Dear Academy Families,

One beautiful aspect of Sacred Heart education is that we are a member of a national and international network of schools. Being part of something bigger forms our thinking, provides opportunities for professional development, affords us easy curricular, instructional and mission-focused collaboration, allows for significant sharing of operational best practices, and engenders inspiration. A very recent example of our participation in this larger community occurred this past Tuesday at our Network-wide webcast prayer service to conclude the centenary celebration of Mother Janet Erskine Stuart, RSCJ.

How else do we use or connect with this larger whole which we call our Network? I thought a list of recent and proximate connections might be instructive:

• Mrs. Renken and a handful of faculty have been (and will be) visiting other Sacred Heart schools for professional development/sharing/learning/observation.
• Some faculty members from our school in Halifax, Nova Scotia, spent a day at our school a few weeks ago.
• Middle School students who attended Network Summer Service projects have shared their experiences at morning assemblies.
• Middle School teachers have attended Network-wide summer service projects and have shared their experiences at faculty gatherings.
• Academy teachers and staff have been recently invited to apply for participation at next summer’s Network Summer Service Projects (some of our faculty and staff are submitting applications).
• Mrs. Renken, Mrs. Budny and Mr. Storjohann have been in conversation with other Sacred Heart middle school administrators to organize and orchestrate one week student exchanges as an opportunity for some of our older students.
• A Goal V (“Personal Growth in an Atmosphere of Wise Freedom”) Conference occurred here in St. Charles at the beginning of October, with participants from all over the United States and Canada.  Mr. Storjohann was on the planning committee and I was the keynote speaker. Our school hosted a portion of the conference.
• Beginning this evening, more than 100 members of our larger Sacred Heart family (Heads of School, Board Chairs, Business Managers and New Trustees from all 24 schools in the United States and Canada) will be attending a conference.  New Trustees will have a tour of Philippine’s Shrine and all with have dinner here on Friday night.
• A student from another Sacred Heart school will be spending the day with us tomorrow.
• In November, a meeting for those in each of our schools who are involved in Formation to Mission activities will be meeting for a conference.  (You may see them when you come for your parent-teacher conference.)
• The week of Philippine’s Feast (November 18) we will be hosting five visitors who will be here to help us continue to reflect on our living of the Goals and Criteria of Sacred Heart education. This official SHCOG Visiting Team will meet with representative members of all constituency groups and move us one step further on the journey of deepening the living of our mission.

The Network is not just a name of an association of schools. Rather, it is a vibrant web of connections that enriches each of us in our educational endeavors!

United in God’s Good and Loving Heart,

Maureen Glavin, rscj