State of the School
President’s Reflection
As we reflect on the current academic year and look toward the opportunities before us, we do so with a deep sense of gratitude, purpose, and confidence in Loyola Blakefield’s future.
Having recently reached the midpoint of our current Strategic Plan, we have been given an important opportunity to pause, reflect, and renew our sense of direction. Over these past years, our work has been guided by a commitment to our Catholic, Jesuit mission and by a willingness to adapt thoughtfully to the changing needs of our students and families. Across campus, we see encouraging signs of growth— in our programs, in our people, and in the strength of the community we continue to build together.
At the same time, we remain mindful of the economic pressures affecting both our institution and the families we serve. Persistent inflation, rising costs, and ongoing market uncertainty continue to challenge budgets at 500 Chestnut and beyond. Yet through careful stewardship, disciplined planning, and the enduring strength of our community and endowment, Loyola remains financially sound. That stability reflects not only prudent management, but a shared commitment to sustaining our mission with care and foresight.
Looking ahead, there is much that inspires optimism. The Men for Others Campaign offers an important opportunity to invest in Loyola’s future—strengthening access and affordability, supporting excellence in our faculty and staff, and enhancing the experience of our students. At the same time, the celebration of our 175th anniversary invites us to honor our history while looking ahead with gratitude and renewed purpose.
Together, these moments reflect a Loyola Blakefield that is grounded in its mission, strengthened by its community, and hopeful for the future. I am deeply grateful to be part of that work, and confident in what we can accomplish together.
A school year is measured in many ways. We measure it formally in quarters and semesters, in report cards and schedules, in the familiar rhythm between Christmas break and Easter, and in the milestones that quietly guide us toward commencement. But perhaps the truest measure of a year is found elsewhere. We really measure the school year in moments.
Often, these are the moments we capture almost instinctively: the kinds of images that quietly accumulate in our phones over time. Together, these images become a reminder of what matters most.
And if asked to choose just one image that captures this moment at Loyola Blakefield, I’m not sure I could. Yet I have found myself returning often to a photograph I snapped just a week ago: Hargaden Field overflowing with students, families, alumni, faculty, and friends gathered together in support of our athletes. In many ways, the scoreboard felt secondary to what was truly unfolding there. I’ve sent this photo to high school classmates, college friends, my family, brother Jesuits, and many others.
Beyond the beauty of the campus, I see joy. I see a community. I see our students doing what they love, while families and loved ones rally around them. I see alumni—both young and old—returning home. I see faculty members there after a long day, and week,
and year only because they love their students and their school.
That image is not ultimately about athletics. It is about what happens when a community commits itself to forming young men not only for success, but for one another. It reflects something deeper than school spirit. I would say it reflects God’s work unfolding in ordinary but profound ways—through fellowship, encouragement, generosity, shared purpose, and competition. In a world that can so often feel fragmented and hurried, moments like these remind us what it means to belong to a community grounded in faith, love, and the dignity of each person.
As we conclude the year, please know that you remain
in my prayers, especially at the Eucharist. May the summer months ahead offer us all some rest, renewal, and the opportunity to be with those who matter most.
I am deeply grateful for all that you do to make Loyola what it is, and I look forward to all that we will continue to accomplish together—for God and the betterment of the world.
Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam,
Dennis M. Baker, S.J.
Strategic Implementation
Robert Robinson P ’24, Chief Marketing & Strategy
At the midpoint of Loyola Blakefield’s Strategic Plan, we find ourselves not simply marking progress, but engaging a moment of discernment—one that calls us to reflect on how far we have come and how purposefully we must continue forward. From the beginning, this work has been grounded in a clear understanding: effective strategy requires both steady direction and faithful leadership, rooted in mission and carried forward with discipline and courage. In an ever-evolving educational and cultural landscape, our strategic efforts have provided a strong and steady framework—one that allows us to navigate complexity while remaining firmly anchored in our Ignatian identity. Through this lens, Loyola Blakefield continues to advance bold vision with thoughtful, mission-driven action.
Over the past two and a half years, this commitment has taken tangible form. The Mid-Point Assessment Report—formally issued to the Board of Trustees in March—affirms that the alignment between governance and leadership, between strategic vision and operational execution, has been both deliberate and effective. Our work has not been static; it has required ongoing evaluation, responsiveness to emerging data, and a willingness to refine our approach while remaining anchored in purpose. The result is a growing coherence across our strategic priorities and an increasing capacity to advance the Four Strategic Pillars in ways that are both measurable and meaningful.
We encourage all faculty and staff to review the Mid-Point Assessment Report. It offers a comprehensive and forwardlooking account of our shared progress and the opportunities that lie ahead. Your engagement in this ongoing work is essential as we continue, together, to steward the mission of Loyola Blakefield with clarity, purpose, and resolve.
Enrollment Summary
Sebastian Price ’02 , Director of Admissions & Enrollment Management
On behalf of the Admissions Team, thank you for the many ways you supported the recruitment and welcoming of our incoming families this year. This important work is truly a community effort, and we are deeply grateful—we could not do it without you.
From a pool of 456 applicants for 9th grade, we have enrolled 93 families, bringing the Class of 2029 to 187 students. From 152 applicants for 6th grade, we have enrolled 92 families. In addition, we will welcome one new 7th grader (a sibling of an incoming 9th grader), two new 10th grade students, and one new 12th grade student who will be joining us from Colorado.
We are proud of the composition of our incoming classes. Loyola continues to attract families from a wide range of educational, geographic, and socioeconomic backgrounds, while maintaining strong relationships with our valued pipeline schools throughout the region.
At the conclusion of the admissions process, we invite families to share feedback about their experience. One family reflected:
“It became apparent to us that Loyola offers a quality education rooted in both faith and knowledge, led by educators who value each young man for who he is, and shaped by peers who encourage him.”
This sentiment speaks directly to who we are as a school. Thank you for the countless ways you bring our mission to life each day.
A few highlights from this admissions cycle include:
• Four students from St. Ignatius Loyola Academy
• Seven students from our Fischer Program (four entering 9th grade, three entering 6th grade)
• Eight students from Immaculate Heart of Mary (a significant increase for us)
• Five students from St. Mark’s (another increase)
• 49 students enrolled in the Ignatian Honors Program (including 20 from our Middle School)
• Two Knott Scholars (Sam McDonald, St. Louis School; Owen Loester, Ridgely Middle School)
• Three recipients of the Performing Arts Scholarship
• Nine students enrolled in the Murray Program
• 25 student-athletes receiving athletic merit awards
• Not to mention, record-breaking attendance at our Open House!
Celebrating 175 Years
Robert Robinson P ’24, Chief Marketing & Strategy
The 175th anniversary of Loyola Blakefield is far more than a milestone—it’s a moment for our entire community to come together in celebration, reflection, and renewed purpose. Rooted in a story that begins on September 15, 1852, when Loyola College was founded by Rev. John Early, S.J., this anniversary gives us a powerful opportunity to honor where we’ve come from while looking ahead with confidence to where we are going.
Throughout the 2026–27 school year, this celebration will be woven intentionally into the life of the school. It won’t be just one event, but a yearlong experience—present in our liturgies, classrooms, student programs, alumni gatherings, and community traditions. Our goal is simple: to make sure every member of the Loyola community has the chance to take part in marking this moment in ways that feel meaningful, engaging, and memorable.
One of the most exciting aspects of the anniversary will be how we bring our story to life. Through a range of mediums— digital features, archival highlights, storytelling, and campus exhibits—we’ll highlight the people, places, and defining moments that have shaped Loyola over generations. Those stories include moments like this reflection from the diary of Rev. Ferdinand C. Wheeler, recalling his first visit to what would become Blakefield:
“I was amazed—to myself I said—
this is it. It was about 2:30 to 3:00 p.m. that as I stood there on Monday, June 15th—a light rain had fallen—it was cloudy— that I said to myself—if it is so beautiful on a cloudy June afternoon, what will it be on a day of glorious sunshine.”
That sense of wonder still feels familiar—and it’s something we have the chance to celebrate together.
Capital Campaign
Adam Trice P ’30, Chief Advancement
As Loyola Blakefield approaches its 175th anniversary in the 2026–27 academic year, we find ourselves at a meaningful moment—honoring our rich Jesuit tradition while preparing confidently for the future.
At the heart of this work is Men for Others: A Campaign for Faith, Learning, and Service, a focused effort to raise $30 million in endowed support. This campaign will strengthen four key priorities: expanding scholarships and access, investing in faculty and staff excellence, advancing innovation in the student experience, and enhancing our campus and learning environment. Over the past several months, we have been in the quiet phase of the campaign, guided by a dedicated Campaign Executive Committee in partnership with the President and the Office of Advancement. We are grateful to share that nearly 140 benefactors, families, and foundations have already made leadership gifts and long-term commitments.
Our goal is to secure 85–90% of campaign commitments by July 31, 2026—the Feast of St. Ignatius—when we will transition to the public phase with a campus Mass and luncheon. All faculty, staff, and their families will be warmly invited to join in this celebration. This is a once-in-ageneration opportunity to shape Loyola’s future. Thank you for the leadership, care, and commitment you bring to our students each day—your witness to our mission inspires the generosity that sustains and strengthens our school.
More information about the campaign will be shared in the months ahead, including ways to become more involved. Thank you for the many ways you support the work of the advancement team and help create new opportunities for our Dons.
Principals’ Reflection
Brian Marana ’00, Upper School Principal & John O’Hara ’96, P ’26, ’28 Middle School Principal
This year, we advanced several key initiatives aligned with our strategic priorities—strengthening support for our faculty while expanding opportunities for our students.
After two years of development, we introduced a new faculty compensation model grounded in an Ignatian approach to professional growth, one that both encourages reflection and more fully recognizes the dedication of our educators. We also launched the Alumni Service Corps, welcoming two recent graduates who will join our faculty next year to support student life and programming.
We deepened engagement across our academic networks, particularly within the Jesuit community, while making significant progress toward both the Jesuit Schools Network Sponsorship Review and AIMS accreditation, with visits scheduled for next year. Faculty and administrators collaborated with peer institutions nationwide, while Loyola also hosted visiting schools interested in programs such as
the Murray Program and Ignatian Honors Program.
Our global programming continues to grow through partnerships in China, Colombia, and Italy, as well as new travel opportunities to Italy and Spain and an upcoming study abroad experience in Colombia.
We also introduced several new academic and cocurricular offerings, including a Sophomore Retreat and new courses such as Introduction to Accounting, AP Physics C, Chamber Orchestra Honors, and Shakespeare on the Page, Stage, and Screen, with AP Business launching next year.
Finally, we continue to take a balanced approach to technology—implementing a school-wide cell phone policy to support student well-being while expanding faculty development around artificial intelligence and emerging tools.
Campus Operations
Steve Morrill, Director of Technology, Security, & Campus Operations
Thank you to all who participated in this year’s spatial audit. With the expert guidance of JMT Engineering, we completed a comprehensive study of every square foot of our campus, including detailed inventories and 3D renderings. Input from administration, board leadership, faculty, staff, and students has provided valuable insight as we begin to map Loyola’s future for the next generation of Dons.
Conversations are now underway with academic leadership, the President’s Cabinet, and the Buildings & Grounds Committee to analyze the findings and discern our greatest needs and opportunities. This work, alongside our recent scope and sequence for academic programming and the JSN and AIMS self-studies, offers a unique and thoughtful lens for planning. These discussions will continue through the summer and into the start of next school year, leading to the design phase of our next campus master plan.
This summer, several important projects will be underway. In Burk Hall, we will begin the first phase of replacing original 1996 windows, improving both comfort and energy efficiency while maintaining the building’s appearance. We will also replace the original air-conditioning chiller to further enhance performance. Additional work includes repairing the flat roof over the shop area in Knott Hall and installing speed bumps in the junior parking lot behind Connor Field.
Our IT team will complete network upgrades in Wheeler Hall and configure new Surface devices for faculty and incoming 6th- and 9th-grade students. This next generation of devices will include integrated AI capabilities through Microsoft Copilot. The combined Facilities and IT teams will be hard at work throughout the summer. We appreciate your patience with any disruptions and look forward to welcoming everyone back in the fall to benefit from these improvements.
Mission & Identity
Lou Charest P ’28, ’32, Director of Mission & Identity
Mission and identity at Loyola Blakefield are not abstract ideals—they are woven into the daily lived experience of students, faculty, and staff. Each day begins with the opportunity to gather in the Chapel of Our Lady of Montserrat for 7:15 a.m. Mass, with the addition this year of a Wednesday 12:00 p.m. Mass that has welcomed a broader and growing community. These shared moments of prayer ground the school in its purpose and Jesuit identity.
Across campus, nearly all faculty and staff have actively led or supported students in their spiritual formation— through retreats, liturgies, service experiences, justice education, outreach, and DEI programming. Together, these efforts form young men not only in intellect, but in faith, compassion, and a commitment to others. The beauty of Loyola’s sacred spaces—and even the quiet gift of a sunset—continues to invite reflection, gratitude, and a deeper awareness of God’s presence in daily life.
A central highlight of the year has been the Jesuit Sponsorship Self-Study process. All Loyola Blakefield
colleagues have participated in this communal discernment through committee work, research, interviews, data collection, dialogue, and writing. Through Spiritual Conversations, the community has reflected on its consolations and desolations and discerned meaningful paths forward.
The self-study will continue to be refined as preparation builds toward the USA East Province Sponsorship (PASE) visit, scheduled for October 4–7, 2026. This visit represents a critical next step in the process—one that calls for the full engagement of the community and invites continued reflection, collaboration, and shared ownership of Loyola’s mission and future.
Deep and sincere thanks are extended for the communitywide effort that has made this work possible. This process has been more than an evaluation—it has breathed hope and energy into the school community and will continue to shape and strengthen Loyola Blakefield for years to come.
