Dear Parents,
I hope that you and your families had a blessed Easter and an enjoyable spring break. As you know, the next four weeks of school are very important and will pass by in the blink of an eye. Please be especially engaged with your son during the remaining weeks to ensure that he makes the most of these final weeks of the semester.
As we plan for the 2012-2013 school year, I want to make you aware of two changes that will occur beginning in August.
- Change to the Weekly Schedule: Next year, each Wednesday, we will observe a late start with classes beginning at 9:00 a.m. To compensate for this, Fridays will dismiss at 1:00 p.m. as opposed to the current 12:05 p.m. standard dismissal. Although classes will not begin until 9:00 a.m. on Wednesday, the campus will be open for students who need to be dropped off earlier. This change will result in dedicated time each Wednesday morning for faculty professional development and collaboration.
- iPads for class of 2016: Recently we announced to the incoming freshmen and their parents that for their class, we are switching from Tablet PCs to iPads. Each spring we spend significant time reviewing emerging technologies to ensure that parents are investing in a technology that will remain relevant for the duration of their son’s time at Brophy. The results of our analysis over the last few months have led us to conclude that in the coming years, slate devices like the iPad will be at the center of educational technology. We remain fully committed to, and confident in, the Tablets as powerful and appropriate devices for current students. Only freshmen classes will be reliant upon the iPad; all other classes will continue to utilize the Tablet PC as the required device for students. If you have questions about this switch or anything else related to technology, please feel free to contact Mr. Bopp: jbopp@brophyprep.org
Lastly, the State of Arizona is scheduled to execute Thomas Kemp next Wednesday, April 25th. In the coming days, we will pray for the victims of the crime for which Mr. Kemp was convicted. The Office of Faith and Justice is also organizing a group of students and faculty to attend a vigil being held Tuesday night in front of the Arizona State Capitol. The vigil is organized by Pax – Christi and is a way for the community to witness against the execution that is being carried out in their name. Although the death penalty is a very controversial issue that carries with it many emotions, the Catholic Church is opposed to its use. Last year, the Arizona Bishops released a statement voicing their opposition to the use of the death penalty. That statement can be found at this link. Students or parents who are interested in attending the vigil should contact the OFJ for more information.
Peace,
Bob Ryan
Principal
