Boldly BL

BOLDLY

Kyle Gore’ 80, Chris Post, Duncan Smith ‘73, Geoff Brent ‘77 BOYS’ LATINHenry Hopkins H’03, Duncan Smith ‘73

BREAKING GROUND ON BOLDLY BL

By Stephanie McLoughlin

On the morning of Opening Convocation, excitement and energy were in the air. Boldly BL banners adorned campus, construction fences were wrapped showcasing Boldly BL renderings and gold shovels stood at the ready. You see, following Opening Convocation, the official groundbreaking ceremony for The Boldly BL Campaign for Boys’ Latin was taking place.

Opening Convocation began as is tradition, with seniors walking hand-in-hand with kindergarten and pre-first boys. They were the last students to make their way to J. Duncan Smith Field for BL’s Opening Convocation. Students, faculty and members of Boys’ Latin’s Board of Trustees looked on at this wonderful display of brotherhood and eagerly awaited the morning’s events.

Convocation began with student body president Jacob Pacheco ‘23 leading the Pledge of Allegiance and reading the School’s mission statement. Immediately following, fifth graders led the crowd in the School song. Headmaster Chris Post made a few remarks reminding the boys of the importance of the deep personal relationships that are formed at Boys’ Latin and the promise of the coming year. “We gather together, reinforcing the ties that bind, the relationships that start in our lower school, continue in the middle school, and extend across the bridge into the upper school. We gather at Opening Convocation to recognize the promise and opportunity of a new year.”

Following Convocation, the promise of tomorrow that Mr. Post had talked about came to life as the entire School community made its way from the field to the construction site for the official Groundbreaking Ceremony for The Boldly BL Campaign for Boys’ Latin. The campaign focuses on three priorities: expanding and renovating the upper school and Gelston Athletic Center and growing our endowment, all of which will enrich boys’ lives, support our programs and propel Boys’ Latin forward. The Campaign goal is $22 million. Thanks to the support of our board of trustees and the many other donors who have made significant leadership commitments, we are well on our way to reaching our goal.

The groundbreaking ceremony began with the entire student body and board members in attendance. Lower school boys were particularly noteworthy as they were clad in plastic “hardhats” and seemed to want nothing more than to join the construction project and start digging. Mr. Post kicked off the event with brief remarks explaining to the boys the purpose of the campaign and expressing his gratitude for everyone who has supported the campaign thus far. “What’s made all this possible? It is the generosity of people who feel passionately about Boys’ Latin – who feel strongly about our outstanding faculty and you, our spirited boys. Those donors – our alumni; parents and past parents; faculty, staff and administrators; friends of the school and foundations – have given generously to make possible the transformation of our campus and the creation of our endowment.”

The President of the Board of Trustees, Geoffrey H. Brent ‘77, followed Mr. Post with his own speech offering his support and enthusiasm for the project. “It was about 51 years ago today that I walked onto this campus. It was only Williams Hall and an annex then, and housed both the middle and upper school. We have been able to grow because of the people and the feeling that continues to this day that we are all in it together.” He also reminded boys not to take for granted the experiences they have at Boys’ Latin and all the opportunities they have been given.

Geoff Brent, Chris Post, Kyle Gore’ 80 ( Board of Trustees treasurer and Campaign Chair), Duncan Smith ‘73 (Board of Trustees Assistant Secretary and Honorary Campaign Co-Chair) and Henry Hopkins H’03 (Honorary Campaign Co-Chair) picked up the gold shovels, dug into a small pile of dirt and with pride and humility officially broke ground for the Boldly BL Campaign.