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Dear Prep Parents and Guardians:

Prep Principal, Michael Gomez

Greetings from 17th and Girard, and with the addition of Jesuit Hall, greetings from 18th and Thompson as well! With the Pre-8th and Pre-9th Programs, high school full credit, enrichment and make-up courses, and the new Camp Magis program, our campus was certainly full of life after Commencement Weekend in early June. During those Commencement Exercises, I had the opportunity to thank Rev.

William J. Byron, S.J. for his generosity of time, presence, and spirit as president of St. Joseph’s Prep. It was a privilege to serve with him. On behalf of the school community, I presented him with an Ade Bethune print of a young, strong, hardworking St. Joseph. This idea of Joseph twirls in my mind as I begin this letter to you. In so many ways, he is an example of the type of man we are trying to form at the Prep—a strong, hardworking, humble man who responds to the call of God, strives to lead with love, and understands the importance of family. It is with these great hopes that I begin this school year.

While experiencing the youthful energy in the building this summer, I also enjoyed the opportunity to expand our faculty and watch the expansion of our academic facility. In our efforts to continue to decrease class size, I am excited to share that we have added two full-time teaching positions and have converted three part-time positions to full-time. More details on new faculty positions and construction are contained in this newsletter, but I feel it is important to let you know that while we expect the new classroom floors in Jesuit Hall and the Dining Hall to be ready for the opening of school, the entire construction project will not be complete. Though there may be some minor inconveniences, I am quite confident that great teaching and learning will certainly take place. At our student orientations, the students will learn about the new addition and how we will proceed during the final weeks of construction.

As has been the case since the beginning of this construction project, I thank you and your sons for your patience and cooperation as we deal with these potential inconveniences that may come our way in September. But let’s remember that it is also a time to celebrate. The addition of Jesuit Hall is a remarkable moment in St. Joseph’s Prep history - the first major academic expansion since our current building was completed in 1968. I feel blessed to be here and to share it with you.

The facilities and faculty were not the only areas that experienced expansion this summer - we also increased our summer service opportunities, adding new trips to Alabama, New Mexico, and Australia while increasing the number of trips to sites we have visited in the past. When our faculty, staff, and students return from these service trips, they are typically filled with excitement and gratitude for their time spent for and with others. One teacher described her experience to me in a letter: “My trip was altogether shocking. The land, the people, the rich spiritual life of the Navajo - the beauty of each shattered any expectations I had and introduced me to an even more powerful way of living, believing, and praying.” Experiences like this one, which bring the magis to life, inspire us and help us to recognize the tremendous power found in service and reflection.

As always, several important items are explained in this newsletter and are included in this mailing. I ask you to please give them your attention.

I write this letter to you just a few weeks before the first day of school. While for me this is usually a time filled with excitement and anticipation, this year it is tinged with sadness. In the last two weeks, I have attended the funerals of three members of our community - a mother of two incoming Prep students, a beloved coach, and a legendary teacher and alumnus. The outpouring of support and love from the Prep community was tremendous. At each funeral, in one way or another, I thought about the extraordinariness of life as well as its brevity. In those moments, I could not help but think of my daughter, Tessa, and how much I desire to be present for and with her so I can witness her extraordinariness - whether it be in her first steps or in her constant smile. While your sons are well-beyond first steps, their lives continue to be extraordinary. I feel privileged and humbled to be a part of their lives here at the Prep.

I close this letter with a warm welcome to Rev. George Bur, S.J ’59, our new president. After working with him for just a few weeks, his care for our young men and this community is already quite apparent. I look forward to the community welcoming him when the school year begins. Much peace to you and your family during these final days of summer.

- Mr. Michael Gomez