May 2024

Austin Prep welcomed over 400 grandparents to campus this week for two days of the ever popular Grandparents Day. Grandparents arrived for continental breakfast and fellowship, before being joined by their Austin Prep grandchildren for a special prayer service in Richard J. Meelia '67 Hall. The days celebrating the special bond between grandparent and grandchild concluded with a grandchild-led tour of campus.

During the prayer services Dr. Hickey acknowledged the impact that grandparents have on the lives of our Austin Prep students. "As grandparents, you are important in the lives of our students. And as a result, you are important to us."

You can view photos from Day One here. You can view photos from Day Two here.

You can view the Day One Prayer Service here. You can view the Day Two prayer Service here.

We are excited to celebrate the Baccalaureate Liturgy and Commencement for the Class of 2024 on Friday, May 17th at 4:00 p.m. on Austin Prep’s Father Seymour Field.  Ticket information has been sent to families of the Class of 2024. For those not able to attend, the event will be livestreamed. Livestream information will be sent to the community the morning of the event.

Mass will be celebrated by Most Reverend Mark O’Connell, JCD, Vicar General and Moderator of the Curia for the Archdiocese of Boston, who is no stranger to big days at Austin Prep. In recent years, Bishop Mark has served as the celebrant at our First Responder Blue Mass, Convocation and Baccalaureate Masses, and perhaps most notably, Austin Prep's Baccalaureate Liturgy for the Class of 2020, which was our first opportunity to come together as a community after the COVID-19 pandemic shuttered schools across the Commonwealth in March 2020. "You have had the strangest Senior Year of any class at Austin Prep in its history," Bishop Mark told the Class of 2020.

We look forward to welcoming Bishop Mark to campus.

The Austin Prep Band and Choir students will be performing on Wednesday, May 22nd at 7:00 p.m. at the Greater Boston Stage Company in Stoneham. Come and see the creative efforts of our music program! Tickets are $5 and are available here.

As an Augustinian school rooted in the values of veritas, unitas, and caritas, Austin Prep will honor Asian and Pacific American Heritage Month by embracing the rich diversity of Asian and Pacific Islander cultures and traditions. Throughout the month, students will have opportunities to learn about the histories, accomplishments, and lived experiences of the Asian and Pacific American community through guest speakers. In the classroom, Asian and Pacific American voices will be elevated through the study of literature, artwork, and music created by Asian and Pacific Islander artists and authors. Students will also explore how Augustinian values intersect with various Asian and Pacific American religious and spiritual practices. By celebrating Asian and Pacific American cultures we aim to build community and foster greater intercultural understanding. 

Friday in the Chapel of St. Augustine, Victor Villarroel ’24, was presented with an offer of appointment to the United States Naval Academy with the Class of 2028. James Hickey, Ph.D., Head of School, reflected on the meaning of gratitude as Victor prepares to serve our country. Victor was joined by the entire Class of 2024, members of the boys soccer team, swim team, track and field team, Robotics Club, select faculty and staff, and family. Congrats, Victor, and best of luck at the Naval Academy! View photos here.

Elena Oulton '24 was recognized last week as the iPods for Wounded Veterans Student Volunteer of the Year for going above and beyond in her efforts to support wounded veterans. Through her service, Elena coordinated articles, produced social media posts, and conducted numerous interviews with veterans to promote their charitable work. Her compassion and dedication helped to bring moments of solace to those who sacrificed so much for our country. Elena's caring community outreach is inspiring and epitomizes the value of caritas that we hope to instill in all our students.

Austin Prep has forged a strong bond with the iPods for Wounded Veterans over the years. This volunteer organization serves wounded American servicemen and servicewomen from the Kuwait, Iraq, and Afghanistan Wars. Their mission is to make injured veterans’ long months of rehabilitation easier and less repetitive. Our volunteer teams hand-deliver gifts of electronics, headphones, magazines, and letters of encouragement. Students interested in volunteering can reach out Mr. Batista for more information on how to get involved. 

Congratulations to Gianna McCusker '24 who made her commitment to continue her ice hockey career collegiately at Castleton State (VT). Congrats, Gianna!

Want to learn more about college commitments for the Class of 2024? Be sure to follow the Office of College Counseling Instagram page here.

We are excited to celebrate the Baccalaureate Liturgy and Commencement for the Class of 2024 on Friday, May 17th at 4:00 p.m. on Austin Prep’s Father Seymour Field.  Ticket information has been sent to families of the Class of 2024. For those not able to attend, the event will be livestreamed. Livestream information will be sent to the community the morning of the event.

Mass will be celebrated by Most Reverend Mark O’Connell, JCD, Vicar General and Moderator of the Curia for the Archdiocese of Boston, who is no stranger to big days at Austin Prep. In recent years, Bishop Mark has served as the celebrant at our First Responder Blue Mass, Convocation and Baccalaureate Masses, and perhaps most notably, Austin Prep's Baccalaureate Liturgy for the Class of 2020, which was our first opportunity to come together as a community after the COVID-19 pandemic shuttered schools across the Commonwealth in March 2020. "You have had the strangest Senior Year of any class at Austin Prep in its history," Bishop Mark told the Class of 2020.

We look forward to welcoming Bishop Mark to campus.

Austin Prep recently launched an Elite gaming program, open to all students in grades 6th-8th, and designed for beginner to advanced gamers. The program allows students the opportunity to practice good gamer health, engage in digital citizenship, encourage social and emotional learning while being engaged with their peers. Through our Esports team, students are guided by strategic thinking, teamwork, collaboration, and goal setting, as well as managing success and failure just as in traditional team sports.

Half way through the inaugural season two of our student participants are thriving. Noah Polanski '30 is ranked in the top 20 among NEPSAC schools on the Elite Gaming Live platform for Super Smash Bros. John Byrne '30 is ranked in the top 25  for Rocket League amongst NEPSAC schools on the Elite Gaming Live platform. Rival schools include Brooks, Nobles, Phillips Andover, New Hampton, St. Lukes, Exeter, Tabor, Thayer, Dexter Southfield, and more.

Furthermore, we are excited to announce Summer offerings at Austin Prep. Programs will be offered in the following areas:  Adventures in Art, Esports Academy, SAT/ACT prep, Arts & Stages, Pickleball, Soccer  and Basketball Clinics. Please be on the lookout! Our registration for summer offerings will be available on our website beginning next week.

Students in History faculty member Mr. Trevor Jones' 8th grade civics class performed a mock trial as an examination of a criminal court case. Students in the A and B block sections were assigned prosecution and defense sides respectively, and worked with their side to come up with a compelling case. The prosecution set out to decide that the mock-defendant, Maria Carvalho, planned and executed the murder of her husband, Armando; while the defense was charged with proving that the killing of Armando was out of self defense. Both sides planned meticulously to come up with questions and highlight evidence that would make their case more compelling. Meanwhile, teachers and administrators served as mock-jurors, weighing the merits of each side's arguments. Both teams put on a stellar performance, but in the end, the defense ended up pulling it out as Maria was found not guilty. Other 8th grade civics classes will have their mock trials this coming week.

The list of students who earned honors in the third quarter of Austin Prep's 2023-2024 academic year has been released. Congratulations to the students who earned this prestigious recognition in their pursuit of truth. #Veritas

Congratulations to Isabella Tomic '24 who made her commitment to continue her track and field journey at NCAA Division I Merrimack College. 

Merrimack is coached by Mark Connolly '83, P'15, '20 who captained the cross country, basketball and outdoor track teams while a student at Austin Prep. He was the recipient of the Austin Prep Scholar-Athlete award and was named track and field MVP of The Catholic Conference in 1983.  Coach Connolly's family is also the namesake of the Austin Prep track facility ("Connolly Track") where Isabella did most of her work on campus.

Want to learn more about college commitments for the Class of 2024? Be sure to follow the Office of College Counseling Instagram page here.

 

On Wednesday, Austin Prep eighth graders celebrated the conclusion of their Middle School Journey with the Class of 2028 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 enjoy the musical talents of Mark Tokarev '28 on piano, view a reflective slideshow created by Griffin Betts '28, Angela Barletta '28, and Nolan Pitta '28, and hear reflections on our core values of veritas, unitas, and caritas.

Theo Goldsmith '28, whose Middle School journey began this year as an 8th grader, offered appreciation for parents as he transitions from one phase of education to the next. "People don't often think of the middle as a very good place to be. Life in The Middle Ages was tough in many ways. Nobody wants to be in the middle seat on a long flight. And according to books and movies, middle school is stressful and unpleasant," Theo said. "But I'm here today, as someone with one older sister and one younger brother, to tell you that in reality, the middle can be great. Anyone who knows the Middle School at Austin Prep would have to agree, and a big reason for that is our supportive parents and families." 

A full program from the ceremony can be found here, and photos can be viewed here.

We look forward to hosting our 36th 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.

Congratulations to Cam Bayusik '24 who made his commitment to continue his track and field career at NCAA Division III Connecticut College.  Conn College is a member of the New England Small College Athletic Conference.

Want to learn more about college commitments for the Class of 2024? Be sure to follow the Office of College Counseling Instagram page here.

Austin Prep is excited to offer summer programming designed to engage, educate and inspire students of all ages. Running from June through August, our summer programs offer a diverse range of activities including academic enrichment, sports, arts and technology workshops. Whether your child is looking to sharpen their math skills, explore their artistic talents or develop new athletic abilities, our summer program provides a safe, supportive and stimulating environment.  With experienced educators and coaches leading each session, students will not only enhance their knowledge and skills but also build lasting friendships and create unforgettable memories.  Join us for a summer of fun and learning. Click here to explore options and register.

The 2023-2024 Austin Prep Yearbook is now available for sale!* Don't miss this opportunity to document the memories of this past year. As a reminder, all Sub-Varsity sports team photos are included as well as Middle School portraits and coverage.

You may order your copy now for $60 by clicking on the button below, which brings you to the website of our yearbook company, Yearbook Innovation, and Austin Prep's personal yearbook section. The deadline to order has been extended to Friday, May 31st.

Books will be shipped to your home in the late July/early August timeframe or are available for pickup in the Main Office.

* The Class of 2024 will have a complimentary book shipped to their homes and do not need to order unless you'd like an extra copy.

36th Annual Austin Open Golf Tournament a Success

On Thursday Mandarin 1 Honors students experienced Chinese culture and history first-hand during a field trip to the Peabody Essex Museum in Salem, MA. The highlights were visiting the Yin Yu Tang exhibit – a 200-year-old Chinese house transported piece-by-piece from China – and the Asian Export Art gallery. 

A scavenger hunt kept students actively engaged with the exhibits during the visit, and hands-on activities allowed students to try traditional Chinese games like mahjong, tangram puzzles, and Chinese chess. As students explored the historic house, they marveled at the horse head walls, the sky well, and the intricate wood and stone carvings, which are typical features of the Hui-style architecture. They also learned about the daily lives of its former occupants and how social and political changes in China over the years manifested in the home. Auspicious motifs, such as dragons, lions, vases, and the character for "longevity," were illustrated on various artifacts. Feng shui principles were demonstrated in the design of the house and its connection to the surrounding environment. 

This local journey helped foster our students as emerging global citizens, reinforcing their roles as seekers of cross-cultural knowledge and champions of international understanding, and enabled them to appreciate the diversity of the world with focus, empathy, openness, and enriched knowledge.

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.

Photo taken during the Class of 2028's class trip to  Washington D.C., which included a stop at Arlington National Cemetery.