It is with heavy hearts that we share the news that Sister Anne Marie Markoe, I.H.M. passed away on February 4, 2020.

Sister Anne Marie was a much-loved Biology 1 teacher at Bishop O'Connell from 2008 until 2019. She left O'Connell at the end of the last school year to begin a new assignment in the administrative offices at Immaculata University.

At O'Connell, Sister Anne Marie was a joyful presence both in and outside the classroom. During flexible instructional time, she could be found mentoring students in the computer labs, or stopping by the Muller Center to catch up with some of her students. In the science department, she piloted and reported on a new "NASA" lighting system in her classroom that simulates morning sunlight. Sister was especially known for her kindness and engagement with the students, parents and co-workers.

Sister Anne Marie was born April 27, 1945 in Philadelphia to George and Anne Markoe. After graduating from Little Flower High School in Philadelphia, she earned her bachelor's degree from Immaculata College and her master's from Villanova University. She professed her first vows on June 28, 1966.

She was fluent in Spanish and taught in elementary and high schools in the Philadelphia and Allentown dioceses in Pennsylvania, at Immaculata High School in Somerville, N.J., and at I.H.M. academies in Lima, Peru and Santiago, Chile.

Funeral arrangements are as follows:

Afternoon Viewing - Friday, Feb. 7 (2:00 – 6:00 p.m.)
Morning Viewing – Saturday, Feb. 8 (8:30 – 10:15 a.m.)
Funeral Mass – Saturday, Feb. 8 at 10:30 a.m.

All events take place at Camilla Hall, 100 Maxis Drive, Malvern, PA 19355.

Eternal rest grant unto her, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon her. May she rest in peace. Amen.

Dear Parents, Alumni and Friends of O'Connell,

After a comprehensive national search for the new Head of School at Bishop O'Connell High School, I am pleased to announce that, at the recommendation of the search committee, Bishop Michael F. Burbidge has appointed Mr. William Crittenberger as O'Connell's new Head of School, effective July 1, 2020.

Mr. Crittenberger comes to Bishop O'Connell after more than 35 years of service in education locally.  Most recently, he provided eight successful years of leadership as Headmaster at St. Anselm's Abbey in Washington, D.C. Prior to that, he was Assistant Head of School as well as Academic Dean at several educational institutions in the Washington area, including Stone Ridge School of the Sacred Heart, Landon School and Bullis School. He began his career as a math and history teacher at the Connelly School of the Holy Child in Potomac, Md. During his extensive service, he also coached girls basketball and volleyball, and boys football and baseball.

In Mr. Crittenberger's roles, he has demonstrated an expertise in curriculum development and integration. He led his schools in effective enrollment management, system and process evaluation, and strategic planning.

He holds an M.S. in Education from Johns Hopkins University and an M.A. in History from Yale University. He completed his undergraduate degree in journalism from George Washington University, after attending the U.S. Military Academy for two years. He and his wife, Tracy, have four grown children and are parishioners at the Shrine of the Most Blessed Sacrament in Washington, D.C.

Bishop Burbidge offered his comment saying, "Mr. Crittenberger brings an extensive amount of experience and a demonstrated passion for assuring excellence in education rooted in our Catholic faith. I am confident he will continue to build upon the good work and legacy at Bishop O'Connell High School. I would also like to take the opportunity to thank the members of the search committee for their great work and Sister Lorraine McGrew, IHM, for her dedicated leadership during this interim period."

"Bishop O'Connell High School captures all that is good and right in a high-functioning, joyful, and Christ-centered school community," Crittenberger said. "I am delighted, honored, and blessed to be joining this remarkable team, where together we will write the newest chapters in this school's storied history."

Thank you to the search committee for their tremendous work identifying and interviewing outstanding candidates. The Office of the Catholic Schools, the administration at Bishop O'Connell and the larger O'Connell community look forward to working with Mr. Crittenberger.

Dr. Joseph Vorbach III
Superintendent for Catholic Schools
Catholic Diocese of Arlington

Congratulations to O'Connell engineering teacher, Melissa Pore, who has been named by Orlando HamCation as the 2020 recipient of the Carole Perry Educator of the Year Award. The award, which recognizes outstanding contributions in educating and advancing youth in amateur radio, was first awarded last year to its namesake, Carole Perry, WB2MGP, in honor of her work teaching students about ham radio.

Mrs. Pore (KM4CZN) is an Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) Education Committee member and an ambassador for the program. An educational professional for more than 20 years, Pore has been instrumental in encouraging student curiosity in computer science and engineering both in the classroom and beyond. She spearheaded O'Connell's November 2018 ARISS contact, and mentored the engineering club's ThinSat project, which was launched from Wallops Island in June 2019. She wrapped up the year as a co-facilitator of a workshop at the 2019 CubeSat developers conference at Cal Poly, followed by the opportunity for her and her students to present hands-on activities during Innovation Day at National Air and Space Museum's Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center. She is a member of AMSAT and the NASA Goddard Amateur Radio Club. 

But wait, there's more... At the same time that she was notified of this award, Pore also receive notification from Space Center Houston of her selection to the prestigious 2020 Space Educator Expedition Crew (SEEC). She and her cohort of nine K-12 teachers gathered in Houston in February, where Pore presented a hands-on workshop, and had the unique opportunity to participate in astronaut survival training program.

Please encourage your students to join us at our 2nd Annual Career Knight!

Tuesday, March 3
6:30 - 8:30 PM
in the Gym

The DJO Dads Club has been working with the school's alumni and counseling offices to bring in speakers from career areas that are of most interest to our students (thanks to all students who took the earlier survey!)

CLICK HERE to view an updated list of our career speakers
and to let us know you are coming!

Many families at Bishop O'Connell know Mrs. Cathy Carroll, who has served in the academics office for 28 years, and who has lovingly transported hundreds of children over those years in her yellow school bus from her neighborhoods in Southern Maryland to Bishop O'Connell. Only some of the O'Connell families also know her as the mother of five daughter, four of them are Bishop O'Connell alumni.

All five Carroll daughters are registered nurses. Together they have given 67 years to this profession.

Christina (Tina) and Regina (Gina), both graduated from O'Connell in 1995 and pursued degrees in nursing from Marymount University. Gina now has BSN, RN and CPEN behind her name. She has been a nurse for nearly 21 years and currently leads an emergency room team in a Southern Maryland hospital. "What I love most about being a nurse is the satisfaction of helping others through their worst moments," Gina said.

Gina's twin, Tina, served as a pediatric nurse before she passed away in 2008. "I know she would have been one of the first to stand up in these times right now and say, 'I am here and I am NOT afraid,'" her sister, Kimberly added.

Like her older sisters, Ashly (BSN, RN, and O'Connell class of 2003) also studied nursing at Marymount. She currently coordinates and provides care for those in the community in need of complex spinal surgeries. "I became a nurse because I have always been passionate about the betterment of human life," Ashly said.

The youngest sister, Courtny (BSN, RN, and O'Connell class of 2009) is another Marymount nursing graduate. She lives in California where she works as a traveling ICU nurse. Courtny is finishing up her Nurse Practitioner studies in May and will be first in the family to add AGACNP-BC to her title. "Nursing is not just a career to me; it is my passion—the love of helping people, and the challenge of not knowing what I will face each day," Courtny said. "This is a trying time for every nurse, but I cannot imagine being anywhere else but in a hospital helping others. I am thankful I have a job, blessed to have my health, and extremely proud to be a nurse."

Kimberly is the oldest Carroll daughter. She attended La Reine High School in Maryland, an all-girls Catholic high school which merged with McNamara in the 1990s. She has been a nurse for 25 years in the service of all facets of women's and children's healthcare including labor and delivery, neonatal intensive care, mother and infant care, and pediatrics. Kimberly's ties to O'Connell go beyond her sisters or her mom. Her daughter, Skylar, is a 2018 O'Connell graduate who is following the family career path and currently pursuing a nursing degree at James Madison University.

"I can say this about each of my sisters without reservation: They show up to work every scheduled shift, roll up their sleeves and fight; fight for those who cannot," Kimberly said.

"Despite our different nursing backgrounds, we have each stared this virus in the face—the faces of men, women and children," Kimberly added. "This virus does not discriminate, but instead it is a grand equalizer hurling us to our knees, physically, spiritually, and emotionally. We fight because it is our calling; we fight because some of you cannot. We fight for ALL of humanity, because it is OUR passion. However, at the end of the day, we risk no more than our parents; our father who served for 27 years in the United States Army and our mother who has worked for Bishop O'Connell for the last 28 year, as she served her family 24 hours a day, seven days a week."

Needless to say, Mrs. Carroll and her husband, Michael, are extremely proud of their children. "As all five daughters were starting their careers, we were regaled with stories of how our children were helping others—babies, children, mothers and adults," Mrs. Carroll said. "During these difficult times today, we have had our apprehension, but we stick by our belief that God has a plan for all. We have raised our children and watched them become strong women who give their lives every day to serve others in need."

Pictured above (L to R): Carroll sisters, Gina '95, Courtny '09, Ashly '03 and Kimberly.

It's National Teacher Appreciation Week!

If there were ever a year when everyone experienced a new level of appreciation for the skills, work ethic, and dedication of teachers, this is it.

Please join me in thanking and praying for all teachers from pre-K to college level who instruct and nurture each generation of our youth year after year. Here at O'Connell we are especially blessed. So many of our students enter high school confident and well-prepared from their elementary school experiences. In sending them here you entrust them to a wonderfully caring and competent faculty, a group undaunted by the challenges of distance learning while they so fervently wish they could be teaching in person.

Let's take time this week to remember the men and women who have chosen this ministry of teaching, may God reward their goodness. May their efforts bear fruit in the lives of your sons and daughters.

- Sister Lorraine McGrew, IHM
Head of School

Bishop O'Connell transitioned to distance learning beginning March 19, 2020. We are grateful for our dedicated faculty, who are accompanying our students during these unprecedented times.

Visit our Learning Continues webpage to read about some of the ways our teachers are embracing distance learning across the curriculum.

"Be a 'super spreader' of the Gospel." – Rev. Gregory Thompson

On May 17 at 11 a.m. the Bishop O'Connell High School community celebrated the Class of 2020 in a new way. Instead of gathering in the auditorium for Baccalaureate Mass—and then continuing the celebration at a brunch nearby—families gathered on Sunday morning around their computers for a more socially distanced event. Nonetheless, the Class of 2020 Baccalaureate Mass still carried many of the senior traditions that define this hallmark graduation event.

The celebration began with a reading of the 2020 Baccaluareate theme, which was written and presented by senior Elise Williams. This was followed by the presentation of symbolic gifts from the class. These gifts, which represented their student experience, were announced and brought up by senior leaders of the Student Council Association (SCA): a cross representing their Faith, a yearbook and pom-poms representing School Pride, textbooks and notebooks representing Knowledge, sports jerseys representing Athletics, playbills, concert programs, an instrument and artwork representing the Arts, soup and a Superdance t-shirt representing Service, and a stone from the original wall of the school, and a facemask to symbolize all the moments shared that were Opportunities for Grace.

Rev. Gregory Thompson, school Chaplain, celebrated the Baccalaureate Mass. He shared a special Homily specifically for this year's graduates, in which he asked them to be a "super spreader of the Gospel."

But would not it be something wonderful if the Gospel could spread just as effectively as coronavirus infects people. The Gospel has the opposite effect of the coronavirus, it brings health to the soul and leads us to eternal life. As we celebrate your accomplishments as graduates of O'Connell High School, I think we would like your graduation to be a super spreading event of another kind. One that brings life, one that brings hope, one that brings joy to all who come into contact with you. 

To be a super spreader of the Gospel will require that you rely on the gift of the Holy Spirit to guide you and fortify your resolve to not compromise your faith and your moral values. Jesus promises to His Apostles that He will never abandon them. "I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you. In a little while the world will no longer see me, but you will see me, because I live and you will live. On that day you will realize that I am in my Father and you are in me and I in you." This promise is for you and for me.

Senior members of the school's Praise Band, provided recordings of their praise and worship music that has become a hallmark of school Masses during the school year. As a special treat, senior David Green performed his original song, "I Walk Faithfully" during communion. (Listen to his recording HERE.) 

Following Mass, Principal Carl Patton introduced the senior class president, Grace Clukey, who would usually have given her address to the senior class during the PTO-sponosred Baccalaureate Breakfast.  In her speech, Grace reminded her classmates that their "20/20 vision never saw this coming."

None of us knew that random Thursday in March was going to end up being our last day here. We weren't ready to say goodbye, nor did we think we had to.

She continued reflecting on the memories and relationships that aren't diminished by these unforeseen circumstances.

At the Superdance meeting after school that day, it took three different people to deliver the news that the dance was cancelled because they kept choking up, and I'm not naming names, Mr. Buckreis. We were all disappointed about this first event to be canceled, but there was also so much love and support in that room.

During this time at home, we have had the chance to reflect on what is most important in our lives and what we are most eager to get back to when we are able. I now have a greater appreciation for the relationships in my life and I've realized how they have shaped my time here at O'Connell. The thing I have always loved most about O'Connell is the people and that's not going to change. These challenges can't take away the memories and relationships that we've already made here. Going back to my second realization while writing this speech - how none of us knew that Thursday in March would be our last day here - the more I think about it, it's actually kind of beautiful, because that means we are left only with the simple moments to remember. Moments like hanging out in the parking lot after school, singing together at all school masses, bus rides to away games and meets, late night rehearsals and practices, watching the sunrise on retreats, Knight Time in Mr. Britt's room, hanging out in the art hallway, or in Dr. Stabile's office, or Student Life. Those are the moments we are left with and the ones that have shaped our time here.

Mr. Patton then helped announce several departmental senior awards, including presentations from Campus Ministry, Expanded Services, Performing Arts and Athletics, many of which would have been part of a late-spring school-wide assembly.*

The event was wrapped up by Sister Catherine Hill, IHM, the school's Dean of Academics, who announced the Class of 2020 Valedictorian, Salutatorian and Praetor, and presented them with their gold stoles to wear proudly for graduation. Congratulations to Valedictorian Kendall McBride, Salutatorian Ashley Schmidt and Praetor Skye Ferris.

Graduation for the Class of 2020 is just over a week away. We hope you can join us (virtually) for the 60^th Commencement Ceremony of Bishop O'Connell High School on Thursday, May 28 at noon.

*The senior strings program awards were inadvertently left out of the Baccalaureate video. Please view a short message from Mr. LaCrosse HERE.

Watch the complete event at THIS LINK or view below:

Congratulations to the following Bishop O'Connell seniors who were named 2020 Sportsman/Sportswoman of the Year by the Better Sports Club of Arlington:

Skye Ferris - Volleyball Sportswoman of the Year
Brendan Fielman - Ice Hockey Sportsman of the Year
Lizzie Vinci - Cross Country Sportswoman of the Year

The Better Sports Club of Arlington is a nonprofit community organization founded in 1957 "to promote useful citizenship through the medium of sports." The Club is dedicated to serving Arlington youth and to fostering the principle of fair play, good sportsmanship, a competitive spirit, tolerance, and friendship. The highlight of the club's year is the Annual Awards Banquet. It's an opportunity to recognize Arlington's outstanding student-athletes for their leadership, scholarship, and citizenship – in addition to their athletic achievements. Nominations are solicited from the youth sports organizations in Arlington County and from the Directors of Student Activities or Athletics at the four high schools located in Arlington.

Read more about these athletes and other local awardees at http://www.bettersportsclub.org/2020-bsc-awards.html.

Promptly at noon on May 28, Bishop O'Connell celebrated its senior class with a virtual graduation ceremony. These 60^th Commencement Exercises had many of the hallmark O'Connell traditions—the congratulatory speeches by administrators and the Bishop, salutatory and valedictory addresses, a beautiful rendition of Ave Maria by senior chorus members, the reading of every graduate's name, and, of course, recognition of legacy members of the class of 2020. What was obviously different, though, was the physical location of the graduates, their families and their teachers. But, no matter the geography, the sentiment was very much the same, and it was a proud day for the Bishop O'Connell class of 2020...Congratulations!

Head of School, Sister Lorraine McGrew, IHM, was first to address the 267 members of this year's class:

Seniors, class of 2020, soon to be the newest graduates of Bishop O'Connell High School, congratulations. Value the friendships you have formed, the lessons you have learned, the strong community you have shared in over these past four years. Wherever you go, whatever you do, stay connected in some way to O'Connell, to its tradition and its legacy. Go out and do good. Stay close to God. Continue to learn. Grow in wisdom. Offer service. Use the gifts and talents you have been given. Become all that you can be.   

As is tradition at O'Connell, the student with the third highest honors in the class is named as the Praetor for the graduation ceremony, and has the job of introducing speakers. It was Skye Ferris who had that distinction this year.

She introduced the Most Reverend Michael F. Burbidge, Bishop of Arlington, who shared his congratulations and encouragement to the class of 2020:

As we take note of your accomplishments in this virtual way, the challenges of the past two months make earning this diploma ever more significant. In light of the fact that some uncertainty remains on the horizon, I encourage you in your prayer lives to continue asking the Lord to send forth the Holy Spirit to guide you through future uncertainty.

Having been formed in Faith and educated well in our diocesan high schools, you are called now to continue your preparation by further developing the gifts and talents God has given you, so you can use them in service to Him and others.

Salutatorian, Ashley Schmidt, reflected on this class's experience over the past four years:

Everything we did we did together—whether it was painting our faces blue to support the football team, blowing up a million balloons to decorate the gym for Superdance, or singing "Take Me Home, Country Road" at the top of our lungs to bring us to victory in the pep rally. Together, we have made our high school journey what it was, and as a class, we have accomplished so much.

Class valedictorian, Kendall McBride, was tasked with looking at the road ahead for the class of 2020:

When I realized I would be presenting this speech, I realized my task was to address what the future holds for us graduates. The fact of the matter is I do not know what the future holds for us. For one, the impacts of a global crisis are still unfolding. We are living in such an unprecedented time, where I cannot look to the past to provide a sufficient answer. Secondly, we are at the stage of our lives where there is a vast world of possibilities. No one can predict what is to come for us, not even ourselves. Yet, these considerations should not intimidate us. We should be excited by the road not yet taken. We should be excited by the limitless opportunities ahead of us. We should be excited that our actions are going to mean something significant not only in our lives, but also in the lives of others. We should be excited by the unknown: our future.

Seniors Grace Rafferty and Pauline Oteyza performed a moving rendition of Ave Maria, accompanied on the piano by fellow classmate, Mark Brown.

Principal Carl Patton and Dean of Academics, Sister Catherine Hill, IHM (class of 1966) announced the senior awards before the reading of each graduates name began.

Another O'Connell graduation tradition was upheld, with a slightly new twist, given the current circumstances. Legacy graduates—students whose parents (or grandparents) are alumni of Bishop O'Connell—would usually have received their diplomas from their parents during the ceremony. This year's program included a special video recognition of all 28 legacy graduates and their alumni parents and grandparents.

In case you missed it, the graduation ceremony is available to view in its entirety HERE or at the link below.

Congratulations, Class of 2020!

"The world you are inheriting is a world which desperately needs a new sense of brotherhood and human solidarity. It is a world which needs to be touched and healed by the beauty and richness of God's love. It needs witnesses to that love. The world needs salt. It needs you - to be the salt of the earth and the light of the world." - Saint John Paul II (World Youth Day 2002)

MORE RESOURCES

View the graduation video...

Read more about the May 17 Baccalaureate Mass...

Find out more about the Bishop O'Connell class of 2020...

A MESSAGE TO OUR SCHOOL COMMUNITY - June 26, 2020

Dear O'Connell Family,

We wanted to give you an update on the school's efforts since our letter on May 31.

First and foremost, we, as a Catholic school community, have been listening—listening to our faculty and staff, listening to our students, listening to our parents, and listening to our alumni.

On Monday, June 8, our principal, Mr. Carl Patton, invited all faculty and staff to attend (virtually) any or all of four listening sessions. Father Thompson, along with Mr. Patton, and several other faculty members have followed these meetings up with ongoing listening sessions with students, alumni, and parents who contacted the school leadership with a desire to engage in this conversation.

We have heard about ways that our own community—in its practices and patterns of behavior—has caused pain in ways that are fundamentally contrary to our school's and the Church's teachings on human dignity.

We are not done listening, but we are beginning to put our next steps in place, to provide a framework for moving forward to address racial inequities, injustices, bias, insensitivities, and more. A number of faculty members have come forward and are taking a formal leadership role to ensure our continued efforts to make the school community more reflective of the values we proclaim.

In the Catholic tradition, we know that there is a time for offering penance for sinfulness, a time for healing hurts which are so deeply ingrained in one's identity, a time for making changes which will truly have an effect, and a time for advocating beyond our local situation to create systemic changes nationwide. O'Connell will make a sincere and concentrated effort to move forward on each of these four fronts so that we can become a community truly living out our belief that we are one body, one body in Christ. 

If you would like to be involved in an upcoming listening session with Mr. Patton and the school leadership, please let us know by using this form.

Sincerely,

Sister Lorraine McGrew, IHM, Head of School
Mr. Carl Patton, Principal

P.S. We are compiling a reading list for our community. A good place to start is this document: "Open Wide Our Hearts - The Enduring Call to Love - A Pastoral Letter Against Racism," United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, 2018.

http://www.usccb.org/issues-and-action/human-life-and-dignity/racism/upload/open-wide-our-hearts.pdf

Dear O'Connell Community,

I write to you for the first time as Head of School, here three weeks into my new job, wishing to share, firstly, how excited I am to have joined this extraordinary community and, secondly, to suggest confidently yet humbly that in spite of the unprecedented and unpredictable nature of the year ahead, each of us—and all of us together—will be at our very best if purposefully looking out and deeply caring for one another. With Jesus' example serving as an impeccable beacon, our Heavenly Father's infinite love the wind beneath our wings, and the Holy Spirit as always by our side—how can we not find individual and Team O'Connell happiness and success this year?!

It is evident to me how excited by and proud of their affiliation with O'Connell the educators in this community are—be that the school's dedicated and talented administrators, with whom I have been working closely in pulling together and managing the many details and moving parts of the upcoming school year, or its teachers, who I have been having the distinct pleasure of meeting via Zoom these past few weeks, department by department. Professional educators, all, each of these fine people gushes in his/her distinct way in talking about and warmly referencing their beloved students—missing them terribly, and whose well-being and on-going development they would do anything to help support and promote. I can't wait to meet and get to know the O'Connell student body, who, of course, sit at the heart of what makes all of us in the education business tick. Trust me, dear students, we educators walk with extra pop in our step when thinking of all the amazing, transformative, and fun goings-on that daily take place in the schoolhouse—as it is you who make our life's work, and journey, meaningful, affirming, and joy-filled.

Thinking broadly about the coming year, allow me to share what I see as three major goals of the school:

1) As we face continued uncertainty during this COVID-19 pandemic, we are committed to delivering responsibly, flexibly, and exceptionally well the very finest academic and extra-curricular program possible.

2) We will advance with purpose and resoluteness the mission-aligned conversation that today takes place across the nation—an exchange that focuses explicitly on ensuring that all of our Bishop O'Connell students feel and experience a profoundly comforting sense of belonging, worth, and value centered on core tenets of diversity, equity, and inclusion. These tenets stand at the heart of the school's mission statement: "to provide students an education rooted in the life of Christ and to foster the pursuit of excellence in the whole person."

3) Here at the midway point of the school's "Strategic Plan 2018-2023," we will carry with us the progress made over the last two years to continue working together to ensure that Bishop O'Connell High School delivers an unrivaled mission-focused and transformative student experience for generations to come.

I thank you in advance for your prayers, both for me and for all of us, and for your support and energy, as we, each of us individually and as a whole, are Knights on a mission. Know, as well, that I am praying for you.

God's Peace,

Bill Crittenberger
Head of School

Jack Rowlett has been named Boys Lacrosse Head Coach at Bishop O'Connell High School.

Rowlett comes to O'Connell with a distinguished playing career that included a national title at the University of North Carolina, and a gold medal on the U-19 Team USA. He is currently a professional player in the Premier Lacrosse League, and most recently served as the Director of Lacrosse at The St. James in Springfield, Va.

"I could not be more excited to have an opportunity to lead this group of young men," said Rowlett. "I look forward to helping them grow as people as well as lacrosse players. We are going to continue to build the program and develop a culture that we can be proud of."

"Coach Rowlett will be a great teacher of the game and will develop players, but what impressed me was his focus on coaching as an opportunity to mentor and positively influence the players he works with," said Athletic Director Joe Wootten. "I am confident he has the approach that players will be excited to play for."

Just before the pandemic closed school buildings throughout Virginia, a group of four students at Bishop O'Connell High School in Arlington, raised their hands when engineering teacher, Mrs. Melissa Pore asked if any students were interested in forming a team to compete in a Texas Instruments-NASA student contest called TI CODE 2020. The team's task would be to propose a way to automate or optimize a process or product for living and working on the International Space Station (ISS), and use coding and Texas Instruments (TI) technology to design and build a model of the solution.

"I found myself with a little more time to work on something like this while in quarantine," said senior Mira Rizk, who was taking her first leap into the Engineering Club. "My interests have always been in the medical field, but the idea of working on a real-life project that affects humans in space seemed right up my alley."

The first step in the process was to brainstormed a variety of ideas. "As we began to research potential issues we could help solve, we found that sleep in space is really difficult," said junior Alex Janninck.

They found NASA research on the subject of sleep, and reviewed the recording of the conversation they had at the school 18 months earlier with astronaut Serena Auñón-Chancellor via an amateur radio link with the ISS (ARISS). In her interview, she mentioned that she found it comfortable to have pressure on her face from a pillow while sleeping because she was so accustomed to it on Earth.

So the "Space Pillowneers" were born. That's the name the four students gave themselves as they entered the contest by writing a 1,000 character concept paper for a Microgravity Sleep Assist System (MSAS), aimed at boosting astronaut productivity and increase comfort and health. This "space pillow" was designed to give astronauts the feel of a pillow, with integrated noise-canceling technology, as well as a built-in carbon dioxide senor and quiet fan.

For senior Will Rimicci this project represented a logical next step for him in the Engineering Club. Will has been involved in engineering projects since he was a student of Mrs. Pore at St. Thomas More Cathedral School, and he embraced this opportunity to design and build something from scratch. "I want to be an engineer one day, and I saw this as a way to get a feel for what my job might be in the future," he said.

When senior teammate Thomas Leggett was asked why he would be interested in a project involving space, he said, "Space fascinates me because of its great size and its many secrets. I hope that uncovering these secrets will lead us to a greater understanding of the universe and our place in it." 

Just as classes were winding down for school year, the team was notified that their concept was one of 75 teams chosen to continue on to the second round. In this round, they were asked to submit their project design schematic/diagram. The group video conferenced at least twice a week, if not more, to work through the design process.

"Everyone in the group brought their own talents to the 'Space Pillowneers,'" said Mrs. Pore. They are in agreement that Alex was the electronics expert, Mira was focused on the materials and design, Will and Thomas excelled at coding.

Their design/schematic was submitted, and the team was notified in late July that their concept was selected as one of the top 25 projects! This was the round they had been waiting for—a chance to bring their idea to life. As a part of their third-round notification designation, they received a kit of TI technology for their project, plus a $50 gift card for materials.

The team agreed that one of the most exciting aspect of getting to this round was the awarded consultation time with NASA and TI experts. In early August, the team had a video conference with engineers and system designers from both organization, who engaged them in extremely detailed and useful discussions about their technical solution.

"I couldn't believe these engineers and system design specialists were actually looking at our design and working through some of the technical details with us," said Will. "It was such a huge honor."

Building their prototype took up a lot of their free time. "We learned how important iterations and testing can be," said Alex. "There were many, many iterations before we reached our final prototype."

The team is looking forward to upcoming Engineering Club projects, including a Thin-Sat satellite launch coming this fall. For this group of students, this is just the beginning.

View their team video HERE or the link below:

We may have a new date - but it is still the same great cause!

Connolly Classic Golf Tournament
Tuesday, Sept. 29 (8 a.m. shotgun start)
Westfields Golf Club

We've rescheduled our May 2020 tournament to September. Now, more than ever, your support of the Connolly Classic - as either a player or a sponsor - will make a critical difference in the availability of tuition assistance at Bishop O'Connell. Requests to the financial aid office have skyrocketed since the beginning of the pandemic. 

Don't have a foursome? Don't let that deter you - we'll pair you up. 

We hope you'll consider stretching your legs on September 29 and joining us in support of O'Connell. We have a number of course contests planned, raffles and drawings - it will be a wonderful day in support of a wonderful school. 

VISIT THE CONNOLLY CLASSIC PAGE for more details and to sign up!

Westfields has implemented the highest standard of sanitation protocols to ensure an awesome experience for our players. Food and beverage service will be provided in accordance with local and state guidelines and sanitizer will be provided in each golf cart. In addition, sanitation stations are set up throughout the club property.

Bishop O'Connell High School is pleased to announce that English Department Chair, Brittany Davis, has been named the school's inaugural Director of Diversity, Equity and Unity, whose primary focus is ensure that we are living up to the promise of our mission for all of our students and our community, regardless of their ethnicity and background.

Read the full Sept. 18, 2020 announcement...

"The beauty and test of our culture will be our ability to create harmony in diversity. I look forward to the days to come developing and working alongside each of my colleagues and students to make O'Connell a place that unites all. Go, Knights! "

- Brittany Davis

Good Morning, DJO!

O'Connell's Head of School, Bill Crittenberger was interviewed during a live segment on the morning news on Fox5 in Washington, D.C., where he was asked to share details about the school's return-to-school model and it's current status.

"The hybrid model works perfectly for our school," said Crittenberger.  "It's a great fit for O'Connell's academic program, for our pedagogical orientation...our faculty and staff are committed to do this exceptionally."

Watch the entire video below or at THIS LINK.

Find out more about Bishop O'Connell's return-to-school model...

On Nov. 11, 2020, Bishop O'Connell held its annual Falls Sports Signing Day, but instead of the usual gathering in the school gym, the event was held virtually over Zoom. More than 150 coaches, teammates, family members, friends, and other supporters joined together to celebrate the incredible accomplishments of nine student-athletes from the class of 2021.

Athletic Director Joe Wootten began the virtual ceremony with excitement and pride for our student-athletes: "We celebrate the wonderful people, the wonderful students, the wonderful athletes that we have. All of them have represented O'Connell with outstanding excellence on the field, in the pool, on the diamond, on the court."

"This is such a happy moment," added Head of School Bill Crittenberger. "Thank you parents, loved ones, siblings. We all know the deep devotion and hard work that goes into it, and it certainly doesn't happen by itself."

O'Connell coaches introduced each student-athlete just prior to their signing, providing opening remarks and compliments about each student's accomplishments. In turn, the students had the opportunity to make their own remarks, thanking their parents, family, coaches, and friends for all of their support and sacrifices, and for helping them grow mentally and physically in both sports and life.

Congratulations to the following student-athletes who signed their National Letter of Intent to continue their athletic and academic careers at the next level and represent O'Connell at the next level:

Isabelle Chang (Tennis) - Georgetown University

Jake Feffer (Baseball) - University of South Florida

Nick Frazier (Baseball) - Virginia Commonwealth University

Madison Gayle (Softball) - Drexel University

Paige Hall (Swimming) - Ohio State University

Tyler Lentine (Swimming) - University of Cincinnati

Lilly Neubauer (Soccer) - High Point University

Adrianna Smith (Basketball) - University of Maine

Sophia Stimson (Soccer) - Hobart and William Smith Colleges

Visit our College Commits webpage for updated information...

Congratulations to Alexa Wootten ’21 who recognized by the U.S. Marine Corps as a 2020 Semper Fidelis All-American.

Alexa excels in the classroom and with her leadership in school and in the community, and is a captain and three-year letterman on the lacrosse team.

In a typical year, a representative from the Marine Corps would have presented Alexa with this honor in person and she would have been invited to join the other 95 All-Americans from across the country for a multi-day immersive “Battle Won Academy” experience that includes workouts, team-building, community service and more.

Find out more about the U.S. Marine Corps' Semper Fidelis All-American program...

View a list of 2020 awardees HERE.

Each year on the occasion of the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception, Bishop O’Connell’s Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary (IHM) renew their vows during the school Mass. This year, the school community took a few extra moments after Mass to recognize and celebrate one of the sisters who is celebrating her 50th Jubilee Year.

Meet Sister Catherine Hill, IHM, Dean of Academics at Bishop O’Connell since 2009. In this role, she creates the master schedule and oversees grades and other academic matters.

But Sister Catherine’s connection to Bishop O’Connell doesn’t start there. It begins back in the 1960s, when she graduated from eighth grade at St. Agnes and enrolled as a freshman at O’Connell, joining the class of 1966.

Saying Sister Catherine excelled at O’Connell is an understatement. She discovered her fondness for math, science, and debate, honed her athletic talents on the basketball court, and became involved in a multitude of leadership and service opportunities. Her senior yearbook said it best: “Take one large volunteer, blend in two heaping tablespoons of intelligence and one level teaspoon of athletics. Mix well with spontaneous laughter...Season with initiative and leadership ability. Serve on a speech platter. Garnish with Student Council buttons. Makes one deluxe Cathy Hill.”

She graduated first in her class at O’Connell before heading to Carnegie Mellon University (then known as Carnegie Tech) in only the second year that the Chemistry program was open to women. Once comfortable with knowing she could successfully handle the challenges of life on her own, she applied to the Immaculate Heart of Mary and entered as a postulant in September, 1967.

Sister’s years of service in the community include teaching in several parish schools in Philadelphia, then moving to teach high school chemistry and other subjects. Before coming to O’Connell, she worked as Vice Principal at Bishop McDevitt High School in Harrisburg, Penn.

In 2005, Sister Catherine returned to her high school alma mater as a Chemistry teacher, before taking on the role of Dean of Academics a few years later.

Joining O’Connell’s science department and teaching in classrooms where she had originally sat as a student gave Sister the chance to combine memories and vision. Supporting renovations to the science lab and constantly broadening department offerings have been highlights of her connectedness to science colleagues.

“Over these last fifty years, God has allowed me to meet many people and live in places I never would have expected,” said Sister Catherine. “Each encounter was a blessing for me, enriching me and deepening my appreciation for my vocation. It is the goodness of those around us that always draws out the best out of each of us and leads us to offer our gifts in service to others.”

On the occasion of Sister Catherine’s jubilee, Head of School Bill Crittenberger said it this way: “Sister Catherine is known to provide five thoughtful and excellent-fitting solutions to any question that arises in a group meeting, spot-on solutions that she always delivers with humility, grace, and warmth. The number five, therefore, works out nicely as a metaphor for Sister, as she is both a supernova and the twinkle twinkle in our collective mind’s eye: bright, inspiring, and illuminating.” 

Bishop O'Connell choral students received some very good news recently, as all 42 members who auditioned for the prestigious District XII Honors Choir were accepted. In addition, three seniors—Sade Jackson, Katie Stansel and John Tuason—were named to the Virginia Music Educators Association (VMEA) Senior Honors Choir.

"This is a remarkable accomplishment for all our students," said O'Connell's Choral Director, Kyra Stahr. "The audition format was extra challenging this year, given that all events moved to a virtual format."

For the District Honors Choir, students prepared and submitted an audio recording of the song "Deep River" using an online platform called Opus. Then they were given 30 seconds to look at a four-measure sight-reading passage and recorded themselves performing right after. Students were competing against other high school students in District XII, which includes Arlington and a portion of Fairfax County.

For the VMEA Senior Honors Choir the process was very similar, but students were required to video and audio record themselves. They were asked to learn the piece "I Attempt from Love's Sickness" and sight-read eight measures of complex music, competing against 12^th grade students from throughout Virginia.

The District XII Honors Choir will create one virtual choir performance per ensemble to be released sometime in the spring. The VMEA Senior Honors Choir will participate in four virtual rehearsals with Dr. Christopher Aspaas from Texas Christian University, and will release a virtual choir in March to celebrate "Music in our Schools Month."

Pictured below (l to r): Seniors Sade Jackson, Katie Stansel and John Tuason.