When we are young, it can seem to take an eternity for time to pass. Waiting for birthdays and Christmases can be excruciating. Looking forward to new adventures and privileges- transitioning to high school, learning to drive, getting a first job- can seem unreachable.�� At some point most children will bemoan their situation, saying that they can’t wait until they grow up.

Once you are “grown up” your perspective changes, though. Certainly you still look forward to milestone events, but one becomes more keenly aware in retrospect of all that has already happened.�� Those same birthdays and Christmases come and go at an alarming rate. Watching children grown from a babe to toddler to teen brings this awareness into sharp focus. Parents often reflect on this process as we go through the events of the school year. Recently one mom said she went to put the Christmas Concert in her calendar, only to remember that her youngest is in grade seven, past the stage for concerts (pardon the pun).

One thing for certain, there isn’t much you or I can do to slow the passage of time.�� All we can do is make the most of the time we have. Looking to the future or reminiscing about the past, while good in small doses, can take us away from the moment we have right now. Hopefully this season of Advent provides each of us with time to think about how we want to spend the great gift of time we have been given. The feast of Christmas will come and go in a blink of an eye, but here’s hoping its rich traditions allow for reconnecting with family and friends in the moments it provides.

Have a blessed Advent!

Peace,

Christine McInnis

Principal

P.S. For a neat take on how time flies visit: http://maximiliankiener.com/digitalprojects/time/

Farmers purposefully leave fields unplanted or fallow to allow the soil to replenish its nutrients in preparation for the next season of growth.�� This practice has been in use for centuries on farms around the world. Fallow time helps restore fertility, reduce water consumption, and maintain better soil conditions. In fact, without this periodic rest, the soil can become stripped of all its goodness and will not be able to sustain and nourish plants.

In early June, I had the opportunity to attend the Canadian Catholic Schools Trustees Association Annual Conference in Halifax. Our keynote speaker, David Wells, spoke of the pressure many of us feel to be constantly productive, as if we need to be busy to prove our worth.�� He stressed that we do not earn God’s favour through our “doing”, rather our “doing” is a response to His unconditional love.�� He stressed that we need periods of inactivity, or fallow time, to rest and recharge ourselves for our work.

Summer is the perfect gift then, especially for those of us in schools. It gives us the opportunity to “rest” from the hustle of school life, after school activities and constant motion. It is a chance to recharge our bodies, minds, and spirits. For many of us, the summer months bring the opportunity to try new things—perhaps through travel, hobbies, or simply spending more time with family and friends. These experiences allow us to step away from the pressures of life and find joy in the simple moments. Just as a farmer nurtures the soil, our time away from our daily busyness nourishes us in ways we may not even realize at the time. It is not wasted time but an essential part of our journey. It allows us to return to our work and school as refreshed and renewed people, ready to learn, grow, and serve one another in love.

So, as you enjoy the days of summer, remember that rest is a gift—a way for us to find strength in stillness, to be renewed in faith, and to prepare ourselves for the wonderful opportunities the new year will bring. May God bless you with peace, joy, and rest during this fallow season, and may we all return to school with hearts and minds replenished for the new adventures that await us.

Peace,

Christine McInnis

Maybe because I have spent my life in schools, the idea of being “like a pencil” resonates with me.�� A pencil, by nature, is humble, shaped and guided by a hand that directs its movements. Just like the pencil, we are called to trust in God’s guidance, to allow Him to lead us in ways that serve others and fulfill His purpose for our lives. We may not always understand the process, but just as a pencil can be used to create something beautiful, God uses us to bring good into the world.

We are reminded that we are not the authors of our story, but by allowing ourselves to be open to God’s vision for our lives we can become instruments of hope, healing, and transformation. Each of us has a unique role to play, and when we allow ourselves to be in God’s hands, our story becomes part of the gospel , the Good News of God’s love for all of us. It’s a bit of a relief, actually. We don’t have to do everything, we just need to be like a pencil.

As we continue though this Lenten season, let us strive to remain open, humble, and willing to be used for His greater purpose, trusting that, through us, God can write a story more beautiful than we could ever imagine.

Peace,

Christine McInnis

Principal

You yourselves are our letter, written on our hearts, known and read by everyone. You show that you are a letter from Christ, the result of our ministry, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts.��

– 2 Corinthians 3:3

As tempting as it is to hit the snooze button or simply lie in bed listening to music, I know that the longer I procrastinate, the more harried my morning will become. I find it very stressful to be late, so there is some motivation to heed the alarm. As well, if I lie there for too long, I become almost immune to the sound of the radio. Suddenly I am dreaming about the news piece or song being broadcast. Besides, as I remind myself often, I enjoy what I do and I love the people I work with: the students, the parents and the staff. There are many blessings that await as the day unfolds, starting with a warm cup of tea.

It’s interesting to me that all this alarm angst is happening just as preparations for Advent are beginning. Many of the readings from the early part of this season speak of wakefulness. In the gospel of Mark, Jesus tells his disciples, “Stay awake, watch; for you do not know the hour when the time will come.” This is echoed in the letters of Paul: “Brother and Sisters, you know what time it is, how it is now the moment for you to wake up from sleep. Salvation is near…”

God’s call to us can be like an alarm clock, telling us it is time to get up and follow him. It is tempting at times to hit the snooze button, as it may feel like we are not ready to commit to what is being asked of us. We may not be ready to give up our warm beds, our cozy life, and move into the light of day. Then, I think we run the risk of sleeping through, not hearing the call at all and missing our opportunity to live the life that we are meant for. It may not always be as comfortable, but we can’t live our life under the covers.

As we enter into this Advent, I want to use this time to listen for the alarm that God sends to me. Hopefully, I can throw off the covers and seize the day, both literally and figuratively. As well, I hope that this season provides you with an opportunity to reflect on the blessings that you and your family have, and the ways in which you may be called to wakefulness.

Have a blessed Advent!

Peace,

Christine McInnis

Ahh…summertime! There is an air of excitement around the school in the weeks leading up to summer holidays; staff and students are in high spirits and ready to spend some time relaxing, myself included. The rhythm of summer holidays has been part of my groove for a very long time, first as a student , then as a teacher and parent, and now as an administrator. Anyone who works in schools is blessed to have this block of vacation, but we aren’t the only ones who treasure this time.

A few years ago there was some buzz in the educational community regarding year round schooling. The proponents of this initiative believe that students attending classes through the summer would have greater retention of information, therefore learning would increase. The idea never really caught on in North America. Traditionally, children were needed to work on the farm during the summer months and, although we have moved away from our farm roots, the notion of summer holidays is still a very strong part of our culture. It could be those long winters’ bundled under layers of clothing, but I think it has more to do with our sense of how special summer time was to us and the experiences we want for our kids.

Do you remember summertime when you were a kid? The weeks seemed to stretch on, with endless days of not much to do—certainly no set agenda. Sometimes we were bored, but active imaginations usually prevailed. We found all sorts of endeavours to occupy our time from fort building, to sprinkler escapades and lemonade stands. It was a carefree time, mostly just living in the moment. Occasionally there was an outing, but It didn’t matter if you went on a trip across the country or around the block, summer reigned supreme. Most of us feel a sense of nostalgia for those days, when you could ride a bike all afternoon or just lie on your back and look at the clouds. We want that same experience for our children, which is why summer holidays are still considered unchangeable, almost sacred.

Sacred is a good word for these days, considering that the word holiday comes from holy day. Originally, the word referred to days of special religious significance – a Saint’s feast day, Christmas or Easter and the like. In our modern lingo, holiday is interchangeable with vacation –time away from the usual work of the world. Still, there is something holy about those summer days of our youth and summer days now. As an adult, it is hard to be carefree. Sometimes though, just for a fleeting instant, we find ourselves truly present, paying attention to the moment we are in. It could be the slant of the sun through the trees, the smell of fresh cut grass or the sound of the birds in the morning that brings us out of ourselves and to an awareness of the world around us. The tug of a child’s hand is a great invitation to forget about work for awhile. As much as we teach our children, they help us to remember what is important and to re-learn the value of sitting by the fire with friends, walking by the water and playing catch. Holy days, indeed! Summer may not have the monopoly on these moments, but it certainly has a distinct advantage.

I hope that this summer provides you with some sacred moments and holy days. Enjoy the time with your family and I look forward to seeing everyone in September.

Peace,
Christine McInnis

Humans have a need to know direction, too. Our early ancestors used the sun and stars or other natural phenomenon to guide their way. We developed different tools along the way to help us, most famously the compass. With the advent of GPS and smart phones, most of us don’t use a compass, but they are still a valuable tool for outdoorspeople who venture far away from modern conveniences.�� With the needle always pointing north they help travelers find their way through the wilderness.

Our faith life is as a journey, too.�� At times, we feel confident we are going in the right direction, knowing what path will lead us to happiness. That said, most of us at some points feel lost, uncertain which way to go. We may lose faith, figuratively and literally, and struggle to move forward. We search for guidance to help us find our way back to our home. It can be challenging to know which advice to follow.

Luckily, we have an inner compass to help guide us. Turning inward and finding stillness will allow us to access our own guidance system- prayer. As people of faith, we need to take time to listen to the Holy Spirit quietly prompting us to move in the right direction. Through prayer�� we can find the answers we are looking for, the direction that will lead us closer to God, our true North.

Peace,

Christine McInnis

Principal

Direct me in the path of your commands, for there I find my delight. Psalms 199:35

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I come from a long line of board and card gamers. As children we spent pretty much every summer afternoon swimming and then playing Monopoly.�� We learned the ins and out of penny poker at a young age and it was a right of passage to play a solo game of cribbage with the family patriarch, Uncle Bob. We developed strategies for different games, adapting them as we grew more skilled with each passing summer.

Blake brought similar experiences to our family, so our children grew up immersed in games, too. We passed on our enjoyment of friendly competition and a few of our time-tested strategies.�� Over the years the games changed, though. We moved on the Settlers of Catan, Ticket to Ride and, most recently, Splendor. These games take strategizing to a whole new level, placing parent in the role of learner again. Thinking differently, creatively and strategically activates one’s brain in new ways, often leading to those aha moments where you see things from an entirely different perspective. Pardon the pun, but the process can be a game changer.

Over the course of the past year, our school board has been engaged in a strategic planning process. Information has been gathered from staff and alumni, parents and parishioners. We wanted to get a feel from our stakeholders on what our strengths and weaknesses are, and what opportunities are possible for our school community. After some initial work as a board, we engaged a facilitator with a wealth of experience in school planning to help us to look at the information we gathered with fresh eyes. The experience gave us an opportunity to reflect on what we have been doing and to consider new ideas that could shape the future of our school. Long term planning isn’t a game, but the elements of thinking in new ways and considering other perspectives can be game changing in a figurative sense.

It may be that I have a warped sense of what’s enjoyable, but it was a fun process. People have different opinions and reaching consensus is time consuming; still what I really enjoyed was the collective passion for the school community. Over and over, various stakeholders talked about their experiences and their vision for the future. The high level of engagement that came out of the work makes me proud of our school and full of faith for what will come next. Our community is invested in its future and together we will work to be the best possible environment for the children in our care.

Over the coming months, the Board will finish distilling down the information and identifying the next steps for our school. Once we have completed the last part of the process, we will provide the community with our strategic priorities for next year and the years beyond, a game plan, if you will.

Peace,

Christine McInnis

All winter long we shuttle between our vehicles and houses with as much speed as possible. If by chance we see the people who live around us through our scarves, toques and parkas, we acknowledge them with a curt nod or quick hello. Once the frigid weather passes and we are able to move around the yard again, we find the time to catch up, chatting over the fence or meeting people as they walk their dogs.�� A feeling of community and connection flourishes along with the crocuses. It is almost like a spiritual thaw takes place alongside the physical one, and it allows us to extend ourselves out to our physical neighbours and to the world beyond.

This spring phenomenon reminds me of the parable of the Good Samaritan in Luke’s Gospel. A person who had training in the law asks Jesus how he can achieve eternal life. Jesus, sensing that the man already knows the answer, asks him what the law says. The answer comes, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength and with all your mind, and love your neighbour as you love yourself.” The man pushes further, asking Jesus, “Who is my neighbour?” Jesus’ answer comes in the form of the famous parable of the man hurt on the roadside. Many people pass by, but no one comes to his aid, except for the proverbial Samaritan. It is important to note that the Jewish people of the time did not regard Samaritans as friends. In normal circumstances Jews and Samaritans would not have spoken to each other; in extraordinary circumstances, the person that the injured man would have despised saves his life.

In his parable, Jesus chooses to have the injured Jew rescued by a Samaritan to illustrate his point more clearly. It is our actions, rather than our proximity or similarity to others that make us “neighbours”. The global nature of our society and lightening speed of media allows us instant access to the suffering of people from Libya, Haiti, Japan, and Afghanistan. These international neighbours need our support along with our neighbours at the Main Street Project and the senior whose snow you shovel.�� It is our compassion, caring and kindness that makes us neighbours with the people on our street, in our city and country and around the world.�� It’s not always easy being a good neighbour in our world, but we all know how right it feels and how thankful we are when someone is a good neighbour to us!

As the coming season of spring warms the earth and brings it to life again, may the message of this parable enlighten us on our Lenten journey and enliven us to live as true neighbours in our communities and in our world.

Peace,

Christine McInnis

In everyday use, ordinary can mean something similar. Definitions use different terms: standard normal, nothing special, routine. Ordinary’s connotations are dull and boring. Ordinary is not to be desired. It’s the same old, same old. Ordinary is the status quo, something you take for granted. Ordinary is something to be tolerated while we wait for the extraordinary to happen.

Yet, this fall has been so ordinary that it feels extraordinary.�� We are back to doing things that were part of our routine for many years, things we used to take for granted. Over the last few months, we have been shaking the cobwebs off and engaged in the activities and events that were so commonplace a few years ago. I have caught myself thinking more than a few times, “What did we used to do….?” Thankfully, we have enough folks around who remember the details, indeed all the minutiae, that made up our ordinary school experience. I am sure these feelings echoes at home too, especially as you look to the holiday season and restarting all the familiar traditions and gatherings.�� So, the ordinary has shifted from being taken for granted to being taken with gratitude. Our time away from regular life has given us a renewed perspective on what we should value and appreciate.

Hopefully, this shift to gratitude is one we can sustain. The seemingly mundane parts of our life contain many blessings if we can just look at them with fresh eyes. Now that travel is a thing again, we can easily�� see the beauty in�� new places. Our challenge is finding the beauty in the everyday moments, keeping alive the extraordinary excitement we feel in our return to normal, ordinary life. The spirit is present everywhere.

As we journey through this season of Advent, I invite you to look forward with fresh eyes on the ordinary times. Seeing the beauty in our day-to-day will allow us to enjoy each normal moment. After all we have been through, I think we can agree that normal and ordinary are very wonderful things that need to be cherished.

Peace,

Christine McInnis

-Andrew V. Mason

��After a couple of summers of drought, we have had a wet cool spring. It seems like all of the plants that may have gone dormant through the dry weather have come back with a vengeance. It’s nice to see everything green again!

Of course the dry weather never did stop the weeds from growing, lol. They come rain or shine.�� Like most home owners, I have waged a yearly war on the plant life that spontaneously sprouts in my flower beds and between the paving stones on my driveway. I have to say, I have developed a grudging admiration for the weeds in my yard, in fact someone gave me a poster that hung in my classroom for years that said, “Dandelions are my favourite flower because they refuse to stop growing.”

I realize that last statement may be considered to be a form of sacrilege in our suburban communities, but hear me out.�� Weeds, including dandelions, have many good qualities. In fact, one of my hopes for the children in our care is that they become more weed-like. Certainly, we have all heard it said that our children are growing like weeds,�� as evidenced by last season’s summer clothes that are woefully short on lengthened limbs. However, it is more than a weed’s capacity for physical growth that makes me admire them.

Weeds have the ability to thrive in even the most adverse conditions. They can find nourishment in the sketchiest of soil conditions, sprouting where there seems to be no soil at all. Chemicals will stop them temporarily, but as soon as you stop using them the weeds will resurge with new vigour. You can try digging them out, but their roots grow deep into the soil. And those roots are strong! Even if you use all the force you can muster, they break off and grow again from the piece that is left behind. Like them or not, they are a part of the natural ecosystem, interacting with all sorts of other organisms. They certainly don’t need us to provide them with anything.

Our children, and all of us, need the qualities that the weeds posses intrinsically: persistence through difficult conditions; a deep rootedness that keeps us�� grounded;�� the resilience to rise again after being broken down by forces beyond our control; a connectedness to community; the desire to keep growing and learning through life;�� and, eventually, the ability to be independent. Unlike weeds, these traits need to be cultivated in our children. That is why we have gathered into this community. Our school is a place to nurture our children and it is our call as parents and teachers to do this good work (tend the soil, fertilize and prune when necessary). In doing this work we help our children grow to their fullest potential.�� It is a�� monumental task and the growth can be so incremental that it may seem as if�� there is no growth at all.�� It is only in looking back, as we�� do when a year finishes, or we come to a milestone in our lives, like finishing�� our time at�� the school, that we realize just how far our children have come; stronger,�� more persistent and increasingly independent.�� Hopefully, their experience of community�� here will inspire them to�� be community builders.�� We can’t tell yet, the fruits of our labours will come in their own due time.

In the meantime, I will continue to wage war in my yard. I suppose I have been procrastinating long enough and it is time to wade back into that garden of mine. In case you are wondering, the weeds are winning.

Peace,

Christine McInnis

In many ways the last two years have felt a bit like running a maze, albeit without the fun aspect. It felt as though we were constantly on the move, coming to decision points, taking a path then retracing our steps. One couldn’t help but feel a bit lost as we attempted to make sense of the upheaval associated with the pandemic. In fact, some of the paths seemed to switch direction, much like the magical maze in the Harry Potter movies. For certain, patience and perseverance have been necessary elements for all of us. Although it is hard to be certain, we seem to be close to the exit of this particular maze. If not, at least this easing will allow us all a much-needed reprieve and some respite to recharge ourselves.

This year, we chose mazes as our Lenten theme. When we think about following God’s path we may envision a lovely forest walk, maybe a little winding, but generally linear moving from start to finish. More often, though, our faith journey is like a maze, with many twists and turning points. As is the case with all mazes, we may become frustrated with our progress.�� Lent is the perfect time to reflect on our convoluted journey and ask for God’s guidance. It will not always be easy, we may even have to restart a few times. This is to be expected, our lives rarely go in straight lines. As we make the choices that come our way, with prayer added to the aforementioned patience and perseverance, we will make our way through. It will be a memorable experience, and there will be fun along the way!