From the Principal's Desk 4.27

FROM THE PRINCIPAL'S DESK Dear Friends, Years ago, I met a pilot who told me the following, "In life, take-offs are all voluntary but landings are all mandatory". All of us who have children know exactly what that means; we can choose to have children but we cannot choose much of what comes next!  This week those who have seniors get to experience one of the great landing moments.  They have finished all 4 years of high school, they have been accepted at colleges and they are sitting on the cusp of adult life.  When one trip ends we customarily look back and recount the great times, as well we should, and only then do we start looking toward the next journey.  I encourage all of you to do just that, look through those old photo albums, from before the digital revolution. Take a look at where you were, for only then will you truly value where you are. We see before us young men and women filled with hope, faith and charity.  What they will do with such gifts is our pleasure to see, but first we need to give thanks to God for entrusting us, both as teachers and families, with their presence.  Has the road been hard? Has it proved rocky and steep?  Have there been mishaps and accidents, bad decisions and pain? Yes to all, but don't stop there.  It has also been AWESOME! Laughter and smiles, hugs and kisses (sometimes to take care of the little booboosJ) And all of us would happily take all the unpleasantness for the privilege of being their parents or teachers. So to the Graduates- Well Done- Be Strong- Go and make us Proud. Timothy Gallic Principal, Holy Family High School 303-410-1411

From the Principal's Desk 4.26

FROM THE PRINCIPAL'S DESK Dear Friends, One of the beauties of high school is the general pattern and rhythm of it.  From the start of the year exciting events come and go leaving us now at the end of the year with some of the most wonderful times of all.  Today, I want to highlight the Awards ceremony where we recognized the achievements, big and small of our students, and then announced perhaps the schools highest, non-academic, award; Mr. and Miss HFHS (won by Ryan Willis and Olivia Quinn). Last Friday, students and staff enjoyed the annual Color Day and May Crowning celebrations, where the students first crowned Mary as our Queen and then proceeded to freely roam, played games and had a great time before we reconvened for the final assembly.  The students displayed just what we hoped they would display, peace, joy, happiness, excitement and respect.  From hoisting their classmate on their shoulders, to cheering at the assemblies, the students of Holy Family act like just who they are, God's children and ours.   Are they perfect, no, but they are moving in the right direction. The Performing Arts department, with the cooperation and participation of a large group of students, performed 'Seven Brides for Seven Brothers' last week and if you got to see it, you were blessed.   We often talk about sports and academics, as well we should; we ought not to forget the amazing work done by the  Performing Arts department.  This play was excellent, from the opening to closing curtain, and when new plays are announced next fall, don't hesitate to buy tickets, you will be pleased with what you see.   There are a few more music performances on the calendar yet to come, I recommend you try to attend one of them. Many good things occur at this school. God may be the only one who sees them; He is the only one whose reward has everlasting significance.  To all who labor and learn, to all who train and perform, and to all who cheer and rejoice, thank you.  It is good to be here at Holy Family and I thank God for each and every one of you! Timothy Gallic Principal, Holy Family High School 303-410-1411

From the Principal's Desk 4.25

FROM THE PRINCIPAL'S DESK Dear Friends, Last weekend saw the canonization of two remarkable men, both Popes.  While I was not alive during the pontificate of St. Pope John XXIII I spent most of my childhood and early married years, as did many of you, with St. Pope John Paul the Great.   In 1993 I drove to Denver for World Youth Day, never imagining I would someday move here.  While I did not get close enough for a personal encounter, what I saw changed my life.  We were in Mile High Stadium as the Pope arrived.   The crowd cheered wildly "John Paul II, We LOVE you!"  as the pontiff circled the stadium.  The saintly man moved up to the microphone and said in his heavily accented tones, "John Paul II...he LOVES YOU!" The crowd became silent, broken only by a few sniffs and even as I write this I am moved to tears because it was so true.  After that moment we cheered even louder and in some ways, many of us are still cheering.   What made St. John Paul the Great a saint was not his incredible mind, his life experiences, his office, or anything else about him.  All of that was how he demonstrated his saintly life.  What made him a saint, was God.  This is incredibly good news for us.  All of us, regardless of ability, can be and are called to be saints and the hallmark of a saint, the one thing that makes them so different, is love, that selfless desire for the good of another.   The two great commandments sum this up:  Love your God with all your heart, mind, body and soul and love your neighbor as yourself.  There is another characteristic of a saint; they are joyful.    If we want ourselves and our children to be joyful, let us encourage all of them to be saints. Timothy Gallic Principal, Holy Family High School 303-410-1411 p.s. A big shout out to everyone who attended the Prom and after Prom, and to all who volunteered to make this night work.  This was simply the best Prom I have ever attended.  From the beautiful and very colorful dresses the young ladies wore to the well clad young gentlemen, the evening's elegance shone brightly.   Well done everyone, this certainly stands as one of our better moments.  Thank you!