Hello Crusader Families!

I hope that you are enjoying your summer!  While school may not be in session, there is a lot going on inside as we are preparing for the 26-27 school year.  I’m very excited to announce that we have hired Mr. Phil Niswonger as the 7th-12th Grade Math teacher!  Mr. Niswonger has a Bachelors and a Masters Degree in Mathematics.  He has taught at the college level as well as the last three years as the 7th-12th Grade Math teacher at Mid-Pen.  Mr. Niswonger currently lives in Gladstone with his wife and they have four children.  Please watch for a Facebook post later today with more information on Mr. Niswonger, and please join us in welcoming him to our Holy Name Family!

As previously announced, Mr. Derkos will be teaching Middle School Math, but he will only be teaching 6th Grade Math.  However, Mr. Derkos will also be teaching PE at the High School and still working hard as our amazing Athletic Director.  Please help in congratulating him on these new endeavors.  We also have a 5th Grade teacher that I am very anxious to announce, but I can’t make that announcement until all the paperwork is official, so please stay tuned as we have another great addition to our Holy Name Family.

As if the excitement of new teachers wasn’t enough, The Knights of Columbus are doing a fabulous job on the locker room renovation!  We are so blessed to have their wisdom and expertise, but they need YOUR help!  In order to get everything completed by the beginning of school, they need more hands on deck.  If you’re able to donate any amount of your time and muscles, we would appreciate it.   You can sign up to help by using this link, https://www.holynamecrusaders.com/athletics-remodel-project/, or calling the school office.  You can also watch the progress unfold through pictures posted on Facebook and on our website.  Thank you in advance for your donations of time, money, and effort.

Our Summer Academy has officially kicked off this week and there is already a lot of fun, learning, and giggles coming from the Elementary wing.  While it’s too late to sign up for Summer Academy, it’s not too late to register for the 26-27 school year!  If you haven’t already registered, please do so by using this link, https://www.holynamecrusaders.com/admission/.  You can also use that link to apply for tuition assistance.  The deadline for tuition assistance is August 1st, so please don’t delay!

Mrs. Viau and I recently attended the Chesterton Schools Network Conference where we learned a lot of new and exciting features of a Chesterton Academy.  We’ve already started using some of the things we learned as we’re preparing for a new school year.  We were also able to connect with other Principals, Headmasters, and Teachers and formed a growing network for ourselves and our teachers.  We are very excited to share all that we learned with the High School teachers, students, and families.  However, with that being said, Mrs. Viau and I will be trying to enjoy a little bit of vacation time with our own families this July.  We’ll still be checking email and stopping by the schools at least once a week, but if you need assistance more promptly, please reach out to Mrs. Lynch, Administrative Assistant, during summer office hours at 906-786-7550 or via email at office@holynamecrusaders.com.

I pray that you continue to have a fun, safe summer!

God bless,

Mrs. Brief 😀

A “Viau” from the Headmaster

Hello Crusader Families!

I hope you’re all enjoying your summer and getting in some good time with your family and friends. Just a few things happening on my end to tell you about. Mrs. Brief and I attended the Chesterton Schools Network Summit at the end of June and it was FANTASTIC. I learned so much and am grateful for the opportunity to attend.

You all should have received an email from me last week about uniforms. Please be sure to get those ordered ASAP because they take so long to arrive.

Mark your calendars for August 26 at 5:30 for our Open House Cookout at the high school. Watch your emails for more information about this at the end of July.

I’m technically not working in my office during the month of July. However, I will be checking email periodically and will have a couple of days in the office the remainder of the month. If you need me, please email me but allow for time to get a response.
Thanks so much everyone and enjoy the rest of your summer!

Erin Viau
Headmaster

This is a reminder Holy Name Catholic School/Holy Name High School will once again have a booth at this year’s U.P. State Fair–located outside the front of the Grandstand Building!

This Holy Name U.P. State Fair booth has been made possible this year — and the past two years — by the generous donation by the Daniel J. Kobasic Foundation–the Reserve Champion Sponsor of this year’s U.P. State Fair. The Daniel J. Kobasic Foundation has been a generous donor to the school for the past eight years.  Daniel J. Kobasic was a 1964 graduate of Holy Name High School, and a supporter (and fan!) of the U.P. State Fair.

Please see below for the SignUp Genius Volunteer Sign-up sheet for the U.P. State Fair Volunteer booth this August 17-23, 2026:  Currently, 17 of the 21 shifts are filled with 4 left to be filled (mostly evening shifts are still unstaffed) Jane has graciously signed up for the 4-8 shift each night but if anyone would like the 4-8 shift she can adjust.  Ideally, we would like 2 volunteers for some of the busier times, but we really need at least one person there at all times.

If you have already signed up for a shift, THANK YOU for volunteering your time to help our great school!  Vicki LaFave will be following up in August with time/s to pick up your Fair passes at the school. There may also be some ride bracelets for volunteers as well.

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0B45ABA722A0FAC25-64294388-holy Please sign up for one shift (or more).

Everyone (up to 2 volunteers per shift–as noted in the SignUp Genius form) who signs up for a shift will receive a Fair pass (which covers GENERAL gate admission for all Grandstand shows that day) for the day that they volunteer.  Please wear HNCS/HNHS shirt/attire for your shift. If you do not have a shirt to wear, please ask HN Administrative Assistant Maddi Lynch, or Vicki LaFave, and you will be provided with one.

NOTE: Gold Circle Reserve Grandstand seats for Grandstand shows cost extra, and are not covered by the Fair Pass.
A reminder: Our booth will be located outside the front of the Grandstand; your Fair pass will get you through the gate.
We will offer a game (TBA), free HN ‘swag’, marketing materials, and possibly a recruiting video playing on a laptop.

FYI: Here is the schedule of U.P. State Fair Grandstand events that have been announced: Upper Peninsula State Fair Grandstand Events

Thank you for your support of Holy Name!

Hello Crusader Families!

I hope you are all enjoying the beginning of your summer vacation!  There are lots of preparations and excitement happening currently as we are already gearing up for Fall.  The Knights of Columbus are really going to town on the locker room renovation!  Please watch the progress unfold through pictures posted on Facebook and on our website.  Please consider donating some of your time and/or talents to this amazing project as well.  You can sign up to help or view the pictures of their progress at https://www.holynamecrusaders.com/athletics-remodel-project/ .  Thank you in advance for your donations of time, talents, money, and effort.

We still have a few spots available for “Starlit Sagas” Summer Academy.  It’s sure to be a fun time of learning and exploring.  Summer Academy runs July 6th-30th, Monday-Thursdays from 9am-12pm.  For more information, please see the flyers below in today’s Crusader.  You can call or email Mrs. Lynch in the office to sign up.

We have an abundance of uniform donations at the Grade School, so please come shop for uniforms!  We have pants, shorts, skirts, polo shirts, and Crusader apparel in all sizes and in great condition!  Come take as much as you need at no cost!!  The office will be open next Monday and Tuesday from 8:30am-2:30pm, closed the week of June 29th, and then July Office Hours start July 6th from 8am-12pm.

Finally, I’m excited to share that we have finished interviews for the Math Teacher and 5th Grade Elementary Teacher positions.  We were blessed to have several great candidates and have offered the positions to two highly qualified individuals.  I can’t wait to make the announcements as soon as everything is official.  Please continue to pray that these individuals will become a part of our beautiful Holy Name family.

I pray that you continue to have a fun, safe summer.

God bless,

Mrs. Brief 😀

We still have a few spots available for Summer Academy!  If you’re interested, please see the attached form and reach out to Mrs. Lynch in the office via email at office@holynamecrusaders.com or via phone at 906-786-7550.

After the race, stick around for snacks and a brief Q & A with Holy Name Coach Derek Douglas, former Crusader & team captain for the College of St. Scholastica Saints, and special guest runner Elena Stanciu—First Team All-American miler with UC Santa Cruz Athletics!

If your child has any interest in college athletics, this is a great chance to learn more!