Reflection for April:

One hundred and fifty one:  Think about that for a second, 151 days.  I hear a lot about how many days we have left (25 for those counting) and, while also significant, shouldn’t overshadow the fact that our students have been in school for 151 days during the 2020-2021 academic year.  So before we move forward, please let that marinate for a few minutes. 

Thank you to our families, teachers, coaches, and ALL our volunteers for making these past 151 days possible.  It didn’t look like we wanted it to for sure.  The year didn’t take on the feel of past years nor did it accomplish all that we accomplished in previous years.  We couldn’t have field trips, couldn’t rotate classes, were unable to bring in speakers and have assemblies, instruction had to be cut in half in order to balance the many different classes, and the overall stress and procedure development/changes were overwhelming.  However, through prayers and the diligence of many individuals we were able to open our doors, play sports regardless of how they scheduled out, had the Mardi Gras parade, attended mass during the week on a rotating schedule, and will receive First Communion, Confirmation and attend Graduation on time all while attending school 151 days and counting thus far. 

As I look back on this year just enough to remind myself that we still need to look forward, I know that there will be several things that will change moving into this summer and next fall.  The structure of the day, several procedures, the rotation of classes, creation of opportunities, recruitment of new students and staff, all these things will be able to create a more conducive and familiar look to what next year’s school year will be as we move onward and upward. 

At the same time, it’s almost impossible to compare many surrounding school districts and what they were able to accomplish to us and what we were able to accomplish.  I know that many of you, just as I do, have older children in other schools in our area.  I think about what many of those students have faced and wonder where we will be with them moving forward.  I think about how important it is to learn and move forward into next year.  I think about my last two years, my only two years, here at OLMC and all that they have encompassed.  I remember a quote I read from an old football coach that said “There are only four mental qualifications necessary for success – Aggressiveness, Obedience, Concentration and Determination.  Add to this Harmonious cooperation and you have the making of a real team.”  Once the upcoming 25 days are complete and the dust settles on this school year, we will need ALL of those same mental qualifications in order to move forward into the 2021-2022 academic year.  However, before we get there, it is only fitting and necessary to remember the many positive aspects which can be pulled from the past 151 days our students, staff and families were able to live in this past year. 

So thank you, congratulations, and as we finish this out, let’s grow forward together! 

Mr. Swann - Principal

 Reflection for March 22, 2021:

Well, spring is finally here.  To think where we are compared to the previous spring season is something phenomenal at best.  As many things are different than they were a year ago, many others are still the same.  Nothing of course has come without significant adjustment, planning and re-planning, sleepless nights and most of all…worry. 

Our school is attending full days however; these days do not look like the days of school’s past.  Regulations and restrictions haven’t gone away; they have just developed into new and different regulations and restrictions.  Procedures have given away to new, amended procedures that will almost certainly be re-amended again later into newer procedures.  COVID has not gone away either.  As evident in the continued positive cases within our schools, cities, and families it is clear that we are not out of the woods yet. 

So, where does this leave us?  Things seem normal in our little world don’t they?  Our OLMC students are in schools yet our classes and lessons look very different.  Our athletes are back on the playing fields yet our games and practices look very different.  Our school year has seemingly droned on and yet, each day opens with uncertainty and difference.  It is safe to say that things are beginning to look the same only…different. 

So this is where we are left - a new spring a year later in the middle of our Lenten journey.  A Lenten season that seems it has been going on throughout the entire year.  We sit in the face of constant challenge and slow progression and many of us have failed to see Jesus in all of it.  How are we supposed to do that seems to be the echoing question I have faced, and if I am to be truthful, asked myself so many times throughout these past 365-Plus days.  It’s been a long trip for all of us I know, however, it is important to remember that we all have in fact been on this trip!  There are going to be issues that continue to arise and, although our school year looks “normal” it is/has been anything but.  The struggle to implement and grow through this school year still remains until the end.  We are NOT back to normal in any way – socially, academically, athletically, etc. and unfortunately won’t be for quite some time.  That is why it is important to take joy in the small growth and steps we have made as an organization to date, and hopefully, the large steps we have made as individuals in the face of this extended Lenten season. 

Nine full calendar weeks, forty school days, and a lifetime is what remains of this year at OLMC.  While other schools across our nation are just now discussing bringing students back to class for the first time in over a year, we are in a small group of schools and school districts who moved forward navigating the ever-changing frontier.  Perhaps next year will be better.  Uncertainty remains yet, so does hope.  This year has become much more about relevance than about curriculum; much more about social and mental health than about academic performance, and much more about perseverance than advancement! 

As we move forward in the year(s) to come, I pray that we will be able to get the focus back on those other endeavors but for now, remember it is a new spring and, like with all springs, gives rise to new life.  Let us pray that we grow in Christ during this season of Lent and we are able to show Him to others who are also walking the same path.  May we all remember to show Grace just as we receive it. 

God bless!

Mr. Swann

 

Reflection of Our Lady of Mount Carmel:

And we are here.  It goes without saying that the last two years were nothing short of unpredictable.  Nothing that any of you or I could have imagined would have lived up to the preverbal fiction novel we have all been living through since December 25, 2019.  Nothing could have prepared me or any of us for the multiple events, both in our professional and personal lives, which we have endured over the course of these past 15 months.  If I am to be honest, I have asked several times why God brought me here to OLMC.  This question still remains however, I do feel that I catch glimpses of the answer at times and they seem to be clearer than before.

Coming into a new school and position; taking the controls of many new processes, policies and procedures; I remember my excitement for this opportunity.  I had utilized and amended a plan for development and structuring/re-structuring at previous organizations that I was confident would be able to fit here at our organization.  I had planned to take in observations over the first semester while laying the groundwork for any necessary changes that would have needed to be made.  And then, it all went in the trash in one phone call. 

Navigating the following weeks at OLMC was nothing short of unsettling only to be compounded by the loss of another child close to my own family in January a few short weeks later.  As I continued to move forward, many days in a slight haze of directional decision and uncertainty, I continued to take comfort in the belief that the worst is obviously over.  March 13^th, 2020.  Just a few days removed from one year ago, was the day the world seemed to stop moving.  I can safely say that they didn’t prepare me for this in graduate school.  The ensuing confusion, fear, uncertainty and division going on in our school systems, as well as the world, alone was enough to prompt multiple teachers and administrators to settle for unwanted and untimed resignations however, these same issues within our own school only added to an already extremely difficult and uncertain situation. 

The following five months were filled with never-ending meetings and phone calls, often well into the night, attempting to salvage what was left of, and develop the groundwork for the upcoming school year.  Of course, like anything during situations such as these everyone seemed to have suggestions as to what would be the best though none of us had any experience in extreme matters such as these.  The balancing act between the best interests of 112 school families, and my own family became an almost impossible task and so, just as many of you experienced, it was my family that suffered.  As the ever changing development process, what would/could be accepted and what would/could not, pushed on each day it was like attempting to navigate a preverbal minefield without any idea where/when the next explosion would take place.  To say it is difficult to attempt to justify an “equality” in the parent who is upset that their child isn’t getting playing time on the ballfield with the teacher who lost a family member is an gross understatement yet, that has been the charge; to give an equal understanding and consideration to any and all concerns that hit my office, phone, email and even home at times.  How does one even do this during the most normal of times I wonder and yet, here we are, attempting to navigate that which has so often seemed unnavigable. 

July 11, 2020.  Even preparing for the inevitable departure of a friend and leader would not dull the confusion and pain that would be faced afterward.  Not only was this all going down seemingly at once without any answers, but I now felt like I was all alone in the decision making process for both a parish and school that I was just barely familiar with.  As we limped into August with a plan in place and a million new procedures, checks and policies, the realization that we now have to make this work, we must make this work began to sink in.  Sticking to the plan was the only option and doing so for the sake of not letting all that so many people had done, so many sacrifices made, be in vain.  As administrators we felt we owed this to our students, our families, and our teachers.  The only thing left to do was allow the roller coaster to move and be prepared to make sudden-change decisions from here on out.

As we moved along in the 2020-2021 school year filled with some residual discontent with the processes developed over the summer, our school families mostly began to settle in to the new routine and the feeling of acceptance and almost happiness that our students were finally back in school began to take precedence over what previously was a collective notion of fear and uncertainty.  Finally, it seemed, we were moving toward where we needed to be and at the very least, OLMC offered a refuge to the still uncertain events and division that was fueling our outside world at that time. 

Aside from some problems out of leftfield and the occasional positive COVID exposure resulting in shutting down classrooms here and there, we sit one year later and I’m wondering, how much smarter will we be through these experiences a year from now.  Only time will tell the full impact endured from the events that took place over the course of the previous 15 months here at Our Lady of Mount Carmel.  There is still so much I have planned to do, so many promises, areas that I intend to address and several different ideas as to how to help grow and sustain our wonderful organization.  However, I’m honestly not sure how much I have left.  I truly understand why Thoreau decided to go off to Walden’s Pond to seek “truth rather than love or money.”

One reoccurring thought has entered my mind throughout all of these experiences during the past 15 months and this thought brought me to a realization; I need to stop wondering why.  I finally stopped asking why God brought me here to OLMC because the answer is completely irrelevant.  Regardless of His reason, I am here and I have a job to do.  Perhaps the previous 15 months is exactly why I am here; perhaps it is something that will happen over the next 15 months; regardless, it doesn’t matter.  I have lived an up and down journey all my life, some 43 years of valleys and mountains, from my personal “top” to my personal “rock bottom” and throughout all of it never questioned God’s plan.  I realized that there is no reason to be questioning it now. 

My prayer is that we all have hope.  We may be uncertain at times and that uncertainty may seem too much to overcome during those times however, it isn’t.  Hope is a wonderful thing and it is given to us through faith, trust and prayer. This is how we travel on.   It’s interesting that when contemplating writing this, I looked at a poem I placed on my mirror some eight or nine months ago entitled “Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening” by Robert Frost and realized, much like the author, I realize we have miles to go before this is over.  “The woods are lovely, dark and deep, but I have promises to keep, and miles to go before I sleep, and miles to go before I sleep.” 

-Mr. Swann

 Reflection for February 5, 2021:

Niceness vs. Kindness…

It’s difficult to understand the difference between someone being nice to us, and someone being kind.  I had this conversation with a couple of our students earlier this week as they were expressing their concerns with someone not being “nice” to them about a particular situation.  We all often use the words nice and kind synonymously however, as I said to these particular students, it’s important to distinguish the two.

Nice makes us, and others, feel good.  It’s pleasant and often works well in the short-term.  Being nice helps avoid arguments and it’s polite.  Kindness however, means doing/saying what’s best for someone even when it might not sound “nice” in the moment.  Kindness takes much more effort than niceness.  At times, kindness can even seem “mean”.  Often we mistake kindness for meanness because someone didn’t let us get our way when in all actuality; they were trying to protect us. 

Not pushing your teammate when you know they aren’t giving 100% may be nice, but letting them waste their talent isn’t kind.  Buying your kid what they want to soothe his/her feelings may be nice, but allowing them to control your decisions and not teaching them delayed gratification isn’t kind.  Not saying anything when a co-worker is unknowingly making mistakes at their job is nice, but letting them continue to mess up isn’t kind.  You get the picture.  It’s nice to be “nice” but it’s more important to be kind.  Maybe if we could curb our own arrogance enough to learn from other people’s experiences and expertise, we would grow in both understanding and respect.

The truth is, most times when we are nice to someone it really isn’t about them at all.  It’s about us and our distain to have hard conversations or our need to avoid potential conflict.  It’s scary to consider the consequences of holding people accountable.  We don’t want to make things “uncomfortable”.  The truth is, if I were nice all the time in my position, I wouldn’t be doing a very good job however, I can remain kind throughout even if that kindness means it may be a little more difficult for me. 

Receiving kindness isn’t always easy either.  Most of our young athletes want to be told how good they are doing not have it pointed out when and how they are messing up but let me ask you, which one is going to make them better?  Many people don’t like to be told they are wrong even when they are or, that their viewpoint is merely that because often, they don’t have all the information needed to make an informed directional decision.  This isn’t their fault it’s circumstantial however, it would be nice to simply agree and move on yet it doesn’t do much for their understanding. 

Jesus was kind but He wasn’t always nice.  I don’t remember him asking the disciples what they would prefer to do.  Jesus was concerned with growing His church not about protecting everyone’s feelings.  Being nice is generally about choosing our comfort over someone else’s growth and ultimate happiness which, isn’t really that nice to be honest, it’s selfish.  Not only do we need to choose kindness over niceness, we need to learn to accept kindness over niceness out of love and respect for one another. 

Mr. Swann – Principal 

 

Reflection 1/14/21:

“Today is January.”  This is what I’ve told myself the past few days both for the realization that it actually is January and as a slight reminder that at this point in the New Year, we are still offering In-Person instruction, each day, full days hopefully for a complete academic year.  This thought has been driving me for what is going on 10 months now and to be honest, I’m tired.  I am convinced that the majority will echo this sentiment and that is why we must stay the course.  There is still so much to overcome however, we have already overcome so much.

We are still very much operating in an unprecedented time.  Each day brings all new anxiety and apprehension to the point of deciding whether or not to actually look at my phone when it buzzes.  At the same time, each day fills me with hope and insight when I watch our students sit at their desk, take a test, raise their hand to answer a question or play outside.  There is still so much to overcome however, we have already overcome so much. 

Over the next several months we will have a great number of events at OLMC and, although they will look different than ever before, we will be holding them unlike last year so please, remember that during any inconvenience that may arise.  In a few short weeks we will begin the season of Lent.  This is a time of fasting and reflection, preparation for the celebration of Easter of course.  However, Lent is also a time for self-evaluation, vigilance, spiritual healing and development, and growth.  Just as this past year has been unprecedented, this year’s season of Lent should mean more than ever.  We have a lot of healing to do.  We have a lot of forgiveness to give, and, more than likely, we have some forgiveness to ask for.  Regardless of what your Lent may look like, the time to prepare for that season is during the next few weeks.  There is still so much to overcome however, we have already overcome so much.

Just as we need to reevaluate our spiritual lives, our school must be in a constant process of reevaluating our processes.  In doing so, there is a lot to consider; staffing, programs, curriculum, policy & procedures, funding, and the list goes on.  Each year, more so even now, we must approach our world with a new-found respect for our Catholic schools.  Our schools have gone above and beyond during the COVID-19 pandemic to provide In-Person instruction during which time, your students have gained valuable education time that hasn’t been afforded to many others.  In the face of so much uncertainty, apprehension and even resistance, our schools pushed forward under the protection of the Holy Spirit.  Given all of your prayers and support, it isn’t surprising that we were able to do so.  Of course, there is still so much to overcome however, we have already overcome so much. 

As we close out this week I am asking that you ask yourself “how do we continue to overcome?”  Moving forward successfully is going to take all of us no doubt.  Continuing this mission will take sacrifice, determination, prayer and focus and it will take it from ALL of us.  In what is agreed to be an unprecedented time, OLMC is poised for an unprecedented accomplishment.  Stay positive and stay the course.  There is still so much to overcome however…

Mr. Swann - Principal

 Reflection for the Christmas Season 2020:

Merry Christmas!  This reflection comes at a very strange time.  It is a time that should be inspired by Peace and Hope; inspired by Love and Promises; inspired by the birth of Jesus Christ.  My prayer is that all of these things are still very much inspiring your Christmas mindset this year.  This Christmas however, there are many more things that will be impactful as we celebrate what marks the reason for our faith as Christians.  This year has been extremely challenging and unpredictable and although there will be some heavy feelings and memories which the past year has brought, we must remain focused on the promise of God’s future. 

Like most of you, I have done my fair share of reflecting on the past 362 days.  There hasn’t been much breathing room, professionally or personally, during that time.  Perhaps several of you have struggled with the same feelings.  As I look around at the students, staff, families, etc. it becomes easy to remember why OLMC is here; however, it also is a constant reminder of all that has been taken away in this past year.  There have been times when it has been difficult to consider the next day and what it may bring and yet, here we are getting ready to walk into 2021 with another year in the books and a new one just around the corner.  Perhaps now more than ever it is important to find perspective in an unlikely source. 

To find some perspective on what we can appreciate over the past year, I turned to the OLMC 8^th grade class.  I spoke with both classes regarding our (mine, yours, everyone’s) mindset and mentality that we use as to how we approach the impactful things, both positive and negative, in our lives.  It has been ever-so-easy to focus on the negative things that this year has brought to us but for a different perspective, I asked the 8^th grade class of OLMC to give me their positive things that this year has brought to us.  This is what the students provided for all of you: 

I like getting snacks at school

I like spending time with my class this year

I enjoy all the time I’m spending with my family

I like the A and B days

I like my homeroom

I like the pay grade given in class

My family has become closer

I became really close to my homeroom

We got to have baseball

I like that we have new classes

I appreciate spending time with my family

You appreciate your teachers and peers a lot more this year

I’m thankful that my parents still have their jobs and we get to be in school

Less homework because we do more in class

I found myself and who I am

Store lines are shorter because they only allow 10 people in at a time

There are several more but I think you get the picture.  These are just some of the things that our 8^th grade students have discovered are important during the COVID-19 pandemic.  Out of the mouth of babes I believe the saying goes however, I truly believe that at times like these, we may all need to look outside of our usual “informative” places in order to see what’s truly important and to gain true perspective. 

During this Christmas season I pray that each of you is able to find some peace and joy in these words from your children.  I pray that each of you remains safe and blessed, and that all of you have a very merry Christmas!

Mr. Swann – Principal

 

Reflection 12/15/20:

“By what Authority are you doing these things?  And who gave you that authority?”  Yesterday’s Gospel discusses the chief priests and elders asking Jesus why he thought he had the authority to teach in the temple.  Can you imagine questioning Jesus on who gave Him the authority to do anything?  My first response to this question was of course not, I can’t imagine doing that.  However, on second consideration, the majority of today’s society meets all authority with some level of skepticism doesn’t it? 

I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard this type skepticism in my every day discussions with people; the doctor says that the child’s diagnosis is this: “I don’t think that doctor knows what he’s talking about”; the coach calls a particular play in a particular situation: “That coach is an idiot, he should have ran this..”; police officers, teachers, dentists….let’s face it, anyone who attempts to tell us something we don’t 100% agree with and watch out if they actually offer constructive criticism to go along with it.  Trust me, I’ve been guilty of this skepticism myself and I’ve certainly had my judgement/decision process questioned more than a fair share.  So why is it so difficult for us, why was it so difficult for the chief priests and elders, to accept the knowledge base from someone other than ourselves?  Is it really because we know that we can do whatever it is better or, is it because we struggle with hearing the truth? 

The truth is that, just as Jesus says in John 3:11, “We speak of what we know and testify to what we have seen”.  The truth is where Christ’s authority comes from.  The truth is often times difficult to hear in our lives and challenging to adhere to.  The truth is what we are all supposed to listen to and follow.  Christ calls us as disciples to bear witness to the truth capital “T”. 

The year 2020 has filled us with skepticism because of false truths to the point of dimensioning our hope.  May this Advent Season remind us all of our responsibility to the Truth of Jesus Christ and strengthen our resolve while increasing peace with and among us. 

Mr. Swann – Principal