Dear Students, 

I want to welcome all of you to the 2010 – 2011 school year!  I am very excited about beginning our 6th year at Matanzas High School, it seems like just yesterday we were opening our new school with only 608 freshmen and sophomores.  This year we are opening with more than 1530 Students!
 
Every day, we make choices. Some choices are small, like what to eat for breakfast and some are large, like whether to do the right thing or not. 

American poet, Edgar A. Guest wrote about making choices in the following poem:

You are the person who has to decide.
Whether you'll do it or toss it aside;
You are the person who makes up your mind.
Whether you'll lead or will linger behind.
Whether you'll try for the goal that's afar.
Or just be contented to stay where you are.

As you know, MHS is “The Home of the Pirates.”  Pirates were and are terrible beings that prey on the weak and seek to only destroy. However, at MHS we have a different pirate code. To be a Matanzas Pirate, one must display the following characteristics:

Pride in oneself, family, school and community.
Integrity, meaning uprightness, honesty and sincerity
Respect for all people.
Accountability for one’s own actions
Thoughtfulness of others and of the consequences of one’s actions before acting.
Striving for Excellence in all things; working to one’s full potential
Service to others; putting others before oneself.

Please notice the word “PIRATE” is plural.  This means that as a pirate, you are part of a community of learners; a team of people who support each other.  I have confidence that working together with the other Matanzas Pirates, we can overcome any challenge.

As we begin our new year, I hope that you listen to the words of Mr. Guest and choose to become a true Matanzas pirate. If you follow the MHS Pirate Code, together we will reach “the goal that’s afar.”

MHS Pirates, make it a great year, or not.  The choice is yours.
 
Dr. Pryor 
Matanzas High School