Friends,
Yesterday, our students departed for their Thanksgiving recess and I am reminded of how grateful we should be for the ways in which life has filled the hallways, fields, classrooms, and stage here at BC High and beyond. I'm grateful for the Jesuit network, that we are deeply committed to, and our schools' shared mission to form young men and women to be leaders for the church and the world. Recently, Principal Adam Lewis travelled to Winnipeg Canada for the annual conference of Jesuit school principals where the theme was "Restorative Practices That Propel our Schools Forward: The Wisdom We Have Learned." And, as a partner in Jesuit schools leadership, I want to congratulate Trustee, Anthony Day, President of Loyola Blakefield, for accepting the same role at Fordham Prep. The Jesuit Network is stronger for the work these men do each day. And lastly, I'm grateful to each of you for continuing to keep BC High in your prayers, particularly during this season of thanksgiving.
Back on the Boulevard, our faculty will hold parent/teacher conferences next Monday and Tuesday which allows our students to take a collective breath from the pace of the last few weeks. With the guiding hand of the School and College Counseling team, many of our seniors submitted applications for college and eagerly await their response. We are excited that the Hyde Center for Global Education has sent a group to serve in Guatemala for the Thanksgiving break. The Mike White '70 Center for Emerging Leaders and the Jack Shields '79, P'06 Center for Innovation continue to welcome interesting speakers and open the door to opportunities for our students to explore. The Academic Resource Center continues to provide support and guidance to all students as we navigate the challenges our students face post-pandemic. With thanks to Emil Penarubia, chair of the classics department, BC High was host to the Latin Colloquium which welcomed back nearly 50 educators for three days of intensive work. We couldn't possibly capture everything that happens at BC High in this monthly update so I invite you to explore our social media pages and our Flickr albums to see the daily life of our community.
In giving thanks, we are always called back to service - toward the radical kinship and Gospel message which turns our attention back toward the margins, where our brothers and sisters may stand without the blessings we so often take for granted. This month, our students joined 14 fellow high schools in the Jesuit network from seven states in the Great Ignatian Challenge. This annual holiday food drive raises students’ awareness of hunger and inspires them to fill their local food banks, pantries, and community centers with tens of thousands of pounds of much-needed provisions. Last year, schools participating in The Great Ignatian Challenge collected and distributed nearly 170,000 pounds of food! BC High’s efforts have once again supported the Boston Housing Authority and we're proud to stand with Jesuit schools in this shared service.
Lastly, we are grateful for the ways in which the Center for Ignatian Identity and Formation keeps our community focused on finding Jesus Christ in our lives. Our students continue to explore their own depths on Kairos and the other retreat offerings, like the NYC Pilgrimage. For several days they lived quite simply, staying in a church hall after walking and taking in the city. Further, the Solemnity of All Saints was a lovely way to gather as a whole community and remember those famous and obscure saints whose lives we hope to emulate. It was a fitting reminder that we do all things together, and through Christ, for the greater glory of God.
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AMDG,
Grace Cotter Regan P'12
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A Successful Fall Sports Season
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The Eagles Golf team brought another state championship to the Boulevard earlier this month. We are so incredibly proud of the hard work and dedication these student-athletes put in to come back from an early season 0-6 record. Congratulations to Coach Chris Hayes '85, P'17, students, and their families for the victory.
Our Cross Country team finished with the fourth fastest time in all of Massachusetts in the Division 1A Meet and earned them a spot in the All-State Meet today. With a blistering 16:09 5k team average, they have set a new school record! We are equally as proud of the Arrupe Division Cross Country team that finished 2nd in the Middle School State Meet. Coaches Seth Kirby P'21, '22, and John Colavicenzo, P'28 have built a terrific program and their strength and depth is a point of pride for our school.
The soccer team made a strong run in the playoffs this season as well and we are proud of their effort. Thank you to our seniors for leading the program through an emotional few seasons.
I hope you'll join me in cheering on the football team as they take on Catholic Memorial in the annual Thanksgiving Day game, hosted at CM this year. Go Eagles!
Lastly, special congratulations to these senior student-athletes who signed a National Letter of Intent to play their sport at the NCAA Division I level. We will celebrate all student-athletes playing a sport in college later in the year. For now, please congratulate James Carroll (Georgetown - Lacrosse), Andrew Manning (Navy – Baseball), Ronan Donohue (Sacred Heart – Baseball), Gavin Donahue (Sacred Heart – Baseball) ,and Mason Lombard (Merrimack – Baseball)
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Welcoming our Eagles Home
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We were blessed to have beautiful fall weather for our annual Alumni & Family Homecoming weekend which we celebrated on October 22-23. We also welcomed back the Classes ending in '2 & '7 for a fun-filled day on the Boulevard.
Later in the weekend, we joined with members of the rowing team to bless two new boats to the fleet and wish the team well as they took on a difficult course at the Head of the Charles Regatta. Through the generosity of Michael Keating '86, P'20, '22 and the Cairo Family, BC High is fortunate to have two beautiful, state-of-the-art boats to compete in. It was a wonderful celebration!
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Join us for the Athletic Hall of Fame
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We are excited to welcome a great crowd on Tuesday, November 22 for our annual Hall of Fame celebration. There is still time to register if you'd like to to join us!
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An Update from the BC High Parents' Association
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I'm pleased to share with you that the BC High Parents' Association has been actively working to engage current and prospective families throughout the fall. The BCHPA represents all parents/guardians of current students and alumni. There is an executive committee, four parent committees (Events/Programming, DEI, Enrollment, & Giving), and class reps for each of the six classes (7-12). If you'd like to volunteer or become involved, please visit their page on the BC High website to learn more. www.bchigh.edu/parents-association. You can find the Parents' Association on Facebook and Instagram as well!
One of the signature events for the BCHPA is the Advent Liturgy, held annually on the first Sunday of Advent, which brings together the women of BC High to celebrate and honor the role Mary plays in the life of the Church. There is still time to register if interested.
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Service to others is a pillar of Jesuit education and our alumni veterans have done so with honor since our founding. Each year, we celebrate these brave men and remember those who have given the ultimate sacrifice defending our country. With special thanks to the BC High Veterans Alumni Network and Trustee Kevin Powers '85, P'12, a veteran himself, we welcomed back four-star General, George Casey '66 and many alumni veterans for a special concert and breakfast.
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Welcoming the Next Class of Eagles
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On November 6, we welcomed over 1000 people to BC High for our annual Open House. The Enrollment team, led by Dr. Kara Kolomitz, P'26, put on a fantastic event for our guests. Donned in maroon and gold ties, our students led tours around campus, our faculty and staff provided terrific information and pointers on everything from financial aid to riding the T. It was a great day to be an eagle!
If you know a prospective student, please be sure to send them our way! Contact the Enrollment team for more information at enrollment@bchigh.edu or visit our website to learn more!
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Special thanks to Fr. Jim Croghan, SJ, Superior of the Jesuit Community at BC High and the Center for Ignatian Identity and Formation team for organizing this special project each year.
Each November, we are called to be particularly mindful of our beloved dead. In life, we shared love and joy. Our faith assures us that these bonds do not end with death. We invite you to list the names of your beloved deceased on the form here.We will place these names in front of the altar in Loyola Chapel to be remembered in our Masses, prayers, and sacrifices as an expression of our faith and in gratitude for your being part of the BC High community.
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USA East Apostolic Planning
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Special thanks to Rev. Jim Croghan, SJ, Superior of the BC High Jesuit Community, LaFarge House, and Loyola House, BC High hosted a gathering of 30 members of the extended Ignatian family from the Boston area as part of the Apostolic Planning Process of the USA East Province. It was one of 18 such gatherings held throughout the Province from Maine to Georgia during the fall. In addition to BC High, Boston College, Nativity Prep, St. Ignatius Parish and the Christian Life Community (CLC) representatives from the Ignatian Volunteer Corps (IVC), Jesuit Volunteer Corps (JVC), the Ignatian Spirituality Project (ISP) and Cristo Rey Boston High School all participated in the day of prayer, conversation, and discernment. BC High was well represented by my colleagues, Margaret Felice, Religion Education teacher in the Arrupe Division, Adam Lewis, Principal, Jillian Maxey, Head of Faber House and Religious Education teacher in the high school, Jen Manning, and Vice Principal for Student Life.
The purpose of the Regional Gatherings is to capture the voices of Lay Colleagues and Jesuits and integrate those voices into the Apostolic Planning Process of the USA East Province. In addition, every Jesuit community in the Province has been engaged in a series of meetings as they all seek to understand and embrace where God is leading the Province.
Every Jesuit Province throughout the world has engaged in a similar process of prayerful discernment focused on how best to live out the Jesuit mission, which over the next decade is guided by the four Universal Apostolic Preferences of the Society of Jesus articulated in 2019: Showing the way to God through the Spiritual Exercises and the practice of discernment; Walking with the poor, the outcasts of the world, and those whose dignity has been violated, in the mission of reconciliation and justice; Walking together with young people, to build a hope-filled future; Working together to care for the earth, our common home.
The Boston area gathering was organized and convened by Christine Cichello of the BC Campus Ministry Office and Fr. Jim Croghan, SJ, Superior of the Jesuit communities at BC High, LaFarge House, and Loyola House. In addition, Fr. Croghan is a member of the Province Apostolic Planning Advisory Board which will meet several times through the spring prayerfully considering the results of the Regional and Jesuit Community meetings and helping to craft the Province’s Apostolic Plan which should be finalized by the fall of 2023. Please keep this process in your prayers.
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Corcoran Living Library Lecture Series
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We were grateful to be joined by members of the Corcoran family for this years Corcoran Living Library Lecture Series, as we welcomed our all-school read speaker, Gene Luen Yang. He captivated our students, faculty, and staff for over an hour and graciously sat for a book signing following the main event. The event would not have been possible without the dedicated work of Marilee Benis, Supervisor of Learning Enhancement.
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Dever Players Shine on the Stage
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The Dever Players have once again put together a remarkable show for the BC High community to enjoy. Under direction of Beth Killorin, P'26, theatre director, the student actors, tech crew, and advisors, have made us proud once again. They conclude the run of The Lightning Thief: The Percy Jackson Musical tonight at 7:00 p.m.
Before a show last weekend, we were pleased to honor our most generous arts patron, Greg Bulger '68 with a recognition plaque outside the Performing Arts Center that bears his name. It was a special day to honor a remarkably generous alumnus that deeply believes in our students and fostering their passions.
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Get Involved with Giving Tuesday!
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Tuesday, November 29, is Giving Tuesday -- an international day of charitable giving at the beginning of the Christmas season. This year, we are looking for as many donors to contribute as possible on our 24-hour giving challenge! You can make an incredible impact on our young men with your own gift to the Fund for BC High. Every gift, whether $5 or $500, is vital as BC High continues its nearly 160-year tradition of ensuring each student on our campus is known, loved, and supported.
All members of our community are invited to participate in a variety of ways.
- share out our campaign on social media,
- serve as a campaign ambassador, and/or
- fundraise on behalf of you or your child’s class year
Please reach out to Joey Dwyer '13, Associate Director of Annual Giving, if you're interested in learning more ways to support our Eagles on Giving Tuesday at jdwyer@bchigh.edu. We hope you will join us in making this year's #GivingTuesday a success!
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New Artwork in Hunter-Fahey Commons
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Last Spring, I shared with you that the Class of 2022 Senior Class Gift was commissioned artwork by artist, Jordan Barros. The completed pieces which represent all aspects of life at BC High were hung recently in Hunter - Fahey Commons where all students can enjoy them.
Jordan also worked with and mentored Louie Espinosa '23 who completed a piece that hangs outside the Center for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion and depicts important figures in our history.
To learn more about BC High's ongoing work on DEI, please see our bi-annual report from June which will be updated this winter.
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Save the Date for Upcoming Alumni & Parent Events!
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November
- Hall of Fame, November 22
- Giving Tuesday, November 29
- Advent Liturgy, November 27
December
- BLSU Alumni Reunion, December 8
January 2023
- Young Alumni New Year’s Brunch with President Regan P’12 & Principal Lewis P’28 for the Classes of ’19, ’20, ’21, ’22, January 4, 2023 (registration opens soon!)
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BC Hire: Career Connections
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BC Hire Career Connections has become a terrific program for our young alumni. This year, we have welcomed back alumni speakers to in-person luncheons for our current students as well. These programs help strengthen the alumni network and set BC High apart from other schools.
BC Hire Career Connections supports BC High’s current students and young alumni in securing meaningful summer jobs and internships, laying the groundwork for career success. Many of these internship opportunities are provided by the powerful BC High Alumni Network and our highly engaged parent community, while others are offered by firms in Greater Boston.
For more information, contact Kenny Delino '16, Assistant Director of Alumni Relations, kdelino@bchigh.edu or visit the BC Hire page.
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Order Your Eagles Gear Today!
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Get your Eagles gear today. Order online through our school store. Choose from any one of our teams, co-curriculars, or alumni gear. We are pleased to offer a wide selection for our whole community!
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| Boston College High School | 617.474.5001 | www.bchigh.edu
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