A First Day Welcome
Montrose students, faculty and staff celebrate the opening of the 2014-2015 school year.
Montrose students were greeted with smiles, hugs and handshakes today as faculty and staff welcomed them to the 2014-2015 school year, Montrose School's 35th anniversary year.
Montrose School's 35th anniversary year began with an all school assembly and Mass. During the assembly, Head of School Dr. Karen Bohlin extended a warm welcome to all and reminded students that, in the words of Pope Benedict XVI, "you were created not for comfort but for greatness." Greatness, Dr. Bohlin noted, is not about being popular or perfect, but rather a choice we make every day, to do what we are called to do with love and care. "We are all works in progress, on the road to becoming our best possible selves," she told the girls. "This is a daily effort, and we are never really finished. Our 35th anniversary theme, Called to Greatness, can inspire us to serve one another and the world because we are part of something larger than ourselves."
Montrose School's 35th anniversary year began with an all school assembly and Mass. During the assembly, Head of School Dr. Karen Bohlin extended a warm welcome to all and reminded students that, in the words of Pope Benedict XVI, "you were created not for comfort but for greatness." Greatness, Dr. Bohlin noted, is not about being popular or perfect, but rather a choice we make every day, to do what we are called to do with love and care. "We are all works in progress, on the road to becoming our best possible selves," she told the girls. "This is a daily effort, and we are never really finished. Our 35th anniversary theme, Called to Greatness, can inspire us to serve one another and the world because we are part of something larger than ourselves."
Dr. Bohlin cited the new Arts & Athletics Center as an example of the call to greatness. The work has been done by a series of many individuals, from architects to engineers to contractors. All of these workers who were called to greatness have together helped to create the beautiful new building. “The little things done with great care and attention deserve our thanks and were essential to the greatness of this project.”
Dr. Bohlin encouraged students to take advantage of the fresh start that a new school year offers, and challenged them to make a habit in the first 90 days of asking themselves, “how will I answer the call to greatness?“ For example, each girls could consider what small changes she could make to become a better teammate, a better classmate, a better mathematician.
Montrose Student Government President Elle Schirripa '15 and the Student Government Executive Team led a lively assembly at the end of the day in which they announced that this year's message would be leadership. "As a school community, we want to redefine what it means to be a leader," said Elle. "A leader is someone with a vision, who is humble and serves. She inspires others to act through her example. By responding to the call for greatness - defining an ideal, sticking up for a classmate, supporting a sibling - we can be leaders in our classes, school, homes and communities."
Elle noted that with Sunday’s ribbon-cutting ceremony, the A&A will open, marking a new chapter in Montrose history. “As we approach the year ahead filled with many more exciting changes, we hope that the theme of leadership will keep us grounded for all that lies ahead in the 2014-2015 school year.”
An independent school for girls in grades 6-12
Inspired by the teachings of the Catholic Church
Inspired by the teachings of the Catholic Church
