"Happy Still-Open Anniversary, Fr.! Thanks for all you did to save Bonner & Prendie!"

This was a text message I received on Tuesday from an alum who worked shoulder to shoulder with so many others at Bonner & Prendie three years ago when we appealed the decision of the Blue Ribbon Commission to close. On February 24, 2012 we received word that Bonner and Prendie, along with three other high schools, would remain open. It was a day of great rejoicing. While I very much appreciated the text message, the truth is that the message really should've been reversed. It was the efforts of literally thousands of Bonner and Prendie graduates and friends who saved our school. It is to each and every one of you that we owe sincere thanks for all you did to save Bonner & Prendie!

While many alumnae and alumni, faculty and friends celebrated the anniversary, for our kids in school that day things passed more quietly. We don't emphasize the anniversary since only our senior class, which is our smallest class, was here on that day. We don't want our current students to think of Bonner & Prendie as "the school that almost closed," but rather as "the school that is moving forward" and "the school of opportunity for them." Here at Bonner & Prendie, we aim to do much more than simply survive and stay open. We are the leaders in technology use and integration, partnerships with colleges and universities, differentiated learning, and support for students. This is how we want to be known!

This has also been a very difficult few weeks for us at Bonner & Prendie marked with great sadness. One of our most recent graduates, a beloved member of the class of 2014, passed away suddenly. His death is a tremendous loss and profoundly grieved not only his classmates but also many of our current students. On the night he died, hundreds of current and former students came up to our campus to pray and comfort one another. Several of our teachers also came to campus to comfort their students and to lead a prayer service in the Chapel. I was doing the same thing for our students who happened to be on retreat in Malvern. This went on into the wee hours of the morning.

As sad as it was, I was also heartened to know that our students were able to find in Bonner & Prendie the two things that are most necessary in a time of crisis in grief: faith and community. They were able to draw strength from their faith even as they were trying to make sense of the tragic situation. They were also able to comfort one another as a community of brothers and sisters in the Lord. On that most difficult evening, our students and recent alums brought to life our slogan of the past few years:  We are "A Family of Believers and Achievers."

Fortunately, our kids are resilient, and while we continue to grieve and pray, we also know that the best way to move forward is to celebrate with joy the life that God gives us every day. Yesterday, many of our students took part in Innovation Day 2015 which is an opportunity for them to work in groups on projects that interest them and can make a difference for others. Some worked on scientific theories, others produced videos similar to Ted talks, and some even worked on developing prototypes for new products. I was amazed by their creativity and their wide range of interests. This is what 21st century learning is all about. Today students need to not only learn and understand the world around them, but also are challenged to take that knowledge and apply it in a way that makes a difference to others.

I am so proud of our kids and especially in the last few weeks. They are innovative learners, a true family of brothers and sisters, and young men and women who know how to rally around their faith. What more could we ask of this upcoming generation?

So, to echo the text message I received, thank you for all you have done to make this possible. God bless you!

Fr. Olson

Rev. James P. Olson, President