February 2020

Next week is Spirit Week at Austin Prep

Spirit Week makes its way to Austin Prep the week of February 3rd - 8th. The week includes themed dressed down days and charitable efforts, and culminates with a pep rally and Upper School Valentine's Day Dance. Be sure to check out Austin Prep social media next week for daily updates. If you have questions about Spirit Week, please reach out to Mr. Patrick Costello.  

Spirit Week Benefits St. Jude Children's Hospital

Participation in next week's Spirit Week benefits St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.  The mission of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital is to advance cures, and means of prevention, for pediatric catastrophic diseases through research and treatment, with a commitment to no child being denied treatment based on race, religion or a family's ability to pay. Check out our fundraising progress to date, as well as some of the good work done by  St. Jude.

 

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Coffee and Conversation with the Board Chair

The Headmaster and the Chair of Austin Prep’s Board of Trustees, Daniel Bouchard P’12,’14,’15, will be hosting a Coffee and Conversation with parents on Thursday evening, February 6th, 2020 at 7:00 p.m. in the Gathering Room.  Using the framework of the Strategic Plan the Board of Trustees approved in September 2019, Dr. James Hickey P'22, '23, '24 and Mr. Bouchard will share some insights and thoughts about the strategic vision for Austin Prep in the next few years.  As always, Coffee and Conversation is also an opportunity for parents to share thoughts and observations about Austin Prep with Dr. Hickey and Mr. Bouchard.

If you plan to attend, kindly RSVP by clicking on the link so that we can make appropriate accommodations for seating and refreshments.

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World Language Night

The Austin Prep World Language Department is hosting a World Language Night on Thursday, February 6th.  The event will take place from 5:00 - 6:00 p.m. in the Heritage Room. Guests will see a sampling of our students’ accomplishments this year and have the opportunity to learn about the cultures and customs of the countries where French, Latin, Mandarin and Spanish are spoken and to speak with students and teachers about the opportunities offered in the Language Department. We would especially like to invite parents of students currently in the 6th and 7th grade and those who have newly enrolled students in the school so that we can offer support and information during the language selection process.

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Course Information Nights

We would like to share with you some upcoming important Course Information Nights.

• Current 6th and 7th Grade Parents: On Thursday, February 6th, current 6th and 7th-grade parents are invited to a Middle School Course Information Night from 6:00 - 7:00 p.m. in the Heritage Room. Parents are strongly encouraged to attend the World Language Fair from 5:00 to 6:00 p.m. in the Heritage Room to learn more about language options, a key decision in the course selection process. Please bring your student’s course request form with you should you have any questions.

• Current 8th Grade Parents: On Monday, February 10th, current 8th-grade parents are invited to the Freshmen Course Information Night from 6:00 - 7:00 p.m. in the Library. Please note, you are welcome to stay for the Upper School Session from 7:00 - 8:00 p.m. in the Heritage Room which will focus on 10th grade and beyond. Please bring your student’s course request form with you should you have any questions.

• Current 9th - 11th grade Parents: On Monday, February 10th, current 9-11th grade parents are invited to a Naviance Information Night with the College Counseling Office from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m. in the Heritage Room. Immediately following at 7:00 p.m., will be the Upper School Course Information Night. Please bring your student’s course request form with you should you have any questions.

Scheduling of courses will take place during the month of March. As a reminder, course selections cannot be processed until the student is fully enrolled for the 2020-2021 academic year.  We hope you will join us for the informational sessions on February 6th and 10th. As always, please reach out to your child’s advisor with specific questions or directly with the Academic Office.

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Naviance Information Night

 

Naviance Information Night - Monday, February 10th, 6:00 p.m. Whether you are an expert or a newcomer, come learn all about the tool that Austin Prep uses at the heart of the college application process. Learn about ways to use the Supermatch tool to search for schools with your student, get an understanding of how we send all of your documents, and get to understand the scatterplot data everyone is talking about. With sessions going on for both new parents just getting started and those looking for the Naviance expert badge, we have you covered. Please RSVP for the event here.

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Annual Day of Service

 

Austin Prep’s Annual Day of Service will take place on Thursday, February 13th during the school day for grades 6-12. The entire day will be dedicated to supporting our Armed Forces, both active-duty troops and veterans, as we pay respect to the sacrifice so many have made in service to our country. 

Austin Prep is partnering with two organizations - Homebase and Operation Troop Support - to make this day a success. During the day, we will be hearing from representatives of those organizations as well as alumni who are currently serving in various branches of the armed services. We will take time to reflect as we craft thoughtful notes of support, gratitude, and encouragement and create care packages for active duty service members, veterans, and their families.

To support this event, we are launching a significant effort to solicit donations. Each grade will be assigned a specific category of items to bring. The deadline for donations will be Monday, February 10th. 

Freshmen: Toothpaste, toothbrushes, floss, mouthwash (travel and medium sized)

Sophomores: Shampoo, bodywash, deodorant, chapstick (travel and medium sized)

Juniors: Bandaids, hand sanitizer, sunscreen (non-aerosol), bugspray (non-aerosol)

Seniors: Pens/pencils, notebooks, envelopes, stationary

All Middle School: White socks (socks should cover the ankle)

Faculty: Books, magazines, games, crossword puzzles

Thank you in advance for your support in making this day a success. Any questions can be directed to Mr. Jay Tebbens.

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Upcoming Admissions Events

Last week, newly accepted Austin Prep applicants were treated with special acceptance packages. Congratulations to all our accepted students. We look forward to the start of your Austin Prep Journey.

Current parents, do you know a family interested in private education? Current families are always our best source of referral. Our next admissions event is an AM@AP on Thursday, February 13th from 9:00 - 10:30 a.m. in the Gathering Room. Please spread the word, we would love to have as many families attend as possible.  Please contact Director of Admission, Mr. Steve Silverthorn with any questions. 

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FBI Visits Campus, Provides Insight Into Career Opportunities

Austin Prep was honored to welcome the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) to campus on Thursday. Representatives from the FBI spent several hours with Unitas Leadership Academy (ULA) students discussing hiring requirements, cyber and social media safety, and gang and terrorism prevention. This memorable opportunity provided Austin Prep students a brief glimpse into a unique career field which requires a broad range of education, experiences and skills.

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Austin Prep Baseball Team Noted Among Nation's Best

MaxPreps, a national website that specializes in the covering of American high school sports, recently released a list of the top high school baseball team in each state for 2020. Austin Prep, with a combined record of 103 – 17 since 2015, was noted as the top team from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. A complete list of teams can be found here.

 

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More Baseball News...

A significant milestone in the construction of the lower fields athletic complex was reached this week as light towers were installed on the site of the future Austin Prep baseball field. Mild winter weather has been a benefit to Quirk Construction, headed by Austin Prep alum David Quirk '84, as significant progress has been made in recent weeks.

Check out the video below showing recent progress on the lower fields athletic complex project.

 

 

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Model UN at Harvard University Hosted Simulation

This weekend, 18 Model UN delegates from Austin Prep head to the Prudential Center in Boston for the annual United Nations simulation presented by Harvard University. Representing Japan and Canada, the delegates are debating global issues with over 4,000 other students from around the world, with 52 different countries in attendance. Our students worked hard until 11:30 p.m. on Thursday night and are back at it for three more days with proceedings closing on Sunday. 

 

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Art and Design Students Support Classmate in Frozen

On Tuesday, students in Mrs. Marla Pascucci-Byrne's P'26 Middle School dance classes attended a performance of Frozen at the Greater Boston Stage Company in Stoneham, MA. The highlight of the show was watching Jillian McAuley '24, who starred as Elsa, perform the classic "Let It Go!" 

 

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Austin Prep Welcomes Black History Month

With February upon us, Austin Prep looks forward to celebrating Black History Month. The above video was shown to students at Thursday's Community Meeting. Be on the lookout for special events and programming taking place on campus to celebrate and honor the achievements by African Americans in U.S. history.

Spirit Week Brings Students Together in Support of Local Causes

Spirit Week was a tremendous success, and wraps up tonight with the Upper School Valentine's Day Dance.  The week included themed dressed down days and charitable efforts, which resulted in the collection of a significant amount of goods for local charities. Most notably, the Austin Prep community collected over $14,000 in support of St. Jude Children's Research Hospital! At Thursday's community meeting, Jaime Arena, Development Representative at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, spoke about the history of St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, and thanked the entire Austin Prep community for the generous support. 

To view photos from all the fun activities over the course of the past week, check out the Spirit Week Facebook Album.

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Black History Month Programming

Next week Austin Prep will host two programs to celebrate Black History Month, with additional learning opportunities scheduled later in the month. Black History Month is an annual celebration of achievements by African Americans and a time for recognizing the central role of Blacks, African Americans, and Afro-Latinx people in U.S. history, and is an opportunity to examine a people’s journey and our nation’s story.

On Tuesday, February 11th,  Shanelle Henry will be on campus and will serve as our Black History Month speaker. Henry’s message is to urge students to explore their place and potential impact on the world.  She believes exploration compels us to do our very best to maintain our commitment to fostering inclusive communities that value identities, perspectives, and experiences of all its members.  Currently, Henry is the Director of Equity and Inclusion at Greens Farms Academy, a Pre-K through grade 12 independent school located in Westport, Connecticut. In her role, Henry works with students, faculty, administrators, parents and school trustees to provide strategic vision and leadership in the areas of equity, diversity, and inclusion throughout the school community. In addition, Henry serves as the Vice-Chair of the Commission on Diversity for the Connecticut Association of Independent Schools (CAIS), and is also an active member of TEAM Westport, the official diversity committee of the Town of Westport.

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Naviance Information Night 

Naviance Information Night - Monday, February 10th, 6:00 p.m. Whether you are an expert or a newcomer, come learn all about the tool that Austin Prep uses at the heart of the college application process. Learn about ways to use the Supermatch tool to search for schools with your student, get an understanding of how we send all of your documents, and get to understand the scatterplot data everyone is talking about. With sessions going on for both new parents just getting started and those looking for the Naviance expert badge, we have you covered. Please RSVP for the event here.

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Upper School Course Selection

We would like to share with you some upcoming important Course Information Nights.

• Current 8th Grade Parents: On Monday, February 10th, current 8th-grade parents are invited to the Freshmen Course Information Night from 6:00 - 7:00 p.m. in the Library. Please note, you are welcome to stay for the Upper School Session from 7:00 - 8:00 p.m. in the Heritage Room which will focus on 10th grade and beyond. Please bring your student’s course request form with you should you have any questions.

• Current 9th - 11th Grade Parents: On Monday, February 10th, current 9-11th grade parents are invited to a Naviance Information Night with the College Counseling Office from 6:00 - 7:00 p.m. in the Heritage Room. Immediately following at 7:00 p.m., will be the Upper School Course Information Night. Please bring your student’s course request form with you should you have any questions.

Scheduling of courses will take place during the month of March. As a reminder, course selections cannot be processed until the student is fully enrolled for the 2020-2021 academic year.  We hope you will join us for the informational sessions on February 10th. As always, please reach out to your child’s advisor with specific questions or directly with the Academic Office

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Annual Day of Service is Thursday, February 13th

Austin Prep’s Annual Day of Service will take place on Thursday, February 13th during the school day for grades 6-12. The entire day will be dedicated to supporting our Armed Forces, both active-duty troops and veterans, as we pay respect to the sacrifice so many have made in service to our country. An APS Media produced video from last year's Day of Service is shown above.

Austin Prep is partnering with two organizations - Homebase and Operation Troop Support - to make this day a success. During the day, we will be hearing from representatives of those organizations as well as alumni who are currently serving in various branches of the armed services. We will take time to reflect as we craft thoughtful notes of support, gratitude, and encouragement and create care packages for active duty service members, veterans, and their families.

To support this event, we are launching a significant effort to solicit donations. Each grade will be assigned a specific category of items to bring. The deadline for donations will be Monday, February 10th. 

Freshmen: Toothpaste, toothbrushes, floss, mouthwash (travel and medium sized)

Sophomores: Shampoo, bodywash, deodorant, chapstick (travel and medium sized)

Juniors: Bandaids, hand sanitizer, sunscreen (non-aerosol), bugspray (non-aerosol)

Seniors: Pens/pencils, notebooks, envelopes, stationary

All Middle School: White socks (socks should cover the ankle)

Faculty: Books, magazines, games, crossword puzzles

Thank you in advance for your support in making this day a success. Any questions can be directed to Mr. Jay Tebbens.

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Grandparents' Day Information Needed 

The Annual Grandparents' Day at Austin Prep will be held on Wednesday, April 8th. We look forward to welcoming grandparents to campus to celebrate a morning of prayer and community with their Austin Prep grandchildren. The morning will include a continental breakfast, a prayer service and a student-led experience. In order to ensure that grandparents receive all correspondence for the April 8th event, please take a moment to share with us the contact information of your child's grandparent(s) by clicking here. The submission form is due by Friday, February 14th.

Formal invitations will be mailed directly to grandparents in early March. Formal invitations will only be sent to the grandparents that you provide information for, and participation in the event is limited to grandparents who receive a personal invitation. Due to the space constraints of parking and seating in the dining hall and classrooms, students are welcome to have up to two grandparents in attendance. Last years' pilot of this event was a huge success and we want to continue to make it a manageable and wonderful experience for our community.

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National School Counseling Week

This past week was National School Counseling Week 2020. The week, sponsored by the American School Counselor Association (ASCA), highlights the unique contribution of school counselors within U.S. schools and the tremendous impact they can have in helping students achieve school success and plan for a career.  We are appreciative of the impact that our Health and Wellness and College Counselors make on the lives of Austin Prep students. Take a moment to thank them!

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33rd Annual Austin Open - Save the Date!

The 33rd Annual Austin Open Golf Tournament will take place Monday, May 18th at Indian Ridge Country Club in Andover, MA. Registration to participate as a golfer or to serve as an event sponsor will open on our website next week. Proceeds from this year's tournament will help fund the expansion of parking on campus. We hope to see you on the links for another great day in support of Austin Prep.

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Another Strong Academic Decathlon Performance

Last Saturday the Austin Prep Academic Decathlon team earned 21,842.7 points to finish in 5th place at the Massachusetts Academic Decathlon Region II Championship hosted by Ashland High School. The team's performance qualified them for the Massachusetts State Finals, which will be held on Saturday, February 29th on the MIT campus in Cambridge. 

Participating students were: Valeria Centinaro '23, Olivia Ferri '23, Liam Gildea '22, Vikram Gonuguntla '22, Cat Jalbert '22, Henry Jalbert '23, Meredith McDonough '22, Sofia Senn '23, Eryn Trant '21, and Victoria Withycombe '22

 

Austin Prep students won the following individual awards and recognition:

Valeria Centinaro - Gold Medal for Interview (with 960 points out of a possible 1000, she tied for the second highest interview score in Massachusetts)

Olivia Ferri - Tied for Team Top Score in Economics

Liam Gildea - Special Award as Top Scoring Alternate

Vikram Gonuguntla - Gold Medal as Top Team Scorer with 5057.7 points

Cat Jalbert - Team High Score for Science

Henry Jalbert - Freshman High Score for Math

Meredith McDonough - Bronze Medal for Speech

Sofia Senn - Team High Score for Social Science

Eryn Trant - Silver Medal for Speech

Victoria Withycombe - Gold Medals for Music & Interview, Silver Medal for Science

 

Every participating team member achieved top ten scores in at least three of the ten events, making the team's success a true cooperative achievement.

 

The following members of the Austin Prep community served as speech and interview judges for this competition, including Mrs. Suneetha Gonuguntla P'22 (parent of Vikram Gonuguntla), Mrs. Natalie Petrillo P'10, Mr. Bob Trant P'21 (parent of Eryn Trant), and Ms. Alicia Varraso.

 

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Student Brings Home National Writing Award

Emma Kilbride '21 was awarded a Gold Key in the 2020 Scholastic Art and Writing Awards Program in the Personal Essay & Memoir Division for her essay entitled "Colors." Gold Key work is currently being reviewed at the national level in New York City by panels of creative professionals. Emma is an executive board member of Austin Authors, our creative writing club. This club, which meets during Monday Cougar Blocks, is always accepting new members. See Mrs. Nicole Putney P'26 for more information. 

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Robotics Team Collects Think Award

 

This past Sunday the Middle School robotics teams went to Natick High School to compete in the First Tech Challenge. Team 15626 included (l to r above): Matthew Palumbo '24, Ethan Donnelly '24, Maddy Shih '24, and Michael Young '24.  Emily Clay '24 and Victor Villarroel '24 are not pictured. The team won the Think Award. Criteria for the Award is as follows:

 

This judged award is given to the team that best reflects the journey the team took as they experienced the engineering design process during the build season. The engineering content within the notebook is the key reference for Judges to help identify the most deserving team. The team’s engineering content must focus on the design and build stage of the team’s robot. Journal entries should include descriptions of the underlying science and mathematics of the robot design and game strategies, the designs, redesigns, successes, and opportunities for improvement. A team is not a candidate for this award if their notebook does not contain engineering content

 

Congrats to the team for their accomplishment!

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World Language Night 

 

The World Language Department celebrated the languages and cultures studied at Austin Prep with a World Language Night on February 6th.  The event was held as a prelude to course selection for Middle School students so that students and parents would be informed of the many opportunities open to them for language study in the Upper School.

Student projects were completed for French, Latin, Mandarin and Spanish classes and were designed to help students learn about architecture, geography, food, art, entertainment and holidays of a particular culture. Parents and students toured the exhibits and enjoyed refreshments and music inspired by the cultures of these countries. Questions about the World Language Program may be addressed to Ms. Celia Barletta, World Language Chair.

 

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Zonderman to Continue Lacrosse Career

This past week Austin Prep hosted another celebratory signing for a college bound student-athlete.  Evan Zonderman '20 has committed to play lacrosse at the University of Alabama, Huntsville. Congratulations to Evan and best of luck as you continue your athletic career!

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Latin In House "Field Trip"

Austin Prep students enrolled in Latin classes gathered for a guest presentation on the Roman military and the expansion of the Empire. Students were given briefings on the origin and purpose of various pieces of clothing and weaponry, and even had the opportunity to try on some of the armor. It was a great example of hands-on learning!

 

 

William Driscoll '89 Named 

Assistant Headmaster and Head of Upper School

Austin Preparatory School is pleased to announce that William Driscoll ’89 has been appointed Assistant Headmaster and Head of Upper School. Driscoll begins his new role on July 1st.

“As chief academic officer, the Assistant Headmaster is tasked with providing instructional leadership to advance the best practices of 21st century teaching and learning at Austin Prep,” Headmaster James Hickey, Ph.D. P'22, '23, '24 said. “The Assistant Headmaster, who also oversees the Upper School, maintains the congruency between the School’s mission and all curricular and co-curricular activities as a key partner of the Headmaster to keep Austin Prep moving forward on a pathway of excellence. I look forward to working with Bill in this role, and to introducing him to the Austin Prep community in the months ahead.”

Mr. Driscoll joins Austin Prep from St. Peter-Marian Junior-Senior High School (SPM) in Worcester, MA, a school serving students in grades 7-12, where he spent the last eight years as Assistant Principal, Acting Principal, and Principal. Prior to these leadership assignments, Mr. Driscoll held a number of roles including teacher, advisor, campus minister, and theology faculty chair at St. Bernard’s High School in Fitchburg, MA. During his tenure in these schools, which are part of the Diocese of Worcester, Mr. Driscoll served on a number of committees that had responsibility for improving teaching and learning, including a committee that created a teacher evaluation protocol used by 23 schools.

During his time as Principal at SPM, Mr. Driscoll’s primary responsibilities included promoting school vision and mission, forming high functioning leadership and instructional teams, providing instructional leadership, and managing daily operations. As Assistant Principal, Mr. Driscoll was deeply involved with revising and promulgating the student code of conduct, school communications, and website design.

As an alumnus of Austin Prep educated in the Augustinian tradition, Mr. Driscoll has a deep appreciation for the Augustinian values of veritas, unitas, and caritas. “My family forged a strong relationship with Austin Prep because it transformed my life and left an indelible mark upon my soul,” Mr. Driscoll said. “As a graduate of Austin Prep, I continue to find inspiration from the ideals of an Augustinian education. The most enduring influence upon my career as an educator is drawn from the modeling I learned from the men and women who educated me.”

Mr. Driscoll earned a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree from Assumption College and a second master’s degree in education from Boston College. He is currently concluding his doctoral studies at the Lynch School of Education at Boston College and will be awarded his doctorate in educational administration in May 2020.

A native of Stoneham, Mr. Driscoll has three siblings who are Austin Prep graduates, including Mr. Patrick Driscoll ’97, who currently serves as Austin Prep’s Director of Athletics and Summer Programs.

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Annual Day of Service a Success

Austin Prep’s school-wide Annual Day of Service took place Thursday and was dedicated to supporting our Armed Forces, both active-duty troops and veterans. Students paid respect to the sacrifice so many have made in service to our country and took time to reflect as they crafted thoughtful notes of support, gratitude, and encouragement. Students also created care packages for active duty service members, veterans, and their families.

Additionally, Austin Prep welcomed three representatives from veteran outreach organizations. Francisco A. Ureña, Secretary of the Department of Veterans’ Services for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, thanked students for the work they were doing during the Day of Service, and emphasized the impact that care packages and notes of well-wishes have on members of our Armed Forces. An eight-year veteran of the United States Marine Corps, Ureña is a Purple Heart recipient from injuries sustained during the Operation Iraqi Freedom campaign. 

Ryan Casavant, Veteran Outreach Coordinator for the Home Base Program/Mass General Hospital & Red Sox Foundation, reminded students of the challenges that military veterans sometimes face when returning to civilian life.  Casavant served in the United States Marine Corps, including two combat tours in Afghanistan and Iraq. Accompanying Casavant on his visit to Austin Prep was his Home Base partner Gatsby, who joined the Home Base team as a Behavioral Health Facility Dog in November 2017 after undergoing months of training with Canine Companions for Independence. The Golden Retriever/Yellow Lab mix primarily works with the ICP (Intensive Clinical Program) and has an active role interacting with the Veterans and Family Members who come through this two-week program.

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Memorial Scholarship Applications Being Accepted

There are a limited number of Memorial Scholarships for which students in Grades 9-11 may apply for at this time. The scholarships are awarded for the 2020-2021 academic 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 now available in the Student and Parent Portals. Please follow these steps  to access this information:

• Log in to the Student or Parent Portal (Veracross) 
• Click the box in the right column titled Memorial Scholarships
• In the folder, you will see two files: Descriptions and Application
• Both files may be downloaded - the Application is in Word format

All application packages must be delivered to the Office of External Affairs, 4th floor, St. Augustine Hall, by 3:00 p.m. on Friday, March 6th. 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 luncheon on Wednesday, May 13th at 11:00 a.m. Award recipients will be notified by April 3rd.

Please reach out to Ms. Susan Belanger with questions. 

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Students Answer Questions from Prospective Parents

On Wednesday, Dr. and Mrs. Hickey hosted a dinner event at the Andover Country Club for the parents of accepted Upper School students. At this annual event, parents had the opportunity to meet fellow parents and interact and ask questions of the faculty and school administration in attendance. The highlight of the night followed dinner when parents were provided with the forum to ask questions of our student panel. Our students represented Austin Prep well and provided prospective parents a authentic glimpse into the Austin Prep experience. 

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Catholic Schools Foundation Breakfast

On Friday, February 7th, Catholic Schools Foundation (CSF) Scholars were honored at a breakfast hosted by Cardinal Séan O’Malley and John Farina of PwC and CSF. The Celebration of Excellence was held in the Atrium of PwC’s Boston office in the Seaport.   Many supporters of CSF attended the breakfast to honor the scholars and celebrate their success.

The senior CSF Scholars were recognized for their accomplishments and hard work over the last four years. John Farina addressed the current seniors, encouraging them to keep pursuing their passions and educational efforts in college and beyond. Cardinal O’Malley addressed all of the scholars and CSF supporters with encouragement about the great work of the schools in the Archdiocese of Boston. 

CSF Scholars Josh Azor '20 and Julianah Torres '20 were accompanied by Mrs. Brenda Simblaris, Assistant Director of Admissions, at the event.

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Community Coalition Presents on Substance Abuse

On Tuesday, Austin Prep welcomed the Reading Coalition for Prevention & Support to campus for a school-wide presentation. The group is a community coalition between the Town of Reading and the Reading Police Department that focuses on substance abuse prevention in Reading. Established in 2006, the coalition started as a community initiative focused on improving community collaboration and reducing substance abuse. Since then, the coalition has built capacity within the community to address this complex issue and implemented a number of prevention initiatives, while funded under the Drug Free Communities grant.

Students had the opportunity to view "The First Day," a film featuring Chris Herren, a former professional basketball player, author and wellness advocate, who has shared his story of recovery with over 1 million people nationwide. The film focused on the initial stages of addiction and self-harm, with Herren revealing his own vulnerability and his profound connections with high school students who, in turn, have shared their stories of struggle and strength. "The First Day" addresses issues that school systems, communities and people across the country are impacted by, directly or indirectly, each day including substance use, other harmful behaviors and mental wellness.

We are hopeful that the presentation at school will help facilitate conversations that continue at home. It is important to raise awareness about student mental health and teach them to take care of one another, so we can make strides in keeping kids safe. As always, if you have any questions or concerns about your student, we encourage you to reach out to School Counselors Mrs. Jessica Lenci or Mrs. Sarah Holch.

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Important Dates Calendar Released for 2020-2021

Get your planning for the next academic year started now! We are pleased to release the 2020-2021 Important Dates Calendar, which can be found here as well as in the Parent and Student Portal. This calendar contains information pertinent to key dates in the academic calendar as well as holidays and vacations.

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Registration for the Annual Alumni Hockey Charity Challenge Now Open

Alumni and friends of Austin Prep are invited to participate in the annual Austin Prep Alumni Charity Challenge men's and women’s hockey games on Saturday, April 25th, 2020 at the Gallant Arena at Merrimack College in North Andover, MA. The Alumni Charity Challenge is an opportunity for alumni with a passion for hockey to hit the ice together with fellow alumni, and catch-up with one another on and off of the ice. 

Men’s’ Game, 12:00 - 1:15 p.m.
Women’s Game, 1:30 – 3:00 p.m.

On the occasion of the Alumni Charity Challenge, we encourage alumni and friends to remember members of the Austin Prep community who left their mark, in particular in the hockey arena as players and fans. David E. Nelson ’81, Kristen M. Corbett ’08, and George “Matt” Miller embodied veritas, unitas and caritas.

To reserve a roster spot in one of the games, click here.

To donate to the Memorial Scholarship Program, click here. 

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Austin Prep Receives Community Partner Award

At the recent Annual Meeting Breakfast hosted by the Reading-North Reading Chamber of Commerce , Austin Prep was presented with a 2020 Community Partner Award for dedication and commitment to our community. Accepting the award on behalf of Austin Prep was Ms. Susan Belanger, Assistant Headmaster for External Affairs. Austin Prep is a proud member of the Chamber of Commerce and honored to support the good work done in our local communities. 

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Register to Participate in the Austin Prep Open

Registration to participate as a golfer or to serve as an event sponsor at the 33rd Annual Austin Open Golf Tournament in now open. The event will take place Monday, May 18th at Indian Ridge Country Club in Andover, MA.  Proceeds from this year's tournament will help fund the expansion of parking on campus. We hope to see you on the links for another great day in support of Austin Prep.

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Have a Great February Vacation!

We would like to wish the entire Austin Prep community a Happy Presidents' Day and a safe and restful February Vacation. As a reminder, Austin Prep will be closed on Monday, February 17th. The Cougar Courier will return on Saturday, February 29th.

February 29th, 2020

Girls Track and Field Team Claims State Title

The Austin Prep Girls Track and Field Team had successful back to back weekends this month at MIAA state track and field meets.  On February 16th, the team captured the MIAA Division 5 State Championship, and followed that up with a second place finish in the MIAA All State Meet on February 22nd.

The highlight of the All State Meet was the individual performance of Lauren Sablone '20, who won the Girls 55 meter dash in a personal best time of 7.23 seconds. To watch Lauren's race, click here.

Congratulations to our coaches and student-athletes on this tremendous accomplishment. Best of luck today at New England's!

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SAT Testing Day for Juniors is Wednesday

As a reminder, all juniors will be taking the SAT on Wednesday, March 4th at Austin Prep. An email will be sent to Juniors and their parents over the weekend with details for the day. As always, please contact Mr. Brian Ford if you have any questions regarding the SAT day. We look forward to a successful assessment day on campus!

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Prom Information Night

On Thursday, March 5th at 6:00 p.m. we will host our annual Prom Information Night. This is a required event for all parents and students who have not attended the information meeting in past years. The meeting location is still to be determined, but will be sent to you next week. The meeting will include a presentation from Ms. Charla Stevens of McLane Middleton, Austin Prep's legal counsel, as well as other pertinent information regarding the event.

Should you have any questions or concerns, please reach out to Mr. Brian Ford, Senior Class Moderator.

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Memorial Scholarships Application Due March 6th

There are a limited number of Memorial Scholarships for which students in Grades 9-11 may apply for at this time, and applications are due Friday, March 6th. The scholarships are awarded for the 2020-2021 academic 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 now available in the Student and Parent Portals. Please follow these steps  to access this information:

• Log in to the Student or Parent Portal (Veracross) 
• Click the box in the right column titled Memorial Scholarships
• In the folder, you will see two files: Descriptions and Application
• Both files may be downloaded - the Application is in Word format

All application packages must be delivered to the Office of External Affairs, 4th floor, St. Augustine Hall, by 3:00 p.m. on Friday, March 6th. 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 luncheon on Wednesday, May 13th at 11:00 a.m. Award recipients will be notified by April 3rd.

Please reach out to Ms. Susan Belanger with questions. 

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Filmmaking and Graphic Design Students Enjoy New Technology

Over February Vacation,  sixteen 27" iMacs with Retina screens were installed in the Media iMac Lab, home of our Filmmaking and Graphic Design classes.   The appearance of the room was streamlined with modern design and fewer cables,  enabling much faster performance on rendering of video and accurate color reproduction for graphic design and photography. Students have individual logins allowing them to protect their work and they can use the full range of Adobe art and design software at home or in the library using their Creative Cloud Accounts.

"Students are free to use the most up to date Adobe software, and in just two days students have already started editing short films on Premier Pro and photo series through Lightroom and Photoshop. It has opened a world of possibilities," Ms. Jamie Schefen said. "Even the resolution of the screens give my students the ability to see their films like they never have before."

The upgraded computers were made possible through the support of the Annual Fund. Gifts to the Annual Fund from our generous alumni, current families, faculty, staff, and friends allow for Austin Prep to create exceptional educational opportunities for our students. Click here to support the Annual Fund today!

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Austin Prep Faculty and Staff Attend NAIS Conference

Austin Prep was well represented when independent school educators from across the country traveled to Philadelphia this week for the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS) Annual Conference.

The conference took place Wednesday through Friday at the Pennsylvania Convention Center. A total of 11 members of the Austin Prep faculty and administration traveled to Philadelphia to attend the conference. The annual event is typically attended by heads of school, trustees, teachers, and others in independent school communities looking to gain inspiration and knowledge about the field.

The theme of this year's conference was "Your School, Your Legacy." On Friday, Headmaster James Hickey, Ph.D. P'22, '23, '24 served as a co-presenter of a workshop entitled: The Pathway to a Long-Standing Headship: Transformational Leadership. The presentation focused on characteristics that sustain transformational leadership and the value of long-term leadership tenure in schools. Dr. Hickey co-presented with Lawrence Sykoff, Ed.D of LSS Consulting Group.

In addition to Dr. Hickey, other members of the Austin Prep community attending the NAIS Annual Conference included: Celia Barletta, World Languages Department Chair; Michelle Connor, Dean of Academic Affairs; Peter DeLuca, Theology Faculty; Matthew Diapella, English Faculty; Tyler Fleming, Director of Communications; Matthew Karis, History Faculty; Marla Pascucci-Byrne, Art and Design Department Chair; Nicole Putney, English Department Chair; Jason Tebbens, Dean of Students; and Alicia Varraso, History Faculty.

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Austin Prep Hosts Accepted Students on Campus 

Accepted Middle and Upper School students and their parents were invited to campus on Tuesday for special programming. Between the two events Austin Prep welcomed over 120 new students to enjoy a carnival set up in Meelia Hall while their parents had the opportunity to hear from members of our faculty panel. A special thank you to members of our student community who served as outstanding hosts while welcoming prospective students to campus. 

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Summer Camps Registration Coming Soon

Austin Prep is once again offering a wide variety of summer programs to help keep your children active and learning all summer long. Registration is coming soon! 

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Students Sink Battleships in Pre-Calculus Class

Students in Ms. Alison Fish’s and Ms. Sarah Meier’s P'23 Pre-Calculus classes are studying polar coordinates this quarter. To help them review this topic students played a version of the Battleship game where they had to try and sink their opponent's fleet by locating the polar coordinates of each ship. They also participated in a treasure hunt where they had to use their knowledge of polar coordinates to locate the missing treasure. 

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Austin Prep Welcomes Dance Group to Campus

Austin Prep continued its Black History Month programming on Monday by welcoming Illstyle & Peace Productions to campus. Illstyle & Peace Productions creates work rooted in contemporary, West African, old school & new school hip-hop blended with an eclectic mix of dance and performance disciplines including Locking, Popping, Breaking, Tap, Ballet, Hip Hop & House Dancing. They have toured nationally and internationally and are committed to delivering positive messages, inspiration & education to all audiences. Austin Prep students - and faculty and staff - enjoyed dancing along as the presenters told the story of the evolution of dance.

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Skiers to Compete in State Championship 

Three members of the Austin Prep Ski Team will compete in the MIAA State Alpine Ski Tournament on March 4th at Berkshire East in Western Massachusetts. Julia Jenks '20 will be joined by Deanna DiNitto '21 and Sydney Pilla '23. With three skiers, Austin Prep will also be competing in the team competition. Good luck!

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More Athletics Teams in State Tournaments

The next week will be a busy week for Austin Prep Winter Sports Teams in MIAA State Tournaments. The upcoming schedule is as follows:

Saturday, February 29th,  3:00 p.m. Boys Varsity Hockey vs. Reading High School (MIAA North Division 1 Quarter Finals) at O'Brien Rink in Woburn.

Saturday, February 29th, 7:00 p.m. Girls Varsity Hockey vs. Andover High School (MIAA North Division 1 First Round) at Stoneham Arena.

Saturday, March 7th. The Dance Team is competing at the State Dance Tournament at Plymouth North High School.

Date and Time TBD. Boys Basketball vs. Georgetown (MIAA North Division 4 Semi Finals).