| STAY IN TOUCH |
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| UPCOMING EVENTS |
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Lecture: Dr. Thomas Osborne
Professor of Philosophy
University of St. Thomas, Houston,
“Which Essence Is At Stake In The Essence/Existence Distinction”
September 22, 7:30 p.m. |
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Alumni / Parent Day
Thomas Aquinas College
October 7, 9:30 a.m. |
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All College Seminar
October 13, 7:00 p.m. |
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Don Rags
October 17-19 |
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Fall Concert
Paul Galbraith
Classical Guitarist
October 27, 7:00 pm |
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Lecture: Dr. Gregory Vall
Professor of Sacred Scripture
Notre Dame Seminary, New Orleans
November 3, 7:30 pm |
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Concert: The Thomas Aquinas College Choir
Mozart’s Coronation Mass in C & Vivaldi’s Gloria in D Major
November 17, 7:00 pm |
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Thanksgiving Recess
November 22 (after classes)
to November 26 |
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Christmas Vacation
December 15 (after classes)
to January 7 |
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Lecture: Dr. Christopher Decaen
Assistant Dean for Student Affairs
Thomas Aquinas College
January 19, 7:30 pm |
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All College Seminar
February 2, 7:00 p.m. |
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President’s Day Lecture
Dr. Mary Nichols
Professor of Political Science
Baylor University
February 23, 7:30 p.m. |
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Senior Theses Due to Advisor
February 25 |
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Don Rags
February 27 – March 1 |
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Student Production:
A Midsummer Night’s Dream
March 3, 7:00 p.m. |
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St. Thomas Day Lecture
Dr. Duane Berquist
Emeritus Professor of Philosophy
Assumption College
March 7, 1:00 p.m. |
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Trivial and Quadrivial Pursuit
March 7, 7:00 p.m. |
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Final Senior Thesis Deadline
March 10 |
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Senior Thesis Defenses
March 19 – 28
April 5-20 |
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Easter Break
March 29 – April 4, 2018 |
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| PARENT NEWS |
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The Thomas Aquinas College Parents’ Association would like to extend a hearty welcome to the parents of our 102 incoming freshmen, the Class of 2021, and to the parents of our 267 returning students. We hope you enjoy this edition of Letter Home, our electronic newsletter! Please visit the Parents’ Association webpage to see back issues of Letter Home and our semi-annual, printed newsletter, as well as to learn more about the Association and its work.
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The Parents’ Association (PA) is a bridge between the College and its parents and grandparents, past and present. If there is anything we can do to help, please contact Robert Bagdazian, PA coordinator, or any of the members of our executive committee. We keep you and your children in our prayers, and we ask that you join us in praying the Association’s Prayer to St. Joseph for the well-being of our students and community.
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Please mark your calendars! Our second annual Alumni / Parent Day will be held on Saturday, October 7, 2017, starting at 9:30 a.m.
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If you would like to submit any special intentions for prayers or Masses offered in Our Lady of the Most Holy Trinity Chapel, please send them our way.
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Thank you to those of you who helped us meet our financial aid need last year! This academic year presents another large financial challenge. We must raise $5.8 million for the Annual Fund, most of which covers student financial aid.
To support the College in its mission of Catholic liberal education, please visit our online giving page. If you have any questions, or to include the College in your estate plan, please contact Robert Bagdazian.
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If you are interested in hosting a reception, dinner, or seminar to introduce the College to potential supporters, please e-mail Robert, or call him at 805-421-5927.
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ADVICE FROM THE COLLEGE COUNSELOR
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We asked the College’s counselor, Greg Wood, M.F.T. — parent of three TAC alumni — to offer some words of wisdom to to fellow parents. Below is his response:
“It is a privilege and pleasure to provide counseling services to the students at Thomas Aquinas College. The rigorous and challenging nature of a TAC education makes a well-ordered and balanced life essential for success. I remind the students that I work with that they need to find a balance of different goods and aspects of their lives as students. There is no magic, one-size-fits-all balance point. Rather, each student navigates the demands of his or her life in a mix that fluctuates with shifting priorities that ebb and flow each day, week, and semester.
“The general categories that need to be attended to are: academic, spiritual, social, sleep, exercise, and personal interests. Students often struggle when they either overemphasize or fail to adequately attend to one or more of these areas. You probably know your children well enough to guess how they will be challenged. A student who overemphasizes academics at the expense of sleep or healthy socialization may need to be reminded to put aside time to attend on-campus events or get off campus and have fun. Getting off campus at least twice a month is a minimum to keep a healthy perspective. Ask your children how they are doing in these areas and encourage re-balancing as needed.
“Remember that by the time your child is in college, the vast majority of your parenting is done. This, of course, does not mean our role as parents stops, only that it needs to shift with the developmental phase of having young adult children, not just teenagers living away from home. This means trusting them to navigate some of the prudential judgments they will need to make in their lives as students. That includes learning from mistakes and seeing mistakes as learning opportunities. Here I am not talking about being cavalier about morality or physical safety. Fortunately, you have entrusted your children to an environment rich in resources to guide your young adults toward wise decisions: Excellent chaplains, caring and wise tutors, faculty advisors, prefects seeking to serve the common good, the Dean of Students and Assistant Dean, the Resident Assistant, as well as the psychological services offered. I highly encourage you to remind your children of these resources.
“Being a faithful Catholic, from a family seeking to serve God, and committed to learning the truth from our great Western tradition goes a long way in helping students navigate life in a fallen world, but does not make one immune from emotional and psychological wounds and struggles. After all, the road to ‘perfect’ in this life was closed at the Fall! Depression and anxiety are the two most common presenting issues in the general population and in my work with students at TAC. If you think your child may need help with these or other issues, please remind them that getting help is the smartest thing they can do. The service is free and confidential!
“Keep praying for your children, asking God to provide people in their lives to help them in ways you cannot. If they have a particular struggle, it would be good to make a particular sacrifice in your life for the good of their help and healing. Tell them you love them and are proud of them. Apologize for your shortcomings. Children, young adult or otherwise, will do better in life when they have the confidence of your love and support, which they can only know if you convey that to them by your words and actions. If your oldest or older children are in college, remember that they are young adults and you are young at having adult children. Everybody is new to this phase in your family’s life, so forbearance is mutually needed!”
You can contact Mr. Wood by email or call him at 805-816-7854. |
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| CAMPUS NEWS |
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Building on this past year’s successful career talks, networking sessions, and Career Discernment Workshop, Director of Student Services Mark Kretschmer (’99) is planning similar programs for 2017-18. Please encourage your students to attend these offerings, talk to Mark, and visit the Career Services resource office, which will help them to prepare for their post-TAC life. If you would like to assist students and alumni with career and networking advice, internships, or job opportunities, please e-mail Mark.
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If you have questions about our academic or student life, Dr. Christopher Decaen (’93), assistant dean for student affairs, can assist you. He has been a member of the teaching faculty since 1999.
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Jeanette Richard ’(17) is the College’s new resident assistant. She lives in St. Monica’s Hall and is always available to assist students, especially the women. Jeanette can be reached by e-mail or by phone at 805-666-0819.
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The chaplains are a great resource for the College community. Our head chaplain, Rev. Paul Raftery, O.P., lives in Loyola Hall. Chaplain Rev. Cornelius Buckley, S.J., lives in St. Katherine’s Hall. Rev. David Gonzalez, O.Praem., and Rev. Robert Marczewski, live in Sts. Peter and Paul Hall.
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Students interested in entering the College in 2018-2019 are encouraged to submit their applications this fall, as we again anticipate a large number of applicants and a waiting list.
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Construction of the new lecture and performing-arts building, St. Cecilia Hall, should be completed by late fall! The next and final building of the campus master plan will be the gymnasium and pool. Stay tuned for news on this project.
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PRAYER REQUESTS
Please pray for ...
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… our 369 returning and incoming students, that they will experience a successful, grace-filled year.
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… Ted Kretschmer, father of three alumni, who is battling pancreatic cancer, which is taking an advancing toll on his body.
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… Joanne Seeley, mother and grandmother of several alumni, who has Stage 4 lung cancer.
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… members of the Thomas Aquinas College family hit hard by various natural disasters throughout the South, Northwest, and Caribbean, that they may recover and be lights of Christ’s love to their neighbors.
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… the College to secure the $5.8 million it needs for the upcoming academic year.
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All of you remain in our prayers. God bless you!
Send prayer requests, parent news, and comments to Parents’ Association Coordinator Robert Bagdazian.
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