THOUGHTS FROM OUR HEAD OF SCHOOL, JOSEPH VORBACH:
It is a real honor to be the Head of School at my alma mater. I am routinely reminded of this when I encounter parents, past-parents, alumni and others in the community and they ask me how things are going. This question is an immediate opportunity to do one or several of the following:
- Brag about students - Every day at school I learn about the remarkable achievements of our students. Sometimes it is academic recognition, other times is has to do with extracurricular pursuits, and other times, often most movingly, it has to do with a student or group of students commitment to serving others.
- Brag about faculty, counselors and coaches - I love the energy and commitment of our team and am very grateful for the leadership of Mr. Carl Patton in his role as Principal. Virtually every trip I make down the hallway includes an opportunity to observe the excellence of this team in action. I think here, too, of the dedication of our team, from Father Thompson and the Campus Ministry team on down, to our Catholic mission of trying to bring students closer to Christ. So many give of their time so selfishly to make this work and it is inspiring.
- Brag about the community - O'Connell is richly blessed by so many devoted parents and alumni whose commitment to the success of the school's mission is unwavering. Over the past week, it has been my privilege to work with the PTO leadership on immediate and future plans, as well as to collaborate with the Dad's Club on the wonderful career night that they are planning with our Counseling Department for Tuesday, March 19. It has been fun and rewarding reaching out to alumni to ask them to share their professional experiences with students on what is shaping up to be a wonderful event. And the community prays for the school, all the time, which is a great blessing.
- Share the future - At least five times in the past 24 hours I've had a chance to give an interested alum a short update on the capital improvement plans we will accomplish by August of 2020. They are the most ambitious in the school's history and I can't wait until the rendering of our beautiful new chapel is transformed into reality. This coming Monday, I am looking forward to attending a meeting at the Arlington County Offices that will be one of the last stops on the way to the issuance of our building permit.
In all honesty, whenever I am asked how things are going, I am also mindful in the back of my head of what we must do better, things we need to fix or repair, processes we must refine, systems of accountability that must be strengthened. Challenge and opportunity abound. We are fortunate to be involved in the chance to shape a successful future for Catholic education at Bishop O'Connell. Enriched by all the good going on, surrounded by so many committed to the same cause, I thank God each day for the challenge and the opportunity.