Dear Colleagues,
As we continue to live out our Jesuit Catholic mission, I want to take a moment to reflect on the experiences that make Cristo Rey Jesuit so special, the kind of experiences that shape lives, build confidence, and deepen purpose.
Thursday’s Parent-Teacher Conferences were a powerful example of this partnership in action. Across grade levels, we met with 165 families: 58 ninth graders, 51 tenth graders, 39 juniors, and 17 seniors. These meetings reminded us that when we engage families as partners, we build bridges that support both academic growth and personal transformation. Thank you for the care, time, and attention you gave to each conversation.
And sometimes, God’s grace shows up in small but extraordinary moments. This week, one of our seniors, who had just received his first college acceptance from Coppin State University, came upstairs to the Corporate Work-Study area to call his parent and share the news. That simple act, a student seeking to share joy with someone who believes in him, captured the soul of our work. It was a moment of transformation, gratitude, and faith in action.
Transformation Through Experience
Our students are learning that their work, both in and out of the classroom, changes them. Through the Corporate Work-Study Program (CWSP), they connect what they learn in class to real-world experiences, moving from uncertainty to confidence and discovering pathways that give their lives meaning.
Growth in Confidence and Voice
Every week, our students step into workplaces that challenge them to speak up, take initiative, and lead. They are learning to advocate for themselves and to represent Cristo Rey Jesuit with professionalism, humility, and pride.
Purpose and Direction
The work they do is not just about gaining skills, it’s about discovering who they are called to be. Whether it’s a student uncovering a passion for engineering, law, or education, each placement helps them discern their future with clarity and faith.
Partnership and Opportunity
We are grateful for the 100+ businesses and organizations that open their doors to our students. These partnerships embody Faith that Does Justice, creating pathways for young people to experience professional environments that were once beyond their reach.
Joy and Gratitude
There is joy in witnessing our students grow, joy in their resilience, joy in their discovery, and joy in their gratitude for the opportunities they are given. Their voices remind us that what we do each day is sacred work: forming the next generation of leaders for Baltimore and beyond.
Thank you for your steadfast dedication to our mission and for accompanying our students with faith, love, and purpose. Together, we continue to help them find confidence, direction, and joy in the work they are called to do.
With deep appreciation,
Walter D. Reap, Sr., President
Cristo Rey Jesuit High School – Baltimore
