Notes from Principal Mrs. Angaiak

We are grateful to have the opportunity to gather, worship and celebrate with one another each week in our holy space - Holy Family Chapel. Each year I remind students that Holy Family chapel is our place. Our HOLY place. Mine and yours. However, I also like to remind our students that Holy Family Chapel is not the only place where God IS.  And that might be a new thought for some of us.

As a school rooted in the teachings of St. Ignatius, we challenge our families and teachers to see “God In All Things.”  Today, at the opening of our first Mass together, I called on our students to be witness to God in each of US.  God in each of them. God in their parents. God in me. God in their teachers.  I reminded them how special it is that we get to practice seeing “God in All Things.”  I loved having the opportunity to remind each of our students how special they are not just in the eyes of God, but in the eyes of their parents and teachers. 

Being a part of the ICS community is special. You will notice on our ICS stairwell, our very important statements about what it means to be a Comet…a part of our community.  Aa a comet our students are challenged to 1) Lead with Love.  2) Respect ourselves and others 3) Realize [their] potential 4) Thrive in [their] faith community, and 5) Be a Kid for Others.   All of these qualities start with the love of God that is present in each of us.  Some days our students might be tired.  Our students might be hungry.  Our students might have a lot on their minds and even be overwhelmed.  I reminded our students, though, that God is a paren of each of them, and each student has the strength and wisdom and talent to do great things (even in small doses!).  Our role as educators, in cooperation with you parents, is to help our students reach their fullest potential.  
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Sometimes, amidst the busyness, you or your student might need a pick me up.  Please know that our chapel is your family’s holy place.  When you have a chance, take a few minutes and come down to the chapel and be in our holy and special place.  As parent or student, I encourage you to get energized in our chapel and awaken the Holy Spirit .  Then...share it with others.  “BE FOR” Christ each day.  We encourage our students to be a boy or girl for other people – in the hallways…on the playground…on the bus…at soccer…in their homes. This is my hope for each student as we begin this school year:  That each know that he or she is special; that each see God in his or herself  and classmates.  Let’s work together, adults and children, to bring to life those five statements on our stairwell by being people “For Others.” May we have a wonderful school year together!
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Amanda B. Angaiak, MAT, MA
PK-6 Principal
Catholic Schools of Fairbanks
​(907) 456-4574

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