Principal's Welcome
August, 2007
"Blessed are the clean of heart, for they will see God."
Welcome: students, parent, and staff, to the 2007-2008 school year. I hope all of you are ready to experience a new year here at St. Matthew's with enthusiasm and anticipation. I welcome in a special way, the new members of our family, both students and staff, and wish them a wondrous start.
With this year's theme I am challenging you by using Jesus' own words, one of His great Beatitudes. I am asking everyone to strive to be 'clean of heart', clean in your lives at school and at home. In addition to being physically clean, we need to strive to be spiritually and emotionally clean, as well.
As a starting point, I looked up "clean" in the dictionary and I found twenty-nine different meanings for the word. Most of the definitions are obvious: free from dirt, containing no pollutants, not diseased, freshly laundered, etc. I also discovered such references as: morally upright, just and fair, not rude or obscene, producing the least possible pollution, spiritually pure. These are all things that we should strive to achieve.
But what do I mean when I say 'clean of heart' at St. Matthew this year?
Keep your heart clean
make sure you are true to your beliefs
be just and fair
be respectful
be connected to God,
Act cleanly
be sure that your actions reflect your beliefs
be honest, don't cheat
present yourself well
do as God wants you to do,
Treat everyone cleanly
don't BULLY or exclude others
don't hurt anyone, verbally or physically
no putdowns or name calling
help others,
Keep the environment clean
recycle
help to keep our campus beautiful!
Jesus called us to a Christian life. We have to step up to the challenge in our daily lives here at school and live out what we believe. It is through our actions towards others that we show what we truly believe. When this happens, we will indeed be blessed.
Please read the Handbook carefully with your children. Much of it is the same, but there are some new definitions. A fair warning to all: The policies set forth in this book are created to be followed. They will be strictly enforced.
Once again, welcome, and have a great year!
Kenneth F. Boegel, Principal
