2008 Fall Issue - Iona Preparatory School

Dear Members of the Iona Prep Community,Thank you for making me and my family feel welcomed and feel a part of the Iona Prep family.Since July I have met individually with all of the Brothers, the faculty, the administrative faculty, the staff, andmost of the board of directors. During these meetings, I gained a better understanding of the history andbackground of Iona Prep and learned its strengths and areas for improvement. These responses, in addition tothe data and information which will be collected through our strategic planning process this year, will be the essentialcomponents that shape the vision for Iona Prep as it approaches its 100th anniversary in 2016. A commontheme that emerged as strengths unique to Iona Prep are the sense of community, the sense of family and teamwork thatencompass all facets of this wonderful school. Indeed, Iona Prep holds a dear and special place in the hearts of many, many individualsand their families.I want to share with you one of my favorite books, Wooden, A Lifetime of Observations and Reflections On and Off the Court. John Wooden is arguablythe greatest basketball coach of all time. His beliefs, teachings, and wisdom go far beyond sports, and ultimately address how to bring out the best inyourself and others. Wooden, who was a high school English teacher in Indiana before becoming a legend as a college basketball coach, was inspiredby two men in his life – his dad and his high school math teacher. When Wooden graduated from grade school, his dad gave him an old, crumpled twodollar bill and a card (which he still carries with him). On one side of the card, was the verse by Reverend Henry Van Dyke:Four things a man must learn to doIf he would make his life more true:To think without confusion clearly,To love his fellow-man sincerely,To act from honest motives purely,To trust in God and Heaven securely.On the other side of the card was his father’s creed of “Seven Things To Do”. #1. Be true to yourself. #2. Help others. #3. Make each day your masterpiece.#4. Drink deeply from good books, especially the Bible. #5. Make friendship an art. #6. Build a shelter against a rainy day.#7. Pray for guidance and count and give thanks for your blessings every day.In high school, Wooden’s sophomore math teacher asked him to write a paper defining success. Imagine, even today, a math teacher asking studentsto write a paper that had nothing to do with math! Brilliant. That assignment led Wooden to reflect for decades about a definition of success – a definitionthat had much to do with what his father taught him and was related to a verse that was dear to himAt God’s footstool to confessA poor soul knelt and bowed his head.“I failed,” he cried. The Master said.“Thou didst thy best, that is success.”In 1934, Wooden’s years of reflection culminated in his definition of success and led to his writing the bestselling book entitled The Pyramid of Success.Wooden’s life is the embodiment of enduring Iona core values and his priorities are, and always have been, correct – family, faith, and friends.In conjunction, I would like to share with you some thoughts from Pope John XXIII and Pope John Paul II. Their reflections, I hope will bring peace andcomfort to you and your families as we share the joy of Christmas and the New Year.The following statements were taken from the daily Decalogue of Pope John XXIII• Only for today, I will be happy in the certainty that I was created to be happy, not only in the other world but also in this one.• Only for today, I will devote 10 minutes of my time to some good reading, remembering that just as food is necessary to the life of the body,so good reading is necessary to the life of the soul.• Only for today, I will do one good deed and not tell anyone about it.• Only for today, I will firmly believe, despite appearances, that the good Providence of God cares for me as no one else who exists in this world.And, from Pope John II,Dear brothers and sisters, continue to care for your spiritual formationand to have frequent recourse to the sacraments. In particular, ensure thatthe Eucharist is the heart of your family-houses and of all your other socialand educational activities. Revive your contemplative fervor and love for thedivine Redeemer, who makes himself in the Eucharist our food for immortallife. Draw from him the spiritual energy to be tireless Gospel workers, witnessingto tenderness among all who live in situations of hardship and neglect.May God’s love, faith and compassion live in your hearts.from the presidentJames IrzykPresident2 IONA PREP NEWS