Tom King on the great spirit and camaraderie St. A's

My name is Tom King and I graduated from St. Alexander’s school in 1988. I was asked by Principal Purpura to talk about what St. A’s has meant to me. This is the letter I read at 5 o’clock mass.

Well having been a well educated alum of St. A’s, I have known since the primary grades that anyone who gets up to talk at the end of mass is asking for your time or your money. I was often times the kid rolling his eyes at the thought of mass being longer. So I only want 2 minutes of your time, and I don’t want your money but the school that my kids currently attend could sure use some money and if you have a school-age kids we would love to have them too.

Many of you may be thinking, “Why should I?" Much the same way I sat in those pews as a child and wondered why we should be collecting money for children in Africa when there are poor people right here. St. A’s is a great school. St. A’s has been turning out outstanding young Christian men and women for 84 years. Why would we want this to come to an end? My 1st grader goes on and on about how Miss Vanco this or Miss Vanco that. Miss Vanco happens to be his 1st grade teacher. And how could anybody make learning as exciting as the greatest kindergarten teacher in the world that Tyler had last year -- Mrs. Meyer. He looks forward to getting to school every morning. My daughter who I can’t even get excited about a race down the block has become obsessed with Mrs. Kreuger’s timed tests. Math is now something she enjoys and is starting to do very well. She reads circles around me and she is a 2nd grader. They brainwash kids into reading books. I wish they had the AR curriculum when I was a student. My kids read books over 500 pages for fun. Plug your ears kids -- I never read a book that long for fun!

About a month ago I was able to participate in a Saturday morning forest preserve project with my 5th grader Casey and his teacher Mrs. Roycroft. She gave up her Saturday to release a bucket of bass that the class spent 3 months raising.

I was late to church today because I have the privilege of coaching my 7th grade son. Tommy may not realize how special this is but I do. I have been unable to attend a couple of practices and some 8th grade boys stepped up. The 8th grade class is well equipped with the leadership skills that are often lacking in high school graduates. These kids are ready to step up and help out, ready to make a difference. When I go to a game in the St. A’s gym I see kids of all grades cheering their classmates on, not because they are related or even in the same class. The amount of support they get from each other is outstanding. The involvement of the parents is amazing. My kid’s are surrounded by a group of faculty that truly cares for their development academically, but more importantly as future Christian leaders. My 1st grade son not only has his 3 older siblings keeping an eye on him at school, he has a whole class of 8th graders who love him like a little brother. There is a great spirit among the students, a sense of family that transcends grade levels.

I only know k-8 at St. A’s. I can’t stand here and say this is the only place doing a good job of educating future leaders of America, but I can say I wouldn’t trade my experience of 1st-8th and would not trade the experience my kids are getting. If you have a child, consider giving them an unbelievable experience. Why would a community not want an institution that churns out outstanding individuals? St. Alexander School provided me with a great education. I arrived at Willowbrook with all the tools I needed to succeed. Ask any parent of a St. A’s grad and almost all will tell you how well their kid is doing in high school.

Then again we as parents tend to brag about our kids, and I am sorry to have stood up here bragging about St. A’s school and how great my experience has been. But consider it as an invitation to become a part of something wonderful if you have children. If you do not have kids consider helping support the school, consider it a sound investment in the future of our community.

Comments

[Raphael Garcia]

Never give up, for that is just the place and time that the tide will turn.

The Bible, Matthew 17:20
I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there' and it willmove.

[Pete Connelly]

Tommy, after coaching you in basketball and track, having you coach my own children so well, and knowing you as a great teammate on the same softball and basketball teams, it's a pleasure to be on your team in this fight as well. To give a quick quote from Shakespeare by Henry V before the battle of Agincourt:

Let he which hath no stomach to this fight,
Let him depart; his passport shall be made,
And crowns for convoy put into his purse;
We would not die in that man's company
That fears his fellowship to die with us....

From this day to the ending of the world,
But we in it shall be remembered-
We few, we happy few, we band of brothers;
For he to-day that sheds his blood with me
Shall be my brother.....

And gentlemen in England now-a-bed
Shall think themselves accurs'd they were not here,
And hold their manhoods cheap whiles any speaks
That fought with us upon (Christmas) day.

Pete