September 5, 2008

Dear Parents/Guardians & Friends:

Fisherpalooza Radio is on the Air!
You can listen to our new radio show at any time by going to our website.  A new show airs every Thursday.

Volunteers Needed at County Fair
The Fisher Catholic Athletic Association is looking for volunteers to take tickets at the Fair.  The dates are October 6 – 11.  Three shifts per day, 6:45-11:45, 11:30-4:30, and 4:15 – 9:00.   We need 12 workers for every shift, a total of 216 people.  Volunteers receive free fair admission on the day they work.   We do not handle any money, only tickets and passes.  The FCAA receives $6500.00 for this fundraiser.  Please share this information with grandparents, friends, family or any FC supporter.  To volunteer, contact Brian and Elaine Householder at 687-4626 or ehouseholder@columbus.rr.com .   If not, they will contact you.

Mandatory Parent Substance Abuse Meeting
The Advisory Board of Fisher Catholic has ratified a new Substance Abuse Policy which is in effect for this school year (It can be found in the handbook).  As part of this new policy, which has been put together through a hard working Student Wellness Committee through out the course of the summer, all parents are required to attend a one hour workshop on issues of drugs and alcohol on an annual basis.  The dates for this year’s workshop (parents only need to attend one) are Sunday, October 19 and Thursday, October 23, both beginning at 7pm.  Both parents must attend, although not necessarily together.  Please mark your calendars and plan on attending one of these meetings.

Some questions and concerns have been raised about the Parent Pledge Sheet.  The school is not making a judgment derived from whether or not you sign and return that form.  We are simply trying to facilitate communication between parents.  Thanks.

Attachment
Please see the attachment from the Diocese of Columbus regarding tuition assistance.  Please note that no local assistance can be awarded without filling out the Diocesan Tuition Assistance form.

Panel Discussion on Bullying
The Triumph Organization will be at the Fairfield County District Library on Tuesday, September 23 to conduct a forum on female bullying.  Tami McCandlish, who came to our school last year, is the Founder and President of Triumph.  For further details you may contact triumphorganization@yahoo.com

Fall Play Tryouts Next Week
All students are encouraged to try out for the fall drama, A Tribute to O.Henry.  Tryouts are next Thursday, November 11 from 3-5:30pm.  For questions see Mrs. Riggle or Mrs. Nadalin.

Ride Needed
One of our students who lives in Pickerington is looking for a ride home after school.  If you or anyone you knows might be heading that way after school and would be willing to offer transportation, please contact the school office.

Family Notes
Please keep the family of Brody Quaintance in your prayers.  Her grandmother passed away this week.

Principal Observations
The Democratic and Republican conventions have turned many people’s attention to politics and the upcoming election.  As a school sponsored by the Catholic Church we have a constitutional imperative to be neutral in the upcoming election.  And while teachers are free to vote for either Obama or McCain (or Ron Paul or Ralph Nader for that matter) teachers should refrain from politicking in the classroom.

This should not prevent our classrooms, however, from using this teachable moment, one of the most historic presidential campaigns in many years, from learning about the issues and where the presidential hopefuls stand on them.  We also will encourage any student who is eligible by Election Day to do his or her civic duty and vote on November 4.

I was in high school during the 1972 election.  While Richard Nixon thrashed George McGovern that November, for a time, the fight for who would be the Democratic nominee was spirited.  Hubert Humphrey, who has lost to Nixon in ‘68 was trying to regain the nomination.  His local headquarters in Columbus was in an office building at E. Gay Street and North High, a building shared by the St. Jude Children’s Hospital Walkathon headquarters where I volunteered my time.  One day I happened to share an elevator with Mr. Humphrey.  It was a brief interlude dominated by the former Vice-President exclaiming to me, “I’ll shake your hand even though you are too young to vote.”  He shook my hand vigorously and smiled broadly, patted my shoulder and got off of the elevator.  He lost the nomination that year to McGovern who lost to Nixon who lost to Watergate! 

I have been recently reading the diary of Lady Bird Johnson, wife of President Lyndon Johnson.  Over the Labor Day weekend I read her entry for Labor Day, 1966 and found that the President spoke on Labor Day, 1966 at the Fairfield County Fairgrounds.  She reported that there was a big crowd even though they were very late in speaking.  She also mentioned many high school bands there in attendance.  Does anyone remember this event or whether Bishop Fenwick High School was represented in any way?

Finally, last night I got home in time to hear the end of Governor Palin’s speech where she recognized Lancaster resident Thomas Moe who is a delegate to the convention and was a POW in Hanoi at the same time as Senator McCain.   Mr. Moe received quite an ovation for his service to our country.

These political thoughts simply remind me that in this historic election, we here in Fairfield County, including our students are an important part of the monumental decision that is to be made this November.  As we teach our critical thinking skills to our students this fall, it is important that they learn how to listen to the candidates and the parties and separate fact from fiction, pageantry from plans and goals from promises.  Our students will be running things one day soon.  The more they know about current issues the better prepared they will be.

Thanks for all that you do for your children and our school.

Jim Silcott
President/Principal

	Tuition Assistance Flyer
	September 5th Guidance Newsletter