November 29, 2011

Dear Senior Parent(s),

During the second semester, your son will be involved in a very important phase of his senior year, the Senior Shared Life Project. I would like to take this opportunity to provide you with some information regarding the Project, its goals, its requirements, and your son’s role in the Project.

The Senior Shared Life Project was initiated during the 1972-73 school year so that our students could go beyond classroom discussions of societal problems and could have firsthand experiences with the institutions that attempt to work with these societal concerns. Approximately seventy institutions in the Milwaukee area allow our students to participate in programs that serve school children, the elderly, the disabled, and those people with special needs. It is the goal of the Project to more fully develop in the students a sense of the dignity and equality of all peoples and to promote the students’ realization of how they can bring God’s kingdom to reality.

The dates for this year’s Project are February 27 through March 9, and all seniors, as part of their graduation requirements, must successfully complete the Project. Do not schedule appointments, vacations, college visits, etc. for these dates. On either Saturday, March 3, or Sunday, March 4, the seniors will take part in Reflection Sessions that will be held at Marquette High School. These sessions give the students the opportunity to come together and share their insights and perceptions of the Project, and all seniors must attend one of the sessions scheduled for that weekend! Do not schedule any events for March 3 or March 4 that would conflict with these sessions.

In addition, your son MIGHT have an orientation on Thursday, February 2 or Friday, February 3. Try to avoid having any conflicts with these dates. However, well over half of the sites will have their orientations on the first day of the Project. Thus, if he already has something scheduled for one of those two days, he need not change his plans but he will need to not sign up for a site that has its orientation scheduled on those two days.

You are also urged to encourage your son’s efforts at a particular site. It would be valuable to discuss with him his experiences on the Project and to help him process what he has seen and done. Please urge him to be punctual and to dress in an appropriate manner (neither jeans nor t-shirts are acceptable dress).

Obviously, Marquette High feels that the growth and knowledge gained by your son through the Project is immeasurable. Sensitivity to all peoples in all walks of life and the ability to deal with people in a caring and concerned way are key goals for the Project. Any help that you can give us in making your son’s efforts more worthwhile will be appreciated.

Sincerely,

Terrence Kelly
Project Director

Jeff Monday
Principal