School mascot with text

St. Mary's Families,  

May you all be blessed on this Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord, and may we all take time today to say thank you to our school's Patroness, the Blessed Virgin Mary, for answering God as we all should by saying, "May it be done to me according to Your Will."  Mary, Mother of God, pray for us.

- More about the Annunciation of the Lord: https://www.franciscanmedia.org/annunciation-of-the-lord/

- Mass readings for the Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord: http://cms.usccb.org/bible/readings/032520.cfm

Updates... 

- We're on the downhill side of spring break.  What does the sleep cycle of your teen(s) look like?  What does YOUR sleep cycle look like?  School will be here on MONDAY, let's all be ready.   

COVID-19 coronavirus.  

- Colorado will exceed 1,000 COVID-19 cases shortly, and the CDC assesses the community transmission risk as "widespread."  If you're out and about, be safe.

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-nCoV/index.html    

What's next?  

- There is much discussion among government officials about education and much effort on trying to figure out what the remainder of this semester will look like.  Well, two of the great advantages of a St. Mary's education is we are Catholic, which means our focus is on positive outcomes for our students & their families, not rigid protocols and administrative guidelines; and we are independent, which means we have the freedom to deliver an educational result without having to penetrate bureaucratic labyrinths. - Therefore, what's next is the same as what's always next:  we continue educating VIRTUOUS LEADERS for our Church and community.  And those leaders are needed now more than ever.  

How you can help

- As our economy rides the roller coaster it's riding, I would encourage you to be faithful, hopeful, and CHARITABLE.  Yes, St. Mary's needs your support, but so do your parishes. - In the fundraising world we often talk about "sacrifical giving," but that can often feel like a cliche.  Well, the time for truly sacrifical giving is upon us.  Our charitable institutions can't wait for us to give from our abundance, because our abundance might be a ways off.  Those institutions serving our Church and community need us to continue to make sacrificial gifts right now.  

How are your students doing?  

- We're starting to see more shelter in place orders, to include up in the Denver metro area.  As our students spend more and more time in semi or full isolation, we need to make sure they don't completely drop out of the world of HUMAN CONNECTION.  I'm starting to sound like a broken record here, but make sure you are connected with your children, they need regular, healthy human contact whether they are normally socially outgoing or not.  

Reminders.

- When is the last time I said THANK YOU to our amazing students and parents?  It's been too long!  Please know how grateful I am for the fortitude I see and hear about in our community.  Don't let up, we need to stay focused and stay faithful through the coming weeks.

Lighter thought.

- I saw a post yesterday that said something to the effect of (and I'm sure I'm going to get in trouble for this) since children are being educated at home, it looks like prayer and spankings may be making an educational comeback... (It was meant in jest, it's not a recommendation that you try to spank your teens for not doing their homework...).  

Prayer.  Please continue to pray with us and pray with our community.  - And by the way, please pray this prayer throughout the day.  Print it out and put it on your bathroom mirror, pray it at mealtimes, pray it before you go to bed, etc.  

THE MEMORARE
Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary,
that never was it known that anyone who fled to thy protection,
implored thy help, or sought thy intercession, was left unaided.
Inspired by this confidence, I fly unto thee, O Virgin of virgins, my Mother.
To thee do I come, before thee I stand, sinful and sorrowful.
O Mother of the Word Incarnate, despise not my petitions,
but in thy mercy, hear and answer me.
Amen.  

Respectfully,
Rob Rysavy
President
St. Mary's High School