January 2021

January 9th, 2021

College Test Prep Course Webinar for Juniors is Monday

As a reminder, the College Counseling Office, along with our course partner, Summit Educational Group, will be hosting a webinar on the upcoming Junior College Test Prep Course this Monday, January 11 at 6:00 p.m.  Dr. Drew Heilpern, Summit Chief Brand Ambassador, will provide families with an overview of the SAT and ACT test prep curriculum. Ms. My Doan and Mrs. Cyndy Pitta, Co-Directors of College Counseling, will give a brief summary of what to expect during the entire course. Webinar information was sent to Juniors and their families on Monday, January 4th.

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Select Athletics Contests to be Livestreamed

 

Over the past few weeks, Austin Prep has continued to offer athletic opportunities with the start of winter sports. Over 350 student-athletes participated in tryouts for winter sports, which officially began on December 14th after two weeks of pre-season workouts. It has been a welcome sight to see so many students, coaches and staff interacting together, and we appreciate the patience and support of all those who made this return to play possible in very unique circumstances.

While current restrictions and guidance prevent us from having spectators at games, we are excited to have been able to livestream select athletic contests to family and friends. For an upcoming schedule of livestreamed events, and to access the livestream, click on the button below.

Athletics Live Streams

 

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Santa's Austin Prep Journey

Santa Claus' Christmas Journey included a stop at Austin Prep, and it was a fun two weeks with him between Lessons and Carols and Christmas Day. Although his stay has come to an end, we thank all those in the school community who followed him on his search for the one person on his naughty list this year (who would have thought it would be Mr. McLaughlin? He is so nice!).  To view the entire Austin Prep Santa Claus experience, click the video link above! Until next year...

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Virtual Masses Continue with Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Mass

 

We are grateful for all those who joined in for our virtual Christmas Day Mass, which included the splendid piano playing and singing of Mr. Stephen Williams and Conor Long '21, respectively.   In honor of Martin Luther King, Jr, Day we will celebrate a virtual Mass for life, justice, and peace, on Monday, January 18th. Information on how to access the Mass will be forthcoming.

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Austin Prep Presents Returns January 26

 

We look forward to the next instalment in the Austin Prep Presents series, which will take place Tuesday, January 26 at 7:00 p.m. Mrs. Jennifer Hodgdon, Director of Alumni Relations & Giving, will host Rob Peterson ’04, Attorney, The Law Office of Attorney Robert G. Peterson. The webinar, entitled, "Estate Planning: It's Never Too Early!" will take you through the legal terminology and default rules associated with inheritance, general concepts governing wills and trusts, identifying probate and non-probate assets and distribution, along with advance directives, including living wills, health care powers of attorney, and financial powers of attorney. Webinar information will be sent in advance of the event. We hope you will join us!

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Meet Our Head Green Key Ambassadors

Austin Prep's Green Key Ambassadors are an invaluable connection between our admissions office and prospective families. Our Green Keys interact with prospective families at admissions events, serve as tour guides during their free block, and host students for shadow days. Click below to learn more about the 2020-21 class of Green Key Ambassadors! If you know of a prospective family who would like to learn more about the Austin Prep experience directly from a Green Key Ambassador, contact the Office of Admissions at admissions@austinprep.org.

Meet Our Head Green Key Ambassadors

 

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Thank You for your Support of the Annual Fund!

 

Thank you to all those who kept Austin Prep in their year-end giving plans this past holiday season. 2020 was a  unique year, yet we accomplished a great deal, largely due to Annual Fund support. We are more resilient than ever and we are forever grateful! 

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Students Make Literary Connections Using Math Code

 

Students taking Honors Algebra II with Ms. Alison Fish, Mr. Stephen Williams, Ms. Amy Cole, and Ms. Michele Brewer participated in a cross-curricular project with students in Mr. Matt Diapella and Mr. Vin Parella's English classes. Students had to choose a character from a recent novel that they read in English class. Students selected Junior from The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian, Starr from The Hate U Give, Luma from Outcasts United, and Romeo from Romeo and Juliet among others. The students had to send a secret message from one character to another that would change the outcome of the novel. They translated the message into numeric code that they then encoded using matrices. The students practiced encoding and decoding matrices and also produced creative ways to send these messages that were fitting to the novels and characters they chose. The entire project was able to be done virtually this year.

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Middle Schoolers Perform Well in AMC 8 Math Competition

Austin Prep's Middle School once again administered the American Mathematics Contest 8 (AMC 8) for all Middle School Algebra I and II students. The contest took place on Tuesday, November 10th. Students who take the AMC 8 have the opportunity to develop creative quantitative thinking skills, which better prepares them to succeed in high school math classes. This competition aims to challenge and inspire students to become lifelong learners of mathematics.

The following Middle School students should be recognized for their outstanding performance. Congratulations!

Highest Austin Prep score

1. Matthew O'Malley '25

2. Anika Mittal '25

3. Bruce McGinley '25

 

Honorable Mention

Steven Reyes '26

Madeline Byrnes '25

Malerie Lague '25

 

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Russell '21 and Gupta '21 Reflect on Womens Conference

 

On Thursday, December 10th, Kayla Russell '21 and Arya Gupta '21 virtually attended the 2020 Massachusetts Conference for Women.  The mission of The Conferences for Women is to "promote, communicate and amplify the influence of women in the workplace and beyond." At the annual nonpartisan, nonprofit conference, thousands of active professionals are brought together to connect, renew, and find inspiration in community.

After the Conference, both Kayla and Arya took some time to reflect on the experience.

Kayla: It was absolutely amazing and I could not have asked for a better experience! Expert speakers led seminars discussing the issues that matter most to women, including personal finance, business and entrepreneurship, health, work/life balance, and more. Everything each speaker had to say was unique and inspirational. They made me think about life in ways I wouldn’t have before. Some of my favorite speakers were Rachel Cargle, Awkwafina, and Alicia Keys. Rachel Cargle delivered a powerful story discussing the difference between being not racist and anti-racist, Awkwafina talked about changing the image of Asian Americans in the media and the difference between diversity and representation, and Alicia Keys addressed how she is done subscribing to the stereotypes of women and how to lead with love and compassion. One of the most memorable quotes from Alicia Keys that stuck out to me was “I’m done with anything I don’t deserve." I was incredibly moved by every speaker. Since then, their stories continue to make me think about our society and how we treat and address women and racism.

Arya: It was a fantastic opportunity for us to listen to women who are experts in their fields share their experiences and what they’ve learned from them. I attended sessions about serving the community, being anti-racist, practicing wellness in a pandemic, and leading through change. My favorite speakers were Alicia Keys, Doris Kearns Goodwin, and Rachel Cargile. Alicia Keys spoke about the importance of defining happiness on your own terms and striving to achieve your version of success, not anyone else’s. Doris Kearns Goodwin shared fun anecdotes about several past U.S. presidents and what their perspectives and advice might be for us in this time of crisis. Rachel Cargile talked about her journey with intersectional feminism and the importance of acknowledging and unlearning the racism that stems from a history of white-focused feminism. My favorite quote from the day was something Alicia Keys said that really stuck with me: “We’ve got to do what’s right even if we don’t personally benefit from it.” I hope to be intentional about implementing this idea into my life from now on.

Both Kayla and Arya expressed gratitude to Mrs. Maureen McGinness P'20 and Mr. Jay Tebbens, Dean of Students, who made their attendance possible.

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Annual Holiday Door Decorating Winners

Austin Prep had its annual Door Decorating contest in the final days before the Christmas. This year, we had an opportunity for students to participate remotely by decorating a door in their own home. Below, you will find the winners of the virtual Door Decorating contest, as well as some of the standout doors from classrooms and offices on campus. Thank you to all those who participated!

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Community Spotlight: Ms. Alison Holland

 

Note: Our vibrant campus comes to life as a result of the talented students and faculty who make up the Austin Prep community. We look forward to periodically highlighting those individuals here in the Cougar Courier.

Hometown: Stoneham, MA

Education/Degrees: BS in Biology from Union College &  MAT in Secondary Education from Simmons College

Years at Austin Prep: This is my first year at Austin.

Years working in Education: This is my 8th year working in education, (3 at Malden Catholic  and 4 at North Andover High School). I also worked briefly as a paraeducator in the Stoneham Public Schools.

Department/Area of Subject: Science/Biology

Describe a teacher who inspired you growing up: My sophomore year biology/ health teacher, Ms. Chapman. She was also my soccer coach. Ms. Chapman was down to earth, open, honest and approachable. Her enthusiasm for the subject made her class fun.

If you weren’t a teacher, what career would you have?: I would probably be a field scientist studying animals. When I was a kid I always imagined I would be like Jane Goodall studying chimpanzees.  

Favorite Quote: “Happiness can be found, even in the darkest of times, if one only remembers to turn on the light.” - Albus Dumbledore /J.K. Rowling

Fun fact (about you or your past; something colleagues & students might not ordinarily know): I have run 5 marathons. 

January 16th, 2021

Martin Luther King, Jr. Day

 

In remembrance of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Austin Prep will be closed Monday.  We wish a Happy Martin Luther King, Jr. Day to our entire community.

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Virtual Mass on Monday for Life, Justice, and Peace

 

In honor of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, we invite all members of the Austin Prep community to join Fr. Patrick Armano, School Chaplain, on Monday, January 18th for Mass.  The virtual Mass for life, justice, and peace will be celebrated from the Chapel of Saint Augustine on the Austin Prep campus. The Mass can be viewed on the Austin Prep YouTube channel, and the link will be distributed on Monday morning. We hope you can join us.

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Students Continue to Demonstrate Caritas in Action

 

Austin Prep students continue to embody the School's mission by demonstrating the importance of service to others. William Burns '22 showed the value of caritas within his local community this past holiday season. Click here to read more about how Will raised over $1,700 for the Reading Food Pantry!

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January Edition of Journey of the Heart

 

You may recall back in December, Dr. Hickey shared in one of his communications that we would highlight once a month some programs, activities, and initiatives at Austin Prep that exemplify our core values. Through Journey of the Heart, which is published on our website, members of the staff will share their insights. January's edition of Journey of the Heart focuses on how Austin Prep launched a mutually beneficial program to support students and staff. As Dr. Hickey said, "Austin Prep will continue to lead and adapt as needed to sustain the unwritten curriculum for this – and future generations of students." Austin Prep does that best by living mission.

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Samaritans Webinar on January 19

On Tuesday, January 19th at 7:00 p.m., Samaritans, a well-known national organization providing suicide prevention and education services, will be hosting a parent webinar entitled "How to Help a Friend."

Kendra McDonald, Manager of Community Outreach and Education at Samaritans, will speak to parents on this important topic and how it relates to students in our community. Attached you will find a description of the webinar.

In the coming weeks, Samaritans will also hold a workshop with each Austin Prep upper school advisory group. Students will learn to identify important signs and symptoms of depression and suicidality in themselves and their peers. Most importantly, students will learn how to access help and reduce the stigma surrounding mental health. Those dates are January 25 and 28, and February 1, 2, 4, 8, 9, and 10. To access the webinar, click below:
 

Samaritans Webinar | January 19, 7:00 p.m.

 

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Head of School Holiday is January 22

 

In case you need a reminder, which is unlikely, Dr. Hickey granted students a Head of School Holiday, which is scheduled for Friday, January 22. It has been a hectic stretch with midterms and modified schedules and all the other challenges and adversity caused by Covid-19, but we made it to the halfway point of the 2020-21 Academic Year. Use the day of no classes to rest, recharge and celebrate. Thanks, Dr. Hickey!

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Austin Prep Presents Returns January 26

 

We look forward to the next installment in the Austin Prep Presents series, which will take place Tuesday, January 26 at 7:00 p.m. Mrs. Jennifer Hodgdon, Director of Alumni Relations & Giving, will host Rob Peterson ’04, Attorney, The Law Office of Attorney Robert G. Peterson. The webinar, entitled, "Estate Planning: It's Never Too Early!" will take you through the legal terminology and default rules associated with inheritance, general concepts governing wills and trusts, identifying probate and non-probate assets and distribution, along with advance directives, including living wills, health care powers of attorney, and financial powers of attorney. Webinar information will be sent in advance of the event. We hope you will join us!

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Cubby Cares Mentorship Program

 

This week, Austin Prep unveiled a new program entitled "Cubby Cares,"  an innovative mentoring program between Upper School Green Key Ambassadors and new Middle School students. Spearheaded by Faith Moran '21 under the direction of Mrs. Brenda Simblaris, Assistant Director of Admissions, Cubby Cares is an effort to build supportive and cohesive relationships between Upper School and Middle School students.  In the spirit of Unitas, this program will assist in building community in the hallways of Austin Prep. Assisting Faith in her efforts are TJ Brosnan '21, Ryan Noyes '21, Brianna Fountain '21, Arya Gupta '21, Arpi Sharma '21, and Sal Lococo '21.  A total of 60 sophomore, junior and senior Green Key Ambassadors will be meeting a minimum of once a month with their 6th or 7th grade mentees to provide them with support and guidance within the Austin Prep community.  Middle schoolers will have an opportunity to seek out advice from their Upper School peers and simply build friendships with their mentors.  Part of growing personally and within our school community is relationship building and discovering your academic and personal interests.  Our Cubby Cares Mentors are ready to lead their Middle school Cubbies to success! Students will meet at the beginning of the second semester to kick off the program.

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Community Spotlight: Mr. Nick Quinn

 

Note: Our vibrant campus comes to life as a result of the talented students and faculty who make up the Austin Prep community. We look forward to periodically highlighting those individuals here in the Cougar Courier.

Hometown: Woburn, MA

Education/Degrees: B.A. in Classics from Saint Anselm College, Masters in Educational Leadership from University of New England

Years at Austin Prep: 1st

Years working in Education: 15

Department/Area of Subject: Language/Latin, Theater

Describe a teacher who inspired you growing up: Mr. Dan Keller, orchestra conductor and teacher for 8 years, head of the tech crew for the theater department, and leader of the outing club. Mr. Keller inspired me to love the science and art of music, encouraged my passion for technical theater and stage design, and pushed me to enjoy the outdoors, especially snowshoeing!

Do you have a motto you teach by? Or an expression you try to instill in your classroom? Be open to other outlooks while learning. Others may learn different, teachers may teach different, societies may act different. Accepting these differences, even if you disagree with them, and appreciating them for what they are will make you a better world citizen.

What’s the most insightful thing a student has ever said to you? “Thank you for giving me my first lead role.” - Student who is now pursuing a career in Broadway.

If you weren’t a teacher, what career would you have? Chef. I love to cook, experiment in the kitchen, and watch others try my creations.

Favorite Quote: Don’t quietly sneak into oblivion; go in screaming, with your hair on fire, face covered in chocolate, sliding head first into the grave. And as you stand up and dust yourself off, shake St. Peter’s hand, say “Man! What a ride!”

Fun fact (about you or your past; something colleagues & students might not ordinarily know): I am a classically trained violinist with a passion for movies, music, food, and travel. I regularly tell my wife that “if I don’t come home, you can find me on the North Shore of Crete, soaking in the sun and enjoying what life should really be like.”