Pathway to Excellence: XJA Begins a New School Year

On August 17, before the first bell of the new school year, Fr. Nathan Wendt, S.J. gathered our faculty and staff for an opening prayer service to introduce this year's theme: Pathway to Excellence. Rooted in the Gospel of Matthew and the Ignatian call to the magis, the theme invites our community to see excellence as an ongoing journey, one that asks us to keep discerning, growing, and letting go of whatever holds us back from serving our students more freely. Fr. Wendt reminded us that this pathway belongs to every member of our community: our students, our families, and the faculty and staff who walk alongside them each day.

A Joyful First Day

That spirit carried right into August 19, our first day of the 2026-27 school year. Principal Kyle Chandler invited parents, caregivers, and "the village" to line up and cheer on our students as they arrived, and the response was wonderful to see. Parent volunteer Brittney Johnson prepared a beautiful backdrop for first-day photos, giving families a memorable way to mark the occasion.

As is XJA tradition, we began the day in prayer. Fr. Wendt led our community in blessing our spaces, our families, our communities, and our students for the year ahead. The morning also brought some joyful surprises: an impromptu birthday serenade for Mateo H, and the presentation of the St. Ignatius Award to recipients from each grade during Summer Institute.

We are blessed to begin our third year serving 81 students across grades 3-7, including about 64 returning scholars. Thank you to our families, faculty, and staff for the warmth and energy you brought to this first day, and to our benefactors, whose generosity and belief in our mission make every day at XJA possible.