December 2023
12.2.2023
December 2, 2023
Tuition Raffle Goes Live on Monday
The 2021 Tuition Raffle was drawn and livestreamed from campus. So will the 2023 edition!
Austin Prep is once again hosting a Tuition Raffle, which will be available to all current parents. The owner of the winning raffle ticket may be credited up to the full tuition cost for one student for the 2023-2024, or the 2024-2025 academic year.
Tickets are $275 each and only 250 will be sold. The raffle winner will be chosen on Friday, December 15, 2023 at Austin Prep and livestreamed for the community to view. Be ready for a phone call from Dr. Hickey!
All proceeds from the Tuition Raffle benefit each and every one of our students.
The raffle will open at 7:00 p.m, on Monday, December 4th and will close when the set amount of tickets are sold, or on Thursday, December 14th at 12:00 noon, whichever comes first. Look for an email with more details containing the link to the raffle.
Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony
Join us Wednesday, December 6th for this new Austin Prep tradition
Embrace the festive spirit as we inaugurate a new school tradition – our annual Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony! On Wednesday, December 6th at 7:00 p.m., gather in front of the Dining Hall Patio to witness the magic unfold as we illuminate our magnificent tree.
Following the enchanting ceremony, we will continue the joyous celebration with Hot Cocoa and Christmas Cookies in the Dining Hall. Let’s kick off the holiday season together in a spirit of unity and joy!
Keep in mind that parking is limited on campus.
The Nutcracker, Lessons and Carols, Highlight Final Week Before Break
Students have been hard at work in recent weekends at Nutcracker rehearsals.
The most wonderful time of the year is upon us! We look forward to the return of Austin Prep's holiday traditions.
The Nutcracker
Monday, December 11th, 2023 at 7:00 p.m. Performance will take place at the Collins Center in Andover.
Tuesday, December 12th, 2023 at 7:00 p.m. Performance will take place at the Collins Center in Andover.
You can purchase tickets to The Nutcracker here. Seating for the show is general admission.
Lessons and Carols
Thursday, December 14th, 2023 at 7:00 p.m. Performance will take place in the Chapel of St. Augustine for families of Austin Prep Band and Choir students.
We are grateful for all those who will help us make these events a reality, and hope you will join us for the shows.
Community Mass is December 10th
Did you know Sr. Maria and Sr. Paskazia served as chaperones on the Class of 2024 Disney World trip? Ask them how their trip went during the Coffee and Donut Hour after December's Community Mass. (Spoiler: They loved it!)
The Monthly Community Mass for December will be held on Sunday, December 10th at 10:00 a.m. in the Chapel of St. Augustine. We encourage our school families who regularly attend Sunday Mass at their local parish to consider joining us for this monthly Sunday Mass. The Mass will give us an opportunity to meet each other and pray together, at least occasionally. We will join for a time of fellowship in the Dining Hall after Mass. To help us with our planning, we would ask families to RSVP by clicking here so we can take an appropriate count for the Coffee and Donut Hour.
Students are required to attend with their parents. We look forward to seeing you on Sunday, December 10th as we strengthen each other through this act of celebrating Mass together.
Hockey Locker Rooms Unveiled at Home Rink Ristuccia Arena
The Austin Prep Girls Ice Hockey Locker Room at Ristuccia Arena.
Tuesday, on the eve of their season openers, the new Austin Prep Boys and Girls Ice Hockey locker and training room facilities at their home facility Ristuccia Arena in Wilmington were unveiled to the teams. It was a great way to start the year! Take a look at the new Austin Prep Boys and Girls Ice Hockey locker room facilities here, with some comments from team captains Kylie McDonald ‘24 and Derek Daley ‘24!
School Community Demonstrates Caritas This Holiday Season
Austin Prep students delivered 80 Thanksgiving baskets to St. Mary the Assumption Parish in Lawrence.
This Thanksgiving season Austin Prep students and staff assembled and donated over 80 Thanksgiving baskets to families from St. Mary the Assumption Parish in Lawrence, a parish with deep ties to the Augustinian Friars who founded Austin Prep in 1961. Students delivered the baskets two days before Thanksgiving, a gesture that reminded us to be thankful for all that we have while also helping those less fortunate. Thank you to everyone who helped support the effort. Advisory groups are already hard at work on Christmas service initiatives.
Austin Prep Choir Performs at Reading Tree Lighting Event
The Austin Prep choir at the Reading Tree Lighting Event.
Thank you to all those who stopped by to say hello at the Reading-North Reading Chamber of Commerce Tree Lighting on the Common celebration. Austin Prep served as the signature sponsor of the event and is always supportive of town based initiatives in our home community. The Austin Prep choir sang carols to get everyone in the Christmas spirit and Auggie made an appearance!
Vittands, Brennan, Ink Division I Commitments to Merrimack
Maddie Vittands '24 and Brooke Brennan '24 at Tuesday's Signing.
Congratulations to Maddie Vittands '24 and Brooke Brennan '24 who signed their National Letters of Intent to continue their ice hockey and lacrosse careers, respectively, at NCAA Division I Merrimack College. The Augustinian Journey continues for these Austin Prep three sport student-athletes!
Juniors and Seniors Connect During Campus Ministry Retreat
Juniors and Seniors at this week's Campus Ministry Retreat.
The Office of Campus Ministry hosted a meaningful off-campus retreat this week for juniors and seniors, providing an opportunity for students to practice their faith, engage in reflection, and connect more deeply with classmates. The retreat took place at the Franciscan Retreat Center in Kennebunkport, Maine. The retreat was conducted by Fr. Michael Senfuma who serves St. Joseph’s Parish in Needham. Fr. Michael has worked closely with the Austin Prep community as he celebrated Mass and directed many retreats over the past year for our students. The theme of the retreat was: "Let your Light Shine Through the Beatitudes". Students participated in Mass, prayers, journaling, team building, and saying the Rosary. They were accompanied on the retreat by Director of Campus Ministry Sr. Maria Nassali, Dean of Faculty Dr. Bill Driscoll, Theology Faculty Megan Harkins, and Technology Specialist David McPherson.
"The retreat offered my peers and I the opportunity to grow spiritually both individually and together in community as we reflected on what it means to live the beatitudes in our daily lives," Vera Masciarelli '25 said. "My hope now is for all of us to put the valuable takeaways into action back here at Austin Prep."
The Class of 2023 Returns for Thanksgiving Eve Breakfast
The Class of 2023 at their Thanksgiving Eve Breakfast.
Austin Prep continued the tradition of welcoming back the past year's graduating class for an alumni breakfast the Wednesday before Thanksgiving. On Wednesday November 23rd, members of the Class of 2023 gathered in the Dining Hall to connect with classmates, faculty and staff as a kick-off to the holiday weekend. Thank you to all who returned back to campus!
Students Living our Mission
Check this space monthly as we recognize students demonstrating our values on campus.
Cailin Fennessy ‘24 epitomized unitas in November.
Unitas is a key component of what distinguishes an Augustinian education from all others. We continue to look forward to working together to strengthen our community in a way that is reflective of our core values of veritas, unitas, and caritas.
As we do so, the Office of Student Life aims to build students of strong character while recognizing exemplary behavior on campus. Students who best display the values that are distinctive to the Austin Prep experience will be acknowledged monthly here in the Cougar Courier and on social media.
This month, we would like to recognize the work of Cailin Fennessy ‘24. Cailin embodies our core value of unitas. As President of the Interact Club, she leads her peers in serving the school and local community. Cailin is currently working with Reading Rotary on an international service project for the club. As a Head Green Key, Cailin continuously steps up to welcome new families to campus and give tours. Her leadership and integrity are qualities we look for in our students. Great job, Cailin!
Class of 2024 Disney World Trip: One Last Look
We look forward to seeing the photo of this stellar group framed in the first floor hallway with Disney photos of past senior classes! #NoPonchosInThisPhoto
It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas!
Students returned to Austin Prep after Thanksgiving break with a festive campus decorated for the Christmas season. We are looking forward to a special couple of weeks together! #TheMostWondefulTimeOfTheYear
12.9.2023
December 9, 2023
Austin Prep Christmas Traditions Continue with The Nutcracker
This year's event will feature a program cover (left) designed by Izzy Murphy '27 and the event poster (right) designed by Sofia Sibella '27.
December is a month filled with Austin Prep Christmas traditions, including our rendition of Tchaikovsky’s The Nutcracker. This year's shows will take place at the Collins Center at Andover High School. Additional details are as follows:
The Nutcracker
Monday, December 11th, 2023 at 7:00 p.m. Performance will take place at the Collins Center in Andover.
Tuesday, December 12th, 2023 at 7:00 p.m. Performance will take place at the Collins Center in Andover.
You can purchase tickets to The Nutcracker here. Seating for the show is general admission.
We look forward to showcasing the talents of our dancers and stage crew while presenting this annual Austin Prep Christmas tradition.
December Community Mass is Tomorrow
The Advent season is upon us, and there is no better time to celebrate with reflections on hope, peace, love, and joy. Join us for our monthly Community Mass tomorrow, Sunday, December 10th at 10:00 a.m. in the Chapel of St. Augustine. We encourage our school families who regularly attend Sunday Mass at their local parish to consider joining us for this monthly Sunday Mass. The Mass will give us an opportunity to meet each other and pray together, at least occasionally. We will join for a time of fellowship in the Dining Hall after Mass. To help us with our planning, we would ask families to RSVP by clicking here so we can take an appropriate count for the Coffee and Donut Hour.
Students are required to attend with their parents. We look forward to seeing you tomorrow as we strengthen each other through this act of celebrating Mass together.
Few Tuition Raffle Tickets Remain!
Will Dr. Hickey draw your name in this year's Tuition Raffle? Get your ticket before they run out!
The Tuition Raffle is open to all current 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 2023-2024, or the 2024-2025 academic year.
Tickets are $275 each and only 250 will be sold. The raffle winner will be chosen on Friday, December 15, 2023 at Austin Prep and livestreamed for the community to view. Be ready for a phone call from Dr. Hickey!
All proceeds from the Tuition Raffle benefit each and every one of our students.
The raffle will close when the set amount of tickets are sold, or on Thursday, December 14th at 12:00 noon, whichever comes first. Get your ticket here, and good luck!
Reflect on the Meaning of the Season at Lessons and Carols
Another annual Austin Prep Christmas tradition is Lessons and Carols, a show which includes traditional Christmas hymns and carols performed by the Austin Prep Choir and Austin Prep Band, as well as scripture readings and short passages about the true meaning of the season. In addition to celebrating the season, the performance showcases the talents of Austin Prep students.
On Thursday, December 14th at 7:00 p.m. Lessons and Carols will take place in the Chapel of St. Augustine for parents of Austin Prep Band and Choir students. With the limited seating capacity, this performance is available for parents of performers only. There will be a school-wide performance during the day on Tuesday, December 12th for the entire student community. Chapel Dress is required.
Community Gathers for Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony
On Wednesday the community embraced the festive spirit as Austin Prep inaugurated a new school tradition – the annual Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony. Led by prayers read by Fr. Patrick Armano, School Chaplain, and Sr. Maria Gorreth Nassali, Director of Campus Ministry, and a welcome from Head of School, James Hickey, Ph.D., the community gathered in front of the Dining Hall Patio to witness the magic unfold as we illuminated our magnificent tree. Following the lighting we continued the celebration with hot cocoa and Christmas cookies in the Dining Hall, with an appearance from Santa Claus. It was a wonderful way to kick off the holiday season together in a spirit of unity and joy. Be sure to join us next year! You can view photos from the event here, and a video of the installation of the tree here.
Ms. Dell'Anno '12, Mrs. Colannino Receive Lumen Awards
Claudia Colannino and Alexandra Dell'Anno are the 2023 recipients of the St. Augustine Lumen Award.
The annual St. Augustine Lumen Award recognizes exemplary faculty and staff who embody the mission of Austin Prep. Dr. Hickey was joined by Mr. Thomas Flynn ‘83, Board Vice Chair, and members of the Board of Trustees as they presented the 2023 St. Augustine Lumen Award to English faculty member Ms. Alexandra Dell'Anno '12. New this year, Austin Prep also presented a St. Augustine Lumen Award to a member of the administrative staff. This year’s recipient was registrar Mrs. Claudia Colannino. Congratulations to Ms. Dell’Anno and Mrs. Colannino, and thank you for all that you do for our students and school community.
The award was presented Tuesday night in front of faculty, staff, and members of the Austin Prep Board of Trustees.
Immaculate Conception Mass Celebrated Friday
Student readers and altar servers before Friday's Mass.
On Friday Austin Prep welcomed Fr. Daniel Madden, O.S.A. to campus to celebrate the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception. The Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception is a feast celebrating Mary's conception without sin. You can view photos from the Mass here.
The Daughters of Mary, with guests The Daughters of Mary of Nazareth.
The Daughters of Mary, with guests The Daughters of Mary of Nazareth, participated in the Mass with the singing of “Immaculate Mary," "Ee Mfumue ee yamba," and "Tulabira Wa Kristu Omusumbra Waffe." Austin Prep's Daughters of Mary and the Daughters of Mary of Nazareth are connected in that they both come under the patronage of Mary.
Memorial Scholarship Applications are Open
A special breakfast for recipients and families will occur on Wednesday, February 7th
Tyler Mathew '26 and Madison Mangino '26 were recipients of the Francis T. Duggan Memorial Scholarship last year.
There are a limited number of scholarships for which students in Grades 9-11 may apply for at this time for the 2024-2025 school year. 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.
The Memorial Scholarship Descriptions and Application are available now in the Student and Parent Portals, and detailed application steps were sent via email by Ms. Susan Belanger, Assistant Head for Administration and Special Projects, on Tuesday. All application packages must be delivered to Ms. Belanger's office on the 4th floor of St. Augustine Hall by 3:00 p.m. on Friday, January 5th. There will be no extensions and applications will not be accepted via email.
Formal presentations of the Memorial Scholarships will be made at a special breakfast ceremony for recipients and families on Wednesday, February 7th at 8:15 a.m. Award recipients will be notified by January 19th.
Please direct all questions to Ms. Belanger via email at sbelanger@austinprep.org.
Fall Athletic Season Marked by NEPSAC Honors
Lucas Hahn '27 followed up an All-NEPSAC performance at the NEPSAC Division 2 meet with a 5th place finish at the NEPSAC All-Star meet and a medalist performance at the Foot Locker Northeast Regional Meet.
Austin Prep's had a successful fall athletics season, highlighted by a slew of All-NEPSAC recognitions. Fall awards are as follows:
Jess Barrett Signs with Division I Stonehill
Jess Barrett with parents Amy and Brian.
All-NEPSAC volleyball player (see above) Jess Barrett '24 recently signed her National Letter of Intent to continue her volleyball career at NCAA Division I Stonehill College. Congratulations, Jess!
Families Learn Why it Really is a Wonderful Life at Austin Prep
What better way to welcome prospective 6th grade students than with Christmas carols performed by the current 6th grade choir.
Austin Prep welcomed prospective 6th grade families to Austin Prep on Thursday to learn more about the Austin Prep community and engage with faculty, school leadership, and students. Prospective parents experienced an Adeodatus reflection, met with faculty, and participated in a panel with current students and parents. Prospective students experienced a sample class and decorated Christmas cookies. Thanks to everyone who visited!
On That Note...the Priority Application Deadline Approaching
As a reminder, our Priority Application Deadline is approaching! Applicants should complete all application materials by the Priority Application Deadline of Friday, December 15th. To start or learn more about the process, click here. Need assistance? Reach out to the Office of Admissions at admissions@austinprep.org!
It's Christmas Week!
Next week will be all things Christmas! Including, but not limited to, spreading some Christmas cheer through our Christmas drive in support of Saint Mary of the Assumption Parish of Lawrence, Dr. Hickey, and Friday's Mass, summed up our Christmas efforts best.
"What we do here at Austin Prep, in supporting those families, that’s the caritas," Dr. Hickey said. "And in pulling together, when we all bring in those gifts, all the wrapping and the bows, it also fosters the unitas. We do good. We can’t do everything, but we can do some things, and I think those some things that we are doing this Christmas season, we are doing it well."
We look forward to spending time together as a community next week.
12.16.2023
December 16, 2023
Austin Prep Christmas Traditions Continue with The Nutcracker
Maggie O'Brien '26 and Emerson Byrne '26 fulfilled roles of both Clara and the Snow Queen in the two nights of The Nutcracker.
This week Austin Prep continued its 30 year Christmas tradition of Tchaikovsky’s The Nutcracker, with performances at the Collins Center at Andover High School on Monday and Tuesday. Over 150 students participated in the shows, which were both exceptional. You can view photos from the Monday night performance here and a video highlight here. A special thank you to all those across our school community who help make the shows a reality!
Lessons and Carols Gets Community in the Christmas Spirit
Lily Fix '25 singing "Oh Holy Night" at Thursday's Lessons and Carols.
The Austin Prep community gathered for two shows this week of the annual Christmas tradition of Lessons and Carols, first with a performance for students during community meeting on Wednesday, followed by a performance for parents of performers in the Chapel of St. Augustine on Thursday night. The shows included traditional Christmas hymns and carols by the Austin Prep Choir, the Austin Prep 6th Grade Choir, and the Austin Prep Band, as well as scripture readings and short passages about the true meaning of the season. The night showcased the talents of Austin Prep students, who were led throughout the performance under the exceptional direction of Art and Design Faculty Member Mr. Wes Fowler. Photos from the Thursday show can be viewed here, as well as a video of Mark Tokarev '28 playing the piano.
Austin Prep Families Demonstrate Caritas This Christmas
In the spirit of our mission, we live out our Augustinian value of caritas by embracing others and sharing our blessings this Christmas season. As is tradition, student advisory groups assembled gift packages which were delivered on Friday to St. Mary of the Assumption parish in Lawrence. Thank you to everyone who helped support the gift drive!
Head of School Christmas Open House
Austin Prep Seniors were welcomed to Head of School Dr. James Hickey's office Friday for the annual Head's Christmas Open House. They shared Christmas cheer, complete with breakfast bites, refreshments, pastries, cookies, and more. How about those Christmas sweaters? View photos here.
Santa Comes Early for Burkinshaw '27 Family
Dr. Hickey phones Jennifer Burkinshaw P'27 with the good news on Friday.
Congratulations to Mrs. Jennifer Burkinshaw P'27, who was the winner of this year's Tuition Raffle! The winner was drawn Friday and announced to the community via video livestream, which was followed by a phone call from Dr. Hickey to Mrs. Burkinshaw. The raffle prize is a credit for up to the full tuition cost for one student for the 2023-2024 or 2024-2025 academic year. Thank you to our entire parent community for your continued support of Austin Prep, and to those who joined us on the webinar announcement.
Door Decorating Once Again Brightens Campus Spirits
Ms. Donnelly's Advisory won for the best Middle School Decorated Door.
This week advisories decked the halls by designing imaginative door decorations for campus. The doors are a fun collaboration and enhance the festive feeling of campus. Oh, there are winners, too. This year's victors for best decorated doors are as follows:
School Store Open For Your Christmas Needs
The Unitas Shop will be open next week for those looking to purchase some last minute Austin Prep branded Christmas gifts. The shop is fully stocked with all your favorite items!
If you have any questions about the school store, please reach out to Mr. Pat Costello, Coordinator of Students Activities.
NaNoWriMo Writers Recognized
Luke Rubman '29, Meghan Agassounon '29 and PJ Kavka '29 were recognized for their NaNoWriMo accomplishments.
The annual 7th grade capstone - NaNoWriMo - in which students write a minimum 10,000 word novel in the month of November resulted in 807,594 words. For context, that is the approximate length of the first six Harry Potter books. On Friday, Mrs. Leann Blais, English Faculty, conducted a drawing to recognize students who reached the 10, 15, and 20 thousand word threshold. This year's lucky recipients were Meghan Agassounon '29 at 21,184 words, Luke Rubman '29 at 15,105 words, and PJ Kavka '29 at 10,248 words. Later this year, students will be e-publishing an anthology of an edited version of their favorite chapter from their creative endeavors.
Students Take Part in Exchange With Malvern Prep
Mark-Henry Novas ’26, Derek Langenau ’26, Shane Miller ’26, and Colin Walsh ’25 with Malvern Prep Students.
As a member of the Augustinian Secondary Educational Association (ASEA), Austin Prep shares a common heritage with nine other schools in North America. Recently, four of our students, Derek Langenau ’26, Shane Miller ’26, Mark-Henry Novas ’26, and Colin Walsh ’25, visited Malvern Prep, our fellow school located in the suburbs of Philadelphia, and spent time attending classes with host students. The visit was from December 5th-9th and featured several opportunities to learn from one another.
The purpose of student exchange was to deepen Augustinian connections. As an all-boys school, Malvern Prep emphasizes the bonds of brotherhood and relies heavily on the prevailing message of St. Augustine's teachings that education is about relationships. The bonds that were forged throughout this week solidified and amplified our commitment to the Augustinian values of veritas, unitas, and caritas.
The delegation began with a tour of the campus of Villanova University where they cheered the Women’s Basketball team on to a victory over the University of Pennsylvania. The students completed a few days' worth of classes, shadowing their host students and engaging with the 600 students who make Malvern their home. Our students were warmly welcomed and embraced by the student body and teachers alike who were hungry to learn about the Boston area and Austin Prep. The students also worked on a service project by visiting an early childhood center for preschool children who are underserved.
On Friday, December 8th students joined together as an entire community to share in worship and to express our Catholic heritage in the celebration of the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception. Before it began, Mark-Henry Novas shared an Adeodatus reflection. The Mass was celebrated by the Head of School Emeritus Fr. Donald Reilly, O.S.A. His homily focused on the year's theme set by Malvern Prep: "Become What You Are Not Yet." His poignant remarks focused on the challenge inherent in that quote from Augustine because it calls upon us to live our ideals and move ever closer to fulfilling our promise as children of God.
As the week ended, our students were revered as celebrities by the Middle School students. A class of 8th graders passed by our group as they were doing a final tour and shouted out "Hey it is the Austin Prep kids!" It was an amazing week that we will replicate when we host Malvern Prep students in April.
We concluded the visit with a Boys Basketball game on the campus of West Chester University. A raucous Malvern crowd cheered the team onto a convincing 20-point victory. Our ambassadors led the first exchange in our Augustinian network and we hope that this week will become a framework for our other affiliates to engage in promoting our values through the friendships that form during student exchanges. We are deeply grateful for their service to the school and for proudly representing our community.
Support the Austin Prep Fund This Holiday Season
As you make your list and check it twice this Christmas Season, please consider making a gift to Austin Prep. Your generosity and support anchors Austin Prep now and in the future. To donate by credit card, PayPal or ApplePay, click here. Your generosity is appreciated!
In the Classroom
Check out this Fall roundup of academic activities.
Students in Math Faculty Ms. Doreen Fuller and Mrs. Natalie Petrillo's Algebra 3/Trigonometry classes built and flew a kites as part of their math curriculum. Here is a picture of Ms. Fuller's A-Block class.
For the culmination of their study of limits, students in Math Faculty Mrs. Alison Pliskaner and Mr. Jason Sun's Honors Calculus classes completed a project called, "Take the Recipe to the Limit." Students were tasked to find recipes online that interested them after which they created their own limit problems to represent amounts of ingredients, temperature, and cook time. They solved the limit problems using algebraic, numeric, and graphical methods. The limits had to incorporate a certain difficulty level including complex fractions, factoring, and trig functions. Students chose to bake their recipes and some even presented their projects to the class, brought in their treats to share, or created cooking shows demonstrating the making of their recipes.
Students in Math Faculty Mrs. Michele Brewer's P'30 Honors Trigonometry/Geometry class made robots calculating the surface area of each piece of the body.
Students in History Faculty Mr. Tony Biscardi's '88 AP European History class hosted their annual "Enlightenment Salon." Students received extra points if they dressed up as their historical figure for the debate.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
From Sister Maria Gorreth Nassali, Director of Campus Ministry
St. Augustine said, “To fall in love with God is the greatest romance; to seek him the greatest adventure; to find him, the greatest human achievement.”
This year, as we celebrate the birth of our Lord, Jesus, we thank God for the many graces He has bestowed on each one of us that have enabled us to achieve the spiritual, physical, emotional, and intellectual goals of our students.
We pray that the birth of Jesus brings us new hope, healing, and peace where they are needed.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
