SEMPER ALTIUS

Way

side

SEMPERALTIUS

Teaching the mind, tending the soul, and deepening the experience of the Good, the True and the Beautiful.

Wayside Academy K. — Gr. 12 705.749.3658 www.waysideacademy.org

grat•i•tude

Let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken. Hebrews 12:28

Lent 2011

nounthe quality of being thankful; readiness to show appreciation for and to return kindness: they expressed their gratitude to the community for all their wondrous support.

In this issue:

2 From the Desk of the Principal

3 Collage of Gratitude

6 Religious Volunteers

6 Wayside Choir

7 Strategic Plan

7 Extra-Curricular Activities

8 Bulletin Board

8 School Life: Picture This

Wayside AcademyNewsletter, Lent 2011

Editor: A. Parker

Photos: C. Ward

Design & Layout: P. BaklinskiL. Lee-McNabb

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From the Desk of the Principale a r F r i e n d s o f

Wayside,

ay His peace keep you throughout this Lenten Season.

n his homily during a recent weekly Thursday Mass, Father Damian told the school body that Jesus w a n t e d u s t o s e e everything upside down, opposing our normal ways of viewing. Throughout Scripture we can see Our Lord patiently teaching the most delicate, but remarkably simple, art of “standing on one’s head”. And in this lesson, Jesus showed all who would listen, the key to unlocking the door that led to the Place of Unimaginable Promise. And He showed us the tools for making this “key” through unceasing love, gratitude, humility, selflessness, trust and the fortitude to follow the will of the Father, no matter how difficult the task. We all understand the difficulty of shifting our attention to the ways of Christ. The moment we find ourselves “turned over”, we become “flipped back” to our old ways. A wonderful Lenten example of this innate tendency of humanity to fall away from God is found with St. Simon Peter. With all his enthusiasm towards Jesus, imagine how poor St. Peter felt, when Our Lord told him, “get behind me Satan!” And yet, Jesus left St. Peter, and all of his failings, to lead His Church.

ayside Academy strongly seeks to become, and remain, upside down. A fundamental guiding principle found in our charter states, “The heart of the school is that it is authentically Catholic. It exists to tend souls and resists the tendency to become solely an academic institution.” Imagine a learning institution whose driving force is not academic endeavours, but the tending of the souls of all those who are present! Our charter goes on to further explain how the three fundamental aspects of our school, the spiritual, the communal and the academic,

strengthen and balance each other: “Without the spiritual, there is no fullness of life. Without the communal, prayer and study become narrow and selfish. Without academics, spiritual and communal life are left rudderless. The three sustain each other in a delicate and vital balance. By consciously developing each dimension, Wayside achieves its purpose.”

s I look around at the culture which surrounds us at Wayside, I cannot help but notice that there are things that are missing. And most of these missing aspects seem to relate to a way of life – a way of thinking and acting - that is so…“right side up”. The focus of our surrounding culture is on the self and of the satisfying of its own desires, rather than being attentive to the needs of others through the will of God. The result of which, despite so many of the advantages of our modern world, is that as a group

of people we are rather unhappy, confused and stressed much of the time. T h e r e i s n o h i s t o r i c a l precedence to the time and the place in which we find ourselves where so many have sought so little direction from God.

t often feels as if the “odds are long” for a school such as Wayside to make it in the world that surrounds it. Catering to the soul is not straight-forward. The “Wayside formula” consists of remarkably small class sizes (from kindergarten to grade 12), teachers and a curriculum who do not simply teach to the facts leading to the test. Rather, we strive to cultivate the inherit desire for the individual to learn and acquire wisdom. All this, combined with a philosophy which embraces families of all economic means is not easy to implement. The world around us is simply not set up to assist in such a venture; such is the challenge when one seeks to be “upside down”.

ith such challenges come more graces. The volunteerism that the school relies on from each family whose children are enrolled helps to create a friendly spirit in the school - an apostolic spirit which

Imagine a learning institution whose driving force is not academic endeavours, but the tending of the souls of all those who are present!

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is often fuelled more by passion than expertise. Through participation, the entire school community has the opportunity to sense the wonder of the fulfillment that only comes from relying and working for Him. But, of course, the greatest grace bestowed to those participating with Wayside is to see how the children are affected by what they are receiving. I have written and spoken countless times about the wonders of this. It is the ultimate “fruit” that tells all who are involved that this “upside down” model…simply does works!

or this newsletter, I have asked our families to offer testimonials of what Wayside has given to them. As you read their accounts please accept our gratitude for all that you have done to help our school. Your donations are truly crucial for our

existence – crucial in re-building a culture of life, a culture of hope. On May 18th we would like to host you at our first annual Donor Appreciation Event held at Wayside Academy. We invite you to visit our school “in action”. We will serve you lunch. We will tour you through the school. We will sing songs for you. We will thank you, kindly.

ax,

Adam Parker

Collage of Gratitude

or us, Wayside is all about supporting—and being supported by—fellow parents and children

in the grand, topsy-turvy, down to earth, vocation of building up the domestic church. Wayside has been an extraordinary experience of being called to live by the faith spoken about in Jesus’ parable of the mustard seed. May Wayside continue to grow and provide shade for those who seek it!

h Dr. Donald & Michele Graham

F

ayside for our family is faith, hope and love in action.

h Frank & Marion DoyleW

F

P

If the only

prayer you said in your whole

life was, "thank you," that

would suffice.

h Meister Eckhart

Collage of Gratitude Cont.

oming to Wayside has been the best choice and life-altering event for our entire

family.  Wayside offers classical education in a joyous Catholic atmosphere.  What more could you want for your child?

h Fergus & Ruth Anne Devereaux

CNow

thank we all our God,

with heart and hands

and voices.

h Martin Rinkart

s parents we always want what is best for our sons and daughters. Education is no

exception. We want to prepare them to make their way in the world and stand on their own two feet. At Wayside, they learn that making their way in the world means keeping their eyes on heaven while their feet remain firmly on the ground.

h Dave & Kathy Graham

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his school's atmosphere is a fertile ground for growing the fruits of

the Holy Spirit in students a n d i n t h e a d u l t s associated with it!

h Gabor & Gabriella Horvath

T

he philosopher E. F. Schumacher once wrote that “while genuinely trying to help others, we may also gain knowledge and experience how to help

ourselves.” I have been blessed with the opportunity to work at Wayside Academy after my graduation from Christendom College. There has been no teaching experience like unto Wayside. It is a school where all involved are helping others, and by joining with them, one learns more about themselves and grows in maturity, dignity and holiness.

h Brendan Sheridan, gr. 7/8 Teacher

T

A

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We can only be

said to be alive in those

moments when our hearts are conscious

of our treasures.

h Thornton Wilder

am deep ly t hank fu l for Wayside, and how the whole of it has contributed to growth

and security of all the young people who attend; challenging them and nurturing them in a wholesome environment. For myse l f , be ing par t o f t he wonderful community has been a blessing.

h Dr. Uwaya Erdmann

Iayside is a place where I have been g i v e n t h e t i t l e ,

“teacher”. In reality I have probably been in the classroom for many years because I still have lessons to learn. Wayside is the place where I have been planted to grow and learn. The children teach me daily lessons as do the ded i ca t ed and ha rd -wo r k i n g p e o p l e t h a t surround me. Thanks be to God for all who make this possible.

h Elementary Teacher

W

e could not be happier with Wayside.

Here is the culture of life. Here is the new springtime of the Church.

h Chris & Lee Anne Corkery

Wu r daugh t e r came t o Wa ys i de Academy i n Grade 7. She has found a

welcoming community of friends and an academic approach that ha s g i ven he r bac k he r confidence and joy in learning. S m a l l y e t e x p a n s i v e , academically r igorous yet flexible, spiritually sustaining—Ways ide of fers a un ique educational experience.

h Tim & Laura Gaughan

O

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Wayside Choir

Religious Volunteers Through the last few years Wayside Academy has been blessed to have religious

volunteers in our halls and classrooms. This year joining Father Damian is Father Pilon, Mother Sol and Sister Parousia.

Father Pilon has taught and acted in the role of chaplain in a variety of international catholic schools. Father Pilon offers morning mass two days a week. During the two days that he is here, Father Pilon also offers noon confessions which often have lengthy line-ups as students and staff alike chat, eat and wait. Father Pilon also offers classes in religion and French.

Mother Sol and Sister Parousia are from the Order of the Servants of the Lord and the Virgin of Matará. They help us greatly by assisting in

each of the elementary classrooms and joining in the recess fun.

We are most grateful to have their presence, spiritual leadership, and good cheer.

Our students shared the gift of charity during the Advent Season by travelling, singing and offering Christmas merriment to residents of many Peterborough nursing homes. As well this year our

students filled the Lansdowne Mall with the beautiful refrains of true Advent hymns. Finally, the students and staff of the Wayside Choir continue to bring

traditional sacred music to the various parishes in our diocese on a monthly basis. On March 27, the choir will be singing at St. Joseph’s

Parish in Douro at the 10:00 am Mass.

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Strategic PlanIn February 2010, the

Wayside community began the process of developing a s trategic plan for the school. Encompassing six m a i n g o a l a r e a s - Enrolment, School Life, Academ i c s , P rope r t y, Finances, Organizational Roles - the Board further refined the community's or ig inal brains torming session and laid out a plan of implementation, which will happen over the next few years. In developing this plan, the community has given focus to our hopes and dreams for Wayside and the means by which to achieve them. The Strategic Plan is available for review for anyone who is interested and we welcome any assistance you might be able to give with respect to reaching our various goals.

Extra-Curricular Activities By Gr. 9/10 Girls

Wayside Academy offers a variety of wonderful extra-curricular activities that we are grateful for. These include fencing, downhill skiing, speed skating, knitting, foreign languages, and events with our diocese such as the “Way of the Cross” performed on the streets of Peterborough on Good Friday. These opportunities deeply enrich our lives and enable us to prepare for our futures. We are grateful that Wayside offers these opportunities to us.

These opportunities

deeply enrich our

lives...h Gr. 9/10 Girls

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Wayside Academy575 Center Line, Peterborough, ON K9J 6X5 705.749.3658www.waysideacademy.org

PrincipalAdam Parker

Administrative Asst.Catherine Ward

Biology Field StationDr. David Beresford

Clergy in ServiceFr. Jean-Pierre Pilon Fr. Damian Smullen

FacultyCeara CorkeryMartha MarroccoRosalie VerkinJill VanderhulstBrendan SheridanPeter BaklinskiPatricia WilsonLuanne Lee-McNabb

Board of DirectorsMaureen BrandBrian DoucetteFrank DoyleFr. Joseph DevereauxDon EllisWarren FaleiroWill McNabb John O’BrienChristine QuigleyMike Whitfield

Bulletin Board

BulletinBoard

April May JuneBulletinBoard

21Easter Celebration & Break

2Crowning of Mary

4Gala Dinner, Michael Coren Guest Speaker

BulletinBoard

21Easter Celebration & Break

12March for Life, Ottawa

22Graduation Mass & Celebration

BulletinBoard

18Donor Appreciation Lunch

BulletinBoard

Making a donation to Wayside is easier than ever...

Go to our website, www.waysideacademy.org and click on the Canada Helps button to make a donation using your credit card. Thank you for your support!

Reg. Charity # 894588953RR0001

Making a donation to Wayside is easier than ever...

Go to our website, www.waysideacademy.org and click on the Canada Helps button to make a donation using your credit card. Thank you for your support!

Reg. Charity # 894588953RR0001

Making a donation to Wayside is easier than ever...

Go to our website, www.waysideacademy.org and click on the Canada Helps button to make a donation using your credit card. Thank you for your support!

Reg. Charity # 894588953RR0001