Dear Families,
As we find ourselves with little more than two weeks left in the first quarter, it is amazing to see how quickly time is passing. The gorgeous fall leaves that fall upon our school campus are a reminder of God’s creation: always changing, always growing, and filled with stunning beauty. Another wonderful area of growth we have seen this fall has been the formation of our Households. Introduced in August, the initiative has a twofold goal: to promote growth in virtue and provide opportunities for fellowship.
After having two official household activities so far, I can honestly s...
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Dear Families,
I was back in the classroom on Thursday, substituting for Mr. McMenaman in our junior Morality course. We read through and discussed passages from Pope John Paul II's encyclical entitled Veritatis Splendor. My only thought after the class was, "Wow, do I miss discussing these texts with young people." I did own the fact that I came up with the idea of reading this text with this group of juniors, due in large part to their collective intellectual capacity. Tackling such a philosophical and ideologically charged text is not easy for anyone, lest an adolescent.
Twenge, in her boo...
Read MoreDear Families,
We have spent the past month discussing the dangers of excessive screen time, the importance of silence and reflection, and pondering the words of great men such as Saint John Paul II. Now we turn to the question: How does technology limit our creativity? How does it keep us from being the loving, innovative creatures made in His likeness and image?
In their book, The App Generation (Gardner & Davis, 2013) pioneering psychologist Howard Gardner (Multiple Intelligences theory) notices that although, “Digital media open up new avenues for youth to express themselves creatively… an...
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Dear Families,
Pope John Paul II was a phenomenal communicator; he maximized every tool and opportunity to impart truths about our faith, family, and society. Continuing our focus on the media and its effect on children, family life, education, and the culture, I wanted to share a couple excerpts from his annual addresses on World Communications Day.
This prophetic gem comes from the 19th address back in 1985:
Young people, therefore, are the first and most immediate receivers of the mass media, but they are also the most exposed to the flood of information and of images which arrive in ...
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Dear Families,
Welcome to (unbelievably) the third week of school. Many parents, teachers, and children have remarked to me recently that they cannot believe how quickly time is flying. It has been gratifying to see how quickly and smoothly the students and staff have settled into routines of hard work and play. Schoolwork procedures become ingrained, recess games begin swiftly, and everyone is happy to be together once again.
Serendipitously, my husband and I undertook a silent retreat the weekend before school began. The Trappist Monastery was booked six months in advance; so, when we made ...
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Dear Families,
I digress to a note about the tone of this message: I promise to be more upbeat in future messages. The school year is off to a fantastic start.
A question that keeps nudging me I would imagine is nudging all of you: What kind of world will our children enter? What will it be like for our children when they mature into adulthood?
The answer to that question starts with what is happening right now, and what is happening is right in our hands.
Dr. Jean Twenge is a psychologist and secular observer of generational behaviors and attitudes. In her newest book entitled, ““iGen: Why T...
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I had the privilege of attending the 6th Annual National Catholic Classical Schools Conference this summer, hosted at the Catholic University of America in Washington DC. After reflecting on the experience, I wanted to share my thoughts.
It has been a long time since I was away from my family for several days. The only other time I was away for school-related purposes was a two-week marketing trip to China in 2012. My daughter Jubilee was barely six months old at the time. I vividly recall standing in my hotel room, longing to attend Mass, but quite uncertain as to how to find a legitimate Ma...
Read MoreIntroductory Remarks, Headmaster Derek Tremblay
On behalf of the soon-to-be graduates, their parents, and the faculty of Mount Royal Academy, I welcome you to the 2018 commencement exercises.
After reminiscing with parents and faculty on Thursday night, a clear theme emerged. These are good-natured young men, boys at times, and not all of them are boys. Out of the 20 graduates here today, there are 2 young women after all. Don’t feel bad for them: they don’t feel bad for themselves.
During the Baccalaureate Mass, Fr. Michael exhorted the graduates to never forget the context of all the knowled...
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