The DePorres Blog

What’s the healthiest city in America? It appears to be Burlington, Vt.

Vermont’s largest city is tops among U.S. metropolitan areas by having the largest proportion of people — 92 percent — who say they are in good or great health.

It’s also among the best in exercise and among the lowest in obesity, diabetes and other measures of ill health, according to a recent report from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Read the whole story.

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I just returned from a two day trip to New Orleans, for the Dominican Association of Secondary Schools Meeting. There are 35 schools in this organization, and 28 of them were represented. We had an impressive reflection on the current state of things in New Orleans, particularly in terms of how the lives of people in New Orleans, and in the surrounding area, was, and still is, impacted by Hurricane Katrina.

I knew that the lives of people in New Orleans are still being rebuilt and healed. But I was not aware of how obvious the scars of the destruction of Katrina are still present. There are still some buildings which have not been repaired. There are still buildings where the flood water level is still obvious.

I was not in the lower 9th ward, which is probably still the area most in need of recovery. Still, as I heard from those who are still working to grieve their losses and move into a better tomorrow, the trip was a profound and helpful testimony to the power of God’s grace and the strength of the human spirit.

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As I travel around the country meeting with Fenwick alums, I am constantly reminded about the tremendous success of our alums, and the privilege I get to see them in action. Since the beginning of this year, I have been at the White House, (for a tour of the West Wing), at the Rose Bowl, at the Jet Propulsion Laboratories in Pasadena, and on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange. (Don’t blame me for the economic crisis. When I arrived in New York the markets had historic increases, and until I left New York there were big market gains.)

It is quite honestly, a tribute to hearing about success, as defined by looking how grads impact the life of others. When in Washington, I heard from alum after alum about how their lives in Washington, whether in government, working in Head Start, or in the legal profession protecting the rights and lives of elders, of how they were serving others, and how this desire to serve was nurtured and developed at Fenwick High School.

While in California, I heard about how Fenwick provided a moral grounding and a strong academic foundation so that alums could move through life with a moral center that provides fulfillment. As I listened to what our alums were doing, I found tremendous gratitude as they named the successful teachers and friars who made this all happen.

I also heard in New York about how the high academic standards not only get our alums into the best colleges and universities, but the athletic discipline also gets them into the best athletic programs in these same colleges and universities.

While it is said often, “It’s a great day to be a Friar!”, it has never been more true.

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The challenges for Barack Obama are many, and most will not come from the Republicans, but rather from Democrats who will expect many things that no one person could possibly deliver. While both McCain and Obama were quite gracious in their speeches last night, the tasks before the new president will be immense. There is an economy that is really falling apart, with no easy solution before us. There is the reality that people voted for Obama for a variety of reasons, and will expect him to deliver on all of them. There is the reality that despite the word “landslide”, this election was rather close, and while Obama had a large electoral vote lead, there is not evidence this election provided a big ideological shift in this country. Look to the results of state voting on same sex marriage as an example.

Yet, the situation we are now in will require the new president to govern from the center, for without a consensus of Americans behind him, the challenges this country faces will not be met. Perhaps most of all, we should all keep the new president in our prayers. This is a challenging time for our country, and whether we supported him or not, we need him to succeed.

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Whether you voted for Obama or not, it has to be noted that the election of an African-American is indeed an historic moment for the United States. It was not all that long ago that Obama would not have been allowed to use the same drinking fountain, or the same bathroom, or to sit at the same counter as White Americans. Perhaps this will usher in a day where race does not become a consideration when someone runs for political office, just as, perhaps, the election of John Kennedy to the White House ushered in a period where one’s religious faith was not as much of a consideration. People should be elected on the merits of their positions. Indeed, Obama has moved us one step closer in that regard.

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It may seem odd I would be congratulating a team which eliminated my Red Sox. I was really happy with the play of the Red Sox this post season. First, there was the unbelievable comeback. There was the way the Sox played despite injuries to Mike Lowell, David Ortiz, and Josh Beckett, to name a few. There was the positive attitude that returned when Manny Ramirez was traded. But most importantly for baseball, there was not a monumental choke that would have undone baseball in Tampa Bay, perhaps for ever. So, go Rays!

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Anyone who knows me well knows I have a fascination for hurricanes. Well, if you are not familiar with the “Hurricane Grotto”, it is worth considering. See what Jeff Masters writes on his tropical weather blog:

Paying homage at the Key West Hurricane Grotto
If you live in Key West, I highly recommend a visit to the Hurricane Grotto to ask for some divine intervention in regards to Ike. There’s a church in Key West called the St. Mary’s Star of the Sea Roman Catholic Church. In 1922, a nun built a “hurricane grotto” on the grounds of the church in memory of the 600 who died during the great Atlantic-Gulf hurricane of Sept. 10, 1919, a Category 4 hurricane that made a direct hit on Key West. The nun vowed that as long as the grotto stood, Key West would not suffer the brunt of another hurricane. Key West residents regularly make pilgrimages to the grotto to pray for protection from hurricanes. And so far, the grotto has worked–no Key West resident has died from a hurricane strike since the 1919 hurricane. As Hurricane Rita approached Key West in September of 2005, it was apparent that the magic of the Grotto would be severely tested. As I wrote in a blog the day after Rita passed:

Well, the protection of the grotto worked again. Key West barely escaped the brunt of a severe hurricane that could have been so very much worse. Had Rita’s intensification cycle started 24 hours earlier, and she tracked 50 miles further north, the city of Key West would have been devastated. The Key West airport never measured sustained hurricane force winds from Rita, although the National Hurricane Center did receive an unofficial report of sustained winds of 75 mph with gusts to 102 mph in the Key West area. There was flooding and wind damage that will no doubt add up to tens of millions of dollars, but Key West is feeling lucky tonight. Key Westers, pay a visit to your grotto tomorrow and give thanks!

Key West's famous Hurricane Grotto.

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I really enjoy opportunities when parents can witness a little taste of the exceptional things that happen here at Fenwick. Tonight is mini-class night, and our parents are stopping by their sons and daughters classes to hear what teachers expect, and more importantly, how our teachers challenge our students in a variety of ways to become excellent persons.

We are truly blessed here at Fenwick with parents who want what is best for their children. We are blessed to have students who strive to excel so they can take their rightful place alongside friars of previous years who have made a real difference in the world.

We are also fortunate to have dedicated, award winning teachers who inspire and educate the gifted student body. As a wander the halls here, I do not cease to be amazed at the obvious learning that occurs in these halls.

I would be remiss if I did not also mention the dedicated administrators and staff who put hours and hours of time into their jobs. I feel privileged and grateful to have been given the inspiration I have been given in witnessing the excellence that is present.

I would also encourage parents to get information about the new technology that is available at Fenwick. While there are a lot of new things being offered, much of the initial skill is the same. I am very excited about our new website, and the technology that comes with it to allow students to store files, see teachers’ web pages, and to extend the learning in a way that allows our very busy students to be connected.

Also, this new technology allows parents to be in contact with teachers, coaches, and others at Fenwick. Be sure to pick up the informational sheet about our new technology.

And know that as you roam the halls tonight, “It’s a great day to be a friar!”

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The latest news, updated on Monday, August 18, 2008, in no particular order:

It is hard to believe, but another class of freshmen, the Class of 2012, started their Fenwick experience, wearing blazers like so many classes before them. It is clear they begin with a mix of anxiety and excitement.

We had a great summer here at Fenwick. As in past years, we had a very successful golf outing at Cog Hill, with hundreds of golfers. As seems to be universally true when Fenwick Friars get together, a good time was had by all.

We hosted an event for alums from the classes of the 2000s, which was very nice. It gave alums a chance to see the new construction, and to catch up with friends.

Corey Maggette held his basketball camp at Fenwick this year, which was a rousing success. Corey was most generous to the campers (and to Fenwick - making a $50,000 donation to Fenwick), and it was most exciting and gratifying watching Corey interact with the kids at the camp.

Since Corey, along with other members of the class of 1998 celebrate their 10th high school reunion this year, we are looking forward to a great turnout, not only from the class of 1998, but from all the reunion classes.

We are happy this year, during reunion weekend, September 12-13, 2008, to be able to retire Corey’s Fenwick jersey, number 50. We hope many will be with us to join in the celebration, which will occur during halftime of the Fenwick football game on Saturday. More details will follow.

I will continue to post updates from time to time.

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Emily Hayman, a Lemont resident and Senior at Fenwick High School, was one of only 24 college-bound students in Illinois and one of 172 in the U.S. and abroad to achieve a 36, the highest possible composite score, on the April 2008 national test administration of the ACT. About 26,500 Illinois students, and 490,000 from across the nation, completed the ACT college-admissions exam on April 12, 2008.

The ACT consists of tests in English, mathematics, reading and science. Each test is scored on a scale of 1-36, and a student’s composite score is the average of the four test scores. For purposes of comparison, the average composite score for the national high school graduating class of 2007 was 21.2.

“The Fenwick community would like to congratulate Emily for her extraordinary accomplishment. This achievement places her among an elite group of students across the nation and we are extremely proud of Emily and excited for her as she approaches her senior year and the college selection process,” said Dr. James Quaid, Fenwick Principal.

In a letter recognizing this exceptional achievement, ACT chief executive officer Richard L. Ferguson pointed out that Emily should have a choice of the widest possible range of future educational options. ACT scores are accepted by all U.S. colleges and universities.

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