HISTORY & IDENTITY

History & Growth

July 2006

Fr. Steve Shafran Becomes President

Fr. Steve Shafran, who was appointed Project Director in January 2006, becomes the school's first President on July 1, 2006. With the founding leadership in place, the school begins to plan for the recruitment of the first class of students.

December 2006

Renovations Inaugerated

The school inaugerates the renovations of the former elementary school building in Takoma Park, Maryland. During the school’s development, Fr. Steve approaches Georgetown University, Jones Day, and Boland about being potential work-study employers. Their commitment to employ future Don Bosco Cristo Rey students leverages support from 24 other companies who embrace the mission of helping DC’s neediest young people work hard for the majority of the cost of their own education.

August 2007

School Opens

With the initial renovations completed, the doors of the new school open on August 24, 2007 with 127 students and 17 faculty and staff on Larch Avenue in Takoma Park.

April 2010

First Expansion Complete

The first major expansion of the school building is completed in April 2010 with the addition of a new Library-Technology Center, Counseling, youth Ministry, Student Support and Administrative Offices along with a new entrance and building façade facing Larch Avenue.

June 2011

First Graduation Takes Place

The first Graduation takes place on June 2, 2011 at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, DC with 70 graduates who were all accepted to college.

September 2014

Second Expansion Complete

The most recent addition to the school is ready for the opening of the 2014-2015 school year, when DBCR welcomed a record-size freshmen class. This new Academic Wing adds three science labs, five classrooms, the Carlyle Computer Lab, Staff Professional Resource Room, Multi-purpose Training Room, Counseling and Academic Center, new Reception area, and additional restrooms and provides the necessary technology and space to enable DBCR to grow to its intended capacity of 500. With great rejoicing, Donald Cardinal Wuerl blesses and dedicates the new expansion on September 4, 2014.

2016

Father Michael Conway, SDB Becomes President

2018

Elias Blanco Becomes Principal

Elias Blanco, a founding staff member, becomes principal.

2018

Don Bosco Hits Full Capacity

DBCR hits full capacity. The school officially has twice as many alumni as we have students.

2019

Archibishop of Washington Celebrates Mass

Archbishop of Washington, His Eminence Wilton Cardinal Gregory celebrates Baccalaureate Mass for the first time in 2019.

Class of 2019

First Student Goes to Ivy League College

Don Bosco's first student to attend an Ivy League college heads to Cornell.

2021

Rich Dumais Becomes President

Rich Dumais, a board chair, becomes Acting President.

Success

The first Graduation took place on June 2, 2011 at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, DC with 70 graduates who were all accepted to college. Since then, 100% of Don Bosco Cristo Rey graduates have continued to be accepted to college, receiving over $16 million in merit and need based scholarships.

Sponsorship

Don Bosco Cristo Rey High School and Corporate Work Study Program was founded in 2007 as a member of the Cristo Rey Network. The Archdiocese of Washington invited the Salesians of Don Bosco of the St. Phillip the Apostle Province of New Rochelle, New York, to co-sponsor and co-found a ‘Cristo Rey’ model school in the Washington metropolitan area, and to imbue the educational approach of St. John Bosco into the new school. The educational vision of the Salesians of Don Bosco inspires all those at Don Bosco Cristo Rey to teach as Jesus taught and to imitate Him in all we say and do.

Accreditation

Don Bosco Cristo Rey is an accredited institution and has received the approval of the following entities:

AdvancED
Recognized and Sponsored by the State of Maryland
Recognized and Sponsored by the Archdiocese of Washington
Recognized and Sponsored by the Salesians of Don Bosco
A member of the National Catholic Educational Association (NCEA)
A member of the Cristo Rey Network

Salesian Identity

Don Bosco Cristo Rey was founded by the Salesians of Don Bosco, the second largest Catholic religious order in the world. Today, this Catholic religious organization continues to do the work of the Lord in the spirit of its founder — St. John Bosco. When St. John Bosco founded the Salesians in 1859, his mission was clear and simple: to be a friend — a friend to kids who were poor, kids abandoned, kids at risk — and in so doing, to be a friend to Christ. He dedicated his life to them, and today, Salesians can be found worldwide in many different initiatives on behalf of young people: schools, oratories, youth centers, technical and professional training centers, parishes, foreign missions, and activities in the realm of mass media and social communications.

All those within Don Bosco’s spiritual family share his educational method, popularly called “The Preventive System,” which focuses on developing the whole person — body, heart, mind and spirit. It seeks to prevent the need for punishment by placing the child in an environment in which he or she is encouraged to be the best they can be. It is a congenial, friendly and holistic approach to education. The basic principle of his system is a deep understanding and love for young people and their problems. The Salesian charism continues Don Bosco’s vision and responds to a great need felt by young people to “know that they are loved.” Significantly, Don Bosco’s example and educational methods have inspired a Gospel lifestyle which leads to holiness in life, as witnessed in the lives of those who have embraced Don Bosco’s experience and made it their own.

For more information about the Salesians of Don Bosco and its founder, St. John Bosco, please visit: http://www.sdb.org

For more information on the Eastern Province of the Salesians of Don Bosco, please visit: http://www.salesians.org.