Friends,

The transition from February to March brings many changes as our world grows warmer and brighter. February vacation brought an opportunity for many of our students, faculty, and staff to experience something new. They traveled to New York with the BC High Business Club, New Orleans on a service retreat, to Rome with the Hyde Center, or Washington D.C. and Georgetown University with Model UN. Any one of these school-sponsored trips, or other personal experiences students may have had, present opportunities for growth and change, rest and renewal.

This month has been one of incredible growth for our community - punctuated perfectly by our celebration of Ignatian Values Day on Ash Wednesday last week. Centered around the Graduate at Graduation theme of being Open to Growth, our school joined together to celebrate this mindset. Distinguished speakers, alumni, parents, and friends gathered with our students to discuss what radical kinship means in their lives - at BC High and beyond.

In closing our celebration we observed the ancient practice of the Jewish and Christian faiths, marking our heads with ash to symbolize the change we hope to manifest in this Lenten season. Lent provides the ultimate opportunity to reflect upon and grow from our past mistakes and shortcomings. In the coming months of spring I pray we will continue to celebrate the good things in this life and focus on improving the lives of those around us.

AMDG,
Ignatian Values Day: Open to Growth Forming Radical Kinship
The BC High community celebrated our second annual Ignatian Values Day on Ash Wednesday. The practice was started in the Arrupe Division several years ago, and we decided to adopt it in the high school as a means of bringing the entire community together. Throughout the day our young men across all six grades retreated together, participated in workshops, ate and played with students, faculty, and staff they otherwise might not have a chance to meet.

Some highlights of the day:

  • The Class of 2019 honored Principal Hughes with their first gift toward the Senior Class Gift at a breakfast social hosted by the President's Student Cabinet.

  • Kristo Kondakci '09, founder and director of the Eureka Ensemble, opened the day's activities by speaking about the radical kinship he experienced founding The Women's Chorus - a choir formed entirely of homeless and at-risk women in the City of Boston. For more on Kristo's humbling story visit this link.

  • My dear friend and former Boston College RA Gregg Cassin, founder of BC's Appalachia Volunteers Program, was on campus not only during Ignatian Values Day but during Diversity Week as well to share his experiences within the LGBTQ+ community. Gregg spoke to students about his work alongside those afflicted by HIV/AIDS.

There were too many wonderful experiences to share, but topics included:

  • Kinship Across Borders - Dr. Kristin Heyer, Boston College
  • Alcoholics Anonymous
  • Foster Parenting - Greg & Robyn Hegerich P'22
  • Homeless Speakers' Bureau
  • Hospice Nursing - Ann Jennings P'17
  • My BC High Story - Alberto Vasallo III '85
  • Neighborhood Lines a novel by Michael Murphy '92

I want to share my deepest gratitude to all of those who volunteered, shared, and participated in making this a powerful day for our community! For pictures from the day visit this link.
Eagles Are Everywhere!
February vacation offered our students, faculty, and staff the chance to to experience a wide range of offerings across the United States and beyond!

  • I traveled with Dan Carmody, Vice President for Global Mission and Identity, and Leslie LaRocca of the Social Studies department to Krakow, Poland and Kostka Jesuit High School. Dan also recently returned from an exploratory trip to Vietnam with Huy Huyn, one of our campus ministers. These journeys help us cultivate the best experiences through the Hyde Center for our students, building lasting partnerships across the global Jesuit network.

  • BC High Model UN returned from a successful trip to Washington D.C. for the North American Invitational Model UN Conference at Georgetown University. They experienced diplomacy, history, and networking with several BC High alumni! For a full recap visit this link.

  • Many Classics students traveled with the Hyde Center to Rome where they observed the art, culture, and history of Ancient Rome - connecting with their language studies on a more intimate and immediate level. For more photos visit this link.

  • The BC High Business Club traveled to New York City for a few days, meeting with several alumni along the way. They were exposed to the various careers represented in our alumni network and were able to spend time at Ropes and Gray, Credit Suisse, ESPN, and Tiffany & Co just to name a few. They're pictured below hosted by Souren Ouzounian '85 at the NY Athletic Club.

  • Many students traveled to New Orleans on a week-long service project and retreat while some stayed and served locally in Boston. In New Orleans our young men saw much of the Upper and Lower 9th Wards and reflected on the suffering caused by Hurricane Katrina. They partnered with The Women’s Center for Healing, Loyola University, North Shore Unitarian Universalist Church, and Chahta Ima Elementary School throughout their service and immersion work. For more photos and reflections from the students visit this link.
Upcoming Alumni Receptions
Calling all Florida-area alumni! Join me and your fellow BC High graduates to network and socialize at a reception in March. Whether recalling your days on Morrissey Boulevard, or learning about the great things happening at BC High today - there's no better time to reconnect.

  • 03/19/19 - West Palm Beach: Join us at The Regional Kitchen & Public House at 11:30 a.m. for an alumni lunch! To register visit this link.

  • 03/20/19 - Naples: Join me and fellow BC High alumni for a reception at the Naples Art Association! We will celebrate Mass at 4:00 p.m. with a reception to follow at 5:00 p.m. To register visit this link.
BC High in the Community
Our BC High community is vibrant - connected to so many other schools and institutions throughout the City of Boston and beyond!

  • Principal Hughes and I traveled with other Jesuit, Nativity, Cristo Rey Presidents and Principals to an East Coast Jesuit Leadership retreat in Atlanta. A Retreat with the Psalms provided a wonderful opportunity for reflection, as well as collaboration with our colleagues in the Jesuit network.  

  • Former Ambassador and Mayor Ray Flynn was honored by the Paraclete Center of South Boston and Cardinal O'Malley on our campus. There was a tremendous BC High presence in the room as Ray reminded us all of the importance of education, family, faith, service, and neighbors!

  • Kevin Powers '85, P'16 hosted faculty and students at the 3rd Boston College Cybersecurity Conference. Students met Massport CSO Harold Shaw '84 and Deputy Director of the FBI David Bowdich!
On the Boulevard
The depth and breadth of our students' passions and interests means there's never a dull moment for our community.

  • Over the past few weeks our hockey team has been on a strong run in the Super 8 tournament. Tonight, they face Xaverian with a trip to the Garden on the line at 7:00 p.m. at Loring Arena in Framingham.

  • On Saturday our students performed their final night of One Act plays. Kudos to Adrian Hernandez and Beth Killorin for directing Moving Day and Candles by the Sea - and to all of the students for their wonderful performances.

  • BC High’s Robotics team, Schrodinger’s Cat, had an excellent season-opening competition at the Granite State District Event on March 1-2. After 12 qualifying matches, Schrodinger’s Cat ranked #9 out of the 36 competing teams and advanced to afternoon playoffs as the Captain of the #6 Alliance team. The team is currently ranked 16th overall in the New England District. The 39 member team will compete next at the North Shore District Event held at Reading High School on March 16-17.
Back to the Point Podcast: Jake Allen '19
Tune in to the Back to the Point podcast as Rick Goulding '04 sits down with Jake Allen '19, Director of Strategic Partnerships for the BC High Business Club, to hear how his senior year has been going and to learn a little bit more about what he's been up to with the Business Club this year. Subscribe and listen now on iTunes or SoundCloud.
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