May 2022

May 7, 2022

Arts Events Return This Week

The Band and Choir Concert took place Thursday, while the spring dance show is tonight.

Austin Prep hosted the Band and Choir Concert on Thursday night in Richard J. Meelia '67 Hall. Did you miss it? No problem, because a second arts event, the spring dance show, "Red Carpet Ready" takes place tonight, Saturday, May 7th at 7:00 p.m. in Meelia Hall. Admission is $5.00. We hope to see you there!

You can view photos and the program from the Band and Choir concert here.

Delegation Returns from Student Augustinian Values Institute (SAVI)

An Austin Prep delegation spent last weekend at Villanova Prep in Ojai, California, for the Student Augustinian Values Institute (SAVI). While there, students examined our core values with students from other Augustinian schools. Our students returned home with an even greater understanding of our shared Augustinian values and a stronger appreciation of our school’s mission. Following community Mass on Wednesday, the students received a certificate and cross from Fr. Patrick Armano, School Chaplain.  Jared Hickey '24, Ava Intoppa '24, Will Cacciatore '24, Ally Fanuele '24, Katelin Farris '24, and Lexi Sherry '24 were accompanied on the trip by Dr. Bill Driscoll, Assistant Head of School and Head of Upper School, and Mrs. Michelle Connor, Dean of Academic Affairs.

More Connections Made with our Augustinian Heritage

While our students spent a few days examining our Augustinian values in California, Fr. Patrick Armano, Sr. Paskazia and Sr. Justine journeyed to the mid-Atlantic in the name of truth, unity, and love. Fr. Patrick celebrated Mass at Malvern Prep, a fellow Augustinian school in Malvern, Pennsylvania, while the sisters visited Villanova University.

Coaches Featured on New England Hockey and Baseball Journal Podcasts

Stephanie Wood, Austin Prep’s Girls Ice Hockey Coach, and Jonathan Pollard ’97, Austin Prep’s Baseball Coach, were recently featured guests on podcasts sponsored by the New England Hockey Journal and New England Baseball, respectively. You can listen to Coach Wood’s podcast here, and Coach Pollard’s podcast here.

Wood led Austin Prep to the Division 1 MIAA championship at TD Garden on March 20. With a 4-1 win over Arlington, Wood’s team clinched a perfect record of 27-0 during which they outscored their opponents by a 156-11 margin. With the win, it also marked the program's third state title, adding to the 2016 championship and the 2020 co-championship which was awarded to the team after the state final was halted as a result of the emerging Covid-19 pandemic. A native of New Brunswick, Wood played hockey at Northeastern. Wood also serves as the women’s director at the Islanders Hockey Organization.

Pollard guides Austin Prep’s No. 1 ranked baseball team in Massachusetts. A traditional MIAA Division 3 powerhouse, the baseball team is currently 11-0. A 1997 graduate of Austin Prep, Pollard played college baseball at Salem State University where he was a two-time all-conference selection. Pollard has served as a coach with USA Baseball, where he led teams around the globe, collecting two silver medals, and a gold medal at the 2015 Pan Am Games. In 2014, Pollard was named USA Baseball Developmental Coach of the Year. Pollard also serves as Austin Prep’s Assistant Head of School for Enrollment and Athletics.

The New England Hockey and Baseball Journals are the premier regional hockey and baseball magazines, covering everything from professional sports to colleges to prep and high schools.

This is Algebra II Honors!

Students in Ms. Alison Fish’s Honors Algebra II class played a version of Jeopardy to review for their test on Rational Functions. Categories included simplifying, multiplying and dividing, and adding and subtracting rational expressions; complex fractions; solving rational equations; and real life applications such as solving work problems. Teams competed for bonus points on their test. The winning team consisted of Meredith Rhodes, Hunter Soep, Madison Vittands, and Bernice Yu.

Memorable Boys Lacrosse Triple Overtime Thriller

It's playoff hockey season and tight NHL games are occurring nightly, but maybe the best finish of the week was the Austin Prep Boys Lacrosse team's triple overtime victory over Bishop Feehan  on Monday. Dante Filadoro '22 scored in the third overtime to lead Austin Prep to the 10-9 victory. To view the game winning goal, click here.

Class of 2024 Enjoys Year End Trip

The Class of 2024 enjoyed an end of year trip to Boundless Adventures in Berlin, MA on Tuesday. Sophomore classmates bonded while challenging themselves both mentally and physically on the high ropes course. The trip was an opportunity to bond more closely with classmates and foster meaningful connections and provided lasting memories of times well spent with friends and classmates! You can view photos from the trip here.

College Athletics Commitments Continue

This past week, Colby Medeiros '22 made his commitment to continue his track and field career at Assumption University. Congrats, Colby!

Students Learn More About Cinco de Mayo

Mrs. Linda Filadoro’s classes are  learning  about Mexican heritage and the meaning of Cinco de Mayo in Mexico which commemorates Mexico’s victory over France in The Battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862.  Students prepared Mexican culinary delights like Tres Leches, Quesadillas and Churros as an appreciation fiesta for her Spanish I and II classes. 

Winter Sports Student-Athletes Garner Boston Globe, Herald Honors

Carey, Cerrato, Hanafin, Hulse, Karo and Beaulieu honored for their work on the ice. 

The Boston Globe and Boston Herald recently recognized the region's top student-athletes and coaches for the 2021-22 winter sports season. Austin Prep student-athletes were well represented!

We Had a Coach Honored, as Well!

Congrats to Austin Prep Swim Coach, Lianne Bradley

Middle School Science Trips Continue

Middle School students took part in several Science-based field trips this week to extend their classroom lessons. 

Sixth graders culminated their study of space with a visit to the McAuliffe Shepard Discovery Center in Concord, New Hampshire. Students attended a Planetarium show on Mars, the next frontier in space exploration, before completing a lab sheet as they explored a number of different exhibits about the solar system.

Eighth-grade students spent Thursday morning at Fenway Park as part of the Red Sox's STEM Day. The visit included a keynote from Massachusetts Native Astronaut Stephanie D. Wilson who shared her experience of being a part of NASA. Throughout the rest of the week, eighth graders have been visiting Upper School Chemistry labs to explore concepts like metals in ionic compounds and electrical currents passing through aqueous solutions to further inspire their curiosity about science and review material from their Chemistry units earlier in the year. Next week, the students will visit Gillette Stadium's STEM day to explore the forces of weather through fun, hands-on experiences.

AP Exams Hit Midway Point

One week of AP exams down, one week to go! Students have worked incredibly hard this year managing rigorous course requirements.  While the exams are difficult, the hours of effort  exerted to prepare will leave students well prepared for college and beyond. We wish you continued good luck! 

Celebrating our Mothers During the Month of Mary

Happy Mother's Day to all those in the Austin Prep Community.

Is Mother's Day and the Month of Mary a coincidence or is there greater purpose? Just a few weeks ago on Good Friday we heard in the Holy Week Liturgy that Jesus entrusted his Mother to us as he told the disciples whom he loved "Son, behold your Mother," and to Mary, "Woman, behold your Son." Now, here we are, ready to celebrate Mother's Day. Can we separate Mother Mary's Motherhood from that of our own mothers? They both serve as our role models. As we think of the gifts for our mothers let us not forget the most precious gift of saying the Rosary or a Hail Mary Sunday and every day for our mothers.

Happy Mother's Day. 🌷

May 14, 2022

Guys and Dolls Premieres

Austin Prep's spring musical, Guys and Dolls, premiered last night in Richard J. Meelia '67 Hall.  Photos from opening night can be viewed here. Did you miss it? Additional performances take place tonight, Saturday, May 14th (7:00 p.m.), and tomorrow, Sunday, May 15th (2:00 p.m.). Tickets are $10 and can be purchased at the door. We look forward to seeing you at the show!

Baccalaureate Liturgy and Commencement for the Class of 2022 is Friday 

We are very excited to celebrate the Baccalaureate Liturgy and Commencement for the Class of 2022 on Friday, May 20th at 4:00 p.m. on Austin Prep’s Father Seymour Field. As was the case the past two years, this event will continue to be held outside, but this year we are pleased to be able to welcome additional guests. Ticket information has been sent to families of the Class of 2022. For those not able to attend, the event will be livestreamed. Livestream information will be sent to the community on Friday morning.

Austin Prep’s Class of 2022 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 20th.

Fr. Art Johnson, O.S.A. Awarded Head of School Medallion

On Thursday, Austin Prep participated in a special event celebrating the Augustinians. Dr. James Hickey, Head of School, delivered the keynote address on Augustinian leadership and later presented the Head of School Medallion to Fr. Arthur Johnson, O.S.A. for his abiding presence at Austin Prep for 60 years. 

The tradition of the Head of School Medallion began in 2018. To date, Head of School Medallions have been awarded to the following:  The 2018 Baseball State Championship team, the 2019 Softball State Championship Team, former Parents Association President Susan Ardizzoni P'19, the 2020 Girls Ice Hockey co-State Championship Team and the 2020 Girls Indoor Track and Field State Championship Team.

Austin Prep Dancers Prove to be "Red Carpet Ready"

Our student dancers stole the show at the spring show "Red Carpet Ready," which took place last Saturday night in Richard J. Meelia '67 Hall.  A special congratulations goes out to the dancers from the Class of 2022 who performed in their final spring show. Thank you for all that you have done for the Austin Prep dance program! That group includes Jenna Nadeau '22, Arianna Shalhoub '24, Meredith McDonough '22, Olivia McDonald '22, Annie Hamilton '22, and Madeline Hickey '22. The full program for the show can be viewed here.

Class of 2022 Enjoy Fun Filled Senior Week

Friday was the last day of classes for our seniors, and this past week was Senior Week for the Class of 2022! Seniors dyed shirts, decorated parking spots, played flag football against the junior class, held a Super Soaker battle, and enjoyed Ben and Jerry's Ice Cream and class favorites from Sage Dining. We hope it was a great week and that you found time to enjoy your friends, classmates, and faculty members who have walked with you on your journey.

Guest Speaker Addresses Internet Safety

On Tuesday, Katie Greer, an internet safety expert,  served as a keynote speaker to help promote digital citizenship. Ms. Greer has created a balanced approach to internet safety that considers the appeal of technology while helping to reinforce our efforts to educate students about appropriate use of technology. Students in Grade 6 - 10 attended the presentation.

Pitching Duel Goes to Blanco

All eyes were on Regis Paul Little Memorial Field on Monday as two of the region's top pitchers, Evan Blanco '22 of Austin Prep and Aiven Cabral of St. Mary's of Lynn squared off in a matchup between CCL rivals. The Virginia-bound Blanco got the best of St. Mary's and the Northeastern commit Cabral, leading Austin Prep to a complete game 5-0 victory. Will Burns '22 and Jake Zawatsky '24 contributed keys hits in the win. To view the game's final out, click here.

College Athletics Commitments Continue

This past week, Nico Fanuele '22 made his commitment to continue his track and field career at Providence College. Congrats, Nico!

Relive Your Prom Memories With Photos from the Evening

We had a great time celebrating the Austin Prep prom April 28th, both at the promenade on campus before the event as well as with dinner and dancing at the Andover Country Club. All the photos are now available. Check out the promenade photos and the prom photos!

May 21, 2022

May Tea Returns for First Time Since 2019

On Wednesday Austin Prep seventh graders participated in the May Crowning Prayer Service and May Tea. This annual event (although held for the first time since 2019) is an opportunity for students to invite one special guest - a mother, grandmother, aunt, or neighbor - to join them in the Chapel of Saint Augustine for prayers followed by a small reception in the Dining Hall to celebrate Mary and motherhood in all its forms. Students and their guest are invited to bring flowers or a small plant to place around the Statue of Mary as a part of the celebration. Photos from the event can be viewed here.

Spring Teams Compete in CCL Cup Tournaments

Austin Prep spring sports teams have been competing in CCL Cup tournament play. Congratulations to the Austin Prep Baseball Team for capturing the CCL Cup on Wednesday with a 12-0 victory over Bishop Stang. Jack Iannibelli '22 let the way with a complete game shutout while Dom Gabardi '23 set the offensive tone with a first inning grand slam.

The Austin Prep Boys and Girls Tennis Teams compete in their respective CCL Cup matches this upcoming Wednesday. Good luck!

Austin Open Golf Tournament is Monday

We look forward to hosting our 34th Annual Austin Open Golf Tournament Monday morning at Indian Ridge Country Club! This event could not be possible without the generosity of our sponsors. We appreciate your support! View all our Title, Lunch, Breakfast, Player Gift and Cart Sponsors here.

Guys and Dolls Concludes with Three Shows

Austin Prep's spring musical, Guys and Dolls, came to Richard J. Meelia '67 Hall for three performances May 13th - 15th. It was another display for the singing, acting, and dancing talents of our Art and Design students. Photos from the show can be viewed here. Thank you to everyone who came to a show!

Middle School Science Labs Continue

Middle School students applied lab skills and knowledge in a series of experiences on campus this week. Forensics teacher Ms. Kerry Barrett facilitated a microscope lab for eighth-graders to solve the "Case of the Chocolate Caper." Students examined clues under a microscope and compared their samples against the evidence to crack the case. Ms. Aprille Hibbard, Science Faculty, organized a field lab to collect data on the Aberjona River that runs through campus. Students extracted water samples and then evaluated them for factors like temperature, phosphate, iron, salinity, and pH levels.

College Athletics Commitments Continue

The steady stream of Austin Prep student athletes committing to Northeast-10 Conference schools continues. This past week, Steven Galatis '22 made his commitment to continue his track and field and cross county career at Stonehill College. James Mahoney '22 made his commitment to continue his baseball career at Assumption University. Congrats, Steven and James!

#AustinAlways

Two of our graduating seniors are part of Austin Prep legacy families. Check out these pictures of Class of 2022 graduates and their parents who are Austin Prep Alums. We are excited to have welcomed the Class of 2022 to the ranks of Austin Prep Alumni, and congratulations to the Filadoro and Caruso families!

Latest Group of Lifers Complete Their Journey

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 20 students from the Class of 2022 who are part of this unique group. #AustinAlways

Baccalaureate Liturgy and Commencement for the Class of 2022

Friday was a beautiful day on the campus of Austin Prep as the community came together to celebrate the  Baccalaureate Liturgy and Commencement for the Class of 2022. In case you missed it, all the details from the day can be found here.

May 28, 2022

Class of 2026 Middle School Journey Concludes with Final Assembly

On Wednesday Austin Prep eighth graders celebrated the conclusion of their Middle School Journey with the Class of 2026 Final Middle School Assembly. Head of School, James Hickey, Ph.D. and Head of Middle School Mr. Michael McLaughlin offered remarks, and those in attendance had an opportunity to hear musical pieces performed by the Middle School Band. Members of the Class of 2026 also offered reflections on their Middle School experience. A full program from the ceremony can be found here.

Braeddon Dyment '26 reflected on the Middle School Journey: "I’ve come to realize that while the journey itself is important, it’s those that share the journey with us that ultimately determine its path.  We’ve had awesome teachers, supportive advisors, wonderful Heads of School in Dr. Hickey and Mr. McLaughlin, and some great coaches too.  But the most important people have been all of you, our Middle School classmates. We have supported one another, collaborated, competed, and we are all the better for it."

While examining our shared value of veritas, Aiden Titcomb '26 took a distinctly Augustinian approach. "St. Augustine once said, 'Where I found truth, there I found my God, who is the truth itself.' Throughout our life, we find our pursuit of truth to not be a sprint, but a marathon. We often think that we are complete with our journey, but soon  discover that we still have questions, and we are still yearning for answers; we are 'restless.'"

Colbie Buck '26 identified ways in which she felt the charism of unitas at Austin Prep. "Within Austin, we each have found our own friend groups. They help us when we are having a bad day. They also just make us laugh everyday. We are so lucky to have met these kinds of people. What makes Austin really special is that our support system is so much bigger than just our friends. Our teachers are always here to lend a helping hand and listen to our problems.

"We are all individuals with unique talents, and we will each take a different path through high school," Cecilia Goldsmith '26 noted when reflecting on our shared value of caritas. "But remembering that God loves all of us the same and that we all have an obligation to share caritas with each other is what will tie us together for the rest of our lives."

Benefactors and Students Recognized at Memorial Scholarship Ceremony

We were honored to announce Memorial Scholarship recipients for the 2022-2023 academic year at a special breakfast and ceremony on Wednesday. A program for the event can be found here. 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. You can view photos from the event here. Thank you to all who make these scholarships possible. #Caritas 

Final All-School Mass to Celebrate the Feast of the Ascension

At the Feast of the Ascension all-school Mass, Austin Prep was joined by Rev. Daniel Madden, OSA of Merrimack College who told students, "You are at a place where Heaven and Earth come together. This is our call to stop looking towards the sky, but to go be witnesses." During the Prayers of the Faithful, the community prayed for those impacted by the violence in the Ukraine, Buffalo, California and Texas. Later that day, Dr. Hickey sent a message to the School community addressing recent violence, noting, in part: "As we journey forward as an Augustinian community through very unsettling times, we stand firm in our calling to promote God’s love. Today, all Austin Prep students and staff gathered for mass in Meelia Hall to celebrate the Feast of the Ascension. As a Catholic community, we prayed during the liturgy for healing, for the souls of the victims, for the solace of their loved ones, and all who are impacted by violence or racism."

Girls Tennis Captures CCL Cup

Austin Prep spring sports teams have been competing in CCL Cup tournament play. Congratulations to the Austin Prep Girls Tennis Team for capturing the CCL Cup on Wednesday with a 4-1 victory over Bishop Feehan. With the victory, the team finishes the regular season with an amazing 20-0 record. The Girls Tennis Team joins the Baseball team as CCL Cup winners. The Baseball Team won the title the week before.

Be sure to follow the Austin Prep Department of Athletics Twitter account for additional updates regarding MIAA post-season play.

34th Annual Austin Open Golf Tournament a Success

We were blessed with a beautiful day on Monday for the 34th Annual Austin Open Golf Tournament, held at Indian Ridge Country Club. The event was a great success with a full-flight of golfers!

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 2022 Title Sponsorships: Pimentel Construction and Quirk Construction Corp.  This year's tournament raised over $85,000 and will support the creation of a multi-purpose laboratory in our science wing which will be a best-in-class space for middle school and upper school science instruction.

View all our Title, Lunch, Breakfast, Player Gift and Cart Sponsors here.

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

Book Award Recipients Recognized

Each spring, members of the junior class are awarded books and prizes for their scholastic, extracurricular, and community efforts. These awards are sponsored by college and university local alumni chapters, offices of admissions, faculty, and community members.  Below is a list of this year’s recipients.  Congratulations to all!

Class of 2023 Year End Trips

The Class of 2023 celebrated Junior Week this past week with class trips to Dave and Busters and a Duck Boat tour of Boston.  This was an opportunity to bond more closely with classmates and foster meaningful connections. We hope that these events will leave positive, lasting memories of times well spent with friends and classmates. We look forward to your campus leadership during the 2022-23 Academic Year!

Best Buddies Club Receives Honor

Austin Prep's Best Buddies Club received recognition as the 2022 Outstanding Promoter chapter in Massachusetts and Rhode Island. The club organizes initiatives helping children with intellectual and developmental disabilities.  The initiatives include kickball games, bike clinics, card drives, and disabilities etiquette training.  Olivia Ferri '23, incoming President of the club noted, “We are grateful for Jenna Nadeau’s '22 leadership as Best Buddies Club president. She set high standards for our work and Kate Beckel '23 and I are excited to continue her legacy through our work.”

Austin Prep Freshmen Participate in Model UN Conference

The Class of 2025 simulated debates on Cold War crises during Austin Prep's first Model UN conference. Led by History Faculty Member Mr. Jon Whalen and facilitated by History Faculty Member Ms. Jess Swindell this exciting event was planned by the History Faculty. Students engaged in several weeks of extensive research and analysis. Students participated in ten crisis committees on events ranging from the Cuban Missile Crisis to the Falklands War. Debates were lively and the students worked hard to represent the perspective of their assigned nation. The History Faculty looks forward to hosting this event for many years to come! 

Class of 2022 | A Final Farewell

It has been a little over a week since the Baccalaureate Liturgy and Commencement for the Class of 2022 and we miss the Class already! During Senior Week, the Senior Class gathered for a 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.

Happy Memorial Day

As you enjoy the long weekend celebrating the start of summer with family and friends, 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.