Dear Parents,

While early August at Brophy is always a time of great excitement and anticipation, I don’t remember a year that’s started with this much enthusiasm.   I want to briefly touch on a few of the reasons why I think this year holds so much promise.

• Our students. The Men of 2015 are an impressive group who come from all parts of the Valley and more than 110 different junior high schools. They were welcomed by more returning students (literally) than we’ve ever had at Brophy.  This high enrollment is because of increased retention which affirms the experience students are having, the success they are achieving, and the sense of community they experience.

• Our teachers. This year we welcome a large cohort of remarkably talented new faculty members.  They are briefly introduced later in this bulletin.  They are well on their way to enhancing the dynamic faculty they join here at Brophy.

• Alumni Service Corps (ASC). This year, we start a new program and welcome back four Brophy alums (also introduced later in this bulletin) who will serve as Brophy’s first ASC cohort by giving a year of service to Brophy and our students.  Chosen from a long list of their peers who applied for the program, these talented and energetic young men will each be teaching one class, be involved in the retreat and immersion programs, assist with Loyola Academy, and coach or moderate a student activity.  It is humbling to see such talented young men so enthusiastic to return to Brophy to commit one year of very long days with very little monetary compensation.

• Loyola Academy. As most of you know, we start a new chapter in Brophy’s history this year by welcoming 32 6^th grade boys into our community.  In these days when many Catholic schools endure the challenges of shrinking enrollments, it speaks volumes about our entire community that we are able to open our doors to these incredible young men and provide them this opportunity.  As I think back over the first two weeks of this program, what has impressed me most is how welcoming our high school students have been – giving them high fives at lunch or when they pass them on campus and, in general, making them feel at home and important.

I hope that your sons had a restful summer and that they are as excited as their teachers for the new school year.  We look forward to partnering with you in the year ahead and to seeing you Monday night at Back to School Night.

Sincerely,

Bob Ryan
Principal