October 18, 2012
Earlier today as I was preparing some remarks to share with faculty and staff, I found myself focusing on the essence of what we do as a group of people dedicated to young people.
We are in the hope business.
The past few weeks here on campus have been frantic as the fall always seems to be. My colleagues believe in our students and they give their all to make good things happen for them. Bob Handler and Pat Gittings worked with student leadership to put on a lively, positive Spirit Week, Battle of the Classes, Pep Rally, and Homecoming Dance. Emmy McNamara launched the Raffle Drive in her inimitable style (anyone who can get teenagers excited about selling raffle tickets has a special gift). Kevin Collins and Emmy have struck on a winning formula for Open House. This past Monday, Campus Minister Tony Tamberino and Chaplain Fr. Barry Gross helped us catch our collective breath during the annual Faculty and Staff Retreat at the Shrine of St. Anthony in Ellicott City.
The energy, commitment, and creativity of my colleagues are reminders of the fundamental optimism that drives our enterprise. Working in a school means we are dreamers – we see in every boy the man and in every girl the woman. We get to imagine possibilities every day. I'll admit, there is the occasional child that puts us to the test. But, working in education rests on a profound belief in the ability to turn potential into reality. These days, and in my role, that belief even extends to the grassy area between the small gym and the music classrooms. I can picture a beautiful Performing Arts Center. In short, we believe the future we desire for our school is attainable.
On a related note, many of you who read this blog will have just received a letter announcing Tom Campbell as our new principal to start July 1, 2013. Tom was here for Open House last Sunday in two roles: as our next instructional leader and as a parent of an incoming freshman. He was able to observe a school that promotes a high degree of engagement and that inspires confidence among parents. We look forward to Tom's arrival. Our teachers and students will benefit from his rich vision of what a Good Counsel education can be.
With Tom, I look forward to many years of sustaining the legacy of the Founder of the Xaverian Brothers at Our Lady of Good Counsel High School. Ryken sought to build community, a place where the Brothers would mutually help, encourage, and edify one another, and work together. We may be more than 170 years apart, but like Theodore James Ryken, we are in the hope business.