ANNUAL REPORT 2015-2016 CONTENTS 04 06 08 12 14 24 26 WELCOME GRADUATION IN THE NEWS GRADUATE SUPPORT ANNUAL REPORT SPRING AUCTION CAMPAIGN UPDATE From Patrick T. Maloney, Rev. John Brooks, S.J., What’s going on at Jobs and Internships 2015-2016 Annual “It’s OK to be...” The past year of Interim President Class of 2016 Nativity Worcester? Report of Giving our campaign 2 OPEN TO GROWTH 3 Welcome LETTER TO OUR COMMUNITY WHAT MORE CAN BE DONE? The Society of Jesus ( Jesuits) have a term, “magis”, to be faced, new opportunities to be welcomed. As you will see in the pages that follow, there is which is a Latin adverb meaning “more” or “to a Indeed, ours is a holy boldness, ‘a certain apostolic a great deal to celebrate over the past year, and greater degree”. It is closely related to the Jesuit aggressivity,’ typical of our way of proceeding. Our beginning with our Summer of Service, a lot of motto: “For the greater glory of God” and is a way of proceeding is a way of challenge.” That’s the excitement about the coming academic year. Of reminder to us all to strive to make the widest thread you should see running through the pages of course, there is also more that can be done for the positive impact on those around us each and this book. The faces you see in these photos are of future of Nativity School of Worcester. Under our every day. I’ve experienced this concept firsthand people working hard to break the cycle of poverty for Board of Trustee’s leadership and guidance, we’ve at Nativity School of Worcester. For five years, themselves, their families, or for others, and by doing begun expanding the scope of our graduate support I’ve worked at Nativity School of Worcester and so lift up our entire community. All the while, they program to extend beyond college graduation to marveled at the work that is done by our faculty, are asking themselves what more they can do, what include career readiness. We are committed to our staff, and volunteers. Their commitment to our could they do better? Nativity Men for the long term. We’ve already had students, graduates, families, and each other is great success with internship and job placements, unwavering no matter how simple or complex the Our school is in a transitional period with its and I encourage you to read more on page 12, and obstacle, they dive in head first to develop a solution. leadership, and I have been blessed with the think about becoming involved with our efforts But that positive impact does not begin and end opportunity to serve in the role of interim president yourself. There is much more to be done, and we within the walls of 67 Lincoln Street – it flows freely for this year. I’m excited about all of the possibilities look forward to sharing all of the news with you out of our doors and into the Worcester community. and can promise you that no matter what happens, as it happens. It even reaches outside of the city. Word of a I will give my all and do my best for myself, my school community where collaboration permeates family and for this entire community. As we move Finally, on behalf of the entire Nativity Worcester everything we do, no matter what your role is, the into a new academic year, I want to especially thank community, I’d like to extend my deepest gratitude great individual care that is given to graduates, and two members of our staff who personified the to all of those who have contributed to the mission the successes that our students have had inside and magis during their time with us. First and foremost, of Nativity School of Worcester over the past year. outside of their classroom has traveled far. And yet, outgoing President Alex Zequeira. Almost 15 years Last year, over 750 donors contributed a record- despite all this good, I still find myself asking that ago, Alex first learned about this new school and setting $1.24M. We cannot thank you enough for same question - what more can be done? became one of the key architects in establishing its your commitment to our boys and their future. Your culture and curriculum. Over the last five years, support allows us to continually push ourselves and At Nativity Worcester, there is no settling, no perfect he has led our community with unlimited energy embody the magis. or good enough. I believe that our path was best and has been a true champion for our students. As articulated in one of the decrees that came from 34th he takes over the helm at Saint John’s, I know that Onward, General Congregation of the Society of Jesus in he will continue to advocate for our Nativity Men. 1995, namely, “We are never content with the status Also, Benjamin Gitkind is departing after 6 years at quo, the known, the tried, the already existing. We the school. Serving as both a teaching fellow and a are constantly driven to discover, redefine, and reach lead teacher, we are indebted to Mr. Gitkind for the out for the magis. For us, frontiers and boundaries talent he brought to school every class period, every Patrick T. Maloney are not obstacles or ends, but new challenges Knight Time rehearsal, every arts night, and every Interim President baseball game. 4 5 News News FAMILY AND FRIENDS JOINED THE 16 MEMBERS OF THE REV. JOHN BROOKS, S.J. CLASS OF 2016 ON SATURDAY, JUNE 11 TO CELEBRATE THEIR GRADUATION FROM NATIVITY SCHOOL OF WORCESTER. STUDENT SPEAKER, PRINCE COLLINS, AND COMMUNITY SPEAKER, JUAINER BEATO-LOPEZ (IGNATIUS ’06), SPOKE TO THE AUDIENCE ASSEMBLED IN THE SCHOOL’S GYMNASIUM. ADDITIONALLY, IAN GACHUNGA RECEIVED THE NATIVITY SPIRIT AWARD, CELEBRATING HIS COMMITMENT TO NATIVITY WORCESTER’S FOUR PILLARS OF STRENGTH, SCHOLARSHIP, CHARACTER, AND SERVICE THROUGH HIS FOUR YEARS AT THE SCHOOL. Oheneba “A.J.” Agyemang GRADUATION Saint John’s High School Jayden Ampratwum Graduation Speech OF THE REV. JOHN BROOKS, S.J. Saint John’s High School Jean Luca Brauna prince collins CLASS OF 2016 Saint John’s High School Ryon Carreras Worcester Tech High School Good afternoon everyone. My remember thinking, “there are no school. This is what makes this not easy at all, but we have made Tahjeek Clayton name is Prince Collins and I am a girls at this school?! I don’t know school so special and why so many it through it and graduation day is Saint John’s High School member of the 8th grade Brooks about that.” But, you know, we got people support our mission. finally here. Prince Collins Class of 2016. I am very excited to used to it. Thankfully, we have kind Bancroft School be standing here in front of you all of matured since 5th grade and we The amount of support our class As we walk off into the world today. I am proud of my classmates have learned to respect each other has received is unbelievable. Our today, let us not forget about Eamonn Dennis for all we have accomplished a lot more. Over the past 4 years, class is unique and we all have where we came from and this Saint John’s High School over the past 4 years. We are all Nativity has taught me, has taught our own gifts and talents - and amazing Nativity community that Ian Gachunga here today excited to move on to all of us, a lot of lessons and we we have been able to share these we can always call our home. I Worcester Academy great things and success. As we have all matured into the young with our Nativity Worcester know that this school has not only Hery Hernandez head off to different high schools, men that we are today, about to go community. Nativity Worcester had a tremendous impact on my Saint John’s High School I am 100 percent sure that we off to high school. Nativity taught is a place where no student is left life, but the lives of everybody in Richarno Hylton will all accomplish whatever our me the importance of hard work, behind, but instead placed on the this room. When we move on, let Saint John’s High School goals may be at those schools. patience, dedication, honesty, and journey to success. The teachers us not forget the four pillars of Next year, we are going to be the perseverance. have put up with us everyday the school: strength, scholarship, Josephus Kiyee youngest group of students again. for 4 years and that shows a lot service, and character and let us Xavier High School (Iowa) We will have the chance to meet Nativity not only provides us with of patience. They worked hard keep them in our hearts. The next Mateo Linares new people and experience a new an excellent education, but also everyday to make sure that we are step of our journey begins here. Holy Name Central Catholic High School learning environment. And while with life changing experiences. receiving the best education we Once a Nativity Man, always a Jovanni Lundin we are leaving Nativity Worcester, The Washington D.C. trip the can get. The teachers here care Nativity Man. Worcester Technical High School our Nativity experience is one past three days, Adventure Bound about each and every student. I know that all of us will never in Maine, field trips throughout Our class supports each other in Ryan Renteria forget.