Chelsea Academy

I hope you are looking forward to Chelsea Academy’s inaugural fundraiser, “Renaissance in Rappahannock,” on May 17th as much as I am. If you join us at picturesque Rappahannock Cellars in Huntly, Virginia, you can expect an evening of gustatory and intellectual satisfaction—something for the palate and even more for the mind and heart. Thomas More, despite the personal asceticism for which we do him honor, delighted in entertaining guests at Chelsea, and we have planned this event in that spirit. Our guests will dine on great food and the finest Virginia wines; bid in live and silent auctions; hear Renaissance music; see an original play on Thomas More’s last days by Mr. William Ryan; and most importantly enjoy the company of old and new friends brought together in a common and most worthy endeavor. As space is limited, do make your reservation today.

I turn now to the practical realm in which we always appreciate help. Auction items are needed for the fundraiser. If you would like to donate an item, either a good or a service, please complete the Auction Donation Form and send it to the school. In addition, you are invited to contribute a program and website advertisement using the Advertisement Form. Please contact me if you have any questions. Volunteers are always welcome to join the committee that is planning this event.

On a different note, I should mention that the deadline for submitting financial aid applications is March 31. We will continue to accept applications after this date; however, in early April we will be making our first decisions about the distribution of our financial aid funds. Families that submit financial aid applications after March 31 will not be given priority, though they will still be considered.

This is an exciting time for Catholic education in the Diocese of Arlington. As many of you know, John Paul the Great High School, led by the Dominican Sisters of St. Cecilia, will be opening with grades 9-10 in Dumfries this fall. I doubt there are many other dioceses that can boast the opening of both a diocesan high school and an independent school dedicated to Catholic education in the same year. In fact, the number of Catholic schools in this country has decreased by nearly fifty percent since 1960. Over 1,000 Catholic schools closed nationwide during the last seven years, and the Archdiocese of Washington recently announced that it would be closing eight more. How great it is to be bucking the trend in Front Royal, and to do so, in the words of St. Thomas More, in “the sweetness of hope.”

Please continue to keep Chelsea Academy in your prayers. Blessings to you and yours this Lenten season.

Sincerely,

Jonathan D. Brand
Headmaster
Chelsea Academy

Email: jbrand@chelseaacademy.org
Telephone: 540.635.0622