February 23, 2010

Children need the help of parents and teachers to see their own goodness, their own inherent worth, and their own God given dignity. Parents are the primary and most important source of this, and then teachers are second. When children grow up with the experience of perceiving themselves as unconditionally loved by their parents, then they know they are loved for who they are. They know they are not loved for how they look, or their grades, or their athletic skills, or their popularity – no.  Children know an unconditional love from their parents means that they are simply loved for who they are. They don’t have to earn it. They can count on it.

Similar to a parent’s love is God’s love. We have tried to introduce your children to a God who also loves them this way – the same way you do – unconditionally. If we have been successful, your kids know and experience a God that is a powerful force and a meaningful part of their lives. We have tried to teach them that no matter what, your parents and God love you. This is an authentically powerful Christian message. It is a message we hope you will continue to provide for your kids.

Imagine our world with children that are formed with this belief. Imagine the type of person your child will become with this belief taught at home and at school.

Peace – Neil

When Pablo Casals reached his 95th birthday, the story is told that a reporter went to his studio for an interview, and instead of finding the cellist at ease and relaxing, the reporter found him at practice, and said to him, “Mr. Casals, sir, you are considered the world over to be the greatest cellist that has ever played that beautiful instrument. It is said that the music that comes from your cello can only be compared to the voice of God. Why is it that you still practice 6 hours a day?”

Mr. Casals put down his bow, and simply said, “Because I think I am making progress.”

What is it that we are committed to, to make a little progress each and every day of our lives. Let us pray for each other that we have that drive and commitment, that passion and dedication, that love.

Peace and Blessings,

Dr. Neil Quinly

Dear Parents -

Yesterday we began the week-long celebration of CATHOLIC SCHOOLS WEEK. The National Catholic Education Association chooses a theme each year in celebration of Catholic Schools. This year’s theme is: Dividends for Life: Faith, Knowledge, Morals, Discipline.

Here at SMCES I think we are doing quite well in making sure your investment in your child’s education is indeed returning these dividends to you… and more! Not only do you, your child, and your family benefit from this Catholic education, but also our Church, our society, and our nation all are the beneficiaries of a quality Catholic education.

What makes our education different and special? We are able to hold students to high academic standards, and also with great rigor, we hold them to high standards of spiritual, social, and emotional development. Take a moment to consider how SMCES has helped to form and inform your child, and think of how we have formed a true partnership with you, the parents who are the primary educators of your children.

Sr. Judy, who hired me as her 2nd grade teacher MANY years ago, had a mantra: “Everything for the children.” I am glad that I received that message, and have allowed it to form the work that I do in Catholic education. Thank you for all of your support and collaboration. You truly are the BEST!

Let’s hear your thoughts on Catholic Schools Week…

Peace and Blessings,
Dr. Neil Quinly
Principal

January 19, 2010

In their book, Situated Learning: Legitimate Peripheral Participation, J. Lave and E. Wenger talk about how we humans learn, understand, and remember in direct relation to the tools and social situations that our culture provides. This is part of the social capital that we need to develop. However, Lave and Wenger argue that schools have not sufficiently responded to this social component, and that indeed some schools have failed to translate student learning into effective use of knowledge.

As a Catholic school, SMCES has achieved exactly what the authors claim many schools have missed. We understand fully and put into practice completely what the US Bishops said about Catholic education and Catholic social teaching: We believe in the triune God whose very nature is social. God reveals himself to us as one who is not alone, but rather as one who is relational. We are made in God’s image, thus we share this communal, social nature. We are called to reach out and to build relationships of love and justice.

Wouldn’t you agree that SMCES is doing just that? Wouldn’t you agree that SMCES is succeeding, where other schools fail and that our students are able to use and build their social capital, turning learning into knowledge?

I’d love to hear from you…

Peace and Blessings,
Dr. Neil Quinly
Principal

Here is a New Year’s blessing for our time, our calendars, our clocks, our watches, our smart-phones, and all the other ‘things’ that keep us busy and on schedule:

Lord God, you live outside of time and yet you live in the moment. Bless this New Year and your gift of time to us.
As we observe the passing of minutes and hours on our clocks and watches we pray you will make us aware of the miracle of each second of life we experience, and help us to not miss that which is important.
As we observe the days, weeks, and months on our calendars may they remind us and teach us the secret that all life is meant for celebration and contemplation.
Bless us Lord with happiness and a long, faithful life and the New Year’s gift of a year of love.
Amen.

Loosely taken from Edward Hays, Prayers for the Domestic Church.

Peace and Blessings,
Neil Quinly

With Julian’s permission, I am posting his ‘thank you’ speech to the donors and benefactors who share their time, gifts, talents, and resources with the Saint Monica Community.

Hello! My name is Julian Silerio. I am the Student Council President of St. Monica Elementary School, and I would like to thank all of you for attending the St. Monica Scholarship Mass and Breakfast. I would especially like to thank all the donors for your kind and generous deeds in helping many students attend this great school. In my opinion, St. Monica’s is one of the best schools out there, and without your charitable endeavors, it would not be what it is now.
There are many reasons as to why St. Monica’s is a great school. St. Monica’s has a nurturing environment. It has a large campus in which students of all grades can take part in a number of activities and academics safely. Many students feel St. Monica’s is their “home away from home,” and that they can express their thoughts and feelings without fear of humiliation and embarrassment.
Another reason St. Monica’s stands out is because the academics go beyond the standard expectations of normal learning. The curriculum challenges its students to push themselves and always strive to do their best. The teachers are very supportive of students and do more than most to help them achieve excellence. This has helped me and many others to build successful study habits that I know will help us get into good high schools.
Also, St. Monica has a wide array of extracurricular activities in which students can take part of. For example, many students play sports at St. Monica’s. Personally, I have played flag football and basketball at St. Monica’s. We also have volleyball and track and field teams that also compete at high levels against other schools. Teamwork is a word we hear a lot, and I know that St. Monica athletes, or Seahawks as we are called, exemplify this spirit especially when we compete against other schools that have larger student bodies than St. Monica’s
St. Monica’s also has a number of Enrichment programs that take place here in the Trepp Center. These programs help give students opportunities to study other subjects beyond our academic curriculum such as yoga, martial arts, and keyboard. A couple of activities that I have been a part of are the Chess Club and the Santa Monica Playhouse Drama Program. These activities help kids learn outside of the classroom and really grow into more complete students. And we have fun doing it too!
Finally, St. Monica’s is a truly great school because of its community. At St. Monica’s, the students form a close bond with their principal, their teachers, their classmates, students from other grade levels, and even members of the school’s support staff. I do not exaggerate when I say we really feel like a great big family here. And when I graduate this year, this is what I will miss most. But the community goes beyond the school’s gates. At St. Monica’s we are not just part of the school, we are part of the parish. And it is this sense of belonging that gives us opportunities to meet other members of the parish, such as you, and be blessed by your kindness.
I hope this has given you better insight and appreciation of life at St. Monica’s. But, more importantly, I hope I have convinced you how important you are to all of the students at St. Monica’s. For us who are here, the scholars who are directly touched by your generosity, we are truly grateful for all that you do.
Again, on behalf of my fellow students, I thank you for all your kind and giving acts that have enriched the many students who attend St. Monica’s. Your acts of generosity do not merely help us during our stay in this school, but extend far beyond the walls of St. Monica’s. You are true examples of God’s love and it is your love for this parish and school that ensure us a better future as well.

In the early morning hours of November 16, 1989, a group of government soldiers entered the Jesuit residence of the Central American University (UCA) in San Salvador, El Salvador and brutally murdered six priests, their housekeeper, and her daughter.

Those killed that day were teachers, priests, peacemakers, and women. Their crime was simply taking the Gospel seriously and defending the democratic constitution of their country. These martyrs were unwavering in their defense of the poor and the oppressed, and their murders brought international outrage and condemnation upon the Salvadoran government. Ultimately, the country’s civil war ended, and the Jesuit Martyrs are remembered for their faithful witness to the Gospel.

On this 20th anniversary of their death, Fr. Ignacio Ellacuría, Fr. Ignacio Martín-Baró,

Fr. Segundo Montes, Fr. Amando López, Fr. Joaquin López y López, Fr. Juan Ramón Moreno, Julia Elba Ramos, and Celina Ramos remind us that we must teach the children that, “The struggle against injustice and the pursuit of truth cannot be separated nor can one work for one independent of the other.”

There are some like them who live among us. May their spirits remain.

I recently was reading “Heroic Leadership: Best Practices from a 450 year-old Company that Changed the World.” This book explores the leadership principles that have formed the Jesuits: love, heroism, ingenuity, and self-awareness.

St. Ignatius challenged the Jesuit leaders to lead with greater love than fear. He thought that following the Christian mandate to love your neighbor as yourself was a good place to begin, and to build upon. A generous, wide-range love that formed them as leaders was something that energized them as individuals, and informed the work of the Jesuits, as a “company.” They found that if they loved everyone – superiors, subordinates, enemies, peers, those they served – then it not only changed the way the Jesuits saw themselves and others, but it gave them a new and keen awareness of what they saw! This developed into a principle that is now known as love-driven leadership: the ability to have the vision to see each person’s talent, dignity, and potential; the ability to have the courage, commitment, and passion to help unlock that potential in each person; and the ability to energize and unite diverse groups of people that in loyalty and mutual support.

If love is the lens through which we look at and see the world, we have the opportunity to become more like Christ. If love is the way that we look at and see all people, then we have the chance to be more like Christ.

So, I was reflecting on this and thinking: How can I improve my vision? How can I open my eyes more, and look through the lens of love? How can this principle help me as a leader?

It is only recently that educational leadership is looking to the business world, and borrowing the best practices from their leaders, to enhance our own capacity as leaders. If we look at the Jesuits as a ’successful’ 450 year-old company, and look at their principle of love-driven leadership, then perhaps we have found the key to effective, authentic leadership.

Peace,
Dr. Neil Quinly

October 13, 2009

Yesterday the SMCES teaching staff and I attended a workshop presented by the Anti-Defamation League (ADL). The main topics were bullying, cyber-bullying (using technology to bully), and the general lack of respect and empathy prevalent in many of the behaviors of our youth. One of my first responses to some of the material was,”I’ve never seen that at any school I’ve worked!” Another response of mine after seeing a video clip of an entire classroom teasing a student was, “Why don’t those kids stand up for what they know is a moral injustice?”

I think those comments of mine show how I was too quick to dismiss the reality of our current culture and the problem of bullying. It does exist, sadly, in every school. Our task is to educate ourselves, educate our parents, and to educate our students on how to prevent bullying, and when it does occur, how to intervene.

I was struck with the connection that the ADL was making to our Catholic social teaching principle of dignity. Of course they were not using that language, and they may not be aware of our teaching, but the connection was clear. The ADL work that teaches us to recognize bias and the harm it inflicts on individuals and society, to explore the value of diversity, to improve relations between diverse groups, and to work for the elimination of all forms of prejudice is the principle of anti-bias.

The Catholic principle of dignity calls us to recognize we all, regardless of any of the divisions our culture or society may place upon us… we all are made in Gods’ image and therefore we all have an inherent dignity that no one can take from us. What an incredible message! What an incredible hope!

Dignity and anti-bias go hand in hand here at SMCES. As we continue to educate ourselves on how to make this an even deeper reality here, please continue to work with us, advise us, and pray with us as members of this community. What awesome work we have to educate our students. God has blessed us abundantly!

October 6, 2009

Thomas Groome reminds us that what makes us Catholic is having a sacramental view of life, combined with, among other things, a belief that we are/were made for each other. What Groome is saying, I think, is that in community we find significant experiences. Catholics have a positive view of society, since God made us to be in relation with one another. This does not mean that society is perfect, but it does mean that we work together for the common good.

Here at SMES, the common good also can be described as persons-in-community. To turn this on its head, we can also say that we are best as a community-of-persons. The point is, at SMES we strive to uphold the dignity of each individual student, parent, and staff member because we are made in God’s image, as his people.

Consider the sociological reality of Jesus. As a Jew, Jesus grew up with an understanding of his people being a “great nation,” and embraced the identity as “the people of God.” Think of the powerful message of community among Jesus and other Jews with this view of who they were, and whose they were.

At SMES we believe we are committed to be an inclusive community of faith, hope, and love; we we work to evangelize and teach; we worship our God together as a community; we care for each other in a holistic way; and we do our best to bear credible witness to our faith and our God in our actions.

We are about the the work of making our Catholic school an institution that is essentially a fusion of faith and culture as well as a synthesis of faith and life. We hope you will continue to collaborate with us, pray with us, and take this journey with us.

Peace and Blessings,

Neil Quinly, Ed.D.