Spirit of Saint Nicholas Celebration
Dear Hill-Murray Families,
I hope each of you enjoyed a peaceful and joy-filled Thanksgiving. As we return to campus, my heart is full of gratitude for the many blessings that shape our Hill-Murray community.
As we enter Advent, a season of hope and preparation, I am reminded that gratitude is not simply a feeling; it’s an invitation. An invitation to recognize God’s presence in our daily lives, to support one another generously, despite the challenges, and to continue building a school where every student feels known, valued, inspired, and loved.
This week, I would like to take the opportunity to express my gratitude for the many gifts our children provide us daily within The Nicholas Center. As a former teacher who worked with students who learn differently, I am impressed by the work and dedication I see at The Nicholas Center each day. Our team of over thirty staff members, led by Brent Johnson and Sara Johnson, is dedicated to our students. Everyone learns differently, and the neurodiversity each student has brought to our school since its inception in 2012 has continued to make Hill-Murray stronger. The Nicholas Center team works diligently to help each student discover their individual strengths, while equipping them with the skills necessary to be successful self-advocates, to collaborate, to think critically, and to create in today’s fast-paced world. Often, I find myself returning again and again to the profound gift that is The Nicholas Center. It is far more than a space – it’s a living expression of who we are as educators and what we believe in as a Catholic, Benedictine School.
On December 5th, we will celebrate the feast day of Saint Nicholas by holding a prayer service in the Hill-Murray Chapel at 7:15 a.m., followed by a social gathering in the Nicholas Center. We welcome you to join us! Please click HERE to RSVP. You are also welcome to join us for our regular Friday Mass in the Chapel, on December 5 at 9:15 a.m., followed by Adoration. Please click HERE if you would like to take a shift at Adoration. I am so grateful to be able to celebrate The Nicholas Center in such a meaningful way.
For the last few years, we have been able to provide more in-depth training for our staff due to the generous donations to the Nicholas Center Endowment. This fund has grown over the years, and any gift, regardless of its size, is greatly appreciated. It helps us to be better. If you would like to contribute to this fund that changes lives for our students each day, please click HERE. Thank you for your generous spirit!
We are so thankful for the many gifts our children share with us, and thank you for being a part of a mission where faith matters, where community matters, and traditions we inherit are worth celebrating and passing on….
Thank you for all the ways you strengthen our community. I am grateful for your trust, your partnership, and your belief in the mission of Hill-Murray. May the weeks ahead be filled with grace, anticipation, and moments of quiet joy.
Sincerely,
Melissa Dan, Ed.S.
Hill-Murray School President