New School Year, New Theme!
"Un fuego que enciende otros fuegos"
The 2024-2025 school year is off a successful start here in Brooklyn! Returning students and new faces alike were welcomed with open arms just after Labor Day.
September was full of opportunities for connection and community building. The Mass of the Holy Spirit provided a spiritual convocation for the year, parents visited for Back to School Night on September 12, and an all-school BBQ closed the month with grilling, games, dancing, and fellowship.
Now that October has begun, we are settling into a rhythm. We look forward to all that the year ahead holds. Our theme for the year comes from Jesuit saint Alberto Hurtado, who was described as "Un fuego que enciende otros fuegos" (a fire that kindles other fires).
Throughout this year, we will encourage our students to identify and cultivate their talents. We will also encourage them to share these gifts with one another, our community, and the world. In this way, we hope to follow St. Ignatius's challenge "to set the world on fire," one student at a time.
Summer Recap: Camp Montmartre
at Fairfield University
Camp Montmartre, an academic and leadership development program, is a cornerstone of the BJP experience. For three weeks each July, our students, faculty, and staff live in community on Fairfield's campus.
We like to say that we bring BJP to Fairfield, transporting all of our rising 6th, 7th, and 8th grade students, as well as many of our teachers, for three weeks of learning, bonding, and growth. Camp Montmartre is frequently cited as one of the most memorable and impactful aspects of being a BJP student. We are especially grateful to Fairfield University for being such a generous and welcoming host!
In addition to time in the classroom each day, students are able to use the top-notch facilities at Fairfield University, and they even have the chance to take swimming lessons in the pool. Sacred Tollerson, a 7th grader, said, "I learned to swim at camp this year. It was a fun, crazy, and scary experience, especially jumping into the deep end. I was able to accomplish this goal because I was determined and open to growth.”
Outside of class time, students visited nearby colleges and also took field trips each weekend to cultural sites in Connecticut. They also completed BOLT (BJP Outdoor Leadership Training), which teaches team building, problem solving and other leadership skills.
This year, 9 of our 13 counselor/collegian staff were BJP alumni, with 7 returning from last year. Here's what Osiris Alvarado (BJP '20 & Xavier HS '24) shared when asked about returning to camp: "I always loved camp when I was a student at BJP, so being able to come back as a counselor and play a part in making current students' experience just as good as mine brings me so much joy and excitement. This is my second year working at camp and it makes me proud to see how the campers from last year have grown. There is something very rewarding about seeing kids live up to their potential and grow into natural leaders.”
All in all, camp provided students an opportunity to advance their learning and broaden their horizons, and deepen their connection to one another.
BJP Alumni Return for
Annual High School Fair
In addition to our enthusiasm about welcoming 90 students to our building on E 37th St. and Glenwood Rd., we also are excited for our alumni who began at NYC area high schools last month!
We were especially excited to welcome many of them back for our Annual High School Fair. Twenty-one Catholic high schools were represented, including neighbors like Cristo Rey Brooklyn and Nazareth, as well as Manhattan schools like Notre Dame and Xavier High School. We even had guests from the state of NJ, with Jesuit high school St. Peter's Prep making the trip.
Students and parents from the 7th and 8th grade interacted with administrators from our partner schools, as well as BJP alumni who attend those schools currently. There were plenty of good questions from the practical (How's the commute? ) to the philosophical (What is the culture like there?).
The event was a tremendous success, and we are grateful to our high school partners for joining us and educating our students about possibilities for the future!
Get Involved: Volunteer at BJP's Saturday Program
You might think that coming to school on a Saturday morning sounds like punishment--maybe even the dreaded JUG penalty common at Jesuit schools.
At BJP, coming to school on a Saturday is something our students look forward to, and we need your help!
Our Saturday program is staffed by generous volunteers. These members of our community join our students for a few hours of fun and fellowship on several Saturdays throughout the year.
The Saturday program includes time for a special project, recreation outdoors, and a pizza lunch. Our students love coming to school in dress down clothes, meeting our volunteers, and getting some exercise and quality time together.
Our first edition is on Saturday, October 26th. We hope you can join us!
For more information, including other dates throughout the year to sign up, click here.
