may12 newsletter12

							                                  May 2012         Volume 35 No. 9

Report from the President
                   Dear Parents and Friends of Spellman:

                  Blessings during this Easter season! The grounds are beginning to look more
                  beautiful every day, as the weather improves and the seniors are beyond
                  counting days to graduation…they are counting hours. We are pleased with the
                  college acceptances our students have received and the scholarships are a great
                  reflection of the hard work they have accomplished over the four years here at
                  Spellman. Senior Exams, the Prom, Baccalaureate, Awards Night and
Graduation will all be here before you know it!

This is always a time of mixed emotions at a high school. Students change so much in the four
years they are here. From eager freshmen; they become mature, confident, young men and
women. It is a time to get ready for new friendships, new schools and leaving home. It’s also a
time to leave wonderful friends, caring teachers and familiar settings. It is a passage of life that is
so important, so exciting and so profound. It is a time that you hope that our students will thank
the people who have helped form them over the past eighteen years: their parents, guardians,
grandparents, siblings and their teachers and coaches. We all know that you do not get through
life alone. We can all celebrate when the Class of 2012 graduates on May 24!

Golden Diploma
This year there will also be a “first” at Graduation. This is the 50th anniversary of the Class of
1962, Spellman’s first class. We have invited members to return to the school for a reception and
tour of their “alma mater.” They will then receive a special commemorative “Golden Diploma”
to recognize this special occasion. We are hoping that this will be an important part of all future
graduations.

Legacy Gala
Much has happened over the past month. March 31 was our Annual Legacy Gala held at Granite
Links in Quincy. This was a very successful fundraiser and a great time was had by all who
attended. Granite Links was a beautiful venue with a wonderful view of the Boston skyline. The
food was great. The entertainment from our students was terrific and both the silent and live
auctions were memorable. Special thanks to our Advancement Department, under the leadership
of Heidi Garcia, and the many volunteers who made the night special for all of us. We look
forward to returning to Granite Links next year.

National Catholic Education Association Convention
The National Catholic Education Association held its annual convention on April 11, 12 and 13.
We attended a special breakfast to receive the Catholic Identity Award. This award is presented
annually by William H. Sadlier, Inc. in conjunction with the host archdiocese of the NCEA
Convention, which this year was the Archdiocese of Boston. This was a great honor to be chosen
as the school to best exemplify Catholic Identity. We then attended the opening Mass, where
members of our choir participated with other schools under the leadership of our new Principal,
Paul Kelly.




               Cardinal Spellman Administration and Faculty Members Pose with Catholic Identity Award


Religion
Our religion department worked to present a very moving Stations of the Cross on Holy
Thursday. Students and faculty alike were impressed with the musical and theatrical presentation
of Our Lord’s Passion. Our Mass, the following week, was said by Father Paysee, of the Black
and Indian Missions. He was joined by members of the Office of Cultural Diversity. They all
were very impressed with our choir and of the great fervor he felt from our students and faculty
throughout the Mass.

iPad Initiative
We have finalized the financials for the iPad initiative. You will be receiving a letter regarding
the Technology Fee and the guidelines regarding this new technology. We appreciate your
patience regarding this important change in our educational program. We ask that the fee of $150
be paid by June 1 so that we can get the iPads in place.
The Cafeteria
Plans for the new cafeteria are underway. We have finalized plans for a new food service
operation for the cafeteria. The new company will be NexDine and we will be getting you more
information about the program in the months ahead. They will begin operation for the 2012-2013
school year. I have included some conceptual pictures for you to see.




                     View From Within the Cafeteria: Facing the Food Court and Food Lines




                              View of the Food Lines From Inside the Food Court.
Ice Hockey
We will be holding an informal, informational meeting regarding bringing back ice hockey to
Spellman for students and their parents. The meeting is at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, May 2, in
the school’s convent. If you or anyone you know who may be interested in working on this sport,
that has been missing from Spellman for many years, please join us. We had an informal club
program this year but we are looking to expand it over the next few years.
Misc.
Parents of the Class of 2015 are encouraged to looking into the PCC Program that is offered at
Stonehill College this summer. This is a fantastic experience and a way to meet talented,
enthusiastic incoming sophomores for across the South Shore. If you would like more
information, please contact guidance.

The school’s annual Junior Prom was held on Friday, April 27. As always, it is a great success
and an exciting night for our juniors. This year’s event was held at Lantana.

We will continue hosting exchange students over the next few years. If you are interested in
having a student stay with you during the 2012-2013 school year, please let me know. This is a
great way for you and your family to get to better know our global society.

Before May ends, we will hold our recognition assemblies for our underclassmen. From there it
is exams and summer break. It has been an exciting year at Cardinal Spellman high School. As
always, we thank you for your support, your prayers and your trust. We wish you and your
family the best throughout the months ahead!

Best wishes,
-John F. McEwan, Ed. D.
President

A Message from the Principal

                       As we begin the month of May, we place all of our intentions, hopes and
                       needs in Mary’s hands during this month dedicated to her.

                     We pray especially for the members of our senior class, the class of 2012,
                     that God will bless them and continue to nurture them with his gifts.
                     Parents of seniors have received a letter indicating events, times etc. We
                     are very grateful to our senior parents for their support and their
                     commitment to Cardinal Spellman during these past four years and we look
                     forward to celebrating the successes of your sons and daughters. And as
always, I encourage you, parents of freshmen, sophomores, juniors and seniors, to contact any of
us at Spellman when you have questions or concerns. As always we appreciate any feedback that
you can give us.

For Senior Parents
The outline of senior events was mailed home on Friday, April 27. A copy of this mailing
appears on our website.

All seniors must pass every one of their senior year courses to be eligible for a diploma and
thus participate in the commencement exercises.

Only students whose financial obligations to CSHS (tuition, graduation fee, comprehensive fee,
transcript fees, etc.) have been fulfilled will be eligible to participate in all senior activities and to
graduate with the Class of 2012. All other obligations such as outstanding detentions, library
books, etc. must be satisfied before graduation packets are distributed
Finally, on Friday evening, April 27 the class of 2013 held their junior prom. The young ladies
looked beautiful and their dates looked handsome. It was a very nice evening for the attendees
and their chaperones. I would like to thank the students, parents and chaperones who contributed
to making this a memorable evening for all.

-Ms. Dorothy Lynch
Principal

From the Assistant Principal’s Office
                        Senior Used Book Sales
                        Juniors who are interested in buying used books from seniors should
                        make private arrangements. If you are unable to do this, seniors who have
                        used books will be available on May 23 at 5:00 p.m. to sell their books to
                        interested students in the cafeteria. Varsity Books will also have a
                        representative available to buy back books from seniors who are unable to
                        sell them to juniors.

Senior Final Exams
Exams will begin on Friday May 11 and continue through Wednesday May 16. Seniors must be
in school at 7:45 a.m. for exams unless they have been exempted. They may not come in late or
leave early. Each day graduation practice will take place from 10:45 a.m. to approximately 12:30
a.m. All seniors must be present for graduation practice each day.

Sophomores Class Trip: Whale Watch
The sophomore class trip will be Friday, May 18. We will be going on a whale watch from Capt.
John Boats in Plymouth, MA. Students will receive an information packet from their science
teacher. If, as a parent, you have any concerns with your child going on this field trip, please call
Mrs. Davis. I worked for Capt. John Boats for 21 years, as a naturalist, on the whale watch boats
and I can attest to the educational value and community building that these trips provide for the
sophomore class, as a whole. Please pray for a sunny day for us!

Junior / Senior Class Elections
Class elections will be held on May 22. Students will receive information in homeroom if they
are interested in running for class office.

Advancement Happenings

                    Save the Date
                    The Annual Golf Classic and Athletic Hall of Fame Dinner
                    Monday, June 18, 2012
                    LeBaron Hills Country Club
                    Visit www.spellman.com/golf2012
If you wish to play in the Golf Classic, the player fee is $160.00. Spots are filling up fast, so if
you don’t want to miss out, you need to register quickly.
The day begins with registration, the driving range and lunch. The shotgun start is at 11:30 a.m.
and the day ends with dinner and awards.

Any parents or faculty wishing to help the day of the tournament, please contact Ellen Rota in
the Office of Advancement at 508-584-3004 or at erota@spellman.com.Volunteers are needed
the day on the Golf Classic! Sponsorship opportunities now available!

The price to attend the Athletic Hall of Fame Dinner only is $40.00 per person. You can register
online or call the Advancement Office at 508-584-3004. Registrations are due by June 13.

This year’s inductees are:
Jane Connor
Dorothy Lynch
Jill Sands Lefferts ‘96
Korey Welch ‘93
Ray Richard ‘67

Join us for a day of sun, fun and competition! Once again, all proceeds from the tournament will
benefit Spellman’s athletic programs!

Social Media
Do you have a Twitter account? Follow Cardinal Spellman on Twitter for all the latest daily
news updates. www.twitter.com/spellmannews.

Our official Cardinal Spellman High School Facebook page is filled with photos, news, events
and updates. Please visit our page to see all the latest from Spellman. Please “like us” while you
are there. Thank you.

Good News from Admissions
                Big Brother Big Sister Program: juniors and sophomores will be invited to
                consider being a BB/BS for an incoming freshman. This is a privilege and a
                responsibility which begins in May and continues at least once or twice during
                the summer and throughout the school year.

                The BB/BS will meet and welcome students on their first day of school and assist
                in the new student’s orientation. There will be a cookout that evening for the
                freshmen and their BB/BS at school.

This program is a wonderful opportunity for current students to be supportive while welcoming
the new students to Cardinal Spellman High School. Watch for announcements outside the
Admissions Office!
Campus Ministry Notes
                    The school calendar may be winding down, but Campus Ministry is still very
                    busy. Our welcoming retreats are going on for our junior ministry teams. The
                    seniors share their faith, as well, through the skills they have learned this year
                    in each of their ministry classes. So many of our students are also involved
                    with parish ministry work as well. While here at Spellman, our seniors
                    traditionally prepare a LIVE Stations of the Cross, Sophomores Taylor
                    Shewokis and Catherine Dossett played Jesus and Mary in a LIVE Stations of
                    the Cross at Sacred Heart Parish in Weymouth. Some of our students are also
actively involved in LIFETEEN groups at their parishes and also teach and hold peer leadership
positions at their parishes. Knowing, loving, and serving God extends to life beyond Spellman.
We are all called to be members of a parish community.

We have two Masses scheduled for the month of May. The first Mass is on Tuesday May 8, 2012
and the other is on May 17 to celebrate Ascension Thursday. Please join us this month.

Finally, the seniors are listening, this month, to some great guest speakers. Religious Education
is complicated. We are giving our students information, helping them with formation but we are
seeking transformation! Knowing that, as St Augustine said, “Our hearts are restless until they
rest in you, Oh Lord,” we hope that our students will leave Spellman transformed by God’s love
and mercy. Transformation happens in many ways, but we love the power of WITNESS and it is
through listening to how God works in and through others that this transformation can happen.

John Marquardt, Class of 2001 witnessed to the seniors about how the power of prayer saved his
life on his recent tour of duty in Afghanistan. He moved the room to tears speaking about facing
death during a fire fight with the Taliban and how on his first day he was there he was holding a
dying soldier, a virtual stranger, who grabbed his hand and asked him to pray with him. John
spoke about how God works in mysterious ways and you never know how he will use us. His
witness talk also included the power of friendship and his high regard for his friend J.T. Nickley
and how Deacon Joe Nickley was always there to pray with him. John reminded the kids to never
abandon God because God will never abandon them!

Other witness talks include Dr. John McEwan, Mr. Matt Glynn, and Mr. Stephen Connolly.
What a great way for the seniors to spend their last weeks in Religion classes at Spellman. We
are praying for all the seniors and their families as they prepare to graduate and do God’s work in
college, work or the military.

From the Guidance Department

                  Seniors
                  We commend and congratulate the members of the Class of 2012 who are now
                  reaping the rewards of the hard work of both themselves and their teachers
                  over the last four years. So many of our seniors have been accepted and
                  received scholarships to some of the most prestigious and competitive colleges
                  in the country. Please remember to notify, in writing, the chosen college of
                  your decision by May 1. Also, as a courtesy, please send a note to those
colleges you will not be attending informing them of your decision.

Juniors
On Tuesday, April 10 at 7:00 p.m. in the Cardinal Spellman High School Auditorium, the
Guidance Department hosted “College Information Night”, for the members of the junior class
and their parents. Thanks to Gregg Meyer, Director of Admissions, Bridgewater State College
and David Weber, Sr. Asst Director of Admissions, Boston College, for all their helpful
comments and advice. Students and parents who were unable to attend the presentation were
provided with all of the handouts from the meeting.

The National College Fair will take place at the Convention Center in South Boston on May 3,
from 9:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. and May 4 from 9:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. Since the fair will occur in the
evening, students who choose to attend during the day will not be given an excused absence. All
juniors were given a newsletter about the National College Fair. Stonehill College will be
hosting a college fair on Wednesday, May 16 in the evening. Students will be receiving more
information as we receive it.

The guidance staff continues to meet with juniors to continue their college exploration on our
Naviance Program. Parents were provided with their access codes to setup their own accounts on
Naviance.

Juniors and their parents are also encouraged to visit colleges of interest over the summer. You
should call or check the school’s website for details of tours and information sessions. Juniors
were given a flier in April with more details about this important activity. Toward the end of
May, the counselors will meet with the junior class as a group to explain the teacher
recommendation process and handout questionnaires to be filled out and returned before the end
of the school year.

Also in May, parents will receive a mailing from the Guidance Department that will include a
Parent’s Brag Sheet. We are requesting that the parents fill out the form and return it to us. The
information you provide the counselors will help us write more personal letters of
recommendation for the colleges.

Sophomores and Freshmen
The Guidance staff has met with the sophomores and freshman to discuss their academic
progress and their programs of study for next year. Please remember that the counselors are
available by phone or e-mail if you wish to contact them concerning these matters. Counselors
have met individually with sophomores to register them on the college search program,
Naviance.

Advanced Placement Examinations
The Advanced Placement exams will take place from Monday, May 7 through Wednesday, May
16. They will include European History, Psychology, and Studio Art, English Literature,
Calculus AP, and United States History, Biology and Statistics. Advanced Placement courses are
challenging classes that are taught at the freshmen college level. After completing the course,
students take a rigorous three hour examination. By receiving a qualifying exam score, students
can possibly be awarded college credit when they enroll.
All, except one, of the tests will be given at Spellman. Stonehill College has offered us a room at
the Martin Institute and 20 AP Psychology students will be taking their exam there on May 7 in
Martin Room #105 from 12:00- 3:00 p.m. A total of 110 AP students will be taking 150 tests.

Athletic Department

               Spring Sports
               The spring season is in full swing. Below are the varsity team’s records as of 5/1.
               Baseball               5-6             Softball               7-3
               Boys Track             4-0             Girls Track            4-0
               Boys Tennis            1-3             Girls Tennis           3-4
               Girls Golf             2-3

Are you following us on Twitter and Facebook? Following each game, our scores are posted on
the Athletics Page on www.Spellman.com, Twitter www.twitter.com/spellmannews and
Facebook www.facebook.com/cardinalspellmanhighschool.

The Recycling Club
A few years ago, CSHS signed up with Abitibi paper recycling. They pay us for every ton of
paper we recycle. We want to fill the green and yellow Abitibi bins in the back of the student
parking lot. Our quantity of paper has been dropping off over the last year. We cannot recycle
cardboard - including cereal box type cardboard - or phone books. But, all those catalogues
everyone gets in the mail are great for us to recycle. Newspaper and used papers are great too.
Please recycle your paper and catalogues at Cardinal Spellman in the Abitibi bin.

Student News

Trip to the State House
On April 13, Chinese foreign exchange student Louis Wu (Grade 11) and Brett Gammon (Grade
12) represented Cardinal Spellman High School at the annual Student Government Day held at
the State House in Boston. Since 1947, Massachusetts has sponsored this program, which
enables students to learn first-hand about state government.

Our students were assigned roles as representatives and participated in a simulated committee
hearing on two actual bills before the legislature. Students were then escorted into the legislative
chambers for a joint Senate and House session where debate and voting took place. This is a
unique opportunity that Spellman plans to continue to offer our students in the future. Louis and
Brett are applauded for their enthusiastic participation in Student Government Day.

Spring Break
Over spring break, six Cardinal Spellman students accompanied Jim Daley, a Spellman History
Teacher, on an educational tour of Italy, Monaco, France and Spain. The trip was a combination
of students from Whitman Hanson and Cardinal Spellman. The students who went on the tour
were Nicole Colageo, Judith Comeau, Matt Macauley, Dan & Matt Morano, and Juliana Paluzzi.
The trip began in Venice and concluded in Barcelona with many exciting stops in between. All
students and staff had an incredible time.




With this cooperative trip completed, an all Spellman trip is scheduled for next April vacation.
The trip will go from Greece to Italy with major stops in Athens, Delphi, Florence, Assisi, and
Rome. Information about this trip can be obtained from Mr. Jim Daley or Mr. Tim Gannon. All
students and staff members are welcome to join us on this European adventure.

Dates for the Calendar
   1.   May 8         @9:00 a.m.     School Liturgy
   2.   May 11                       Senior Exams Begin
   3.   May 17        @9:00 a.m.     School Liturgy
   4.   May 20        @2:00 p.m.     Baccalaureate Mass and Dessert Reception
   5.   May 21        @7:00 p.m.     Senior Awards Night
   6.   May 24        @6:00 p.m.     Commencement

Don’t Miss

Senior Prom and Grand March
Grand March is on May 17, immediately before the prom. It begins in the gym at 5:30 p.m. It is a
fantastic way to see the Spellman students before they attend their senior prom. Don’t miss the
excellent photo opportunity with your daughter or son.