As the new year rolls around, Fenwick will be seeing a lot of new changes throughout the school, one of them being Mr. O’Rourke’s start as the new Director of Student Services and Enrollment Management.
Mr. O’Rourke is taking on Dr. James Quaid’s old position in the absence of Dr. Quaid, who has taken on a new position as President at St. Rita High School. The start of a new decade and Mr. O’Rourke’s commencement as the new director of Student Services will definitely bring about positive changes to the Fenwick community.

Mr. O’Rourke has had to undergo certain changes himself as he takes on this new role.
During the majority of the first semester, Mr. O’Rourke was an English teacher, working with seniors in his one AP class and three honors classes. Now, he will only be teaching his AP class due to his new responsibilities as director.

While Mr. O’Rourke will miss working with students all day, he is looking forward to working with a lot of new people, such as class counselors, Mr. Moland and Ms. Iremeia, Mr. Borsch, the social workers, learning resource specialists, nurses, and the admissions department.

However, the biggest change for Mr. O’Rourke from his teaching job to his administrative job is that he will be focusing on every single student in the building, not just the ones in his classes. As the director of Student Services, he hopes to ensure that all academic and social needs are met for each student.

Mr. O’Rourke already has many plans to put the “student” back into Student Services. Mr. O’Rourke wants to ensure that all students’ needs are being met. After all, he states that Student Services is like the nerve center of the school, so a lot of different things float through there.

Most importantly, the students should feel that it is a safe resource for them, whatever their needs may be. In regards to the school community as a whole, Mr. O’Rourke hopes to establish that. Student Services puts students first. He acknowledges that the department sets that standard exceptionally already, but it needs to be reflected throughout the school more.

To make that happen, Mr. O’Rourke states that we need to continue listening to the opinions of students, teachers, administrators, and family input. Whatever decision he makes, big or small, will be for the welfare of all the students, and he will always listen to and carefully consider their concerns and ideas.
Recently, the entire student body took a survey about their views on the school, and its purpose was to reflect a unified message from the students about the school for admissions. Mr. O’Rourke wants to analyze opinions across the board from the students, parents, and teachers, and create a unified vision for the school.

Fenwick High School is in good hands with Mr. O’Rourke as the new Director of Student Services. His ultimate goal in his new position is “with the school’s guidance, for all students to recognize a self-sufficiency to achieve beyond their potential, and to improve what a student regards as his/her potential.”

Fenwick and the entire student body is looking at a promising new year and new decade with Mr. O’Rourke as Director of Student Services.