, the highest mountain on earth.  If you know Bethlehem you might think that I am all wrong. It is a tiny village but consider Micah 5:2   "But as for you, Bethlehem Ephrata, Too little to be among the clans of Judah, From you One will go forth for Me to be ruler in Israel. His goings forth are from long ago, From the days of eternity."

In a very strange way it is not the location that tells us where Christ came; the location indicates where he comes.  Not to storied pomp and richest splendor, not to modern homes with central heat, but to a humble non-descript stable filled with fresh straw and warmed by the animals in it.  Yet of all the birthplaces in all the world, of all the wondrous temples and palaces, of all the hospitals and all the homes, there has never been and never will be a place that is more ‘where’ than Bethlehem. 

From Bethlehem the journey begins, a journey that leads right through all of our hearts.  For Christ must be born in our hearts and in the hearts of all our children if we are to experience a true Christmas.  He will come to a humble heart, not a proud one, to a person who is going to kneel in adoration before the might and power of a baby, who happens to be God! He will make that heart a sacred place worthy of Heaven.  The lack of storied pomp present at Bethlehem gives us all hope for He will come, if we have but the eyes to see and the ears to hear.

O Holy Child of Bethlehem,
    Descend to us, we pray!
Cast out our sin and enter in,
    Be born in us to-day.
We hear the Christmas angels,
    The great glad tidings tell;
O come to us, abide with us,
    Our Lord Emmanuel!

And again Merry Christmas and May the New Year be Blessed,

Timothy Gallic

Principal, Holy Family High School

303-410-1411

PS Of course I welcome comments, questions, concerns and cares but I also welcome smiles and laughter and a good story but come what may send them all in!

From the Principal's Desk 2.15-16

Dear Friends,

It is time to answer the question…when?

When did Christ come? Certainly he came at night, the world’s last night, before the first morning of the new world, the one in which man does not fall, but rises!  He came to a world still asleep, in all senses slumbering. No one suspected the time had come, there were no crowds gathered, breathless reports and bulletins were not being published.  The shepherds settled their flocks by night, the inn keeper put out the lamp, and perhaps a mid-wife was up with Mary and Joseph, perhaps not. 

Yet in God’s infinite wisdom it was the perfect time, not too soon, not too late, but just in time.  Human wisdom would have picked a more impressive place and time but God does not think as we do; He thinks as He does.  In our lives God exercises a particular schedule, from the vantage point of the one who sees everything (kind of like Santa, only much more so) and knows everything, and has infinite power, and combined with pure goodness His plan for you simply is best.  Like a child whose parents tell them to wait for Christmas morning for gifts, we must at times wait upon God’s plan with the surety that faith affords, knowing that in Christ all is not in vain.  The coldest darkest night will give way to glorious morning.  For on that Christmas morning, in just the nick of time, God came to a sad world, and when hope was all lost, the very word of God, the babe who could not speak came to lift us to the high station of being God’s children. 

Christ, by highest heaven adored;
Christ, the everlasting Lord;
Late in time behold him come,
Offspring of the Virgin's womb.
Veiled in flesh the Godhead see;
Hail the incarnate Deity,
Pleased as man with man to dwell;
Jesus, our Emmanuel!

Timothy Gallic

Principal, Holy Family High School

303-410-1411

The Christmas Season is fast approaching and if you happen by the school you will notice the very beautiful Nativity set displayed in the front of the school.  This gift from the Senior Class of 2012 adds greatly to our holiday decor.   If you walked up to it you will notice that Baby Jesus is missing.  Not to worry the statue is safe and sound but why is he not here?  Well that is answered in the second installment…what.

Scripture reminds us that the people who dwelt in darkness have seen a great light.  It should therefore not surprise us that a star announced his coming, or that the whole host of heaven, angels bright as the noon day sun, should proclaim his birth.  The birth of Christ brings seeing to a blind world, it is the first ‘sonrise’ since the fall of Adam, and it is light and joy and peace.  What Christ brought was the beginning of the unraveling of the curse of Adam, it was the start of a new age of Man and the echoes of that birth still resound over this weary world.  It is the birth of the New Adam.  The last verse of Hark the Herald Angels Sing, states, Adam’s likeness now efface, Stamp thine image in its place, Second Adam from Above, reinstate us in thy love!”

Do we walk in darkness today?  Do our children?  The solution is simple, but challenging to open your eyes.  See what God has done for all of us, give thanks for all that His hand has wrought, and be ready for Christmas morning, when Christ will be in the manger, and with the angels sing “Glory to the Newborn King”.

Happy Advent,

Timothy Gallic

Principal, Holy Family High School

From the Principal’s Desk 2.14

Dear Friends,

As we are now back to work, with the remnants of Thanksgiving dinner still occupying a premium spot in our fridge, it is time to turn our combined attention to more weighty concerns.

While the rest of the world is focused on shopping and celebrating Christmas, we, though mindful of what is occurring outside our homes, are called by Mother Church to contemplate why Christ came and what the circumstances of His birth were.   For my part I would like to spend the next four weeks looking at specific elements of that first Nativity using a method you may have learned in High School;  Who, What, When and Where…the four W’s.

Who… Who can describe or explain.  Who can fathom the person who is the Christ?  In the Christmas Song, ‘Mary Did You Know’  the question is put to Mary asking,  Did you know when you kiss your little baby you kiss the face of God…The awesome spectacle of God, the one who made the world, who holds our lives in his hands, who keeps the laws of Science working, who created everything in a moment, and has let it unfold over billions of years, who has more power in one of His tears  than all the great armies of men, or the power of all the suns, humbling himself to become man. 

I am proud to be a father of six children, and I know the first time in each of their lives I held them in my arms, small defenseless and innocent, their lives entirely beholden to others, and yet, in my heart there rose such a love that I would rather die than have them suffer any harm.  I imagine many of you have felt similar emotions.  But imagine, in Mary and Joseph’s case it really was the baby holding them.  

Jesus is pure gift, pure love…O come let us adore Him.

Happy Advent,

Timothy Gallic

Principal, Holy Family High School

303-410-1411

From the Principal’s Desk 2.13

Dear Friends,

Can we ever be grateful enough?   I doubt it.

Each year as Thanksgiving gives us a moment to pause, to enjoy the friends and family, the blessings and triumphs of the past year, as well as the trials and difficulties, and to give them all to God with an attitude of gratefulness.  

It seems such an American thing to sit around a table, groaning with the weight of turkey and stuffing, mashed potatoes and beans, pumpkin pie and others or some odd vegetable the family has been bringing for generations, (creamed onions were a staple at each Thanksgiving, although to my knowledge they were also routinely disposed of at the end.)  Careful readers of the last sentence might realize its ambiguity, am I referring to the people sitting or the table…hmmm.

So as you polish off the sweet potatoes, guzzle a pint or two of apple cider and laugh at the uproarious stories of your own family and others, as you look at the bounty spread before you, both material and spiritual, save a toast for our Creator and thank Him who is pure gift love… and prepare yourself for turkey sandwiches as you watch the last of the football.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Timothy Gallic

Principal, Holy Family High School

303-410-1411

PS. I just received word, unofficially, that despite the destruction all around, the relics of Blessed John Paul the Great were not damaged in the St. Malo’s fire!  Let us give thanks indeed!

From the Principal’s Desk 2.12

Dear Friends,

At this point you are no doubt aware of the fire that seriously damaged St. Malo’s Retreat Center.  It is no small thanks I give to God that our students were there last week and not this week.  If your student is scheduled to attend the spring Kairos retreats please be aware that we will have to make some changes to the plan as we were hoping to use St. Malo’s. 

The fire has led me to consider a strange paradox.  No one saved from the fire will live forever; what was lost were items that would long have outlasted them.  What perished in the fire was the memorabilia of the Papal visit.     What was saved was the personnel who staffed the center.  While we grieve the loss of the memorabilia, we rejoice mightily that no lives were lost.  This is the brilliance of life; life is so special, so sacred, so awesome that we would gladly suffer the loss of worldly possession to save the life of someone who will themselves someday die.   We are blessed with life around us, the life of our students, of our families, of our friends and we are blessed with the knowledge that someday it will all end (at least on earth).  So today let us resolve to look at our children and our spouses, our friends and our neighbors and thank God for them, for truly they are the treasures we care about.

When the rebuilding gets underway I will look to see what Holy Family can do to help and let you all know. 

God bless,

Timothy Gallic

From the Principal’s Desk 2.11

Dear Parents and Friends,

No doubt you realize that we have concluded a fabulous fall play, “A Mid-Summer Night’s Dream” and if you were fortunate to behold the Bard of Avon’s work performed  by our student’s you would understand the sense of pride and accomplishment I have for them.  The production was fantastic and I urge you to make sure you are able to enjoy the Spring musical and all the other performing arts we put on up here.   I must not fail to mention that this was the first production in the fully renovated theater and thanks again must be given to all who help made it possible.

You are probably also aware that I called you early in the morning several days ago and told you we had a late start.  The two hour delay is designed to provide ample time to navigate the road leading to school after the rush hour traffic has past.   Due to the wide area students hail from it is not possible to know all of the local road conditions so please, if you feel the streets are not safe please do not send the students.  Students who miss class because of weather always receive extra time to make up assignments.  You should also know the school is opened from 6:30 a.m. if at all possible so dropping your students off early is still doable.    

While we as a school have a duty to teach the students, as always we want the parents to be in control of their children’s safety so if in doubt , don’t go out.

Timothy Gallic

Principal, Holy Family High School

From the Principal’s Desk 2.10

Dear Friends,

Today is the feast of All the Saints,

This leads me to the question; what does it take to become a Saint?  The answer is simple; get to heaven.  That’s right; all we need to do is get to heaven. 

So, how do we get to heaven? It is as easy as can be, just do the will of God.

Herein lies the rub, what is the will of God? 

To be who you are meant to be, His child; To love your neighbor as yourself, to work hard and to study hard.  We do not have to go on a pilgrimage to Mecca to be saved, or perform mighty acts like St. Theresa of Calcutta, we need to love our Parents, we need to pray and talk to God, we need to follow the Church’s teachings, not only because they bring order to life, but because they warn of evil.  When the Church tells us something is sinful, it is doing so because that sinful act will bring harm.  That is why it is called a sin. 

Our students may think that to be a saint one must give up all earthly joys and meditate in a cave eating bugs.  Well, perhaps God is calling you to do that but I suspect not! To be a Saint is to be fully human, to love God, to have a family, to love your spouse, to have joys and sickness, life and death.  So let us encourage our children to be saints, to live life to the fullest, to fight hard and win, to drink deep of the spring of Salvation and to humbly follow our God.   

Each night when I say ‘Good night’ to my children, I ask them what ultimately matters most, and they respond, ‘to be a Saint’.  May we all remember that and strive to one day be Saints.

Happy All Saints Day!

Timothy Gallic

Principal, Holy Family High School

303-410-1411

From the Principal’s Desk 2.9

Dear Friends and Supporters

With a grateful sigh of relief Spirit Week and the festivities of Homecoming are now behind us.  If you were fortunate enough to partake in any (or all) of the events I am certain you would agree that truly one of the best Spirit weeks occurred.  This could not have happened without an enormous amount of volunteers; men and women who gave of their time, treasure and talents to help our kids celebrate dance and cheer.   I attempted to thank as many as possible but for those I missed,  thank you very much!

As usual this brings something to mind, our success often, in fact inevitably, comes as a result of someone else’s labors.  It is a fallacy to think we ever succeed entirely on our own but from the first we receive aid and soon afterward, we give aid.  Scripture tells us it is more blessed to give than to receive and as we age we find out the truth of that statement.  Our students had a great time because they behaved well and participated fully but without the hard work of the parents and staff, they would have had none of the events they enjoyed.  So give yourself a pat on the back and remember, we are just like them, if someone else had not helped us where would we be?  Perhaps that is why God often reminds us to be grateful and humble.  Or as a great Spiritual advisor of my youth used to tell me “It’s all gift, it’s all gift” 

So I end with Thanking Almighty God, for the good weather, the successful events, the wonderful students and their families, and most of all…for the hope of Salvation through Jesus Christ!

God bless,

Tim Gallic

Principal, Holy Family High School

303-410-1411

From the Principal’s Desk 2.8

Dear Parents,

As we are all aware this is Spirit week which ends with Homecoming, a time where we both celebrate who we are and where we have been, and a little of where we are going.  I urge all of you who can to come to the Homecoming Football game and cheer our team onto victory and for the crowning of the Homecoming court.  If you have time come early for the chili supper and enjoy some heartwarming food.  Of course there are a lot of sporting events going on including Softball headed into State, soccer at Dawson on Thursday and Cross Country hosting a home meets Friday at 5:30.  Finally we have the Homecoming dance on Saturday, and as I have stated repeatedly I am hoping all will come dressed appropriately so we can all enjoy the dance.

It is part of Catholic nature to celebrate and it was no accident Christ’s first public miracle was at a party (wedding feast of Cana).  To celebrate together what we have and what we have done is a special blessing.  In a world of imperfections and troubles, of trials and tribulations, to be able to laugh and shout, to praise and pray for and most of all to give thanks to God is perhaps a gift from Our Lord that is too great to be fully comprehended.

So let us this week, rejoice in who we are, what we have and be further committed to the future of Catholic Education, of teaching our students that God loves them personally and has a great future for them, they just need to cooperate with it.

Finally, a big thank you to all who came to the Parent Teacher conferences and especially to all of you who donated food and drink for the teachers.  We love being here all the time, but having some good food does tend to make it more enjoyable!

God bless,

Tim Gallic

Principal, Holy Family High School

From the Principal’s Desk 2.7

Dear Friends

Life has a pleasant way of surprising us at times and it often occurs when we least expect it.  Just the other day I was clearing out some weeds by our mulch pile when I found a large, and still growing, pumpkin that had started from an old Jack-O-Lantern I tossed into the pile last October!  Had I not decided to look in this area, I would have missed it.  In other aspects of life we can often find much the same thing happen, if we have the eyes to see it. 

As all of our children go through rough patches, disappointments and bad decisions, we must be aware that good can come of it for at these times God’s grace overshadows the situation.  The blessings of Almighty God can be seen, if we have eyes to see it.

So let us resolve to help our students find the good in every situation so that we can say with the Psalmist “At all times I will bless Him”.

Tim Gallic

Principal, Holy Family High School

303-410-1411

From the Principal’s Desk 2.6

From the Principal’s Desk 2.6

Dear Friends,

Last week I spoke about character being the truest indicator of eventual success.  You may have heard the term ‘teaching the whole person’.  This sums up succinctly the manner in which Catholic Schools educate.   We, as humans, exist as both soul and body, and we recognize the reality that when we die, our spirit continues.  While here on earth we interact with our soul through the medium of our bodies.  Therefore when I exercise and train my body I care for my soul,  when I study my academic subjects, I care for my soul and when I pray I care for my soul.  There is no discontinuity between them, we cannot do anything to our body that does not affect the soul, and when our soul is burdened by sin and evil, our body will carry the signs of that burden. 

In this world of ours we find much attention being paid to our physical bodies, and much of that is good, yet to the care of our souls, we see very little.  As Christians, let us not forget that when we care for our souls, we care for ourselves.  When we teach our children to pray, about the love of God, about who they are as God’s children, we care for their souls even more than when we train them physically and mentally.  Let us not forget that to train our minds allows us to better understand God’s word for us and his wisdom and makes following God’s will easier.

So at Holy Family we strive to produce young men and women who are academically the best prepared in the West and who care for their souls, like saints.

Timothy Gallic

Principal, Holy Family High School

303-410-1411

From the Principal's Desk 2.5

From the Principal’s Desk 2.5

Dear Friends,

The most important indicator of eventual success for a child is not intellect, good looks, athletic ability or health.  The single most important indicator of eventual success is character.  A person with strong character, who does the right thing because it is the right thing, who tells the truth because it is the truth, who only hands in their own work, because it is theirs, who treats members of the opposite sex properly because it is the right thing to do; these persons go onto to be truly successful.  In this I mean they go on to be great fathers and mothers, husbands and wives, priest and nuns, brothers and sisters and they go on to become great employees and employers, scholars and most important of all, go on to be saints.  When they die their life will be regarded as a blessing.

When we see our children it is important to appreciate the many good things they do, the sports, the grades, but it is critical to encourage strong character, that will make the difference.

A big thank you to all who have been helping at all the sporting events we have had this fall.  Our teams are doing great and the coaches, parents and volunteers (often the same people) have been working hard to make it possible.  Personally is nice to be able to brag about what a great school family we have here.  You are the best!

Pax,

Timothy Gallic

Principal, Holy Family High School

Offense, Forgiveness and Self Control

From the Principal’s Desk 2.4

Have you ever been offended?  Ever been royally mistreated and found your sense of righteous indignation rise up like a volcano?  The sense of justice mixed with revenge, can be a powerful emotion.  Like all things however it needs to be controlled.  There are times when we must, in the cause of what is right, stand our ground; conversely there are times when we, in the cause of what is right, must allow the injustice, and like our Savior, humbly bear the indignity.   In any case we must exercise self-control.   This particular virtue often times saves our lives and the lack of it often endangers our lives.  Coming home last weekend I watched a motorcyclist nearly be hit by a car, and then watched the motorcyclist antagonize the driver of the car for the next 15 miles creating a hazard for the biker and everyone else.  The biker was aggrieved but lacking self-control created a hazard for everyone else. 

As parents we can model the correct way to react to injury and insult and the way we react will teach our own children.  A case in point, several years ago I was a farmer and I was struggling to unstick a spring, the spring came loose with an enormous amount of energy, most of which hit my knuckle.  In the split second we have between your body being injured and our reaction I looked at the 5 or 6 little kids, my neighbors children and my own, who had come to watch me work and maybe get a ride on the hay wagon and realized that should I say something inopportune it would be repeated endlessly in the neighborhood, so I kept my mouth shut.  It was hard but worth it.  

Finally, the Homecoming dance is coming up and we have a few guidelines for the clothes.  The idea behind the guidelines is to allow everyone who comes to the dance to have a good time and not be distracted.  I have asked that all the boys show up with shirt and tie and appropriate footwear, and for the young ladies to wear dresses that rise no higher than 4 inches from the top of the knee and fit  appropriately and modestly across the top.  These dances are meant to be higher class than others and we want to dress and act accordingly.   Should someone inadvertently  come to the dance in a manner not in keeping with these requests, I will ask them to wait in the office and contact their parents.   Should you have any questions about this or anything else please feel free to contact me.

Character Counts

From the Principal’s Desk 2.5

Dear Friends,

The most important indicator of eventual success for a child is not intellect, good looks, athletic ability or health.  The single most important indicator of eventual success is character.  A person with strong character, who does the right thing because it is the right thing, who tells the truth because it is the truth, who only hands in their own work, because it is theirs, who treats members of the opposite sex properly because it is the right thing to do; these persons go onto to be truly successful.  In this I mean they go on to be great fathers and mothers, husbands and wives, priest and nuns, brothers and sisters and they go on to become great employees and employers, scholars and most important of all, go on to be saints.  When they die their life will be regarded as a blessing.

When we see our children it is important to appreciate the many good things they do, the sports, the grades, but it is critical to encourage strong character, that will make the difference.

Forgiveness and Freedom

From the Principal’s Desk 2.3

Dear Parents and Friends,

Forgiveness is a challenge in this world and the events of 9/11 tend to bring this issue clearly into focus.  When someone hurts you there is often nothing you can do about it, but until you forgive you are stilled trapped in that pain.  This is of course the lesson drawn from the Our Father, where we were exhorted to forgive…to be forgiven. 

Because they are larger grievances some things are harder to forgive than others; forgive them we must if we wish to be free.   That is the great challenge and promise of Christianity.  So when our students come home with a complaint, the first thing we need to do is encourage them to forgive the offending party, then we need to address the problem.  This is the path to life that our Master taught us.   

And for the souls of all who perished on 9/11 and in the subsequent wars that flowed from that day, may perpetual light shine upon them, and may they, and all the souls of the faithful departed rest in peace.

How Packing for School and Preparing for Final Judgement are related

From the Principal’s Desk 2.2

The second full week of school has begun and your students are warming to the new normal routine of rising early, getting ready, (this varies greatly by gender and age) packing their bag and getting into the car.  We know that the easiest way for this to happen is if the bags are packed the night before, which implies homework and assignments are also done.  For the student who shovels down their breakfast,  while hastily finishing last night’s assignment,  or fishing papers out of their bags for us to sign, or (personal favorite) the youngster who suddenly remembers they need X amount of dollars for some important cause,  for these perhaps the normal routine of life will be of the most benefit.  When one finally learns that it is better NOT to wait until the last minute, suddenly life becomes so much more peaceful and productive. Learning this skill may be the most long lasting lesson of school.

We all know that someday we will be called before the throne of God.  There we shall be called to give an account of what we have done in our lives.  If we live in such a way that we are prepared then when the time comes we won’t have to rush around trying to do the things we should have already done but we can peacefully walk into that throne room of grace.   

So tonight as you are urging your child to be prepared for tomorrow, maybe you should remind them that it is not only for school we are getting ready for.

What makes a Catholic School different?

One very good way of describing what makes a Catholic school different than all other types of schools is to remember that Catholic schools are founded to spread the Gospel through the medium of education.  If a Catholic school does not spread the Gospel than it fails in its mission and those who work in it will have to answer to God.  If the school does not educate students superbly then the school brings scandal to the church.  So Catholic schools must have both exceptional academics and superb catechises.

From the Principal’s Desk 1.31

To Our Friends,

Summer is at last here and except for a few exams, the students are done. Now it is time for rest and restoration, for vacation and play and for preparation for next year. Summer is not without its dangers as we well know. So encourage your children to remember that school is on holiday, it has not disappeared; that goodness knows no season but is always active; that God shows his love just as much when they are enjoying fine weather and free time, as when they are studying and that sin is no obstacle to His mercy.

Charles Wesley in the hymn “O For a Thousand Tongues to Sing” writes the following line- ‘He breaks the power of cancelled sin, He sets the captive free’  and ‘Jesus the name that charms our fears, that bids our sorrows cease”   Two sentiments that sum up how I want my summer to be, forgiven, free, fearless and without sorrow. May all of you have a similar summer and until we meet again- May God hold you in the palm of His hand.

Thank you for such a good year!

From the Principal’s Desk 1.30

Dear Friends,

Well the world didn’t end this weekend, so I better write something! Now, if you knew the world was going to end in a few days what would you do?  Would you spend all of your money? Visit great places, reconcile with estranged loved ones? There is a lot we could do but it does make me think of a story I once heard.  A saint was playing a game with some Brothers. One put forward the question, “If you knew you were to die in the next half hour, what would you do?  “I would run to the chapel,” said one. “I would go to confession,” said another, “I would kneel down and pray the rosary” said the last. The Saint had not spoken so they asked, “Father, what would you do?”

The Saint looked at them and replied, “We are here to play a game. It is what we are supposed to be doing. When the Master comes I want Him to find me doing what I am supposed to be doing, so I will keep playing the game.”

Ultimately what matters most is whether we are doing what God wants or not. For students this week I am certain it is God’s will that they study and prepare as best they can for finals. So to all you students and families- Go For It!

From the Principal’s Desk 1.29

Dear Parents and Friends,

Tomorrow is Graduation and last night was the annual Senior Banquet. I had the privilege of speaking to the assembly and would like to summarize my thoughts for all of you.

St Paul states in 1 Corinthians 13 that without love I am nothing. It is clear that the only true measure of success is whether or not we do our actions with love.  For love transcends the human experience and brings us toward the divinity that we are as Children of God. So whether one becomes a father or a mother, or a doctor, or a lawyer, or a builder, or a landscaper, or a farmer etc. it is not what we do that makes us a success but how we do it. What is lacking in this world is not good work, but love. Yesterday my son received his first Holy Communion and as we prepared to leave for church I bent down to tie his shoes. I did not tie his shoes simply because they were untied or I was afraid he would trip but rather because they are my sons shoes; my son whom I love. What made Blessed John Paul great was not because he was Pope but rather, because his actions bespoke love. What made Mother Theresa a saint was how she took care of the people of Calcutta. She differed from other social workers in that she cared for the dying with love. Love can be defined as the self less desire for the good of another. So “Beloved let us love one another, for love is of God.  Anyone that loves knows God."

In addition we are also called to give witness, for we go forth into this world as ambassadors of Christ. We are members of his family, we are sons and daughters of God and as such we need to make sure that we are honorable representations of the family of God. So we need to be the best in whatever task we choose, we need to excel in what ever job we take,  for if we do it in love, then we will know, as Scripture says, in Christ our labor is not in vain.

To all the graduates of Holy Family High School I say congratulations. You have been wonderfully trained and prepared and now it is your turn to use what you have been given. May God bless you and prosper all the good you do. May Christ inspire every action and may you listen to Him who walked on water, raised Lazarus from the dead and is the very Lord of Glory.

From the Principal’s Desk 1.28

Dear Parents and Friends,

Next week is an important one for many of our students, actually about 25% of them.  On Wednesday at 10 AM they will, for the first time, march down the path into the newly renovated Mike G. Gabriel Stadium to their seats, waiting to receive their diplomas and officially end their High School years. It is an awesome achievement and one that is shared by many, especially the students themselves.

While we have had the graduations in the gym we decided to try outside for several reasons. The stands can seat as many as the gym, and we have extra seating on the stadium floor and the hillside has been landscaped into steps which can fit additional seats. This allows you to bring a chair with a back, something not possible in the gym.   Mornings in the spring in Colorado are generally fair and mild and the backdrop of the lake in one direction and the mountains in the other should be lovely.  

For the handicapped and elderly we are reserving parking by the baseball field and we will have golf carts available to bring you closer to your seats.  The stadium is handicapped accessible.

In the event the weather is doubtful we will place a phone call at 8 AM stating the graduation will be inside and delayed to 12 noon. The students who are not graduating are invited to come to the ceremony but not required.  

Please keep the seniors in your prayers. It is a great and terrible thing to finish high school and start your adult life. (As we all remember, perhaps all to well!)  They will need our guidance, our love and probably some of our cash; mostly they need God’s grace. He who guides the birds of the air, who directs flowers to grow and fish to swim, will guide our children if they let Him. May they do so.

-The Graduation occurred in the gymnasium do to inclement weather-

From the Principal’s Desk 1.27

Dear Friends,

Unlike many of you I watched the Twin Towers burn on Sept. 11, 2001 and could smell the smoke from my house. I watched in sadness the wreck and devastation that was wrought by one man’s evil vision and by those willing to carry it out. I drove supplies up the NJ Turnpike to those working at ground zero and prayed fervently for the souls of those who died. I also taught students whose parents where killed in the attack.  So when I say I am glad Osama Bin Laden was finally brought to justice and that President Obama and the military did their jobs well, I mean it.

However, the biggest news of the last few days was not the death of Osama, or the wedding of the Royals but the Beatification of John Paul the Great.  Here was a man whose vision brought life, not death; who filled those around him with love not loathing and whose life has been a source of blessing. When he visited Denver in 1993, I was at Mile High Stadium and chanted with the crowd, “John Paul II we love you!” and to this day I can hear in my mind the Polish Popes accented voice chanting back to us, “ John Paul II, he loves YOU!” and realizing it was the truth.  In the final result it will not be hate and fear which conquers the world, but love.  May we all teach our children that while we must confront evil and seek justice we are set free by the love of Christ.

Next week I will have more to say about graduation and the end of the school year but for today I will end with these words of Scripture, “In

From the Principal’s Desk 1.26

Dear Friends,

Nearly two thousand years ago, Jesus Christ was Risen from the Dead! And although many eons have passed the power of that resurrection remains undiminished. In the end all of our children will stand before the judgment seat of God and behold Christ in his entire splendor. At that critical stage, that final exam, they shall receive the just reward for the life they have lived.   It is our duty to make certain they know their faith and are given the tools to succeed in life. With both they can live up to the potential that God made them for.

Happy Easter!

From the Principal’s Desk 1.25

Dear Friends,

As we near the great feast of our Faith, I am aware of the many and varied blessings that cause me to be grateful. For the salvation won for us on Calvary I am eternally thankful. For giving the world enough time for myself and my family to be born and baptized, I am eternally thankful. For the great company of witnesses I am daily surrounded by I am thankful and for this school where we can fearlessly proclaim that, as John 3:16 states, “ For God so loved the world that He gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” I am thankful forever!

May all of you have a Blessed Triduum and an Easter Season filled with God’s grace.

From the Principal’s Desk 1.24

Dear Parent and Friends,

Last week Holy Family was privileged to have Tom Monaghan speak to the Seniors and Juniors. Mr. Monaghan is the founder and former owner of Domino’s Pizza, former owner of the Detroit Tigers (he owned them when they won the World Series) and the founder and Chancellor of Ave Maria University near Naples, Florida.  He spoke about losing his Father when he was 6 and spending 6 years in orphanages, of failing in many ways before becoming one of the richest men in the nation. He spoke of having everything, 242 classic cars, a fleet of helicopters and planes, yachts, homes etc. and of the realization that he didn’t need it and it was just pride. So he sold everything and has been using his wealth to build the kingdom of God. An amazing story of a man who found putting God first makes all the difference.  The whole story of Tom Monaghan is long and involved yet I think the students had a chance to see who he is.

With no small satisfaction I should relate that the loudest cheer the students gave Mr. Monaghan was not for his wealth or success but rather when he mentioned that in August he and his wife will celebrate their 49^th wedding anniversary.

I am happy to relate that Prom and After- Prom went off quite well thanks to the hard work and vigilance of many of the staff and parents. To all of you I must say Thank You!  

God bless, Easter is coming but we are not done yet!

From the Principal’s Desk 1.23

Dear Parents and Friends,

Lent is in full swing and it often leaves me thinking about the future. Kids, and adults, often fear the future. They worry about the test, the dance, the meeting and the bills. They are ‘concerned’ about what college they will be going to and what Mom and Dad will think. Are they going to find a date, are they going to have a good career; the list is endless.

We of course are not alone in this experience. Even Christ was apprehensive about His future. In the Garden he was plainly suffering; what He did we also should do. When life is rearing its ugly head, and things look doubtful, pray and then do what you must.  Jesus knows what you are going through, He knows what you need and in the final analysis He will be the one who will provide what you need.  It may be hard but we are comforted to know that after every Good Friday, there is Easter.

Finally, I recently heard a talk by Immaculée Ilibagiza, a Rwandan survivor of the genocide that occurred in 1994. She described that what enabled her to survive was the Rosary and her Catholic faith. I would encourage all of you to learn more about this amazing woman and her story. Her website is http://www.immaculee.com/

From the Principal’s Desk 1.22

Dear Friends,

A couple of interesting notes to share, a study on marriage recently concluded that the best indicator of whether or not a child is going to be successful in life, work and faith is their degree of education. (First Things, March 2011).  Of course statistics have their limitations, they can more easily tell us what a 100 people will do, and nothing about what one person can do. I firmly believe that if we at the high school work in conjunction with the parents of our students, then they will have the greatest chance of being successes. The greatest success of all is to be a saint. In fact in the final analysis it is the only success worth talking about.

That brings me to my second point; Tonight Dr. Frank Gumerlock is going to speak about St. Augustine in the library at 7 PM.  The rosary will be said before the talk at 6:30 PM.  All are welcome and encouraged to come. We will be posting the talks on line shortly after they are given.

Finally, we had a pep-rally Monday to celebrate the amazing season of the Girls Basketball Team and their 4^th ‘annual’ State Championship. Many of you did not get the message about the pep-rally and I must take the blame for that, because of a miscommunication the announcement never was sent. Mea Culpa.

I hope and pray lent is going well,

As usual any questions, comments, cares or concerns, please don’t hesitate to contact me.

From the Principal’s Desk 1.21

The glorious season of lent, the great time of prayer and fasting, is finally upon us. Lent is one of those things that while in the midst of it I find it a valuable source of blessing; and when Easter comes, I am happy!

The Lenten series on the saints continues tonight with Peter Galmish talking about GK Chesterton. It begins at 6:30 with the rosary in the chapel and the talk is given at 7 p.m. in the library. I would encourage all to come and be inspired. If you can not make the rosary please at least come for the talk.

In our life there is truly only one measure of success, whether or not we become saints. Studying the lives of the saints helps us realize they are like us in so many ways and yet they found a way to achieve the goal. May your lent be a blessed one and may you someday see God face to face.

From the Principal’s Desk 1.20

Happy Mardi Gras!

Finally, Lent is upon us, the great season of Prayer and Self Denial; a great opportunity for all of us to focus on our spiritual journey allowing us to consider our final destination. Sirach says, “Remember your final end and you will not sin”.   In much the same way we ask our students to study and practice all semester for their final exams, so we must study and practice for ours.  Self denial, a hallmark of Lent, helps us realize we are not slaves to our senses but masters. We find with such amazement that we don’t need that donut, or candy; that we will not die if we fast. We find out that extra prayer is like fast acting medicine for the soul. It is a wonderful experience…if we want it. So many things are offered to us by God. We must decide to choose them.

I have often thought Easter is best celebrated when we have spent a good amount of time preparing during Lent.  A good way to do this is to join us for the 2^nd annual Lenten Series, starting this Wednesday with the rosary at 6:30 p.m. followed by a talk at 7 p.m. with discussion following. This year we are studying the life of the saints. I get to start the ball rolling with St. Athanasius. I urge you to come, young and old, to be inspired by the saints of old.

From the Principal’s Desk 1.19

Greetings Friends,

No doubt we are all aware that the Oscars were awarded the other night. The winner for Best Picture, The King’s Speech shows us what the role and limitations of a good teacher are. A good teacher guides a student, sometimes uncomfortably, to help them achieve. A good teacher instructs, cajoles, and encourages a student, but the achievement, or failure, is the students. We can help our children; we can not do it for them. This is true is all aspects of life, and of salvation. No one can be saved by our merits. It is their choice. As the saying goes, “God doesn’t have any grandchildren, only children.” We can bring our children to the faith but they must choose it for themselves.

In the end that is the best, we can not force a student to learn, we can not save their soul, when a student learns and when a soul is saved, many may have helped but the glory is the students alone. They achieved because of us, but it is their victory we share.  Would we want it any other way?  May we share in many, many victories!

Supplement- For Teachers

We teachers are privileged in that we get to work with human lives. We get to mold the future and in many ways, indelibly mark it. Every interaction with a student can lift them up to heights they would never have even dreamed of, or help thrust them into depths unimaginable. In either case the student makes the decision, we just aid.  When I walk through this building I so often see teachers lifting student’s spirits, challenging them, and inspiring. It is part of what makes Holy Family a great place. Are we perfect, alas no (see the beginning of this note) but we strive to be. As it is said of Saints, they were not perfect, but everyday tried to be.

Lets strive to be Saints,

From the Principal’s Desk 1.18

Dear Friends,

Hilaire Belloc a noted English author once stated the following:

I have wandered all my life, and I have also traveled; the difference between the two being this, that we wander for distraction, but we travel for fulfillment.

High School can often be one or the other, a distraction or a fulfillment; the experience is the same, the mental attitude is the defining characteristic. Which one our children choose is of course their choice, however we can help them understand the value of what they are learning by asking them what is going on in class, what they have learned, how they have been challenged. I do not just mean the “How was your day?” queries but more involved comments about the subject matter etc.  Asking a student to recall what they learned in foreign language or math class not only helps them understand the importance of the subject matter but also helps the student recall the material. So encourage your student to discuss what they have learned, it will make the learning more effective and hopefully add to the quality of your dinner conversation.

Thank you for your support, and if you have anything to ask, or comment on please do not hesitate.

God bless

From the Pricipal's Desk 1.6-1.17

From the Principal’s Desk 1.17

Dear Parents and Friends,

I think I am not alone in enjoying the break from the bitter cold and snow we have been having. It is a blessed relief not to worry about snow days and delays, at least for now. This gives us an opportunity to remind our students that all of life’s crosses and trials come to an end. It seems that truly it is darkest before dawn. The storm is fiercest just as it ends.  One of the graces we are taught to pray for is the grace of perseverance, so that when life’s storms come we can see them to the end.  When students confront a particularly daunting assignment, a paper, a project, a test or the like, they often feel the storm clouds gathering and night closing in. This is when we get the chance to remind them the truth of what we know.  It is often the first steps that are the most difficult.

The following is a favorite poem of my father; I believe it states the case well.

Don’t Quit

When things go wrong, as they sometimes will,
When the road you're trudging seems all uphill,
When the funds are low and the debts are high,
And you want to smile, but you have to sigh,
When care is pressing you down a bit,
Rest, if you must, but don't you quit.
Life is queer with its twists and turns,
As every one of us sometimes learns,
And many a failure turns about,
When he might have won had he stuck it out;
Don't give up though the pace seems slow--
You may succeed with another blow.
Often the goal is nearer than,
It seems to a faint and faltering man,
Often the struggler has given up,
When he might have captured the victor's cup,
And he learned too late when the night slipped down,
How close he was to the golden crown.
Success is failure turned inside out--
The silver tint of the clouds of doubt,
And you never can tell how close you are,
It may be near when it seems so far,
So stick to the fight when you're hardest hit--
It's when things seem worst that you must not quit.
- Author unknown

From the Principal’s Desk 1.16

Well, after weeks of no snow, another storm,  but I will not dwell upon that, instead, I would like to draw your attention to Parent Teacher conferences that are scheduled for next week. Conferences are a great time to briefly speak to your child’s teacher and gain some insight to what is going on in their class. The times are listed in this email. While there is no appointment necessary, it is advisable to try to come as early as possible.

Last week was Catholic Schools week.  It is good every now and again to focus on the great things that are done in Catholic Schools.  Your choice to send your child to Holy Family guarantees they will have a chance to experience not only a full college preparatory education but also first class Catholic theology.  We want our graduates to be the best prepared students west of the Mississippi and we are happy to have you partner with us in that task. If you ever see ways we can improve please do not hesitate to contact us.

From the Principal’s Desk 1.15

Greetings on this cold day!

Just a quick note about today! We are blessed to be able to offer instruction today and to continue our work of bringing understanding and the knowledge of God’s creation to your children. So why are we open when other schools are closed?  The answer is simply; we don’t use buses.

This means we don’t have students standing at bus stops waiting in the cold, and we don’t have to keep the buses running.

I am glad that we have the ability to offer instruction to students today instead of focusing on those issues however I can not know all of the road conditions in all of the areas we come from which is why I wanted to remind everyone that it is their prerogative to allow their children to come to school or to keep them home.

Thanks for supporting us at the school. May God bless you in all your endeavors!

From the Principal’s Desk 1.14

Let me start by stating our firm and unwavering commitment to building a Culture of Life, as Venerable John Paul the Great urged us. In a country that can not even protect the lives of the unborn it is all the more necessary for us to do so.  Holy Family High School in all of its activities strives to embrace and celebrate the gift of life that God has graced us with and to teach others to do the same, so that someday a human life will be cherished by all and protected by law from conception until natural death. Oh Lord, may that day soon come!

The annual Sadie Hawkins dance was held last Friday and it was a great success. I want to thank the Parents who helped us and also tell you the students behaved great. When everyone comes to have a good time and to follow the guidelines of the event the results are inevitably great! Our next dance is the Prom and I will be sending out more involved instructions shortly. If you are thinking about buying a dress, please wait until we get a chance to send out our expectations.

Kairos is going on this week so please keep all the participants, and the adults, in your prayers.

Please note the advertisement for Camp Wojtyla (John Paul II Polish name) which is attached to this note. It is an opportunity for your student to grow in their faith and to have a valuable outdoors experience, and have a lot of fun.

From the Principal’s Desk 1.13

Dear Friends,

As is our tradition, we are once again excited to announce the 2011 Lenten Series-

Conversion Stories; The Saints and Our Kids

These talks are designed to help in the evangelization of our children, to bring them to know Christ better.  Passing on our faith is the greatest task we have as parents as it was for our parents and theirs. In its truest sense, conversion is a personal event; all of us must at some time decide to follow Christ. We can lead our children to the waters of faith; they must decide whether to drink. We do realize that thirsty children tend to drink most deeply.   

The Saints are given to us by God so that we can have hope. They all were children once, they all struggled to find God and they all did extra-ordinary things with the ordinary lives they were given. It is my most fervent hope that all of my children become Saints. I hope you feel the same.  

We will spend each week examining a saint’s life, finding out where they struggled, how they succeeded and what real world lessons we can draw from them.

March 9           St. Athanasius                                   Mr. Timothy Gallic

March 15         G.K.Chesterton                                  Mr. Peter Galmish

March 22         St. Augustine                                     Dr. Frank Gumerlock

April

5              St Gianna Molla                                Miss Brittany Lane

April 12            St. Therese’s Parents                          Miss Suzie Powers

April 19            St. Benedict                                        Mr. Dave Good

We will be meeting in the library from 7PM until 8 PM. Then following the talk there will be time for discussion.

I hope you can make it and please spread the word;

All are welcome, student and parent alike!

The audio recordings from last year are still available on the homepage of the school website at http://www.holyfamilyhs.com/

From the Principal’s Desk 1.12

We made it through Christmas and lo and behold, snow arrives! From all reports it seems that all the students arrived safely. As you can imagine calling a snow day or a late start is a difficult decision that must be made in the early morning hours; I make the best decision I can with the information I have.

As the second semester is underway I wish to urge you to have your students avail themselves of the opportunity they have to receive extra help from the teachers. Each and every day from 2:25 until 2:45 we have access and additionally teachers are available until 3 PM if they are needed further. The National Honor Society has student tutors who are available for tutoring. They have had historically excellent results please do not hesitate to use them.

Our goal is the education of the whole person and as part of that I want to remind all that mass is said Monday through Thursday at 7:20 AM in our chapel and Father Gabriel is available for confession.

Finally, thank you for choosing Holy Family for your child.

From the Principal’s Desk 1.11

Happy New Year! And Merry Christmas (still!)

I hope and trust you all had a great break and are as excited as we are to have the students back in the building. It has been a blessed time celebrating and now it is time to get back to work. I thought I would start the New Year talking briefly about the date of graduation.  We were confronted with several time constraints in selecting graduation, the league track and field meets, as well as the senior exams are the week before graduation. From Thursday May 19 through Saturday May 21 are the state track finals. This means that if we schedule a Thursday or Friday graduation we will eliminate some of the students from attending. Additionally as the class size is larger this year than in the last several we are finding the gymnasium rather full and although we can have graduation there it is not ideal. Spring mornings in Colorado are generally mild and fair and an outside graduation can be a lovely experience, having it during daylight hours also makes it easier to navigate the walkways. In short our preference would not be to have it in the middle of the week but unless we want to forgo the state track meet we have little choice.  

Thank you for your support of Catholic education in general and this school in particular.

May God bless you and your families during the remainder of the Christmas Season and the entire year

From the Principal’s Desk 1.10

As this year draws to an end, and as the students study and take their exams, I want to wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.  We will all enjoy a good break, see family and friends and experience that particular joy which Christmas brings. The school will not be silent during that time and when we all return for the spring semester the gym will have a fresh coat of wax and look awesome.

Of course we are not over just yet, so please encourage your students to be diligent to the end, after all it isn’t just Santa who is watching!

We are blessed to have so many wonderful people in our lives and this school is no exception. We are blessed to have you in our lives. You honor us by trusting us with your children; enabling us to help you impart the great gifts of knowledge and understanding. Most of all you let us join you in imparting our faith with this next generation.

Thank you and (again) Merry Christmas!

From the Principal’s Desk 1.9

The first semester draws to a close and for all their actions the students must now reap the reward. For most it will be a happy occasion and for some a more challenging one. One of the benefits of school in general is that it reminds us of our Day of Judgment when we shall be called upon to give and account of our lives. Fortunately, semester grades are not anywhere near the same level as our final exam!  Advent helps us understand how great it is that after so long a wait the Messiah comes and gives us the chance to accept some divine ‘extra credit’ !

You may have noticed we do not have a Crèche set up at school. We had commissioned one to be made and the order was not filled however we did not find out until after it was too late to get another one. We will make sure we have one by next Advent.

I hope you get a chance to join us tomorrow night for the Winter Concert at 7pm. It promises to be a wonderful performance with our very talented students. Come and see; go and tell!

I pray your Advent goes well and your preparation for Christmas is a peaceful one.

From the Principal’s Desk 1.8

May all of you have a blessed and happy Thanksgiving Day! On this day, as families gather to give thanks, may all of us be truly grateful for all who have gone before us. Our school and our faith did not start with us but came as a result of generations of faithful witness to the truth of God’s love for us in Christ Jesus.  Will the same be said of us someday? I sure hope so!

No doubt you have heard of the success of our tree and wreath fundraiser. Big thanks to all of you who helped especially Gloria Olson, Martin Barrett, Patty Gabriel and Marianne Alonzo.

Finally, one of the aspects of a truly Catholic school is that it celebrates with all the Christian Churches. Ecumenism is at the heart of our Church and recognizes what unites us is greater than what divides us. So it is with great joy that we can join with all our brothers and sisters in the Lord and thank Him for this country and all the blessings in it.

From the Principal’s Desk 1.7

As we deal with the first snowfall of the season please take a moment and make sure we have all of your contact information up to date. No one likes a call at 5:45 AM but it beats missing such a call and bringing your kids to a school that is closed because of the weather.  Also please remember delayed openings are to give your child more time to get to school, not to let them sleep in as they might suggest.

If you had a chance to see the play “You can’t take it with you” performed here at the high school you got to see a great performance. The Cast and the stage crew all did a great job getting the theater in shape as well as learning their parts. A big congratulation is in order for them.

We also have students who help run other activities, in particular I should mention the members of Student Council who recently assisted in Open House and the Ambassador’s Club who help us bring the good news about our school to future students.

As you may have heard we had to remove the old stage and are currently looking at alternatives for what we will replace it with; stay tuned we will have something shortly.

From the Principal’s Desk 1.6

The open house this past Sunday was a resounding success and I would like to thank both Eric Nakayama and Jennifer Wilcomb for all their work as well as all the staff and parents who helped. We know what a great treasure we have at the school; it sure is nice when we get a chance to show the rest of the community. Of course if you know anyone who missed the open house we are always available for tours or shadowing.

One thing I said to everyone at the open house, and it bears repeating, is that our goal at Holy Family is to treat each child as they deserve; as someone for whom God died. We are therefore committed to make sure each student is seen as an awesome Child of God whom we are pledged to work with to help them achieve their full potential.