May 2020: Let the Light Shine

5/29/2020

Michael A. Marinelli, Ed.D. '76

Dear Members of the Archmere Community,

O most blessed Light divine,

Shine within these hearts of yours,

And our inmost being fill!

These words are taken from the Sequence, “Come, Holy Spirit,” in Latin, “Veni Sancte Spiritus,” that we sing or proclaim at Mass during the day for the feast of Pentecost, the Church’s celebration of the gift of the Holy Spirit by Jesus to the apostles. We believe as Christians, that the same Holy Spirit lives in us, and whose presence is enriched and enlivened in us through the Sacrament of Confirmation.

The last day of classes for the 2019-2020 school year just ended. It was certainly a different year with a most unexpected finish. Moreover, tragically the Archmere community has experienced the loss of one of its own, Amarachi Chukwunenye, a member of the Class of 2020, who passed away suddenly yesterday. We have been in touch with his family, and respecting their privacy at this time, we offer our prayers, support, and presence in the days and months ahead.

Reflecting on the last several weeks since we have all been required to stay at home, I believe that there were many moments when the Light - the Spirit - shone in our students, our parents, our teachers, our alumni, our parents of alumni, our benefactors and friends. I share with you a few thoughts that “fill my inmost being.”

Bend the stubborn heart and will;

Melt the frozen, warm the chill;

Guide the steps that go astray.

All members of the extended Archmere global community are invited to attend the live-streamed Mass this Sunday, May 31, beginning at 10 AM, with celebrants, Father John Zagarella, O.Praem and Father Joseph McLaughlin, O.Praem. It will be available at this link and will also be available on our Facebook page. For those unable to attend, we will also archive the Mass on our YouTube channel for later viewing. At the conclusion of Mass, we will acknowledge and celebrate the years of teaching, coaching, moderating, and mentoring of four staff members who are leaving Archmere. Mr. Bob Bussiere, Men’s Varsity Soccer Coach for fifteen years, Dr. Jenna Christy, biology teacher since 2002, and Mr. Terry Newitt, art teacher for forty years, are all retiring from Archmere. After an extensive career as teacher, coach, Director of Admissions, and Principal, Mr. John Jordan ‘80, is leaving Archmere to become Headmaster of Saint Edmond’s Academy in Wilmington, Delaware. Most especially, it has been a privilege to have worked closely over the last eight years with John Jordan as principal. It has been enriching, exciting, fun, productive, faith-filled, values-laden, collaborative, friendly, honest, sincere, hard-working, effective, and many other words that I cannot fit into this letter that describe the 2,922 days we will have worked together as of June 30, 2020.

On Sunday afternoon, we welcome our seniors and their families as they parade through campus in their cars. Our staff members have collaborated to plan and assemble very special, personalized gift boxes for each senior, along with a few other surprises. We look forward to seeing our seniors again for their official “rites of passage,” currently planned for July.

It is impossible to summarize the individual and collective contributions of these dedicated people, who have truly made a positive difference in the Archmere experience for students, families and colleagues. I hope you will join us on Sunday morning as we share our sentiments and stories virtually in acknowledging and thanking them for having, over the years, “bent the stubborn heart and will, melted the frozen, warmed the chill, and guided the steps that went astray.”

Come, Father of the poor!

Come, source of all our store!

On Wednesday, May 20, 2020, we held an Archmere Giving Day to help us reach our Archmere Fund goal of $600,000. These critical funds help to “close the gap” between operating costs and what tuition alone supports, as well as support scholarships and financial assistance. As I have written, this year, in particular, our parent clubs’ have been unable to hold the AukMadness event and the Garage Sale in the Spring; we have experienced a downturn in the valuation of our reserves that generate annual returns to support scholarships and financial assistance; and we have increased requests for financial assistance from families of current students impacted economically by the pandemic.

The generosity and support of the Archmere community has been overwhelming, with a total of over $125,000 in gifts received on that one day. Since then, we have received additional checks dated or postmarked 5/20/20, such that we are within $105,000 of reaching our $600,000 goal by June 30. Thanks to Kelly Hart, Annual Giving and Analytics Manager, for her creative, collaborative planning that engaged staff in marketing, technology, and advancement roles, all done remotely. I am grateful to everyone who participated, including our anonymous $25,000 and $15,000 matching gift donors, whose challenge gifts were effective catalysts in raising such a significant amount of funds. Wearing my fundraising hat, I must add that it is not too late to help us reach our goal if you have not participated in making a gift, and you are in a position to do so. Gifts may be designated for “COVID-19 assistance,” as well.

Sincere thanks to the Class of 2020 and their Class Gift initiative of establishing the Class of 2020 Scholarship Fund, whose resources will be initially used to support increased financial assistance needs as a result of the pandemic. The Mothers’ Guild, Fathers’ Club, and Alumni Association have all made commitments to this fund in support and in honor of the Class of 2020, with the intention that this Fund will be endowed in perpetuity.

In addition to monetary contributions, thank you to the host of volunteers who have given countless hours to present fundraising and social events throughout the year. Special thanks to Mrs. Kathy Carney, President of the Mothers’ Guild; Mr. Jim Predergast ‘77, President of the Fathers’ Club; and Dr. Jamie Wohlhagen ‘06, President of the Alumni Association; as well as the officers, committee chairs and members of these organizations for all of the support they have given. Sincere thanks to Mr. Bill Church, President of the Archmere Academy Organ Society, a volunteer group of organ enthusiasts taking on the significant project of rebuilding the historic Patio organ. Preserving our legacy, we are grateful to the members of the Friends of the Patio led by Dr. Anthony Vasile ‘74. The group is instrumental in supporting the Green Series of programming from musical venues to lectures on, and tours of, the house. Capturing our Academy’s history and legacy for years to come, Mr. Thomas Manerchia ‘61, retired faculty member, is writing a book on the Patio, a project initiated through the Friends of the Patio. He is collaborating on the research with Dr. James Stockman ‘61, a member of the Board of Trustees and Tom’s classmate. With all of this philanthropic activity, we are grateful that God has so richly blessed Archmere with a community that recognizes its stewardship role, shares its resources with those in need, and recognizes that God is the “source of all our store!”

You, of comforters the best;

You, the soul’s most welcome guest;

Sweet refreshment here below;

In our labor, rest most sweet;

Grateful coolness in the heat;

As you may have read, Governor John Carney has authorized the implementation of Phase 1 of the “reopening” of the State of Delaware. We have been receiving a number of documents and publications regarding the processes and procedures that must be in place to be certain that the health and welfare of our community members is foremost in our minds, while also considering plans for reopening the campus. In addition to materials from the National Association of Independent Schools, the Association of Delaware Valley Independent Schools, the National Business Officers Association, and other organizations, we are reviewing suggested guidelines presented by the Delaware Department of Education and local government sources.

With the conclusion of classes this week, next week our administrators, faculty, and staff will begin professional development meetings. Among the topics of conversation will be an assessment of the distance learning experience, an organizational plan for the reopening of school in August, and more detailed plans for the senior class events that have been postponed. Mr. Jordan has circulated a student survey about the distance learning experience. We will be inviting input from our various school constituencies, as we develop plans in these areas, gaining the perspectives of students, parents, board members, and alumni, in addition to administrators, faculty, and staff. I will be sharing more information about the planning process, and how we will engage members of our community who have expertise and innovative ideas.

So it seems that the collective work of our community is helping to contain the spread of the virus, affording us the opportunity to consider gatherings and activities once again, as look ahead to the summer and planning for the 2020-21 school year. The challenge will be to balance our excitement and energy around seeing one another in person with the precautionary measures that need to be considered to make these gatherings safe. While we are optimistic, we recognize that in our prayer the Holy Spirit, “rests most sweet,” and inspires us “in our labor.”

On the faithful, who adore

And confess you, evermore

In your sevenfold gift descend;

Give them virtue’s sure reward;

Give them your salvation, Lord;

Give them joys that never end. Amen.

As we conclude another school year like no other, I hope that the warm weeks of summer are a time of rest, rediscovery, reinvention, and renewal, as we move about from our homes and into places of community. To engage our students in thoughtful reading over the summer, included here are links to the assigned summer reading for specific English classes, as well as the assigned school-wide book. In addition, the faculty and staff have assembled a list of recommended books that students and families might enjoy. Summer Reading, Summer Reading Recs from Faculty & Staff.

To the members of the Class of 2024, we look forward to welcoming you on campus. During our administrative meetings next week, we will formulate a plan for administration of our placement exams for the various academic subjects for our incoming students interested in taking them. You should be receiving information from Mrs. Lightcap and Mr. Duffie soon.

As I close, what better prayer to share with you than the closing words of the Sequence of Pentecost. As we pray it, in a special way, we keep in mind the Class of 2020, especially Amarachi and his family: “On our students, families, teachers, staff, and members of our entire community, may the Holy Spirit descend with gifts sevenfold: wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety, and fear of the Lord, leading us in virtuous thoughts and actions, strengthening our faith in the promise of salvation, and developing in us a joy that never ends. Amen.”

Sincerely,

Michael A. Marinelli, Ed.D. '76

Headmaster

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