A Few “Brief” Notes from the Principal:

Hello Crusader Families!

What a great, fun, fast few days we have had to kick off this school year! We celebrated a beautiful Mass on Thursday and it was wonderful to have the High School students and staff join us not only for Mass, but for the morning as well! Every Thursday the High School students will join us for Mass and they will stay at the Grade School through lunch. During this time, they will participate in their 2nd-4th Hour classes as their teachers will be at the Grade School, too. Once we all get into a regular routine, the high school students will integrate with our elementary and middle school students in the classrooms, playground, and lunchroom. While the high school students and staff do walk to and from the Grade School, we have one or two staff members that are driving band instruments and backpacks so that the students don’t have to carry them, however, students may not drive themselves. I have also asked Public Safety to patrol the path the students take just as an extra set of eyes, and they were more than happy to do so.

Speaking of Public Safety, we are working very closely with law enforcement to ensure the safety of our students and staff. Your child may come home informing you that Police Officers were in the building – please do not be alarmed. Public Safety will be doing regular walk-throughs to familiarize themselves with the buildings, and form positive relationships with the students so that they become comfortable with Police Officers rather than afraid. I’m very excited and appreciative to work with Public Safety in building positive relationships.

Starting next Friday, September 5th, we will be starting Crusader Fridays! On Crusader Fridays, all students are welcome to wear Holy Name Grade School and/or Chesterton Academy apparel tops with uniform bottoms. They do not need to wear a polo underneath their school apparel on Fridays. During the last Friday of each month, students will be able to wear their school apparel tops with jeans on the bottom. Jeans must follow the same guidelines as our uniform policy; ie: no holes, tears or rips in the jeans, no tight or skinny jeans, no words across the buttocks of the jeans, etc. Just regular fit, plain denim jeans. If students are not able to follow the Jean Day rules, then jeans will not be allowed and we’ll go back to uniforms every day. Students are not required to participate in Crusader Fridays. If they wish to wear their uniform, that is completely acceptable.

On a uniform note. The uniform policy will be enforced by teachers and staff. While we are working on updating the handbook, and will share that with you sometime next week, the uniform policy will be staying the same. A reminder that boys’ and girls’ shorts, as well as girls’ skirts, must come approximately to the knee—no higher than 2” above. We understand that children grow fast and we have a collection of uniforms at both schools for parents and students to shop through. If you do not have anyone to pass a uniform down to, please consider paying it forward by donating uniforms that no longer fit to the school so that another family can take advantage of your kindness.

Thank you all for a wonderful first three days of school and for the warm welcomes you have all given me. I am so happy to be a Crusader and look forward to a blessed school year!

God bless you,

Mrs. Brief 😀

A “Viau” from the Headmaster:

Hello everyone! The “Viau” from my desk this week looks exciting! The first week of school has been amazing! The students, staff and I are all getting to know each other and working through a few hiccups in our schedule. The students handled the changes with grace and that was much appreciated!

A few reminders from me this week. First, parents please remember to call in your child if they are going to be absent or late. This allows for us to know where they are and be sure they are safe! In addition, please remind your student that if they are late or if they need to leave early that they should sign in and out in the book in the High School Office. If they need to leave early, they should have a note from you for permission. Please call the Office at 906-786-7550 or email eviau@holynamecrusaders.com to report an absence for the High School.

I’d like to pass along a couple of scholarship opportunities that have come across my desk this week for high school seniors. In addition to posting the links here, I’ll have the information in the high school office in the Scholarships Binder. Both deadlines are fast approaching!

https://www.coca-colascholarsfoundation.org/apply/

https://www.thegatesscholarship.org/

It’s been a fun and productive first week of school and we’re looking forward to this year being a great one!

Go Crusaders!

Have a Blessed Weekend!

Mrs. Viau

A Look Ahead:

• Monday, September 1st – No School, Labor Day
• Tuesday, September 2nd – HS Cross Country Meet – Menominee, 5pm
• Thursday, September 4th – All School Mass at 8:45am in the Multipurpose room of the Gradeschool
• Friday, September 5th – Crusader Friday! Wear a Holy Name or Chesterton Academy apparel shirt with uniform bottoms!
• Saturday, September 6th – HS Cross Country Meet – Bay College, 9am

Dear Holy Name Families,

Welcome to the 2025-2026 school year!  I am so excited to be here at Holy Name Catholic School with you and your children!  I’m also excited to start this new journey with Mrs. Erin Viau, our new Headmaster at Holy Name High School, A Chesterton Academy!  Erin is a wonderful addition to our Holy Name family and many of you may know her as she has been an active parent at Holy Name Grade School for years.  Mrs. Viau and I will be working together with our buildings this year as we are proud to be one school with two beautiful buildings.  We are even blessed to share many staff members, of whom several are new faces as well!  One of the exciting things that we will be doing this year is on Thursdays, the High School students will walk to the Grade School for Mass and then stay for 2nd, 3rd, and 4th Hours, as well as for Lunch.  They will then walk back to the High School for their afternoon classes.  Our vision is that all students will get to mingle with each other, learn how to help each other, and get excited about the Chesterton High School Academy.

Naturally, with this being my first year at Holy Name, everything is new to me, but I’m also learning that there are some things that have changed since the end of last school year.  On the back I’m going to share with you some of the important things to know, and I apologize if you are already aware.  I’d rather you hear it twice than not at all.  If after reading this and talking with our amazing staff at Open House, you still have questions, please feel free to reach out to me via email at mbrief@holynamecrusaders.com or by phone at 906-786-7550 x204.

In addition, this year Mrs. Viau, Mr. Vic, the teachers and staff, and myself will be enforcing the dress codes, cell phone, bullying, and behavioral policies.  An updated Handbook and Behavior Rubric (Grades 9-12) will be provided to you the week of September 2nd and I will be happy to answer any questions you may have at that time.

Thank you for choosing Holy Name Catholic School for your child’s education!  I’m looking forward to a blessed and productive year.

God Bless,

Michelle Brief
Principal