Wayside SEMPER ALTIUS
In this issue: 2
From the Desk of the Principal
3
Collage of Gratitude
6
Religious Volunteers
6
Wayside Choir
7
Strategic Plan
7
Extra-Curricular Activities
8
Bulletin Board
8
School Life: Picture This
Lent 2011
grat•i•tude noun the quality of being thankful; readiness to show appreciation for and to return kindness: they expressed their gratitude to the community for all their wondrous support.
Wayside Academy Newsletter, Lent 2011 Editor: A. Parker Photos: C. Ward Design & Layout: P. Baklinski L. Lee-McNabb
Let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken.
Teaching the mind, tending the soul, and deepening the experience of the Good, the True and the Beautiful.
Wayside Academy
K. — Gr. 12 705.749.3658
www.waysideacademy.org
Hebrews 12:28
S EM
P E R A L T I US
From the Desk of the Principal De a r
Friends of Wayside,
M ay
His peace keep you throughout this Lenten Season.
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strengthen and balance each other: “Without the spiritual, there is no fullness of life. Without the communal, prayer and study become narrow and selfish. Without academics, spiritual and communal life are left rudderless. The three sustain each other in a delicate and vital balance. By consciously developing each dimension, Wayside achieves its purpose.”
n his homily during a recent weekly Thursday Mass, Father Damian told s I look around at the culture which surrounds us the school body that Jesus at Wayside, I cannot help but notice that there are wanted us to see things that are missing. And most of these missing everything upside down, opposing our normal ways aspects seem to relate to a way of life – a way of of viewing. Throughout Scripture we can see Our thinking and acting - that is so…“right side up”. The Lord patiently teaching the most delicate, but focus of our surrounding culture is on the self and of remarkably simple, art of “standing on one’s head”. the satisfying of its own desires, rather than being And in this lesson, Jesus showed all who would listen, attentive to the needs of others through the will of the key to unlocking the door that led to the Place of God. The result of which, despite so many of the Unimaginable Promise. And He showed us the tools advantages of our modern world, is that as a group for making this “key” through of people we are rather unceasing love, gratitude, Imagine a learning institution u n h a p py, c o n f u s e d a n d humility, selflessness, trust and stressed much of the time. whose driving force is not T h e r e i s n o h i s t o r i c a l the fortitude to follow the will academic endeavours, but the precedence to the time and of the Father, no matter how difficult the task. We all tending of the souls of all those the place in which we find understand the difficulty of ourselves where so many who are present! shifting our attention to the have sought so little direction ways of Christ. The moment from God. we find ourselves “turned over”, we become “flipped t often feels as if the “odds are long” for a school back” to our old ways. A wonderful Lenten example such as Wayside to make it in the world that of this innate tendency of humanity to fall away from God is found with St. Simon Peter. With all his surrounds it. Catering to the soul is not straightenthusiasm towards Jesus, imagine how poor St. Peter for ward. The “Wayside formula” consists of felt, when Our Lord told him, “get behind me Satan!” remarkably small class sizes (from kindergarten to And yet, Jesus left St. Peter, and all of his failings, to grade 12), teachers and a curriculum who do not simply teach to the facts leading to the test. Rather, lead His Church. we strive to cultivate the inherit desire for the ayside Academy strongly seeks to become, and individual to learn and acquire wisdom. All this, remain, upside down. A fundamental guiding combined with a philosophy which embraces families principle found in our charter states, “The heart of of all economic means is not easy to implement. The the school is that it is authentically Catholic. It exists world around us is simply not set up to assist in such a to tend souls and resists the tendency to become venture; such is the challenge when one seeks to be solely an academic institution.” Imagine a learning “upside down”. institution whose driving force is not academic ith such challenges come more graces. The endeavours, but the tending of the souls of all those volunteerism that the school relies on from each who are present! Our charter goes on to further explain how the three fundamental aspects of our family whose children are enrolled helps to create a school, the spiritual, the communal and the academic, friendly spirit in the school - an apostolic spirit which
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is often fuelled more by passion than expertise. Through participation, the entire school community has the opportunity to sense the wonder of the fulfillment that only comes from relying and working for Him. But, of course, the greatest grace bestowed to those participating with Wayside is to see how the children are affected by what they are receiving. I have written and spoken countless times about the wonders of this. It is the ultimate “fruit” that tells all who are involved that this “upside down” model… simply does works!
existence – crucial in re-building a culture of life, a culture of hope. On May 18th we would like to host you at our first annual Donor Appreciation Event held at Wayside Academy. We invite you to visit our school “in action”. We will serve you lunch. We will tour you through the school. We will sing songs for you. We will thank you, kindly.
Pax,
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this newsletter, I have asked our families to offer testimonials of what Wayside has given to them. As you read their accounts please accept our gratitude for all that you have done to help our school. Your donations are truly crucial for our
Adam Parker
Collage of Gratitude
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or us, Wayside is all about supporting—and being supported by—fellow parents and children in the grand, topsy-turvy, down to earth, vocation of building up the domestic church. Wayside has been an extraordinary experience of being called to live by the faith spoken about in Jesus’ parable of the mustard seed. May Wayside continue to grow and provide shade for those who seek it! h Dr. Donald & Michele Graham
If the only prayer you said in your whole life was, "thank you," that would suffice. h Meister Eckhart -3-
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ayside for our family is faith, hope and love in action. h Frank & Marion Doyle
Collage of Gratitude
Cont.
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he philosopher E. F. Schumacher once wrote that “while genuinely trying to help others, we may also gain knowledge and experience how to help ourselves.” I have been blessed with the opportunity to work at Wayside Academy after my graduation from Christendom College. There has been no teaching experience like unto Wayside. It is a school where all involved are helping others, and by joining with them, one learns more about themselves and grows in maturity, dignity and holiness. h Brendan Sheridan, gr. 7/8 Teacher
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his school's atmosphere is a fertile ground for growing the fruits of the Holy Spirit in students and in the adults associated with it! h Gabor & Gabriella Horvath
Now thank we all our God, with heart and hands and voices.
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oming to Wayside has been the best choice and lifealtering event for our entire family. Wayside offers classical education in a joyous Catholic atmosphere. What more could you want for your child? h Fergus & Ruth Anne Devereaux
h Martin Rinkart
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s parents we always want what is best for our sons and daughters. Education is no exception. We want to prepare them to make their way in the world and stand on their own two feet. At Wayside, they learn that making their way in the world means keeping their eyes on heaven while their feet remain firmly on the ground. h Dave & Kathy Graham -4-
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ayside is a place where I have been given the title, “teacher”. In reality I have p ro b a b l y b e e n i n t h e classroom for many years because I still have lessons to learn. Wayside is the place where I have been planted to grow and learn. The children teach me daily lessons as do the dedicated and hardworking people that surround me. Thanks be to God for all who make this possible. h Elementary Teacher
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am deeply thankful for Wayside, and how the whole of it has contributed to growth and security of all the young people who attend; challenging them and nurturing them in a wholesome environment. For myself, being par t of t he wonderful community has been a blessing. h Dr. Uwaya Erdmann
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e could not be happier with Wayside. Here is the culture of life. Here is the new springtime of the Church.
We can only be said to be alive in those moments when our hearts are conscious of our treasures. h Thornton Wilder
h Chris & Lee Anne Corkery -5-
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ur daughter came to Wa y s i d e A c a d e m y i n Grade 7. She has found a welcoming community of friends and an academic approach that has given her bac k her confidence and joy in learning. Small yet expansive, academicall y r igorous ye t flexible, spiritually sustaining— Wa y s i d e o f f e r s a u n i q u e educational experience. h Tim & Laura Gaughan
Religious Volunteers Through the last few years Wayside Academy has been blessed to have religious volunteers in our halls and classrooms. This year joining Father Damian is Father Pilon, Mother Sol and Sister Parousia. Father Pilon has taught and acted in the role of chaplain in a variety of international catholic schools. Father Pilon offers morning mass two days a week. During the two days that he is here, Father Pilon also offers noon confessions which often have lengthy line-ups as students and staff alike chat, eat and wait. Father Pilon also offers classes in religion and French. Mother Sol and Sister Parousia are from the Order of the Servants of the Lord and the Virgin of MatarĂĄ. They help us greatly by assisting in each of the elementary classrooms and joining in the recess fun. We are most grateful to have their presence, spiritual leadership, and good cheer.
Wayside Choir Our students shared the gift of charity during the Advent Season by travelling, singing and offering Christmas merriment to residents of many Peterborough nursing homes. As well this year our students filled the Lansdowne Mall with the beautiful refrains of true Advent hymns. Finally, the students and staff of the Wayside Choir continue to bring traditional sacred music to the various parishes in our diocese on a monthly basis. On March 27, the choir will be singing at St. Joseph’s Parish in Douro at the 10:00 am Mass.
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Strategic Plan In February 2010, the Wayside community began the process of developing a s t ra t e g i c p l a n f o r t h e school. Encompassing six main goal areas Enrolment, School Life, A c a d e m i c s , P r o p e r t y, Finances, Organizational Roles - the Board further refined the community's original brainstorming session and laid out a plan of implementation, which will happen over the next few years. In developing this plan, the community has given focus to our hopes and dreams for Wayside and the means by which to achieve them. The Strategic Plan is available for review for anyone who is interested and we welcome any assistance you might be able to give with respect to reaching our various goals.
Extra-Curricular Activities
By Gr. 9/10 Girls
Wayside Academy offers a variety of wonderful extra-curricular activities that we are grateful for. These include fencing, downhill skiing, speed skating, knitting, foreign languages, and events with our diocese such as the “Way of the Cross” performed on the streets of Peterborough on Good Friday. These opportunities deeply enrich our lives and enable us to prepare for our futures. We are grateful that Wayside offers these opportunities to us.
These opportunities deeply enrich our lives... h Gr. 9/10 Girls
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Bulletin Board
Bulletin Board
April
May
June
21
2
4
Easter Celebration & Break
Crowning of Mary
Gala Dinner, Michael Coren Guest Speaker
12
22
March for Life, Ottawa
Graduation Mass & Celebration
18 Donor Appreciation Lunch
Making a donation to Wayside is easier than ever... Go to our website, www.waysideacademy.org and click on the Canada Helps button to make a donation using your credit card. Thank you for your support! Reg. Charity # 894588953RR0001
Principal
Wayside Academy 575 Center Line, Peterborough, ON K9J 6X5 705.749.3658 www.waysideacademy.org
Board of Directors
Adam Parker
Administrative Asst. Catherine Ward
Biology Field Station Dr. David Beresford
Clergy in Service Fr. Jean-Pierre Pilon Fr. Damian Smullen
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Faculty Ceara Corkery Martha Marrocco Rosalie Verkin Jill Vanderhulst Brendan Sheridan Peter Baklinski Patricia Wilson Luanne Lee-McNabb
Maureen Brand Brian Doucette Frank Doyle Fr. Joseph Devereaux Don Ellis Warren Faleiro Will McNabb John O’Brien Christine Quigley Mike Whitfield