We are back at it! Our students returned to full-time classes at CRSM this month. At last, the building is full again instead only a subsection of students per day. For our first day we scheduled a late start to the Corporate Work Study Program so that we could hold our traditional all-school assembly. There are only two days in … Read More
July President’s Pen: An Interview with Preston Kendall
We Are CR: Preston Kendall In celebration of Cristo Rey’s 25th anniversary, “We Are CR” profiles will feature interviews with some of the many people who helped shape Cristo Rey Jesuit High School since its doors opened in 1996. Preston Kendall was part of the founding leadership team for Cristo Rey Jesuit High School in 1996. As Executive Vice … Read More
June President’s Pen: Marking significant endings and beginnings
June at CRSM marks significant endings and beginnings. No sooner did we say goodbye to the class of 2021 at an in-person graduation – the first in our new gym – than we greeted our incoming 9th graders to their first week of training and assessments for the Corporate Work Study Program. In some ways, it felt like we were … Read More
May President’s Pen: “At the end of the graduation ceremony we ‘mission’ our students with a final blessing.”
We held an in-person graduation this past Saturday – the first in our new gym! Thank goodness we now have a gym because, with new CDC guidelines and appropriate distancing, the space was large enough to accommodate four guests for each senior. We also live-streamed the event so other family members not in attendance could view the ceremony from home. … Read More
April President’s Pen: “You can cut all the flowers but you cannot keep spring from coming.”
On May 1 we will hold our annual Founders’ Dinner. The event will be virtual and last just over 20 minutes – but those minutes are jampacked – we have alumni, students, and others sharing uplifting stories. Fr. John P. Foley, SJ will also be joining us since 2021 marks the 25th anniversary of the Cristo Rey movement; the silver … Read More
March President’s Pen: A Time for Hope
This week we modified our school schedule to allow students two full days per week of in-person instruction for the remainder of the school year. Freshmen and Sophomores responded very favorably to the expansion with about 60% and 62% respectively opting to come in; the response from Juniors (34%) and Seniors (16%) was a bit more disappointing. Someone asked, “Can’t … Read More
February President’s Pen: Once in a While, Blessed with Grace
Every once in a while I have been blessed with an experience of Grace – a momentary sense of God being present in the here and now. Something like that happened at CRSM a couple weeks ago when we cohosted with Jewel-Osco our second COVID vaccine drive on our campus. After helping nearly 1,200 at our initial event, this day … Read More
January President’s Pen: Cristo Rey’s Baptismal Vows
In January 1996, my first day of work at a new job was the press conference that announced the Jesuits would be opening a new and unique college prep high school in the Pilsen neighborhood of Chicago. Fr. John Foley, SJ; Sr. Judy Murphy, OSB; and I sat at the table while the Jesuit Provincial announced the planned opening of … Read More
December President’s Pen: Goodbye, 2020.
Goodbye, 2020, and don’t let the door hit you on the way out! With the first vaccines now starting to be distributed and more approvals on the way, 2021 is certainly shaping up to be a much better year – full of hope and promise. But let’s face it, 2020 set the bar pretty darn low for 2021. Just thinking … Read More
November President’s Pen: We have a great team, problem-solving while responding to what our students and community need.
If you could point to one month out of the year that epitomizes Cristo Rey St. Martin, it must be November. No month better defines who we are as a school community. November begins with the Feast of St. Martin de Porres and ends with the Feast of Cristo Rey. Both celebrations focus on creating a different and better world. … Read More