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News & Photos
What Makes McDonogh so Special
During new faculty orientation on August 29, Lower School teacher and parent Nancy Fleury shared some thoughts on what makes McDonogh so special. Whether you are a student, parent, teacher, alumni, or friend of McDonogh, you will appreciate these excerpts from her remarks and find yourself nodding in agreement:
When I first arrived—a true rookie, fresh out of college—I remember feeling incredibly excited, terribly nervous, and very grateful for the opportunity to be here. What I didn’t realize at the time was how significantly this McDonogh family, this incredible community, would impact my life and the lives of my family.
When I think about McDonogh, a lot of words come to mind: passion, energy, dedication, integrity, and excellence—to name just a few. These traits are woven throughout the day in every area from academics to athletics to the performing arts.
From the moment I arrived, I was anxious to make a difference in the lives of my students. I began teaching second grade and I loved every minute of it. I put in long hours and had wonderful colleagues from whom I learned a great deal.
I adored my students and their warm and supportive parents, and I knew I had found a new home. I was constantly buoyed by simple gestures from my students—a sweet smile, a warm hug, a handmade card—and deeply touched by notes sent from the parents of my students. I have one here that I received in October of my very first year of teaching that I have saved for almost 25 years.
When I think about the true culture of McDonogh, there are many wonderful aspects that come to mind, but I’d like to focus on three important themes that really resonate with me:
- Joy,
- Relationships or Connections,
- Opportunities to make a difference.
You have probably already noticed this feeling of joy on campus. I think it is a palpable undercurrent that is felt by everyone who spends time here, from the faculty and administration to our students and their families.
A good example of this joy was expressed in Charlie Britton’s August welcome letter to the faculty, he wrote: “McDonogh never ceases to astonish me. I work each day at a school with a rich history, high ideals and principles, great people, and a mission to provide life-altering opportunities for its students. I have the best job in the world, and I love what I do.”
As you can see, joy is something that trickles down from the top. You will see and feel this joy during school-wide events like Spirit Day, the Halloween parade, and Multicultural Night. There is joy in festivities and celebrations, but there is also joy embedded in everything we do. Students find joy in learning and teachers find joy in teaching.
So much of who we are as a school today can be traced back to our founder, John McDonogh, and his Rules for Living. Many of his original visions are foundations that carry us through to today.
As our mission statement says, we value, “Strong, mutually respectful relationships (that) inspire a passion for teaching and learning, a dedication to personal integrity, and a commitment to excellence.” These relationships, the connections we have among and between students and teachers is another example of what sets us apart from others and truly resonates with this community.
Out of great relationships come opportunities to make a difference in the lives of others. In my humble opinion, this community, this McDonogh family, is second to none when it comes to supporting others in times of need. There are many examples of times when members of this community have reached out to make a difference in the lives of others.
- I can remember an extraordinary day planned by a middle school student to support a teacher who was battling breast cancer.
- I can remember busloads of faculty and students arriving at the funeral of a former student.
- Year after year, this community supports a Holiday Project that provides holiday gifts for over 125 Baltimore City families.
- The volunteers at our Roots garden—both students and adults-- contribute fresh fruits and vegetables area to soup kitchens.
- I can remember our beloved secretary’s husband suffered a heart attack, and this community provided meals and groceries for weeks to lighten the load for her.
- I can remember a guest speaker who inspired a group of seniors to collect and deliver bikes and books for a school in Ghana.
I could go on and on with many more examples of how this school rallies around people in need.
I have friends and family members who often comment on my loyalty and dedication to McDonogh School; but, in fact, I am simply giving back to a school that has given me so much over the years. As you get to know this school you will realize that this loyalty and dedication is the rule and not the exception. We are a school rich with traditions built upon John McDonogh’s Rules for Living, and I am blessed to be a part of it.
During new faculty orientation on August 29, Lower School teacher and parent Nancy Fleury shared some thoughts on what makes McDonogh so special. Whether you are a student, parent, teacher, alumni, or friend of McDonogh, you will appreciate these excerpts from her remarks and find yourself nodding in agreement:
When I first arrived—a true rookie, fresh out of college—I remember feeling incredibly excited, terribly nervous, and very grateful for the opportunity to be here. What I didn’t realize at the time was how significantly this McDonogh family, this incredible community, would impact my life and the lives of my family.
When I think about McDonogh, a lot of words come to mind: passion, energy, dedication, integrity, and excellence—to name just a few. These traits are woven throughout the day in every area from academics to athletics to the performing arts.
From the moment I arrived, I was anxious to make a difference in the lives of my students. I began teaching second grade and I loved every minute of it. I put in long hours and had wonderful colleagues from whom I learned a great deal.
I adored my students and their warm and supportive parents, and I knew I had found a new home. I was constantly buoyed by simple gestures from my students—a sweet smile, a warm hug, a handmade card—and deeply touched by notes sent from the parents of my students. I have one here that I received in October of my very first year of teaching that I have saved for almost 25 years.
When I think about the true culture of McDonogh, there are many wonderful aspects that come to mind, but I’d like to focus on three important themes that really resonate with me:
- Joy,
- Relationships or Connections,
- Opportunities to make a difference.
You have probably already noticed this feeling of joy on campus. I think it is a palpable undercurrent that is felt by everyone who spends time here, from the faculty and administration to our students and their families.
A good example of this joy was expressed in Charlie Britton’s August welcome letter to the faculty, he wrote: “McDonogh never ceases to astonish me. I work each day at a school with a rich history, high ideals and principles, great people, and a mission to provide life-altering opportunities for its students. I have the best job in the world, and I love what I do.”
As you can see, joy is something that trickles down from the top. You will see and feel this joy during school-wide events like Spirit Day, the Halloween parade, and Multicultural Night. There is joy in festivities and celebrations, but there is also joy embedded in everything we do. Students find joy in learning and teachers find joy in teaching.
So much of who we are as a school today can be traced back to our founder, John McDonogh, and his Rules for Living. Many of his original visions are foundations that carry us through to today.
As our mission statement says, we value, “Strong, mutually respectful relationships (that) inspire a passion for teaching and learning, a dedication to personal integrity, and a commitment to excellence.” These relationships, the connections we have among and between students and teachers is another example of what sets us apart from others and truly resonates with this community.
Out of great relationships come opportunities to make a difference in the lives of others. In my humble opinion, this community, this McDonogh family, is second to none when it comes to supporting others in times of need. There are many examples of times when members of this community have reached out to make a difference in the lives of others.
- I can remember an extraordinary day planned by a middle school student to support a teacher who was battling breast cancer.
- I can remember busloads of faculty and students arriving at the funeral of a former student.
- Year after year, this community supports a Holiday Project that provides holiday gifts for over 125 Baltimore City families.
- The volunteers at our Roots garden—both students and adults-- contribute fresh fruits and vegetables area to soup kitchens.
- I can remember our beloved secretary’s husband suffered a heart attack, and this community provided meals and groceries for weeks to lighten the load for her.
- I can remember a guest speaker who inspired a group of seniors to collect and deliver bikes and books for a school in Ghana.
I could go on and on with many more examples of how this school rallies around people in need.
I have friends and family members who often comment on my loyalty and dedication to McDonogh School; but, in fact, I am simply giving back to a school that has given me so much over the years. As you get to know this school you will realize that this loyalty and dedication is the rule and not the exception. We are a school rich with traditions built upon John McDonogh’s Rules for Living, and I am blessed to be a part of it.