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Xaverian Brothers High School

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Xaverian Brothers High School
File:Xoldlogo.jpg
Location
Map
Westwood
,
MA

USA
Information
TypePrivate
MottoVeritatem fratribus testari
(To bear witness to the truth in brotherhood)
Concordia res parvae crescunt
(In harmony small things grow)
Religious affiliation(s)Roman Catholic
Established1963
HeadmasterBrother Daniel E. Skala, C.F.X
Faculty75 total
Enrollment1050 total
Average class sizestudents
Student to teacher ratio14 Students:1 Teacher
CampusSuburban, 35 acres
Color(s)Blue and Yellow
Athletics15 Division 1 sports
MascotHawk

Xaverian Brothers High School (XBHS), founded in 1963 by the Xaverian Brothers, is a private, Catholic secondary school for males on a 35-acre campus in Westwood, Massachusetts. It is located in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Boston.

Sponsored by the by the Xaverian Brothers religious order, XBHS offers a rigorous college preparatory program and advertises a commitment for the well-being of each individual. The school attracts students from more than 70 communities in eastern Massachusetts and is well-recognized for its highly educated faculty, academic resources and athletics.[1]

History

Xaverian Brothers High School's roots are in the Mission Church, Basilica of Our Lady of Perpetual Help parish in Roxbury, Massachusetts. In the 1920s, the Roxbury parish had a thriving elementary school under the direction of the School Sisters of Notre Dame. The people of the Mission parish saw the need for a parochial high school to continue their children's Catholic education.

In 1925, Reverend O'Leary, C. SS. R. of the Mission parish asked Brother Isidore, C.F.X., the provincial of the Xaverian Brothers order at the time, for Brothers to teach in the boys' high school. Brother Isidore agreed but was unable to send the brothers until the next year. In the meantime, the School Sisters of Notre Dame taught the first year class of boys. Consequently, when the Brothers opened the Mission High School boys division in September, 1926, there were one hundred and sixty-two freshmen and sophomores enrolled in the boys' division of the high school.

The school grew in size and reputation so that by the early 1960s, it became clear that a more modern and spacious building was needed. Many of the school's graduates had moved to the suburbs of Boston. With the support of Cardinal Cushing, the Archbishop of Boston, the Xaverian Brothers established Xaverian Brothers High School in its current location in Westwood, Massachusetts. The land that the school stands on today was originally part of the Forbes estate. The late Rocco Zoppo was instrumental in arranging for the Brothers to receive the land. He was the first of many philanthropists whose generosity allowed Xaverian Brothers High School to flourish. The school's National Honor Society is named in Rocco Zoppo's honor.

On August 31, 1963, Xaverian Brothers' provincial Brother Gilroy, C.F.X., the first headmaster, Brother Marcellus, C.F.X., and Cardinal Cushing officiated at the dedication ceremony for the new Xaverian Brothers High School. An article dated August 24, 1963 from the Westwood News described the new school:

"During the first year, 290 ninth graders will occupy the first floor wing. There will be 1,000 students when they graduate in four years...[Brother Marcellus] is happy with the $2,300,000 structure, designed by Shields Brothers of Quincy, Massachusetts|Quincy and Scully Contractors of Boston...Four lay teachers will join the brothers and the faculty in making the program, "flexible, modern, comprehensive, interesting, and above all tough." "We're social studies and language conscious," the principal continued. Students of Latin, French, Spanish and Russian "placed by ability" can utilize the up-to-date language lab… The chapel is simply and beautifully designed with striking stained glass windows. Other facilities include a 10,000 volume library, a large cafeteria, a 500-seat auditorium, a gymnasium, 25 classrooms… and laboratories for biology, physics and chemistry...The building is equipped with an up-to-date public address system reaching all sections and closed-circuit TV in all classrooms; "we can both transmit and receive." The extensive extra-curricular program will include music, speech, debating, dramatics, journalism, photography, science, math and foreign language clubs. Also radio -- the principal himself a longtime ham radio operator -- and athletics."

Notable Dates:

  • August 31, 1963 - Cardinal Cushing leads dedication service of Xaverian Brothers High School.
  • September 5, 1963 - First day of school at Xaverian Brothers High School. 290 students, all ninth graders, enroll. These freshmen become Xaverian's first graduating class, The Class of 1967.
  • 1966-1970 - Brother Gilroy Bishop, C.F.X. serves as Xaverian's second headmaster.
  • June 12, 1967 - Xaverian's first Commencement Exercise took place. The Class of 1967 includes veteran teachers Phil Penza '67 and Denis Smith '67. The valedictorian Richard Czaja '67 enrolls at Yale University, starting a long tradition of Xaverian graduates at elite colleges and universities.
  • 1970-1984 - Brother William Drinan, C.F.X. serves as Xaverian's third headmaster.
  • September, 1973 - The school starts Bingo on Friday nights as an effective fundraiser.
  • August, 1977 - The first ever Xaverian Leadership Institute is held. At the time it was called a Student Leadership Retreat and only 20 students participated. Over the years, XLI has become an annual five day retreat for Seniors which takes place during August.
  • February 6, 1978 - The Blizzard of '78 began. The school was closed for six days as result of the mammoth snow storm.
  • March 13, 1978 - The J. Geils Band performed a concert at a Xaverian dance.
  • 1984-1991- Brother Richard Cook, C.F.X. serves as Xaverian's fourth headmaster.
  • School Year 1986-1987 - The first of many campus improvements begin, including:
    • Replacement of the roof to eliminate leaks
    • Brickwork repair to strengthen walls
    • Expansion and resurfacing of the parking lots
  • School Year 1988-1989. Another round of campus improvements including:
    • Storage areas built behind the gymnasium (now the varsity locker room) and under the bleachers
    • Refurbishing of the old weight room
    • The bottom floor of the corridor with the Chapel was converted from a residence for the Xaverian Brothers to new office space
    • The basement area near the kitchen was converted to a Computer Center and an Art Center
  • August, 1989 - Xaverian Brothers High School celebrates its 25th Jubilee Anniversary
  • September, 1991 - Only 611 students are enrolled in the entire school
  • 1991- Present - Brother Daniel Skala, C.F.X. serves as Xaverian's fifth headmaster. Brother Dan, a native of Springfield, holds a Ph. D. from Boston College in Educational Leadership. He also holds undergraduate and graduate degrees in English. Prior to Xaverian, Brother Dan taught for twenty-five years at the high school and college level. During his tenure at Xaverian, school enrollment has increased 70% and the school has recently completed $25,000,000 building program as well as a $12,100,000 capital campaign.
  • 1991 - Present - Mr. Domenic Lalli serves as the first principal of Xaverian Brothers High School
  • May 4, 1991 - Before the Tonight Show, Jay Leno was one of the top standup comics in the country. He performed a show in Xaverian's Gymnasium. Tickets were $30 and the event was sponsored by the 1971 Reunion Committee.
  • September 26, 2001 - Xaverian celebrates the dedication of the far reaching campus changes that included the addition of the 18,000 square foot Library and Jack and Pamela Egan Technology Center, New Fitness Center and Expanded Locker Rooms, and Renovated Physics, Biology and Chemistry Laboratories.
  • October 1, 2002 - The Francis Xavier Society Reception celebrates the successful completion of Xaverian's first capital campaign, The Campaign for Xaverian: A Legacy of Values, which raised $12.1 million. The following areas of the school were dedicated:
    • The Josephine M. Noble Chapel
    • The Sarah M. Bisson Foyer
    • The Rocco Zoppo Wing
    • The Charles Duddy Physics Lab
    • The Jack and Pamela Egan Technology Center
  • September, 2003 - The varsity field and stadium is renovated. New steel home and away bleachers are installed and synthetic FieldTurf replaces the natural turf. A wireless network is installed throughout the building for wireless Internet access. All classrooms receive LCD projectors.
  • April, 2004 - The new classroom wing is completed. The 15,000 square foot classroom wing includes a new art center, faculty and staff dining room, three new department centers and five new classrooms.
  • June 19, 2004 - The Varsity Baseball team defeated Pittsfield High School to win their first Massachusetts State Baseball Championship title. The team was ranked 24th in the country.
  • September, 2004 - Another round of campus improvements are finalized. Included in this project are:
    • All classrooms' black chalkboards are replaced with white marker boards
    • The 6,000 square foot New Lower Lobby and Entrance Way
    • New Campus Ministry Center
    • New Music Center
    • Renovation of the New Theatre
    • New Bookstore
    • Renovation of the Cafeteria and addition of 24 skylights
  • March 4, 2005 - Xaverian's 4x400 (3:26.01) team and 4x800 (8:05.79) team won the New England Championships for Indoor Track, a double that is rarely accomplished.
    • 4X400 team: Ben O'Connor, Zack Asack, Chris Fox, Ryan Keough (in order)
    • 4X800 team: Alec Bleday, Mark Amirault, Dan Higgins, Ryan Keough (in order)
  • November 23, 2006 - In their Thanksgiving football game against St. John's Prep, the XBHS team beat their rivals by a score of 34-0 to win the Catholic Conference Championship for the fourth year in a row. The game received national attention when a catch by Xaverian receiver Kevon Mason made ESPN's Sportscenter Top 10 Plays list at Number 4. (History is from www.xbhs.com)

Interscholastic sports

Fall

Winter

Spring

Xaverian Theater

In addition to being known for their athletics, Xaverian's theatrical performances have been in existence since Xaverian first opened in the late 1960s. Since its first production, "Take Time Out" in 1967, the school has been noted for its outstanding performances. Xaverian presents a fall drama, a spring musical, and a sketch comedy show dubbed "XNL."

Notable alumni

References

  1. ^ Consistently appears on the list of best local high schools in Boston magazine.
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