Issue 06 / October 7, 2025

In This Issue

Greetings!

At some point soon, I will share more about my recent decision, communicated to everyone last week by our Board Chair, Peter Tremblay. For this week, I felt the call to offer this brief reflection on grandparents — and on the deep emotional connection so many of us have as grandchildren and grandparents.

While the images noted here are personal, I sense there is something universal about the memories we have of those we call nana, papa, grammy, grampie, nonna, nonno, abuela, abuelo, and more. I invite all of us to take a few minutes to recall those memories — and to be grateful for the gift and the grace of the grandparents (and all the grandparent-like people) in our lives.

Blessings on your day! Go Crusaders!

Take care. Tom.

Our First F.I.R.S.T.'s

Fenwick F.I.R.S.T. Honorees

We are proud to celebrate two outstanding students who embody the values of Faith, Integrity, Relationship, Scholarship, and Tradition in all they do.

Sophomore Rose Frazier ’28 has quickly become a leader in our community. In only her second year at Fenwick, she has embraced every opportunity with energy and enthusiasm. A class representative for Drama Club, she is known for her warmth, positivity, and welcoming spirit toward all. Rose excels academically in honors and AP courses, while also showing leadership, people skills, and a deep commitment to Fenwick traditions. Her character and integrity shine through in her everyday actions, making her a truly deserving recipient of Fenwick FIRST.

Junior Tessa Peterman ’27 demonstrates the best of Fenwick’s values. Her faith is evident in the way she reaches out to others, always including and supporting those around her. She shows integrity by learning from challenges, valuing feedback, and striving for growth. Through her relationships, she builds genuine connections, caring deeply for both peers and teachers. In scholarship, she gives her best each day, seeking out learning opportunities with intellectual curiosity. And in tradition, she actively contributes to Fenwick life, including her leadership in the Outdoors Club.

Together, Rose and Tessa remind us of what it means to live Fenwick FIRST. Congratulations to both on this well-earned recognition!

Crusaders Giving Back

Stride for Freedom 5K

Stride for Freedom is a student-initiated nonprofit organization dedicated to raising awareness and support for survivors of domestic abuse. Through community outreach, educational initiatives, and an annual 5K, these students aim to inspire action and to generate meaningful funds that directly impact those in need.

This year’s 5K charity run will take place on Saturday, October 11, 2025, at 4:30pm at Bishop Fenwick High School. All funds will be donated to Healing Abuse Working for Change (HAWC), an organization that creates social change by addressing personal and societal patterns of violence and oppression.

HAWC provides critical services to survivors of domestic abuse across 23 cities and towns on Massachusetts’ North Shore, helping them make informed, independent decisions about their futures. Learn more at hawcdv.org.

Our message is simple but powerful: we run for change—standing with Survivors, rebuilding Trust, supporting the journey of Recovery, helping others Identify abuse, encouraging all to Defy violence, and working together to Empower every voice. Join us as we STRIDE for freedom and run for change. Sign up or donate through the link below or at strideforfreedom.org.

Stride for Freedom Registration

HAWC Guest Speaker

In advance of this weekend's Stride for Freedom 5K, Fenwick Connect welcomed Amanda Lane as a guest speaker. Ms. Lane is an Education Specialist at HAWC (Healing Abuse, Working for Change), the organization the 5k is running in support of. She spoke with students about the importance of healthy relationships, proper boundaries, genuine consent, and supporting one another. She shared sobering statistics—nearly 1.5 million teens nationwide experience dating violence each year—and reminded our community no one is ever alone, and every survivor deserves to be believed. Students were challenged to foster kindness, respect, and accountability in their daily interactions and to take an active role in creating a safe, supportive Fenwick community. The program concluded with an invitation to join and support this weekend’s student-organized 5K event, showing that every student has the power to make a difference right now.

Breast Cancer Awareness

Fenwick’s Field Hockey team took to the field last night with more than a game on their minds—they played in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness. Sporting pink and filled with spirit, the team not only competed with heart but also rallied the community around an important cause. Thanks to the generosity of families, friends, and fans, their bake sale raised over $1,000. The proceeds will be donated to a breast cancer charity of the team’s choosing, ensuring their efforts make a meaningful impact beyond the field. It was a night that showcased Crusader pride, teamwork, and a commitment to serving others.

PSAT Information

Tomorrow you will all receive an email with more specific information regarding next Wednesday's Testing Day schedule. In advance, the following is specifically for Grade 10 and 11 students:

The College Board has redesigned the PSAT/NMSQT and it is in an entirely digital format. Students must bring to school that day their own laptops, on which they have pre-loaded the proper Bluebook software.

Grade 10 and 11 students should go to bluebook.collegeboard.org/students on their testing device to download Bluebook. Please install Bluebook by October 10 to allow time to address any technical related issues. The download page will detect your device type and provide the right file.

If you have any problem installing Bluebook please contact Mr. Flynn. It is imperative that the laptop be fully charged. Please note that the software cannot run on a Chromebook.

With Gratitude

To the SAC Leaders and Faculty Chaperones for a Fantastic Homecoming Dance!

To the Advancement Department, which welcomed hundreds of alumni, parents, friends, and families to campus for Homecoming. It was a beautiful day full of food, football, and friends!

To the students who represented Fenwick incredibly well at recent school visits and fairs. Thank you to Sarah Perkins ’29, Katie Perkins ’29, Tyler Connolly ’26, Kyleigh Pidgeon ’27, Kayla Kolodziej ’29, Tristan Giles ’26, Grady Butler ’27, and Samantha Kalayjian ’29. We also thank those Crusaders who hosted students for our first Friday @ Fenwick last week!

Blood Drive Success

A heartfelt thank you to the Fenwick Red Cross Club for organizing an incredibly successful Blood Drive last week! Special kudos go to student leaders Julia Davis ’26 and Rakshitha Saravanakumar ’26, along with their dedicated moderator Mrs. Good, for their outstanding efforts in bringing this event to life.

Their commitment and leadership helped make a meaningful impact on our community. Below is a note of appreciation they received directly from the American Red Cross—a reminder of the real difference Fenwick students make when they put service and leadership into action.

Good Morning my Favorite Red Cross Club!!!

Just a quick note of appreciation for the successful blood drive you organized and executed! The effort and energy you all displayed were inspiring and very much appreciated – as were the pizza and fries!

Thank you, Bishop Fenwick Red Cross Club, for stepping up during this critical time. We welcomed 20 first-time donors! 36 total units were collected! Together, your life-saving gift will help over 100 patients! AMAZING!

Again, thank you ALL for your ongoing support. You are a true reflection of the Fenwick spirit and of the “service before self” mantra!

Tony Borelli, Donor Recruitment

Encounter IV

This fall, we have our Encounter IV retreat. The goal of “The Encounter” retreat is to rediscover the reasonableness and the joy of the Encounter with the person of Jesus Christ. Through prayer, witnesses and a shared common life, retreatants will be able to recognize Christ’s presence as relevant to their human experience. The Encounter retreat is one of the most impactful and popular programs we run through Campus Ministry. To sign up or learn more click this link or email Mr. Carney (rc@fenwick.org)!