Cougar Courier

October 23, 2021

Open House is Tomorrow!

Our Fall Admissions Open House is tomorrow, Sunday, October 24th from 11:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. The Open House is for future students interested in grades 6 - 11. Open House visitors will have the opportunity to meet Middle and Upper School faculty, school leaders, coaches, and take tours of our campus with Green Key Student Ambassadors. Some of our best referrals come from current Austin Prep parents. We would be most grateful if you spread the word to those in your community about the Open House event and your own Austin Prep experience.

Austin Prep Says "Bye Bye Bye" to Spirit Week

This past week we celebrated Spirit Week, complete with themed dress down days and daily contests for both staff and students. We had dress themes based on 2000s music, sports jerseys, neon, and country and country club. Students were very spirited and had some great outfits!

To participate in Spirit Week, students made a $20 donation to benefit St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, and Austin Prep raised nearly $5,000 to support St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. The mission of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital is to advance cures, and means of prevention, for pediatric catastrophic diseases through research and treatment, with a commitment to no child being denied treatment based on race, religion or a family's ability to pay. This student-driven initiative promoted unitas and caritas by generating a strong sense of community and directs our efforts to benefit children and families in need, and we are very proud of our students for supporting this great organization.

Picture Make-ups are Monday

Picture make-ups are Monday, October 25th from 8:00-11:00 a.m.  Pictures will once again take place in Meelia Hall with Mark Lawrence Photography.

The services provided this day include the following:

• School pictures for faculty, staff, and students who missed the original date.
• Students who would like retakes. Students must be in Chapel Dress for these photos.
• Seniors who have not taken their Senior Portraits yet for the yearbook.

Please reach out to Mr. Colin Kiley, Interim Dean of Students, if you have any questions.

Year Two of Austin Presents Begins October 26

Class of 2022 Disney Trip Parent Night is October 26

In a month’s time, the Class of 2022 will be enjoying one another’s company in the parks of Walt Disney World! 
On Tuesday, October 26th from 6:00-7:00 p.m. in the Dining Hall, we will hold our Disney Parent Information Night. It is mandatory for at least one parent to attend the session as we will share important details about the trip. Please RSVP for the night using this FORM so we have an accurate number for attendance.

Please reach out to Mr. Colin Kiley, Interim Dean of Students if you have any questions.

Preview New Merchandise during October 27 Event

Interested in a unique night out, with the opportunity to meet others within the Austin Prep community while previewing new Austin Prep apparel from the Unitas Shop? Check out Merch Madness on Wednesday, October 27th. Kindly RSVP here, and please reach out to Mr. Patrick Costello, Coordinator of Student Activities with any questions.

Upper School Dance is October 29

Please save the date for the Upper School Dance! On Friday, October 29th, Austin Prep will be hosting an Upper School Dance for grades 9 - 12 from 6:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. The dance will be held in the parking lot in between Meelia Hall and McLaughlin Hall. A rain date is scheduled for Friday, November 5th with the same time and location. More details soon to follow.

Also October 29, it is the Return of Trunk or Treat

Bring your whole family in Halloween costumes and trick or treat from festively decorated cars throughout the designated Trunk or Treat parking area on the Austin Prep campus. Read here for more information, and contact Coordinator of Student Activities, Mr. Patrick Costello, with any questions.

Signature Event Tickets on Sale Now

Buy Signature Event Tickets Now

After a year away, we eagerly anticipate the return of the Signature Event, and tickets went on sale last week! Considered the parent social event of the year, the Signature Event has become a favorite with parents, is well attended, and allows parents to get together for food and fun in support of Austin Prep.

The annual Signature Event will take place Saturday, December 4th at Andover Country Club. The gala features a dinner buffet, silent and live auctions. The Signature Event Committee, led by Mannie Gouveia P'23, the Signature Event coordinator, has been hard at work planning for the event. We are anticipating this Signature Event will be our biggest one yet, and we hope you will join us!

Winter Dress Begins November 1st

Monday, November 1st, will mark Austin Prep's transition to winter dress. Winter dress will remain the required dress for both the second and third quarter. For your convenience, included is a link to the Student-Parent Handbook that outlines the dress code requirements for both Middle and Upper School students. Those requirements can be found beginning on page 18. In addition to the transition from warm weather dress to winter dress, please refer to pages 18 of the Student-Parent Handbook related to general appearance and dress code.

November is Remembrance Month

The month of November is a time for us to be mindful to pray for the faithful departed, especially our loved ones. Our faith assures us that the bonds of love that we have shared with them do not end with death. Throughout the month of November, we will remember all those we have loved in this life, and we will remember them at the Altar of the Lord.

First, Campus Ministry is planning on preparing a table at the back of the Chapel of St. Augustine which will work as a sacred altar for the deceased. Students, Staff, and Faculty are encouraged to bring in photos in the memory of their loved ones. These will be left in the chapel throughout the month, and items can be collected before Thanksgiving Break. There will also be a memorial book where they can write the names of the deceased. If you have questions, please reach out to Theology Faculty, Sr. Paskazia Nakitende.

Second, as in year's past, we will be inviting you to submit the names of your deceased loved ones, which we will place at the foot of the altar in the Chapel of St. Augustine to be remembered in our masses, prayers and sacrifices, as an expression of our faith and in gratitude for your being part of the Austin Prep community. A form will be sent to the Austin Prep community prior to November 1st with instructions pertaining to how to submit names of your deceased loved ones.

Finally, Austin Prep will be celebrating All Saints' Day Mass on Monday, November 1st. More details regarding the Mass will be forthcoming.

Student-Athletes Celebrated on Senior Days

In recent weeks, we have been honored to celebrate Senior Days for our graduating fall sport student-athletes. Below are photos from those special days. More Senior Days are to come!

Football 

Community Spotlight: Mrs. Emily Morris

Note: Our vibrant campus comes to life as a result of the talented students and faculty who make up the Austin Prep community. We look forward to periodically highlighting those individuals here in the Cougar Courier.

Hometown: I was born and raised in Southern California. I spent my high school days in Placentia, CA, where my family currently resides.

Education/Degrees: I attended Miami University (OH) and obtained my Bachelor's degree, studying Communications and Marketing, and earned my Masters of Science in Kinesiology.

Years at Austin Prep: This is my 1st Year at Austin Prep.

Years working in Education: I have been working in education for about 8 years. I come from a family of educators. My father worked in education for almost 40 years and my sister is currently a 2nd grade teacher. 

Department: College Counseling

If you weren’t a college counselor, what career would you have?  If I was not a college counselor, I would be an FBI agent. I like to read people, solve problems, I am a big fan of true crime, and I have an incredible skill where I almost always can figure out the twist in any movie or book.

Describe a teacher who inspired you growing up: My dad - although my dad never taught me in school, the lessons he taught me throughout life, and to the thousands of kids throughout his teaching career are unparalleled. My dad is the type of teacher people remember for the rest of their lives. He stressed the importance of being a good person, the value of a strong work ethic, and that helping others succeed in life is the most rewarding thing a person can do. 

Favorite Quote: “Do what you can, where you are, with what you have” - Theodore Roosevelt

Fun fact: I competed with Miami University’s Varsity Synchronized Skating Team. My sophomore year of college, we competed in Salzburg, Austria and represented not only the school, but the United States of America. We won a national championship my senior year.