THOUGHTS FROM OUR HEAD OF SCHOOL, JOSEPH VORBACH:
Shortly after our students departed in June, Bishop O'Connell played host, for the second year in a row, to the Greater Washington Suzuki Institute. The hallmarks of this program include significant parent presence and involvement as the young musicians develop their skills. While they are here at DJO, there is a family atmosphere and we enjoy listening to the music as well as watching the families take their lunches together on our front lawn.
As I write to you now, the last hours of our last summer camps are coming to a close and our fall student athletes are getting ready to go. I have enjoyed looking out my window to the north and watching eight year olds try out their crossover dribbles on each other during scrimmages. I'm jealous! I wouldn't mind a week long camp of just basketball -- my body would mind, but it sounds like a fun idea.
So we began with violins and ended bouncing balls and squeaking sneakers -- all signs of active learning and we want to be a place where a lot of that happens.
To get ready for next year and well into the future, we started right away in June on a host of projects focused on serving our students better -- with technology, with STEM education, with testing support, with studio arts, with expanded services and with athletics to name a few. And we tackled some environmental challenges with HVAC system repairs and upgrades. Among the things that will be most noticeable when you return to campus are the new engineering and expanded services classrooms on the second floor of the Underwood wing, the beautifully redone floor in the gymnasium, and, most of all, the fact that the original convent has been demolished. All of these things are signs of our commitment to continuous improvement in the near term and beyond, and I share just a few photos below.
At the same time, we have been both rounding out our team of education professionals and completing some planned reorganization designed to help us serve students and families even more effectively. We look forward to sharing more about our team and structure in the coming weeks.
With prayers that you continue to enjoy a safe and happy summer.
