June 2011
Dear Friends,
I have been avoiding writing this letter as I know it will be one of my last to you as Principal of Seton Catholic School. This letter will sound a bit selfish I think, but when I reflect on my time here and what it has meant to me, I constantly think of how much closer to Jesus I have become. My own growth in the Faith, my own learning, my own passion for education, and my own devotion have been so enriched by this place and the people in it, that it is very difficult for me to imagine my spiritual life without it.
I could go on and on about my wonderful staff. I could go on and on about my wonderful students. I could go on and on about the supportive parents, and all those who volunteer so much time, treasure and talent for Seton. I could go on and on about my great Board of Directors whose support has been so empowering and essential for me. I could, but I won’t. Just know that I appreciate everything everyone has done to make this place so wonderful.
I will miss Mass on Friday’s most of all. It was my favorite piece of Seton. There is nothing to which it could be compared! I would watch those kindergarten children with their hands pointed to heaven, and those first graders who would so loudly and joyfully participated along with all of the others, and my mind would always harken back to what I thought when I was offered this position as Principal more than four years ago; “how wonderful it will be to practice my faith at work!!” It has been more wonderful than I ever thought it would be.
I know I leave Seton in great hands with Mrs. Alestock, my successor. I am excited for the school as it leaves its “adolescence” and enters its new phase of “young adulthood”. Mrs. Alestock will be a wonderful leader for this great school. My favorite college professor always said, “To whom much is given, much is expected.” I feel I have been given so much at Seton and will never forget the gifts of your children. I have tried to work hard to fulfill my end of that bargain. I will miss you all.
May God’s blessings continue to be abundant in your lives.
With deepest love and gratitude,
Mr. Selner
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2011
Dear Friends,
Lent is approaching! It is one of my favorite times at Seton. Reflection is the hallmark of the season, and that activity is especially true as we enter this part of the school year. In our Catholic tradition Lent is a forty-day period before Easter. It begins on Ash Wednesday. We skip Sundays when we count the 40 days because Sundays commemorate the Resurrection. In the Roman Church, Lent officially ends at sundown on the 21st of April (Holy Thursday), with the beginning of the Mass of the Lord’s Supper.
Lent is a season of soul-searching and repentance. It is a season for reflection and taking stock. It is appropriate that we follow the same thoughtful process here at Seton. My “Leadership Team” will be meeting with me to do some reflecting as we plan for next year; improving what has worked and rethinking what can be reconstituted. A lot of details need to be considered: the calendar, scheduling, religious activities, academics, the many spiritual opportunities we provide for our students, and many other items.
It is our hope to emerge from Lent with a renewed and refreshed spirit. The same holds true for our work here at Seton. The success of Seton is dependent on our ability and willingness to renew ourselves and recreate what we have for the glory of His name.
Mr. Selner
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Dear Friends,
One of the hallmark events of every school year at Seton is “Catholic Schools Week”. The theme for Catholic Schools Week 2011 is “Catholic Schools: A+ for America ”. This year, Catholic Schools Week takes place the week of January 30th and begins with Mass at the home parishes and at St. Mary’s Hudson at which our choir will participate, and I will speak. Our Open House for enrollment/registration also takes place on the 30th from 2 – 4 P.M. Many events dealing with academics, spirituality and service (which, I think, are key components of an A+ Catholic school) will be highlighted for Catholic Schools Week. We incorporate student, teacher and parent “appreciation days” throughout the week and design many wonderful activities for everyone. It is my hope that the entire Seton Community joins in making this year’s Catholic Schools Week a memorable and exciting one. The website includes a full detailing of the week’s events. Please join us in celebrating the wonderful difference that over 200 years of Catholic education in America has made.
Mr. Selner
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December 2010
Dear Friends,
As Christmas will soon be here, I am reminded of Alfred Lord Tennyson’s famous seasonal poem, “The Time Draws Near”. It is one of my favorites.
The time draws near the birth of Christ:
The moon is hid; the night is still;
The Christmas bells from hill to hill
Answer each other in the mist.
Four voices of four hamlets round,
From far and near, on mead and moor,
Swell out and fail, as if a door
Were shut between me and the sound:
Each voice four changes on the wind,
That now dilate, and new decrease,
Peace and goodwill, goodwill and peace,
Peace and goodwill, to all mankind.
How fortunate are we at Seton to celebrate this season and its wonderful events openly, without restraint? The children are richer for it. The spirit of the season is manifested in many ways at Seton; the halls are filled with reminders of what is coming, our daily announcements reflect the anticipation of Advent, the spirit of giving is pointed as we hold a “Baby Shower for Jesus”, the staff has collected items for our troops in Afghanistan, and we have held prayer services to ponder this beginning of the Liturgical year. It is my favorite time at Seton. I wish all of you a wonderful Christmas time with your families and friends. You are always in our prayers. May God’s blessings continue to be abundant in your lives.
Mr. Selner
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Fall 2010
Dear Friends,
It is with great anticipation and excitement that we begin the 2010 – 2011 school year. Our theme for this year is “Do Whatever He Tells You.” Those wonderful words spoken by Mary to the servants at the Wedding of Cana are really meant for all of us. In order to fully apply this theme in our daily endeavors we all must be listening to His message and asking ourselves some very important questions:
- What is it we proclaim?
- How can we be children of God?
- How do we encounter Christ everyday in each other; in what we say and in what we do?
- How can we live our lives so that we make a difference?
It is from the contemplation of our answers that we find our bearings. It is the responsibility of all of us to be the “beacons” for our children and students in the effort to give them those qualities that enhance their lives in Christ. It is my hope that this school year is spirit-filled and offers many opportunities in which Mary’s command to the servants at the wedding will blossom in each of us.
~ Mr. Selner
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May, 2010
Dear Friends,
As the 2009 – 2010 school year winds down, and we begin to think in earnest of the next school year, we find ourselves preoccupied with planning classes, schedules and programming for next year and evaluating what was done this school year. In the midst of all of this, we sometimes overlook the wonderful things that are happening presently. Our Power of the Pen Team, Science Olympiad Team, and many of our sports teams have brought us wonderful recognition this year. Our second graders are experiencing their First Holy Communion, many wonderful end of the year events have been planned for our graduating eighth graders, and there is much to be joyful about during the month of Mary with our May crowning, Rosary Club, and Grandparents Day among the many activities planned.
But with all of this I realize we come to the end of another year and a certain melancholy always sets in with me. It is the ending of the year and the loss of relationship that accompanies it that causes me some sadness. I will miss my eighth grade students and wish them the very best of what will be a great high school experience. I know that because of Seton and the exemplary staff here, that they have every advantage as they head into high school.
To those students and their parents, I wish a special “May God’s blessings continue to be abundant in your lives”.
Mr. Selner
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March, 2010
Dear Friends,
Kindergarten screening is taking place this month at Seton, and as I watch these “little ones” come in to experience Seton for the first time, I think of how important it is for us to make this a positive, warm experience for them. They will graduate from high school in 2022 and I am wondering what the world will be like then. How do we prepare them for a future about which we cannot know? What skills do we focus on? There is little that can inform this decision, but one thing is for certain: they will need to be grounded in the faith in order to cope with what’s coming down the road. That, I think, is among our most important tasks at Seton Catholic School - to give our students a firm foundation in the faith. That is something that cannot be “outsourced” or taken away, and it will service them well in the uncertainty of tomorrow.
Sincerely,
Harry L. Selner, Jr.
Principal
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Dear Friends,
First of all, thank you for your support for me and my family over the past week. I very much appreciated your expressions of sympathy.
As your children may have informed you, our celebration of Catholic Schools Week will begin on Sunday, January 31st, 2010 through Friday, February 5th, and is filled with many wonderful events. A listing of these events has been placed in Setonotes. During Catholic Schools Week we reach out to the community to build awareness of what our school offers, and we thank those who have worked so hard to make Seton such an excellent example of what Catholic Education is.
One of the most important roles of families is preparing young people for fulfilling lives of love and service to their families, their communities and the Lord. That is why the 2010 Catholic Schools Week theme is particularly fitting. “Catholic Schools: Dividends for Life” underscores our efforts to instill in students the faith, knowledge, and morals that will enable them to fulfill their future roles in life. Now, more than ever, a Catholic education is truly an investment in the future that is worth the consideration of every family.
Please check the schedule included in SetonoteS to see what we’ve planned for the week and join in the celebration. Please encourage your friends and neighbors to participate, particularly those who may be considering Catholic education for their own children.
In addition, please join me in saying thank you to our teachers, staff, and all those involved in educating our Seton students. It is through their dedication and commitment that our school is an excellent example of how Catholic schools provide “dividends for life.”
Devotedly yours in Christ,
Harry Selner, Principal
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December, 2009
Dear Friends,
Advent is my favorite time at Seton. This Seton Advent has been filled with events that highlight the hopeful and joyful anticipation that is the hallmark of the season.
The concerts by grades Kindergarten, 1st, and 2nd; the morning singing and prayer services; our Advent liturgies; the instrumental music I hear flowing from the Chapel as our orchestra students practice for their concert; and the wonderful decorations have reminded us of the true meaning of Christmas and have accentuated our own mission of providing spiritual opportunities and nourishment for our students.
Our student ministries and Seton community have been busy: our giving trees have been very successful with nearly all students participating, our care packages to the troops overseas have been delivered, our donation of cots for preschool children in the city has been realized, countless coats and warm accessories have been sent to those in need, our Jesse Tree has been “decorated” each day with ornaments that symbolize the events of the season, and our Advent music each morning has pointedly focused on Christ’s coming.
God’s blessings here have been truly abundant. May they be abundant in your lives. Have a wonderful and blessed Christmas Season. Thank you for the gift of our children. Happy New Year!
Sincerely,
Harry L. Selner, Principal
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September, 2009
Dear Friends,
Tuesday, the 15th of September, was a big day for Seton Catholic School. The United States Secretary of Education Arne Duncan announced on that morning that Seton Catholic School was a National Blue Ribbon School of Excellence, one of only 50 private schools in the United States to be so designated. This is the highest honor a school can receive from the federal government. What an honor for all of us, especially the wonderful teachers here at Seton to whom much deserving thanks and credit must be given.
The miracle that is Seton continues; once a school of 83 students is now home to 410. We have become a true visibility point of God. We are a regional site for Catholic Education, serving over 20 different communities. Our students continue to do very well and we continue to focus on our mission to provide a quality Catholic education for those seeking it.
As we went through our OCSAA accreditation process last year, I decided that we had compiled enough data and began enough worthy programs, especially in the area of professional development, to qualify us for this prestigious award. Our test scores have been wonderful and that, coupled with our professional development focus, seemed to meet the criteria for the Blue Ribbon. With the help of Pat Fritz and Sr. Helen, the document of application was prepared and submitted. After perusal, the Blue Ribbon Committee acknowledged our efforts and notified us of the award. We are elated to bring you this news. Representatives of the United States Department of Education will be visiting Seton soon to acknowledge us in a more formal way.
You will be receiving more information about this award. A “Blue Ribbon Committee” has been called and we will keep you posted as to our celebratory efforts. Thank you for all that you do. God continues to grace us with His blessings. May God’s blessings continue to be abundant in your lives as well.
Very Humbly,
Harry L. Selner, Principal
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June 4, 2008
What can I say? The end of a school year brings a myriad of emotions. It is truly a bittersweet time for me. My favorite part of the school day is greeting your children when they arrive each day, and that piece I will miss greatly. After all these years, it is the interaction among and between students and adults that makes school such a special place.
Relationships are what learning is all about. We learn best from the people we love. I have enjoyed this year very much, and as two of my favorite students told me when I asked them, "So, how was this year?" They responded, "It was great!" I feel the same way.
Have a wonderful and safe summer. May God's blessings continue to be abundant in your lives.
Sincerely,
Harry Selner, Principal
March 1, 2008
March is here, which means spring is right around the corner and this year is nearly 3/4 over! I’m sure most of you are aware of the prestigious award Seton has received. We have been named a “Catholic School for Tomorrow” by Today’s Catholic Educator and are one of only twelve Catholic schools in the entire nation to receive this award! The award has been given because of innovations in curriculum and instruction. Mrs. Pat Fritz and I will be representing Seton at the National Catholic Education Association’s award ceremony in Indianapolis on March 26th. This is a very proud moment for Seton School. I am continually amazed at the wonderful things happening here. On March 14th, we will have “Living Stations” in the Chapel at 10:00 AM. Please feel free to join us for this wonderful event. May God’s blessings continue to be abundant in your lives.
Sincerely,
Harry Selner, Principal
February 4, 2008
My first semester of school at Seton Catholic is over and I head into my second looking both forward and back and wondering about and evaluating programs and decisions on how to best serve the students at Seton. My most cherished memories of the first semester, however, revolve around our wonderful Liturgies and prayer services. The Mass for the “Anointing of the Sick”, the “Catholic Schools’ Week Mass”, and the “Silvestro Wedding Mass” are absolute highlights for me thus far. The reverence with which your children come together at Mass continually lifts my spirit each week. It is where I truly feel “The Spirit of Seton” and I look forward to our Liturgies as the pinnacle of my week here. If you have not joined us for a Mass, please take a look at our calendar and feel free to visit for this wonderful time.
People often ask me, “What makes Seton so special for you?” I always respond, “Come visit us on Friday. You’ll see. It is there, at our Friday Mass, that you will know that the students of Seton, as the song goes, are Christians by their love, by their love.” May God’s blessings continue to be abundant in your lives.
Sincerely,
Harry Selner, Principal
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