|
The moment a prospective student opens an envelope and reads the long-awaited words “Congratulations and welcome to Cristo Rey Jesuit” is incredibly special for many families. The work students have done in their grade schools, the long application process, the wait to know if they’ve been accepted in the School Choice lottery for Cristo Rey Jesuit, and the anxiety about the unknown future culminates when a student receives the letter that indicates they’ll be attending Cristo Rey Jesuit High School next year. Responses of relief, shock, joy, excitement, pride, and a sense of accomplishment are all emotions that prospective students and families feel when they receive their letter welcoming them as part of our next freshman class. Up until now, our Admissions office had the good fortune to be part of these moments, but we decided to do something different this year.
Admissions Director Maria Hansen, a couple of our current students, and I had the opportunity to welcome some of our newest students and families to our community by visiting their homes and presenting them with acceptance letters. We hadn’t done this before, but it was easily one of the most enjoyable experiences I have had in my last eight years as president. We set up the visit with the parents, and it was a surprise to most of the students. Big smiles greeted us when the door opened to each home we visited as students, parents, grandparents, younger brothers and sisters, and cousins all wanted to be part of the experience. We were even offered meals at a couple of the homes! In one of the visits, after the son read his acceptance letter, his mother immediately ran across the room and hugged him with the strength of a mother who was so proud of her boy. In another home, we heard the words “muchas gracias” from a mother over and over and over again as she was excited about the opportunity her son now had in coming to our school. Lastly, in the front yard of a third home a father recorded on his phone our presentation to his daughter. He was beaming on the steps of his house with his younger daughters on hand to witness his oldest daughter’s success. As we were leaving that house, the father exclaimed from the steps of his porch, “You just made my day!” and proceeded to go talk to another neighbor about his daughter’s accomplishment.
What struck me about all the visits was the hope that our prospective families had in the future they and their sons and daughters had chosen through our school. As a Catholic and Jesuit school, we are often reflecting on how we are accompanying our students and families into a hope-filled future. We strive to be such a place that students and parents have trust and confidence in to give students every opportunity to realize this hope. I’ve often said that Cristo Rey Jesuit’s ripple effect extends well beyond the students in our school. Our families, staff members, work study partners, board members, donors, and community partners are all part of the hope we have for the future of Milwaukee. It is humbling to think that sharing a brief visit delivering an acceptance letter to a prospective student in a family’s kitchen, living room, or on the front porch contains the hopes of so many people. Being present to hear those words “Congratulations and welcome to Cristo Rey Jesuit…” by an incoming student helps me to remember how important kindling hope is to the work we do.
| 
