March 2010

John F. Kennedy was a man of charm and wit, martyred tragically before he had completed a term as President. Probably his most notable monument for many years was not a collection of papers or a noble building, but rather an idea that survived him and was known throughout the world. It was the Peace Corps, created on March 1, 1961. Years later, when Jimmy Carter went to the White House, one of the things which endeared him to voters was that his mother, while in her sixties, had been a Peace Corps volunteer in India. The Peace Corps, unlike other American help abroad, was not a flow of supplies from a rich nation to poorer ones; it was literally a helping hand. It was people who went to share their know-how and to work side–by-side with native farmers and teachers. It is good for us here at St. Clement to remember that we continue with the mission of John Kennedy. Whether it is a friendly hello, Christian service of any kind, a canned food collection for the poor, personal donations for a natural disaster relief or the hundreds of small things that might go unnoticed, we continue the most notable characteristic of Americans -- giving of themselves.

Like any other month, March is filled with many activities here at Saint Clement. Please take careful note of the many important dates on the back of this letter. I would like to draw your attention to a few of these events. The selection process for the National Honor Society begins on March 5 and continues through March 13. We congratulate all the candidates for their academic accomplishments and recognize their service to the school and the surrounding communities. Grades two – eight will be taking the Stanford-Binet Standardized Test the Week of March 22nd thru the 26th. This test is very important not only as a guide for you child’s academic growth but also as measuring stick for the curriculum of the Archdiocese of Boston.

It can be snowing or freezing, but it is clearly evident that spring is quickly approaching. It colors our outlook, makes us generally a bit more optimistic, and has us looking for the first buds. Maybe the calendar is smarter than we are. Maybe the idea of spring in our hearts is simply good medicine after a long hard winter – or a short dull winter, for that matter. What kind of spring can we look forward to? It is all in our hands.



Sincerely,

Robert G. Chevrier Principal