Greetings, 

As we enter Fall and the weather begins to cool, school seems to be finding a good rhythm. The novelty of yogurt in the dining hall has worn off, our sports teams are well underway, and students have acclimated to their new schedules, new surroundings, and new teachers. It’s also the time of year when the first few grades begin entering the gradebook. I encourage students and parents to keep a close eye on student progress via MyPriory and focus on building good habits now.

Looking ahead, we will host our first parent-teacher conferences of the year on Friday, September 29th. We’re testing out a hybrid approach for conferences this year. We know that many families value face-to-face interactions with teachers while others appreciate the convenience of Zoom. Our September conferences will be in person while January’s conferences will be virtual.

Our rising senior class deserves some special recognition for their academic achievements. 23 percent of the class was recognized this year by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation due to their exemplary performance on the PSAT. Congratulations to Yrwin Batan, Patrick Hamill, Ian Lin, and Matthew Mueller who were recognized as semifinalists and have been invited to apply to become finalists. Additionally, 20 percent of the class scored a 34 or higher on the ACT, and we can celebrate two perfect scores of 36 - Yrwin Batan and Ian Lin.      

Finally, I want to close by highlighting one of Priory’s most unique and popular disciplines, Medieval Arts. Last week, Medieval Arts teacher Mrs. Mary Claire MacDonald welcomed the Form I and II grandparents to her classroom. I’m told the grandparents were quite eager to join their grandsons and learn how to cut glass. A few band-aids were required!  Earlier this week, Mrs. MacDonald inducted six new Masters into the Guild of St. Columkille. These master craftsmen spent hours perfecting their craft during club periods, nights, and weekends. At the induction ceremony, the boys had the chance to hear from Brother Symeon, founder of the Guild, and join in a community meal of celebration. Congratulations to the inductees and thank you Mrs. MacDonald!

Laus Tibi Domine

Mr. Tim Malecek

Assistant Head of School - Intellectual Formation