Dear Parents-

I am pleased to have the opportinity to be a part of educating your sons through my work as an Assistant Principal and for some of our seniors, as their Social Studies teacher. I am a 1995 graduate of Salesianum. In fact, Sallies is a family tradition! Since the founding of Salesianum in 1903, we Oblates have committed ourselves to educating young men in the example of the Gentleman Saint, Francis de Sales.

As the Assistant Principal/Director of Activities, I am committed to our school's philosophy that we educate our students through all aspects of school life and that our Salesian spirit is alive both inside and outside of the classroom. We offer many activities here at Salesianum. I encourage your son to become involved, to be a part of something that sparks curiousity and interest. If he is having difficulty finding the right activity for him, please ask him to stop by my office. There is something for everyone. Colleges look to see that students are well-rounded and involved throughout their four years of high school. In this position I am also grateful to have the opportunity to work with many of our parent volunteers. If you would like to participate as a member of our Parents' Activity Committee or help at a particular event, please do not hesitate to contact me. Parental involvement is essential to the life of the school.

I teach Social Studies because I see the study of it as essential to our Christian mission. A Christian seeks to understand the past, to grasp the causes of the state of the modern world, and attempts to understand the various cultures that constitute that world. We attempt to prepare Christian ambassadors (2 Corinthians 5:20). An uninformed ambassador is ineffective. In fact, he is no ambassador at all, but merely adds to stereotype and to confusion. The world is in need of well-informed people who, called to various walks of life, help make peace and justice a reality.

The study of the government of the United States is essential for any citizen of our republic. An necessary piece of a representative democracy is an informed electorate that holds both elected and appointed officials accountable and is vigilant in guaranteeing that constitutional rights and liberties are preserved. An uniformed citizen is not only an unproductive citizen. He or she surrenders to the possibility of ineffective government, corruption, and perhaps even tyranny. The terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 raised serious questions about the role of government in areas of military, law enforcement, and individual rights in the face of the common good. The reflection after the tragedy also highlighted the essential need to improve effectiveness of and collaboration between the branches of government, various government agencies, and federal, state, and local governments. More importantly, these years following September 11 have brought us to reflect in a real way on the principles on which our Republic was founded, that we are to be a people that is democratic and free in the face of those who wish to deprive others unjustly of liberty. As Thomas Jefferson said "All tyranny needs to gain a foothold is for people of good conscious to remain silent." All of the checks and balances that we have in our government only work if the people are diligent in making sure that those checks and balances are adhered to.

To be a citizen of the United States of America implies not only rights but responsibilities as well. The course in U.S. government is to help students to know how they can be more informed citizens and to understand how our Constitution is the pillar of our republic. Through reading, debating, writing, and student presentations, students will learn about the principles and origins of American government, the Constitution, Federalism, Congress, the Presidency, the bureaucracy, political parties and the electoral process, mass media, public opinion, interest groups, the Federal Court System, civil rights and liberties, financing of government, foreign policy, and national defense. This is a phase 4 course on the Senior Level. Students should expect that reading and writing assignments in this course will be substantial. It is essential that students keep up with their reading to be prepared for class.

If I may ever be of assistance to you in your son's learning or in any other way, please do not hesitate to contact me either through e-mail or by phone (see above). I will attempt to be as prompt as I can in responding to you.

Again, welcome (or welcome back) to Salesianum! Have a wonderful school year!

Sincerely yours,
(Rev.) Michael Christopher Vannicola, OSFS