November 2023
11.4.2023
November 4, 2023
Austin Prep Ushers In Remembrance Month with All Saints' Day Mass
Trustee Fr. Ray Dlugos O.S.A. with Mark Palumbo '28 at Wednesday's 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.
- 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.
- As an additional reminder, the next Sunday Community Mass is Sunday, November 12th.
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:
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Turn left into the Richard J. Meelia Hall '67 parking lot when directed.
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Proceed around the back of campus to Door #3 behind McLaughlin Hall. A staff member will be present.
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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.
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
Austin Prep Celebrated Veterans Day Through Hall of Heroes
Students in the eighth-grade class of 2028 created a “Hallway of Heroes” installation in the middle school wing. As part of their civics class, students interviewed family members or researched local community members and compiled tributes recognizing their service.
The project served as both a meaningful tribute and an opportunity to strengthen research skills while reflecting on the sacrifices made by veterans.
Student-Athletes Signed Commitments on National Signing Day
Four Austin Prep baseball players celebrated their commitments on National Signing Day.
On Wednesday, November 8, four Austin Prep baseball players signed their National Letters of Intent in front of family, faculty, and classmates.
Congratulations to Jake Zawatsky ’24 (UMass Lowell), David VanderZouwen ’24 (Bentley University), Jake Harring ’24 (Hofstra University), and Jordan Barthel ’24 (Utah Valley University) on continuing their athletic careers at the collegiate level.
French Week Celebration Concluded
The American Association of Teachers of French sponsored the twenty-first annual National French Week from November 1–8. The celebration promoted French culture and heritage across campus.
Activities included classroom programming, displays of Francophone country flags, and a French Club event where students made crêpes together.
Precalculus Students Concluded Unit Circle Studies
Students in Precalculus classes completed projects demonstrating their understanding of the unit circle. They analyzed angles and evaluated trigonometric functions while creating both two- and three-dimensional models.
Class of 2027 Halloween Writing Award Announced
Olivia Thomas ’27 received top honors in the Halloween writing contest.
During Cougar Block, awards were presented for the ninth-grade Halloween Gross Out Writing Contest.
Olivia Thomas ’27 earned first place for “What am I? Blood,” and James Aprahamian ’27 was recognized as runner-up for “How the Sausage is Made.”
Students Received Bridge Builder Grant for Toiletry Drive
For the fourth consecutive year, members of the Simmons family received a Bridge Builder grant from the Martin Richard Foundation to support a community service initiative.
Learn more about the toiletry drive initiative that benefited several local organizations.
Students Attended Arts Leadership Summit
Austin Prep students joined peers from other schools at the Girls in Arts Leadership Summit at Cushing Academy. Professional artists led workshops designed to build creativity, confidence, and leadership skills.
Austin Prep Celebrated St. Augustine’s Birthday
The Austin Prep community celebrated the 1,669th birthday of St. Augustine, the school’s patron. His teachings continued to guide the community’s shared commitment to truth and learning.
11.18.2023
November 18, 2023
Thank You for Day of Giving Support
On behalf of the Austin Prep community, we expressed deep gratitude for the support shown during the Support the Annual Day of Giving. The community rallied together to raise funds that provided resources for students, faculty, and staff while upholding the mission of inspiring hearts to unite, minds to inquire, and hands to serve.
Austin Prep remained a special place defined by boundless opportunities. Rooted in the teachings of St. Augustine, the community celebrated his birthday with an investment in those values and in the hearts and minds of all students. In sincere appreciation, View a message of thanks from the Austin Prep community.
Disney Rain Could Not Stop the Class of 2024
Mrs. Natalie Petrillo and Ms. Doreen Fuller joined senior math students on the Tower of Terror, continuing a beloved tradition.
The Class of 2024 traveled to Walt Disney World from November 13–17. Despite periods of heavy rain, the trip created lasting memories and celebrated the friendships formed throughout their time at Austin Prep. The challenging weather ultimately highlighted the strong sense of community among the senior class.
View photos from the senior trip and Watch highlights from the trip.
Students Attended Race Amity Conference
Austin Prep students participated in the National Center for Race Amity Conference in Atlanta.
Austin Prep sent a delegation of students to the National Center for Race Amity Conference in Atlanta, Georgia, during Veterans Day weekend. The conference promoted racial unity and meaningful dialogue, encouraging collaboration and equity.
Students engaged with leaders across industries and reflected on powerful presentations and historical experiences throughout the trip, including visits to significant civil rights landmarks in Atlanta.
First Quarter Honor Roll List Released
The View the first quarter honor roll list recognized students for their academic achievements during the 2023–2024 school year. This accomplishment reflected their dedication to excellence in the pursuit of truth.
Austin Prep Celebrated Thanksgiving
The Austin Prep community shared gratitude and appreciation during the Thanksgiving season. The school community recognized the importance of connection and extended warm wishes to all families.
Thanksgiving Break began on Wednesday, November 22, and classes resumed on Monday, November 27.