Dear Friends,
I am delighted to be back in touch with you, and like I mentioned at our opening Chapel service, this year promises to be hot in many more ways than the outside temperature. Our opening day ceremony was a splendid affair, complete with a procession, bagpipe escort, and the customary welcome and celebration of the Class of 2011.
The Upper School athletes have been braving the oven-like practice sessions and have begun their fall schedule of competitions. The cross-country team is off to a blazing start. The boys’ team finished first in the area AISD meet held on August 27. Roberto Diaz and Evan Wineland crossed the finish line first and second against some of the strongest teams in the city. Jack Moody placed sixth; Sam Stephenson finished tenth to help the Crusaders to a thirty point victory margin over Westlake. For the girls senior Megan Bentzin placed fifth in her event. On Friday, Aug. 27, our young football team dropped their opening game to Stony Point, 69 – 14. The volleyball girls are off to a strong start, sporting a record of 4 and 2, defeating Round Rock Christian, Regents twice, and Brentwood Christian and losing heartbreakers to Hyde Park, and Hays. The field hockey team opens their season against archrival St. Stephen’s on Thursday, Sept. 2.
Seniors enjoyed a reunion of sorts with a couple of community events. The entire class held their annual retreat at Camp Balcones Springs on Friday and Saturday, Aug. 20 and 21. On Monday morning, Aug. 23 they all met for their class breakfast at Santa Rita Café. After their breakfast tacos, juice, and other refreshments, they welcomed the seventh graders then mingled with our first graders, sharing popsicles and big smiles.
Our ninth grade class also spent two spirited days at Camp Balcones Springs, where they began to bond as a class and learned about the important features of the Upper School. The time was not without some fun and adventure, as the group tackled a ropes course and had plenty of swim time in the nearby lake.
We do hope you will join us for our Back to School Night event on Wednesday, Sept. 16 at 7:00 p.m. Please come and meet with your student’s teachers and hear about the exciting things in store for them this year.
Looking down the road on our calendar, there will be a Brown Bag luncheon on the Upper School Honor Code in the library on Wednesday, Sept. 15. Faculty will be conducting an in-service program on Friday, Sept. 17, and classes will not be held. We will be hosting an information session on the Junior Experience Program on Thursday, Sept. 23 at 6:30 p.m.
Please check the school’s web site where you will find a complete listing of the upcoming athletic contests, arts events, and other important school dates.
Throughout the year, you will hear about the theme we have adopted for 2010-11: What it Means to be an Episcopal School. We invited and hosted a number of guest speakers during our pre-service sessions to speak on this topic. At a time when faculty and staff will be deeply involved in a School Self-Study, this understanding will inform and help shape our mission and purpose in our various communities. Once again, welcome back to this caring place, which teaches that our efforts are more effective when we join together in common purpose.
Regards,
Rich Mischinski
Head of Upper School