November 2023
11.4.2023
November 4, 2023
Austin Prep Ushers In Remembrance Month with All Saints' Day Mass
Austin Prep began the November Month of Remembrance on Wednesday with a school-wide All Saints’ Day Mass celebrated by Trustee and Merrimack College Vice President for Mission and Ministry Fr. Ray Dlugos. "You are in the process of becoming a person that is ready for eternal life," Fr. Ray told students. "Pay attention to the type of persons we are becoming, because that is what matters. That is what lasts forever."
November Marks the Month of Remembrance
The month of November is a time for us to be mindful to pray for the faithful departed, especially our loved ones. Our faith assures us that the bonds of love that we have shared with them do not end with death. Throughout the month of November, we will remember all those we have loved in this life, and we will remember them at the Altar of the Lord.
- Campus Ministry will have a table at the back of the Chapel of St. Augustine which will work as a sacred altar for the deceased. There will be a memorial book where students and staff can write the names of the deceased. If you have questions, please reach out to Director of Campus Ministry, Sr. Maria Gorreth Nassali.
- You are invited to submit the names of your deceased loved ones, which we will place at the foot of the altar in the Chapel of St. Augustine to be remembered in our masses, prayers and sacrifices, as an expression of our faith and in gratitude for your being part of the Austin Prep community. You can submit names of your deceased loved ones by clicking here.
- As an additional reminder, the next Sunday Community Mass is Sunday, November 12th. You can RSVP here.
Winter Dress Begins Monday
Monday, November 6th, will mark Austin Prep's transition to winter dress. Winter dress will remain the required dress for both the second and third quarter. For your convenience, here is a link to the Student Handbook that outlines the dress code requirements for both Middle and Upper School students. Those requirements can be found beginning on page 17. In addition to the transition from warm weather dress to winter dress, please refer to page 17 of the Student Handbook related to general appearance and dress code. Please take this opportunity during the transition to ensure students are in proper dress code, which helps promote the business of learning and sense of community.
Updates From the Office of Academic Affairs
Save the Date for Parent-Teacher Conferences on November 17th
The second quarter of the academic year began Wednesday, and our faculty and students have quickly settled into a routine, already picking up where they left off at the end of quarter one. Report cards and teacher comments from the first quarter will be released on November 9th, and will be available in the parent portal. Be on the lookout for an email from the Office of Academic Affairs to let you know when report cards have been posted.
As you review report cards, remember that Friday, November 17th is our Parent-Teacher Conference Day. There are no classes that day, and details regarding scheduling a conference will be emailed to parents soon.
Our 6th Annual Day of Giving is Just One Week Away
Join us in honor of St. Augustine's birthday, November 13th, as we celebrate with our 6th annual Day of Giving. Giving Day is an opportunity for our community to come together “with one mind, one heart intent upon God” to support the Austin Prep Fund, which provides resources for professional development for our treasured faculty members, unique and special programming, tuition assistance, and a wide-range of ongoing campus improvements. The generosity of spirit of Austin Prep donors light the pathway on the Journey forward. More details to come this week.
Christmas Online Store Open Now
Start your Christmas shopping for Austin Prep apparel and branded items with our Christmas Online Store - open now to parents, students, faculty and staff.
As you browse the store, take note of the options on some of the apparel. We are excited to include some of the newly branded logo apparel in this store. Please remember, only polo shirts and 1/4 zip pullovers are allowed to be worn in school. School approved apparel is identified on the site.
All orders will be shipped directly to your home, and should arrive in mid December.
The store is open right now and will close at midnight on November 8th.
More online stores will be open throughout the year, but don't miss this current opportunity by clicking here. Happy Shopping!
World Language Department Celebrates French Week
French students help promote learning of the language by playing BINGO with Grade 7 Latin students.
The American Association of Teachers of French is sponsoring the twenty-first annual National French Week from November 1st - 8th, and Austin Prep is taking part. This week-long celebration of all things French is an opportunity to promote French culture and heritage as well as demonstrate all the reasons to learn French. A full recap of the week will appear in next week's Cougar Courier, but in the meantime, did you know Austin Prep students trace their heritage to at least five different Francophone countries? Flags of those countries are displayed during French week in the the Dining Hall. Can you name them?
APS Media Presents..."Thriller"
To celebrate Halloween, members of APS Media and our Middle School Dancers proudly presented Austin Prep's annual interpretation of "Thriller." Enjoy!
Middle School Faculty Attend Annual Conference
Head of Middle School Mr. Michael McLaughlin and English faculty Mrs. Leeann Blais and Ms. Alexandra Dell’Anno, represented Austin Prep at the 50th anniversary of the Association of Middle Level Education (AMLE) conference in Washington DC this past week. Mr. McLaughlin was a presenter at the conference with his session "3 5-minute activities to Jumpstart Class."
Auggie Delivers T-Shirt Prizes to Students
Logan Elliott '27 was a lucky winner of a new Cougar logo t-shirt.
The response to the Auggie social media challenge was incredible! Thank you to all those who tagged friends on Instagram or reposted on “X”. We had nearly 200 responses! Auggie randomly picked the winners and personally delivered new Cougar logo t-shirts to ten lucky students throughout the day on Tuesday, which made for a great Halloween treat!
School Drop Off and Pick Up Reminders
We thank you for your patience this past week as the construction of a water line connection by the Town of Reading at the wetlands project adjacent to the railroad tracks on Willow Street required that the street be shut down to traffic.
With the safety of our students in mind, this is an opportunity to remind parents and students about the procedures for school drop off and pick up. Our Campus Safety Officers and members of the Facilities team are out directing cars as they arrive on campus. It is important to follow the directions of our staff to ensure safety with the flow of traffic. If you are asked to pull around the school, please do so as it alleviates traffic buildup on Willow Street. Please continue to abide by the following guidelines when traveling on campus:
Drop Off
There are three ways for families to access drop-off locations as they enter campus. Be mindful that it is a one way direction around the entirety of campus:
-
Turn left into the Richard J. Meelia Hall '67 parking lot when directed.
-
Proceed around the back of campus to Door #3 behind McLaughlin Hall. A staff member will be present.
-
Proceed around the back of campus and drop off next to the locker rooms in Richard J. Meelia Hall '67.
Please reference the map above detailing the flow of traffic. Stars indicate drop off points. Please be careful when conducting drop-off.
Pick Up
Pick up will be a one way loop around campus. The Facilities staff and Campus Resource Officers will direct arriving cars into four pick-up lanes. Please follow the directions of our staff.
Feel free to contact Dean of Students AJ Benning with any questions.
Spanish Students Celebrate Dia de los Mueros
Dia de los Muertos is a holiday celebrated in some Spanish speaking countries on November 2nd. Families gather to celebrate and remember their loved ones who have passed away. This year, students in Ms. Celia Barletta's AP Spanish Language and Culture class put their own spin on the celebration by making dips with various ingredients that are common in Mexican cuisine and sharing them in a celebration they named "Day of the Dip."
Pat Driscoll '97 Announced as Boys Ice Hockey Coach
Austin Prep announced Wednesday the appointment of Mr. Patrick Driscoll '97 as Austin Prep’s next Head Varsity Boys Hockey Coach. Also Austin Prep Director of Athletics, Driscoll served as an assistant coach with the program during the 2022-2023 season. Additionally, Chris Dyment was named Associate Head Coach and Marty Hughes was announced as the team's Director of Hockey Operations.
Driscoll began his tenure at Austin Prep in 2019 as Assistant Director of Athletics before being promoted to Director of Athletics later that year. During that time, Austin Prep has achieved great success, capturing five MIAA state titles and two NEPSAC titles. Most notably, Driscoll successfully guided Austin Prep's transition to the New England Preparatory School Council (NEPSAC) in 2022 while also being named the Massachusetts Secondary School Athletic Directors Association (MSSADA) District 6 Athletic Director of the Year.
In line with his administrative accomplishments, Driscoll has amassed significant coaching experience and success during his career in athletics. Prior to arriving at Austin Prep, Driscoll spent 18 years at Malden Catholic where he served as the Lancer’s Head Baseball Coach and as the Associate Head Varsity Hockey Coach. As a coach at Malden Catholic, he was a part of eight MIAA State Championship games, winning six, and also captured six Catholic Conference Championships.
Driscoll earned his Bachelor of Arts degree from Assumption College, and holds two Masters Degree, one from Boston College and one from Lasell College.
Dyment comes to Austin Prep after a playing career at Boston University, where he was a member of three Beanpot teams. Dyment was selected by the Montreal Canadians (97th overall) in the 1999 NHL entry draft, and played professionally for nine years. A Reading native, Dyment is the Head Instructor and Owner of Chris Dyment Hockey.
Hughes, a four-year letterwinner at Boston College, was a member of the 2001 national championship team. He is also a long-time ECAC and Hockey East official.
Happy Veterans Day
As a reminder, Austin Prep will be closed Friday, November 10th in observance of Veterans Day. The Austin Prep community is grateful to all those who have served our Country. Have a great weekend!
11.11.2023
November 11, 2023
November Community Mass is Tomorrow
The Daughters of Mary look forward to welcoming you to Community Mass tomorrow.
Tomorrow, November 12th, we will have our monthly Sunday Community Mass at 10:00 a.m. in the Chapel of St. Augustine.
We will offer a monthly Sunday Mass announced at the beginning of each month. 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 as we strengthen each other through this act of celebrating Mass together.
Austin Prep Celebrates Veterans Day Through Hall of Heroes
Happy Veterans Day to all those who served and sacrificed for our country!
Students in the eighth-grade class of 2028 contributed to an installation called "The Hallway of Heroes" in the middle school wing this week. As part of their civics class, students interviewed family members or researched local community members, and compiled tributes that recognized and commemorated the service of these veterans. This project was both a meaningful homage to veterans and an opportunity for students to practice research skills. The gallery will be on display this week and will remain up during our Parent-Teacher Conferences this week to allow students and community members to reflect on the heroism of these men and women and the stories of sacrifice that underpin the freedoms we cherish each day. A special thanks to Mr. Jack Brady, History Faculty, for coordinating this year's installation.
Join us for our Annual Day of Giving
We are just two days away from our Day of Giving! On this day, we come together as a community to support our distinctive Augustinian heritage and our commitment to excellence in teaching and learning. This year's celebration coincides with our patron St. Augustine's 1,669th birthday!
Make a Day of Giving Gift Here
Please join us on November 13th and 14th as we invest in supporting the quality of a student’s experience. A gift to our Day of Giving, which is also a gift to the Austin Prep Fund, elevates aspiration to possibility to reality, making the school’s mission come alive in the life of every student.
Parent-Teacher Conferences are November 17th
As a reminder, there are no classes on Friday, November 17th as we are hosting Parent-Teacher Conferences. Now that you and your child have had the opportunity to review grades and comments should you be interested in meeting with any of your child’s teachers please be on the lookout for an email from the Office of Academic Affairs, which will be sent on Monday, November 13th. The email will explain the schedule for the day as well as provide a link to sign up for conferences.
Student-Athletes Ink Commitments on National Signing Day
Left to right: David VanderZouwen '24, Jake Harring '24 , Jordan Barthel '24, and Jake Zawatsky '24 at Wednesday's National Signing Day.
National Signing Day is an important day in the lives of student-athletes as they make their commitments to take their talents to the collegiate level. On National Signing Day – Wednesday, November 8th – four Austin Prep Baseball players signed their National Letters of Intent (NLI) in front of family, staff, and classmates. Congratualtions to Jake Zawatsky '24 (UMass Lowell), David VanderZouwen '24 (Bentley University), Jake Harring '24 (Hofstra University) and Jordan Barthel '24 (Utah Valley University). More NLI signings of Austin Prep student-athletes to come!
Cardinal's Holiday Date Confirmed
His Eminence Seán Cardinal O’Malley, Archbishop of Boston, with clergy at Convocation Mass.
At the conclusion of this September's Convocation Liturgy, His Eminence Seán Cardinal O’Malley, Archbishop of Boston, exercised his prerogative as the Archbishop of Boston and granted Austin Prep students and staff a school holiday -- at the discretion of the Head of School. After surveying the student community and consultation with schoolwide Student Government officers, James Hickey, Ph.D., Head of School, exercised the discretion the Cardinal gave him and has designated Friday, March 15th as the Cardinal’s Holiday for Austin Prep. There will be no classes that day and all administrative offices will close.
Not that students (and staff) will forget, but we will be sure to remind you of the date as March approaches. Thank you, Cardinal Seán!
French Week Celebration Concludes
The American Association of Teachers of French recently sponsored the twenty-first annual National French Week from November 1st - 8th. This week-long celebration of all things French was an opportunity to promote French culture and heritage as well as demonstrate all the reasons to learn French. Francophone Country Flags were on display in the Dining Hall, students studied French Saints, special activities took place in World Language classes, and on Wednesday students in French Club made crêpes with classmates (above).
Precalculus Students Conclude Unit Circle Studies
Students in Math Faculty Mrs. Alison Pliskaner and Mr. Jason Sun's Precalculus classes completed a project on the Unit Circle which they studied during the first quarter. Students used their knowledge of the Unit Circle to analyze each angle along with evaluating the trig functions at each angle. Students created both two-dimensional and three-dimensional replicas of the Unit Circle incorporated into a design of their choice. They used their artistic talents to draw, paint, and create their Unit Circles. You can view the projects here.
Class of 2027 Halloween Writing Award Announced
Mia Dinunzio '24, right, with Olivia Thomas '27, winner of the 9th grade Halloween Gross Out Writing Contest.
Thursday during Cougar Block Mia Dinunzio '24, the editor of Austin Prep's school literary magazine, Tolle Lege, presented awards to the winner of the 9th grade Halloween Gross Out Writing Contest. This year's winner was Olivia Thomas '27 for her piece titled "What am I? Blood." The runner-up in the contest was James Aprahamian '27 for his piece titled "How the Sausage is Made." Thanks to all in the Class of 2027 who participated in this descriptive writing annual event!
Students Awarded Bridge Builder Grant for Annual Toiletry Drive
The Simmons Family continues their good work for the Martin Richard Foundation.
For the fourth year in a row, Michael '24, Colleen '25, Caitlin '27, and Patrick Simmons '30 have been awarded a Bridge Builder grant from the Martin Richard Foundation. Bridge Builders receive funding and support for an impactful community service project. The Simmons Family are once again hosting a Toiletry Drive to benefit the Woburn Council of Social Concern, Senior Center, Tanner Closet at Woburn High School, and the Reading Food Pantry. The drive will run through the month of November. If you are interested in donating items, you can learn more here.
Students Attend Arts Leadership Summit
On Monday, a group of Austin Prep students joined five other schools at Girls in Arts Leadership Summit at Cushing Academy. Professional artists from a range of disciplines led interactive workshops that equipped students with tools to grow as creative and confident learners and leaders. Austin Prep attendees included (pictured above, left to right) Maggie O’Brien ‘26. Emerson Byrne ‘26. Claire Harrington ‘26, Skye Cote ‘24 and Janelle Irvin ‘24.
Happy Birthday, St. Augustine
As noted above, Monday, November 13th, marks St. Augustine's 1,669th birthday. The Patron of Austin Prep, St. Augustine is one of the most consequential and well-known saints in the history of the Church, and his teachings help sustain our Journey in pursuit of Truth. Let's celebrate him during Day of Giving!
11.18.2023
November 18, 2023
Thank You for your Day of Giving Support
On behalf of the Austin Prep community, we are so grateful for all the support during our Annual Day of Giving. It is truly inspirational to have a community rally behind us in raising funds to provide resources for our students, faculty, and staff upholding our mission of inspiring hearts to unite, minds to inquire, and hands to serve.
Austin Prep is a special place. The opportunities here are boundless. Our patron, St. Augustine, embarked on a journey of truth. At our core is an institution on the same journey, committed to exemplary teaching and learning. We celebrated St. Augustine’s birthday with an investment in his teachings –and with an investment in the hearts and minds of all our students.
In sincere appreciation, we thank you for contributing to this year’s Day of Giving!
Disney Rain Can't Stop the Class of 2024
Mrs. Natalie Petrillo and Ms. Doreen Fuller were joined by their senior math students on Hollywood Studio’s Tower of Terror — an annual tradition with senior math students.
The Class of 2024 made the annual Senior Class trip to Walt Disney World on November 13th - 17th. Austin Prep Senior Classes always remark that the Disney trip was a highlight of their Austin Prep experience. The Class of 2024 will likely be no different! Despite a week that saw a lack of sunshine and at times unrelenting rainfall, the trip provided the opportunity to celebrate friendships that have formed during their Austin Prep Journey. In some ways, the less than ideal weather made this senior class trip one of the more memorable Austin Prep Senior Class trips, showcasing the communal spirit of the Class of 2024. Thank you to School leadership and faculty for accompanying the Class on the trip, and extra credits goes to those who decided to #PackAPoncho.
Enjoy these Disney photos and video.
Christmas Traditions Approaching
Lessons and Carols, Austin Prep's annual celebration of Christmas readings and choir anthems, returns December 14th.
The most wonderful time of the year is upon us! We look forward to the return of Austin Prep's holiday traditions. More details will follow, but please save the date as preparations are underway for the following events:
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.
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.
Spring Arts Show Audition Dates Announced
Even though the Christmas season arts performances are just on the horizon, it isn't too early to look towards the spring art show, Grease. Audition information is as follows:
Wednesday, November 29th: Middle School Acting and Vocals - Please choose 16 bars of a song from the musical. Audition is 2:45 - 4:00 p.m.
Thursday, November 30th: Upper School Acting and Vocals - Please choose 16 bars of a song from the musical. Audition is 3:45 - 4:40 p.m.
Friday December 1st: Callbacks for both Middle School and Upper School. Audition is 2:45 - 5:00 p.m.
Please reach out to Ms. Marla Pascucci-Byrne P'26, '30, Art and Design Faculty Chair, with any questions.
Tuition Raffle Goes Live on December 4th
Head of School James Hickey, Ph.D. and Ms. Susan Belanger, Assistant Head for School for Administration and Special Projects, draw the winning ticket in last year's Tuition Raffle.
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.
Prospective 6th Graders Invited to Learn More About "Lifer" Experience
Christmas is such a special time of the year at Austin Prep and we want to share it with prospective students and families. Do you know a family who should apply for 6th grade for 2024-25? If so, please consider inviting them to our 6th grade admissions event “It’s a Wonderful Life at Austin Prep” happening on Thursday, December 7th from 5:45 to 7:30 pm. You can register for the event by clicking the button below:
"It's a Wonderful Life" Registration
Prospective 6th grade families will come together to learn more about the Austin Prep community and engage with faculty, school leadership, and students. Thank you for helping us tell the Austin Prep story and connecting more great families to our community. Please send any questions to the Admissions team at admissions@austinprep.org.
First Quarter Honor Roll List Released
The list of students who earned honors in the first 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
Students Attend Race Amity Conference
Austin Prep Race Amity Conference Delegates from left to right: Aidan O’Neill '26, Jay Voica '24, Amelia Amadin '26, Grace Ditchfield '26, Jack Sweeney '24, and George Mamakos '24.
Austin Prep sent a delegation of students to the National Center for Race Amity Conference in Atlanta, Georgia during Veterans Day weekend. NCRA is an organization dedicated to promoting racial unity and friendships to move the public discourse on race from the “blame/grievance/rejection” cycle to one of “amity/collaboration/access and equity.” Convention organizers invited Austin Prep because students have dedicated hours of service throughout the past few years.
The conference featured leaders of industry, education, athletics, art, and business who are renowned for their impact on our communities. Our students engaged with University of Kentucky Men's Basketball Coach John Calipari, best-selling author Debby Irving, Dr. Bob Johnson, best known for his consultative work with Wegmans, and philanthropist and entrepreneur Steve Sarowitz, the founder of Paylocity. These keynote speakers and presenters provided outstanding examples of how our students can make a difference and move from theory to action. George Mamakos '26 explained that he enjoyed a reenactment of Frederick Douglass because “it was so real that it gave me chills.” Amelia Amadin '26 reported that she appreciated “the opportunity for an experience I will never forget.”
A tour of Atlanta provided students with the opportunity to visit the childhood home of Martin Luther King Jr., the famous Ebenezer Baptist Church where he preached, the King Center for Nonviolent Social Change, and the historic Atlanta Fire Department Building No. 6 that housed the first integrated fire company in the city. Our delegation was also amazed to see the Nobel Peace Prize 1964 at the King Center. The delegation ended their visit solemnly at the resting place of Coretta Scott King and Martin Luther King, Jr.
Happy Thanksgiving From Austin Prep
During this special time of year, we are especially grateful that you are a part of the Austin Prep Community.
Warmest wishes to you and your family this Thanksgiving.
As a reminder, Thanksgiving Break begins Wednesday, November 22nd and classes will resume Monday, November 27th. The Cougar Courier will return on Saturday, December 2nd.