8th Grade Retreat
The Class of 2025 had their final retreat on Friday, May 30th. This all-day retreat focused on their feelings regarding moving on, savoring the moment, and maintaining their connection with each other through care and love for their neighbor. They shared stories about difficult situations they had overcome, they wrote each other notes, and at the end of the day, they received palanca letters from their loved ones. This day of reflection not only provided this graduating class with the opportunity to strengthen their relationships with each other, but also to reckon with a time of transition and to know that they have a community of support around them. We are so grateful to veteran teacher Irene Locario for leading them in this retreat.
Saturday Program
On Saturday, May 31st, our students gathered for the final Saturday program of the year. Here they painted with watercolors, played board games, and spent some time in our local park. We were excited to welcome some of our 8th graders to their final Saturday program as BJP students and gather as a community before finals this week. Thank you also to everyone who volunteered throughout the year at BJP's Saturday program. Our volunteers are a significant part of making this program possible. Between handing out materials, setting up crafts, and getting to know our kids, we value everyone who has journeyed to our building on an early Saturday morning to help make this happen for our kids.
Students of the Month
We are proud of our Students of the Month for May 2025! Ariel, Mia, Aidan, and Skylar were awarded for their demonstration of Empathy, referring to their ability to understand and share the feelings of one another. These four students were recognized for their kind and welcoming nature. They are reflective and able to put themselves in others' places. This is an incredible quality to exemplify, and we are proud to celebrate it. Congratulations to these four scholars!
Brooklyn Prep Alumni Association Mass
Thank you to the Brooklyn Prep Alumni Association for hosting some staff and students at their most recent Mass and dinner celebration. We are grateful to the Association for its support of our school community. It was wonderful to see our kids represented in their program. It was also inspiring to see such a tight-knit alumni community. The program and energy in the room were vibrant. You all have shown our students the importance of maintaining relationships with their peers.
Advisory Games
Our scholars have been working hard to prepare for their end-of-year exams. On May 6th, our students gathered in their Advisory groups to support each other during this month's forums. May's games were another way for students to study. They raced to solve math equations with their teams, and if they answered correctly, they moved to the next level. Advisory games use a little friendly competition to get students moving around and find new ways to make learning fun. We were excited to see just how many answers our students knew and how much they had prepared on their own to be ready for exams.
Neighborhood Clean Up
On May 15th, the BJP community took to the streets for a neighborhood clean-up. One way we teach our students to be men and women for others is through caring for their community. Caring for this community does not only mean within our building walls. It means being active in our neighborhood and helping our neighbors keep East Flatbush clean! We were proud of our students for their excitement and willingness to help. This day was part of our education around Earth Day and why it's important to take care of our Earth! We teach our kids that small, everyday tasks, such as recycling and not littering, help keep the Earth clean!
Gala Recap
We are so grateful to our honoree, Jack Raslowsky, former board member and current President at Xavier High School. He received the Sr. Thea Bowman Award for demonstrating a belief in the transformative power of education to bring about a more compassionate, multi-cultural community of justice and faith. Jack has been a pillar for educational advocacy, welcoming so many of our young men to Xavier High School. Euroy Smith, BJP Class of 2006, Xavier Class of 2010, and Fairfield University's Class of 2014, addressed Jack in his speech, saying, "thank you for being the cornerstone of a community that dares to believe in kids like me. You didn’t just invest in our education—you invested in our futures." We thank you, Jack, for your work in educational equity. We are grateful that this work has ensured that our graduates get the access to the resources they need to succeed.
We are grateful to our community, including our trustees, host committee, and faculty and staff, who took the time to make this year's Gala so successful. This event granted our school many firsts. It was the first time we sold out of the event, the first time we had the privilege of welcoming nine of our graduates, and the first time we were able to raise $550k (and counting)! This event impacts our initiatives significantly. At BJP, 93% of our annual budget comes from charitable contributions. Your generosity impacts BJP's today and ensures our tomorrow. Thank you again to everyone who attended. We are especially thankful to Euroy and Tim Bobb, BJP’s Class of 2021, for sharing with us your journeys and how Jesuit education has impacted who you are today. This event embodied community so vibrantly, and we were glad to host so many of you.
