September 2023
In This Issue
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Start of New Academic Year
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Classroom Modernization Project
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Convocation Liturgy
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60th anniversary Video
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Summer Sabbaticals
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Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month
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Join us for Mass on Campus
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Giving Day is November 13-14
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Reunions - Save the Date
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Let’s Stay Connected
Start of the New Academic Year
Students ready to get back to work on the first day of school.
The new academic year provides Austin Prep students and families – current and new – the opportunity to connect with returning members of our community. The Office of Alumni Relations extends this invitation to you, our alumni community. You can engage with Austin Prep in many ways, whether joining a campus activity, attending a milestone class reunion event, following us on social media, submitting Class Notes, or praying for our students, faculty, and staff. The opportunities are endless! On behalf of Austin Prep, thank you for being a valued community member.
Benefactors and Classroom Modernization Project
Austin Prep undertook a massive building modernization project this past summer.
Over the summer, Austin Prep began an ambitious project to modernize classrooms. Phase one of capital upgrades included a new heating system and air conditioning, new lighting, ceilings, technology, and interactive whiteboards. This project was of mammoth proportions and had a very tight schedule to accomplish before students returned. However, with teamwork and great partners and vendors, our students arrived on September 5 to modernize – and fully air-conditioned -- instructional spaces for learning. And we are not finished! Down the road, the next part of the classroom modernization project will include a new science lab, windows, flooring, and doors. Please contact the Office of Development and Alumni Affairs to learn more about these efforts and how you can support them through a charitable donation to the Faith and Reason Campaign.
Austin Prep Opens Academic Year with Convocation Liturgy
Seán Cardinal O’Malley, Archbishop of Boston, was the principal celebrant and homilist at Convocation.
On Thursday, September 14, Austin Prep marked the official start of the academic year with the celebration of the annual Convocation Liturgy. Austin Prep welcomed Seán Cardinal O’Malley, Archbishop of Boston, as the principal celebrant and homilist. The event, open to parents and livestreamed to the school community, was a part of Austin Prep's 60th anniversary Celebration. You can view photos from the day here.
Complete with the pageantry expected of Convocation – including the procession of students carrying class banners, welcomed by faculty in academic regalia to the sounds of the Boston Police Gaelic Column of Pipes and Drums – this year's liturgy continued to include a parade of flags representing the national heritages of those in our school community. Over 80 national flags were included.
Ava Intoppa '24, School-Wide Student Government President, during the procession of flags.
Ava Intoppa '24, School-Wide Student Government President, began the ceremony by addressing her classmates. "I am honored to have the opportunity to welcome Cardinal O’Malley to campus today to celebrate this special mass and bless the school year as we close out our 60th anniversary, and look forward to a new chapter of our story, " Ava said. "I am also honored to address all of you, my teachers, classmates, and friends here today to celebrate our membership in this community and our love for God and one another. I am extremely excited for the year that is to come, and even more excited to be able to experience it with all of you and to see what each member of this student community will do."
Cardinal O'Malley begin his remarks by thanking all those who over the past 60 years have helped make Austin Prep the institution that it is, then reflected on the importance of Catholic education.
"In a time of more people living alone, a part of Catholic education is bringing us together to discover our connectedness," Cardinal O'Malley said. "It is our faith that allows us to discover the meaning and value and things. Who we are made in the image and likeness of God. What is our mission? What is our purpose? All of this is so important in Catholic education."
Head of School, Dr. James Hickey P'22, '23, '24 '27, welcomed those in attendance, thanked Cardinal Seán for his support of Austin Prep over the years, and congratulated him on recently celebrating 20 years as the Archbishop of Boston. Dr. Hickey made note of the attendance of Augustinian Friars Fr. Art Johnson, O.S.A., Fr. Peter Gori '70, and Trustee Fr. Ray Dlugos, O.S.A. and the Augustinians of the Assumption, who joined the Austin Prep community this year.
"60 years is certainly a significant milestone, but when you place those 60 years in the context of St. Augustine's heritage, the milestone is a bit diminished, " Dr. Hickey said. "St. Augustine was born in 354, and for nearly 1700 years his legacy has endured. Our 60 years is only one tiny part of 17 centuries. Our restless journey in the footsteps of Augustine has kept Austin Prep steady, and determined, and resolute. We have much to celebrate, and much to be proud of."
Dr. Hickey then added that despite our successes, “St. Augustine told us that 'humility must be with us everywhere. For as soon as we glory in our good works, they are of no further value to our advancement to virtue.'"
To mark the occasion, senior class officers Ryan O'Malley '24 and Lauren Neal '24 presented the Class of 2024 banner, which will eventually be hoisted to the rafters of Meelia Hall, where it will remain until being lowered at Baccalaureate Mass in May, 2024. View the raising of the banner here.
Celebrating Austin Prep's 60 Years
Austin Prep's first students arrived on campus in September 1963, and this year marked our 60th anniversary. Our yearlong celebration has allowed our community the opportunity to embrace our Augustinian heritage while reflecting on the accomplishments of yesterday, embracing the opportunities of today, and imagining the future with pride, confidence, and optimism.
To celebrate the milestone, we produced a video piece documenting our strong history with an eye towards the future. You can view the video by clicking the video icon above. We are grateful for all our students, staff, parents, past parents, alumni, Trustees, friends and more, for the six decades of unwavering support and for being an essential part of our school’s legacy. We look forward to many more years of partnership and success.
Summer Sabbaticals
Two faculty participated in Summer Sabbaticals this summer – Natalie Petrillo P'10, mathematics faculty, and Kristen Donnelly, history faculty. Please enjoy the following from them on their summer sabbatical.
Natalie Petrillo, P’10, mathematics faculty
“In my over 20 years of experience at Austin Preparatory School teaching mathematics, I have found that the students are eager to learn and participate whenever I incorporate a creative activity with mathematics. STEAM projects benefit all students because they are independent of mathematical ability. My proposal for my summer sabbatical was to enhance my projects by introducing cubism and 3D design into my Geometry curriculum. I studied cubism and visited the Picasso Museum to see the artwork in person in Barcelona. The trip was phenomenal, and I learned so much by viewing his work. I have designed a project for my classes based on a display at the Picasso Museum of Picasso’s transformation of Las Meninas using cubism.”
Kristen Donnelly, history faculty
“For my summer sabbatical, I was fortunate to attend the International Summer Programme at Cambridge University in the United Kingdom. This one-week experience allows me to live and study at Cambridge University and take two classes, Flowering of the Middle Ages and Five Renaissance Cities, taught by leading academics in medieval history. I also attended various lectures led by many notable figures, including Sir Tony Brenton, the former British Prime Minister to Russia, and author Yvonne Battle Felton. This opportunity gave me a chance to meet people from all over the world as well as expert historians in the field of Medieval and Renaissance studies. In addition to attending classes at Cambridge University, I was also able to spend time in London and visit historical sites like the Tower of London and Westminster Abbey. One highlight of my time was meeting the AP Middle School students on the ISCA Trip for an afternoon in Covent Garden. I hope to take this experience and create new, dynamic lessons to enhance the 7th-grade history curriculum.”
Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month
At the first Community Meeting of the Year, Mr. Jaycob Morales, Coordinator of Community Engagement and Inclusion, spoke to students about Hispanic Heritage Month programming.
The Austin Prep community celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month from September 15 – October 15. During this time, we will recognize the contributions, achievements, and influence of Hispanic Americans on the history and culture of the United States. This month is significant as it includes the date of independence for many Hispanic countries. The campus will honor this celebration through programming at the campuswide community meeting, experiencing different Spanish cuisine in the dining hall, and so much more!
Join us for Mass on Campus
Join us for Mass in the recently refurbished Chapel of St. Augustine.
Do you live locally? If so, join us for Mass on campus in the Chapel of St. Augustine on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays at 7:20 a.m. In addition, we will continue to host a monthly community Mass; stay tuned for those dates and times!
Our 6th Annual Day of Giving is November 13-14
In honor of St. Augustine's 1,669th birthday, we will be celebrating with our 6th Annual Day of Giving on November 13th and 14th! Our Annual Day of Giving is an opportunity for our community to come together as one and show our pride in Austin Prep and our students’ education with a gift. Your participation matters! All gifts support the Austin Prep Fund, which provides resources for professional development for our treasured faculty members, curricular and cocurricular programs for students and tuition assistance. More details to come...
Reunions: Save the Date
The Class of 2022 at last Thanksgiving Break's Alumni Breakfast. This year we welcome the Class of 2023!
We have several milestone reunion classes planning their upcoming gatherings. However, we are still looking for Reunion Class Agents for several classes to help plan reunions ending in 3 & 8 for 2023 and 4 & 9 for 2024. Let us help you create a memorable event to celebrate your milestone reunion with your peers from Austin Prep!
A special reminder to the Class of 2023: as our most recent graduating class, please mark your calendars for the annual Thanksgiving Break gathering. This tradition for our newly graduated Cougars is a great way to gather with your fellow recent grads through Mass and breakfast. Stay tuned for information on how to register for this event!
Let's Stay Connected
Time to update your emails! The Office of Alumni Affairs wants to stay in touch with you and share exciting updates! Please take a moment to update your email address with our office. Please email Kasey Field at kasey.field@austinprep.org.
Never a dull moment on our social media accounts! Be sure you follow us on Facebook, X, and Instagram.
Alumni group is “Austin Preparatory School Alumni”
Each Austin Prep Reunion Class has a Facebook group: “Austin Prep Class of XXXX.”
