On clutter
October 22, 2013There's something especially satisfying about leaving the office late on a Friday afternoon with the desk clear and the Inbox empty, at least for a while. Despite ongoing resolutions to...
View ArticleOn three thinkers about change
November 6, 2013This posting is an adaptation of a speech made at the National Honor Society Induction Ceremony on November 5, 2013For me, these last three or four days have been a time for processing...
View ArticleOn some of the activity you never hear about
November 20, 2013This posting is a laundry list of activity taking place in various clubs around campus. It captures the energy, curiosity, and talent that our students bring to school life outside of...
View ArticleOn enduring personal relationships
December 6, 2013Last night, I attended for the third year in a row, the annual Christmas get-together held by the Class of '76.It's far from an elaborate affair – meatballs, chicken wings, pizza, and...
View ArticleOn gossip
January 8, 2014There's a lot of buzz for the Holy Father these days. It seems hardly a day goes by without a photo or article popping up on my Facebook account featuring some new way the Pope has...
View ArticleOn students presenting to the Board
February 4, 2014Over the last year or so, we have been paying a lot of attention to improving the process of our board meetings – getting through the more routine aspects efficiently so that there is...
View ArticleOn a full week of school
March 3, 2014The haggard look. The gasping for air. The shuffling walk. It's not just the cold that has worn down our students, faculty and staff. Last Friday we completed our first five-day,...
View ArticleOn prodigious talent
March 25, 2014When discussing the novel The Great Gatsby with students, one line that always seemed to make an impact was Fitzgerald's description of Tom Buchanan: "one of those men who reach such an...
View ArticleOn three Baltimore Orioles
May 9, 2014I spent the first five days of May on the road, visiting with alumni in four cities in Texas. I got home in the wee hours of May 6th and was in something of a fog just a few hours later...
View ArticleOn taking good counsel
May 27, 2014The following is excerpted from my address at Commencement on May 22, 2014Class of 2014, if I have any advice for you, it’s take some advice. Through all the rest of your life, may you be...
View ArticleOn Father Barry
June 11, 2014The following is an adaptation of remarks made at the Prayer Service for Father Barry Gross held in the Kane Center on June 10, 2014. A week ago last Friday, with the end of the school...
View ArticleClik here to view.
On a chance encounter
August 12, 2014I have loved horse racing since I was a boy and it is now part of the vacation routine for my wife and me to take in a long weekend each summer at America’s most beautiful racecourse in...
View ArticleOn the first day of school for a GC freshman
August 28, 2014Tuesday was the first day school was in session for all students.I was able to observe students in a number of settings throughout that day and it set me to wondering what goes through...
View ArticleOn compassion
September 8, 2014This blog posting is adapted from my remarks to the student body at the Opening Mass of the school year on Friday, September 5, 2014While we were all relaxing this summer, it seemed...
View ArticleOn YOPA and the public launch of the Performing Arts Campaign
September 29, 2014YOPA! YOPA!Easy to exclaim, two syllables, a satisfying balance, YO – PA. Our students picked up on that early – YOPA! – with enthusiasm and maybe the occasional touch of sarcasm....
View ArticleOn hosting a high school party and declining to go downstairs
October 15, 2014Yesterday, nationally renowned speaker on drug abuse and retired DEA agent, Bob Stutman was on campus. Bob is 70 yet he approached his day with us with a vigor that many of us envy.He...
View ArticleOn being a hero
11/07/2014The following is an adapted version of a reflection offered at the National Honor Society Induction Ceremony on November 6, 2014This time last week I was in Chicago, meeting up with family to...
View ArticleOn going global
January 30, 2015Earlier this week, I sent a letter to parents and another to students letting them know that Our Lady of Good Counsel High School has launched a Global Programs initiative. As part of...
View ArticleOn resilience
February 18, 2015 – Ash WednesdayLast week, I attended a breakfast meeting where the guest speaker began with one of those “Kids today…” pronouncements. We’ve all heard them.The speaker, however, was...
View ArticleOn St. Joseph
March 19, 2015 – Solemnity of St. JosephIt’s St. Joseph’s Day today. Having celebrated St. Patrick two days ago, the contrast of how people engage with the two saints is hard to miss. Public revelry in...
View Article