Dear Friends of Monsignor Scanlan High School,

Welcome Back to Monsignor Scanlan High School and the 2009 Hall of Fame Dinner. Sixty years ago Monsignor Scanlan opened the doors of St Helena Boys and Girls High Schools on the 17 acre campus we call home. For me, planning this Hall of Fame event, has been like planning a family reunion.

I have had the very rich experience of working with a dedicated Advisory Board comprised of very special men and women who remember fondly, and with real warmth, their own days at St Helena High School, and, earnestly want to see that tradition of excellence continue for the next generation of students.

True, I am a relative newcomer to the Scanlan community, but I just don’t feel like a stranger. I have heard the great stories of Monsignor Scanlan; he was the tall, slender priest with the twinkle in his eye. The man with so much energy that people thought he might be twins. He was the priest who had such passion for the people of God that he created a community of faith, a real family where people knew they belonged. I know the legends, and I’ve heard them, and loved them since my early days as a Sparkill Dominican.

I’ve loved hearing the stories of so many Helenites/Scanlanites – and there are thousands -- rooted in places all across the world. However, what binds them together are those shared memories of growing up in a place where somebody knew their name, a place where somebody cared about them and a place where no matter what, they knew that they belonged.

The young men and women of Monsignor Scanlan High School today are in some ways no different than you were when you attended this school. They are looking for a learning environment that places an emphasis on academic excellence, an opportunity to be involved in the life of the school and the religious teaching and values for which Catholic schools are known.

When I first arrived at Monsignor Scanlan High School, my introduction to the students was the opening of school liturgy. I was amazed at the reverence and prayerful stance that the students displayed. At that moment I felt connected to these young men and women. As the days went on, I was privileged to be invited to be with them as they executed midnight runs, attended holy hours, and celebrated sacraments. The Catholic identity is evident at Scanlan High School and Catholic social teaching is on fire in the hearts of our students.

I believe that a school ought to be a community of faith and learning, a place where students are academically challenged, they feel a sense of belonging, and where there is fun in the air. I have spent the year so far, cheering on the bowling team, engaging in Friday night basketball with the cheerleaders, JV basketball team, and Varsity basketball team. I now look forward to spending the warm spring evenings with the softball and the baseball teams. It is my sense that the Scanlan community is on a mission to produce young men and women who feel good about themselves, are happy to give of themselves, and are in touch with the God above, around and within them. I am honored to be a part of this mission.

For me, this time is holy. These days are a challenge and a grand adventure. I am excited to build on the educational foundation that Sr. Marie O’Donnell, the Dominican Sisters of Sparkill, and the Marist Brothers have established at Monsignor Scanlan High School. It is a privilege for me to strengthen the foundation of this school community by inviting clergy, administrators, teachers, parents, students, alums, and benefactors to form an invincible coalition to make this 17 acre campus a place of pride, a place of excellence, a place of service, a place of fun, a place rooted in the love and work of God.

No kindness, no generosity is ever lost. Jesus assures us that whatever you do for the least of these, you do for me. With you supporting us, we can do wonders, change lives, open doors to a great future, even change the destiny of the families our students will one day raise. I thank each of you for all that you do to promote the Scanlan educational experience. I invite you to remember your roots in this community and to play your part as Monsgnor Scanlan High School continues to open doors for a new generation. I, and all of us here, count on your prayers, and ask for your generous support, so that we can continue to change young lives through what I know to be a priceless Catholic education.

God’s Blessings,

Sr. Annmarie Fisher OP

Principal