The Fine Point: The Power of Purpose | April 2025

A Monthly Message from President Robert J. Fine, Jr.

I am pleased to share with you the first edition of The Fine Point, a monthly message designed to reflect on the purpose that drives St. John’s Northwestern Academies. Each month, I look forward to using this space to spotlight the opportunities, achievements, and milestones shaping the student experience at SJNA.

April is a month that brings this mission into full focus. For our students, it is a season of action — where purpose meets opportunity.

Academic Purpose

This month, many of our students are participating in key academic milestones, including ACT testing and preparing for our ISACS Accreditation visit. Both are significant markers — not just because of what they mean for transcripts or institutional reports, but because they represent preparation for the next step. Whether a student is aiming for college, a service academy, or simply their next personal goal, these moments require discipline, focus, and perseverance.

The accreditation process, in particular, is a reminder to our entire community that we are constantly striving to improve. This is not just about meeting external standards; it’s about our deep responsibility to ensure students have access to the best possible environment for building their foundations for life.

Tradition with Purpose

Beyond academics, April invites us to embrace some of our most meaningful traditions. Spring Families Weekend, the Inaugural Alumni Weekend, and the highly anticipated Excalibur event bring together students, families, alumni, and friends in a way that few other moments on our calendar can. For students, these events are more than ceremonies or celebrations — they are experiences that reinforce the value of tradition and community. They get to hear alumni share how their SJNA experience shaped them, show their families how much they have grown, and participate in moments that will become lasting memories.

Excalibur also serves as a meaningful opportunity to directly enhance student life. Through this annual fundraising tradition, we will focus on projects that improve classrooms, campus spaces, and the daily experience of every student — ensuring that the learning environment continues to match the caliber of our mission.

Purpose That Endures

As we move through the month ahead, I encourage all of us — students, families, alumni, and friends — to see the power of purpose not only in the events we host but in the people we serve. Every student on this campus is on a journey, and our responsibility is to ensure they are equipped to pursue their future aspirations with confidence.

I hope to see many of you on campus this April as we celebrate tradition, achievement, and the purpose that binds us all together. Our doors are always open—not just during special events, but all year long. Whether you are an alum, family member, or friend, you are a valued part of the SJNA community.

Until next month,
Robert J. Fine, Jr.
President, St. John’s Northwestern Academies