Late October is always an exciting time for athletics and other activities at Priory.
The varsity football team has its first playoff game tonight at St. Pius X, and I’m sure there will be the usual flock of enthusiastic Ravens making the journey to support the team. Even though the team has had to navigate many challenges and injuries this season, we know Coach Parent, his coaching staff, and players will be ready for this game.
The varsity cross country team heads to South Callaway High School tomorrow morning for the Class 3 District Meet. These runners have had numerous successes this season, both at the team and individual level. Last week they competed in the Metro League Championship and came home with 2nd Place thanks to four Top 15 finishers. Just yesterday the high school and junior school teams competed against each other in the annual Dusty Trail race, and it was a spirited moment of community for the teams.
The varsity soccer team defeated Principia 2-0 on Tuesday evening. This win completed a 6-0 undefeated season in the Metro League. The team will start district competition Monday against CBC. The district is probably the most challenging one in the state, but several of the players on this team took CBC to overtime in the district game last year, and they are up for the challenge.
Great performances are also happening on stage this week. I had the pleasure of accompanying the 7th and 8th grade to a matinee production of Henry V on Wednesday afternoon. It was great to see our high school students transform the Kline Theatre into the fields of Agincourt. I’ve always connected Priory’s student body with King Henry’s famous words about his own army, “We few, we happy few, we band of brothers.” It was wonderful to see those words come to life on stage, and I hope many of you are able to attend this weekend’s performances.
As our sports seasons head toward the postseason, we are also moving into the final week of the fall term. There are only four more days of class before exam week. Now is the time to get organized and to prepare for fall term exams. These exams are an opportunity for our students to demonstrate the knowledge that they have gained over the course of the fall term. While success on an exam may indicate mastery of a subject, our students are not only defined by grades. We are most proud of them when they embody honor, respect, and integrity through their thoughts, words, and actions. When they do those things, they become a true band of brothers.