Winter/Spring 2013 How Do You Spell Service? 3 1 2 6 4 5 10 1 Pope Benedict. 2 Pope Francis 7 3 St. Benedict High School Teens for Life following National March for Life in front of Supreme Court Building 4 Polar Bear Plunge for special olympics 5 Food Bank Top Performer award 2012-13 6 Club St. Jude 7 Canned food collection 8 Ave Maria Home 9 LifeBlood 10 Wolf River Conservancy Clean-up Day 8 WWW.SBAEAGLES.ORG 9 From the PresidentOn Eagles’ Wings DEVELOPMENT To our SBA families and friends - Recently, our students participated in KIDS KAN, a springtime effort to collect much-needed food for the Food Bank. It took me back in time as I remember well the summer afternoon that Sarah, our youngest, was cleaning under her bed and came across a strange discovery. I remember not only because she was cleaning - unusual in itself - but also because of what she found. A can of corn and a can of tomatoes. Apparently, neither had made it to school for donation that year - or possibly some previous year. We could laugh about it because it was the perfect example of who she was. A girl with a wealth of well- intentioned plans, many of which just never came to fruition. She always ‘meant to’ do a lot of things. But think about it, how many of us are guilty of this every day? We think about it, pray about it, add it to the to-do list, but somehow just never get around to it. The St Jude radio-thon grabs at our heart strings while driving to work, but before making the pledge, the desk phone rings and we’re off to begin the day. We watch those horrificFeed the Hungry commercials and vow to call. Then the microwave buzzes and the food we have distracts the food we don’t. It’s Goodwill that will benefit from our Spring Break plans to clean out the closet, but the day and the energy never seem to arrive in the right mix. We are human. There will always be distractions. But wanting to serve and deciding to serve are so very different. After all, who doesn’t WANT to help? We all know the truth. Homeless people don’t warm up at night because we thought about taking clothes to Goodwill and the hungry don’t get dinner because we meant to take those cans to school. I’m proud of the many different ways our students have found to give service. You’ll get to read about many of them inside this edition. From their time, to their money, to their blood, they are finding ways to do His work. As many are aware, Nancy and I will be moving out of town at the end of the year to a school where I will have the opportunity to serve in a similar capacity. But we’ve met so many great people in our fourteen years here; picking up and packing up will not be easy. You’re not a part of our jobs; you’ve become a part of our lives. And so much has happened at SBA in that time, we’ve been blessed just to have gotten to be here for it. How many times have I ‘meant to’ say just that? How many times have I ‘meant to’ write, speak, text or tweet our appreciation? How many times have I ‘meant to’ acknowledge the kindness and generosity you have shown again and again? My daughter ‘meant to’ turn in those cans, she really did. I’m thinking she may have learned that from me. George Valadie President From the Editor Yes, SBA is how you spell SERVICE! As we near the close of the 2012-13 school year, we wanted to highlight the very many service activities in which our students participated, but in a way that brings it full circle with our church’s teachings and those that impact our reason for service. Our school has been involved in a myriad of service opportunities (see front cover) over the year, as they are every year, not because it’s fashionable, but because we live the Faith. As we learn our faith, it’s only natural that service to others is something we do. I’m sure you watched as Pope Benedict left the Vatican and the election of our new Holy Father, Pope Francis. Pope Benedict, a man of great humility and service, during eight years, has made 28 pastoral visits around the world, personally authored three encyclicals, issued 28 apostolic letters, wrote and delivered approximately 50 homilies each year, 48 Wednesday audience talks and saw to the publication of all those homilies and addresses in books, all the while hosting bishops and heads of state at the Vatican. Pope Francis, a champion of the poor and marginalized, while in Argentina, proclaimed, “The great value of Catholic schools is that they are rooted in the truth of the Catholic faith. It is by the witness of faithful educators that young people will envision a more just and peaceful world.” How true is this and how true, then, is that SBA educates young men and women in Faith. The proof is in the pudding. Just ask – Ave Maria Home, Birthright, Catholic Charities, Club St. Jude, Diocese NFP Center, LifeBlood, Life Choices, Make-a-Wish, Mid-South Food Bank, Our Lady of Sorrows School, Project Outreach, Right-to-Life, Special Olympics, St. Mary’s Soup Kitchen, St. Paul School, Wolf River Conservancy and many more. If you haven’t already, please read Mr. Valadie’s letter above and Khira Rotty’s article in “About Our Faith.” Every section of this magazine focuses on how we have served as leaders of the Church, as SBA alums and as SBA students, faculty and parents. As our new Pope Francis said in the homily of his installation Mass on the Feast of St. Joseph - who by serving the Holy Family, also served us, “…serve one another with love….” One final note, I want to extend my gratitude to Mr. Valadie, not only for what he’s done for SBA over the years, but for having trust in me to edit and publish this newsletter. He has given me full editorial jurisdiction and, leaving deadlines aside, I have thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity. Thanks, Sir, for the confidence and for YOURSERVICE to SBA. Sharon Masterson, Editor Director of Communications & Sports Information 2 On Eagles’ Wings Table of Contents 2Development Catholic Schools: Educating Our Youth in Truth for the Honor and Parent Connection Glory of God and the Salvation 6 of Souls. About Our Faith Mission 8 St. Benedict at Auburndale High School is a diocesan, coeducational, college preparatory school committed to academic excellence through a comprehensive and challenging Headline News multi-level curriculum presented in an atmosphere permeated with the aims, values 10 and teachings of the Roman Catholic faith. On Eagles’ Wings is a publication of St. Benedict at Auburndale High School 13 Achievements Editor/Director of Communications & Sports Information Sharon Masterson President/Principal Faculty Focus George Valadie 17 Assistant Principal/Dean of Students Sondra Morris Director of Alumni & Development Lori Trew Regis ‘91 On and Off Campus Director of Admissions 19 Ann O’Leary Director of PLUS Program Robin Ciancioso Sports Advisory Board 2012-13 22 Mindy Costabile, Chair Jon Bascom Madonna Bond Msgr. Peter Buchignani, V.G. Alumni Doug Byrnes 27 Nick Griffin (’98) Chad Harrell John Hyden (’93) Joe Incardona Got Facebook? Chris LeBlanc On Eagles’ Wings magazine is published by Become a fan of SBA on FaceBook! Paul Schuhlein the St. Benedict at Auburndale High School www.facebook.com/eaglessba John Schuman Office of Communications. Duane Sell Phil Sisneros , Vice Chairman Change of address or correspondence Mike Watermeier Please send all changes to: Don Williams Editor-On Eagles’ Wings Wanda Winnette St. Benedict at Auburndale High School Andy Wise 8250 Varnavas Drive Do You Tweet? Pat Wycoff Cordova, TN 38016 Beth York, Secretary [email protected] Follow SBA on Twitter! 3 www.twitter.com/eaglessba On Eagles’ Wings DEVELOPMENT business director’s office every other day. SBA ǡ Moments Ǥ The Annual Fund for 2012-13 ǡ Ǥ We couldn’t be more pleased with the Ǥ Lori Trew Regis ‘91 Ǥ Ǥ ̈́ͷͲͲǡͲͲͲ ͳͷͲǦ ǤǨ ǡ Ǥ ͳǡʹͲͳʹ ǡ ǡ ǣ football bleachers (things that they know probably aren’t in the ሻǡ Ǥ Ǧ̈́ͳͳͺǡ͸͵͹Ǥͺ͹ You wouldn’t believe how many Ǧ̈́ͳ͵͵ǡ͸ͺͷǤͻͻ Ǥ Ǧ Ǥ ̈́ʹͷʹǡ͵ʹ͵Ǥͺ͸ ǡ Ǥ ǡ –ʹͺ͵ Ǥ –͹͵ ǡǤWho hasn’t ǫ–that’s for sure. Ǩ Ǩ When we had the “Show Your Love for SBA” Valentines jeans day ǡ – o of their check “Great dea”! I don’t know when I will stop being surprised. ǤǤȀǤ ǡ ǡ ǡ ǡ Ǥ ǫ ǫ Ǥ ǫ ǡǤ Ǩ At a recent Advisory Board meeting, 2012/13 membersʹͲͳʹ gathereǦͳ͵d for their annual group photo - Seated (from left) Don Williams, Madonna Bond, Secretary Beth York, Chair Mindy Costabile, SBA President George Valadie, Joe Incardona Standing (from left) Chris LeBlanc, Andy Wise, Nick Griffin (’98), John Hyden (’93), Duane Sell, Jon Bascom. Unable to be present for picture – Msgr. Peter Buchignani, VG, Doug Byrnes, Chad Harrell, Paul Schuhlein, John Schuman, Phil Sisneros, Executive Committee, Mike Watermeier, Wanda Winnette, Pat Wycoff. 2 DEVELOPMENT On Eagles’ Wings Home Field Advantage St. Benedict at Auburndale High School Bleacher Upgrade and Renovations The SBA football field is the HOME of THE and EAGLES for our football lacrosse teams.