Congratulations to our Graduates and the End of the Year at Hill-Murray School
Dear Hill-Murray Community,
There were many smiles yesterday when the bell rang after the last final exam, signaling the official end of the 2022-2023 school year. We can all relate to that feeling of excitement and relief, knowing that summer is finally here. The pace slows down, the weather improves, and notwithstanding the influx of mosquitoes recently, it’s lovely to spend quality time outside enjoying Minnesota at its best.
Yesterday evening we celebrated Mass and Commencement with the Class of 2023 at the Cathedral – a longstanding tradition as our seniors receive their diplomas and become Hill-Murray alums. Each year, at graduation, we present the Lasallian Award to one young man, and the Benedictine Award to one young woman, who best exemplify the values we hold dear as a school, values that are rooted in our spiritual and foundational heritage. The Founders’ Awards focus on who we are and what we represent as a school. The two students who received the award have demonstrated evidence of recognizing and reflecting God’s presence in the world, have shown hospitality to others, and answered the gospel call to serve God and one another. I presented the Lasallian Award to Montgomery Longtin and the Benedictine Award to Regina Head. Congratulations, Monty and Regina!
Last week at Senior Awards Night, we recognized our Class of 2023 Valedictorian, Timothy (Ty) Swanson Jr, and our Salutatorian, Molly Werner. We also congratulated the following top academic achievers of the Class of 2023 Alexis DePuydt, Alexander Eich, Natalie Humbert, Maximilian Kacerik, Elaine Khoury, Margaretanne Kolb, Lauren McGill, Julia Sagstetter, and Rachel Zillig. Maintaining a high GPA while balancing the different activities and commitments outside of the regular school day is no small feat. Congratulations to these students, I am very proud of you!
Even though this school year has just ended, we are already well into planning and preparation for the start of school in the fall. I want to share two important 2023-2024 academic year updates.
Uniform Policy: Hill-Murray is committed to continuous improvement, and in that spirit, we have been reviewing the uniform policy and have updated some components. The uniform is an integral part of Hill-Murray’s tradition and Catholic identity, and these updates and changes reinforce our ability to stay true to the purpose of the uniform code. The policy updates are designed to provide students with options that are comfortable yet compliant with the standard outlined in the policy. For new and current families, please review the updated Uniform Policy here.
2023-24 Hill-Murray Uniform Policy
New Director of Security: For over a year now, I have been working on pathways to create a more secure and safe Hill-Murray environment and physical campus. I care deeply about our school, and taking care of the people here is a priority for me, especially when it comes to our students, staff, faculty and visitors. While many components go into school safety and security, having a full-time trained person on campus has been a goal of mine. I am pleased to welcome Jake Brobrowski, Director of Security, to our staff. Jake comes to Hill-Murray with over 20 years of experience with the Saint Paul Police Department. During his interview, he shared his commitment to developing positive relationships with students as a way to create positive school culture. With his extensive experience as a School Resource Officer and Sergeant in Saint Paul, he understands best practices that both prevent and are necessary to respond to incidents. He will be responsible for the day-to-day security of the students, faculty/staff, visitors, and the school grounds. He will also assist with implementing policies and procedures to ensure and maintain a continued safe environment at Hill-Murray. Jake is proud to return to the Hill-Murray community, where his son, Tony (‘16) and Sarah (‘14), graduated.
I look forward to sharing more about Jake’s role at Hill-Murray when school starts back up in the fall.
I will stay in touch this summer; you can expect to hear from me again later this month. Please continue to keep Hill-Murray in your prayers, especially our new alumni of the Class of 2023 as they move on to their next adventure!
Sincerely,
Melissa Dan