As the newest member of the Jesuit High School community, it is an honor to welcome you to the start of the new school year.  I suspect that, like me, you are reading this with a bit of nervousness, perhaps even with a glance at your calendars and tallying exactly how many days, hours, minutes and seconds you have left in your summer break.

There will be plenty of time this semester for us to meet in person and for me to hear your stories, and for you to hear mine.  For now, please know that I am more excited than nervous, eager to see the sidewalks and hallways coursing with the energy of students, faculty, and staff.  

After you finish scrolling through the rest of this email and possibly feeling overwhelmed by all the “stuff” that still has to happen in these waning days, hours, minutes, and seconds of summer, please take a moment to read this poem by the late Irish poet/philosopher John O’Donohue, “For a New Beginning.”  The poem reminds me that the start of the new school year is imbued with a spirit of adventure, a spirit that would have made St. Ignatius giddy with excitement.  With some bit of grace and courage, we might be able to accept the invitation in the poem’s last stanza:

“Awaken your spirit to adventure;
Hold nothing back, learn to find ease in risk;
Soon you will be home in a new rhythm,
For your soul senses the world that awaits you.”

Welcome to all that awaits you at Jesuit this year!  See you soon!

Peace,

Chris
President Chris Alling

QUICK LINKS:

• Previous Weekly Updates
• Collaboration Calendar, Community Period Calendar
• Main Calendar online, downloadable, linkable

8/14 – 8/18: upcoming Bell Schedule at-a-glance