Dear Parents,

As we begin the month of October, we do so with such excitement and enthusiasm that the new year is well underway. Our campus is a bustling place with so many activities. It is truly hard to keep up with all that goes on in this vibrant place.

In last month’s letter, I explained a number of the security measures and initiatives that have taken place at the school. This included not only our crisis plan protocols, but also what we do relating to child protection. Safety and security must be paramount concerns for us as a school. As we have mentioned before, if an emergency would occur at the school, you will be notified by our emergency notification system. It is imperative that your cell phone and email be listed accurately in the profile on our website. Next Monday, October 8, you will receive a TEST message distributed by our emergency notification system. If you do not receive it, please call Jane Thompson in our Technology Department at 410-825-4266 x189.

Along with safety and security, we continued our initiative on inclusivity during our recent faculty in-service days. We hosted Jen Cort, a nationally known expert on diversity and inclusivity. It is imperative that our faculty and students be aware that Calvert Hall must be a place of inclusivity where all are welcome. Our world is becoming more diverse and our students need to know how to appreciate, value, and excel in this world. While we may not be able to control the culture in society, we can create culture in our community. We must form young men who are caring, supportive people who think critically. During the last two weeks, we have talked to the students, via administrative presentations and through Peer Ed, about who we are as a community, our expectations of their behavior in that community, and some of our hopes for them as we form men of intellect, men of faith, and men of integrity. Racial epithets, slurs based on orientation, and divisive dialogue among any and all groups of students must be met with significant consequences including suspension and expulsion. An inclusive community must be committed to standing for and doing what is right.

Additionally, we must also be a community that is willing to create space and let students have conversation and dialogue about what goes on in the world. It is not enough to tell students what we will accept, but we also must be willing to encourage thoughts, ideas, and dialogue in an open and respectful way. This is not always easy in our present-day environment when conversations are often polarizing, but we owe this to our students in our desire to create an educated population who will become leaders in our community.

As always, I thank you for your support and know that we are here to work with you in educating your son. I am sure I will see you around campus at many of our October activities.

 

Sincerely,

 

Charles Stembler

Principal