Dear Boston College High School Parents and Guardians,

Welcome to the new school year! I am excited to be your Principal and to lead our beloved community. This will be my sixth year at BC High, having previously served as a Social Studies teacher, Head of Pro House, soccer coach, and most recently as the Vice Principal of Student Life. My own formation is deeply tied to Jesuit education having proudly attended Nativity Prep, BC High, BC (undergrad and grad school) - I'm probably one of the very few quadruple Eagles!

As a Jesuit Catholic School, we are grounded by Gospel values and guided by our Ignatian Spirituality. As you've seen in our mission statement which is proudly displayed in each room on our campus, we seek to form the boys’ heads, hearts, and hands, and help them become young men of conscience, competence, and compassion.

Formation is at the heart of everything we do here at BC High. Throughout your son’s journeys, they will be pushed consistently to ask themselves these three simple, yet powerful questions: Who am I? What kind of man do I want to become? And how will I make the world a better place?

Academically, we hope BC High is a productive struggle for students. Classes will be challenging, and they should be. It is through challenges that students grow and learn. We hold students to high expectations that are complemented by high support from teachers, administrators, Heads of House, and counselors. Through our academic program we hope to provide students with a variety of experiences that help them understand their world and context. Reflection is central to Jesuit education and a key part of learning at BC High. We provide students with opportunities to intentionally reflect and discern on their learning and how it is shaping their character. Lastly, it is an expectation for BC High students to take action based on their learning to bring about a more just world. This iterative process of experience, reflection, and has been a hallmark of Jesuit education for centuries.

This school year, we want to reset expectations for our boys. We will use the acronym “Raise the BAR” at BC High – Belonging, Accountability, and Resilience.

We seek to cultivate a culture of belonging, in which every member of our community is recognized and celebrated in their totality. Our Catholic faith declares that we are all created in the image of God, and calls us to value the human dignity of all our community members, and to know and love them deeply.

Accountability is important for keeping young boys on track and building foundational habits. At BC High, we believe that accountability can be an act of love. We want to hold our boys accountable to the standards of the Graduate at Graduation, to being a good man, and being a hard-working student. Setting high standards and holding our boys accountable will help them build lifelong habits that will ground their future successes.

Lastly, we want to teach our boys how to be resilient. Adolescence is a time of growth, change, and self-discovery. There will be challenges, set-backs, and losses along the way. We know that our boys are capable of hard things, and we want to teach them healthy ways to be resilient. It is through resilience that our boys will build a strengths based/positive mindset, view challenges as opportunities for personal growth, and approach difficulties with a sense of purpose and motivation.

I am excited to have our boys back on campus and I look forward to continuing to cultivate relationships with you as partners in the formation of your sons.

Dr. Anthony Docanto ’15

Principal


Meet the Team

It is my honor to introduce those who will accompany me in the work this year. Most have been a part of the BC High community for many years. We are all deeply committed to this work and watching your sons grow throughout this year.

Trevor Adams - Assistant Head of the Arrupe Middle School 

Mr. Adams is new to the BC High community, but has already jumped in to learn all about our community. He has been charged with helping Mr. Hamblet build the vision and curriculum for our new sixth grade. He is an experienced school administrator working at a variety of different schools. He is joining us from Colorado, having most recently served as a Head of School. “It is an important time in our society to mentor young men and help them see how they can be men for others. That is what our world needs and I am excited for the opportunity to help the young men at BC High be good human beings.”

Lizzy Corsetti - Director of Professional Growth

Mrs. Corsetti has been at BC High for 10 years teaching math in the high school and middle school. This experience helps her understand the critical nature of supporting our students at each age. In recent years, she has served as the Director of Professional Growth and taught two math courses. This coming year she will be a full time administrator, supporting the growth and development of our accomplished faculty. “I am most looking forward to a year filled with learning — learning about our students, our teachers, our community, and learning how to best support education in today’s world. I am blessed to work in such an incredible community, filled with love, generosity, compassion, dedication, aspiration, and God’s grace.”

Bob Hamblet P'20, '26 - Head of the Arrupe Middle School

When we talk about the Arrupe Division at BC High, we can quite literally say, "its the House that Bob built." Mr. Hamblet was the driving force behind the creation of the middle school over 23 years ago. Mr. Hamblet’s understanding of middle school age boys is unmatched and its that dedication that has allowed our middle school to thrive - so much so, we are adding a sixth grade for Fall 2027. “I am most excited about the energy around the sixth grade – excitement from teachers who want to shape the curriculum, from older students who think it is a good idea, and from prospective families.”

Leslie LaRocca - Academic Vice Principal

Mrs. LaRocca has been at BC High for 21 years. She is a former Social Studies teacher. A classroom teacher for many years, she took on the challenge of working directly with colleagues as the Director or Professional Growth, and most recently took the role as Academic Vice Principal. She is charged with overseeing the academic program at BC High working most closely with teachers and counselors..“As Academic Vice Principal, my role is helping teachers to make the best learning environment for our boys. I’m also here to talk with students and support them with academic issues they may be experiencing”

Katie McKiernan - Vice Principal of Student Life

Ms. McKiernan has been a part of the BC High community for 11 years. She has held the remarkable ability to teach both math and French in the middle and high school during her time in the classroom. She takes on the role of Vice Principal of Student Life with a great deal of excitement and enthusiasm having held administrative roles at prior schools as well. “The Office of Student Life is here to support students to grow into young men of conscience, competence, and compassion. We want to help our students understand that they are capable of far more than they might believe, and that hard work and dedication to their studies and to their communities will shape their lives in beautiful ways.”

Ms. Beth Morse - Office Manager

Mrs. Morse is going into her third year at BC High. As the Office Manager, she is the anchor of the team. Her selfless and thoughtful actions allow the team to operate smoothly. “I love the dedication to core ideals that is evident every day throughout the halls. There is an atmosphere at BC High of long term commitment - that was so obvious to me right away. So many faculty/staff have been here for decades. Some were Eagles themselves. Many have children here or are part of multi-generational alumni families. I have worked in many schools over the years and have found a long term home here.”

Tobias Ninson - Dean of Students

Mr. Ninson deeply values the importance of Jesuit education, having spent several years at Xavier High School in New York City. He takes on this role after four years teaching Theology at BC High which helps him approach discipline with love and understanding as its center.“What I am most excited about this year is the opportunity to support the formation and growth of our students as Dean of Students. I look forward to bringing care and compassion to accountability while helping our young men become responsible, thoughtful, and caring members of the BC High community.”

Toni- Ann O’Connor - Director of Arrupe Middle School Operations

Ms. O'Connor is the heart of the Arrupe Division. A part of the BC High community for seven years, she is the calming voice, the deliberate leader, and the empowered cheerleader for our middle school boys. As the Director of Arrupe Operations, she is the clear frontrunner when you need your questions answered! “The Arrupe Division is the starting point for most students entering BC High. Our primary objective is to create a welcoming and supportive environment that equips students and their support system with the foundation to thrive.”

Allison Rosshirt - Dean of School Operations

Ms. Rosshirt brings 15 years as a classroom teacher across the math department to her new role. Her leadership experience as Math Department chair over two terms will make her an asset in her new role which oversees all aspects of scheduling, school operations, and student engagement. "BC High is a community where each student truly is educated as a whole person. They are challenged and supported academically, spiritually, and personally as they grow into young men of faith and character. I am most looking forward to my continued participation in this remarkable community, as well as working with our wonderful students and talented and compassionate faculty and staff to help these young men discover how their gifts can make the world a better place.”