June 25, 2011

Throughout the summer St. Michael’s Prep highlights its Graduates of 2011. The highlight includes an excerpt from the graduate’s formal reflection about his experiences, a summary of activities and awards, as well as a section of photos.

JONATHAN CAREL BONELLO
My four years at St. Michael’s were four of the most influential of my life. The education I received was stellar. The teachers were constantly available for help, the small class sizes allowed for individualized attention, and the courses were challenging and interesting. But where St. Michael’s really stood apart was in character development. Since my freshman year, I have grown tremendously intellectually, socially and spiritually.

When I began here, I considered myself to be one of the more mature and serious students and felt that everyone in my class should change to be more like me. I expected people to accommodate my needs. Looking back, I realize how immature my viewpoint was. I learned to adapt to other people’s needs and attitudes. The boarding aspect of this school offers much more than a way to get to know others. It taught me how to get along with everyone. Some of my “enemies” are now my closest friends.

St. Michael’s is renowned for the faith it hands over to its students. As a freshman, I thought my faith was as strong as it could be, and thus I underestimated what this unique school offered. I truly appreciate what daily Mass, Holy Hour, and Confessions have done for me. I have grown stronger in my faith, and have learned to appreciate and value my faith to a degree I previously would not have thought possible.

I thank my parents for sending me to such a well-rounded and distinct school. In addition, I thank the faculty for everything they have done to maintain the high standards of the school. Their dedication provided us with the insight and skills we need to take our next step. At St. Michael’s I received all the necessary tools I needed to grow in maturity, the Catholic faith, and discipline. It is evident that such tools were only available by my attending St. Michael’s Prep.

Activities and Awards

Activities
● Student coordinator for volunteering at the Blind Children's Learning Center
● Speech and Debate Team (2007-2011)
● Cross Country (2007-2011), Team Captain (2010-2011)
● Room Leader (2009-2011)
● Junior Class President (2009-2010)
● Student Body President (2010-2011)

Awards
● St. Norbert Award, St. Michael’s Prep School
● Robert C. Byrd Honors Scholar
● Jones Latin Award
● California Scholarship Federation, Life member
● First Honors (94% or above) for all twelve quarters of high school
● Published poet
● Recognized as one of the top graduates in the Diocese of Orange for 2011.

Jonathan has chosen to continue his education at California Polytechnic University (San Luis Obispo).


Prayer Requests
● Tom Fuentes who struggles with cancer.
● William Mullins who recovers from an injury.
● Those who are in the armed forces.
● St. Michael’s older priests and those who care for them.

June 5, 2011

Thanks to those parents and friends who have helped this week:
● Mr. Brian Tran for providing photos of graduation
● The Di Napoli and Schardt Families for hosting students over the long weekend.

Volunteer Opportunities

● Annual Bucket Brigade!! Come help us clean the school on June 11th at 8:30 a.m. We need several work teams to help clean after school is out for the summer. All volunteers are welcome. Snacks and beverages provided by Fr. Gabriel. To sign-up contact Mrs. Christian in the school office.

Lost and Found
After the Commencement Exercises, someone left behind a Hakuba camera tripod. Please contact the school office to pick it up.

WCEA/WASC Results

St. Michael’s Prep has been given a 6-year term for its WCEA/WASC accreditation! Thank you to all who contributed to the WCEA/WASC Self-Study and Visitation!

Parent/Student Handbook: Chapter 3, Sections 10 and 11
SECTION 10: CALCULATING SEMESTER GRADES
Semester grades are calculated from three weighted factors. Each of the two quarter grades weighs 40%. The semester exam itself weighs 20% of the semester grade.

SECTION 11: STUDENTS WHO RECEIVE A SEMESTER GRADE OF “D” OR “F”
A student who receives a semester grade of “D” or “F” must make up the work. A passing grade of “C” is a necessary prerequisite for readmission to St. Michael’s Preparatory for the following academic year. In order to achieve this, the student must repeat the course during the summer.
This schooling can be taken online, at a local school, or with a competent tutor. To properly evaluate the summer work, the student must submit a summer school transcript and a portfolio of work completed during the summer course. Based upon this information the administration, leaning heavily on the advice of the department chair, records a grade on the transcript which represents the level of work as it compares to St. Michael’s expectations. There are occasions when the school administration will require the student to take a written and/or oral competency exam in order to better evaluate his newly-strengthened academic proficiency.

While both the original failing grade and the competency grade are on the transcript, the latter is used to compute the grade point average. The student who earns three grades below “C” in the same semester forfeits his ability to return to St. Michael’s. The senior who earns even one “F” as a semester grade must withdraw immediately and forfeits his St. Michael’s diploma.
This Week’s Photos: Baccalaureate Mass and Commencement

Etiquette Point of the Week
When you make a phone call, introduce yourself first and then ask if you can speak with the person you are calling.

Originally published in the March 2011 issue of Parents magazine

Athletics
The baseball awards ceremony will take place at 7:00 p.m. on Monday, June 6th

Reflection given during the 2011 Commencement Exercises by Fr. Sebastian Walshe, O.Praem.
Among other things Fr. Sebastian teaches philosophy.

We are here today to give thanks to God: especially for the blessings he has bestowed upon these graduates and their families over the past four years.
At the end of his last year, each senior writes a reflection which he reads to the student body. As I listened to the reflections, I noticed that every one of the seniors mentioned two things for which they were most grateful: the friendships they formed at St. Michael’s and their faith that was nourished here. I do not know whether or not they were aware of it, but the two are intimately connected. There is a window in the back of the Abbey church with St. Augustine holding in his hand the first lines of our Norbertine rule of life: “Above all things dearest brothers, let us love God, and then our neighbor.” Quietly, perhaps imperceptibly, the force of those words was forming the young hearts that passed by that window day after day. The strongest friendships, the only friendships that endure into eternity, are those rooted in the love of God.

St. James once observed: “See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient with it until it receives the early and the late rains.” (James 5). This advice surely applied to our graduates. All of us needed to exercise great patience and faith. I think most of the graduates here, together with their parents, had times when they wondered if they would make it to graduation. As fruit matures, it goes through stages. Before it is ripe and sweet, it is usually bitter and hard. This stage corresponds roughly to Sophomore and Junior year. St. Paul once wrote: “At the time, all discipline seems a cause not for joy but for pain, yet later it brings the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who are trained by it. (Hebrews 12). Now that graduation has come I think that sweetness and peace has finally settled into their hearts.

So many people labored and made great sacrifices to make this graduation possible. First of all, your parents. From the moment they lovingly conceived your life they have willingly sacrificed and given of themselves to provide what you need to be healthy and happy. From the time you came to St. Michael’s your teachers and the priests and religious of our community have worked and sacrificed to provide for your education and spiritual formation. And last, but not least, you graduates are the fruit of your own toil and labor.

Our Lord said that by their fruits you shall know them. The graduates here before you are the fruit, the final product of a St. Michael’s education, and hence the best indication of the worth of the tree which is St. Michael’s Preparatory School. Good fruit is ultimately the work of the Holy Spirit, and among the fruits of the Holy Spirit, the first is love. Not a love of pleasure, not a self-serving, utilitarian love, but a self-sacrificing love that bears the burdens of another and is prompt to forgive.

Last Thursday, I spent some time together with the seniors as a chaperone for their senior outing. They are remarkably easy to take care of. So long as you feed them and let them spend time together, they are happy. Whether it was kayaking, swimming, playing basketball, they were always happy to be together. They came here as strangers, stepped on each other’s toes, vehemently disliked one another at times, but eventually forgave each other. Now they know each other inside and out, and they behave more like brothers than friends. The thought occurred to me: See how they love one another - they are really going to miss each other.

And now my dear graduates, I address myself to you. Indeed you will miss one another. This is possibly the saddest graduation you will ever attend in your lives. It does not seem right for brothers to part ways. It is for this very reason that we here in the sanctuary have vowed to live together in God until the end, so that we will never have to say goodbye (And you are welcome to try our way of life). But even if you don’t, be consoled by this fact: a friendship truly rooted in Christ will never end. For all those who love in Christ, whatever paths they go in this life, there will ultimately be a merging again of those paths in eternal life. Until then I hand on to you one, final rule as a parting gift from your alma mater: Love one another as Christ has loved you.

In publishing this homily, we hope to share a portion of the spiritual treasure by which the students are enriched every day. However, this homily may not be reproduced without written permission of the author.

Prayer Requests
● Those who are in the armed forces.

● St. Michael’s older priests and those who care for them