For us to achieve the ideal culture to which we aspire, it needs to be lived in how we act and how we treat each other, not just in the words we profess and post on our bulletin boards.

We have declared eight key elements of our BK Way culture – faith, safe and caring place, academic excellence, activities, honor, generosity, community, and partnership.  We are focusing now on three areas our community said were important and where our survey data and our own analysis told us we need to improve to reach our ideal culture – faith, safe and caring place and honor.

My blog today is around the topic of the critical role that we as adults play in modeling and acting out these three elements.  Allow me to first define the three elements:

–          Faith – Jesus Christ is our Lord, our ultimate teacher and role model and we are actively dedicated to our spiritual formation.

–          Safe and Caring Place – BK is a safe, caring and compassionate place where all students, staff and parents feel welcomed and valued.

–          Honor – Each member of the BK community is accountable to high standards of moral and ethical behavioral in the classrooms, hallways, at BK events, on the playing field and in the stands.

We as adults have tremendous influence in how our young men and women here at BK act and treat each other.  Overall, we have a wonderful adult community of parents, teachers, staff and administrators who every day demonstrate the BK Way and work together to serve the mission of our school – “to educate and develop the whole student in the Catholic tradition – spirit, mind and body”.

Unfortunately, recently I have either witnessed or received reports of incidents where we as adults have not exhibited these ideals of faith, safe and caring place and honor.  Without going into specifics, allow me to cite a few of these situations:

–          Swearing and yelling at referees during athletic competitions where our sons or daughters are playing.

–          Spreading rumors about other parents’ behaviors or words instead of reaching out to them and seeking the truth.

–          Attacking the integrity of administrators, coaches or teachers versus trusting first, then seeking to understand and finally challenging if warranted.

–          Forgetting to ask “what would Jesus do” when confronted with a difficult situation.

–          Texting profane and hurtful messages to other parents and/or students.

My point is not to call out or seek to discipline individuals or groups of adults.  That is not role or purpose.  What I would ask is for each of us to first reflect on how we as adults are living out our faith and our desired culture.  Think of those incidents and situations where you have done it well and those where you have fallen short.  Ask for God’s forgiveness where you have fallen short.  And commit to be accountable each day to ourselves and each other to model our faith and the BK Way in our actions and words.  Be that shining example to our young men and women of our desired culture.

Jim Everett, CEO of the YMCA and a member of the BK President’s Advisory Council, shared wome important wisdom with us in a session on the BK Way last week.  The Golden Rule (“treat others as we would like to be treated”) is insufficient.  Let’s also follow the Platinum Rule – “let’s treat others as they would like to be treated!”

Rich