Grandparents Day and a Call to Action
Dear Hill-Murray Community,
“May you see your children’s children.” — Psalm 128
Last Friday, we welcomed hundreds of grandparents to Hill-Murray for Grandparents Day. This is by far one of my favorite days on campus. Watching the way teenagers interact with their grandparents is such a gift. There is also something about how a grandmother or grandfather sees their grandchild—they only see the best. They see their grandchildren through the loving and nurturing eyes of God, free from the stress that can sometimes accompany the parent/child relationship. It is simply all love.
Reflecting on my life, I feel incredibly blessed to have had loving and present grandparents while I was growing up. My grandparents grew up during the depression. Their guidance, stories, and support shaped me during my formative years. They provided me with invaluable wisdom, context, advice, and insights that continue to resonate with me to this day. At our Grandparents’ Day prayer service, a senior, Skylar, said she uses the phrase, “What would grandma do?” to contemplate her tough decisions. It reminded me that our students rely on not just their parents, but on our oldest generation for wisdom and guidance. I truly believe that some of life’s most profound lessons come from the stories and experiences shared by our grandparents. There is nothing better than seeing teenagers with their grandparents who really know them, who watched them grow from infants to who they are today. The phrase “it takes a village” becomes even more concrete and true when I see our young people with their grandparents.
At Hill-Murray, we view the life of a Pioneer as a lifelong journey. We are dedicated to nurturing our students’ faith, academics, spirit, resilience, important life skills, and strong moral character so they can go forth into the world and make a positive impact in their communities. The “I AM A PIONEER” plaques that line our hallways serve as constant reminders of the diverse pathways our alumni have taken. The “village” includes all of you, supporting Hill-Murray and our current students in so many ways and with so much love. For some of the grandparents who were here on Friday, they were in the final days before their last grandchild graduates as a Pioneer. For others, they have seen their middle schooler blossom and gain confidence as they navigate the complexities of adolescence. For those of you who are alumni grandparents, I know this campus holds a special place in your hearts, and know you are always welcome here. As we head into the final days of the school year, please know of my gratitude for you and for your support. Thank you for being part of the Hill-Murray family, and may you continue to be blessed with joy, love, and peace in the days ahead.
Something I want to be sure to share with our community is a call to action from Archbishop Hebda, regarding proposed state budget cuts for non-public school aid. CLICK HERE to watch his message. You are invited to participate in the Advocacy Day and Rally, tomorrow, May 7. If you are not able to attend, consider sending an email to your local legislator by using this easy webpage published by the Minnesota Catholic Conference of Bishops. Your action matters. Please consider helping us preserve this important funding for our students. Your prayers of support are greatly appreciated.
Thank you, and I hope you are able to enjoy this beautiful weather!
Sincerely,
Melissa Dan, Ed.S.
Hill-Murray School President
