November 2020 To the Saint Joseph Academy Community, March seems like a long time ago. Before COVID-19 hit Brownsville and the Rio Grande Valley, Saint Joseph Academy was crafting and implementing our vision for the future. Building on strengths long established, we were charting new directions, innovating and evolving to provide our students the education they need to seize opportunities and meet challenges. Then everything changed. We acted decisively to change our calendar and move our spring break earlier. We were the first school in Brownsville to announce that we would not be returning to in-person instruction. We transitioned to virtual learning and while we focused on completing the spring semester, we were already planning for the fall. When we decided to start the semester virtually on August 31, we were the very first school to lay out a detailed plan for returning to school. Along with being the very first middle/high school in the area to resume in-person instruction, we were also the very first school in the area to resume athletic competitions. Thankfully, in just a few weeks we are approaching the completion of the fall semester in its entirety. In doing so, we’ve achieved what many schools in our community did not even attempt — an on-campus, in-person fall semester of teaching and learning. We faced hardships, hit unexpected bumps, and persevered through conversations that seemed, at times, to render little clarity. But all of this work — the persistence, the determination, the belief – paid off. In the face of COVID-19, our policies and procedures were tested – and they worked. Our campus and our classrooms remained safe places to learn and compete. One of the most rewarding comments I heard last week came from a student who shared her gratitude for having an opportunity to learn on campus and in-person while many of her friends from other schools were at home. While we have been absorbed by the reemergence of the pandemic, we have also witnessed the worrying economic plight of fellow Catholic and private schools across the state and the country. Although we have managed to navigate the immediate challenges in our path while also ensuring Saint Joseph Academy remains accessible to our families affected by the pandemic, we are not immune from the pressures that afflict Catholic and private schools. We will continue to monitor our finances carefully and carry on the work that needs to be done to persevere and flourish.
The hardships experienced by schools across the country is a reminder of what we already know at Saint Joseph Academy—we must change and innovate. While we will not forego the bedrock of our Marist Brothers identity or the central importance of the well-rounded student, we must evolve in order to align the education we provide with the emerging needs and opportunities our students will encounter. We will deepen our commitment to and participation in the community in which we live and serve. We will partner with businesses and organizations to enrich our curriculum and our student experience. We will share the expertise of our faculty and train our students to address real world challenges. We will problem solve wisely to streamline our operations and enhance our academic program. Thankfully, some of this work is underway. Our faculty and students are in the community, contributing to the public discourse on politics, partnering with service agencies, and assisting those most in need. Faculty are developing new courses and programs within and across disciplines. The Counseling department is providing unparalleled individual attention to students to build essential skills to be successful at St. Joe and in college. We are exploring community alliances to expand our academic offerings and enhance the student experience. Our relationship and partnership with the University of Texas-Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) has never been stronger. All of this work is necessary, not for its own sake, but because it helps us to fulfill our mission to empower our students to succeed in university studies, to know and love Jesus, and who actively participate in the mission of the Church—including the Church’s preferential option for the poor. As we pursue our mission, we should keep in mind that our students are being asked to be extra cautious at a time in their lives when they are inclined to be explorers and risk-takers. This dissonance cannot be underestimated and warrants our attention and understanding. Although things changed in March, the values that sustain us have not. We will rely on them to guide our students and Saint Joseph Academy, and we will emerge from this tumultuous time even stronger. As we head into Thanksgiving, I am filled with gratitude for you, for our community and the faith that nourishes it, for the Marist Brothers and the legacy they have built, for all of those who support Saint Joseph Academy, and especially for our students who embody the hope that sustains us in our work. Peace and blessings to you and your loved ones,
Michael Motyl President