Friends,

Fall is in the air, the Eagles are back on the Boulevard, and we are excited for a new school year! In this busy season it is easy to be overwhelmed with all the possibilities, opportunities, and changes that a new school year brings. With that in mind, I find myself thinking of a line from our all-school read this summer, Fr. Greg Boyle SJ’s Barking to the Choir: “Begin with a title and work backward.”

I have been asking our entire community to frame their reflection and planning for the year through this lens. What is the title of your upcoming year? What is the title of your BC High experience as a whole? What’s your goal, and how can you work backward to achieve it?

Our students will learn, as all our 15,000 living alumni have, that whether the goal is learning a new language, getting a role in the spring musical, or making the roster of a fall sport – they are not alone. The young men beside them, our faculty and staff members, and their family will be constant companions in any endeavor. We come from different families, towns, and backgrounds – but at BC High we are one team.

Our goal as a school this year is to undergo a process known as “Sponsorship Review”. Every five years the Society of Jesus asks us to undertake a Mission Examen entailing a year of self-study and reflection. Through this review, we are asked to articulate our Ignatian identity and the fidelity of our promise to our families and students. It is a powerful opportunity for collaboration between our departments, our students and their parents, and our alumni. Together, we will strive to be what Jesuits call "contemplatives in action" using our reflection to improve and strengthen our community. We hope to be moved closer together and closer to God. It is an incredible time of hope and promise for our community.

God is indeed good! All the time. And the BC High community is here, together, for a reason.