May 2021

May 1st, 2021

Fr. Bryan Hehir Addresses Community as St. Augustine Lecturer

 

Fr. Bryan Hehir, a Roman Catholic priest, theologian, and teacher of ethics, added perspective and context to Austin Prep’s shared theme for the 2020-21 academic year as this year’s St. Augustine Lecturer. The lecture was livestreamed Monday, April 26th across campus, with the Junior Class attending in person in Richard J. Meelia Hall. The event featured a welcome from School-Wide Student Body President TJ Dysart '21 and Head of School James Hickey, Ph.D., with members of the Junior Class participating in a question and answer segment with Fr. Hehir at the conclusion of his lecture. You can view photos from the lecture here.

The St. Augustine Lecture Series is a hallmark of the Austin Prep experience, designed to enrich the intellectual life of the school community by exposing students to accomplished individuals who share their experiences and lessons learned in life.

Fr. Hehir first provided historical roots and background to this year’s School theme, the words of Jesus from St. John’s Gospel, “I pray that they all may be one.”

“That phrase has stood before us, down through the centuries,” Fr. Hehir stated. “And because we are human and imperfect, unfortunately the phrase is still an aspiration. It’s what we hope to be. An aspiration, a mandate, a command, but unfulfilled.”

Fr. Hehir drew broader parallels by taking the school’s theme – a religious phrase – and relocating it to a secular setting, in this case, our own country. He referred to the traditional motto of the United States, E pluribus unim – Latin for “Out of many, one” – and how we use it as a beacon to guide us through difficulties we currently face, including challenges relating to race, immigration, ethnicity and religion.  

“Great ideas usually are so rich they are always a step ahead of us. We grow into them. We violate them, we get up, and we start again,” Fr. Hehir said. “Just like ‘I pray that they all may be one’ is an aspiration, E pluribus unim is also an aspiration."

Fr. Hehir also integrated the teachings of St. Augustine into his lecture. During the question and answer segment, Olivia Doherty ’22, asked Fr. Hehir a question about what steps a school, rooted in the teachings of St. Augustine, can take to achieve unity in a community. Fr. Hehir offered praise of Austin Prep’s patron saint.

“First, understand how important St. Augustine is in the Catholic tradition. So, as you learn from St. Augustine, you must know you are in very good company.”

Fr. Bryan Hehir is the Parker Gilbert Montgomery Professor of the Practice of Religion and Public Life at the Harvard Kennedy School.  He is also the Secretary of Health and Social Services on the staff of Cardinal Sean O’Malley in the Archdiocese of Boston.  Previously he served on the faculty of Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service (1984-92) and on the Harvard Divinity School faculty (1993-2001) including three years as the Chair of the HDS Executive Committee.  In the Archdiocese of Boston, Fr. Hehir represents Cardinal O’Malley on four social service agencies and also serves as a liaison to Catholic health systems in the Archdiocese.  His teaching, research and writing focus on ethics and foreign policy and the role of religion in world politics and in American society. 

Fr. Hehir is a recipient of the MacArthur Award, the Laetare Award (University of Notre Dame), the American Academy of Religion’s Martin E. Marty Award for the Public Understanding of Religion, and the Kennedy School’s Carballo Award for excellence in teaching.

He is member of the Council on Foreign Relations, the International Institute for Strategic Studies, the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, and the American Philosophical Society.  He serves on the Board of the Arms Control Association and the Roundtable for Church Management.

The St. Augustine Lecture Series began in 2015. Previous speakers include: Brian Montgomery, former Deputy Assistant to the President and Cabinet Secretary in the Executive Office of President Bush and former Housing & Urban Development Secretary for President Obama; Major General Charles W. Whittington, Jr., the Deputy Commanding General of Operations in the U.S. First Army; Dr. Steven DiSalvo, current President of Endicott College and Austin Prep Trustee; Grace Cotter Regan, the first female president of Boston College High School; Rev. Raymond F. Dlugos, OSA, an Austin Prep Trustee and Merrimack College’s Vice President of Mission and Ministry; and Dr. Crystal Kuykendall, a recognized educator, attorney, author and motivational speaker who has continued to work with Austin Prep in our journey to continue the progress in building a diverse and inclusive educational environment, in support of our Augustinian values of veritas, unitas, and caritas.

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Day of Giving Total Continues to Rise

Matching Gift Programs Help Increase the Impact of Your Donation

 

The final total is in! The Austin Prep Community contributed over $196,000 in association with our annual Day of Giving to help support the Annual Fund. Your generosity this year will have an incredible impact as we raise the bar in support of the COVID-19 Relief Fund. The fund supports unanticipated technology requirements, teacher professional development, student support services, health and safety initiatives, and financial assistance to families in need. We are so incredibly thankful to everyone who supported us on Austin Prep's Day of Giving!

Since the event on April 14th, our giving total has continued to rise, in part to Matching Gift Programs managed by many companies, which match charitable donations made by their employees. Does your employer have a matching gift program? Visit our website here, type in your company's name, and the impact of your gift to Austin Prep may be doubled!

If you missed our Day of Giving, you can still contribute. Our goal is to raise $300,000 by the end of the fiscal year (June 30th) to help support the aforementioned initiatives, so we still need your help. If you would like to make a gift, or to learn more about our Day of Giving, click here now. Your gift –no matter the size—makes an impact!

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More Giving Day

6th and 10th Grade Classes Have Highest Participation

Additionally, for the Day of Giving, we offered a special incentive rewarding the classes with the highest giving participation rate that day.  In the Middle School, students in the grade with the highest percentage of parent participation will receive an ice cream sandwich dessert at lunch. For Upper School, students in the grade with the highest percentage of parent participation will receive a morning bagel treat from Bagel World. We are happy to announce that the 6th and 10th grades are the winning classes. The 6th grade will receive their special treat on Field Day. The date for the 10th grade will be forthcoming. Enjoy, and thank you for the support!

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Austin Prep Celebrates Asian Pacific American Month

 

Austin Prep looks forward to celebrating Asian Pacific American Heritage Month, which runs from May 1st - 31st. The month is a celebration of Asians and Pacific Islanders in the United States, and during this time, we will recognize the contributions, achievements and influence of those of Asian and Pacific Islander descent on the history and culture of the United States and the world, but also locally and in the Austin Prep Community. For more information, contact Mr. Jaycob Morales, Coordinator of Community Engagement and Inclusion, and be on the lookout for more information around campus, here in the Cougar Courier and on social media.

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Also this May: Mental Health Month

May is Mental Health Awareness Month. Now, more than ever, we must come together to support one another, break the stigma of mental health, and raise awareness of those living with mental illness.

This month, we will feature in the Cougar Courier and on social media helpful tips for parents and students on the topics of  mental health awareness, stress management, and self-care.

Please reach out to our counselors, Mr. Nick Reynolds or Mrs. Jessica Lenci if you have any questions or concerns about your children.

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Spring Sports Return

Austin Prep officially started the spring athletics season on Monday after a long two years away. Coaches and student-athletes are excited to be back on fields of competition!   It has been a welcome sight to see so many students, coaches and staff interacting together, and we appreciate the patience and support of all those who made this return to play possible in very unique circumstances. For the latest athletics schedule and game updates check out the Athletic Department's Twitter and Instagram account. Good luck student-athletes!

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Tinkler '21 Qualifies for National Championship

 

Callum Tinkler '21, a gymnast at Reading Gymnastics Academy (RGA) in North Reading, competed at the Region 6 Gymnastics Championships on April 10th and earned his personal best all-around score of 71.9. With a 10th place finish at regionals, Callum has advanced to the USA Gymnastics Junior Olympic National Championships, which will be held in mid-May, in Daytona Beach, Florida. Callum is the first male gymnast from RGA to qualify for Nationals.

Callum competes in all six men’s events: floor, pommel, rings, vault, parallel bars, and high bar. In individual events at regionals, Callum took 5th place on high bar, 7th on rings, and tied for 7th on vault.   

For the Regional competition, RGA gymnasts competed at their home gym, with judges evaluating each event virtually over zoom.  Callum competed against the top 23 gymnasts from the states in Region 6, which include MA, CT, RI, ME, NH, and VT. 

At 16 years old, Callum was the first male level 10 gymnast at RGA. The RGA boys’ team of approximately 20 gymnasts normally competes in eight to ten meets a year. In addition to meets throughout New England, they have also competed at the West Point Open at the United States Military Academy.

Callum has been a gymnast at RGA for ten years and joined the club’s competitive team when he was seven years old. He spends over 20 hours a week training in the gym. In 2018, he joined the club’s coaching staff; every week he coaches several classes for boys who are new to the sport.  Callum has received the USA Gymnastics All-American Scholar award; he plans to continue gymnastics in college as a Senior Elite Gymnast and to attempt to qualify for the 2025 Olympic Trials.

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NHS Members Complete Wish List Drive

 

This week, members of the National Honor Society created activity bags from the items donated to the Stoneham Senior Center. They were able to make 80 bags that included items such as puzzles, coloring books, crossword puzzles, fuzzy socks and more! Thank you to everyone within the Austin Prep community who donated during the recent Amazon.com wish list drive.

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Austin Prep Seniors Complete Service with Element Care

 

Seniors in Christian Leadership have just completed their semester of service. In this senior theology class, students spend the second semester of senior year serving in the community and reflecting on their experiences in class. This year students had to find new ways to serve amidst the pandemic. Some students in Ms. Kayla  Greenwood's Christian Leadership classes were able to connect virtually with participants in Element Care, an organization that "helps seniors live independently, safely, and comfortably for as long as possible." This opportunity was made possible by Mary Ellen Dugan P'21, '23, who is the Chief Operations Officer at Element Care. Students who volunteered with this placement participated in virtual activities each week with the residents. Some of the activities included exercise classes, trivia competitions, and bingo games. The seniors who participated in this placement were: Ariana Clark, Julia Clifford, Lindsey Cohen, Molly Dugan, TJ Dysart, Ava Graichen, Sophia Liatsos, Elise Lyons, Doug Russo, and Cassie Valentine.

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Unique Hybrid Service Project Benefits Lazarus House

 

Food insecurity is still high in many areas, and inventory at food pantries is unpredictable due to the pandemic. Many soup kitchens have been finding that the need exceeds the supply. To serve those in need, Ava Napolitano '22 and Kat Michalak '22 recently volunteered for a unique in-home/on-site hybrid service opportunity at Lazarus House in Lawrence. Due to the ongoing need to remain safe and practice social distancing, Ava and Kat made dozens of healthy sandwiches from home. For the on-site part of their service project, they brought their pre-made sandwiches to Lazarus House, and spent time distributing them in the Sunday soup kitchen as part of bagged lunches. This is just one of the many ways Austin Prep students answer the call to serve!

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Journey of the Heart

We are pleased to present the next installment of Journey of the Heart, our once a month highlight of programs, activities, and initiatives at Austin Prep that exemplify our core values. Journey of the Heart is published on our website, where members of the staff will share their insights. Archived installments are available on our website, as well.

April's edition of Journey of the Heart is provided by Mr. Michael McLaughlin, Head of Middle School. Mr. McLaughlin notes that despite the challenges of the past year, our Middle School students not only continued on their own unique adolescent journey but were also able to continue to enjoy traditional community capstone learning experiences that make the Austin Prep Middle School distinctive.

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Last Day for Seniors

 

Yesterday marked the last day of the 2020-21 academic year for seniors. It was also the conclusion of their classroom experiences as Austin Prep students. Senior Week was an ideal opportunity for seniors to celebrate accomplishments and enjoy each other's company, which culminated with prom at the Lanam Club on Thursday night. Our seniors provided student leadership for their younger peers throughout a difficult year, and their creativity, patience, and sense of community made it possible to promote activities and events that many schools were unable to offer. It may not have been the Senior Year that they expected, but trust that it provided our students with lasting memories.  We look forward to continuing to celebrate the Class of 2021 over the next two weeks, culminating with a Baccalaureate Liturgy in their honor on Friday, May 14th. 

May 8th, 2021

Baccalaureate Liturgy for the Class of 2021 is Friday

 

We are very excited to celebrate the Baccalaureate Liturgy for the Class of 2021 and their parents on Friday, May 14th at 3:30 p.m. outdoors on Austin Prep’s Father Seymour Field. We are extraordinarily grateful to Town of Reading officials for their support of Austin Prep to offer this liturgy for the Class of 2021. Due to restrictions placed on gatherings, each graduate will be allowed three guests for the event. The liturgy will be livestreamed for the rest of the school community here.

Austin Prep’s Class of 2021 brought personality, energy, optimism, and spirit to our campus community, and set a high standard for future generations of Austin Prep students. We look forward to seeing you and celebrating the Class on Friday, May 14th.

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Watch the  2021 St. Augustine Lecture Here

On Monday, April 26th, Austin Prep welcomed Fr. Bryan Hehir, a Roman Catholic priest, theologian, and teacher of ethics, to campus as the 2021 St. Augustine Lecturer. The lecture was livestreamed with the Junior Class attending in person in Richard J. Meelia Hall. The event featured a welcome from School-Wide Student Body President TJ Dysart '21 and Head of School James Hickey, Ph.D., with members of the Junior Class participating in a question and answer segment with Fr. Hehir at the conclusion of his lecture. You can view the lecture by clicking the video above.

The St. Augustine Lecture Series is a hallmark of the Austin Prep experience, designed to enrich the intellectual life of the school community by exposing students to accomplished individuals who share their experiences and lessons learned in life.

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Stay Active with Austin Prep this Summer

Virtual Summer Academic Programs and Sports Camps Being Offered

 

Registration is now open for the 2021 Austin Prep Summer Session. This innovative virtual program for Middle and Upper School students includes a series of engaging courses designed to sustain students’ enthusiasm for learning and maintain connections between students during the summer months. Classes are capped at 15 students and led by a member of the Austin Prep faculty, students benefit from a sense of community as they keep their academic goals on track. We invite you to learn more about the Austin Prep Summer Session and peruse the Summer Session Catalog here. 

The Academic Summer Session is being coordinated by Head of Middle School Mr. Michael McLaughlin. He can be reached directly with any questions about the program or any of the specific courses.

 

Additionally, Austin Prep will once again be offering a number of youth sports camps on the Austin Prep campus for Summer 2021. Our summer programs will help keep your children active and learning all summer long. Austin Prep’s Varsity coaching staff will be running the majority of these programs, so it's a great opportunity for the school’s younger athletes, and prospective students, to get an inside look at athletics here at Austin Prep. These programs are a great way to help get prepared for the upcoming 2021-2022 athletic season! 

You can learn more about what camps will be offered, when they will be taking place, and how you can register by clicking here.  For questions about our summer programs, please contact Mr. Joe Desjardins.

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Last Call For Golf Sponsors

The 33rd Annual Golf Tournament will take place on May 24th at Indian Ridge Golf Club in Andover, MA. We are thrilled to have a full field of golfers and look forward to the return of this great event.

The Annual Golf Tournament is vital in our efforts to continue to provide exceptional educational experiences for all our students. Proceeds from past golf tournaments have funded numerous campus initiatives, including the recently renovated David E. Nelson '81 Fitness Center. Event sponsorships help make our event a success, and a wide array of sponsorships are available. There is still time to serve as a sponsor, click here to learn more! We appreciate all those who have already committed to helping us make this a great event, and look forward to having additional members of the community join us.

If you have questions about golf sponsorships or the event in general, please contact Ms. Susan Belanger, Assistant Head for External Affairs. We hope to see you on the course for another great day with friends in support of Austin Prep.

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Students Build Community Through Field and Project Adventure Days

 

As we have transitioned into May, the Office of  Student Life facilitated a fun week of activities to help engage classmates and build friendships. On Monday and Friday,  9th graders had an opportunity to enjoy a full day of outside activities with their classmates and Trainers from Project Adventure. The students enjoyed playing dodgeball and kickball as part of the day, and also participated in numerous Project Adventure team building activities to round out their afternoon. 

On Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, our three Middle School classes also had the opportunity to join in the fun. The inclement weather didn't put a damper on the 6th and 7th Grade Field Days. The action moved inside Meelia Hall as students were assigned to small groups and competed as teams against each other in multiple challenges. Our 8th Grade enjoyed the beautiful weather on Thursday by participating in their own Project Adventure Day. As the Class of 2025 enters the final weeks of their Middle School journey, it was great to see those students interacting with each other. Not only were students participating in sports, many class members enjoyed playing corn hole and some traditional (giant sized) games of Chess and Checkers.   

In the coming weeks, Student Life will be offering Field Days for the 9th, 10th, and 11th grade classes. Students are enjoying and getting great use out of the new lower fields and tennis courts during these initiatives. 

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Tuition Raffle Returns

Like many, we were disappointed not to have had the Signature Event in 2020. But one of the highlights at the Signature Event, the annual Tuition Raffle drawing, will still take place! The Tuition Raffle, open to all current and newly enrolled parents, is your chance to be credited up to the full tuition cost for one student for the 2020-2021, or the 2021-2022 academic year.  Tuition raffle tickets will go on sale Monday, May 17th and end when the set amount of tickets are sold or on Friday, May 24th, whichever comes first. The winning ticket will be drawn on Thursday, June 3rd and announced to the community via live webinar. Raffle tickets are $250 and only 250 will be sold. Check out the announcement from the 2018 Signature Event. This is a call from Dr. Hickey you will want to take! More details about the tuition raffle will be distributed next week. Good luck!

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Third Quarter Honor Roll Announced

The list of students who earned honors in the second quarter of Austin Prep's 2020-2021 academic year has been released. Congratulations to the students who earned this prestigious recognition in their pursuit of truth. #Veritas

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May is Mental Health Awareness Month

 

May is Mental Health Awareness Month. Now, more than ever, we must come together to support one another, break the stigma of mental health, and raise awareness of those living with mental illness. This month, we will feature in the Cougar Courier and on social media helpful tips for parents and students on the topics of mental health awareness, stress management, and self-care.

We know Adolescent Anxiety is a serious concern for both youth and families and has only increased during the Covid-19 pandemic. Often we feel like the only certainty we have lately is uncertainty. The good news is that this increase in stress and anxiety has forced us to find better coping skills as well as make us recognize that experiencing uncomfortable emotions does not always have to be a bad thing. We encourage you to read this article by one of our favorite authors and psychologists, Lisa Damour, PhD.

Please reach out to our counselors, Mr. Nick Reynolds or Mrs. Jessica Lenci if you have any questions or concerns about your children.

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Happy Mother's Day

 

Happy Mother's Day to all mothers, grandmothers, great-grandmothers, and all who are mother-like figures.

“And his mother treasured up all these things in her heart.”

– Luke 2:51

May 15th, 2021

Tuition Raffle Opens Monday

 

Like many, we were disappointed not to have had the Signature Event in 2020. But one of the highlights at the Signature Event, the annual Tuition Raffle drawing, will still take place! The Tuition Raffle, open to all current and newly enrolled parents, is your chance to be credited up to the full tuition cost for one student for the 2020-2021, or the 2021-2022 academic year.  Tuition raffle tickets will go on sale Monday, May 17th at 10:00 a.m. and end when the set amount of tickets are sold or on Friday, May 24th, whichever comes first.  You will receive an email Monday morning with a link to purchase tickets. The winning ticket will be drawn on Thursday, June 3rd and announced to the community via live webinar. Raffle tickets are $250 and only 250 will be sold. Check out the announcement from the 2018 Signature Event. This is a call from Dr. Hickey you will want to take! More details about the tuition raffle will be distributed next week. Good luck!

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Back-to-Back Austin Prep Presents Forthcoming 

 

 

Austin Prep Presents, our  virtual speaker series designed to provide a platform for distinguished Austin Prep alumni to connect with fellow alumni and current Austin Prep students, parents, faculty and staff, while reflecting on Austin Prep experiences that helped shape their lives, returns with programs on May 18th and 25th.  For more information on the presenters, and to register for the webinars, click here.

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Last Call for Golf Sponsorships

 

We are just nine days away from our 33rd Annual Golf Tournament! We look forward to welcoming the full flight of golfers for a morning shotgun start. Sponsorships help make our event a success! If you would like to sponsor, the last day to sponsor is Monday, May 17th. For more information, please visit here.

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Austin Prep Celebrates Asian Pacific American Heritage Month

 

Austin Prep continues to celebrate Asian Pacific American Heritage Month, which runs from May 1st - 31st. The month is a celebration of Asians and Pacific Islanders in the United States, and during this time, we will recognize the contributions, achievements and influence of those of Asian and Pacific Islander descent on the history and culture of the United States and the world, but also locally and in the Austin Prep Community. 

In our latest edition of the Middle School Blog, we highlight Dr. Po Chun Wang, World Languages Faculty and  International Student Coordinator, and our Mandarin World Language program. To read more, click here. 

 

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Students Wrapping Up AP Exams

 

The Office of College Counseling is in the home stretch with wrapping up AP exams. Congratulations to the 187 students who have taken 380 exams in 23 different subject areas over the past two weeks. We are so proud of your many accomplishments and wish the last group of AP Statistics students well on the exam on Monday, May 17th.

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Spring Athletics Off to a Strong Start

 

Despite not playing for nearly two full years (as a result of the cancellation of the Spring 2020 sports season), our Spring teams haven't missed a beat. Austin Prep Varsity Baseball, Softball, Boys Lacrosse, Girls Lacrosse, Boys Tennis, Girls Tennis and Track and Field Teams have accumulated a perfect 16-0 record through yesterday. This week, the Baseball Team received coverage in the Boston Globe and Boston Herald, and Girls Lacrosse's Kerri Finneran '25 was included as a Boston Globe Player of the Week. Keep it going!

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#AustinAlways

 

Some of our graduating seniors are part of Austin Prep legacy families. Check out these pictures of Class of 2021 graduates and their parents who are Austin Prep Alums. We are excited to have welcomed the Class of 2021 to the ranks of Austin Prep Alumni, and congratulations to the Bartley, Noyes, Peterson, and Stone families!

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Another Class of "Lifers" Join Alumni Ranks

 

Being an Austin Prep "Lifer" is a special recognition within our School community. Lifers are individuals who have been students at Austin Prep from 6th through 12th grade. We would like to recognize the 24 students from the Class of 2021 who are part of this unique group. Check out the group, here! #AustinAlways

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Baccalaureate Liturgy for the Class of 2021

 

Friday was a beautiful day on the campus of Austin Prep as the community came together to celebrate the  Baccalaureate Liturgy for the Class of 2021. In case you missed it, all the details from the day can be found here.

May 22nd, 2021

Tuition Raffle Tickets Selling Fast

 

The Tuition Raffle is still open to all current parents and newly enrolled parents, but tickets are selling fast! The owner of the winning raffle ticket may be credited up to the full tuition cost for one student for the 2020-2021 or 2021-2022 academic year.

Tickets are $250 each and only 250 will be sold. There is no limit to the number of tickets per household that may be purchased. The Rules and Regulations can be found here.

Tickets will only be sold online, on a first-come, first-served basis. The selling of tickets will end when the set amount of tickets are sold or on Friday, May 24th, whichever comes first. The winning ticket will be drawn on Thursday, June 3rd and announced to the community via live webinar. Click the button below to purchase a ticket.

Tuition Raffle

We thank you for your continued support of Austin Prep. Best of luck in the raffle!

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Memorial Scholarship Recipients Announced

 

We are honored to announce Memorial Scholarship recipients for the 2021-2022 academic year.  Students in Grades 9-11 were eligible to apply for the awards and recipients demonstrated significant academic achievement and service contributions to the Austin Prep community, among other qualities. Memorial Scholarships are available to our students due to the generosity of Austin Prep families and friends who have created funds in memory of a loved one. We are proud of our students and grateful for the support of those who make these scholarships possible.

 

THE ROSS A. ALAMEDDINE ’05 MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP

Nico Fanuele '22

 

THE THOMAS N. CALLAHAN ’10 MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP

Victoria Kouyoumjian '22

 

THE KRISTEN M. CORBETT ’08 MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP

Gianna Defilippo '22

 

THE KRISTEN M. CORBETT ’08 MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP

Katrina Michalak '22

 

THE FRANCIS J. CUMMINGS MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP

Benjamin L. Sperling  '22

 

THE FRANCIS T. DUGGAN MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP

Erin Marquardt '23

 

THE FRANCIS T. DUGGAN MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP

Colby Medeiros '22

 

THE ALYCE AND FRED GILFEATHER MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP

Olivia McDonald '22

 

THE MARGOT E. GIRODET MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP

Michael Simmons '24

 

THE GEORGE “MATT” MILLER MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP

Lillian G. Harmon '23

 

ALYSSA NANOPOULOS '08 MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP

Anjali Serrano '23  

 

THE DAVID E. NELSON ’81 MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP

Kylie McDonald '24  

 

THE HERBERT W. PETERSON, JR. AND CLAIRE M. PETERSON MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP

Haley Fisher '22  

 

THE ARISTIDES (ARTIE) C. SPEROS, JR. ’85 MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP

Thomas M. Skeffington Jr. '22

 

THE MICHAEL G. SVERDLOVE '14 MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP

Nyree Kourkounian '22

 

THE WILLIAM B. TURNER SCHOLARSHIP AWARD

Jessica Marks '23

 

AUSTIN PREP TEACHERS ASSOCIATION MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP

Katherine Millett '24

 

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Next Austin Prep Presents is Tuesday

 

Austin Prep Presents returns Tuesday, May 25th at 7:00 p.m. with Bob Baldassari ’80, of ReImagine Golf and Emanuel Kasio, Golf for Kids Kenya, for the program entitled: “Finding Veritas, Unitas and Caritas in The Game of Golf for Families.”

Bob will share his journey of taking the Augustinian values of Veritas, Unitas and Caritas onto the golf course with his time spent growing the game of youth and family golf with the PGA of America, creating opportunities for underserved populations across the world to learn to play the game, helping non-profits use golf as a tool to fundraise and create an emotional connection to mission. Joining Bob will be his good friend and colleague Emanual Kasio, founder of Golf for Kids Kenya, who uses golf as a teaching tool to instill in children life skills to grow into good participating citizens of the world. Mr. Patrick Driscoll '97, Director of Athletics and Summer Programs will host Bob and Emanuel for this educational and entertaining webinar.

You can register for the webinar by clicking here.

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Students Extend Lab Work to Include Stone Zoo

 

Middle School students in Ms. Anjali Bhardwaj's Topics in Technology: Zoos elective in the Department of Art and Design recently had the opportunity to conduct a field lab visit to the Stone Zoo. Throughout the semester, students have been studying different careers connected with zoos and how those professionals work together to create an environment that promotes animal well-being and allows people to learn more about animals. One of the students' culminating projects is to design several animal exhibits which will collaboratively form their virtual zoo. Students researched animals and what sorts of vegetation, landforms, water features, and protective barriers might need to be a part of each habitat in a zoo. Students are currently creating educational signage about the animal's range, placement in the food web, interesting facts about adaptions and behaviors, and its relationship with the human world. The students' field lab to Zoo New England's Stone Zoo was designed to immerse students in the world of a zoo as they calibrate their final projects and to inspire their finishing touches.

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Welcome Back, Spring Athletics

 

Austin Prep is blessed to have the culinary talent and creativity of Mr. Todd Moriarty and the rest of the Sage Dining staff! This past week, Head of School Dr. James Hickey hosted parents of spring student-athletes for a quick hello and snack before home athletics contests. Mr. Moriarty put together a nice fruit smoothie and pretzel spread for parents. Thank you Mr. Moriarty, and thank you parents for attending!

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Summer Sabbatical Program Guides Mr. Russo '09 to Yellowstone

 

Where can you find one of the largest super-volcanoes in the world, over 5,000 bison, and geysers that shoot hot water hundreds of feet in the air? Yellowstone National Park, of course. This summer, you can also find Mr. Brian Russo ’09. Mr. Russo was awarded an Austin Prep Summer Sabbatical, a generous professional development grant aimed at providing educators with incredible opportunities to transform their teaching and inspire new intellectual experiences for students. Mr. Russo’s Journey will take him to America’s first National Park where he will learn more about environmental stewardship and return with educational content to enrich the Austin Prep community. Mr. Russo will facilitate programming around the theme of  environmental stewardship and provide a platform for students to showcase nature-based academic work across the curriculum. Adventure awaits!

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Giving Day Treats

 

 

For our April 14th Day of Giving, we offered a special incentive rewarding the classes with the highest parent giving participation percentage that day.  The winning classes have since received their treats! In the Middle School, students in the 6th grade received an ice cream sandwich dessert on their field day. For Upper School, students in the 10th grade received a morning bagel treat from Bagel World. Thanks again for your support!

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Collins '21 to Continue Football Career at Stonehill

 

This past week Austin Prep hosted another celebratory signing for a college bound student-athlete.  Paul Collins '21 has committed to play football at Stonehill College. Congratulations to Paul and best of luck as you continue your athletic career!

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Class of 2021: A Final Farewell

 

It has been a little over a week since the Baccalaureate Liturgy for the Class of 2021 and we miss the Class already! On the Thursday before the event, the Senior Class gathered for a BBQ and a last class photo, shown above with seniors in sweatshirts representing their college or university of choice.  We wish them the best of luck as their Journey continues. #AustinAlways.

Virtual Art Showcase

 

For the second year in a row, the Art and Design Department has put together a virtual art show to showcase student artwork from this year.  Click here to view the show. We are really proud of the work this year, and hope you enjoy!

 

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Spring Arts Showcase

On Friday, May 21, the Arts at Austin Prep presented the annual Spring Arts Showcase. Our talented students took the stage as dancers, vocalists, and instrumentalists performing numbers from classic Broadway shows. It was another amazing exhibition of the artistic talent at Austin Prep. The event was live streamed for the entire School community to enjoy. Check out photos from the night here.

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Tuition Raffle Sells Out!

 

We are excited to announce that all 250 Tuition Raffle tickets have been sold! The owner of the winning raffle ticket may be credited up to the full tuition cost for one student for the 2020-2021 or 2021-2022 academic year.

The winning ticket will be drawn on Thursday, June 3rd and announced to the community via live webinar. Log in information for the webinar will be distributed to the school community next week.

Thank you to all those who purchased a raffle ticket. Best of luck, and we hope you get a call from Dr. Hickey on Thursday!

 

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French Honor Society

(Société Honoraire de Français)

 

 

 

Austin Prep students were recently inducted into the National French Honor Society during small celebrations in their respective classes. Some inductees are pictured above, and a complete list of inductees can be found below. Félicitations à tous pour cette distinction exceptionnelle!

Class of 2021

Jaeleene Nunez

 

Class of 2022

Sabina Axelrod, Patricia Bibeau, Gianna DeFilippo, Olivia Doherty, Christopher Gerety, Maria Hanna, Madeline Hickey, Victoria Kouyoumjian, Brendan McCarthy, Katrina Michalak, David Moro, Christopher Roberts, Benjamin Sperling, Morgan Tammaro

 

Class of 2023

Christian Alfieri, Sommer Bianchi, Valeria Centinaro, Fiona Cullen, Grace Ferretti, Michelle Laferriere, Thomas Walsh

 

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Austin Open Golf Tournament a Success

 

After having missed the opportunity to host golfers within our school community in 2020, the 33rd Annual Austin Open Golf Tournament took place Monday, May 24, 2021 at Indian Ridge Golf Club in Andover, MA. The event was a great success as we raised over $80,000 and had a full-flight of golfers with a wait list!  Photos from the event can be found here.

Proceeds supported the COVID-19 Relief Fund, enabling Austin Prep to be proactive and responsive in dealing with the broad range of challenges stemming from the Coronavirus. Our goal has been simple: keep our students and faculty healthy and safe with minimal disruptions as they pursue the promise of a quality education, and provide financial assistance to families in need.

The Annual Golf Tournament is vital in our efforts to continue to provide exceptional educational experiences for all our students. A special thank you to alumni families for their 2021 Title Sponsorships: Pimentel Construction and Quirk Construction Corp., and to the Sullivan Team for donating their 50//50 raffle winnings back to Austin Prep.

If you have questions about future golf sponsorships and events, please contact Ms. Susan Belanger, Assistant Head for Administration at sbelanger@austinprep.org.

 

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Regis Paul Little Memorial Field Dedication

 

A ceremony was held yesterday to dedicate the Regis Paul Little Memorial Field at the Lower Fields Athletics Complex. Members of the Austin Prep community joined the Little and O’Donnell families for the special event.

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National Mythology Exam

 

This week the 6th and 7th grade students celebrated the hard work and success of their fellow classmates on the National Mythology Exam.  The National Mythology Exam is a cornerstone of the Middle School Latin program here at Austin Prep and highlights the overarching goal of the program to learn about all aspects of Roman life, including culture, society, language, history, and mythology.  The exam is given annually to over 9,000 students in approximately 400 schools both nationally and internationally and facilitates a connection between AP students and the larger Classics community.

 

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AP Chemistry Students Complete Capstone Lab Project

 

AP Chemistry students complete their studies as they conclude their capstone lab project for the year:   The Separation & Qualitative Analysis of Anions & Cations. Student lab teams were provided with an unknown sample mixture of compounds which they then chemically analyzed to determine the identity of each component of the mixture.  Top marks were awarded to all as each sample was correctly identified. In doing so students clearly demonstrated their abilities to apply their chemical knowledge to analyze the chemical mixture, evaluate their findings and create a flow chart to explain their process.  Well done to our future chemists!

 

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Students Test Model Rocket Designs

 

Students in Ms. Katy Van Kirk's AP Physics class conducted a fun, outdoor experiment this week. Students tested the efficiency of various rocket designs by measuring how high rockets with different designs would fly using the same engine. 

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Journey of the Heart

 

We are pleased to present the next installment of Journey of the Heart, our once a month highlight of programs, activities, and initiatives at Austin Prep that exemplify our core values. Journey of the Heart is published on our website, where members of the staff will share their insights. Archived installments are available on our website, as well.

May's edition of Journey of the Heart is provided by Mrs. Brenda Simblaris, Assistant Director of Admissions. Mrs. Simblaris details our new Cubby Cares Mentoring Program which connects new Middle School students with an Upper School mentor. During a year in which we were encouraged to stay apart, the Cubby Cares program helped students connect and build relationships across the Austin Prep community.  

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Happy Memorial Day

 

While the weather appears to not be on our side, we have one thing going for us this Memorial Day Weekend compared to last year: the opportunity to gather and spend time with family and friends! As you do so, take a moment to remember and honor all the brave men and women who have given the ultimate sacrifice for our wonderful country. To our entire Austin Prep community, we wish you a very Happy Memorial Day.