A
Xaverian education is based on the values of the
Xaverian Brothers—humility, trust, simplicity,
compassion, and zeal—while providing an exceptional
education for young men. Grounded in this mission is
the understanding that what comprises an exceptional
education for young men must evolve with the times and
with technology, while holding fast to these core Xaverian
values. In today’s world, that means embracing creativity and
providing hands-on learning opportunities that utilize cutting-
edge technology to encourage critical thinking, risk taking,
collaboration, and resiliency.
With the new Strengthening Minds, Empowering Creativity
initiative, Xaverian continues to provide exactly these types of
learning opportunities through enhanced curriculum, additional
technology, and new community partnerships. Funding for
the initiative is geared toward three primary areas: theater
sound and lighting technology upgrades, fine arts curriculum
development and implementation, and the launch of a new
creativity lab to complement the existing modern science
and computer labs and generate additional active-learning
opportunities across all disciplines. With this renewed focus,
we seek to cultivate an appreciation for the fine and performing
arts from grades 7-12 while providing the next generation of
leaders with confidence and competence in science, technology,
engineering, and math.
THEATRICAL LIGHTING AND
SOUND SYSTEM UPGRADE:
Our students love experiential learning. Look no further than the theater
on any given afternoon, and you will find young men tinkering with
lights, running cables, and testing microphones. These students are
preparing sound and lighting for Xaverian’s next theatrical production.
It’s a big task. Their creativity in lighting design and technical knowledge
in sound engineering set the mood for the show. But what happens when
the technology available doesn’t meet the need? Suddenly the bounds of
our students’ imagination hits its limit.
In order to equip our students for the best hands-on experience in our
theater program, Xaverian aims to upgrade the current lighting system
from analog to a digital, LED system, and replace the outdated sound
system. Additionally, the stationary lighting trusses will be replaced
with mechanical trusses that can be lowered to the ground. For the
first time, this would allow our students the opportunity to hang
the lights themselves. Not only do these enhancements provide the
best experiential learning, but they will literally light up many future
productions while enhancing the audio and visual experience for our
actors, stage hands, and audiences.
This new initiative will help us take
the curriculum to the next level. We
will challenge our students to reach
farther so that they can find out what
they’re truly capable of when they are
given the finest tools available paired
with the encouragement to try. We
want them to take the foundational
knowledge that they acquire and
go one step further to apply that
knowledge. When they do, their
learning is authentic, it’s innovative,
and it’s lasting.
Steve Dacey ’95, Assistant Principal for Teaching
and Learning
STRENGTHENING MINDS
EMPOWERING CREATIVITY
2 www.xbhs.com