Cardinal Connection - 2021-2022 by BishopIretonHS

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on the cover

Cambridge the Cardinal, Molly McNichol ‘23, Connor McNutt ‘22, Callie Rieder ‘22, Bradley Klinck ‘22, Annabelle Dreher ‘22

BI S HOP I R ETON 2021-2022 BOA R D OF GOV ERNORS Mr. Martin Marinoff, Jr. ‘68 - Chair Mr. John Riley ‘77 - Vice Chair Mrs. Barbara Dalmut - Secretary Mr. James Barker Mrs. Michaelin Kastantin Barsness SMA ‘87 Mr. Dan Blaine ’03 Deacon Malcolm D’Souza ’84 Dr. Melissa Deichmann Evans Mr. Scott Fedder ‘76 Mr. Joseph Ferguson, Jr. ‘87 Rev. Edward Hathaway, Rector, The Basilica of Saint Mary Mrs. Nkem Konkwo Mr. Brian McVay Mrs. Jane Pisano Mrs. Meghan Roberts Mrs. Kathleen McNutt SMA ’87, Head of School Dr. Joseph E. Vorbach, Superintendent of Schools, Diocese of Arlington

S E NI O R AD MI NI S T R AT IO N Mrs. Kathleen McNutt, Head of School Dr. Timothy Guy, Principal Rev. Noah Morey, Chaplain and Campus Ministry Director Mr. Dwayne Bryant, Athletics Director Mr. Chris Gilliland, Advancement Director Mrs. Nicole Mahon, Admissions Director Mr. Joshua Goldman, Communications and Marketing Director Mrs. Lisa Ring, Finance Director Mrs. Lonnell Battle, Assistant Principal, Dean of Academics Dr. Jane Hannon, Assistant Principal, Dean of Faculty Mr. Jonathan Pressimone, Assistant Principal for Student Life Ms. J-Lynn Van Pelt, Special Services Director Mr. Milton Powell, Diversity Director

CONTENTS 02

40 42 Cardinal Connection is published once a year by the Of fice of the Head of School for alumni, students, families and friends of Bishop Ireton High School and St. Mar y’s Academy. For comments and sug gestions, or to request a copy of Cardinal Connection, please send an email to communications@bishopireton.org.

CARDINA L CO N N ECTI O N Mr. Joshua Goldman, Editor and Head Writer Ms. Kaitlyn McNutt, Creative Director Contributing writers and photographers : Kathleen McNut t, Timothy Guy, Chris Gilliland, Ryan Fannon, Milton Powell, Raiza Vega- Candelario, Zoey Maraist, Billy Sabatini Photography, Lifetouch Photography

In the Catholic tradition and in the spirit of St. Francis de Sales, Bishop Ireton High School is a college preparator y high school that promotes spiritual, intellectual, creative, social and physical development. Bishop Ireton High School 201 Cambridge Road Alexandria, VA 22314 www.bishopireton.org

As a Salesian community of learning and ser vice, Bishop Ireton High School prepares and inspires students to Advance Always with a Christ-centered focus to meet and surpass current and future global challenges.

LETTER FROM THE

Head of School

Just a year ago, Bishop Ireton High School, like so many schools across the nation, was navigating new ways of learning and teaching amidst the unknowns of the pandemic. We discovered new words for educational connection: hybrid schedule, synchronous instruction, concurrent classroom and virtual learning. We experienced how social distancing created challenges in connection, particularly with the needs for mental wellness, and we explored new and creative ways to engage in student life, STEM, Humanities, the Arts, clubs and athletics. Despite the many challenges, we learned time and time again that the goodness of the Bishop Ireton community, the strength of its curriculum, the dynamic excellence of its faculty, and the richness of its Christcentered, Salesian charism remain ever-present on Cambridge Road, bonding years of connection for all who walk the halls of Bishop Ireton. Here we are, a year later, still learning, growing and connecting in new ways as the pandemic continues. While ever-changing protocols and health and safety procedures keep us on our toes, they have not prevented us from providing the faith-filled, high school experience for our students. An on-campus graduation in May, the full return of students to campus in the fall, a vibrant Homecoming Spirit Week and Dance, Kairos and class retreats, school plays and concerts and athletics in full swing have demonstrated both our spirit and our resilience. “Cardinal connection” has become more than a catch phrase (and more than the title of this magazine!)—it has become the motivation for how we best meet student needs. As our students learn through the current global challenges, they become our hope for better Cardinal connection in the future, and from what I witness on a daily basis, that future is bright! I feel extremely blessed to be the Head of School at Bishop Ireton. This school has educated my husband, brother-in-law, my siblings and my five children. In fact, my youngest child graduates this coming May, making him the tenth Ireton graduate in our family. I am a proud St. Mary’s Academy graduate. My time at BI has reinforced my knowledge that Bishop Ireton not only embraces its SMA connection, but it also works hard to make sure that my high school and its graduates will live on in Alexandria throughout the hallways, in the archives and through ongoing connection to her graduates. What a unique story we have to tell, and what a gift this history is for all of our students and alumni. Whether you remain connected to us as a current family, alumni family or community friend, we hope that this issue of Cardinal Connection provides you with the opportunity to reflect upon your time at Bishop Ireton High School and St. Mary’s Academy and the people who made an impact on your life while you were here. I look forward to our connection in the year ahead as we Advance Always with hope and faith. Live Jesus,

Kathleen F. McNutt Head of School

“Cardinal connection” has become more than a catch phrase (and more than the title of this magazine!)— it has become the motivation for how we best meet student needs.

LETTER FROM THE

I’m delighted to serve as the newly appointed principal of Bishop Ireton this year. Thank you for the warm welcome I have received from so many in our community. My time in education began more than thirty years ago when I began teaching math at Archbishop Carroll High School. I am honored to call myself an alum of Mount St. Mary’s University (BS), The University of Virginia (MEd) and Virginia Tech (PhD). When I completed my doctoral studies, I began working with the Education Leadership program at Virginia Tech. In 2018, I entertained the idea of returning to Catholic school as a math teacher and soon arrived at Bishop Ireton. I quickly felt a strong “Cardinal Connection” of my own. I had an affinity to the students, my colleagues, the community, the Salesian spirituality and our mission as a Catholic college preparatory school to “prepare and inspire students to Advance Always with a Christ-centered focus.” This year has not been without challenges. The specter of Covid continues as we move forward with full-time, 5-day a week, in-person instruction, on campus for all students. Our sense of community continues to strengthen us as we rally in the face of change and uncertainty. Within that context, we aspire to live the mottos of “Live Jesus” and “Advance Always” and hence, move forward with a focus on continuous improvement to preserve and enhance our instructional program. And we find that despite the challenges, we are continuing to grow and thrive. One example of our program thriving is the Distinguished Scholars Program which launched last school year and that builds on the foundation of our core curriculum. The program challenges students to stretch even further with a focus in STEM, Fine Arts or the Humanities. Likewise, our AP classes and Dual Enrollment (DE) classes offer opportunities for students to engage in challenging, college level curriculum that demand students demonstrate sophistication in analysis, research and writing and serve well as a preparation for college and for providing a competitive edge in the college search process. The development and rise of our Special Services programs that sprouted during the pandemic is further evidence of our successful growth and evolution. To support students as they face the increasing rigors of the ever-expanding academic program and to meet the diverse needs of learners, we have a wealth of programs and centers attended to by our faculty to ensure students have access to assistance throughout the school day. These include a continuation of the math help center, the word-write shop and the co-lab. In addition, we have an expanded testing center throughout the day and a brand-new wellness center. Truthfully, the title “Cardinal Connection” could be used for more than just this publication. It is our connections to this place and this community that habitually rates as our key strength. My joy in serving as principal stems from my association with the faculty, students and families that make up our community. Bishop Ireton is grounded in generations of tradition and it simultaneously evolves and grows with the addition of new faces and new ideas. It is indeed our “Cardinal Connection” that enables us to live up to the motto to “Advance Always.” God Bless,

Dr. Tim Guy

The Bishop Ireton Annual Fund

THANK YOU! Thanks to the generosity of our community, Bishop Ireton celebrated the most successful Annual Fund year in the history of our school and we are extremely grateful for the support of our donors. Their investment in our school allows Bishop Ireton to provide the highest quality Catholic education possible and ensures the future of the School for generations to come.

Safety Needs |Teacher Professional Development | Catholic Education | Upgrades inacilities F | Advancements in STEM, Education & Technology

$559, 04 1946 994 Total Raised Gifts

Total Donors

We strive to keep tuition affordable so that the Bishop Ireton experience remains accessible to all. Nevertheless, tuition covers only around 80% of the actual cost to educate our Cardinals (approximately $2,225 per student). Annual fund gifts help to close the “gap” between tuition revenue and total cost.

ALUMNI Q & A

With the Byrnes Family “The Byrnes family—Chris, Jim, Brad and Creighton—has been a part of the Bishop Ireton and St. Mary’s Academy community for more than five decades. In addition to Chris (SMA ‘71) and her sons Brad (‘98) and Creighton (‘01), Chris and her husband Jim live just a stone’s throw from campus.” Chris can you describe the feelings you had recently when you celebrated your SMA Class of 1971, 50-year reunion both at Bishop Ireton and on Russell Road throughout the entire reunion weekend? The entire SMA reunion weekend was a blast! It was hard to believe how quickly the weekend came and went. It was an incredible amount of planning and coordinating but well worth the committee’s time. It was fun to have Zoom meetings to plan with the Ireton and SMA ’71 Reunion Committee throughout the year, too. Friday night’s event at Ireton provided the best kick-off to the weekend. Seeing classmates from both the 1970 and 1971 BI/ SMA classes made it even more fun. It was very gracious of Ireton to host the Friday event and the (inaugural) patio venue was perfect. Ireton always encourages SMA to use their facilities for our reunions and the annual SMA tea, which we are hopeful will return in 2022. Saturday, we were very fortunate for our class to hold our SMA evening event at the old SMA building on Russell Road. Classmates were free to wander around looking in their former classrooms and walk the hallowed hallways, conjuring up memories from our high school years. Classmates were able to join us from all over the coun-

try. For at least one classmate, it was her very first SMA reunion. We also had one of our teachers, Libbye Montgomery, join us again for this reunion. It was at this event that we were able to present a check for more than $3,000 to the Wendi Winters Memorial Foundation in honor of our fallen hero classmate, Wendi Winters, who was murdered three years ago. Wendi’s daughter was present to receive the check on behalf of the Foundation. The three hours passed far too quickly. Chris and Jim, you live only one block away from Bishop Ireton. Can you describe, from your family’s perspective, the growth BI has experienced over the last few decades with all of the exciting renovations and construction? The most dramatic change for BI occurred in the fall of 1990 when Saint Mary’s Academy closed and BI became a coed Catholic High School overnight. The immediate challenge for BI was the fact that the existing parking lot could no longer accommodate the significant increase in the demand for student parking and the overflow parking demand swamped the surrounding neighborhood. It took a year or so but students finally found off campus parking several blocks from BI. The Byrneses did our part to help with the demand for off-campus parking by negotiating with our neighbor to

allow unrestricted parking next to our property (which accommodated about 10 cars) while the rest of the street/neighbors enjoyed restricted parking. To this day (31 years later), BI kids know that those 10 spaces are still there, if you want to arrive by 6:45 am! When we were moving from our first house off of Russell Road (1986), we found this wonderful rundown house on Cambridge Road and thought it would be a great house to fix up and raise our two boys, Bradley and Creighton (at the time 6 and 3), which just happened to be one block from the Catholic high school. After attending St. Mary’s Elementary School both Bradley and Creighton attended and graduated from BI. The nice thing about being one block from BI is the ease of attending all the athletic and cultural events that occur throughout the year. Not that we were sports junkies but whenever the urge hit, we could wander down and find a comfy seat in the bleachers (indoors or outside) even after the boys moved on to college.

The recent major construction of the new addition and renovations throughout the existing building were of little impact to the neighborhood. BI’s construction management team, in concert with the contractor, seemed to keep a lid on disruption to the neighborhood (much to Pete Davey’s credit). The direct benefit to the Byrneses was that any time the grandkids came to visit we always had to take a ride in the big red wagon down to the “struction” (as the grandkids called it). Brad, what was it like to graduate from Bishop Ireton and then come back and coach the Cross Country Program? Shortly after I graduated from Ireton, I knew that I wanted to come back and get involved with coaching cross country, track or both. I didn’t care if it was as an assistant, as head coach or even as an unpaid volunteer. I just wanted to get involved with the program somehow. The reason I wanted to coach at Ireton was to give back to the school and the sport that gave me an identity and a

Byrnes Family

Creighton Byrnes

SMA Class of 1971 50-Year Reunion

Brad Byrnes

purpose as a teenager. When I arrived as a skinny, awkward freshman in the fall of 1994, I think I had tried every sport, but nothing was really working, and I had lost interest in most extracurricular activities. On a whim, I joined the track team in the spring of 1996 because I had a few friends on the team but I didn’t expect much to come from it. I managed some mediocre results and my friends suggested that I join cross country in the fall. The rest is history. I found my niche during the 1996/1997 school year and it was a moment that would transform my life for the better. The camaraderie and the simple joy of running that I discovered while part of the cross country and track team made me want to come back and produce the same type of atmosphere as a coach. I feel that many Ireton student-athletes got to experience the same joy that I did when I finally found my niche and that was one of the most rewarding aspects of coaching

“The reason I wanted to coach at Ireton was to give back to the school and the sport that gave me an identity and a purpose as a teenager.” at this school. We have had some amazing athletes over the years. But I also got to see students become amazing leaders while others found a safe, rewarding atmosphere that allowed them to grow socially, physically and spiritually. I think coaching also taught me the value of patience. While I will always be a work in progress regarding patience, coaching taught me that if you want to be successful as a team leader, coach, administrator, etc. you have to slow down, step back and tend to issues as they arise. If you have a large team, you’re going to have so many different perspectives, personalities and solutions

that you really have to listen to everyone’s concerns and ideas. This has definitely helped me with my two young boys at home! Lastly, the memories that were made over the course of my coaching tenure at Ireton have really enhanced my life and I’ll always have them to look back on and smile. When I see so many of our former student-athletes out there making a difference in the world, I’m very proud that I can say I was a part of their high school experience. If they can look back on their time with the cross country team and say that it was one of their favorite things about high school, that makes me beyond happy. Creighton can you tell us about your memories of your time at Bishop Ireton as a student and your experiences participating in sports as well? Thinking back on my time at Bishop Ireton brings smiles and a lot of laughter. What I remember most are the lifelong friendships I made, the bonds and life lessons learned as a member of high school sports teams, the support I received as a student and the fun of high school antics. Thinking of lining up for uniform checks, hoping that my sewnon FlynnO’Hara patch would go unnoticed makes me laugh, especially as I now dress my own two kids in a uniform for school each day. I remember how instrumental Sister Anne Tardiff was in helping me gain confidence as a student. Having a teacher like that can make all the difference. Sports were a huge part of my life in high school. I played lacrosse for three years and soccer all four years. Being a member of those teams is something I will always be proud of. I’ll never forget beating Paul VI in soccer my senior year during a night game! But mostly, it was my classmates that made coming to school every day such a great experience. I grew up alongside these people and we

saw each other through good times and bad. I consider myself really lucky to have enjoyed my high school years as much as I did. The friendships, good times and memories will stay with me always.

With your background in education, Chris, can you tell us about the importance of a faith-based community that Bishop Ireton embodies? For my entire 40-year career as a teacher and administrator I have only worked in faith-based schools. This was a purposeful decision. Faith-based schools nurture students not only in academics, but also in moral character with a sense of purpose. I liken it to “educating the mind and empowering the heart.” My own twelve years when I was educated in parochial schools embodied in me a strong moral compass with a sense of purpose. As SMA did, Bishop Ireton provides a stable environment that allows students to learn, grow and thrive. It also provides an emphasis on social service and opportunities for leadership. We hope that this type of education will make a lasting, positive imprint on the world. Jim and I chose a faith-based elementary and high school for Brad and Creighton because of this positive preparation.

Jim, describe your role as the VP of the Civic Association and the strong relationship Bishop Ireton has grown to have with the Civic Association over the years. I only joined the CCPCA Board two years ago as VP. Before that, I was a very involved neighborhood member of the civic association. Having spent my entire professional career managing the design and construction of federal healthcare facilities throughout the NE and commercial office buildings in the DC Metro Area, I welcomed the opportunity to participate in the meetings hosted by the BI project team, their design team and the neighborhood. BI’s project team was very open and responsive to the concerns of the neighborhood and was very willing to explain, in detail, the many impacts of the project on the surrounding neighborhood. Mary Catherine (Hart) Gibbs, SMA ‘89 and her dad, Bud Hart attended all of these meetings with the neighborhood.

As a St. Mary’s Academy graduate yourself Chris, describe the pride and excitement you felt when Kathleen McNutt, SMA Class of 1987, was named the Head of School at Bishop Ireton in 2019.

Assigning Pete Davey to the project, as BI’s project manager, was a wise move. Pete was very accessible to the Civic Association and responsive to our many questions and concerns. He had access to BI’s leadership and could respond to the Board’s (and the neighborhood’s) concerns. He took every question from the Board seriously and treated everyone with dignity and respect.

I was thrilled when I heard that Kathleen was taking over the helm as the Head of School. She is a seasoned professional with a history of leadership and wisdom. She has accomplished many, many initiatives in her short two plus year tenure at Ireton, most of which has taken place during a pandemic. From the beginning, Kathleen was inclusive toward the alums of SMA, taking every opportunity to welcome and acknowledge all the past alumnae. She wants SMA alums to feel welcome at Ireton. We don’t have a school to return to, but Kathleen has tried to make Ireton our “home away from home.”

Zack Bass, Bishop Ireton’s Dean of Students, has continued the tradition of open and honest communication with the Board now that Pete has retired. Overall, I feel that we coexist very nicely.

“The outdoor ceremony will certainly be remembered as one of the most unique commencement ceremonies in the school’s history. The cheers and clapping for the resilient Class of 2021 that day drowned out the hum of the insect guests.”

A forGtheraduation Ages

After the entirely virtual Semi-Final Commencement Exercises born out of necessity in 2020, the Bishop Ireton administration was once again tasked with planning a graduation ceremony amidst a global pandemic for the Class of 2021. Though the state of the world with regards to the pandemic had somewhat stabilized in the spring of 2021, there was still concern about holding a large indoor gathering with close to 1,000 attendees in an indoor location. So, instead of the usual festivities in the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, the administration shifted a little closer to home—an entirely outdoor ceremony on Fannon Field. Logistically, this was more than a little complex. “What if it rains?” “Where will the students sit?” “How many guests can safely assemble on the field?” “No really, what if it rains?” “How many cicadas will land on guests and will we be able to hear over their incessant buzzing?” “WHAT IF IT RAINS?” While some of those logistics were within control, many were not (see: the weather). As May 27, 2021 approached, anxiety was high. But preparation and prayers prevailed for what turned out to be a graduation for the ages. May 27 was a balmy, late spring day. Not a single cloud spoiled the clear blue sky. Thanks to the hard work by the Bishop Ireton administration and especially the work of the talented and dedicated Student Life team, families gathered safely on the field, graduates received their diplomas and the entire ceremony was live streamed to families and friends around the world (Editor’s

note: you can view the entirety of the ceremony as well as a one-minute recap on the Bishop Ireton YouTube channel: https://www.youtube. com/bishopiretonhighschool). During the ceremony, attendees heard from the Most Reverend Michael Burbidge, Bishop of the Diocese of Arlington, Head of School Kathleen McNutt, Principal Denise Tobin, Chaplain Father Noah Morey, Salutatory speaker Critter Johnson and Valedictory speaker Caroline Czarnecki. Dagny Scannell and Samantha Lee were presented with the Bishop Peter L. Ireton Award for General Academic Excellence for earning the highest and second highest grade point average in the Class of 2021 respectively. Father Donald J. Heet, OSFS, presented the Salesian Medal, considered by the Oblates of St. Francis de Sales to be the highest honor bestowed on any student, to David Burdick. Though another break in the tradition of graduation at the Basilica, the outdoor ceremony will certainly be remembered as one of the most unique commencement ceremonies in the school’s history. The cheers and clapping for the resilient Class of 2021 that day drowned out the hum of the insect guests. The joy and laughter that day pushed aside the difficulty of another particularly tough school year. And just as the caps of our graduates took flight into the air as the 2021 commencement ceremony came to a close, so too did the newest BI graduates as they soared into their next chapter.

The Bishop Ireton Class of 2021 has flown the nest! We wish them luck as they soar into this next chapter of life.

CONNECTION “Love is patient, love is kind. It is not jealous, [love] is not pompous, it is not inflated, it is not rude, it does not seek its own interests, it is not quick-tempered, it does not brood over injury,it does not rejoice over wrongdoing but rejoices with the truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails…” - 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 Love begins on Cambridge Road? Okay so that’s not actually the next line of one of the most famous Bible passages. But it doesn’t make it any less true. High school is a time when many people start dating for the first time. Students at Bishop Ireton are no different. Many young Cardinals meet in the halls of BI, bond over their shared interests at school—from sports to theater to clubs— and date for a few years. Truthfully, many of those couples, no matter the school, don’t make it past high school graduation. That’s not the case for everyone, though. And a good number of high school sweethearts who began dating while at Bishop Ireton (and St. Mary’s Academy) are still together to this day. Is there some sort of secret ingredient that has brought and kept so many BI/SMA couples together? Or is it just luck of the draw? Take Mike Foley (BI ‘70) and Marykate (née Maag) Foley (SMA ‘71). It was the late 1960s. Mike was a Bishop Ireton Cardinal. Marykate was a St. Mary’s Academy student. It was nearly two decades before St. Mary’s Academy would close and at the time, the allboys Bishop Ireton was already inextricably linked with the all-girls SMA.

When a St. Mary’s Academy dance was held just before Christmas 1968, Marykate’s classmates Pam Hogue and Mamie Delhagen suggested she go with one of their friends, Mike Foley. Before she committed to a night with him at the dance, she asked one of Mike’s classmates, Joey Barrett— who just so happened to be Marykate’s cousin—what he thought of Mike. His response that he was “a good guy” was enough for her to say yes when Mike called to ask her to accompany him. That dance, on December 20, 1968, was their very first date together. They enjoyed each other’s company so much that they went out again the next night, this time to a concert at BI. 53 years later, the couple is still together. After Mike asked Marykate to “go steady” at the end of January 1969, they spent as much time as they could together. Mike would make an effort to go to SMA before school every morning to see Marykate and Marykate would be at all of Mike’s wrestling matches and tournaments. The couple got engaged on December 24, 1972 at the National Christmas tree. They were married the next year on August 25, 1973 at what is now the Basilica of St. Mary’s in Old Town Alexandria. Mike and

Marykate & Mike Foley

Dan & Casey Blaine

Marykate have three children (Josh, Erin and Natalie) and one grandchild (Colin, age 18). Dan and Casey Blaine (née McLaughlin), first caught a glimpse of one another from across Godley Gymnasium at the BI freshman book sale in 1999. Casey remembers, “Even now, my dad can recall watching us flirt from a distance and immediately pleading with my mom to enroll me in an all-girls school instead!” Though they didn’t speak that day (Casey actually thought Dan was an upperclassman since he was much taller than the other freshmen), they ended up being assigned to the same advisory. It was there that their friendship developed and deepened. They began dating their junior year and graduated, still together as a couple, in 2003. But with Casey headed to Virginia Tech and Dan enrolling at Fordham, they decided to end their relationship. They stayed in touch throughout the next phases of their lives and remained friends. Eight years later in 2011, something clicked for Dan after Casey called to tell him about a new job she had been offered. He knew then that he didn’t just want to be friends with Casey. He had loved her since high school. So he took a leap of faith, moved

Geoff & Kathleen McNutt

“Dan proposed to Casey in the spring of 2013 at a place that meant a lot to both of them—at Bishop Ireton.” back to Alexandria from New York and rekindled their relationship. This time, it stuck. Dan proposed to Casey in the spring of 2013 at a place that meant a lot to both of them—at Bishop Ireton. On May 4, 2014 they were married with many BI alumni in attendance. Former Bishop Ireton principal, Fr. Kevin Nadolski, OSFS, concelebrated the wedding Mass. Today, Dan and Casey are happily married with two beautiful children, son, Finn and daughter, Eadie. Then there is a couple that met in the 1980s and still bleeds Cardinal red and St. Mary’s Academy blue. Geoff and Kathleen McNutt (née Faherty) first met in 8th grade at the Queen of Apostles Model United Nations

competition. They describe themselves as “classic high school sweethearts” and dated their junior and senior years in high school, with Kathleen at SMA and Geoff at BI. Their first date was their junior year homecoming dance. Even despite it taking Geoff a little bit of time to work up the nerve to ask Kathleen out, the couple connected quickly.

and Queen of Apostles. Catholic schools are focused on the education of the whole person and are built on family, community and faith. I think Geoff and I were especially drawn to one another because we each appreciated those elements of faith, family and community in our own lives.” In those words lies the secret to these and the many lasting love connections made on Cambridge Road: a shared and deep Catholic faith developed and nurtured while at BI and SMA. Marykate and Mike put it quite plainly saying, “Our faith has been the bedrock of our relationship. Mass every weekend no matter where we are. We are both active at All Saints in Manassas.” Kathleen and Geoff add, “A strong marriage is dependent upon love, trust, and a deep faith in God. We have certainly learned through the years that our marriage and family stem from the values that our parents, parish communities and schools instilled in us.”

Despite attending different colleges (Geoff at William & Mary and Kathleen at James Madison), they maintained a long distance relationship throughout their undergraduate years. Kathleen recalls now, “We grew up quite a bit during that time, finding our own way with friends and academics while also maturing, making mistakes along the way, and developing our relationship in an even stronger way throughout those years. Building trust became a key element during that time, especially since we didn’t have the internet or cell phones.” After six and a half years of dating, Geoff proposed. Kathleen remembers, “It was a quiet, cloudy night in Founders Park in Old Town Alexandria—a simple yet profoundly sweet drop to the knee with a proposal.” On June 26, 1993, the couple was married at St. Louis Catholic Church in Alexandria. Nearly 29 years later, Kathleen and Geoff have five kids, four of whom have graduated from BI (Kaitlyn ‘14, Megan ‘16, Camryn ‘18 and Morgan ‘19) and one of whom (Connor) who will graduate this spring as a member of the Class of 2022. “It has been uniquely interesting to see some of our kids maintain strong relationships with their own highschool sweethearts to this day,” said Kathleen and Geoff. In fact, Kaitlyn is now engaged to her high school sweetheart, Stephen Gerke (BI ‘14), and is set to tie the knot in June 2022.

So with that in mind, perhaps “Love begins at Cambridge Road” as an extension of the Corinthians verse isn’t entirely out of left field. Because love—from the love Jesus gives to us to the love the faculty gives to the students to the love one high school sweetheart gives to another—is all around at BI.

Did you get to meet your signiﬁcant other at Bishop Ireton? Are you married to your high school sweetheart? If you have a love connection that began at Bishop Ireton, let us know! Scan the QR code below and tell us your story!

So was it really Bishop Ireton and Saint Mary’s Academy that kept these couples together? Mike and Marykate Foley said that if they hadn’t gone to their respective schools, they likely wouldn’t have met. Kathleen and Geoff go a step further saying, “A significant part of our relationship is a result of the Catholic education we received, both at BI/SMA and our elementary schools, St. Louis

Casey, Dan, Finn and Eadie Blaine

With

VE, Marykate & Mike Foley

Kaitlyn, Camryn, Kathleen, Geoff, Morgan, Connor and Megan McNutt

A New Look Coming to the

Since 1964, the St. Francis de Sales Chapel has welcomed generations of Bishop Ireton students who have encountered Christ in Word and Sacrament on Cambridge Road. Located on the lower end of campus, the chapel originally connected to the old Oblate House, which allowed the priests quick access for prayer, Mass and adoration. With the building of the new academic center, the chapel now connects to campus in a new way, including a walkway to Murphy Hall and outdoor courtyard, and it has become a central location with views from classrooms, labs, the library, hallways and the lower parking lot. Renovation plans for the chapel were originally part of the early Bishop Ireton construction plan developed in 2015, but budgetary limitations and classroom, lab, expanded cafeteria and library needs took precedence to chapel enhancements. With the exterior of the chapel now more easily seen post-construction and due to space needs with a growing enrollment, it became clear that chapel renovation should be the next important project for campus. The diocese has approved a renovation concept to improve the use of space and increase seating within the chapel’s current footprint; enhance the beauty of current architectural elements; update the pews, lighting, windows and liturgical furnishings; update the roof with gabling; and improve the chapel entrance for both look and accessibility. Head of School Kathleen McNutt and Chaplain Fr. Noah Morey have been working with the Arlington Diocese Office of Construction, Planning and Facilities to select an architect for the project, and they look forward to sharing plans and watercolor renderings with the community this Spring. Our intention is to preserve the tradition of the St. Francis de Sales chapel, which reflects the legacy of our Salesian charism, while creating a timeless aesthetic worthy of the celebration of the Eucharist. We are grateful to those who have already shared their excitement for this renovation, knowing that this project will benefit the next generation of Ireton Cardinals, as we Advance Always and Live Jesus.

Wednesdays

Jerry McFarland ‘87 & Chris Gilliland, Director of Advancement

Zooming in, Bob Glennon ‘87, Kaitlin Hamer Slack ‘13 and Sydney Bright ‘14 speak with students regarding their service work.

Admiral Matthew Klunder

“REAL WORLD WEDNESDAYS” CONNECTS ALUMNI & CURRENT STUDENTS In the fall of 2020, Bishop Ireton began a new program called “Real World Wednesdays. The program, still running strong today, is meant to connect current Bishop Ireton students and alumni with a diverse group of people beyond the classroom who can spark their interest further or even assist them in the future. Bishop Ireton is blessed with alumni, parents, faculty, staff and community leaders who can share their story and even share an interest or hobby with our students.

Col. Carol Joyce

The program kicked off with a conversation with John Applewhite (BI ‘87), co-inventor and developer of the Super Soaker, in October 2020 who spoke to students about entrepreneurship. Since then, Real World Wednesdays has featured conversations with alumni in fields including: • •

• • • • • • •

Religious life (December 2020 and January 2022) Military service (January 2021 and a special in-person presentation in November 2021, which coincided with the celebration of the Marine Corps birthday and Veterans Day) Athletics (February 2021) Service (March 2021) Broadcasting (May 2021) Aerospace (June 2021) Architecture and design (September 2021) Law (a special “Women in Law” presentation in October 2021) Diversity (February 2022 coinciding with Black History Month)

Since the launch of this series came during the height of the Covid-19 pandemic, all of the programs to date have been presented via Zoom or live stream. The benefit of this approach, despite the lack of an audience, is that there is a robust archive of each event (beginning in December 2020) available on the Bishop Ireton website. Simply scan the QR code to the right or visit www.bishopireton.org/alumni/real-world-wednesdays to watch!

John Applewhite ‘87

If you’re interested in participating as a panelist or guest in an upcoming edition of Real World Wednesdays OR if you have an idea for a future program, please contact Director of Advancement, Chris Gilliland at Chris.Gilliland@ bishopireton.org.

new

Instructional Administrators on cambridge road

Jon Pressimone, Kathleen McNutt, Tim Guy, Jane Hannon and Lonnell Battle After Principal Denise Tobin announced her retirement part way through the 2020-2021 school year (and later when Assistant Principal for Student Life Mary Jordan announced she was moving away with her family), Bishop Ireton knew it had big shoes to fill.

Dr. Guy’s energy and, most importantly, his focus on the Catholic identity and mission of Bishop Ireton is going to further elevate this impressive Catholic high school in the coming years.”

Dr. Timothy Guy, graduated from Mount Saint Mary’s College with a BS The search for the new Bishop Ireton in Mathematics prior to becoming BI’s principal in the winter of 2021. In principal, he taught math at the school March of that year, following a thorou- and served as Math Department chair. gh search, Bishop Michael Burbidge, upon receiving the recommendation Dr. Guy received his M.Ed. in of the search committee and after Administration and Supervision from prayerful discernment, appointed the University of Virginia and his Dr. Timothy Guy as the school’s new Ph.D. in Educational Leadership and principal. He said of the appointment, Policy Studies from Virginia Tech. It “It is with great privilege that I have was his previous administrative expeappointed Dr. Guy to serve in partner- rience throughout his career in addiship with Mrs. Kathleen McNutt as tion to his commitment to excellence the leadership team at Bishop Ireton. in academics that made Dr. Guy a

great fit for Bishop Ireton High School— especially as it continues to expand its academic programs and STEM focus. Head of School Mrs. Kathleen McNutt shared, “I am excited to welcome Dr. Guy as our next Principal. He has demonstrated a commitment, not only to Catholic education, but to the unique Salesian charism that makes Bishop Ireton special. I am confident that he will build upon the great strengths of our school, bringing innovation and expertise to all areas of curriculum and the student experience.” In May 2021, Mr. Jon Pressimone, who had previously served as a member of the Religion Department at BI, was hired to take the place of Mary Jordan as Bishop Ireton’s new Assis-

Dr. Jane Hannon

Dr. Timothy Guy Mr. Jon Pressimone

tant Principal for Student Life. Jon’s experience in student life extends well beyond the classroom. He has more than a decade of experience directing and leading camp programs, moderating and leading student associations and retreat programs, working on his previous school’s Board of Discipline and working as a campus minister and youth minister. Also in May 2021, Dr. Jane Hannon was hired to join the Bishop Ireton family as the new Assistant Principal, Dean of Faculty. Dr. Hannon came to BI with a wealth of experience and

expertise from Georgetown Visitation High School, where she taught, was a department chair, was a member of the school’s re-accreditation team and led the new faculty orientation process and new faculty mentorship program. She has her M.S.E. in Educational Leadership and her B.A. in English from Fordham University, and she has an M.A. and Ph.D. in History from the University of Notre Dame. Dr. Tim Guy, Jon Pressimone and Dr. Jane Hannon join Mrs. Lonnell Battle, the lone veteran of the instructional leadership team. Lonnell has served

as an assistant principal at Bishop Ireton since 2016. Her institutional knowledge and expertise in her field provided a smooth transition as Denise and Mary exited and Tim, Jon and Jane began. This year, with the addition of Dr. Hannon, Lonnell shifts to a new title: Assistant Principal, Dean of Academics.

BISHOP IRETON’S NEW

Student Wellness Center

Sometimes you just need a break.

The students at Bishop Ireton High School in Alexandria felt that way last year after keeping up with pandemic restrictions and protocols, and mourning the loss of members of the Ireton community. It wasn’t easy, said senior Bradley Klinck, a member of the student council, noting it was even more difficult for younger students. “I’m fortunate enough to have had my freshman year be normal but there are freshmen last year and this year who come in and they have to make friends without seeing their faces,” he said. “Some people just don’t know how to act. It’s super overwhelming.” This year, students have a place to go for a moment to regroup, to study in a relaxing environment or to talk with a trusted adult: the Student Wellness Center. “I wanted to have an area that could serve as that mental health break room (and) everyone in the administration was very on board,” said Klinck. Working with Head of School Kathleen McNutt, Klinck and other student leaders picked out new paint, carpet and furniture for the wellness center, including a big couch and

rocking chairs. There are stress balls, fidget toys, coloring books and games such as checkers available. The classroom monitor shows a video of a tropical aquarium. Mental health tips are pinned to a colorful bulletin board. Soothing music is playing and a decorative fountain trickles water. During finals week, they had a hot cocoa bar.

meditation. But Klinck believes the center is useful as it is now. “The conversation around mental health doesn’t always have to be verbal,” he said. “You have opportunities like staying in the center where you can actively ease your mental health yourself. You get this time and space to yourself to work on your own issues.”

The center, a renovated classroom, is across the hall from the counseling offices and down the hall from the longstanding health clinic. One of the school’s two nurses, Donna Lorge or Kieran Mitchell, mans the center while the other staffs the clinic. The center also is used as a place to host college representatives, as an advisory — sometimes known as homeroom — and as a meeting space for clubs after school. But mostly it’s used by students during study hall or other down time throughout the day. “I have been thrilled to see how the students have found it,” said McNutt. “I go in there and every period there are students there studying or talking to the nurse.”

“Sometimes they just need to know that if they need to have a little bit of a cry, they can,” said Mitchell. “Or if they just need to sit quietly and not be spoken to. One of the other places we do that is also in the chapel, of course. When students really want that peace and quiet they can go down there as well.”

Sophomore Claire Gibbons, who stopped by during her study hall, appreciates the atmosphere of the center. “It’s always nice whenever I come in here,” she said. “Mrs. Lorge and Mrs. Mitchell always have a smiling face and are always ready to help you, if you want to talk or you need a snack, or if it wasn’t In the future, the counselors hope to COVID, probably (give you) a hug.” host programs in the center, such as workshops on mindfulness and

By, Zoey Maraist, The Arlington Herald Reprinted with Permission (www.catholicherald.com) 24

THE BISHOP IRETON

Distinguished Scholars Program In March 2021, Bishop Ireton High School introduced the Distinguished Scholars Program to the freshman class of 2024. The Distinguished Scholars Program was designed to give high achieving students a pathway to fulfill their intellectual curiosity. Students choose an area of concentration from fine arts, humanities, and STEM. Those in the program will complete an additional three electives on top of the already rigorous graduation requirements. These electives compliment their discovery paper and project/internship. Currently, there are 36 students in the class of 2024 taking advantage of the Distinguished Scholars Program. The current students participating in the program are busy writing their discovery paper. Students must identify a problem within their concentration and recommend a solution based on the knowledge they have gained. Once they have completed their discovery paper, students will either design and complete a project or participate in an internship program. Individuals who meet program qualifications and choose to complete all requirements will be commended as a Bishop Ireton Distinguished Scholar on their transcript and receive special recognition during graduation ceremonies at the end of their senior year. This rigorous program is designed to provide high-achieving students with the opportunity to pursue and showcase advanced studies and research in an area of choice; to be mentored by an expert in the field on a specific topic as part of a capstone project; and to present project findings or solutions related to issues with far-reaching effects or global impact, or that improve the human condition. The program is currently coordinated by Ms. Raiza Vega-Candelario, a member of the Bishop Ireton faculty in the science department. She is also a 2003 graduate of BI.

Joe Ferguson Sr. & Mar Ma ry Ann Ferguson Mike Ferguson ‘85

Tom Ferguson ‘84

Mary Beth Ferguson McNicol ‘92 & Bill McNicol

Joe Ferguson Jr. ’87 & Colleen Ferguson John ‘18, Kieran ’20 Elizabeth ‘22, Kathleen ’25

,Monica ‘19, Maggie ’20, Molly ‘23

Clare Ferguson Greksouk ‘02 & John Greksouk ’02

Brian Ferguson ‘95 26

The Ferguson Family to cambridge road From Salesian Medal of Honor recipients, to Student Council Officers and athletic record holders, the Ferguson family has made their mark on Bishop Ireton for more than four decades. More than 40 years ago, Joe Ferguson Sr. and Mary Ann Ferguson moved their family from New York to Virginia. When they moved, they had never heard of Bishop Ireton or the Oblates of St. Francis de Sales. After searching through The Arlington Herald, the Ferguson’s had several options regarding where to send their oldest son, Tom, to high school. While they looked at options throughout the greater Washington, DC area, they ultimately decided on Bishop Ireton mainly for its proximity to their new home in Alexandria and the feeling they had after an open house at the school. That one choice, made in 1980, would begin a family legacy that would span multiple generations. That choice was the foundation of a relationship between a school and a family that would positively impact both parties for the next near half century. As the oldest sibling, Tom Ferguson ‘84 (now Father Tom Ferguson) was aware of the importance of his role in establishing family traditions. “My father and uncles had all gone to Christian Brothers high school and a Christian Brothers college,” said Father Tom. “I knew that tradition was a big part of their life. For me, coming into Bishop Ireton was a brand new tradition of the Oblates and Salesian Spirituality. I never would have had any idea that over 40 years later, that tradition would have become such a big part of my life personally and our family’s life.” Now the Pastor at Good Shepherd Catholic Church in Alexandria, Father Tom remains connected to past, current and future generations of Cardinals. “I continue to connect with alumni from all decades of

Bishop Ireton and St. Mary’s Academy,” he said. “It is such a great bond.” Tom’s younger brother Mike ‘85 came to Cambridge Road in 1981 and began his own Cardinal journey. While at BI, he was involved in the student government and established himself as an outstanding runner. Even today, Mike remembers the impact that three BI teachers had on his academic future. Mr. Rich, Mr. Donahue and Mr. Scully (who taught him French) were all retired military who inspired him to choose the Villanova University ROTC program. “[Their] teachings and guidance stuck with me and influenced me throughout my military career,” said Mike. In fact, those French classes came full circle for Mike one day in Guantanamo Bay in the early 90s as he worked with Haitian migrants. When Mike found himself in a confusing situation in Guantanamo Bay, he felt his guardian angel with him. He prayed the Hail Mary in French, which helped him compose himself and lead him out of the situation successfully. Joe Ferguson ‘87, continuing the Ferguson family tradition, started at BI in 1983. Joe proudly spoke of that time in the 80s when he and his brothers, Tom and Mike, all attended Bishop Ireton at the same time. “We all had so many great teachers including Mr. Grimes who we all had as either an advisor or a teacher. All of us ran for one year in high school together, too, on the cross country team.” That one year spent together on Cambridge Road wasn’t the only thing that bound their time at Bishop Ireton. Tom, Mike and Joe all went on to receive the Salesian Medal of Honor at their graduation, the highest award a Bishop Ireton student can receive.

Joe continues to give back to his alma mater as a current member of the Bishop Ireton Board of Governors and has sent all of his children to BI. Joe and his wife Colleen, sent their oldest, John Ferguson ‘18, to BI, which started the second generation of Fergusons on Cambridge Road. John was a cross country captain and Salesian Leader in high school and currently attends DeSales University where he continues his running career. Their second oldest, Kieran ‘20, was a Salesian and Kairos leader and on the BI crew team. He won the

Salesian Medal of Honor in 2020 and is currently a sophomore at St. Joseph’s University in Philadelphia. Elizabeth ‘22 exudes tremendous Cardinal spirit and followed her brothers footsteps as a Salesian and Kairos leader. In addition to being a Peer Mentor and working with the Best Buddies Program, Elizabeth has also competed in three sports at BI including soccer, cross country and swimming. Joe and Colleen’s youngest, Kathleen ‘25, is a current freshman and has already gotten involved as a member of the cross country team, swim team and in the Pro-Life Club. Following Tom, Mike and Joe’s graduation from BI, Joe Sr. and Mary Anne didn’t realize how soon they would be back on Cambridge Road. Their daughter Mary Beth (Ferguson) McNicol began her freshman year at St. Mary’s Academy on Russell Road in Alexandria in the fall of 1988. After enjoying her first two years of high school in the all-girls school run by the Sisters of the Holy Cross, word came down that SMA would close after her sophomore year in 1990. Mary Beth recalled, “It was a very unique time, but I really enjoyed both schools. It was hard at times, but a good transition overall. Having teachers come over to Bishop Ireton from St. Mary’s Academy including Sister Elizabeth Rossetti, Sister Anne Tardiff, Juanita Krogh, and Marguerite Scafati and becoming fixtures helped a lot. BI was very welcoming.” Mary Beth and her husband Bill McNicol have had two children graduate from Bishop Ireton and have one current student on Cambridge Road. Monica

McNicol ‘19 played volleyball and ran cross country at BI in addition to being a member of the National Honor Society. She currently attends Mount St. Mary’s University. Maggie McNicol, BI Class of 2020 was a four-time varsity soccer letter winner and team captain and a member of the National Honor Society. Maggie and her cousin Kieran share the unique distinction of becoming the first non-sibling family members to graduate in the same year from BI, in 2020. Maggie currently attends Belmont Abbey College. Their youngest, Molly ‘23, is currently a junior at BI where she runs cross country and is a member of the Cardinal Crazies. After Mary Beth, the first generation of Ferguson family Cardinals continued with Brian Ferguson ‘95. His freshman year coincided with Mary Beth’s senior year in 91-92. Being the fifth Ferguson sibling to attend Bishop Ireton, Brian remembered, “BI yearbooks were a very popular item in our household growing up. We might not all have had the same teachers, but we shared the same experiences. Our paths were similar, yet unique. We all have the common bond of being Bishop Ireton graduates. The school did a great job preparing young men and women for life.” The youngest Ferguson sibling, Clare ‘02 (now Clare Greksouk), began her Cardinal experience in the fall of 1998, more than three years after Brian graduated. Clare was the sixth and youngest child of Joe Sr. and Mary Anne and was born in 1984, the same year her oldest sibling, Tom, graduated from Bishop Ireton. Clare hit the ground running her freshman year (literally), keeping the Ferguson family cross country and track tradition alive. She was also a member of the National Honor Society. She recalls great memories of teachers that impacted her including Cathy Melanson, Beckie Borman, Mr. Grimes and Mr. Bulcavage. Clare met her future husband, John Greksouk ‘02, during her senior year at Bishop Ireton in computer class. After attending college at William and Mary, she taught at The Basilica School of Saint Mary. To this day, she still gets excited watching her former students become Bishop Ireton Cardinals. John is a former Cardinal golfer himself and longtime member of the BI Golf Classic Committee. He and Clare have two young children that will hopefully don the Cardinal red in the future. The couple’s BI spirit runs so deep, in fact, that the BI Cardinal mascot made

an appearance at their wedding reception. Clare is grateful that her closest friends today are ones she met on Cambridge Road. She hasn’t missed a class reunion yet and shares her Cardinal spirit wherever she goes. Not to be left out, Joe Ferguson, Sr. has been an instrumental parent leader of the BI community for over four decades. He has worked as an administrator with BI alumni relations, as a government teacher at the school and has served on the Bishop Ireton Board of Governors. Joe Sr. received an honorary degree from Bishop Ireton for all he has done for the community. When asked now, he recalls that the leadership of Father Walsh during the 80s was crucial in the overall growth of Bishop Ireton. Joe Sr. has such fond memories of all the wonderful Oblates that taught at BI as well as all the dedicated faculty and staff that have served Bishop Ireton for almost 60 years and is so proud of all his children and grandchildren have experienced and accomplished. “To think that all these connections and family history began more than 40 years ago when we came to Virginia from New York, not knowing where we would even send our first child to high school,” said Mary Ann. “It’s just wonderful that my children and grandchildren all attended Bishop Ireton and that they can pass this great Bishop Ireton Ferguson tradition on to the [next generation].” With roots so entrenched on Cambridge Road, don’t expect the Ferguson legacy to stop anytime soon. What began in 1980 as a seed continues to bear fruit for everyone more than four decades later.

Diversity at Bishop Ireton “God gave the earth to the whole human race for the sustenance of all its members, without excluding or favoring anyone.” - Pope John Paul II When we formed the Bishop Ireton Diversity Council in the Summer of 2020, we were committed to building a community of action focused on creating and supporting initiatives to strengthen multicultural and racial diversity in our school community, but we were still figuring out just how we would do it. Our families, students and alumni were eager to help but we needed the right person to coordinate our efforts. Head of School Kathleen McNutt knew that Mr. Milton Powell would be able to connect with all stakeholders and bring his own professional and life experiences to the job. He was first named as Diversity Initiative Coordinator and then became Bishop Ireton’s inaugural Diversity Director. Together with a diversity council made up of 27 members of students, faculty, administrators, current parents, alumni and community leaders, Mr. Powell has created new cultural opportunities, resources and support for students and faculty to access throughout the school year. Recently, Mr. Powell shared his thoughts on the work of the council and our eﬀorts within the Cardinal community: Coming into our second year of the diversity initiative at Bishop Ireton, we wanted to build on the solid foundation and success we had last year, starting with the cohesion and collaboration of our Diversity Council. Everything we do starts, and is rooted in our faith. My partnership with Father Noah and Campus Ministry cannot be understated and is a huge reason for our continued success. Here are some of our areas on which I’d like to draw your attention...

Milton Powell sells t-shirts at lunch for Black History Month.

1 2 3

“Although we ask the entire faculty and staff to think critically about their department and how they can foster an environment where everyone feels represented and included, our Multicultural Awareness Calendar has brought focus and direction to actionable events throughout the year. “We had a renewed focus on the students’ Cultural Club membership this year. Making sure we had solid student leaders, committed faculty moderators, and the support of administrators, has been critical to producing content and supporting events. “At the end of our first year of work with the Diversity Council, we sent out a survey to students to solicit feedback on our efforts. The responses provided us with great information and quantitative data. The council worked together to review the data and discuss improvements for the year ahead. Some of the feedback was focused on better ways to use our various means of communications, including sending content out to stakeholders through the channels they frequent. For example, our students shared that the main social media channel they use to access our content was Instagram, and thus, we looked at club stories and increased Instagram postings. Another top communications channel for current students is our media boards spread throughout the school. We have used these LCD screens throughout campus to spread information. More importantly, we have focused on increased representation of students of color so that they see faces that look like their own as well as examples of saints, figures, and traditions from their own cultures.

“This year’s Hispanic Heritage Month was a good example of our work coming together. We worked with Campus ministry to highlight Hispanic saints throughout the month through loudspeaker and video, have prayers spoken in Spanish and have a Guest Priest (Fr. Diaz, pastor of Queen of Apostles parish) to lead a Spanish Mass. The Hispanich Heritage Club suggested historical figures who we could highlight, and they put together a slideshow of flags we could display on our media boards, as well as physical flags that were hung in the cafeteria. Staff members researched traditions and put together Spanish music playlists which we played during our Hispanic-themed lunches on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Our food vendor even collaborated with us to provide lunch menus that had Hispanic and Latino food options.

“One area the Diversity Council has worked on that may go unnoticed is discipline. We have had good discussions on example scenarios and ways to work fairly with all students. As we maintain appropriate discipline, we also want to promote and engage in education for both students and staff. Discussion with the council has been a positive catalyst for collaborative effort between various departments as we work with and listen to all of our students. “I am excited about the rest of our year as we connect with and celebrate all of our students.”

THE 1ST ANNUAL C E L E B R AT I O N A somewhat growing tradition in the Catholic Church is the Blessing of the Pets, which typically coincides with the Memorial of St. Francis of Assisi.

one place is either a recipe for maximum cuteness or unmitigated disaster. By the grace of God and surely the intercession of St. Francis of Assisi, the event went off without a On October 3, 2021, Bishop Ireton hitch. (It should be noted, however, hosted its inaugural Blessing of the that one cat in attendance preferred Pets just outside the main entrance of to stay a good distance away from the the school. Truthfully, bringing other attendees). together a bunch of pets—dogs, cats, guinea pigs, snakes, rabbits, etc.—into After a lively parade of pets around

the parking lot and a few introductory words from Head of School Kathleen McNutt, BI Chaplain Father Noah blessed all the animals in attendance. Mark your calendars for October 2, 2022 for the second annual Blessing of the Pets! All pets—from mammals to fish to reptiles—are welcome to attend as we celebrate all of God’s creatures.

LAST CALL FOR NOMINATIONS FOR THE

BI ATHLETIC HALL OF FAME The Bishop Ireton Athletic Hall of Fame was established with its inaugural class of 12 in 2007. Since then, six other classes of former students, coaches and teams have been inducted. The next class of former Cardinal athletes will be inducted in the fall of 2022 and will join the 41 students, six coaches and two teams that currently make up the Hall.

The purpose of the Athletic Hall of Fame is to recognize those athletes, teams, and coaches who have made significant contributions to Bishop Ireton Athletics through their service, performance, dedication, commitment and accomplishments. The deadline for submitting nominations for the 2022 Bishop Ireton Athletic Hall of Fame is March 31, 2022. You can submit nominations by going to: https://www.bishopireton.org/ halloffamenominations Or by scanning the QR code below.

CRITERIA FOR INDUCTION STUDENT-ATHLETE

Must have attended Bishop Ireton High School or St. Mary’s Academy Must be more than (5) years postgraduation Must have made signiﬁcant contributions in one or more sports

TEAM

Must have won a conference, regional or state championship All members of the team must be more than 5 years post-graduation from Bishop Ireton/SMA

COACHES/ ADMINISTRATORS

Associated with Bishop Ireton High School or St. Mary’s Academy as a coach for at least four consecutive years Signiﬁcant contributions in one or more sports

A Winning Tradition

A Look Back at Girls Lacrosse Under Rick Sofield If it’s not too soon to say it, Rick Soﬁeld, who is stepping back from his head coaching duties of the varsity girls lacrosse team, is and will forever be rememb ered as a Bishop Ireton legend. After 10 years, he leaves behind a tremendously successful program and one of the most outstanding eras in Bishop Ireton athletic history.

Coach Soﬁeld is doused with gatorade after the WCAC Championship win in 2019. Photo taken by Billy Sabatini. 34

Rick began his coaching duties at Bishop Ireton in the spring of 2011. The team was quickly on a winning path and in 2014, just his fourth season as head coach, he led his team to both a WCAC Championship and a VISAA Division 1 State Championship. From there, he guided his teams to four more WCAC Championships (four straight from 2016-2019) and three more VISAA State Championships (2015, 2017 and 2018). During his time at Bishop Ireton, he won more than 77% of his games and received numerous coach of the year honors including USA Today National Coach of the Year.

When reflecting on his tenure at BI, Rick doesn’t cite the records or the national ranking his teams achieved—for what it’s worth, they climbed as high as #2 in the country under his charge. In fact, when asked about his proudest accomplishment as head coach, he doesn’t even cite something that happened in-season. Instead, he said, “Every time I hear from a former player about her college accomplishments, her new job, her wedding or her new baby, I am incredibly proud of the part I played in helping her become a happy and successful woman.” He continued, saying, “I hope each player who has been part of the program will grow to be happy and successful in their careers and family lives. [I hope] that they will look back and remember that BI girls lacrosse is where they learned to persevere and compete.”

Rick cites the yearly “Six Games in May” as his favorite memories from coaching at BI. He said, “Each team [I coached] prepared for 10 months to be our best for WCAC and State playoffs in May. Playing those six games in May and watching those teams compete for championships is a thrill that I won’t forget.” But beyond the winning ways of the teams he coached and looking past the championships and trophies, perhaps more importantly were his influence and direction of the girls in the lacrosse program. In just ten years, he guided more than 50 players to NCAA programs and positively impacted dozens more. Of course, the wins and the trophies will be remembered. But it was his commitment to his players and the focus on their wellbeing and growth that ultimately cemented him as one of the best coaches in Bishop Ireton’s history. “Rick Sofield was an innovator and a motivator with an infectious enthusiasm who believed in his players, encouraged them and drew out their best,” said former BI Athletic Director Bill Simmons.

Playing those six games in May and watching those teams compete for championships is a thrill that I won’t forget. Now that Rick has stepped back, he has passed the reins to former assistant coach Brittany Stevenson. She will look to continue building a string of triumphant teams like the ones Rick put together over the past decade. The good news for the Cardinal faithful is that Brittany learned from the best in Rick. Those who examine the annals of girls lacrosse at BI for years to come will certainly remember the five WCAC Championships, the numerous state championships, the national ranking and the consistent winning record. For those he coached and those he knew at Bishop Ireton, however, it’s more likely that they will remember Rick—the kind-hearted man, the terrific competitor and the legend they saw built before their eyes.

G olf 34th Annual

Cla s sic

Thank you to the golf committee, sponsors, volunteers and golfers for being part of the 34th annual Bishop Ireton Golf Classic on Monday, May 10, 2021 at Mount Vernon Country Club in Alexandria. There was an incredible turnout with a packed field of more than 130 players participating! This year, proceeds from the Golf Classic supported the Oblates of St. Francis de Sales retirement fund, enhanced financial aid for Bishop Ireton students and provided funds for ongoing athletic projects. Make sure to join on May 9, 2022 for the 35th Annual Bishop Ireton Golf Classic! Each year the Golf Classic attracts a full field of golfers, along with dozens of sponsors. Since 1988, alumni, parents, and friends of Bishop Ireton have raised over $2 million to enhance financial aid for students, provide funds for ongoing projects, and give back to the Oblates of St. Francis DeSales. Register today at Bishopireton.org/GolfClassic or by scanning the QR code below.

Golf Committee David Kaye Taylor Barnes Mike Bennett Dan Blaine Matt Brideau Mike Brideau Eddie D’Antuono John Greksouk Peter Kaye Dave Para Raul Ricaurte Dave Rodriguez Bruce Roland Kyle Schutt Mike Thomas Conor Tracy

Class of 1999 Class of 2013 Class of 1972 Class of 2003 Class of 2002 Class of 2006 Class of 2012 Class of 2002 Class of 2013 Class of 1984 Class of 1968 Class of 2005 Class of 1976 Class of 2005 Class of 2004 Class of 2004