A Year of Firsts, A Lifetime of Change: Our Inaugural Year

In my four decades as an educator, I have never experienced a school year like our first at Cristo Rey Jesuit Seattle. What God and the good people of Seattle have created is astonishing: a school that didn’t exist last June is now a vibrant, mission-driven community changing lives—young and old alike. Our students have risen to the high bar set by Principal Dr. Nadia Guy and her exceptional faculty, and along the way, all of us—staff, supporters, families—have been transformed.

A Year of Holy Moments and Bold Milestones

August: Draft Day

Students met their corporate partners in a celebration filled with whoops, hollers, and a brass band as the students stepped into a world of growth.

September: Our Mission Blessed.

At two significant opening Masses, Archbishop Etienne blessed our new school and at the Mass of the Holy Spirit, Jesuits West Provincial Fr. Sean Carroll, SJ, missioned students: “May the Holy Spirit inspire you with the winds of positive change and transformation.”

October: Testing the Waters—and Excelling.

Our freshmen took the PSAT and earned the highest scores among all 40 Cristo Rey schools nationwide. Brainpower, yes—but also resilience, curiosity, and grit. Students learned to study, ask for help, and advocate for themselves.

November: Dancing into Community.

At Homecoming, students took the dancefloor—and ownership of their school. We watched in awe as they showed up in full force, dressed to the nines and dancing with pure joy.

December: Finding Their Voice.

From our first basketball games to a Christmas party for incoming 8th graders, our students led with heart. Vanessa, Class of 2028, observed: “At the Christmas party, as my classmates sung their hearts out, I knew I had found a school where I could belong and freely be myself. Thanks to Cristo Rey, I’ve begun to envision a future where I can achieve my hopes and my parents’ dreams.”

Growing in Mind, Spirit, and Mission

January–February

Semester exams, a joint Jesuit retreat with Seattle Prep, and a faculty pilgrimage to Seattle University—highlighted by Mass in the Chapel of St. Ignatius, reminded us that we’re forming People for Others, including ourselves.

March: New Life

Our beloved Principal Dr. Guy shared joyful news: she’s expecting her first child! In the same month, we completed our first audit and hosted another vibrant Expo Night with corporate partners like Alaska Airlines, Microsoft, and Costco. Hope, growth and new life!

April: Telling Our Story

At our first Gala, supporters met our students—and heard Vanessa share her Cristo Rey journey. The next day, Seattle U President Eduardo Peñalver signed an MOU guaranteeing admission and full-need support for CRJS students who maintain a 3.5 GPA. A clear pathway to eight years of Jesuit education is now within reach.

May–June: Closing Strong

Skate Night, volleyball, and our year-end elebrations. We achieved Accreditation—an extraordinary milestone in year one. Cognia praised our strategic hiring and data-driven instruction, and excellent teacher coaching, deeming the latter practice a “Noteworthy Practice.”

Transformation, Measured and Felt

We have data:

• 98% of students met or exceeded expectations in their Corporate Work Study jobs.
• Every student passed their semester classes, most earning As and Bs.
• Final exams showed marked growth—academic and emotional.