"We Can Make a Difference" at Christ, Light of the Nations

Post date: Sep 6, 2013 1:36:12 PM

Tuesday, August 20th was our first day of school. We have 222 students in Pre School through 8th grade. We feel truly blessed! On Thursday, August 15th, the parents attended Back To School Night. Sister Mary welcomed everyone and Mrs. Dafflitto, our CRE, opened the evening with prayer. Sister Mary then spoke about some of the changes being made to our emergency management plan. The teachers met with the parents to share their curriculum and other pertinent information about their classrooms. Parents had the opportunity to meet our new Seventh Grade teacher, Jane Zappia.

Our first day went very smoothly. All the students looked smart in their uniforms and found their way to their classrooms. Lots of parents were also on hand to see their children to their classrooms. The first day was dedicated to running through their schedules with 30 minute classes. Wednesday was the first full day of school and everyone was happy to begin settling

into a routine. We have 42 new students and 35 new families. All enjoyed their first day of school at CLN.

Our theme for the year is “We Can Make A Difference.” We introduced the theme at a prayer service in the cafeteria on the first day of school. Our theme is inspired by this "Starfish Story:"

An old man had a habit of early morning walks on the beach. One day, after a storm, he saw a human figure in the distance moving like a dancer. As he came closer he saw that it was a young woman and she was not dancing but was reaching down to the sand, picking up a starfish and very gently throwing them into the ocean.

"Young lady," he asked, "Why are you throwing starfish into the ocean?"

"The sun is up, and the tide is going out, and if I do not throw them in they will die."

"But young lady, do you not realize that there are miles and miles of beach and starfish all along it? You cannot possibly make a difference."

The young woman listened politely, paused and then bent down, picked up another starfish and threw it into the sea, past the breaking waves, saying, "It made a difference for that one."

The old man looked at the young woman inquisitively and thought about what she had done. Inspired, he joined her in throwing starfish back into the sea. Soon others joined, and all the starfish were saved.

One of the ways we will live out our theme this year will be writing in our prayer journals each day, one thing we did to make a difference in a person’s life the day before or one way someone made a difference in our lives.

We want to thank all of the parishioners at Holy Name of Jesus and Our Lady of the Rosary parishes for partnering with us to provide a Catholic education for our children. We still have Catholic children from both parishes that we are educating in the Catholic faith and each year we have several of our non-Catholic students who are baptized and join our church. You make that possible. We couldn’t do it without you! If you would be interested in receiving our weekly CLN newsletter, please send your email address to Sister Mary and we will add you to our email group.

Sister Mary Lawrence, SSND, Principal, Christ, Light of the Nations School