President’s Perspective – Latest update

August 10, 2016

Dear Mater Christi Families:

It is hard to believe the first day of school is now just three short weeks away! Where has the summer gone? Over the last week, Mater Christi has begun to see its outstanding faculty begin to stop in and start setting up classrooms and checking on materials ordered in preparation for the new school year. As I walk around the school, I have often thought to myself, ‘we have so much to do in preparation for the return of students.’ However, I know that everything will be ready when school starts on Wednesday, August 31.

This past weekend, a small but mighty contingent of parents descended on Mater Christi to repaint our school’s dining room. This talented group made quick work with a space that required two coats of primer and a top coat of paint to cover the very bright and unsightly orange walls. This weekend we will begin freshening up our middle school lobby, and we are also slated to begin some grounds beautification this weekend and next weekend barring no inclement weather.

To date, we’ve been blessed to have 32 parents and faculty indicate interest in helping with our extreme school makeover, but we need many, many more volunteers to help get our school painted and cleaned over the next year. I am hopefully that more of you will be willing to share your time and talent to help beautify our school for the benefit of our students. Over the next 12-18 months I would love to see us transform all of our classrooms and common area with a fresh coat of paint!

Speaking of improvements, next week one of our former outstanding teachers, Mary Ellen Johnson is organizing a group of volunteers to clean and scrub all the pots, pans and dishes in the school’s kitchen so it is in tip-top shape when Miss Sue returns to bring our lunch program back to excellence. If you have some time that you could assist this volunteer group, please email Mary Ellen Johnson at mewalshj224@comcast.net. Many hands make light work!

As we prepare for next year I do want you to know that we will not be raising the rates for after school care as was announced in the flyer that was included in our summer mailing you should have received. I recently learned through several members of our community that Mater Christi’s previous administration had announced in January that there would be no increase to the after-school care rates. I will be honoring this earlier communication/commitment even though this financial decision was not discussed with the school’s finance committee or approved by our board of directors. As we begin next year’s budgeting process later this fall, I will be actively seeking the sage advice of the talented consulters on our finance committee and board of directors as we embark on setting tuition and all fees for the following school year.

Finally, I want to remind you that on Monday, August 29 from 4:30 to 6 PM we will be hosting a Meet Your Teacher event. The purpose of this event is for your child to meet their new teacher, drop off their school supplies and any related paperwork, as well as have a little ice cream treat with other school families. I am hopeful your family will stop by for this special evening. I have posted this type of event at other schools that I have led and parents have always enjoyed the ability to drop off school supplies early and reduce the anxiety and busyness of the first morning of school. Teachers love this event because on the first day of school, they can begin teaching from the get go rather than spending the morning sorting through supplies and papers. I hope you can join us on August 29!

Finally, we have another weekend of painting and grounds beautification coming up this Friday, Saturday and Sunday. If you haven’t signed up and are willing to help, please contact Mrs. Rock in the school office.

Thank you!

 

Pat Lofton

Pat Lofton
President/Head of School