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Dear People of Palma,
Thank you for reading this monthly newsletter. Try as I might to keep my communication with you brief, I could not limit myself this month. This is a beautiful time of year, and I beam with pride at our Chieftain students, our highly committed teachers, staff and coaches, and so many supportive parents, volunteers, benefactors and proud alumni. Palma School is a place where The Essential Elements of an Edmund Rice Education thrive, where we “celebrate the value and dignity of each person and nurture the development of the whole person,” where we “collaborate and share responsibility for the mission,” and where we “pursue excellence in all endeavors” (Essential Elements V, VI, and VII). Thank you for your sacrifices and investments of your time, your talent, and your treasure in making Palma School a great success.
October Month of the Rosary. Catholics have a strong devotion to Mary, the Blessed Mother of God, and especially through the holy rosary. Some have described praying the rosary as a spiritual weapon to counter the powers of darkness. The rosary is not a form of idolatry; people don’t use the rosary to pray to Mary. Rather, it is preferred to think of the rosary as an instrument for meditation that empowers us to pray with and through Mary. We invoke the Mother of God to intercede for us as we meditate on the sacred mysteries of the Gospel that surround the infancy and early life of Jesus (the Joyful Mysteries), Jesus’ Passion and death (the Sorrowful Mysteries), the Resurrection of Jesus (the Glorious Mysteries), and the ministry of Jesus (the most recent Luminous Mysteries). As a mantra of repetitive prayers are recited (the Our Father, the Hail Mary and the Glory Be), believers meditate on these mysteries of the Gospel in order to engage the mind and soul for communion with God.
The Palma Family is beyond blessed, and yet we are burdened with many needs as well. I ask that you keep me and all whom I serve here at Palma in your prayer. I invite anyone willing and able to join me in prayer on the 2nd day of each week of classes in October, beginning next week, in our Bl. Edmund Rice Chapel for 20-25 minutes after class dismissal, and before most practices begin. Even parents who pick up their kids can join us if they so choose. All are welcome to join me in the chapel on Tuesdays at 2:45pm on October 8, 15, 22, and 29. If you cannot be with us in person perhaps you might pray from wherever you are in spiritual union with us — even at the above times? Please join me in commitment to prayer in a special way this month in solidarity with Christ, his mother Mary, and the strong legacy of rosary prayer among Catholic schools.
Palma Parking Lot Pick-up/Drop-off. As nice as it is seeing parents at drop-off times in the morning and at pick-up times in the afternoon, it would not hurt our students to exercise some pedestrian safety and walk to another prearranged space along any one of our neighboring streets for their parents to pick them up. This would relieve the 10-15 minute congestion in our parking lot and along the streets at the end of each school day. And, after picking up their favorite Palma student on campus, if parents would simply turn right instead of left at the corner of Iverson and Acacia Streets, drivers could further alleviate congestion at drop-off and pick-up times.
To exercise some common-sense courtesy in keeping our students safe, please do not stop in the middle of the driveway upon entering our lot; it often creates a log jam behind you on a two-way street. If you see space keep the pace. Narrow the gap between cars by driving all the way into the lot, beyond the first turn, even beyond the main gate in front of the gym (red curb), if possible. If you must stop, please pull over along the drop-off lane and allow others to pass you on the left instead of parking and/or stopping right in the middle of the lane. Let’s be cautious and prudent and kind to all.
Dress Code. Perhaps one of the most defining characteristics of a private, especially a Catholic school is the reality of an enforced dress code, if not a uniform. For many years, Palma has adhered to a dress code, which is clearly stated in the Student and Parent Handbook and on our website (Dress Code), and to which families consent when students are enrolled. I hope I never tire of the need to deal with issues regarding dress code. Yes, there are days when administrators and teachers “pick and choose their battles” regarding dress code enforcement, but there is something so healthy about the struggle between an adolescent who craves her/his independence and the adult who must provide the parameters and subsequent consequences for those who go too far. It is a very human desire to rebel, and even more so a teen’s desire, to do what he/she wants. But perhaps it is equally important that the threshold for that rebellion be a safe one. And if that threshold is merely a student’s attempt to evade the dress code, then I am happy to enter that struggle anytime and anywhere. I find it far better to work at keeping students in compliance with dress code, than to confront the tragic realities of illegal and illicit rebellion that so often plague many others beyond our campus.
Thank you for reading. Thank you more for your support. Remind your progeny: Be a leader. Be a Chieftain! And let’s mentor that.
Yours in Blessed Edmund Rice,
House Happenings
Holly Harris
Director of Student Activities/House Director
email
CAMPUS MINISTRY
Willie Beesley ’86
Director of Campus Ministry
email
ATHLETICS
Rob Bishop
Athletic Director
email
Guidance
Irina Short
Guidance Department Chair
email
YEARBOOK
Cassie Jimenez
Yearbook Advisor
email
Senior Portraits
Yearbook portraits are being taken by Cooks Photography. Seniors are welcome to choose between the two options below. Should Seniors purchase a Senior Ad for the yearbook, private photos and/or portraits by other photographers may be submitted. Senior portraits are due November 1. Any potential exceptions must be approved by Mrs. Jimenez.
Option #1: $49
• Private session
• Different poses from which to choose
• DUE DATE: all sessions must be scheduled directly with Jason Cook by November 1
Option #2: FREE
• On school site
• One pose, no choice
• DUE DATE: All those who have not submitted a photo by November 1 or scheduled a private session with Jason Cook will be defaulted to this option.
Senior Portraits
Young men: Tux topper
Young women: Black shawl
These items will be provided for your photo by Cooks Photography. Please just come with hair/makeup done. A reminder that all Palma dress code rules will still apply.
