From the Head of School
To read about Xaverian’s
X-Ploration Center, pictured
here, go to page 8.
Dear Friends of Xaverian,
s I write this message, we are eight weeks
into our academic year. I know that by the
time this magazine makes its way into your
hands, the picture of daily life at Xaverian may look
drastically different. If we have learned anything from
the COVID-19 pandemic, it is that we must expect the
unexpected. Tat said, I hope you will grant me the
understanding that my words here reflect our current
reality, one in which Xaverian’s doors are open, students
are thriving, and life on Clapboardtree Street has taken
on the usual and comfortable rhythm of the school year.
Tese past eight months have certainly been tumultuous. COVID-19 has frankly turned
the world upside down. Lives have been lost, families have been separated, businesses
have closed, and jobs have been cut. Tese tragedies may seem distant for some, but we
know they are very real and raw for others. To those who are suffering, please know that
you are in our prayers. It has been a difficult and trying time to be sure.
And yet…
And yet, we have had the opportunity to spend quality time with our families.
We have seen the better side of humanity emerge in so many ways, from the first
responders and medical professionals who put their own lives at risk, to the touching
stories of human connections as loved ones find creative ways to bridge their distance.
We have been forced to slow down. To work from home. To skip the commute. To
pause and eat lunch with our children. To go for a walk. And yet, this unique time has
led us to take stock of what is most important in our lives. For those of us at Xaverian,
what’s important is creating the enduring personal relationships that are essential to
our school’s mission.
Strong relationships have powered Xaverian forward since 1963. Tis past spring, they
helped us navigate fully remote education, and this summer, our 118 online summer
programs were essential to keeping us connected. Tese relationships were also essential
fuel for our successful reopening this fall. And they are what keep our community
together, supporting one another, and providing for current and future Hawks. Some
of the strongest relationships come from the bonds of Xaverian brotherhood, and
they certainly run deep for the Class of 2020, our inaugural class of the Francis Xavier
Division (grades 7 and 8). You can read more about them and their unique graduation
on the following page. In this magazine, you’ll also learn about the newest (and most
high-tech) spot on campus, the X-Ploration Center (page 8). Additionally, you will see
the names of 3,221 individuals who generously supported our Xaverian mission this
year.
I have witnessed incredible strength in the Xaverian community over these last eight
months, and I am confident that with God’s grace, together we will not only weather
whatever unexpected challenges befall us, but also turn them into opportunities for
growth and learning.
Respectfully yours,
Jacob A. Conca ’94, Ph.D.
Head of School