Holy Name Junior Senior High School

Tuesday was the final school day for our graduating seniors.  We celebrated by viewing a slide show that is currently on our YouTube page accessible by clicking the YouTube icon on our web site.  Over the previous weekend, the seniors and their guests had a wonderful time at the senior prom and the after party.  At both events, all were joyful and appropriately behaved.

This morning, at 5:30, we sent the band and chorus students to the Great East Festival.  Following this competition, the group will travel to upstate New York and Niagara Falls with performances interspersed.  We are certain they will do well and have a wonderful time, and we thank Dr. Audette, Mrs. Ackerman, the Burkes and all the music parents who have prepared for this trip and who are supervising the kids.

We welcome this afternoon representatives from the Walk for the Homeless including Bishop Reilly and Fr. Madden.  They will be speaking to our students and inspiring them to become involved in this year’s walk.  Thank you to Mr. Grieger for arranging this assembly.

Tonight is our Senior Prom, and the Class of 2012 is ready to celebrate the Spring season and upcoming graduation with their guests at Mechanics Hall.  We are certain that all will have a wonderful evening, and we offer our prayers and hopes that all have the courage and wisdom to make good decisions to ensure that a safe, happy time is had by all.

Parents have been kind enough to organize and sponsor an after prom party at the Main Street YMCA.  We cannot thank these parents enough for the sacrifice they have made to be sure that all students have a memorable evening.  Students have been advised to enjoy this night in a safe and appropriate fashion, and I look forward to sharing this time with them.

Last night, Holy Name held its Ring Ceremony for the Class of 2014.  Mass was said by Father Flynn, and, within the context of this liturgy, he blessed their class rings and other jewelry or special items.  It was a very special and enjoyable ceremony.  We need to thank Father Flynn; the class moderators, Mrs. Kohn and Mrs. Ivas; Mr. Grieger, who arranged the Mass; Mr. Thompson and Drew Stairs for their music ministry; and Alec Seymour for working sound and lights.

The sophomores were extremely well behaved and appropriate, and their ability to meet a high level of expectation speaks well for their role as school leaders as they transition to upperclassmen.  I would like to also thank all the parents and other family members for coming out to celebrate with us as well as the freshman class and their advisors, Mrs. Yakstis and Mr. Marcotte, for providing refreshments after the event.

This ceremony kicks off all the spring celebrations and dances surrounding the end of the school year.  It has been a wonderful year at Holy Name, and we look forward to this exciting season as our students progress forward in their studies and in their journey as much needed Christian witnesses in our world.

Holy Week has been a joy at Holy Name High School! The kids have expressed themselves and their faith in myriad ways throughout Lent but especially this past week as we have engaged in prayer services, confession, and adoration. I would like to thank the Theology Department as well as our Campus Minister, Mr. Grieger, for all their hard work in organizing these celebrations of faith.

Father Flynn has been instrumental throughout; his presence and involvement at the school is a blessing. We were also proud to have Auxiliary Bishop Reuger at Holy Name this week to hear confession.

We look forward to the Spring and the events that come with the season. Our seniors, with only sixteen days of school left, continue to lead the student body with their Christian behavior and attitude. We are fortunate to have such a wonderful graduating class!

All of us at Holy Name wish you and yours a Blessed and Happy Easter.

Last evening, Holy Name was well represented at the Adopt a Student Dinner and Awards Ceremony. Adopt a Student is an essential part of the Catholic School System in the Diocese of Worcester. They are a group of volunteers who raise money and then provide scholarships to qualified students to attend a Central Catholic School. Holy Name is proud to have fifteen students this year receiving Adopt a Student grant monies to assist them with their tuition payments.

Senior Catherine Kooyomjian was awarded the Paul and Dorothy Kervick Award for Leadership, and John Soltys, also a senior, earned the Bill and Kay O’Brien Award for Best Exemplifying the Values of the Adopt a Student Program. We are extremely proud of what both of these students have done at Holy Name, and we are certain that the values based education that they have received at Holy Name will serve them well in the future.

The Holy Name Jazz Ensemble provided the entertainment for the evening. They did a fabulous job, and we are extremely grateful to Mrs. Ackerman for preparing them and to Mr. Thompson for conducting them last evening.

The evening was capped by two scholarship presentations: one by Assumption College and one by Anna Maria College. Both of these colleges, as part of the Adopt a Student program, awarded a full, four year scholarship to a graduating senior. We are proud and pleased to announce that these scholarships went to Holy Name students. John Soltys received the scholarship to Assumption, and Lisa Martinez-Cape received the scholarship to Anna Maria. We are very grateful to both these outstanding Catholic institutions for their generosity and for all that they do to support Catholic education in the Diocese of Worcester.