Mustang Messenger Summer 2020

Volume 26 No. 2

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For Bl. Basil Moreau, the measure of mission is the formation of new men and women “for better times than ours.� Christian Education

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The Bishop McNamara and La Reine High School Alumni Magazine

The Mustang Messenger is published two times a year by Bishop McNamara High School's Advancement Office.We sincerely apologize in advance for any errors or omissions contained herein.

Notices of misinformation or error may be sent to the Advancement Office at advancement@bmhs.org.

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Chairman’s Letter

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Class of 2020 Roll Call

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BMHS Drive-Thru Graduation

Unless otherwise noted, photos are either taken by families, staff or courtesy of LifeTouch, Inc.

Available online: www.bmhs.org/publications.

La Reine Science and Innovation Center

BMHS: A Forum for Forming Catholic School

Contact Us!

Bishop McNamara High School 6800 Marlboro Pike | Forestville, MD 20747-3270 (p) 301.735.8401 | (f ) 301.735.0934 © BMHS All Rights Reserved.

PRESIDENT/CEO

Dr. Marco J. Clark ’85

PRINCIPAL

Sandy Mammano Director of Development Erica Calhoun Social Media Specialist Kia Chatmon Grant Writer Geneen Delarosa Director of Advancement Services Melissa Antonio Huar LR ’91 Director of Events and Programs Dr. Robert Van der Waag Director for Mission Advancement Tiffany Young ’00 Print Media/Communications Specialist

2019-20 BISHOP McNAMARA HIGH SCHOOL BOARD OF DIRECTORS

THE MUSTANG MESSENGER

12-13 BMHS Welcomes Dr. John Barnhardt as New President/CEO

14 -15 Senior Saturday at BMHS 16-17 The Groundbreaking Ceremony for the 18

Leadership 19-24 Being People with Hope to Bring:

BMHS Responds to COVID-19

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Congratulations Deacon Patrick Agustin from BMHS

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Caritas 2020

26-28 BMHS Innovates, Transforms & Thrives In a

Time of Crisis

He’s a Class Act: Paul Brennan Wicks ’20

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32-33 The Girls Varsity Basketball: A Season of Fulfillment!

ADVANCEMENT OFFICE

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9-11 Mustang Moments

30-31 College Signing Days at BMHS

Dian Carter

Mr. Rob Summers ’86 (Chair) Mr. Garry Perkins ’75 (Vice Chair) Mrs. LaShanta Harris ’93 (Secretary) Ms. Robin Whitfield LR ’86 (Treasurer) Mrs. Rhonda Johnson Adams Bro. Donald Blauvelt, CSC Fr. Robert Boxie Col. (Ret) Jasey Briley ’77 Mr. Dan Connelly ’77 Hon. Daneeka Cotton LR ’84 Mr. Dan Curtin

President’s Pen

Dr. G. Scott Drew ’79 Mr. Jim Estepp ’84 Dr. Triesta Fowler-Lee LR ’91 Mrs. Shonda Harmon Mr. Ken Harris ’82 Ms. Laura Irwin Mr. Andrew Johnson ’80 Mr. Brian Larkin ’99 Mrs. Cindy Morgan LR ’78 Sr. David Ann Niski, OSF Mr. Kirk Wills

34-35 It Takes a Village: Madison Scott ’20

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BMHS Announces Martin “Marty” Keithline as Boys Varsity Head Basketball Coach

36-37 Learning to Write at BMHS 38-40 To Think with Christ 41-42 California Mustangs 43-45 Alumni News 46-47 Planned Giving

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Legacy Courtyard at the La Reine Science and

Innovation Center

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BMHS Family Crisis Fund

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BMHS Fund

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In Loving Memory

CORPORATE MEMBERS (BROTHERS OF HOLY CROSS) Br. Thomas Dziekan, CSC, Provincial Superior Br. James Branigan, CSC, Director School Office Br. Donald Blauvelt, CSC Br. Richard Critz, CSC

Preparing the World for Better Times VOLUME 26 • ISSUE No. 2

TABLE OF CONTENTS

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President’s Pen Dr. Marco J. Clark ’85 President/CEO

Dear Bishop McNamara Family and Friends, As I am writing this letter, I am doing so with a heavy heart and with a deep sense of gratitude as this will be the last time I address you as the President/CEO of Bishop McNamara High School. These past 23 years have been the most gratifying and joyful time of my life. The work has been hard, but well worth it. Partnering alongside an extraordinarily talented faculty and staff while carrying out a mission much greater than ourselves has been my greatest privilege. It has truly been my honor to serve this school community. I only pray that I have given even a fraction to you and the community what this school and community have given to me.

I could have never imagined last August when I announced that this would be my last year at Bishop McNamara that I would spend the last months of my tenure working remotely and away from the students, faculty and staff, and families that have been so much a part of my existence, and my source of inspiration. COVID-19 has certainly turned our world upside down. Witnessing the resilience of our faculty and staff under the leadership of our principal, Mrs. Dian Carter, has been inspirational, however. The messages of hope and the resolve to get through this together, in faith and as a family, has been awesome. I am also grateful for the many accolades and well wishes that I’ve received these past few months. Although I am grateful for the many kind words that have come my way, I am sad that I am not able to see you all in person to express my sincere gratitude.

I have stated to many people that I feel like the richest person in the world. I bring with me, as I transition to my new role as the Executive Director of the Holy Cross Institute at St. Edward’s University, countless wonderful memories, rich relationships with thousands of students and families, and a wealth of knowledge gained from the wisdom of the gifted faculty and staff, mentors and role models who I have been blessed to work with over the years. My deepest appreciation goes to the families who have chosen to trust me and to trust Bishop McNamara with their child. There is no greater trust and love in the world than to hand over the education and formation of a child to someone else. I have never taken this love and trust lightly and am truly humbled and honored to have walked this journey with the thousands of students who have passed through our doors and into my life. God’s continued blessings to you all.

I am delighted to now pass this gavel of leadership to my successor, Dr. John Barnhardt. Over the past few months I’ve had the good pleasure to work with him through a carefully orchestrated transition plan. Dr. Barnhardt is an extraordinary leader who possesses a strong intellect, zeal for working with young people, and a true heart for service.

What I am most attracted to, however, is his humility and authenticity. I couldn’t be happier with his unanimous selection by our Board of Directors to serve as our next President/CEO. I am excited to watch the fruits of Dr. Barnhardt’s leadership in the coming years as he completes the construction of the La Reine Science and Innovation Center and leads our community into this next generation.

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Matthew 18:5

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Anyone who welcomes one little child like this in my name welcomes me.

President’s Pen

In the 23 years that I have been privileged to shepherd this school community, I have sought to work with passion, authenticity and a sense of hope and encouragement. Following in the line of my predecessors, I always felt like my job was to raise the bar for Bishop McNamara, give the very best to our students and families, support our amazing faculty and staff, build bridges to helpful resources to support our community, form our students as leaders who make a difference in the world, and to prepare for better times in the future. The school has certainly seen great growth over the years, but I also know that the best is yet to come!

Thank you once again for your love, support, and trust. All that I have done has been for the greater glory of God and to build up His Kingdom here on Earth. I will miss my beloved Bishop McNamara and all of you, but will never be far from my heart. As Father Moreau stated in his resignation letter from the Congregation of Holy Cross in 1866, “You can count always on my devotedness to [Bishop McNamara High School], as also on the affectionate interest with which I shall be to my last breath.” You are and will remain in my prayers.

As I close, anyone who knows me, knows of my strong affinity for the virtue of hope. So I close with the words of Father Basil Moreau, C.S.C., Founder of the Congregation of Holy Cross: “Let us, then, continue, with noble courage, my dear brothers and sisters in Jesus Christ, on the difficult path which we have chosen. We should rely confidently on Him who has called us to such a glorious task, find encouragement in the hope of a better life, and keep our eyes fixed on that changeless eternity where no longer there will be succession of days, weeks, months, and years” (Circular Letter 23). As disciples with hope to bring, may God continue to bless you, your family, the Bishop McNamara High School family, the Congregation of Holy Cross, our local community, the nation, and the world. Let us continue this work of resurrection.

Ave Crux Spes Unica!

With profound gratitude,

Marco J. Clark ’85, Ed.D.

Innovate. Transform. Thrive!

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Chairman's Letter Robert N. Summers ’86 Chair, BMHS Board of Directors

Greetings to All Members of the Bishop McNamara Family, I trust and pray that you and your families are well and have adjusted as best as expected during this most unprecedented time.

Undoubtedly the 2019-20 will be inscribed in our memories for years to come. No one could have ever imagined that 2020 would be the year that would effectively change our perception of normal, and subsequently, alter how we conduct ourselves socially and organizationally.

That said, it should be noted how quickly school leadership took action during a time of crisis. We were one of the first schools who decided to suspend classes and adapt to remote learning just prior to this same standard being mandated by Maryland, Virginia and Washington, DC. Faculty and students were able to adjust to remote learning due to the fact that Bishop McNamara laid the groundwork for this in previous years. Concentrated efforts were made to ensure all students were provided the proper resources to make learning at home possible.

As we look ahead to the future, this past December marked the official groundbreaking of the LaReine Science and Innovation Center. Due to open in 2021, The LaReine Science and Innovation Center will expand the school’s footprint within Prince George’s County as well as the surrounding Washington, DC Metropolitan area. The programs and classes that will be made available to our students will continue to help them adapt to an ever-changing technological society. Please watch the video of the groundbreaking on the school’s website if you have not done so already. You will surely be moved by what you see.

The LaReine Science and Innovation Center was the vision of President & CEO, Dr. Marco J. Clark ’85. As is widely known, this past academic year marked the last year of a 23-year career at Bishop McNamara for Dr. Clark. Dr. Clark was named the Executive Director of The Holy Cross Institute at St. Edward’s University in Austin, Texas last fall.

Earlier this year, after a rigorous national search, the Board of Directors selected Dr. John Barnhardt to be the school’s fourth President & CEO. No words can truly convey what Dr. Clark has meant to Bishop McNamara. His commitment and leadership these past 23 years are extraordinary and unparalleled. The lives he touched over the years are immeasurable, the hours spent representing the school are incalculable, and the number of students he has impacted is innumerable. His legacy will endure for years to come and his name will always be synonymous with Bishop McNamara. Our school has greatly benefitted from having him as a student, teacher, coach, principal, and lastly, president & CEO. His presence will be missed, but he will always be a part of the Bishop McNamara family.

The Board of Directors looks forward to the coming year. We know there remain some challenges ahead of us due to the COVID-19 crisis, however, we are assured Bishop McNamara will address these challenges and continue to build upon the same successes that will shape the hearts and minds of our future generations.

Have a wonderful and safe summer!

Respectfully,

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Robert N. Summers ’86

BMHS ROLL CALL 215 Students Gabrielle Alexis Dela Cruz Ada Oluwadamilola Adewunmi Tay-Lor Symone Albright Brenton Alegbeleye Edward Lee Allen III Leanora Amos Sherwood Armstrong III Makayla Iyana Arthur Kennedy Elyse Ashton Kennedy Olivia Atwater Princess Ashley Awoseye David Christian Bailey Brandon Thomas Baker Sadia Bonkaprr Bangura Jaida Brianna Barnes Jamaine Henry Alvin Barnes Miles Lee Barton Ahjaé Batts Jayla Nicole Becton Amari Jaylen Bell Alexis Sykeethia Blackmon Nilah Jordyn Blackmon Eniyah Jeanae Boney Alyssa Imani Boykin Nicholas Anthony Brabson Myá Tori Bradley Layla Maria Brittain Oscar Lee Broadie III Alexandra M. Broome Angela Brown Avani Brown Iyanna Eva-Irene Brown Lyris Janae Brown Paris Sierra Brown Kennedy Renea Bryant Nija Imani Bryant Tyreece Guillermo Burton Cayla Marlisa Carroll Caleb Harvey Carter Sonja Cheree Casimier Chad Justin Chatman Khalil K. Cooper Bille Wakjira Daniel Evan Maurice Darden Adrienne Janá Davis Brianna Faith Davis Kevin Andrew Davis, Jr. Taylor Niquole Marie Davis Adrianna Lovette Dawson Angelo Verninio DeGraff Joshua Jerome Denegall Maria Noelle Doakes Malik D. O. Edwards Hope Evans Charron Camryn Faunteroy

22,000+ Hours of Christian Service

JaVaughn Lee Faunteroy Devin Paul Felton Jason Wyeth Joseph Fenwick Grant G. Flanders Justin Zachary Flores Jade Teresa Ford Isabella Melissa Franklin Luca Antonio Franklin Donavan Verrick Frayer Alexis Nicole Gallmon Madison Miya Gent Markiya Ebonee Gothard Isaiah Christian Graham James Lawrence Gray, III Devin Gregory Grays Bailey Jade Guy Carrington Christopher Hagens Sania Nicole Hanks David Ervin Harmon, III D’Nia Roni Harper Ciana Amber Harris Logan Nicole Harrison Cole Austin Harriston Takeima Niara Hawkins Channa Mykal Hayes Natalie Pinckney Hayes Anthony Warren Haythe, Jr. Janiya Merci Hepburn Nola Rose Hill Sydney Alexandra Hinnant DeAira Gabrielle Holland Ernest Stephen Holland III Ethan Adrian Holley Pia Simone Hooks Mary Catherine Horecky Micah Elisha Huff Gregory Christian-Nicholas Hunt III Adriana Yeajin Imes Anna Christina Irwin Nylah Simone Jackson Charles Maynard James IV Madisonne Jennings Akilah Sala Johnson Liam Jared Johnson Vincent A. Johnson II Nadia Amya Joseph Jordan Christopher Joy Jason Edward Kalshoven Jared Coleman King Liatu King Kolade O. Kola-Adewuyi Anjolaoluwa Oluwamayowa Layeni Micah Jaden Leake

$20+ Million in Scholarships and Financial Aid

London Lee Gillian Lewis Rachel Nicole Lewis Lauren Marie Liberati Xavier T. Locke Solomon Ahmad Makle Nicholas Xavier Malley Nicholas L. Malloy Jared Anthony Mammano Jalon K. Marshall Genelle Olivia Marshall-Singleton Sydney Aniyah McCall Kenya Elaine McCants Alexia Makayla McCarley Ayanna Yvette McCarley Aaron Jarelle McDonald Kinsey Thomas McDonald Cort Leeland McElroy Jade Noelle McNeill Daniel F. Mejia Stevie Michelle Mika Ricarda Renee Mills Maya Elise Moody Mayah Renee Morant Zane Xavier Mosby Kaiya Kwailan Neal Thomauri Jalen Nelson Lindsay Susanne Newman Jerrod Alexander Nolan Jasper Chidi Obiajulu Kene Nelson Okeke Chinyere Sandra Okonkwo Elijah Olumide Onakoya Quinn Terry-Byrd Osborne Jared Amar Page Ralph Emanuel Paige, Jr. Brianna Elyse Palmer Kimeal Charlean Parham Alana Marie Paul Jacob D. Pavkov Chloe O’ Elizabeth Pearson Kailyn Elizabeth Penn Kendyl Mahari Peoples Kaléa Ali’ikai Perry Jordan L. Christina Peterson Louis Dominic Pickens Aaliyah Antonie Pitts Anthony Everest Powell Davin Anthony Price Emma Nichole Purath DarTa’yun Tyrell Qualls Raven Dominique Quander Nailah Avonie Emlyn Reaves Symone Nicole Reaves

Casby Robinson Christian Keith Robinson Jaden Blair Robinson Jonathan Troy Rodenhaver Jayla’h Gabriella RomeroThompson Giselle Dericka Rose Langston Alexander Ross Aaron Jordan Russell Isaiah Noel Griarte Sampilo Hassina Samuel Trinity Marie Sandacz Jalen M. Scott Madison T. Scott Anthony Lloyd Shands Agnes Simpson Noah Neverson Sims Donovan Antonio Smith Jordan Emmanuel Smith Ryan Mekhi Smith Shelby Jasmine Smith Kaitlyn Taylor Solomon Marvin Joshua Spinner II Kameron Nyall Spriggs Brookelyn Mackenzie Sumlin Ahmad Jeremiah Tatem Terry Mondell Thomas, Jr. Destinie Jessica Tillman Logan Hunter Troyner Lailah Camille Turnage Jarrett Craig Tutz Julia Elaine Tutz Kendall Avery Tyler Paige Sydney Walden James Lester Waller, III Sage Cai Monet’ Ware Alexa S. Washington Aliyah Antoinette Waterman Imani Grace West Colby Andrew Whigham Paul Brennan Wicks Noah Christian Wiggins Bailey Mackenzie Wilcox Alijah M. Williams Jabari Christopher Williams Jaya Nicole Williams Joshua Lewis Williams Kare’ Jarel Williams Nadia Shanel Wilson Kenneth D. Womack Dylan H. Wort Morgan Sydney Yeldell Ahmad Dre’Von Young Nicky Zhang

Congratulations Graduates!

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CLASS OF

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We Love You! We Are Bishop McNamara!

With traditional graduation ceremonies cancelled nationwide due to COVID-19, Bishop McNamara held drive-thru ceremonies at the School on June 6th and 7th. It was a great way to express the love everyone has for the Class of 2020 and all they’ve had to endure in the wake of the virus. It was a great time, as you’ll see from the sampling of photos shown here. Thanks to all involved!

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aC Around Campus

MUSTANG MOMENTS

On December 12, 2019, Bishop McNamara High School held The Groundbreaking Ceremony for the La Reine Science and Innovation Center. With the vision to ‘Innovate. Transform. Thrive,’ The La Reine Science & Innovation Center will be a hub for technology, collaboration and discovery by offering new academic programs in science, technology, cybersecurity, engineering, entrepreneurship, and multimedia. By providing students with next generation, hands-on learning experiences, Bishop McNamara hopes to develop the innovators of tomorrow. The doors of the new center are expected to open in 2021. n

On December 13-14, 2019, The Fine Arts Department hosted its annual Fine Arts Christmas Festival. Each year the Fine Arts Christmas Festival enables all the arts at Bishop McNamara High School - Band & Orchestra, Choir, Classical Dance, Theatre, Traditional African Music & Dance, and Visual Arts - to join together to display the richness of the school’s talented students and outstanding faculty. n

On January 16, 2020, Bishop McNamara High School students, faculty, and staff visited the Library of Congress to watch Mr. Jason Reynolds ’00 be named as the Library of Congress’ National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature. Mr. Reynolds is the seventh individual to hold this prestigious position, which aims to raise the nation’s appreciation of youth literature, as it relates to literacy, education and the development and betterment of lives. n

On January, 20, 2020, CampFire Patuxent and the Jack & Jill Society of Prince George’s County hosted the Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service in the Andy Mona ’82 Student Center. The day included service opportunities and a thoughtful panel discussion that included Mayor of Bowie, MD, Mr. Timothy J. Adams and District 25 Delegate Darryl Barnes among a gathering of more than one hundred students. The Martin Luther King Jr. holiday on Jan. 20, 2020, marked the 25th anniversary of the day of service that celebrates the Civil Rights leader’s life and legacy. n

On January 24, 2020, several Bishop McNamara High School students along with Director of Development Ms. Sandy Mammano, Director of Special Events Ms. Melissa Antonio-Huar LR ‘89, Director of Advancement Services Ms. Geneen Delarosa, and Theology Teacher Mr. Justin McClain ’00, participated in the 47th annual March for Life, an annual rally and march in Washington, DC protesting both the practice and legality of abortion. Annually, this event takes place around the anniversary of Roe v. Wade, a decision issued in 1973 by the United States Supreme Court legalizing abortion nationwide. Mr. McClain notes that the rally’s mission is “to unite, educate, and mobilize pro-life people.” n

During the last week of January and the first week of February, Bishop McNamara High School celebrated Catholic Schools Week #CSW20 and Holy Cross Week #HCW20. Each day during Catholic Schools Week, the Bishop McNamara community continued on next page

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MUSTANG MOMENTS was provided with information about the benefits of Catholic schools nationwide including their outstanding graduation record, commitment to academic excellence, and promotion of the dignity of each person rooted in Gospel values. During Holy Cross Week, the community was provided with information about the legacy and achievements of the Congregation of Holy Cross and their educational ministries throughout the world. From commemorating notable Holy Cross figures such as St. Andre Bessette to lauding the academic achievements of institutions of higher learning such as the University of Notre Dame and St. Edward’s University, Holy Cross Week #HCW20 offered Bishop McNamara families, alumni, and friends to celebrate its charism as a Holy Cross school. n On February 21, 2020, Bishop McNamara High School hosted its annual Black History Month Assembly titled History in the Making: Celebrating Black History Month. Hosted by the Black Cultural Alliance (BCA), there were student-led musical, dance, and poetry performances. These were accompanied by a scholarship presentation and an alumni panel. This year’s theme, “History in the Making,” explored past, present and future African American culture. Freshman Seminar Teacher Mr. Craig Glover-Hines ’09 commenced the morning’s program with a prayer followed by BCA’s advisor Information Technology Teacher Mr. Armani MasonCallaway ’09, as the master of ceremony. “The program was truly the students’ vision,” said Mason-Callaway. “The students really wanted to showcase current events that will prove to be of historical importance. Their talents have always been supported by the entire school community, which makes this event so special.” The BCA features more than 50 student members who also share their talents in the areas of fine arts and athletics. More recent alumni who have made a difference in the African American community were invited to speak about their career paths and lessons learned after high school. Ms. Ashley Sharp ‘11 and Mr. Ryan Middleton ’06, both who have careers and businesses in Prince George’s County, MD spoke to the student-body about the importance of mentorship.

Ms. J’TA Freeman ’19, now attending Howard University, spoke about her desires to make her community a better place free of gun violence as the first Co-Youth Mayor of Washington, DC. n

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On February 22, 2020, The Bishop McNamara Archery Club held the first ever archery tournament at Bishop McNamara High School. Bishop McNamara took second place in the high school competition. There were approximately 200 participants from 11 different schools from Maryland, Virginia, and New York. Individual awards went out to the first, second, and third place participants (male and female) in all 3 divisions. Ainsley Spain ’22 took a second place individual title in the Women’s High School Division. This club has been accepted by the Athletics Department and will be considered a Bishop McNamara team in the future. n During the month of March, Bishop McNamara High School celebrated Women’s History Month.

Every year March is designated Women’s History Month by Presidential proclamation and the month is set aside to honor women’s contributions in American history. The 2020 Women’s History Month theme was “Valiant Women of the Vote.” The theme honored “the brave women who fought to win suffrage rights for women, and for the women who continue to fight for the voting rights of others.” Promoted throughout the school and on social media, the achievements of La Reine High School and Bishop McNamara High School alumnae who have made a positive difference in their communities were spotlighted throughout the month. n On March 12, 2020, Bishop McNamara High School announced the closure of its physical campus and initiated remote learning

by Thursday, March 19 - The Solemnity of St. Joseph - who is the patron saint of the Brothers of Holy Cross (please read the feature BMHS Innovates, Transforms & Thrives In A Time Of Crisis for more about the school’s comprehensive transition to remote learning).

From this point forward, as a result of the pandemic, all in person trips and events were eventually cancelled in Fine Arts and Athletics including the Spring Drama, Music Trip, Sankofa, Dance Show, Choir Performance, Jazz Show, Percussion and Concert Band Concert, and Wind Ensemble and Orchestra Concert as well as the spring sports seasons for Baseball, Softball, Track & Field, Tennis, Golf, Girls Lacrosse, and Boys Lacrosse. For more, see the article titled Being People With Hope To Bring: BMHS Responds to COVID-19. n During Holy Week (April 5-12), Bishop McNamara High School celebrated the highpoint of the liturgical calendar with the celebrations that accompany it - Palm Sunday, Holy Thursday, Good Friday, Easter Vigil, and Easter Sunday - by strongly encouraging members of the community to make a Spiritual Communion in order to follow stay at home directives resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic. The Bishop McNamara community was encouraged to do what Mustangs do best - making God known, loved, and served during this sacred time in the liturgical calendar. Holy Week this year served as an indication of the community’s collective resolve to emerge from this trial of faith stronger than ever. We are Bishop McNamara! We are Holy Cross! We choose to think with Christ! n

THE MUSTANG MESSENGER

On April 25, 2020, affectionately called Senior Saturday, more than 30 Bishop McNamara faculty and staff members - led by President/ CEO Dr. Marco J. Clark ’85 and Principal Mrs. Dian Carter ventured out to deliver yard signs and caps and gowns to all 215 seniors. For more about this event, see the article titled Bringing Hope: Senior Saturday at Bishop McNamara High School. n During the week of May 18-22, Bishop McNamara High School celebrated Senior Week for the Class of 2020. The Class of 2020, along with the Bishop McNamara community, was gifted with a video starting with Principal Mrs. Dian Carter and the Administrative Team’s production of the Senior Convocation on Monday, May 18, Dean of Students for 11th & 12th Grade and Senior Class Moderator Ms. Laura Keller’s annual Senior Slideshow on Tuesday, May 19, Director of School and College Counseling Ms. Alicia Oglesby, Assistant Director of College Counseling Ms. Shemelle Yemofio and WMAC Moderator Mr. Lou Holder and his team of students produced the Academic Signing Day video on Wednesday, May 20, Director of Campus Ministry Mr. Peter Sanneman produced the Senior Farewell Service on Thursday, May 21, and the Virtual Commencement Ceremony was produced by Director for Mission Advancement Dr. Robert Van der Waag, directed by President/CEO of DHM Photography Michael Anderson ’94, and digital content was rendered by Social Media Specialist Ms. Erica Calhoun. This video premiered on Friday, May 22. Bishop McNamara High School wishes our newest alumni the Class of 2020 - great success as they continue to advance our vision as empowered leaders, inspired by the Gospel, transforming the world. n

and their families, filled Mt. Calvary Catholic Church parking lot ready to serve more than 500 families of Prince George’s County as a response to helping those in need during the global pandemic. For more on this event, see the article titled Being People With Hope To Bring: BMHS Responds to COVID-19. n On June 4, 2020, Bishop McNamara High School hosted A Virtual Prayer Service for Racial Justice led remotely from Moreau Chapel with Ayanna McCarley ’20, Campus Minister Mr. Peter Sanneman, Assistant Director of Campus Ministry Ms. Amanda Saunders, Director of School and College Counseling Ms. Alicia Olgesby, Freshman Gateway Teacher Mr. Craig Glover-Hines ’09, Social Studies Teacher Ms. Jaleshea Cobbs, President/CEO of DHM Photography Mr. Michael Anderson ’94, Director for Mission Advancement Dr. Robert Van der Waag, Principal Mrs. Dian Carter, and President/CEO Dr. John Barnhardt. The prayer service called for an end to systemic racism and prayed for racial justice in our local and national communities. For more on this event, see the article titled Being People With Hope To Bring: BMHS Responds to COVID-19. n On June 6-7, 2020, Bishop McNamara High School hosted its Graduation Parade on the school grounds and awarded diplomas to the 215 graduates of the Class of 2020. President/CEO Dr. Marco J. Clark ’85, Principal Mrs. Dian Carter, and the faculty and staff, while keeping physical distance with members of the community, enabled seniors to receive their diplomas while providing them with a festive atmosphere. For more on this event, see the article titled Being People With Hope To Bring: BMHS Responds to COVID-19. n

On May 30, 2020, Bishop McNamara High School served as host and a major partner in the community food distribution that provided boxes of fresh groceries to those challenged by the COVID-19 crisis using a drive-through grab-and-go method.

Titled The BMHS Grocery Giveaway, volunteers, including Bishop McNamara students, particularly the graduating Class of 2020,

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aC Bishop McNamara High School Around Campus

Welcomes Dr. John Barnhardt as New President/CEO Bishop McNamara High School

announced on Monday, March 23, 2020 that Dr. John Barnhardt was named as the school’s fourth President/CEO by the Board of Directors and the Brothers of Holy Cross. Dr. Barnhardt officially began his new role on June 1, 2020.

Originally from northern Wisconsin, Dr. Barnhardt, a lifelong educator, has dedicated his career to building and refining transformational schools for students and families in the DC region. Most recently, he served as the Director of School Design for KIPP DC, a management organization that oversees 18 schools across the District of Columbia. Over his 12 years at KIPP DC, Dr. Barnhardt has designed, built, and led top-ranked schools. Prior to his leadership at KIPP he served as the President of Wisconsin Union, a membership division for alumni and student life at the University of Wisconsin-Madison where he played a significant leadership role in a campus master plan and capital campaign.

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I enjoy being a student as much as I enjoy being the leader.

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With his experience, Dr. Barnhardt believes strongly in

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“We believe that John will be an exceptional leader for Bishop McNamara High School. His leadership has been motivated by the relationships he has with students, parents, alumni, and faculty and staff communities,” said Robert N. Summers ’86, Board Chair at Bishop McNamara High School. “John recently shared with me that while it was at first the legacy of Bishop McNamara High School that attracted him to our school it is the values that our Bishop McNamara family stands for that humbles him and calls him to become our next President/CEO.” Outgoing President/ CEO Dr. Marco J. Clark ’85 expressed similar sentiments and offered high praise about his successor, “Dr. Barnhardt is an extraordinary leader who possesses a strong intellect, passion for working with young people, zeal for mission, and a true heart for service. What I am most attracted to, however, is his humility and authenticity. I couldn’t be happier with his unanimous selection by our Board of Directors to serve as our next President/CEO.” Dr. Barnhardt described his leadership style this way, “I enjoy being a student as much as I enjoy being the leader. Being a great leader means being a great member of a team and community. As a member of our community, I strive to listen more than I talk and insist that when we do talk, our ideas are grounded in evidence, in text, in scripture, in experience, or in research.”

an education steeped in faith like that of the Holy Cross tradition and commits to modeling this in every facet of school leadership. Dr. Barnhardt described why he applied for this leadership position at Bishop McNamara, “As every parent knows, we are always looking for the best school for our children. Bishop McNamara’s approach to family, respect, the education of the hearts and minds of our students, and a perpetual mission to bring hope, all in the context of the Holy Cross mission, aligns perfectly with my family’s own spiritual identity and the values by which we aspire our own children to live by. While it was vision and mission that attracted me to Bishop McNamara, the students and faculty showed me that I was already at home.”

He also believes that his responsibility as a school leader is to maintain and strengthen the necessary conditions that allow students and faculty to be highly engaged in teaching, learning, and growing in their faith and academic study. Dr. Barnhardt said, “It is an absolute blessing to work with faculty and staff who are experts in their field, who are mission aligned in their beliefs about educating young adults, and who are limitless in their perseverance to build an even better tomorrow.”

Dr. Barnhardt possesses an outstanding academic pedigree as he received degrees in Sociology and Legal Studies from the University of Wisconsin, a Masters in the Art of Teaching from American University, and a doctorate degree in Educational Leadership from the University of Pennsylvania.

He resides in Greenbelt, MD in Prince George’s County with his wife Erica and their three beautiful children, Jackson, Brooklyn, and Mason.

It is apparent that Dr. Barnhardt believes that Bishop McNamara High School already possesses an outstanding tradition and rich legacy. Yet, there are many goals for the future that he wants to pursue, particularly in four key areas: finish the Faith. Family. Future! Capital Campaign and build the La Reine Science and Innovation Center, review our value proposition to the greater Washington region

by communicating why Bishop McNamara is a worthy investment for parents, for alumni, and for local supporters, continue to grow the school’s endowment to maintain the school’s strong financial position, and invest in teaching and learning so that the school’s dedicated Holy Cross educators can continue to deliver a world class student experience.

When meeting Dr. Barnhardt, people will immediately see that he offers Bishop McNamara a bold and compelling vision of servant leadership grounded in his commitment to promote the school’s vision to form empowered leaders, inspired by the Gospel, who transform the world.

Assuming the role in the midst of a national emergency, Dr. Barnhardt spoke thoughtfully about how Holy Cross educational ministries were formed to prepare and form young people for “for better times than ours.” He said, “This thought has been sitting on my heart in the first few weeks of joining Bishop McNamara. As we sit nearly idle in an incident of global pandemic, economic depression, and political separation, I cannot help but smile in knowing that our Bishop McNamara alumni and current students are serving our communities in many unifying ways. They remain positive examples about how to build solidarity. It is on this same notion that I am called to action to ensure our current students march into an unknown world equipped with the knowledge, skills, and self-awareness to grow in their scholarship and in their influence to succeed in times better than ours.”

Dr. Barnhardt sees that his job is to “ensure our family - our educators, students, and community, have the resources they need to be successful every day. It gives me great resolve to wake each morning knowing that the work I contribute is to pave a path forward for an even brighter future, and even bigger tomorrow, for both Bishop McNamara but also our entire society.” The school community looks forward to working with him, as together we remain anchored in the proposition to help all who live, learn, and work at Bishop McNamara High School “to think with Christ.” Indeed, Bishop McNamara High School welcomes Dr. John Barnhardt as its new President/CEO. n

Bishop McNamara High School Welcomes Dr. John Barnhardt as New President/CEO THE MUSTANG MESSENGER

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aC Around Campus

Senior Saturday at Bishop McNamara High School

By Mrs. Dian Carter, Principal & Dr. Robert Van der Waag, Director for Mission Advancement

Bishop McNamara High School made the prudent and courageous decision on Thursday, March 12 to close its physical campus due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The school transitioned to full remote learning by Thursday, March 19 - the Solemnity of St. Joseph - as many within the school saw this timing as providential since St. Joseph is the patron saint of its sponsoring religious order - The Brothers of Holy Cross.

Bishop McNamara’s seniors, like most seniors, looked forward to their senior trip, prom and of course, graduation, which the school holds each year at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception on the campus of The Catholic University of America. Unfortunately, the school had to postpone

several events and had to cancel many others in response to these unprecedented circumstances. The disruptive nature of the pandemic has lasted much longer than anyone originally planned.

Bishop McNamara’s Administrative Team collaborated to create Senior Saturday. This unique event would serve as a means to celebrate the Class of 2020 to honor their resilience and courageous spirit in the face of this crisis. Senior Saturday would provide an opportunity for Bishop McNamara’s faculty and staff with its students and their families present, but physically distant, to exercise its penultimate value as a Catholic and Holy Cross school - Being Family. As one Bishop McNamara family, the day would serve to inspire hope and foster solidarity in the midst of this ongoing pandemic.

On Saturday, April 25, 2020, beginning at 9:00 AM, more than 30

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Bishop McNamara faculty and staff members - led by President/ CEO Dr. Marco J. Clark ’85 and Principal Mrs. Dian Carter ventured out to deliver yard signs and caps and gowns to all 215 seniors. A few days before the deliveries, each student and their family was asked to share where they would be “quarantined” that Saturday. Seniors and their families were asked to be “camera ready” and were given a window of time when their special delivery would arrive!

to greet them, gleeful joy was the typical response. It was obvious that Bishop McNamara students truly missed being at school!

Staff members surprised the seniors with everything ranging from live musical performances, playing favorite songs, gift bags, flowers and maroon and gold balloons, as they made their deliveries. All social distancing rules applied and none of the school’s staff went into senior’s homes. They traveled all around the Metropolitan Washington region, often called the DMV by locals, and one team even traveled all the way to Delaware!

The day was particularly meaningful for President Clark. After 23 years of dedicated service to his beloved alma mater as either Principal or President/CEO, he will become the first layperson to serve as the Executive Director of the Holy Cross Institute in Austin, Texas starting in July. The ability to give this personal parting gift to members of the Class of 2020 was particularly meaningful. He said, “To see the expressions of joy on our student’s faces today means so much to my colleagues and I. As Holy Cross men and women, we are called to be people with hope to bring. I think today, in this poignant way, we did that.

These students and their families have endured so much in these past few weeks and months. I’m so proud of our school and our resilient students who inspire me. We are Bishop McNamara!”

Local news stations discovered the school’s plans and they decided to cover the day’s activities. Their coverage allowed the entire region to witness the special bonds of love and affection that Bishop McNamara students share with their dedicated Holy Cross educators. When students and their families ventured out

Providence gracefully blessed the Bishop McNamara family with beautiful weather on Senior Saturday. It was a picture perfect day for outdoor photographs! There were smiles, laughter, tears and air hugs all around! In all, as Principal Carter likes to tell it, “It was a great day to be a Mustang!” n

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1 Left to right: Mr. Eric Jackson, Tyreece Burton ’20, & Ms. Laura Keller, Dean of Students for 11th & 12th grade, Director of Middleton Scholars Program, Senior Class Moderator; 2 Left to right: Anna Irwin ’20 and Mrs. Laura Irwin, Board Member; 3 Ayanna McCarley ’20, Senior Class Executive President; 4 Left to right: Mr. Herman Gloster (kneeling), Dean of Students for 9th & 10th Grade, Teacher, Moderator Keep the Peace Club and Poetry Club and Mrs. Dian Carter (kneeling), Principal; 5 Left to right: Makayla Arthur ’20 & Mrs. Heather Morris; 6 Left to right: Mr. David E. Harmon, Jr., DDS, MSD ’84, Kennedy Harmon ’19, David Harmon III ’20, and Shonda Harmon, Board Member; 7 Left to right: Logan Troyner ’20, Mrs. Kathleen Troyner, Book Store Manager and Mr. Michael Troyner; 8 Dr. Marco J. Clark ’85, President/CEO

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aC Around

The Groundbreaking Ceremony for the La Reine Science and Innovation Center Bishop McNamara High School held its historic groundbreaking ceremony to mark the beginning of construction of its new La Reine Science & Innovation Center on Thursday, December 12, 2019.

With the vision to ‘Innovate. Transform. Thrive,’ The La Reine Science & Innovation Center will be a hub for technology, collaboration and discovery by offering new academic programs in science, technology, cybersecurity, engineering, entrepreneurship, and multimedia. By providing students with next generation, hands-on learning experiences, Bishop McNamara hopes to develop the innovators of tomorrow. The doors of the new center are expected to open in 2021.

Under the creative direction of Grimm + Parker, an architecture

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Campus

firm and leader in sustainable design in partnership with Scheibel Construction, an award-winning general contractor, this 20,000-square-foot building will provide deep, hands-on learning experiences for the student community to explore, create, discover, collaborate and innovate.

The Center will offer seven classrooms, five of them as customary science labs, featuring two chemistry, two physics and a health science lab. The state-of-the-art innovation lab will be the centerpiece of the building, complete with industry leading hardware such as 3D printers, vinyl cutters, drill presses and computer components that can make a machine run and affect its performance.

During the school day, Bishop McNamara will occupy the Center for preparing students for success in higher education and the

workforce of the future. After school hours, the Center will function as a hub for adult learners in Career Technology Education (CTE) earning certificate programs in cybersecurity, CCNA, and other certifications in various fields. As a proud partner with the citizens of Prince George’s County, the new Center will develop tomorrow’s innovators.

“The La Reine Science & Innovation Center will be a game changer, not only for Bishop McNamara students, but for the Prince George’s County community as a whole,” said Prince George’s County Executive Angela Alsobrooks. “We know that STEM education is critical to ensuring our young people can compete professionally after high school. The education and training that will be offered at the Center will lay the groundwork for our students to enter a

workforce that is technology and science driven. In addition, this groundbreaking is exciting because the programs offered will help adults and seniors re-tool and adapt to an ever-changing work environment.”

The expansion of Bishop McNamara has been greatly supported by school administrators, community leaders, teachers, students and generous benefactors.

“Bishop McNamara High School has proven to be an institution that provides high academic and leadership results, and now with the help of The Faith. Family. Future! Capital Campaign, we’re able to expand our footprint in the community and really provide unprecedented opportunities to develop the innovators of tomorrow,” said President/CEO Dr. Marco J. Clark ’85. n

“

Bishop McNamara High School has proven to be an institution that provides high academic and leadership results, and now with the help of The Faith. Family. Future! Capital Campaign, we’re able to expand our footprint in the community and really provide unprecedented opportunities to develop the innovators of tomorrow.

”

Dr. Marco J. Clark ’85 President/CEO

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aC Around Campus

Bishop McNamara High School: A Forum for Forming Catholic School Leadership Bishop McNamara High School’s

vision statement reads, “Empowered leaders, inspired by the Gospel, transforming the world.” Most people usually think this powerful aspirational statement only applies to students at Bishop McNamara High School, but it also provides a vision for all those who work at the school. Since its inception in 1964, Bishop McNamara High School has played a leading role regarding the formation and development of persons who have gone onto occupy leadership positions either as administrators or thought leaders in Catholic educational institutions throughout the United States and abroad.

In the school’s early years, most of the leadership positions in the administration were occupied by the Brothers of Holy Cross. This remained the case throughout the first two decades of the school’s history. As Bishop McNamara entered the 1990’s, however, the shift from religious to layperson leadership within the school’s administration and among the faculty and staff was well on its way. In 1996, Ms. Heather Gossart became the first layperson to hold the position of President/CEO in the school’s history, taking over from Brother John Paige, C.S.C. She would hold this position for 14 years (Ms. Gossart currently serves as The Director of Executive Mentoring/Coaching/Senior Consultant at the National Catholic Education Association). Under her leadership, the school’s enrollment grew each year and its reputation emerged as one of the finest coeducational Catholic high schools in the United States.

In Gossart’s first year as President/CEO, she decided to hire a thirty year old Guidance Counselor then working at DeMatha Catholic High School named Marco J. Clark ’85 as the Principal for the 1997-1998 school year. For the next 14 years, Ms. Gossart and Mr. Clark would see the school grow, not only in terms of enrollment, but as a place where faculty and staff as well as students would emerge as school leaders who would eventually become presidents, principals, and thought leaders in Catholic education. From this period, alumni such as Ashley Lewis ’06 (St. Mary the Assumption Catholic Academy) and Taylor Dotson ’08 (St. Ambrose Catholic Academy) would become parochial school Principals in the Archdiocese of Washington. Faculty and staff such as Ms. Beth Blaufuss (former President, Archbishop Carroll High School), Kathleen Porter-Magee (Superintendent of Partnership Schools, a privately managed network of urban Catholic elementary schools in New York City), Vincent Spadoni (President of the Consortium of Catholic Academy’s), and Angie Moloney (President/CEO of Catholic Foundation of Michigan) would go on to have distinguished careers in Catholic education.

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When Ms. Gossart retired in 2010 and Mr. Clark (now Dr. Clark) became Bishop McNamara’s third President/CEO for the 2010-2011 school year, during the course of his tenure a number of talented and gifted individuals who received much of their formation as Catholic school leaders honed many of their skills and aptitudes here at Bishop McNamara. Former Assistant Principals Mind Imes de Duclos ’96 (St. Mary’s High School), Dr. Victor Shin (Maryvale Preparatory School), and LaSandra Hayes, (St. Mary’s School) all became Principals or Heads of School. Former administrators and faculty members such as Abigail Greer (St. Matthias the Apostle, now Director of Student Support at Bishop McNamara), Stephen Sanchez (Little Flower Catholic School), Dr. Glenn Benjamin (St. Jude’s Regional School), Deanna Johnson (St. Philip the Apostle) and Gerald Smith (St. Thomas More Academy) would also take on these kinds of leadership roles. Dr. Shin, when asked what role Bishop McNamara played regarding his formation to be a leader within a Catholic school or thought leader within Catholic education said, “I began my teaching career at Bishop McNamara. I served in many roles at McNamara which all impacted my formation as a leader. The importance of studentteacher relationships was at the heart of McNamara, and I base my leadership on this same concept. Finally, Dr. Clark played a pivotal role serving as a mentor and friend. Many things I carried on to Maryvale were influenced by him.”

Principal Hayes noted that her fondest memory at Bishop McNamara was Commencement each year because “it was there I was able to see the dreams of students come true; especially students in the Project PRIDE Program. For some of those students, they were the first ones to have the opportunity to go to college. I knew in my heart that it was at Bishop McNamara High School where the foundation was laid for future successes to be realized by those students; thereby affecting their lives for the better.”

A reason why Bishop McNamara has played and will continue to play an important role in forming Catholic school leaders is directly tied to its charism and mission. Bishop McNamara believes that all employees are Holy Cross educators and all persons are called to exercise leadership and promote the mission to educate hearts and minds. As Principal Hayes eloquently stated, “Once a Holy Cross Educator; always a Holy Cross Educator. I will forever be an Educator and Administrator steeped in the Holy Cross charism and tradition.” Today, as in the past, the church will look to Bishop McNamara for its next generation of Catholic school leaders because it is here where Holy Cross Educators make God known, loved, and served. n

Being People

HOPE to Bring: BMHS Responds to covid-19 with

Early Months: The “Where” & “What” of COVID-19 COVID-19. Who knew that a term that didn’t even exist months ago would cause such disruption to our lives. When school resumed in January after a long Christmas recess, members of the Class of 2020 in Global Studies began their unit on East Asia, which includes countries such as Japan, North and South Korea, Taiwan, Mongolia, and the People’s Republic of China.

In Global Studies, China plays the most significant role in the course’s examination of East Asia. Students learn about the various ruling dynasties, the richness of Chinese culture and language, the revolutionary events that have transpired over the past two hundred years, including more recent happenings such as the rule of Mao Zedong, the Cultural Revolution, the transformation of the Chinese economy starting in the late 1970’s, the 1989 Tiananmen Square Protests, and most recently, the protests that have impacted the city of Hong Kong starting in 2019.

China was in the news when students returned to Bishop McNamara after the Christmas recess. A new coronavirus was affecting its people.

Originating in the city of Wuhan in the province of Wubei, a city of 11 million people, which makes it larger than New York City by 3 million people, this new coronavirus started to impact the residents of this city that most students had never heard. On New Year’s Eve, the government in Wuhan, China, confirmed that health authorities were treating dozens of cases of a new virus that had infected dozens of people in Asia. At the time, there was no evidence that the virus was readily spread by humans. Health officials in China said they were monitoring it to prevent the outbreak from developing into something more severe. In Global Studies, when students asked questions about how the coronavirus originated, they were told that it emerged from the eating of bats, which made the story both exotic and memorable, but distant. Most students thought it strange, weird, and probably a little disgusting, but nothing more. No one could have imagined that a virus that emerged in a distant Chinese city would eventually wreck havoc here in the United States; nor alter everyone’s lives here at Bishop McNamara High School.

On January 20, 2020, the first confirmed cases outside mainland China occurred in Japan, South Korea and Thailand, according to the World Health Organization’s (W.H.O.) first situation report. The first confirmed case in the United States came the next day in the State of Washington, where a man in his 30s developed symptoms after returning from a trip to Wuhan. The W.H.O. on February 11, 2020 proposed an official name for the disease the virus coronavirus causes: COVID-19, an acronym that stands for coronavirus disease 2019. The name makes no reference to any of the people, places, or animals associated with the coronavirus, given the goal to avoid stigma.

During this period, media outlets within this country increasingly focused on stories about how this new virus was gradually spreading once it reached US shores, but in numbers that seemed insignificant.

It was difficult for citizens around the country, including those working and going to school in Forestville, MD, that this would eventually emerge as the most significant national health crisis since the Spanish Flu of 1918, an event that happened so long ago that even students’ great grandparents might not remember.

The business of school - the art of learning and bringing young (continued on next page)

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people to completeness - moved forward unabated during the month of February through early March. Events such as Catholic Schools Week #CSW20, Holy Cross Week #HCW20, The Black History Month Assembly, the Ash Wednesday Prayer Service, and the Winter Sports Pep Rally, highlighted by the Girls’ Varsity Basketball Team winning its first WCAC Championship since 2008, preoccupied the attention of the school community. By late February, however, a patient near Seattle, Washington became the first coronavirus patient to die in the United States. As the number of global cases rose to nearly 87,000, the Trump administration issued its highest-level warning, known as a “do not travel” warning, for areas in Italy and South Korea most affected by the virus.

BMHS Closes Its Physical Campus and Transitions to Remote Learning By early March, the coronavirus had infected more than 90,000 people around the globe and killed approximately 3,000 people, according to the W.H.O. The Center for Disease Control (C.D.C.) put forth guidelines that the best way to prevent illness is to avoid being exposed to this virus. It spreads mainly from person-toperson between people who are in close contact with one another (within about 6 feet) through respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs or sneezes. Health officials advocated that the best way to prevent the spread of COVID-19 was through “social distancing,” which we now all know is the process of standing about 6 feet apart from the next closest person as well as practicing good hygiene, particularly frequently washing one’s hands repeatedly.

As COVID-19 continued to spread, on Tuesday, March 10, 2020, President/CEO Dr. Marco Clark ’85 and Principal Mrs. Dian Carter convened the school’s “Crisis Response Team” to discuss plans about how to respond to the growing pandemic. At this point, no one in the Bishop McNamara community was known to have contracted the virus. On this date, closing school was discussed, but this measure still seemed remote for those who took part in these meetings. Twenty-four hours later, this group reconvened as Prince George’s County Public Schools (PGCPS) was notified that an individual affiliated with one of its high schools had close proximity to someone who traveled to a country under a high-risk coronavirus (COVID-19) warning. On Thursday, March 12, 2020, the school announced out of an abundance of caution the closure of the physical campus starting on Friday, March 13, 2020, which for those who are superstitious, probably was an ominous sign. Again, there were no confirmed cases on campus or in the Bishop McNamara community at the time; however, as local, national and global public health recommendations shifted to include mitigation of transmission, the campus proactively took additional steps that were meant to help protect the school community. Subsequently, other Catholic schools

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within the Archdiocese of Washington such as Gonzaga College High School, Stone Ridge of the Sacred Heart, among others, made the same decision as Bishop McNamara that day.

The campus was to remain closed until Sunday, March 29, 2020, and no academic or co-curricular programs were to run during this period, which included all events and activities in athletics, fine arts, and student activities. Remote instruction for students was to begin on Thursday, March 19, 2020 (for more about remote learning at BMHS, see the article titled BMHS Innovates, Transforms & Thrives In A Time Of Crisis). As President Clark and Principal Carter said in their correspondence to the community, “We recognize that these actions create significant challenges for students, faculty, staff and families, especially the cancellation of trips and performances. We understand these experiences as vital to what it means to experience a Bishop McNamara education and we regret having to cancel these kinds of opportunities. Indeed, we ask for your understanding as we respond to this unprecedented global public health issue.”

On March 13, 2020, Maryland State Governor Larry Hogan instituted the closure of schools throughout the State of Maryland and President Trump officially declared a national emergency.

On March 15, 2020, the C.D.C. advised no gatherings of 50 or more people in the United States over the next eight weeks. The recommendation included weddings, festivals, parades, concerts, sporting events and conferences. The following day, the Trump Administration advised citizens to avoid groups of more than 10.

New York City’s public schools system, the nation’s largest with 1.1 million students, also announced that it would close.

With the formal closing of school on Friday, March 13, 2020, administrators, faculty and staff rallied and went into action. They responded to this challenge by instituting plans for “remote learning” starting on Thursday, March 19, 2020, the Solemnity of St. Joseph, who providentially is the patron saint of the Brothers of Holy Cross.

Mr. Charles Shryock, Assistant Principal for Academics, Mr. Patrick Skerpon, Co-Chair of the Technology & Engineering Department, Mr. James Dillon ’79, Director of Information Technology, Ms. Janice Cuellar LR ’69, Director of Web Services, and other leaders among Principal Carter’s educational technology team moved to have every course administered remotely among the more than 195 offered at Bishop McNamara starting on March 19. The original goal was for Bishop McNamara High School to resume its regular operation on Monday, March 30, 2020. In hindsight, no one imagined how optimistic this return date was at the time.

As the entire Bishop McNamara community shifted to a new footing of working and teaching remotely over the next several weeks, a guide to remote learning for students and teachers was published to provide guidelines for the administration of instruction. Teachers became familiar with teleconference platforms such as Google Meets and

Zoom to connect with students at home and students accessed their courses remotely through MACCESS, the learning management system administered by the school. New daily schedules were created for faculty and students. Bishop McNamara’s outstanding faculty, typical of their commitment as Holy Cross educators, put their best foot forward to implement courses remotely while maintaining a commitment to making learning personal, engaging and interesting.

Teachers employed tools such as Screencastify to record their lectures and they utilized Google Forms to push assignments and other resources to administer tests and quizzes remotely. All these efforts were done to create thoughtful and creative lesson plans that students could work on from home.

At first, everyone had questions, but the inspired leadership of Principal Carter and her Academic Team along with the diligent efforts of the faculty and staff, made their foray into this venture successful. As Senior Class Executive President Ayanna McCarley ’20 noted about how Bishop McNamara students have responded to this crisis, “We will be able to unite more because of our current situation. It will allow us to become more understanding and empathetic toward one another.”

By late March, The Tokyo Olympics were delayed to the summer of 2021 and as the March 30 return date came and went, the entire Bishop McNamara community had to face the reality that in person classes and other activities might now occur again for the 2019-2020 school year.

BMHS Lives Through A Pandemic By early April, global cases of COVID-19 topped 1 million. The United States unfortunately became the world leader in confirmed coronavirus cases and millions lost their jobs at home and abroad as protective shutdown orders limited in person work to essential personnel and services. By April 2, 2020, there were over 9000 reported COVID-19 deaths in the United States as compared to 15 total deaths on March 5.

By mid-April, the global economy had slid toward contraction and the International Monetary Fund warned that the global economy was headed for its worst downturn since the Great Depression. The organization predicted the world economy would contract by 3 percent in 2020, a reversal of its earlier forecast for the year that the world economy would grow by 3.3 percent. By late April, officials discovered earlier known U.S. coronavirus deaths in California.

Officials in Santa Clara County, CA, announced that two residents there died of the coronavirus on February 6, 2020 and February 17, 2020, making them the earliest known victims of the pandemic in the United States. The new information, gained from autopsies of the residents, moved the timeline of the virus’s spread in the country weeks earlier than previously understood. Near the close of the

month, the coronavirus pandemic had killed more than 200,000 people and sickened more than 2.8 million worldwide.

As the transition to remote learning continued at Bishop McNamara, the entire community marched forward doing their best to deal with the pandemic. Its impact, however, weighed most heavily on those activities where group interaction is essential, such as athletic competitions and fine arts events.

Impact on Fine Arts & Athletics From late March through early May, annual Fine Arts events such as the Spring Play and end of year performances by Traditional Dance, Choir, Orchestra, Wind Ensemble, Jazz Ensemble, Percussion and Concert Bands, and Traditional African Music and Dance were at first postponed, but then eventually cancelled. This also included the annual Music Trip among the school’s vocalists and instrumentalists.

Scheduled this year to perform at Disney World in Orlando, FL, the more than 250 students each year who attend this trip were disappointed that it could not go off as planned. As longtime Choir Teacher Ms. Rhoda Sutton said, “It was frustrating for the students.

The students had worked on sharpening their sight reading skills all year in order to prepare for the Disney workshop. Also, senior students look forward to the music trip and annual concert as some of the activities that mark the end of the school year.”

For Traditional African Music and Dance led by Mr. Victor Bah, this year’s six annual Sankofa performances were to showcase the life and work of the great poet and author Maya Angelou who passed away in 2019. The cancellation of Sankofa performances impacted over 100 students who annually showcase their gifts and talents in these dramatic ensembles. In addition to the cancellation of Sankofa, so were Theatre Director Mrs. Mary Mitchell-Donahue’s four student performances of Twelfth Night, a romantic comedy written by William Shakespeare in the early seventeenth century.

Traditional Dance Teacher Ms. Cindy King noted how the more than 100 students in her program were disappointed that they could not attend their scheduled trip to New York City, as for some “it was going to be their first trip to the City.” In spite of this setback, she expressed why the arts remain so important during this difficult time, “Science is going to get us out of this, but ART is going to get us through this!”

Visual Art Teacher Ms. Kathryn Heneghan discussed how the inaccessibility of public art exhibition spaces, along with in-person guidance, has made it impossible to include first hand exposure to actual museum objects this quarter. “This has impacted both active looking skill-building and learning objectives that include building a comfort level with local art exhibition spaces. Museum trips inspire (continued on next page)

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many students in ways that working with digital images does not.”

Mr. Anthony Conto, Director of Bands & Orchestra, summarized well how the cancellation of so many fine arts events and in person classes have impacted the Fine Arts Department, “For the most part I think the Bishop McNamara community has come together.

I hope the students and parents know that the Fine Arts teachers continue to do everything in their power to keep the students and community engaged in the arts, and to be clear, communicative, and transparent.”

For Bishop McNamara Athletics, the spring season was just getting started when the school’s physical campus was officially closed on March 13, 2020. Spring sports include baseball, softball, girls and boys lacrosse, track and field, golf and tennis and each program held tryouts and early season scrimmages. Some programs even held a non-league game. What many thought was going to be a very exciting season for these programs never materialized.

For a few weeks after the closure of the physical campus, students and coaches hoped that the spring season would resume, even if truncated, but by late April it became clear that athletic competitions would not happen this spring. As last year’s Washington Catholic Athletic Conference Baseball Coach of the Year Mr. Anthony Sosnoskie said, “The whole experience has caused a lot of confusion, anxiety, and frustration. The positive that will come out of it is the toughness and resilience that we will all have. We will also never take this game for granted.”

Head Girls’ Softball Coach Mrs. Angelina Diehlmann LR ’85 discussed the impact the cancellation of the season had on her young women, “I had 6 seniors that were looking forward to playing their final year of high school softball and winning a championship.

I had 5 returning players that truly made their mark on the WCAC last year. These girls were looking forward to making an even bigger impact this year! The development of our younger players on junior varsity was missed out on. More than anything, we missed the community that surrounds Mammano Field. We all really missed connecting with each other.”

Director of Athletic Operations Mr. Marty Keithline concluded, “The spirit of the young men and women in the programs was certainly down, but not out. The coaches did a great job of keeping in contact with the student-athletes, working with them both physically and on an emotional level. I was sad that the cancellation of spring sports derailed some of our most promising teams in recent memory…. It also hindered many promising underclassmen from showcasing their talents. Yet, Bishop McNamara Athletics will be back and stronger than ever!”

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Impact on The Class of 2020 The cancellation of these events and many other end of year activities were particularly impactful on the Class of 2020, a group that has experienced many tumultuous events over the course of their young lives. Born after the 2001 September 11 attacks, this group of seniors experienced as young children the fallout of the Great Recession starting in 2008. They also experienced the fallout from numerous mass school shootings that took place in different locations throughout the United States. Tragically, there have been too many of these to recount here.

Class of 2020 students, performers, and athletes did not get the chance to demonstrate, sing, dance, or play in front of enthusiastic parents and peers gathered together to watch them reveal their numerous gifts and talents at the end of the academic year. Doing schoolwork remotely was challenging and difficult, but for many Bishop McNamara seniors, they noted that the cancellation of other classic senior events was a real loss. As Tay-Lor Albright ’20 said, “Prom and in-person graduation at the Shrine are two things every Bishop McNamara student looks forward to.” On a brighter note, she said some positive things came from the stay at home orders resulting from the pandemic, “I learned that I am a really good chef and I am grateful that this quarantine has allowed me to become closer to my family.”

Gratitude for Outstanding School Leadership As the shutdown stretched into May, the school continued to operate remotely. Although this was never the way that President Clark wanted to conclude his 23 years of dedicated service and leadership to Bishop McNamara High School, the period marked a defining moment in his tenure. He led the effort to close the physical campus earlier than most other school leaders to ensure the safety and well-being of the Bishop McNamara community. He spent countless hours on hundreds of teleconference calls tirelessly answering questions from concerned parents. He advanced crisis response plans and partnered with new President/CEO Dr. John Barnhardt to ensure a smooth transition of school leadership at a difficult time. He counseled and collaborated with Principal Carter and the Administrative Team to execute remote instruction plans and continued meetings with the Executive Corporate Partnership Committee and members of the Board of Directors advancing the building of the La Reine Science and Innovation Center, which remains scheduled to open in 2021. Most importantly, he provided a sense of calm within the Bishop McNamara community and he encouraged, in true Holy Cross fashion, the community to remain strong, kind, considerate, faithful, hopeful, and loving. Thank you President Clark!

Thanks must also be given to Principal Carter. Throughout these months, Principal Carter and her husband Kevin produced each day a video titled “Running with the Mustangs” documenting the community’s daily happenings among students, faculty and staff. She led efforts to organize community events for seniors including Senior Saturday and Senior Week. She spent countless hours meeting with teachers, staff, parents and students remotely answering hundreds of practical and logistical questions about the daily operation of the school. Indeed, her abundant energy and passionate resolve remained evident throughout this difficult transition and her hopeful exuberance carried the school forward during a difficult time. Thank you Principal Carter!

Being Family While Educating Hearts and Minds In A Remote Environment All groups of the school’s employees rallied during this unprecedented time. Those who were part of it will forever hold a special place in the history of Bishop McNamara High School. The school has now functioned remotely for more than two months and so much has happened, but the state of Bishop McNamara High School remains strong. All courses among the many academic disciplines continued. Compassionate and thoughtful services were rendered by the Counseling Center and members of the Academic Support Services Team. Five videos were produced during Senior Week by administrators, faculty, and staff culminating with a special Commencement video for the Class of 2020. MWAC Moderator Mr. Lou Holder and his student broadcast team continued to produce engaging and thoughtful newscasts throughout this period.

Athletic coaches and fine arts instructors held numerous remote practices and rehearsals. The Administrative Team, The Business Office, Advancement Team, Facilities, Information Technology Team, Web Services, and the Support Staff all kept the daily operation of the school moving forward. They diligently executed plans for remote instruction, paid bills, secured gifts for the La Reine Science and Innovation Center, kept the building spotless, successfully completed a presidential transition, and answered thousands of questions from concerned community members with Holy Cross hospitality. The Holy Cross pillar of “Being Family,” in many ways, was never more evident as when the community remained physically distant!

US Struggles Are BMHS Struggles By the end of May and into the first week of June, the United States was dealing with three major issues and events simultaneously the COVID-19 pandemic, the highest unemployment rate since the Great Depression, and the wide scale call for change to end

systemic racism resulting from the death of Mr. George Floyd, a 46 year old African American male who was living in Minnesota and who died after pleading for help as a white police officer pinned him - unarmed and handcuffed - to the ground for eight minutes and forty six seconds.

These three issues and events have all impacted African Americans and people of color more than other demographic groups throughout the United States. As a result, they have truly influenced members of the Bishop McNamara community as a minority majority school.

African Americans are more than twice as likely as whites, Latinos or Asian Americans to die from the coronavirus. By the first week of June, the unemployment rate for African Americans was 16.8 percent, compared with 12.4 percent for white Americans. Finally, African Americans are incarcerated in state prisons at five times the rate of whites. Thus, as protests roiled US cities in early June and the phrase Black Lives Matter reverberated throughout these mass gatherings, it was an extraordinary moment of pain for the nation, especially for African Americans. In response, school leaders on Friday, May 29, less than a week after Mr. Floyd’s death, in a statement titled Uniting Against Systemic Racism As A People With Hope to Bring said, “In the face of America’s persistent structural racism and violence against individuals and communities of color, we all must do more, but we must do so as people with hope to bring. That is the Bishop McNamara way. As a school community committed to the principle of building respect, we want our educational institution to serve as a catalyst for positive change.”

Being People With Hope To Bring In the Midst Of A Pandemic To work for positive change, Bishop McNamara High School served as host and a major partner in the community food distribution that took place on Saturday, May 30, 2020, providing boxes of fresh groceries to those challenged by the COVID-19 crisis using a drivethrough grab-and-go method. Called The BMHS Grocery Giveaway, organized at Bishop McNamara largely by Director of Development Ms. Sandy Mammano, Bishop McNamara volunteers including students and their families, faculty, staff, and administration, filled Mt. Calvary parking lot ready to serve more than 500 families of Prince George’s County as a response to helping those in need during the global pandemic.

Prince George’s County Executive Angela Alsobrooks and Wanda Durant, mother of NBA star Kevin Durant, founder of The Real MVP Charity and The Kevin Durant Foundation, served as event leaders. Along with Prince George’s County leaders Councilman (continued on next page)

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Being People with

HOPE to Bring:

BMHS Responds to COVID-19

Calvin Hawkins, Senator Melony Griffith and the District 25 Team, Steve Proctor of GS Proctor & Associates, and Mario Minor, CEO of Market Fresh Gourmet, they packed and distributed boxes of fresh vegetables, fruit and meat for citizens as they arrived at the site.

The event was supported by many county officials including Prince George’s County Police Chief Henry “Hank” Stawinski, Prince George’s County Fire Chief Tiffany Green, Maryland Delegate Diana Fennell and City of District Heights Commissioner Cynthia Miller, who all pitched in passing out boxes of food. For the Bishop McNamara community, the offer to participate and to host the event was just one of the many ways the school has led by example during this period to give back to its community as the event also highlighted the newly graduated Class of 2020, a class who did not get to participate in a traditional graduation ceremony in May, as nearly half of the class arrived ready to help regardless of circumstances.

During the following weeks in June, the Bishop McNamara community continued its commitment to be a catalyst for positive change. Student Ayanna McCarley ‘20, Campus Minister Mr. Peter Sanneman, Assistant Director of Campus Ministry Ms. Amanda Saunders, Director of School & College Counseling Ms. Alicia Olgesby, Freshman Gateway Teacher Mr. Craig Glover-Hines ’09, Social Studies Teacher Ms. Jaleshea Cobbs, President/CEO of DHM Photography Mr. Michael Anderson ’94, Director for Mission Advancement Dr. Robert Van der Waag, Principal Carter, and President Barnhardt put together and participated in A Virtual Prayer Service for Racial Justice led remotely from Moreau Chapel on Thursday, June 4, 2020, which was the last day of the 2019-2020 academic year, to call for an end to the social sin of systemic racism and pray for racial justice in our local and national communities.

On his third day in his new role, President Barnhardt, along with several other participants in the livestream broadcast, spoke boldly in their silence by taking a knee for close to nine minutes to honor the memory of Mr. George Floyd. After this prayer service, students from each grade level were invited the following week to a panel and discussion called Ending Racism and Promoting Justice, led remotely

by Bishop McNamara staff and student leaders that included Janiya Hepburn ’20 and Ayanna McCarley ’20.

On the weekend of June 6-7, 2020, Bishop McNamara High School physically awarded diplomas to the 215 graduates of the Class of 2020. Hosting this graduation event on campus while remaining physically distant, President Clark, Principal Carter, and the faculty and staff enabled seniors finally to receive their diplomas while providing them with a festive atmosphere. Each graduate was asked to come to school in one car decked out in maroon and gold. Upon arrival, students drove around the main driveway circle

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where they picked up their diplomas and graudation awards that were ensconced in a beautiful box, then drove through a parade route that spiraled throughout the campus, took a picture and received their diploma from President Clark and Principal Carter while Assistant Principal for Student Life Mr. Reginald Brady announced each student’s name, and then exited the school grounds with a final stop at the parking gate to receive their alumni pin and letter from President Clark, which proclaimed that each recipient was now a proud alumnus of Bishop McNamara High School.

For those present, it was a memorable and hopeful way to close an unprecedented school year!

We Remain, Always and Forever, Bishop McNamara!

There is no doubt that these past few months have been challenging for all members of the Bishop McNamara family. The school prays for the health and safety of all people amid the COVID-19 pandemic. As the state of this public health emergency changes from day to day, Bishop McNamara remains focused on keeping the school community safe, healthy, and prepared. At the point of this writing, President Barnhardt, along with other senior leaders of the school, are strategizing plans for the 2020-2021 academic year to deal with the numerous important health and safety questions that must be answered with the desire and hope to renew in person instruction come this fall.

The impact of the pandemic remains significant. By the second week of June, the outbreak of the virus, which, remember, began in Wuhan, China, less than six months ago, has sickened more than five million people. At least 346,000 people have died worldwide and over 100,000 people have died from COVID-19 in the United States. The Bishop McNamara family has experienced loss as a result of this pandemic as members of the school’s alumni and current families have had loved ones pass away from COVID-19 and many others have gotten sick from this virus. The pandemic has also clearly revealed cleavages in the national fabric and exposed overt and covert racial inequities that must be dealt with and eradicated.

As the school looks forward to the 2020-2021 school year, the school’s collective perseverance through hardship, transition to remote learning, and calls for justice remain part of an ongoing journey of hopeful redemption. As a Catholic school rooted in the Holy Cross tradition, we know that we live in a world where God’s spirit is with us and who calls us to be sisters and brothers to one another and people with hope to bring. We remain, always and forever, Bishop McNamara! n

Deacon Patrick Agustin

Congratulations FROM

BISHOP McNAMARA HIGH SCHOOL

Deacon Patrick Agustin will be ordained to the priesthood by Archbishop Gregory on June 20, 2020.

Join us in wishing Patrick, Bishop McNamara class of 2004, all the best in his future endeavors.

a lway s

a

m u s ta n g

Caritas 2020 Please join us in celebration of this year’s honorees: Distinguished Parents’ Club Volunteer: Ja’net Dawson

Holy Cross Award: Robert Summers ’86

Distinguished Athletics Volunteer: Michael Gavin

St. Andre Caritas Medal: Steve and Dianne Proctor

Distinguished Fine Arts Volunteer: Dr. Laura Kalshoven

St. Andre Caritas Award: The Executive Corporate Partnership Committee: Robert Summers ’86, Steve Proctor, Thomas Borger, Tamika Tremaglio, Dan Connelly ’77, Jasey Briley ’77, Rosie Allen-Herring, Ronnette Meyers, Diana Leon-Brown, Brian Larkin ’99, Paul Jackson ’94, Ken Harris ’82, Patty Cappello LR ’76, Charles McPherson, Sheila Curry, Laura Irwin

Anthony Johnson Unsung Hero Award: Dr. Frank and Diane McDuffie Business Partner of the Year: BCC & Associates, LLC Young Alumni Award: Ashley Sharp ’11 Distinguished Alumni Award: Chandrai Jackson-Saunders LR ’79 Presidential Award: Marybeth Baumgartner Distinguished Faculty Service Award: Robert “Bob” Nolte Distinguished Staff Service Award: Peter Sanneman

Congratulations again to our 2020 Caritas Honorees!

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BMHS Innovates, Transforms & Thrives In A Time Of Crisis

Bishop McNamara High School actively monitored the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic since its first reported case in the United States in January, 2020 and throughout the months of February and March as the virus spread throughout the country. As the pandemic engulfed all regions of the nation, President/ CEO Dr. Marco Clark ’85 and Principal Mrs. Dian Carter called together the school’s Crisis Response Team to implement plans and execute procedures regarding the potential move to remote learning in case the school’s physical campus had to be closed to enact physical distancing measures to insure the safety and well-being of the Bishop McNamara community.

Out of an abundance of caution, the school courageously announced on Thursday, March 12 the closure of the physical campus. This was days earlier than the announcement to close schools from the State of Maryland and many other private and independent schools in the Washington Metropolitan area. Starting on Friday, March 13, the physical campus was closed.

Administration, faculty, and staff utilized the next several days for professional development to transition to remote learning by the following week.

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BMHS’s Vision Focused and Mission-Centered Response to COVID-19 With great thought and care to continue to advance the school’s vision and fulfill its mission to educate hearts and minds, by Thursday, March 19, the Solemnity of St. Joseph, the patron saint of the Congregation of Holy Cross, less than a week later, Bishop McNamara High School held its first day of full remote learning classes for every course among its more than 850 students. A tremendous achievement! Yet, one worthy of Bishop McNamara High School as Holy Cross people with hope to bring!

The school was well positioned to meet this crisis because it has engaged in various forms of remote instruction since the 2006-2007 school year that incorporated scheduled Distance Learning Days. Today, Bishop McNamara High School stands as a national leader in remote learning and the school’s frameworks and policies in this area guide and inform many Catholic and independent schools throughout the region and beyond.

Our Mustangs have kept learning and achieving while

many schools closed. They remain resilient, eager, and engaged learners. They are a source of inspiration for the future. As Senior Class Executive President Ayanna McCarley ’20 noted about how Bishop McNamara students have responded to this crisis, “We will be able to unite more because of our current situation. It will allow us to become more understanding and empathetic toward one another.” Our employees remain committed to their shared vocation as Holy Cross educators. They continue to explore and shape ideas and offer personal and differentiated instruction with zeal and care offered now on the most uptodate platforms. Bishop McNamara continues to prepare students, as our founder Blessed Basil Moreau hoped for more than 180 years ago, “for better times than these.” Indeed, Bishop McNamara meets and exceeds Fr. Moreau’s call!

Educating Hearts and Minds in a Time of Crisis: A Student-Centered Approach Bishop McNamara High School employs a student centered approach in its remote instruction and uses remote instruction in all its courses across every academic discipline including Science, Math, English, Social Studies, Information Technology and Engineering, Theology, Modern & Classical Languages, Fine Arts, and Health and Physical Education. Led by our Assistant Principal for Academics Mr. Charles Shryock and the school’s dedicated academic team, Bishop McNamara students and families have access to the school’s Remote Learning Guide for Students and Families. This guide provides information about Maccess, which serves as the school’s “home base” for posting all lessons, assignments, and more. Students, families, administrators, counselors, and student support teams use this one location to check for assignments, course syllabi, instructional videos, enrichment activities, and collaborative documents across all classes, to ensure students are making progress. These platforms enable Bishop McNamara’s devoted Holy Cross educators not only to administer all of its classes, but allow for the entry of student grades and administration of report cards with letter grades, a process that continues until the conclusion of the 2019-2020 academic year.

This helps students applying to colleges and universities as these institutions will see that instruction did not cease at Bishop McNamara High School during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Bishop McNamara High School’s outreach remains comprehensive as remote learning has been supplemented with a host of robust resources provided by our Counseling Center, Student Support Services, the St. Joseph’s Program for students with learning differences, the St. Andre Program for students with intellectual

disabilities, and Campus Ministry. Students meet virtually with their grade level counselors to discuss their academic performance, but also speak with them about how they are emotionally dealing and coping with this crisis. In addition, students and families access and share learning plans and strategies with the school’s outstanding student support instructors to meet curricular goals. Also, students engage an array of spiritual resources and meditation activities offered by the school’s faithful campus ministers. In addition, Bishop McNamara’s athletic coaches, fine arts instructors, and club moderators hold virtual practices, rehearsals, and discussion forums to enable these formative activities to advance during this stressful period. Finally, members of the school’s administration, on top of competently executing the school’s crisis response plan, personally contact Bishop McNamara families to learn about how each student and their family are responding and dealing with this national emergency. Indeed, Bishop McNamara is doing everything possible to help during this crisis including the creation of The Bishop McNamara Family Crisis Fund with the hashtag #BMHSFAMILY. This fund responds to families financially with emergency tuition and crisis support as together, as one #BMHSFAMILY, we will stride through this unprecedented crisis!

What Does a Remote Learning School Day Look Like at BMHS? Remote learning instructional days begin with Principal Carter sending out daily announcements that include prayers, the Pledge of Allegiance, the BMHS School Code, and pertinent information about the day’s events for students and parents/guardians including a video segment produced by Mrs. Carter and her husband Kevin called, “Keeping Up with the Mustangs!” Teachers post all lessons and activities for the day in Maccess by 8:15 am.

Instruction and assessment takes place both synchronously and asynchronously to attain optimal learning outcomes. Synchronous instruction allows for an instructor to meet with students in real time so that they can give lectures, show and demonstrate skills, and field questions live via teleconference tools. Asynchronous instruction allows students to access lessons and complete assignments at any time before they are due. This kind of instruction remains the norm for most courses operating remotely at Bishop McNamara High School. Assignments are due, at the earliest, by 11:59 pm of the next school day. Our instructors are advised to make direct instruction short and rich, and keep recorded lectures under 15 minutes and to offer

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a “personal touch” or interaction at least once a week while tracking student progress to ensure participation and completion.

We Are Bishop McNamara!

Bishop McNamara High School’s comprehensive response to this national emergency resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic remains grounded in its mission to educate hearts and minds in a dynamic, inclusive Catholic school community rooted in the Holy Cross tradition. Inspired by its vision to form empowered

leaders, inspired by the Gospel, who transform the world, the physical closure of the school’s campus has not prevented Bishop McNamara from advancing its vision or fulfilling its mission. Bishop McNamara continues to make God known, loved, and served. We remain for our students, families, employees, and alumni a community with hope to bring. Our community is innovating, transforming, and thriving in this time of crisis. As we say each day, “We are Bishop McNamara!

We are Holy Cross! We Choose to Build Family, Show Respect, Educate Our Minds and Hearts, and Bring Hope! We Choose to Think with Christ!” n

BMHS Remains Committed To Excellence In A Time Of Crisis Remote Instruction Offered in 195+ Courses Across Every Academic Discipline (Science, Math, English, Social Studies, Information Technology and Engineering, Theology, Modern & Classical Languages, Fine Arts, and Health and Physical Education) ————————————————————————— Comprehensive Remote Learning Guide Provided For Students & Parents ————————————————————————— Secure & Safe Access Through Maccess Learning Management System ————————————————————————— Student Achievement Recognized Through Letter Grades & Complete Transcripts ————————————————————————— Competent & Caring Administrative Team Implements Remote BMHS Crisis Response Plan ————————————————————————— Trained Holy Cross Educators Provide Remote StudentCentered Differentiated Instruction ————————————————————————— Caring Counselors Give Remote Academic, Social, & Emotional Crisis Support Services ————————————————————————— Trained Resource Teachers Provide Remote Individual Instruction Plans For All Learners ————————————————————————— Faithful Campus Ministers Offer Remote Prayer, Spiritual Formation, & Meditation Opportunities

Creative Communications Team Delivers Remote Mustang Minute Alumni Monthly Newsletter & Mustang Messenger Bi-Annual Magazine ————————————————————————— Dynamic & Creative Fine Arts Department Holds Remote Rehearsals and Tutorials ————————————————————————— Committed Coaches Offer Remote Practices & Game Preparation Discussion Forums ————————————————————————— Award Winning WMAC Student Broadcast Team Produces Remote Informative & Engaging News Segments ————————————————————————— Mustang Moderators Orchestrate Remote Extracurricular Clubs and Activities ————————————————————————— Inventive Web Services Team Delivers Remote Pertinent Content ————————————————————————— Dedicated Admissions Team Provides Remote Holy Cross Hospitality To Our Fully Enrolled Class of 2024 Mustangs ————————————————————————— Inspired & Driven Advancement Team Campaigns & Fundraises For The La Reine Science & Innovation Center Opening In 2021 ————————————————————————— #BMHSFAMILY - Making God Known, Loved & Served

Vision: Empowered Leaders, Inspired by the Gospel, Transforming the World!

Mission: To educate hearts and minds in a dynamic, inclusive Catholic school community rooted in the Holy Cross tradition.

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He’s a Class Act: Paul Brennan Wicks ’20 How do you define a student-athlete? A student-athlete, by definition, is a person who is a full-time student, as well as a fulltime athlete, at the same time. The life of a student-athlete is intense, particularly for a teenager in high school. The time commitment required to be an elite athlete consumes most of the time that other students have to study, rest, socialize, or spend quality time with their families. There is also a standard academic level that a student-athlete must maintain to participate in their sport, which adds consistent pressure to student-athletes already full workload.

The student-athlete role is not for the weak at heart.

Paul Brennan Wicks ’20 is the epitome of a successful studentathlete and far from weak-hearted. After four years of hard training, discipline, mental toughness, and focus, Paul began to see the fruits of his labor. Standing 6’4”, 243 pounds, Paul has achieved the highest athletic honors as well as the highest academic honor a student-athlete can achieve. He was named the Class of 2020 Valedictorian, as well as the Wrestling WCAC Champion in the 285-pound division.

“In November 2019, I set a goal to win,” said Paul. “I proved to myself that you could achieve it when you set your mind to something and commit to it.”

Paul’s strong work ethic was clear from the beginning. He’s always kept his schedule full. As just an underclassman, Paul achieved summa cum laude honors all four quarters, maintaining a 4.4 GPA while participating in both junior varsity and varsity football, wrestling, junior varsity baseball, rugby club, engineering club, and English honor society. “I wanted to maintain my level of performance in the classroom, but also be the best athlete I could be,” said Paul.

During his senior year, Paul has earned All-WCAC Honors

in two sports, football and wrestling. He earned Honorable Mention Honors in football and First Team All-WCAC Honors in wrestling. In addition to winning the Wrestling WCAC Championship for his division, he finished with a record of 39-9 during the season earning third-place finishes at both the Beast of the East Tournament and the Warpath Invitational, fourth place at the Maryland Independent State Tournament, and a National Prep Qualifier. He was also named one of the Bishop McNamara High School Frank Neitzey Male Award Winners (Male Athlete of the Year).

“On the wrestling mat, there is nowhere to hide, and no one to blame for your mistakes except yourself,” Paul expressed. “When you are on the wrestling mat, there is no one there except you and your opponent. You must take responsibility for all your actions.

Everything you do in practice, what you eat, how you regulate your day comes out on the mat. If you have not prepared properly, you will eventually come across an opponent who will expose you.”

This mindset is the foundation of Paul Brennan Wicks. As a result of his drive and mental toughness, Paul was offered over 20 academic and athletic scholarships and financial aid to colleges and universities. Continuing his Holy Cross education, he accepted a full four-year Naval ROTC scholarship from the University of Notre Dame in South Bend, IN worth over $200,000. In true Paul fashion, he will continue his athletic career, joining the offensive and defensive line on Notre Dame’s football team.

As Paul transitions from Bishop McNamara, there are a few things he does not plan to leave behind. The relationships he developed in high school will forever be cherished. We know Paul will continue to be a class act. Congratulations on a job well done! n

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College Signing Days at Bishop Out of the millions of student-athletes who participate in

high school athletics, less than three percent of all high school athletes receive a scholarship to participate at NCAA Division I colleges and universities. This year Bishop McNamara High School is proud to boast 24 student-athletes from the Class of 2020 who have received these kinds of financial awards. Each year, the school celebrates these kinds of scholarship recipients during various signing ceremonies.

On November, 11, 2019, in the Andy Mona ’82 Student Center, ten student-athletes from the Class of 2020 signed letters of intent during the early signing period including Brianna Davis ’20 (High Point University, Gymnastics), Hope Evans ’20 (Coppin State University, Basketball), Donavan Frayer ’20 (Shorter University, Baseball), Liatu King ’20 (University of Pittsburgh, Basketball), Jared Mammano ’20 (Shepherd University, Baseball), Kale’a Perry ’20 (Virginia

On February 5, 2020, also in the Andy Mona ’82 Student Center, seven additional student-athletes from the Class of 2020 signed letters of intent during the regular signing period.

They included JaVaugh Faunteroy ’20 (Towson University, Football), Anthony Haythe ’20 (Wheeling University, Football), Quinn Osbourne ’20 (College of William & Mary, Football), Ralph Paige ’20 (Merrimack College, Football), Langston Ross ’20 (St. Francis University, Football), Bailey Wilcox ’20 (Chowan University, Softball), and Kenneth Womack ’20 (Sacred Heart University, Football).

Sacred Heart University

Towson University

Wheeling University

30

Commonwealth University, Soccer), Jonathan Rodenhaver ’20 (Fairleigh Dickinson University, Baseball), Madison Scott ’20 (University of Mississippi, Basketball), Nadia Wilson ’20 (University of North Carolina at Greensboro, Soccer), and Stevie Mika ’20 (Virginia Commonwealth University, Soccer).

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Merrimack College

University at Albany

McNamara High School Finally, on May 20, 2020 and posted virtually on social media as the school had moved to full remote learning months earlier, seven additional student-athletes from the Class of 2020 signed letters of intent during the spring signing period. They included Brennan Wicks ’20 (The University of Notre Dame, Football), Jamaine Barnes ’20 (Hampton University, Lacrosse), Alana Paul ’20 (Alabama A&M University, Soccer), Brandon Baker ’20 (Belmont Abbey College, Baseball), Aaliyah Pitts ’20 (University of Virginia, Basketball), Alex Broome ’20 (Howard University, Lacrosse), and Mya Bradley ’20 (University of Nebraska, Lincoln, Track & Field).

Bishop McNamara High School congratulates all these student-athletes and their families for receiving these kinds of scholarships and for the commitment they have shown in the classroom and on the court or field during their time at Bishop McNamara High School. Go Mustangs! n

College of William & Mary

Virginia Commonwealth University

Chowan University

Saint Francis University

High Point University

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The Girls Varsity Basketball The Girls Varsity Basketball Team, led by its outstanding

Head Varsity Coach Frank Oliver, Jr., had one of the most successful seasons in school history. A top ten national ranking in every major poll throughout the year, almost thirty wins, stellar veteran play led

by McDonald’s All-American and WCAC Co-Player of the Year Madison Scott ’20, who is committed to play at The University of Mississippi, as well as seniors Liatu King ’20, committed to the University of Pittsburgh, Hope Evans ’20, committed to Coppin State, Aaliyah Pitts ’20, committed to play at the University of Virginia, and Channa Hayes ’20, committed to The State University of New York at Albany, as well as a host of talented members of the classes of ’21, ’22, and ’23, this year’s group of student-athletes fulfilled their promise by capturing the school’s first WCAC title in girls basketball since 2008.

The Lady Mustangs played a number of ranked opponents from across the country in several national tournaments that brought together the best high school programs in the country. Coach Oliver sought to utilize this rigorous non-conference schedule to prepare the team for the challenges of the competitive WCAC, which this year saw teams such as Paul VI and St. John’s College High School, who the Lady Mustangs defeated in the WCAC playoffs, also compete for the status of being the best team in the Washington Metropolitan area in what many sports enthusiasts contend is the most challenging conference in girls high school basketball in the country.

Although the team lost its two most dynamic scorers in Aliyah Matharu ’19 and Jakia Brown-Turner ’19 to graduation last year, the team possessed a balanced offense throughout the season as many girls on the team had the ability to score in double figures on any given night. Oliver noted that this year’s team was more athletic with players such as Yonta Vaughn ’22 pacing play and a better rebounding team overall as several players, including Scott, King, and Taylor Gibson ’22, had the height advantage over most of their competition. Where this team truly defined itself was on the defensive end of the court holding numerous opponents throughout the season under forty points per contest. In the WCAC semifinals against St. John’s, they allowed this high scoring team only eight field goals and in the WCAC championship game against Paul VI, fourteen of their forty points were earned at the foul line. This year’s squad proved the adage that defense wins championships!

The Girls Varsity Basketball Team, which proudly boasts a team grade point average well above 3.0, showing that these young ladies are not only talented on the court, but excel in the classroom, accomplished many goals this season, but, the most significant, was taking home the WCAC Tournament Championship on February 24, 2020 at American University against nationally ranked Paul VI. With their dedication to hard work, teamwork, and self-sacrifice, this group of Lady Mustangs not only built on the program’s recent high level of success, but wrote a unique chapter that will leave their own lasting legacy of accomplishment that led to a season of fulfillment. n

All-League Liatu King Madison Scott Aaliyah Pitts

Yonta Vaughn Hope Evans Taylor Gibson

2019-20 Bishop McNamara Lady Mustangs 32

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Team: A Season of Fulfillment lady mustangs lady mustangs lady mustangs lady mustangs lady mustangs lady mustangs lady mustangs lady mustangs

2019-20 Roster #2 Liatu King #3 Aaliyah Pitts #4 Jessica Singletary #5 Yonta Vaughn #10 Dadence Samuels #12 Channa Hayes #20 Hope Evans #23 Sahnya Jah

#24 Madison Scott ASST Coach #32 Taylor Gibson James Marshall #35 Gia Cookie ASST Coach Sean Middleton Head Coach Frank Oliver Jr ASST Coach Erica Calhoun

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It Takes A Village Madison Scott ’20 faced an unexpected ending to her senior season, but not before achieving more accolades than she envisioned February 25, 2019, the buzzer sounded in Bender Arena at American University. Heartbroken, Madison Scott ’20, and the Lady Mustangs faced the realization they were not the 2019 WCAC Champions. With media and photographers waiting outside the Lady Mustang’s locker room, Madison sat with tears in her eyes and an abundance of thoughts running through her mind as she stared down at her bruised and swollen foot, dreading to face any questions about the game. “Why me?” she asked herself.

Madison soon found out that she played with a broken foot for the past two weeks and needed surgery to return to the basketball court. Having surgery would result in missing a critical AAU season. She was risking an AAU Nike Championship, losing college scholarship offers, dropping in the ESPNW Class of 2020 Rankings, and losing her opportunity to become a McDonald’s All-American. Overwhelmed, Madison turned to her support system to help her make one of the most significant decisions of her basketball career. She agreed to have the surgery immediately.

During her time off the court, Madison focused all her energy on preparing for her senior season by training and conditioning with her trainer, having constant motivational talks with her coaches and mentors to help manage her college recruiting process, and prioritizing and writing her goals on paper. Her goals consisted of; becoming a Nike EYBL National Champion, becoming a WCAC Champion, and becoming the second McDonald’s AllAmerican in Bishop McNamara’s history. After weeks of rest and recovery, Madison was back on the court, going on to help her AAU organization, Team Takeover, become the 2019 Chicago Nike EYBL National Champions. She maintained her ESPNW national rankings as 13th in the Class of 2020 and 2nd in her position to her surprise. With one goal completed, Madison’s senior school year began, and her workload grew.

“I felt I had unfinished business,” said Madison. “I was focused on making my senior year my personal best academic year while also becoming 100% healthy to help my team win the WCAC Championship!”

But where did Madison get inspiration to push forward through adversity? The people who have supported her have always been her greatest inspiration. Her village as she would describe it. “For those who have ever done anything for me, I want to be able to give back to them and make them proud,” said Madison. Completing her list of goals was her way of making her village proud.

Madison finished her high school basketball career with more titles than she ever imagined. Not only did she accomplish her goal of having her personal best academic school year by achieving

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summa cum laude, but she also was named to the 2020 McDonald’s All-American team, the 2020 Jordan Brand Classic team, WCAC Player of the Year, WCAC First Team All-Conference, Washington Post All-Met Player of the Year, Washington Post First Team All-Met, Bishop McNamara Frank Neitzey Award Recipient (Female Athlete of the Year), WBCA HS Coach AllAmerican Honorable Mention, helped her team win the 2020 WCAC Conference Championship and became the first team in Bishop McNamara’s history to receive an invitation to compete for the GEICO National Championship. She graduates as one of the most decorated female athletes in Bishop McNamara’s history.

Girls’ Basketball Head Coach Frank Oliver Jr. was confident that Madison would achieve her McDonald’s All-American dreams, especially having Jakia Brown-Turner ’19, girls’ basketball alumna, and first McDonald’s All-American in Bishop McNamara’s history, as her best friend and mentor. “Madison is a brilliant kid,” Coach Oliver expressed. “Her hard work, focus, and determination allowed her to improve every year. She remained focused through her senior year, and her leadership helped us attain our ultimate team goals.”

Standing 6’1”, Madison is often described by national evaluators as a pro in the making. She brings an outstanding amount of athleticism to the game, along with her ability to play all five positions on the court. She is excellent from the mid-range to the rim and extremely quick in transition. Her long and slim physique allows her the ability to get into passing lanes causing deflections and steals while also blocking shots. She is known for being a fantastic defender but contributes significantly to both ends of the floor.

Madison’s drive and athletic abilities afforded her the opportunity to be offered full athletic scholarships to over fifty colleges and universities. At the start of the school year, Madison traveled five consecutive weekends to visit UCLA, Florida State University, University of Miami, University of Mississippi, and the University of Maryland. In October 2019, she accepted a full athletic scholarship to the University of Mississippi (Ole Miss), a member of the Southeastern Conference (SEC).

“When I was at Ole Miss, it was when I had my player development meeting,” Madison shared. “It was just how Coach Yo said she would develop me over the next four years. It was just hearing that and hearing the plan. I don’t know what came over me, but I shed tears. I got that feeling that this was where I wanted to be. There was no feeling like it. Ole Miss was the only school that gave me that feeling.”

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Bishop McNamara High School Announces Martin “Marty” Keithline as Boys Varsity Head Basketball Coach Bishop McNamara High School

announced the selection of Mr. Martin “Marty” Kethiline on Wednesday, May 5, 2020 as its new Boys Varsity Basketball Head Coach. Mr. Keithline assumes this position having served the past two years as Director of Athletics Operations in the Athletics Department at Bishop McNamara High School, a position that he will maintain with his new coaching responsibilities. Mr. Keithline previously served as the Boys Varsity Basketball Head Coach for 15 seasons at Bishop McNamara High School becoming the winningest coach in school history.

A distinguished Holy Cross educator working in the Mathematics Department for most of his tenure at Bishop McNamara, Keithline teaches his players to have a competitive spirit, a commitment to excellence, and a desire to live with integrity. His passion and drive are his greatest attributes as a coach and he is a person who loves his players through his willingness to help them grow and mature as young people on and off the court. Members of the school’s senior administration and selection committee had this to say about Marty Keithline: “Marty Keithline is a true Holy Cross leader, a great mentor, an excellent coach and teacher, and an even better person. I’ve enjoyed watching him grow these past two years in his role as the Director

of Athletics Operations. I truly believe that the best is yet to come for the Bishop McNamara Boys Basketball Program. The committee has made an excellent hire in this outstanding Holy Cross educator and coach.” . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . President/CEO Dr. Marco J. Clark ’85 “Marty Keithline is not only a coach, but an educator and mentor to our young men. I look forward to the enthusiasm, dedication and knowledge & understanding of the game he will bring to our boy’s basketball team. He is anchored in our mission and will hold our student athletes to high standards both on and off the court.” . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Mrs. Dian A. Carter, Principal “Coach Keithline’s effectiveness at engaging our student athletes in both the technical skill development required on the court and their academic investment in the classroom is a huge win for our boys basketball program. I could not be more excited to see how his program will influence our school community and the larger impact they will have in the WCAC. Coach Keithline epitomizes what it means to be a member of the Bishop McNamara High School team and family and what it means to be a Holy Cross educator.” . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Dr. John Barnhardt, new President/CEO Marty Keithline is a fine teacher of the game of basketball and his demonstration of servant leadership, coaching acumen, and authentic commitment to the school coupled with his broad perspective about its athletic programs through his current role makes Marty Keithline an excellent choice to once again serve as Bishop McNamara High School’s Boys Varsity Basketball Head Coach. n

Madison Scott ’20 continued One of Madison’s non-negotiables when deciding her college choice was playing in a competitive conference that would prepare her for the WNBA. The SEC is the epitome of a competitive conference having the most teams finish in the AP Top 25 Postseason Rankings in 2020.

With so much to celebrate, obstacles for Madison were far from over. In March 2020, the global pandemic COVID-19 put an abrupt stop to some of her senior commitments. “It was unfortunate that the girl’s hard work allowed them the opportunity to participate in the GEICO National Championship, but the event was canceled due to COVID-19,” said Coach Oliver. The GEICO National Championship was scheduled for April 2-4, 2020, in New York, NY. The McDonald’s All-American games scheduled for April 1, 2020, in Houston, TX, along with the Jordan Brand Classic scheduled for March 27, 2020, in Chicago, IL, were among the canceled events

due to COVID-19.

“Although the class of 2020 was impacted the most due to the global pandemic, their four years of hard work and dedication will be felt for years to come,” said Coach Oliver. “By making it through this hard time, I believe the class of 2020 will spearhead change for the future.”

While Madison’s time for collecting accolades at Bishop McNamara High School has come to an unconventional end, she is humbled by her success and excited for her new journey ahead of her in Oxford, MS. “I’m just blessed and so grateful,” she said while looking at her Bishop McNamara diploma. “Honestly, I’m not worried about anything but my new team. I’ll take my talent and everything I can bring to Ole Miss. I truly believe we are going to do big things.”

Congratulations Madison! n

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ae

academic excellence

COMPOSITION BOOK

Learning to Write at BMHS

“I write every single day.”

Jason Reynolds ’00

“I think if everyone would write down the funny stories from their own childhoods, the world would be a better place.”

Jeff Kinney ’89

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With the recent selection of Jason Reynolds

’00 as the seventh National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature by the Library of Congress and Jeff Kinney ’89 having published his thirteenth book in the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series titled Wrecking Ball, it’s remarkable that two of the premier writers, whose work is aimed toward younger audiences, are graduates of Bishop McNamara High School.

The literary success of Mr. Reynolds and Mr. Kinney, along with many other Bishop McNamara graduates who have made writing central to their careers, reflects the strong emphasis the school places on being able to communicate effectively through the written word.

Given their incredible success as writers, along with our many graduates where writing is central to their livelihoods, the emphasis on being an effective communicator through writing, and having skills utilizing the written word, remains central to what it means to receive a Bishop McNamara High School education.

When reflecting on the school’s fifty-six year history, so many of our more than 12,000 alumni point to their numerous opportunities to write given to them by committed past and present faculty members to the craft of writing such as Al Ordiorno, Matt Goyette, ChrisTopher Williams, Patrice Wolfe, Michael Pozniak, Charles Shyrock, Katie White, Reginald Brady, Katherine Wierenga, Matthew Buckley ’98, Greg Vazzana ’98, Adam Greer, Geoffrey Molchan, Laura Keller, Garry Imes ’92, Emily Grice, and Ashley McNeill.

Like all crafts, writing is a skill that requires practice to become proficient. Without exercise, the skill becomes weak and atrophies, thus students require many opportunities throughout their time here at Bishop McNamara to hone their skills as writers.

Indeed, this takes many forms and opportunities.

From the moment a student enters Bishop McNamara, learning to write a well crafted essay, lab report, or journal entry become essential skills throughout the academic curriculum. Freshman English teachers today ask their students to write numerous responses to prompts that help students to learn how to write concisely and with focus. The ability to master writing a five paragraph essay, for example, becomes the foundation for writing longer essays in later years such as the senior thesis.

For many years, the writing of a senior thesis has been the capstone project of all students who wish to graduate Bishop McNamara. This writing exercise brings together many academic skills including research, critical thinking, and explanatory aptitudes that teach students how to argue a point throughout an extended essay. Today, students write a thesis paper in both their senior English course and section of Global Studies in Social Studies. In the English course, students focus on a topic and its domestic impact within the United States. In Global Studies, the student takes this same topic and examines it within a region explored in the course such as East Asia or Africa. As a result, students become very familiar with the subject matter explored in their papers and this approach also provides them multiple opportunities to hone their writing skills.

Students at Bishop McNamara also have the opportunity to do other forms of writing including poetry and fiction through formal coursework as well as a variety of extracurricular clubs, which enable writing as a form of art. In these forums, such as writing for The Stampede, the school newspaper led for many years by Mr. Charles Shryock, Assistant Principal for Academics, students discover their own unique voice. They give students the opportunity to articulate their own cultural identity and give voice to struggles they encounter from within their own context.

Both Kinney and Reynolds, although addressing very different kinds of topics and subjects among adolescents and young adults, utilize their creative writing skills to explore realities that these groups encounter on a daily basis. Whether it is dealing with adolescent anxiety expressed humorously or the challenges too many young people face as a result of gun violence, their capacity to deal with these subjects through their writing underscore the importance of maintaining these kinds of opportunities for self-expression within the curriculum.

As Bishop McNamara continues to expand its curriculum to meet the needs of a next generation of Mustangs, learning to write well by expressing ideas clearly, cogently, and thoughtfully, regardless of the medium of written expression, will remain central to what it means to receive a Bishop McNamara education. n

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fs

faith & service

To Think with Christ Marco J. Clark ’85

To think with Christ‌ Who would have known when the 14-year old version of Marco Clark walked into Bishop McNamara High School for the first time in 1981 that this motto would guide my entire life? These words, which appear on the Episcopal crest of Bishop John M. McNamara, for whom our school is named after, have served as the motto for Bishop McNamara High School since 1964.

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Years later our talented choir teacher of the past 20+ years, Ms. Rhoda Sutton, took these words and wrote accompanying lyrics and music for a song that has been sung annually at our Baccalaureate Mass since 2004: To think with Christ, my aim, my goal To offer Him my heart and soul To walk upright, both day and night To lend a hand, His voice obey To think with Christ, my prayer today I know the road ahead is long But if Christ walks with me, I’ll be strong Can’t turn around, His grace abounds I’ll walk with Him through sun and rain To walk with Christ, my heavenly gain I will not fear the dark of night I’ll keep on searching for the light Here I am Lord, yielded and still I want to do Your will To think with Christ, my aim, my goal To offer Him my heart and soul To walk upright both day and night To lend a hand, His voice obey To think with Christ, my prayer today

Believe and Achieve My earliest recollections of Bishop McNamara came in my youth when I was speaking with my uncles and older cousins who had attended Bishop McNamara as well as through my mother and aunts who were La Reine graduates. The pride with which they spoke and the memories they shared made me long for the day that I would be able to attend this hallowed school.

In the late 1970s I began to attend athletic camps at Bishop McNamara. It was there that I first met Coach Neitzey and Coach Waters. These two men, iconic figures in the history of our school, showed me how to use athletics as a platform for leadership and personal growth. I couldn’t wait for the day that I would someday play for them and proudly don the Maroon and Gold.

When I first walked into Bishop McNamara to apply for admission and to take the admissions test, I’ll never forget seeing Brother Eli Pelchat emerge from a back office to greet me. As the Registrar in those days, Brother Eli’s job was to process my application and administer the placement test. I remember looking at this gentle-man, whose white hair shone brilliantly, and his wrinkled smile that represented a life of joy and love,

Dr. Clark with Steve Proctor and County Executive Angela D. Alsobrooks

and dreaming of the day that I would be taught by these Holy Cross Brothers.

I could not have asked for a better high school experience than my four years at Bishop McNamara. While all of us tend to glorify (or demonize) that time in our lives, I know now in hindsight how those days shaped me and formed me. As an ambitious yet precocious and insecure teenager, I didn’t know what I didn’t know. I knew this, however, I loved to learn, I loved school, I loved the Lord, and I loved the impact that my teachers were having in my life.

As I dreamt about one day attending a top tier college or university, the first in my family to do so, I didn’t know the path forward and certainly didn’t come from a legacy to lean on. It was my teachers, however, too many to name, who helped me to believe in myself. And it was the Brothers’ example of a purposeful yet humble life of faith and service that inspired me to pursue higher education at a Catholic college or university with the hope to one day enter into religious life and/or be a Catholic educator.

Qualifying the Called Fast forward to 1997 when, after spending the previous eight years at a fellow school in the Archdiocese of Washington, DC, DeMatha Catholic High School, where I learned so much about myself, about leadership, and about Catholic education, that Heather Gossart called and invited me to come home to Bishop McNamara as the principal. Young, naïve, but eager to make a difference in the lives of young people the same way that my teachers and coaches did for me during my years at Bishop McNamara led me to enthusiastically accept this offer.

That “yes” would lead me on a trajectory for the next 23 years that I could have never dreamed of.

Like most people entering into a new career or position, I was filled with doubt and insecurity. I recall however, my mother (continued on next page)

To Think with Christ THE MUSTANG MESSENGER

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saying to me in a conversation when I was questioning whether or not I was qualified to do this important job, “Marc (she is one of three people in my life that call me Marc), God doesn’t call the qualified, he qualifies the called, and you’ve been called.”

The great theologian Thomas Merton, who I first learned about in my Christian Ethics class at Bishop McNamara, stated that until someone finds their true vocation, they are only trying to live. When you do find your true vocation, you are living fully.”

Until I came to Bishop McNamara 23 years ago, I was simply trying to live. Yes, I did some good things in my life, I worked hard and I loved people. But until I discovered my passion and my purpose in life, that is my vocation, I was always trying to live. Truly, as the fateful words of my mother had indicated, I had been called by God, and that made all the difference.

To Whom Much is Given, Much is Required Throughout my more than 27-year association with Bishop McNamara High School, this school has always been synonymous with the virtue of hope and the pillar of family.

Bishop McNamara brought me hope as a child and in my young adulthood and it continues to give me hope as I now enter this new chapter in my life. It gives me such great hope to see the accomplishments of our students. More importantly, it gives me such great hope to see the men and women they become—men and women who add and multiply to the world as opposed to subtracting and dividing; men and women who are empowered leaders, inspired by the Gospel, transforming the world; men and women who are committed to thinking with Christ.

In a world today that has been stricken by a pandemic that has paralyzed our healthcare system and our economy, as well as a time in history in which racial injustices seem ever more prevalent, I can’t help but believe that the 200+ graduates who graduate from our school each year will be the ones to transform the world.

clear-headed in identifying what is lacking, in ourselves and the world, but then envisions ways to create it and endeavors to make it better.

What Bishop McNamara did for me then and what it continues to do today is to prepare its students with the competence to see and the courage to act. That is what it means to be Mustangs for LIFE--leaders with integrity, faith and excellence.

#BMHSFAMILY Whether walking the halls of Bishop McNamara in our early years of the 60s, the growth years of the 70s and 80s, the challenging but transformative years in the 90s, or the thriving decades of the past 20+ years, the word family is the one most often used to describe the Bishop McNamara experience.

From the precocious and insecure 14-year old through the many milestones in my life, which now include grandchildren, Bishop McNamara has been a part of my family throughout.

From the influence of those generations who came before me to the personal witness of my children, all three of who are Bishop McNamara graduates, I am blessed and profoundly grateful that my life and my soul have been imbued with the mottos of Bishop McNamara High School, to think with Christ, and of the Brothers of Holy Cross, Ave Crux Spes Unica (the Cross is our only hope). Imagine a world in which we all lived this way—thinking with Christ and being men and women with hope to bring. As the words to “To think with Christ” state, that is my aim, my goal. That is my prayer today.

Thank you, Bishop McNamara High School and Brothers of Holy Cross. As a proud son of the maroon and gold and a product of Holy Cross education, I am eternally grateful and blessed beyond belief. May God continue to bless Bishop McNamara High School, the Congregation of Holy Cross, and all of you. And may we continue to be men and women with hope to bring as we prepare for better times. I love you and will miss you. n

I remember hearing these words when I was a student and I continued throughout my career to echo those same words: “Be the change you want to see in the world;” and “to whom much is given, much is required.” BMHS graduates have learned to be artists of the future, creators of culture, and defenders of life. Individually and collectively we are a hope-giving force who know that true success comes in serving God and serving others.

We know that today more than ever that the soul and our world is in dire need of care and protection from negativity. In my opinion, the best defense against it is vigorous, intelligent, sincere hope. The kind of hope displayed by Bishop McNamara graduates, bolstered by the ability to think critically, that is

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THE MUSTANG MESSENGER

Dr. Clark pictured with his mother, Nancy DeCesaris (Clark) Maimone LR ’64.

AN Alumni NEWS

All the leaves are brown And the sky is grey I’ve been for a walk On a winter’s day I’d be safe and warm If I was in L.A. California dreamin’ On such a winter’s day

MUSTANGS

Lyrics for California Dreamin’

by The Mamas & the Papas

In early March, right before the COVID-19 pandemic led Bishop McNamara High School to transition to remote learning, those living in the area anxiously awaited the transition from the chill of winter to the warmth of spring. At this time, President/ (continued on next page)

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“There’s great weather, tons of outdoor activities, there are tremendous job opportunities here, a strong tech culture... and the region continues to become more and more ethnically diverse.”

R. Andrew Price ’96 Senior Counsel, Google’s Ethics and Compliance Team CEO Dr. Marco J. Clark ’85 took a cross country trip to sunny and warm California. His purpose was to connect with La Reine and Bishop McNamara alumni and engage Holy Cross school leaders in the state as part of his new role as the Executive Director of the Holy Cross Institute.

In preparation for Dr. Clark’s trip, members of the Advancement Team in the months prior conducted research to discover alumni who reside in California. Once alumni were identified, the Advancement Team reached out to those individuals who lived near or within the San Francisco area to see if they could meet with Dr. Clark. They were told that this would be an opportunity for Dr. Clark to listen to their experiences about why they moved over 3000 miles away to settle in California as well as share with them the many exciting accomplishments of Bishop McNamara’s current students and the school’s transformative plans for the future, particularly the building of the La Reine Science and Innovation Center scheduled to open in 2021.

The response to the Advancement Team’s call for California Mustangs was terrific. In all, Dr. Clark held several individual meetings over three days with alumni in California and time was the only factor that prohibited him from meeting more alumni from La Reine and Bishop McNamara in the State of California. Dr. Clark had the opportunity to meet with alumni that spanned over four decades and who work for companies such as Google, Intel, and Deloitte.

Mr. Russell L. Jones ’88 met with Dr. Clark and he talked about his career journey since graduating from Bishop McNamara more than thirty years ago. Now working as a Partner at Deloitte with over 25 years of experience working with health care providers, biopharma companies, diagnostic companies, medical device manufacturers and public sector clients addressing a wide variety of information security, cybersecurity, data privacy and IT risk management issues, Mr. Jones has had an outstanding career in business and fulfilled personal life, much of which he attributes to the lessons learned at Bishop McNamara. He noted the incredible impact of Holy Cross educators such as Matthew Goyette whom he raved about as a teacher and mentor. Along with his brother Mr. Michael E. Jones ’97, who now lives in Los Angeles, California and has a successful career in corporate real estate, the rigorous academic environment promoted at Bishop McNamara enabled Russell to play a pivotal role in a company that prizes innovation and creativity.

Another alumnus that Dr. Clark met with on his trip was Mr. Joel G. Hagberg ’78, whose brothers Dr. Sean D. Hagberg ’77 and Mr. James G. Hagberg ’81 also attended Bishop

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McNamara. Joel works as the Head of Product Management and Marketing at Intel RealSense. Dr. Clark met Joel at the Intel Headquarters, a leading innovation and technology company, and discussed the school’s plans for the La Reine Science and Innovation Center. Mr. Hagberg is enthusiastic about this project, “The La Reine Science and Innovation Center will continue to advance and better Bishop McNamara as an educational leader in STEM related fields.”

Dr. Clark had the opportunity to meet or talk with several other California Mustangs including R. Andrew Price ’96, who is senior counsel on Google’s Ethics and Compliance team based in San Francisco, California and Dr. Patrick F. Gartland ’74, who is a general surgery specialist in San Jose, CA. Mr. Price said that there are many benefits of living in the San Francisco Bay area, “There’s great weather, tons of outdoor activities, there are tremendous job opportunities here, a strong tech culture, there are a number of bike-friendly cities in the region, the nature and landscape is beautiful, and the region continues to become more and more ethnically diverse.” Dr. Gartland, whose 1974 Track Team was inducted into the Bishop McNamara Hall of Fame a few years ago and whose father was also a surgeon, has watched the school from afar having resided in California for many years. He thinks that Bishop McNamara’s future remains so bright because of its commitment to being a secondary school leader in science and technology related fields including the health sciences, which the La Reine Science and Innovation Center will only augment moving forward.

The success of these California Mustangs and many more who live, work and attend school in the state, particularly among our more recent alumni, have proudly carried the Bishop McNamara name with them across the vast expanse of the United States. Bishop McNamara’s rich legacy of producing empowered leaders who are equipped with valuable skills prized by many of the leading technology and entertainment companies in the world is a testament to the school’s past success and hopeful future. As Dr. Clark said, “It was so inspiring to meet and talk to our alumni who live and work in California. To know that our alumni are sought after by companies like Google and Intel makes me so proud that the education the school provided and still provides enables our graduates to be in leadership roles in these world changing companies.”

We wish all our distant California Mustangs success and happiness and we remind them that they are always welcome home here in Maryland from their Bishop McNamara family! n

AN Alumni NEWS

La Reine & McNamara

ALUMNINEWS

These pages represent alumni news shared with the Advancement Office from November 2019 - June 2020

Lynn H. Wyvill (Hammersmith) LR ’70 published her first book, Nature’s Quiet Wisdom. The prose poetry collection can be found on Amazon. n Philip Baiers ’71, after a successful career with the Federal Bureau of Investigation as a Supervisory Special Agent for 27 years, is now a dispatcher with the Francis Marion University Police Department in Florence SC. n Dr. Patrick F. Gartland ’74 is a General Surgeon for the Regional Medical Center of San Jose in San Jose, CA. n Col. (Ret) Jasey Briley ’77 has been selected for induction into the Military Intelligence Hall of Fame by the Soldiers and Civilians of the Military Intelligence Corps for his outstanding contributions to the Corps and the United States Army. n

Joel G. Hagberg ’78 is Head of Product Management and Marketing at Intel RealSense in Santa Clara, CA. He leads product management and marketing for Intel RealSense Computer Vision product lines. n

Chandrai Jackson-Saunders LR ’79 has been recognized as the first African American woman to win the National School Psychologist of the Year Award in its twenty year history. She is Bishop McNamara’s honoree for this year’s Caritas Distinguished Alumni Award. n

Anthony Ayers ’84, was named the new police chief of Cottage City, MD, a small town that is between Eastern Avenue (the border with Washington), Brentwood, Colmar Manor, and the Anacostia River. n

Russell Jones ’88 is a partner at Deloitte & Touche LLP, is the Medical Device Safety and Security (MeDSS) leader for the Cyber Risk Services Infrastructure practice of Deloitte Risk & Financial Advisory. He is also the Global Connected Medical Device leader and the Deloitte Risk & Financial Advisory Services MedTech leader. n

Andrew’s role focuses on leading the team’s global internal investigations function, managing the Company’s anonymous helpline, and providing advice and counsel on topics such as attorney-client privilege, confidentiality, conflicts of interest, proper use of company assets, insider trading, and other compliance-related matters. Andrew joined Google in August 2011. n Maya Davis ’97, a research archivist and legislative liaison with Maryland State Archives, was part of the team that unveiled the statues of Harriet Tubman and Frederick Douglass at the State House in Annapolis, MD on February 10, 2020. n Cecilia Penn-Diallo ’99 earned her MBA from the University of Maryland, College Park on May 12, 2020. n

Darrell Holloman ’00, hosted a lecture series on African American studies with the Tomorrow’s Leaders Study Abroad Program in January 2020. The program includes college students from the Middle East and North Africa. n

R. Andrew Price ’96 is a senior counsel on Google’s Ethics and Compliance team based in San Francisco, California.

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ALUMNINEWS ALUMNINEWS Jason Reynolds ’00 was announced by The Library of Congress as the seventh National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature for 2020-2021 in January 2020.

Mr. Reynolds is starting a Storytelling Video Series for children as part of his “Grab The Mic: Tell Your Story” program.

The series began on April 14, 2020 and features videos posted by Mr. Reynolds twice a week on the Library of Congress’ website. n

Trey Proctor, III ’04 was named a Forty Under 40 honoree in Business by the Prince George’s Social Innovation Fund for 2020. n

Sherray Simms ’05 and Steven Utley ‘05 wed on April 18, 2020. They met as freshmen at Bishop McNamara. n

Deacon Patrick Agustin ’04 will be ordained to the priesthood at The Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception on June 20, 2020. May God bless your ministry! n

Kristian Owens ’05 was named a Forty Under 40 honoree in Health by the Prince George’s Social Innovation Fund for 2020. n

Dr. Cydney H. Dupree ’07 is the Assistant Professor of Organizational Behavior at Yale University. Professor Dupree’s research interests broadly address how to reduce divisions between social groups and increase the inclusion of under-represented minorities within and across organizations. n

Ashley Sharp ’11 is the Deputy Chief of Staff to Vice Chair & Councilman At-Large Calvin Hawkins for Prince George’s County Council. Recently, Ashley was selected into the 2020 New Leaders Council MD Fellows and she is Bishop McNamara’s honoree as this year’s Caritas Distinguished Young Alumnus Award. n Marcus Thornton ’11, the 2011 Maryland Gatorade Player of the Year, had his college jersey number retired from the College of William & Mary on Saturday, February 15. Marcus, who wore the number 3 in college, is now an American professional basketball player for Élan Chalon of the

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LNB Pro A and he remains William & Mary’s all-time leading scorer. He was named the 2014–15 Colonial Athletic Association Player of the Year and Marcus was drafted by the Boston Celtics with the 45th overall pick in the 2015 NBA draft. n

Taylor Brown ’11 was named a Forty Under 40 honoree in Arts & Humanities by the Prince George’s Social Innovation Fund for 2020. n

Donald J. Finley ’12 graduated as the Valedictorian from Howard University School of Law among a distinguished class of more than 130 students. Donald accepted an offer to work as an M&A Associate at a major DC law firm. His interest in the field of law emerged at an early age and it grew as a result of his participation in Bishop McNamara’s Mock Trial program. Congratulations Donald! n

ALUMNINEWS ALUMNINEWS Arrington D. Mason-Callaway ’12 received his Pharm. D. from the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine. n

Arinze B. Okeke ’18 published his new book titled Personal Training: The Art of Triumph. Mr. Okeke’s book explores why people are always striving for fitness goals and their elusiveness. This is a fictional story based on people that he has trained in real life. n

Catherine Ramsey ’18 was selected as President for the University of Rochester’s Mock Trial Team. n

Taylor Wilson ’17 published an online article for the University of Maryland Athletics Department titled Get Comfortable Being Uncomfortable: In Her Own Words that explores the need to have candid conversations about ending systemic racism. n

Wesley Bowers ’17 received the Hoya Pride Award from Georgetown University’s football team, where he is a rising Senior and Linebacker. In 2019, he was the recipient of the No. 35 Joe Eacobacci Memorial Jersey. n

Maceo Campbell ’17 signed a free agent contract with the Boston Red Sox. Maceo will report to his minor league assignment when baseball returns upon the resumption of play due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Maceo pitched collegiately at Longwood University as both a starting and relief pitcher. Maceo was an all conference pitcher in 2016 and 2017 while at Bishop McNamara. n

CALLING ALL ALUMNI!

Do you have a big announcement? Maybe you're getting married, having a baby or graduating from college – we want to know! Send us your news so that we can share it with your BMHS family! Please contact us at advancement@bmhs.org and let us know what's new and exciting!

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Bishop McNamara High School Planned Giving

Make the Most of Your

Giving

The future promises to be exciting for all and being prepared is key to what lies ahead.

Whether you are single, married, raising a family, navigating or enjoying retirement, your financial security and that of those you care about most will be affected by the plans you make today.

To help you achieve both your personal and philanthropic goals, this brochure will provide ideas to assist you in making the most of your charitable gifts this year.

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THE MUSTANG MESSENGER

Cash Gifts

Gifts of cash are popular, convenient and they may be made in person, online or by mail. They can be made in the form of cash, check, credit card or by electronic transfer. For tax purposes, be sure to save all receipts and acknowledgments if you plan to claim tax deductions for the amount of your gifts.

Giving Through Retirements Plans

Many Americans participate in one or more retirement plans such as a 401(k) or 403(b) plan or Individual Retirement Account (IRA). These funds can sometimes be a source to make current or future charitable gifts.

Those age 70 1/2 and older with an IRA may make charitable distributions directly to qualified charities of up to $100,000 per year on a tax-free basis. Transfers are not taxed and also count towards your annual Required Minimum Distribution.

These tax-free gifts are particularly wise for those who do not plan to itemize deductions for income tax purposes.

You can also arrange a future gift by naming a charitable recipient as a beneficiary of a retirement plan. You and your family can enjoy use of the assets and charitable beneficiaries can receive any remaining funds in the future, free of income tax on amounts they receive.

Noncash Gifts

Gifts of stock and other publicly traded securities, such as mutual funds, can be especially attractive when it comes to making gifts other than cash. These gifts

are also easy to complete and are usually made electronically from the donor’s account. In some cases, stock certificates may be mailed or delivered to the organization or its representative. Please contact us if you are considering a gift of securities or have any questions.

estate plans. Be sure to use the full legal name of any charitable recipient remembered in this way. We would be honored to be part of your charitable plans after you have provided for others you wish to benefit.

Other property, such as collectibles, art, patents, copyrights and other valuable assets, may also be donated for charitable purposes. Special rules apply to these types of gifts. Tax deductions for noncash assets can be based on their current value, not just the amount paid for them. You may also avoid capital gains tax that would be owed on the sale of the property. Please check with your attorney or financial advisor for more information.

Some plans help you structure gifts that feature special benefits for you or others before making a gift to a favorite charitable recipient. You can arrange a fixed or variable income for yourself or your loved ones while also providing for charitable purposes at a time in the future you determine.

Other Smart Ways to Give Insurance Policies

Many people have life insurance policies that they took out years ago for specific purposes but are no longer needed today.

In those instances, you may name a charitable interest as beneficiary of an existing policy or you may decide to make a gift of the policy by giving all rights and benefits to the organization.

You might also wish to make a gift of a new policy for charitable purposes. This is an easy way to make a larger gift over time.

Other Accounts

In most states, similar beneficiary arrangements are available for various brokerage, financial and bank accounts.

Your Long-Range Plans

You may consider arranging for charitable gifts through your will, a trust or other

Special Giving Options

Giving in this way can result in a large charitable deduction that may provide both current and future tax savings. Some even choose to use a Donor Advised Fund or Family Foundation to facilitate their charitable gifts.

Learn More

We hope this information will help you choose the best ways to fulfill your philanthropic plans. Your gifts help us carry out our mission every day, all year long.

Please contact us to find out even more about the tax benefits and other advantages of making charitable gifts. n

For more detailed information on these and other giving options, please consult with your attorney or financial advisor.

The purpose of this publication is to provide general planning information. It is not intended as legal, accounting, or other professional advice. For assistance in planning charitable gifts with tax and other financial implications the services of appropriate advisors should be obtained.

Bishop McNamara High School Planned Giving

For information, please contact Sandy Mammano, Director of Development 301-735-8401 ext. 295 240-304-6211 (cell) or by email at Sandy.Mammano@bmhs.org

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buy

a

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leave

a

legacy

Legacy Courtyard

THE

at the LaReine Science and Innovation Center

detail

Immortalize your name, family name, or that of a loved one by purchasing a Legacy Paver to be placed into the Legacy Courtyard, which will be located next to the La Reine Science and Innovation Center, anticipated to open in 2021.

The Legacy Courtyard will be the gateway to this next generation building and the catalyst for many new community traditions.

You can become a champion of the Faith. Family.

Future! Capital Campaign today by purchasing a Legacy Paver. For every 500 Legacy Pavers we sell, champions like you will help us to raise $250,000.00 toward this Campaign to make the building of these spaces a reality. Join the movement today! Buy a Paver, Leave a Legacy!

Legacy Pavers are $500.00 each, but you can pay for them in monthly installments of $42.00 over 12 months. All gifts make a difference!

Become a Champion of the Faith. Family. Future! Capital Campaign =

$250,000

$500

Toward Our Goal!

each per Legacy Paver...

X

500 Legacy Pavers...

To reserve, please contact Dr. Robert Van der Waag at 301-735-8401 ext. 158 (robert.vanderwaag@bmhs.org), or Ms. Sandy Mammano, at 301-735-8401 ext. 295 (sandy.mammano@bmhs.org).

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THE MUSTANG MESSENGER

C alling A ll M u stangs !

Bishop McNamara

Family Crisis

Fund

“

Help a Bishop McNamara Family in Need

Your gift to the Bishop McNamara Family Crisis Fund provides critical support to BMHS students and families who need urgent assistance due to the COVID-19 pandemic. They need your support today!

I just wanted to say thank you!

I am so thankful and grateful for Bishop McNamara! One day when I am in the position to help someone else I certainly will!

“

Bishop McNamara Family Crisis Fund Recipient

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Bishop McNamara High School

The spirit of philanthropy.

Bishop McNamara High School has a long tradition of forming empowered leaders, inspired by the Gospel, who transform the world. A principal reason why our School thrives today is due to our community’s spirit of philanthropy.

Your financial contributions in 2019 through the Bishop McNamara Fund supported the Bridge of Hope and Saint Andre Bessette tuition assistance initiatives, expanded our academic, fine arts, and athletic programs, provided numerous faculty professional development opportunities, enhanced our classroom technology, and made our faith inspiring retreat programs even more enriching.

Bridging the income gap.

Did you know that tuition does not cover our annual operating expenses? Gifts to the Bishop McNamara Fund help bridge the gap between tuition income and costs of educating every student at a high level. Gifts to the Bishop McNamara Annual Fund provide President/CEO Dr. John Barnhardt and the Board of Directors with the flexibility to address the school’s greatest needs. These include the ability to secure the resources to attract and retain teacherscholars of exceptional caliber, to recruit skilled students who embrace Bishop McNamara’s bold vision, and enhance our highly regarded curricular and co-curricular programs while keeping tuition both attainable and stable as possible.

Every gift makes a difference.

Past donations have ranged from parent contributions of $20.20 to honor their child’s graduation year to $1,000 donations or more from BHMS alumni, businesses, and friends. Impactful recurring gifts can be made in monthly installments (as seen in the infographic above). The amount that you give is not as important as your willingness to give.

Another way to give.

You can make a credit card gift immediately by visiting us online at www.bmhs.org. To learn more about how your gift makes an impact, please contact Director for Mission Advancement Dr. Robert Van der Waag at (301)-735-8401 ext. 158 or via email at robert.vanderwaag@bmhs.org. Please know that if you have already given this year, you have our sincerest gratitude! We are one BMHS Family and we appreciate your support!

In Holy Cross, The Advancement Team Office of Advancement

Thank you!

Now is a great time to consider gifts of stocks, securities, and IRA rollovers as you look to maximize your 2020 year-end tax deductions. For more information please contact Director of Development Ms. Sandy Mammano at 301-735-8401 ext. 295 or via email (Sandy.Mammano@bmhs.org).

in loving memory...

Eternal rest, grant unto them O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them.

May they rest in peace. Amen.

The information included on these pages reflects news shared with the Advancement Office from December 2019 - June 21, 2020

Jermaine Gadsby, the mother of Alessandra Gadsby LR ’84, passed away in December 2019. Ms. Gadsby ( Jermaine) taught Home Economics at La Reine High School from 19801990.

Patricia Consorti Chambers LR ’67, passed away in December 2019, after a long struggle with muscular dystrophy.

Todd Lee ’86 passed away on January 1, 2020. President/CEO Dr. Marco J. Clark ’85 said about Mr. Lee, “Todd was an outstanding man, husband, father, mentor and business leader. He was a true Mustang for LIFE--leader with integrity, faith and excellence.

He had recently begun volunteering at McNamara and was serving on our Finance Committee for the Board of Directors. I mourn with you my Mustang Brothers and Sisters. Let’s pray for one another and especially for his family. May we all know God’s loving and comforting touch during this difficult time. Grant him eternal rest, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon him.”

Ms. Kathy Link, Bishop McNamara’s longtime Assistant Business Manager, passed away in January 2020. Ms. Link

began her career in the early 1980’s and retired from Bishop McNamara High School in 2011 following more than 30 years of dedicated service.

Kathy Link was an unsung hero in our community as she helped countless students and their families to navigate the financial aid process to make the dream of a Bishop McNamara education possible.

Mr. Henry Carter, father-in-law of Principal Mrs. Dian Carter and grandfather of Caleb Carter ’20 and Brianna Carter ’16, passed away on January 8, 2020.

Kathleen Casey, RN LR ’79 passed away on January 12, 2020.

Francis “Butch” Keithline, the father of Mr. Martin Keithline, Director of Athletic Operations at Bishop McNamara, passed away on January 13, 2020.

Gwendolyn Williams, mother of Debra Henderson ’19 passed away on January 27, 2020.

Zoey Breen, the daughter of Jennifer (Wilhite) Breen ’11 and Andrew Breen passed away shortly after birth on February 16, 2020.

Mary J. (Palmer) Chin LR ’80 passed away on March 5, 2020. Mary was a devoted wife, mother, and friend and she enjoyed a 30-year career with the United States Census Bureau.

Mary is also survived by her mother, former Bishop McNamara employee Mrs. Rita Palmer, and her 5 brothers, several of whom are alumni: Joe, Dan, Jim ’78, Ed ’83, and Doug ’87.

Wendell Dixon ’98 passed away on March 20, 2020.

Mike Cady ’67 passed away on March 30, 2020. A member of the Bishop McNamara Hall of Fame, Mr. Cady was considered by many the most accomplished athlete in Bishop McNamara’s first graduating class.

Ms. Cindy King, Traditional Dance Teacher at Bishop McNamara, lost her mother on April 18, 2020 after her battle with lung cancer.

Claudia Clayton, the aunt of Ms. April Smith, Director of Operations and Special Projects at Bishop McNamara, passed away on May 21, 2020.

Clara Savage Sutton, the mother of Choir Director Ms. Rhoda Sutton at Bishop McNamara, passed away in June.

Eric Matthews ’98 passed away on June 2, 2020 from a pulmonary embolism.

Photo: a little bit of whimsy photography.

Bricks and benches for the Memorial Garden are available to purchase and personalize in memory of your loved ones.

Additionally, memorial Mass Cards can be purchased from the Advancement Office.

For more information, please contact Sandy Mammano, Director of Development at 301.735.8401 ext. 295.

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BISHOP McNAMARA HIGH SCHOOL 6800 Marlboro Pike Forestville, MD 20747-3270 301.735.8401 www.bmhs.org Address Service Requested

Non-Profit Org. U.S. Postage PAID Forestville, MD Permit No. 2048

Vision: Empowered leaders, inspired by the Gospel, transforming the world.

Mission: To educate hearts and minds in a dynamic, inclusive Catholic school community rooted in the Holy Cross tradition. Social Media Icons - Vector Set - Basic by @garrettgee

AmazonSmile: Make Your Charitable Organization BMHS! AmazonSmile is a website operated by Amazon with the same products, prices, and shopping features as Amazon.com. The difference is that when you shop on AmazonSmile, the AmazonSmile Foundation will donate 0.5% of the purchase price of eligible products to the charitable organization of your choice, which we hope you make Bishop McNamara High School.

For more information, visit

smile.amazon.com

Stay connected with Bishop McNamara! visit our website: www.bmhs.org B​ishop McNamara High School is an exempt organization as described in Section 501c3 of the Internal Revenue Code: EIN 52-0805939. Donations are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law. A copy of the current financial statement of Bishop McNamara High School is available by writing to the Office of Institutional Advancement, Bishop McNamara High School, 6800 Marlboro Pike, Forestville, MD 20747 or by calling 301-735-8401.

Documents and information submitted under the Maryland Solicitations Act are also available, for the cost of postage and copies, from the Maryland Secretary of State, State House, Annapolis, MD 21401, (410) 974-5534.

garrettright 2012 - Please do not redistribute as your own.