PRESIDENT’S LETTER

Throughout our history, Chaminade has sought to be forward thinking in the programs offered to best meet the needs of our students and the world in which they live. In response to educational and cultural trends, adjustments have been made and new initiatives have been introduced with the hope that they will help us further achieve our mission and allow us to embolden our Catholic, Marianist identity.

Perhaps our most transformative initiative in recent history was the implementation of the House System, and it’s hard to believe that we are celebrating its 20th year! The House System was implemented with a three-fold purpose: to provide leadership opportunities to all students, to build cross-divisional relationships between grade levels, and to deepen the pastoral care to the students through meaningful relationships with more adults on campus.

Because of the visionary leadership of the administration and courageous faculty members at the time, two decades of students have had a unique experience of Family Spirit, mentorship, and character building through the House System.

Chaminade was just the 2nd school in the U.S. to begin the House System when it started in 2003. Over the years, we’ve helped dozens of schools from around the country begin their programs. In 2017, we hosted the first professional development conference on House Systems in the country. There were over 100 participants from 24 schools and 12 states that participated, and the annual House System Institute continues to grow each year.

I sometimes wonder if the people that had the foresight to begin the House System realized the impact it would have on the school community. The work of the first House Deans and House Captains wasn’t easy, but their steadfast dedication to making it better each year is something we shouldn’t take for granted. House competitions have become the highlights of the year, students take great pride in their house and its identity, and mentor group is a part of the day that the students and mentors look forward to most.

The House System certainly fits well with our Marianist identity, as a hallmark of the Marianist charism is community and Family Spirit. As a Marianist school, we seek to be a welcoming and loving environment for all of our students, and a place that exudes hospitality.

Late in the spring and throughout the summer, we were given an opportunity to put our call to build community and to serve in action. When a resident alum and recruiting agent for our resident hall introduced us to five Ukrainian students looking for a school to continue their education in light of the war, we eagerly accepted them. Not only did we want to be a safe haven for them, we recognized that this would be an opportunity for our current students to have exposure to the impact of current events in real time. We couldn’t be more grateful to the students and their families for allowing us to be a part of their journey.

Through the generosity of several donors, we were able to start the Ukrainian Student Tuition Assistance Fund. These donors saw the mutual benefits of having these students at Chaminade and were eager to do their part to ensure the students had a safe, stable, and caring environment to learn and grow.

Our sights are set on continued transformation. We remain committed to offering a boarding program to students from across the world. Our resident students enrich our school and give us the ability to more broadly share the mission of Chaminade with the world. We are excited to cement our legacy as global educators with the construction of our new resident hall.

The Immaculate Conception Chapel is the centerpiece of our campus. The primary purpose of a Chaminade education is to form the faith lives of our students, and giving them a space to develop their faith is key in the process. We are eager to renovate the chapel to make it more conducive to the needs of the faith community we want to build. The proceeds of the Fund-A-Need from the Esto Vir Auction will go to the renovations of the IC Chapel, as well as contributions from our Mothers’ Club, Fathers’ Club, and Alumni Association. Our deepest gratitude to those that have and will support this important effort.

Adapting to the times takes ingenuity, financial resources, and a certain tolerance level for risk. Through the experience of over 110 years of educational praxis, we know the time, energy, and effort that is required to make impactful changes is worth it. With the great support of the Chaminade community, we look forward to the transformational changes yet to come.

Esto Vir!

Todd Guidry, Ed. D. President