As a high school administrator, few things are more rewarding than seeing your seniors walk toward you in their caps and gowns and being able to hand them their diplomas. It is a privilege I often feel I don’t deserve because this annual ritual represents the culmination of so much work by so many other people. While the students themselves … Read More
May President’s Pen: On being part of something bigger that is growing every day
Some mornings are better than others. A woman whom I worked with on the West side of Chicago whenever she was asked, “How are you?” would inevitably respond, “I’m blessed that I woke up this morning and was in my right mind.” If you have ever worked in a high school in May, then you know exactly what she means! … Read More
April President’s Pen: Celebrating new beginnings
On April 22, 2017 we held our annual Founders’ Dinner and it was a wonderful success. For people who couldn’t be there, I thought I would share (as closely as I can recollect) what I said before introducing a new video about our school, called “Cristo Rey: Cornerstone of a Community.” Happy Spring! Happy Easter! What a great evening. We … Read More
March President’s Pen: At the Intersection of Faith and Action
Last week when one of our students tweeted, “My bowl turned out so much better than I hoped!” several of us at CRSM knew exactly what she was talking about. Our Campus Ministry office was originally the second floor landing for a back stairway. It’s an oddly shaped affair slightly bigger than most other workplaces on campus and is increasingly … Read More
February President’s Pen: When the Holy Spirit Slaps Me Upside the Head
We held our second round of admissions interviews last week. Parents or guardians are divided from students and each is interviewed separately. At times it can be very revealing about the level of parental participation when one doesn’t know their own child’s favorite subject or cannot elaborate on any school activities in which their student participates. On the other hand, … Read More
January President’s Pen: CRSM Students Hope that, “America will be!”
Cristo Rey St. Martin and the American Dream are nearly synonymous. In fact, I wouldn’t be surprised if photos of our students and their parents were the first things that appeared when you looked up “The American Dream” in Wikipedia. Our students come from hard working families determined to pull themselves up and provide a better life for their children. … Read More
President’s Pen: Celebrating the CRSM Spirit of Giving and Generosity
The last day of finals and all through the school People were prepping for a wonderful Yule. The Work Study drivers return from their routes Their students depart amid laughter and shouts. Some teachers remain, still posting their grades As the last bit of daylight gradually fades. A food pantry trip, the last this semester, Is Campus Ministry’s parting, unselfish … Read More
November President’s Pen: Thankful for all of You
As I write, it is the Wednesday afternoon before Thanksgiving and things at CRSM have quieted. The students are gone, some faculty and staff have already slipped away for the holiday, others are gathering their things or finishing up last minute tasks. What a gift to be able to reflect for a moment on all that goes on at CRSM! … Read More
October President’s Pen: Hope is the Opposite of Poverty
Lake Bluff, Lake Forest, Mettawa, Vernon Hills, Libertyville… Who wouldn’t want to live in these safe, stable communities with great amenities and terrific schools? Many of us live in these places and are raising our families there. Not far away. In fact, closer than you might think; right in our own backyards, the situation is dramatically and tragically different. In … Read More
September President’s Pen: Celebrating a new beginning, plans to move to new “home”
On September 19, 2016 we unveiled the first phase plans for our new campus and new location. We are targeting January 2018 for moving in. A small group of donors, board members and friends joined us that sunny morning. Here are my notes of what was said: “Good morning and what a glorious morning it is! I am Preston Kendall, … Read More