Opening Doors

My favorite part of the day is 7:15 am. Most mornings at that time, I have the privilege of joining Principal Nadia Guy and Academic Dean Nolan Grady as they greet students at Cristo Rey’s front door. VP for Corporate Work Study Katie Seltzer is just down the hall with her team, checking in students going to work that day, making sure their uniform shirts are tucked in, belts on, and they are ready for that morning’s pre-work pep talk.

Our teenage students are sleepy at that hour. Many have awakened at 5:30 am and traveled a long way to get to school. Still, they greet us with a smile and a fist-bump and a mumbled “Hello, Dr. Guy.” Some share how their morning commutes have gone, or comment on the cold. Students head right to 0 period for tutoring, to the cafeteria for breakfast or to hang out before homeroom or work. But some stick around the front hall and chat, peppering us with questions or letting slip little insights into their lives.

This sacred hour is when we learn of an approaching quinceañera, who had to babysit last night, or whose family is struggling with finances or an unexpected crisis. The early morning is also when we get to witness our first class forming a deep bond and taking ownership of their school. Neveah and Ceci wait in anticipation for Fatima to arrive, give her a hug, compliment her on her new ’do or nails, and plan eagerly for the day. Sincere and Louis roll up on their scooters, and Meklit and Herany arrive together, every day.

During Catholic Schools Week, students plot their skits for the assemblies, while Pope Keoni I vests himself in the main office in order to visit each homeroom with a reminder of the day’s activities.

I also get to greet our amazing teachers and connect with the admin team to keep up on academics and corporate work study, the twin pillars of the Cristo Rey mission. While the kids roll by, we select the ambassadors who will lead tours for that day’s visitors—of whom we have many! In this video for Catholic Schools Week, the Cristo Rey Network highlights the joy and energy visitors feel when they visit one of our 40 schools across the US.

After spending a year and a half working in empty classrooms as we prepared for our first class, I can’t get enough of the students’ energy. Their hopefulness, zeal, and joie de vivre animate our school and each of our work partners’ offices. In the past two weeks, we have had 26 visitors to campus (not counting the 58 8th graders who came for interviews).

The adults who visit Cristo Rey Jesuit always say that the highlight is their tour with a student. Visitors start by the front door, learning of the importance of our Jesuit “core values.” Students share the deep meaning of being Open to Growth, Loving, Spiritually Alive, Intellectually Engaged, and Committed to Doing Justice, tenets we share with all Jesuit middle and secondary schools in the US and Canada.

Because we are a Cristo Rey school, our students also explain what it means to be “Career-ready,” as they proudly point to a display of our 20 Corporate Partners’ logos. Inevitably, visitors ask about the student’s own job placement—what they enjoy the most, what they find most challenging. To hear a 14-year-old describe her role in sustainability compliance at Costco HQ, or the coding he is doing at Microsoft is to understand the vast potential being discovered in these hallways. As our students share the vision for the future of the campus, including a state-of-the-art Academic Center slated to open their senior year, you can hear their pride and feel their growing confidence that they indeed belong, and are important enough to help build the culture of such an amazing school.

We would love to have you come for a visit, to taste and feel the joy and energy of hard work and good fun that are hallmarks of Cristo Rey Jesuit Seattle.

We are here every day, so shoot me an email and we will schedule your visit: phogan@cristoreyseattle.org. You can help us open the doors of opportunity at Cristo Rey Jesuit.