JESUIT PARENTS’ NEWS
Volume XVII No. 1
Jesuit College Preparatory School — Dallas, TX
FROM THE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT:
September 2012
FROM THE DESK OF THE PRINCIPAL:
Michael Earsing
Tom Garrison
I cannot think of a time in my life when the end of
summer wasn’t also the beginning of my year. No
January 1st held the promise that the first day of school
would bring. I have often said that the saddest time
around Jesuit are those few weeks right before school
starts - when the halls are empty. It just seems
unnatural to not have guys filling the hallways, and
somehow that is especially true for the main academic
hall.
About four years ago we started a practice of praying the
Examen prayer in the middle of the school day three
times a week. This required a change to our bell
schedule and was met with some trepidation, as it
requires our entire student body to be silent for five
minutes after lunch. This is a tall order in any high
school, and we were no exception in the beginning. I'm
happy to say that over the years this has become a part of
our day, and you could stand in the intersection of our
main corridors and hear a pin drop during this time.
The main academic hall was once the only academic
hallway at Jesuit, aptly named the ‘62 Wing, since it was
built in 1962 when Jesuit Dallas moved from its previous
Oak Lawn location to 12345 Inwood Road. If you could
take a time picture of how the hall has changed, what
would you see? There have been many physical changes
over the last 50 years. The addition of AC in the ‘70s was
a major change and probably not that unexpected. Who
could have foreseen the end of the chalk board? It would
have been difficult to even imagine smart boards and a
Wi-Fi campus back in the ‘70s. Even our most futuristic
thinkers couldn’t completely envision what a computer
(iPad) in 2012 could do and the major role it would play
in education.
The students look relatively the same walking down the
hall be it 1962 or 2012. Sure, hair length has changed
several times during this period. Those horrible blue
and gold checkered polyester pants have thankfully given
way to cotton khakis. But overall, students are still the
same. On the first day of school, the freshmen of 1962
were more worried about friends and where they would
sit in the café than algebra class. The same can be said
for the freshmen of 2012.
No matter what outward changes our beloved school
goes through, the interior education remains the same.
It can be summed up as, the was of the past, the is of the
present, and the what can be of the future, all sewn
together with the thread of St. Ignatius and the Jesuit
tradition of education.
I am grateful for the support you give Jesuit and the
privilege of allowing us to help educate your son. It is a
blessing I do not take lightly.
FROM THE PARENTS’ EXECUTIVE BOARD:
Pat Doyle, President
Well, it’s the start of another school year and somehow,
inexplicably, I find myself in the exact same position as
when I attended Jesuit. That is, my assignment (this
article) is due tomorrow and I find myself working on it
the night before it’s due, convinced that I do my best
(Continued on back cover)
The Examen is a prayer given to us by Saint Ignatius. It
provides us with the opportunity to step out of time for a
moment and take stock of our actions, look for God's
presence in our everyday interactions, and make sure
that our compass is pointing in the right direction before
moving on to the next phase of our day. It also provides
us with a handy reference point for those moments when
we know that we need to stop and talk to God, but aren't
sure where to start.
There are a few basic parts to the Examen prayer. First,
you simply slow down and ask God to help you become
aware of His presence in your life. Second, you look upon
your day with gratitude. Ask yourself, “What can I be
thankful for today?” Next, you explore your emotional
state asking, “What emotions am I experiencing right
now?” After that you pick a part of your day and pray
more deeply, perhaps asking yourself, "What did I do
well in that situation? What could I do better? Where
was God's presence during that episode in my day?" At
the end, you close the prayer with a look towards the
future. “What are my hopes for the rest of the day?
What are my prayers for tomorrow?”
I often fall back on this method of prayer when I journal
or when I need some structure to take in everything that
is going on around me. It is no secret that the start of the
school year at Jesuit is a strange combination of a
marathon and a sprint. The school rarely sleeps and
there is something happening on campus just about
every day and every evening. It is a lot to keep track of
and make sense of at times, but the Examen helps keep it
in perspective.
So I thought I'd share just one component of my
reflections on the start of the school year as I close this
letter which is the second piece of my Examination some of the things that I am thankful for at the start of
the year.
I have to begin by thanking my administrative team for
their work during the summer. The foundation of the
2012-2013 school year was established by our
(Continued on inside back cover)
FROM THE DESK OF THE ASSISTANT
PRINCIPAL OF STUDENT AFFAIRS:
Mark Knize
I write this letter just hours after the 2012 Freshmen
Mixer. This traditional event serves not only as a social
welcome for the class of 2016, but also showcases the
organization, passion, and energy of our Student
Council. The first mixer is just one example of the many
exciting events that fill our school year. It has been a
very nice start. I am very proud of our community who
kicked off this semester in style. Since our campus is now
buzzing with over 1,000 students and frequent activities,
this newsletter is an opportunity to reintroduce our team
in Student Affairs.
The Student Affairs office is adjacent to our main
student commons, located across from the cafeteria.
Cheryl Woolnough handles daily attendance, student
medications, health, and many other services which help
students during the day. Cheryl can be reached at ext.
325 or via email at [email protected]. Andy
Civello serves as Assistant Dean, works closely with
daily student life, and coordinates all on-campus
parking. He can be reached at ext. 359 or by email at
[email protected]. Jonathan Alexander, also a
member of our athletic staff, helps supervise campus life
each day. You may see Jonathan walking our hallways or
working the attendance desk at various times during the
school day. In addition to our main campus buildings,
Charles Hinton supervises our exterior campus and
parking lot areas, along with Michael Martinez, class
of ’02. Finally, Parker Hornsby assists with campus
supervision during the evening hours. I am fortunate to
work with such a talented staff that engages and guides
the students. The Student Affairs team is here to help
and support our students in any way possible. We invite
you to visit our offices when you are on campus.
There are a few business items to note as we get settled
in this semester. We would like to remind all freshmen
carpools to help with our traffic flow during the
mornings. It is important that freshmen are dropped off
near and enter the school through the Hall of Honors
each morning. This procedure helps prevent traffic back
up on Inwood Road.
I also want to note a few additional procedure reminders
for all grade levels. Attendance issues are directed
to Mrs. Woolnough at ext. 325. It helps us so much
when you call ahead for attendance issues.
We
understand the convenience, and sometimes necessity,
of text messaging your son. However, relying solely on a
text message slows the process to check students out of
school. Since we do not have an open campus for
students, we must have your oral or written consent to
release your son during school hours. Please contact
Cheryl Woolnough to communicate all attendance items.
This includes when your son is absent, arrives late, or
leaves early. Students must sign in and out of the
Student Affairs office when arriving late or leaving early,
no matter the situation. In addition, if your son needs
medication during the school day, please remember that
all medications must be checked in at the Student Affairs
office. Student medications are stored and dispensed by
our office, and students should not carry medications on
their person during school hours.
I encourage you to review the Student/Parent Handbook
online for details and policies regarding our school
community. For all those who attended the iPad
distribution evenings, thank you for your extra time this
summer. It was enjoyable speaking with all of you. I
hope to see you soon at future events. Enjoy the Jesuit
experience!
FROM THE DESK OF THE DIRECTOR OF
GUIDANCE AND COLLEGE PLACEMENT:
David Oglesby
At age 14, Leonardo da Vinci becomes an apprentice to
an artist in Florence; at 15, Jimmie Hendrix picks up a
guitar; at 16, Henry Ford quits school and walks to
Detroit to find a job; at 17, J.K. Rowling is the top
student in her school; at 18, Richard Nixon is unable to
pay tuition for Harvard or Yale and enrolls in Whittier
College and soon becomes freshman class president.
Ages 14 to 18 are the high school years and also the years
of adolescence. Life is full of transitions and adolescence
is the transitional stage to adulthood. In addition to
enormous physical changes, the adolescent copes with
behavioral and cognitive growth.
By the end of
adolescence, a personal identity begins to emerge. Jesuit
has a distinctive path to guide the adolescent student to
life past high school. We seek to form our students into
becoming men for others. As a school that affirms God
in all things, we hope our students begin to find a sense
of wonder and mystery in the world around them. I
imagine that out there in the student body of Jesuit is a
14 year old who will become the Leonardo da Vinci of
mastering the art possible with an iPad. Maybe a future
Hendrix is at Jesuit and will amaze audiences on the
iPad keyboard or a future Rowling who writes the next
Harry Potter--like series. Now, we do not want a student
to quit school but maybe one will do what Ford did and
change the way the world of labor works, or one will turn
adversity into opportunity as Nixon did. The point is we
should encourage. Counselors seek to be path lighters
and help your sons find their way. Adolescence is a
journey. Encourage and be positive.
College Placement
We are urging seniors to apply to their first college by
October 15. By now seniors should have made a college
resume, written one usable college essay and have used
Naviance as a way to allow Jesuit to send transcripts of
grades to colleges. Seniors in Guidance have been given
great instruction by Mr. Blackwell on the application
process. If you feel lost or you think your son is lost, do
not hesitate to contact us at [email protected] or
[email protected].
“Love is shown more in deeds than in
words.”
St. Ignatius of Loyola
FROM THE DESK OF THE ASSISTANT
PRINCIPAL OF ACADEMICS:
Ben Kirby
Changes have enveloped many aspects of Jesuit this year
and it is an exciting time to be here. I am thrilled about
my new role as Assistant Principal of Academics and, as
a Dallas Jesuit graduate and former science teacher; I
know this community is full of amazing people and
opportunities for growth.
The faculty and
administration have been very supportive of my
transition and I can’t thank them enough. My past and
recent interactions with you and your sons continue to
solidify my vocation as an Ignatian educator in our
community. It is going to be a fun year and I look
forward to meeting and working with you.
As you prepare for Parent-Teacher Conferences, I
encourage you to visit with your son about his
experiences thus far. Ask him about his successes and
challenges. Talk to him about the interactions he has
had with teachers, counselors, and peers. Inquire about
his classes and interests. While RangerNet comments
and grades provide great information about your sons’
academic performance, conferences give you a
structured opportunity to go a step further. The time
allows you to meet the teacher and gain insight into
course-specific learning strategies and tips. Teachers
can provide unique details about your son and how he
interacts with his peers in a learning environment. Also,
conferences have the potential to spark great
conversations at home about being successful in and out
of the classroom.
The first round of Parent-Teacher Conferences will take
place on Monday, October 15 from 3:00 p.m. to 8:00
p.m. and Tuesday, October 16 from 1:30 p.m. to 8:00
p.m. Sign-up for conferences can be completed on the
school website starting at 8:00 a.m. on Wednesday,
October 10 and the deadline is 8:00 a.m. on Sunday,
October 14. Online scheduling allows the opportunity to
select your conference times but it is first-come, first
served, so early sign up is recommended. Please
schedule only one time slot per teacher so that everyone
who would like to schedule an appointment will have
that opportunity. The second round of Parent-Teacher
Conferences will be Monday, November 19 from 3:00
p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Sign-up begins on Monday, November
12.
One of the exciting responsibilities of my position is
being available to students and families across all grade
levels.
I work very closely with the Counseling
Department and we are blessed to have an amazing
collection of counselors with immeasurable knowledge
and experience. If you attended one of the parent nights
in September or have worked with our counselors in the
past, you know your son is in good hands. My plan for
the year is to be in constant communication with the
counselors about academics so we can be supportive of
your son so he has a great year.
An important issue to begin discussing with your son is
academic integrity and technology. The iPads are
amazing tools in the classroom and it has been awesome
watching the community adapt to their presence. One
issue raised by student panels and faculty is the new
conveniences the iPad provides for academic dishonesty.
Mr. Knize did an excellent job describing the ways in
which your family can discuss the benefits and
challenges the iPad provides for your son. I encourage
you to have that conversation with the understanding
that teachers and students are constantly evaluating and
seeking to avoid any new temptations. From time to
time, situations arise in which respect is misplaced and a
level of academic dishonesty occurs. While the outcome
and consequences will be completely dependent on the
variables presented, my promise is that I will provide a
professional and appropriate discussion that involves the
student, teachers, and families. The ultimate goal is to
ensure the situation is not repeated and we see growth in
the student.
We have many amazing resources on campus but
parental support and understanding is invaluable.
Whether it is helping to support your son as a man of
integrity or working through his busy schedule as a
student-athlete, you are an important piece 0f our
mission. Please feel free to contact me if any issue arises
involving your sons and academics - my door is always
open and my email inbox never closes. Thank you in
advance for the opportunity to work with your son this
year.
Athletic Booster Club News
As we start the 2012-2013 school year, I encourage all
parents to join the Athletic Booster Club. Our mission is
to support all 19 sports at Jesuit. We fulfill our mission
by hosting multiple community building events
throughout the school year. We work with the individual
sports representatives in hosting pre-game and postgame celebrations, homecoming activities, sports
banquets, and an end of the year celebration of Jesuit
Athletics. As a member you will receive the e-newsletter
“Pep Talk” with articles about all Jesuit sports and
athletics along with email notifications for community
and athletic events.
2012-2013 Athletic Booster Club Events:
~ Pregame festivities before all Ranger football games
~ November 2 – Homecoming BBQ
~ January 2013 – Spring Sport Kickoff Dinner and
Inspirational speaker
~ May 2013 – Celebration of Jesuit Athletics
On behalf of the Athletic Booster Club, we look forward
to a great year and thanks for your continued support.
Tim Young
Booster Club President
FROM THE OFFICE OF COMMUNITY
SERVICE AND SOCIAL JUSTICE:
Anthony Mattacchione/Rich Perry
Thank you for encouraging our students to serve! Thus
far by grade level:
Freshmen: Freshmen fulfilled their commitment to
AIDS Services of Dallas’ families by providing enough
laundry detergent for one full year of clean clothing.
Detergent was delivered and filled empty supply shelves.
Sophomores and Juniors: Catholic Charities and
Refugee Resource Center thank the members of the
sophomore and junior classes for their awesome efforts
in sponsoring well over one hundred refugee children
meet back to school educational needs.
Seniors: The senior class has had 100% participation
in Wednesday service training and individual service
agency applications. We have heard from our partner
agencies that our young men represented Jesuit well,
were engaged, respectful, and ready to serve. We should
be proud of them!
UPCOMING OPPORTUNITIES
~ Please check Jesuit’s website and sign up to donate
blood on Wednesday, September 26 in the Jesuit Terry
Center. Appointments are available from 7:30 a.m. until
3:30 p.m.
~ Have you considered hosting an exchange student?
If you and your family are interested in hosting an
exchange student from a high school in Mexico for six
weeks next semester, please email Rich Perry at
[email protected] for further information. Although
all students may apply to host, preference is first given to
seniors.
REMINDER
Regarding preapproval of service credits, please remind
your son that all service activities outside of Jesuit’s
official sponsorship must be preapproved through the
community service department.
JWA Rest Stop
Please join us for the annual fall "Rest Stop." Take time
to be refreshed and learn about how to make the
Ignatian spiritual exercises part of your daily life. We
will enjoy an evening with Jesuit resident Father
Anthony Wieck, SJ who is currently in his second year at
Jesuit teaching theology. He works with our boys in
daily spiritual growth both in the classroom and on
retreats. Father Anthony also enjoys ministering to the
"Towards Greater Freedom" community. We hope to see
you on Sept. 27 from 7:00 - 8:30 p.m. in Hughes Hall,
Room 100.
JWA NEWS
The Jesuit Women’s Auxiliary
(JWA) welcomes all families
back for the 2012-2013 school
year. We invite all women in
the community to join, whether
they are moms of current
students, wives of alums, moms
of alums, female teachers or friends of Jesuit (which
should include anyone). Membership is easy to do
online through the JWA website, www.jesuitcp.org/jwa.
Annual dues are $30 and lifetime membership is $200.
Thanks to Chris Gresback and Kathy Tiritilli for
coordinating the great Membership Kickoff Party earlier
this month.
Our mission is to build community, and our calendar
involves spiritual, community outreach, fundraising and
social activities.
At our Oct. 24 Luncheon, we will honor the three
students who last spring received the Men for Others
Scholarships, as voted on by their peers. These three
students will be introduced at the Bent Tree Country
Club. Everyone is invited, not just JWA members.
Reservations are required and more details will be
available on Jesuit Now and on the JWA website.
The annual JWA Christmas Bazaar takes place Dec. 1.
Co-chairs Shelly Codd and Betsy Guidone and their
committee have been busy selecting vendors and making
plans for transforming the campus into a holiday
wonderland. Community Outreach Chair Dianne Doyle
has launched a year-long effort to help Catholic
Charities-sponsored refugees moving into the Dallas
area with apartment set-up and back to school supplies.
Please visit the JWA website and select an event with
which you would like to participate. Your generosity will
be rewarded many times over.
Susie Andrews, JWA President 2012-2013
[email protected]
Moms in Prayer
International
Whether you are new to Jesuit or have been here for
years, please consider joining other Jesuit moms for an
hour of prayer. Jesuit Moms in Prayer meets weekly in
the Chapel on Friday mornings at 9:15 am. Email Kathy
Bedard at [email protected] with any questions.
Celebration
Auction
2013
The start of the school year is always the beginning of
many exciting events and seasons, and one of the most
exciting events of the year is the Jesuit Celebration
Auction. As many of you know, the mission of the Jesuit
Celebration Auction is to raise funds for the Jesuit
Endowment Fund while creating a sense of community.
24% of the students at Jesuit receive financial aid, and
the Endowment Fund makes it all possible by offering a
Jesuit education to many deserving young men which
ensures that the student body is rich in diversity. This is
the 30th year of the Jesuit Celebration Auction, and we
have raised more than $12 million during our 30-year
journey of love, which has benefitted countless deserving
students who would not be able to attend Jesuit were it
not for your support of Celebration Auction.
20122
The theme of the Auction this year is “Run For The
Roses.” It is going to be a fabulous event on April 13,
2013 at the new Omni Hotel in downtown Dallas, with
over 1000 attendees dancing the night away in true
Kentucky Derby fashion. Anyone who has been involved
with the auction in the past knows that it is not just a
one-day event in the spring but an entire year of
planning, community, parties and events culminating on
April 13.
We are delighted and honored that Bob & Trudy Wright
will be our Honorary Chairs for our Run For The Roses.
Bob and Trudy’s involvement and support of Jesuit is
well known, and we know that their guidance and energy
will make our Run For The Roses even more special.
We are fortunate to have a 2013 Audi A5 coupe for our
car raffle, courtesy of DFW Audi, which is owned by
Jesuit Alumnus, Robert Baillargeon ’83. Car Raffle
Chairs, Jenny Priddy and Beccy Alldredge, have been
hard at work selling raffle tickets; you can purchase
tickets online at www.jesuit.org/auction or at any
football game or auction event. Please help us make the
car raffle a huge success by buying raffle tickets early and
often!
Our auction year is already off to a great start with a
“Taste of Kentucky” Committee Chair Social that was
held at the lovely home of our Auction Chair, Christine
Buckley, where we were treated to southern cooking and
hospitality. We also had a very successful 5th Annual
Father/Son Casino that was held on September 20 in the
Terry Center. Fun was had by all at this sold out event
thanks to our Father/Son Casino Chairs, Lillian Curran
and Cathy Bain. Thank you to all of our casino table
sponsors and friends of casino for your support.
Auction is really a great way to get involved in the Jesuit
community, and each year over 275 volunteers create a
magical evening for us to enjoy. We hope that each of
you will look at your talents and decide how you can be
of help to the auction. If you cannot give of your time,
you can support us in other ways such as advertising,
underwriting, donations, purchasing car raffle tickets
and/or attending the auction and the numerous auction
events throughout the year. We promise that you will
have the time of your life while supporting a great cause.
Please go online to www.jesuit.org/auction for more
information about this wonderful event. The horses are
in the gate, and we are ready to “Run for the Roses!”
Patty Bellinger and Christine Buckley
2013 Auction Chairs
972-387-8700, ext. 418
[email protected]
JPATS
JESUIT PARENTS APPRECIATING
ADMINISTRATION, TEACHERS &
STAFF
JPATS began the year by serving breakfast to the
teachers and staff on the first day of school. Thanks to
our chefs Rhonda Christensen, Sheri Colaluca, Paula
Reichenstein, Dianne Doyle, Mary Beth Duke, Judy
Viviano, Mary Stack, Jill White, Bobbye Sumner and
Monica Wischmeyer who started cooking bright and
early in the morning and provided us with a delicious
meal.
We also want to thank everyone who has made a
contribution to JPATS with a monetary gift, gift cards or
offered to make food for the monthly gatherings. The
money collected will go toward afternoon socials or
luncheons. The gift cards will be used for door prizes at
our next social. We also want to thank the Viviano
family and Madonna family for the Ranger tickets. The
teachers love going to the games.
It’s not too late; we are still looking for donations
including gift certificates to restaurants and retail stores,
tickets to sporting events, musicals, etc. The teachers
appreciate all of your support. If you have any questions
or would like to become involved in JPATS, please
contact us or print out and complete a JPATS volunteer
form found on the Jesuit website under “Parent
Organizations” and submit the form to the front office.
Lisa Gatlin
972-227-2350
[email protected]
Kate Kunasek
972-726-8739
[email protected]
Fall 2012
Driver Education Class
The Fall Driver Education classes will begin meeting
October 1 from 6:30-8:30 p.m. in Room A101. Class
schedule and contracts are available online on the Jesuit
website at www.jesuitcp.org under “Campus Life.” If you
have any questions, please contact Ryan Menard at
[email protected] or call 972- 387-8700 ext. 514.
At the Museum
Please save these dates and plan to join the fun:
 September 19 at 9:30 a.m. - Museum Art League
Meeting, Terry Center with special guest Roger
Light, Dallas Artist and Muralist
 October 2 at 6:00 p.m. – Ladies Bunco Night,
Terry Center
 October 10 at 7:30 p.m. – Reception for
ArtQuest Artists, Terry Center
 October 20 at 7:30 p.m. – ArtQuest Auction and
Party benefiting the Museum, Terry Center
Thank you for your continued support. I hope you will
plan a visit to the Museum soon and attend upcoming
Jesuit Dallas Museum events.
One of the most unique programs for the Jesuit Students
is the Art Museum integrated within the school. Many
prospective and visitors alike ask the question, “A
museum in a boy’s school?” Yes, for 25 years we have
proudly displayed work by both students and world
renowned artists throughout the school campus. The
artwork adorns the corridors and courtyards at Jesuit,
and is uniquely integrated into the curriculum to
enhance the education your Jesuit student is receiving.
In fact, Jesuit is one of only a few schools throughout the
United States which houses museum class artwork,
which has been indexed and cataloged with background
and biography information from the producing artist.
A new and exciting piece, The Colossal Screw by Claes
Oldenburg, was recently added to the collection. Be sure
to stop by and see this piece which hangs near the steps
behind the Jesuit Reception Desk.
Having a fully functioning museum inside a secondary
school is truly a blessing for the Jesuit students and the
community. Jesuit students learn and walk the hallways
with incredible artists such as Dali, Chihuly, Rivera and
Pena. The luxury of living with art all around the
campus inspires the minds of students and has inspired
some to pursue a career in the Arts.
Please help us preserve this treasure by
becoming a Jesuit Art Museum member. Please
consider
joining
today
by
visiting
us
at
www.auctionsourceonline.com/jesuitartquest/Reservati
ons. Membership dues and donations to the Museum are
tax deductible and in most cases qualify for corporate
matching funds.
The Art League has planned another fun year of activities
for its members and guests. The next meeting will
feature an exciting guest speaker on Wednesday, October
24. You can always find the latest details about Jesuit
Dallas Museum activities at www.jesuitcp.org/Museum.
Tours of the Museum are available most school days;
however, require a two week notice. We can provide
tours for an individual or a group, children to senior
citizens. Small projects that focus on the art are often
available with the tour. Please send requests for tours to
[email protected].
Lynn Adamic
Museum Director
JWA Fall Luncheon
Honoring
Men For Others Award Recipients
Wednesday, October 24
Bent Tree Country Club
11:00 Reception 11:30 Luncheon
$35 per person
Send check to
Diane Brown
5228 Tanbark,
Dallas, TX 75229
Or make your reservation online at
www.jesuitcp.org/jwa
Homecoming Concert
A Community Celebration
The Alumni Association invites all adult members of the
Jesuit community to attend the 2012 Homecoming
concert November 3 featuring the Eli Young Band,
winners of the 2012 Academy of Country Music Song of
the Year. Openers include Eleven Hundred Springs and
Joshua Ingram. To purchase tickets or learn more, check
out www.jesuitcp.org/homecoming for details.
Garrison article continued
assistant principals last February when they began to put
together this year's schedule and course offerings. This
work of building the master schedule was followed by
putting individual students’ schedules together.
Throughout this process the administrative team and our
department chairs hired new teachers to replace those
who are not with us this year. Toward the end of the
summer, these new teachers were trained and learned
what makes us different from other high schools. This
training was designed by the administrative team and
carried out by volunteer teachers and students. This
work was followed by faculty inservice, which was the
product of great preparation during the summer months.
All of the above sounds like plenty of work, but this year
we added the new variable of student-issued iPads. A
great deal of that work was carried out by our
instructional technologist, Mrs. Michele Williams. By
the time we issued the iPads she had done so much work
that the entire process looked easy. Her work continues
now that the school year has begun, and our students
appear to be making the most of this opportunity.
Speaking of the new iPads, I am especially grateful for
the robust network that we have in place at Jesuit. Our
Technology Director, Peter Billingham, and members of
our tech department, in coordination with AT&T
engineers, began working on the design and
implementation of a robust Wi-Fi network almost two
years ago, and without this, there would be no
infrastructure to support the iPad initiative. AT&T and
Cisco Systems have been invaluable in this endeavor.
They have been beside us every step of the way to make
sure that we have a network that can stand up to over a
thousand devices at anytime, anywhere on our campus.
I just noticed how long-winded I have become, and I feel
like I haven’t even scratched the surface of what to be
thankful for this year. Our students have been great;
they are getting to class on time, smiling while they do it,
and taking good care of the iPads. Our faculty have been
great; they have adapted their lessons to the iPads, spent
a lot of time looking for innovative ways to adapt their
teaching, and are energetic and excited. Our athletic
staff has been great; their work to put together the
Ireland trip paid off in a rich experience for over a
hundred students. I know people are still talking about
us in Ireland. Our parents have been great; we threw a
curve-ball to our families this year when we asked them
to attend the iPad distribution nights, and without their
attendance I am sure that things would not be running
as smoothly as they are right now.
Again, there is so much to be thankful for. If I were
praying the Examen prayer right now, I would pick a
particular piece of the above and dwell on it for a while.
I would let it sink in and look for the places where God’s
guiding hand is present and look to the future:
Parent/Teacher Conferences, Senior Community Days,
Freshman Retreat, Homecoming …. so many good things
to look forward to.
I hope that your examination of the start of the school
year realizes as many gifts as mine. If you are struggling
to see these gifts, please do not hesitate to contact me.
We are all in this together and I am happy to be of any
assistance that I can be for you throughout this school
year.
Have a great fall semester.
The Examen
The Examen is a prayer unique to Ignatian Spirituality.
St. Ignatius of Loyola developed the Examen as a way to
stop twice daily to reflect on God's presence in our daily
lives. During the Examen, one reflects on the events of
one's day: looking at mistakes and sins and asking God's
forgiveness; at blessings and graces and giving God
thanks, and at the rest of the day or next day and asking
God for help, strength, and guidance. St. Ignatius
suggested that the Examen be done twice a day, once
around noon and again right before bed. Three times a
week at the beginning of 7th period (1:11 pm) the entire
school stops for five minutes and is lead in the Examen
by Campus Ministry.
Finding God in Our Daily Lives
I spend a moment quieting myself, inviting the Holy
Spirit to help me examine my day. St. Ignatius teaches
us to find God in all things, people, and places, where
have I found God today?
What have been the low points of my day?
What have been the highlights?
Overall, what has my mood been today?
How has this mood affected my relationships with
others?
When have I felt God’s presence today?
Did I see Him in the high points?
Did I see Him in the low points?
I ask God now for forgiveness for any times I failed to see
His presence today.
I allow myself time to feel God’s forgiving love.
I thank God for the highlights and blessings of my day.
I look at the remainder of my day, what do I have left to
do?
I remind myself to take time to see God in all of those
experiences.
God, as I end the Examen, help me see you in others and
invite you into my experiences.
In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
Amen
Doyle article continued
work under pressure. Some things never change!
By way of brief introduction, my name is Pat Doyle and I
am the President of this year’s Parent’s Executive Board.
I am a 1978 graduate of Dallas Jesuit and my wife,
Dianne, is a 1978 graduate of Ursuline. We’ve had sons
graduate from Jesuit in 2006, 2008, one who will
graduate in 2015 and 2 daughters graduate from
Ursuline in 2009 and 2011. Dianne and I met during our
senior years of high school, attended Snowball and Prom
together, attended A&M and were married in 1982.
Despite graduating from Jesuit and Ursuline some 34
years ago, we’ve nonetheless been attending JCP and UA
functions as frequently as we did back in the day. Yes,
some things never change!
Since my freshman year in 1974, it would appear that
Jesuit is merely a shell of the school that I attended years
ago. There are three times as many classrooms, twice as
many students and two gyms. The kids have the newest
technology; dress a lot nicer and few, if any, actually
walk to school. But as I reflected on my own experience
at Jesuit and having watched my own sons on their
Jesuit journeys, it occurred to me that, despite the
passage of time, maybe things aren’t as different as I
thought. Consider this:
As incoming freshmen, we looked skinny and geeky, met
lots of new boys, raced chariots on Ranger Day, went to
mixers, marinated in Brut cologne, were awkward
around girls, used Stridex to eradicate a face-full of zits,
hated homework, and thought the seniors were the
coolest guys we’d ever seen. Mrs. Jones taught me
biology and Mr. Lanier was my homeroom teacher. We
couldn’t wait to become sophomores when things would
surely be easier. Some things never change!
As sophomores, we realized school wasn’t any easier
than freshman year, thought geometry was a complete
bore, memorized the periodic table of elements and
loved playing with our awesome new technology (the TI59 calculator). Most of us would be taking drivers
education this year …. freedom at last! Our zit problems
were worse and the seniors weren’t quite as cool as they
were last year. Brut was still a big player, girls still as
perplexing and there was no question that our parents
were getting dumber as our own knowledge base was
growing exponentially. Sound familiar? Some things
never change!
Junior year. We had made it through a tough sophomore
year and were half way to the finish line. We hoped we’d
make the varsity team, prayed that we’d get to start, and
wondered how we’d explain it to our girlfriends why we
didn’t get into the game. School seemed manageable,
most of us were driving and we wondered where the
party would be each weekend. We lifted weights on
Jesuit’s brand new Nautilus machines. We studied only
on an as-needed basis, wore lots of Brut but no longer
broke into a sweat when calling a girl on the phone and
had our zits under control. Also, unbeknownst to us,
were building friendships that would last a lifetime. Our
parents were even dumber than last year. Some things
never change!
Finally, senior year. We worried about taking the SAT
and getting acceptance letters from college. We liked
hanging with our buddies more than the girls, actually
looked forward to our senior retreat and community
days and realized that some of our teachers were actually
pretty cool. We wore our senior rings proudly and our
letter jackets on Fridays. We were focused on winning
state, performed 100 hours of community service and
snickered at our buddies who were still hitting the books.
We wore less Brut, went on group dates and discovered
the greatness of Chili’s. We took senior pictures,
practiced for graduation, looked forward to heading to
college and entertained thoughts that Jesuit may be a
place we’d like to send our own sons someday. We
marveled at how our parents could have possibly gotten
even more clueless than they were last year. Some things
never change!
Yes, the more things change, the more they stay the
same! Best of luck to all of you and your sons whether
your Jesuit journeys are beginning, continuing or
entering the final chapter.
Jesuit Theater: A Look Ahead
Jesuit Theater is excited to announce four major
productions for the coming year. The fall drama will be
“One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest,” and will be
performed on November 9, 10, 16, and 17. The “Winter
One-Acts” feature ten student-directed plays, and will go
onstage January 9, 10, 11, and 12. The spring comedy is
Neil Simon’s fast-paced face, “Rumors,” which will be
performed April 5, 6, 11, and 12. Lastly, the “Spring One
Acts” will take place on May 15, 16, 17, and 18, and
consist of another ten student-directed plays.
Jesuit Theater also produces a community service
production through Drama Troupe, which will perform
for 38 local middle schools. Our second community
service program, Jesuit Theater Outreach, will bring
theater on a weekly basis to middle schools in the area
that do not have arts programs.
The deadline for the next issue of the Jesuit Parents’
News is Thursday, October 4, 2012. The October
issue will be mailed on October 18, 2012. Submit your
articles to Nancy Ponder at [email protected]
via email using Microsoft Word. Submit flyers to be
posted on the JCP website by the same deadline date and
deliver 1150 inserts to the school one day before the
mailing date.
Nancy Ponder
214-850-5381
Sheila Patrick
214-369-9493