Pictured above: Michael and Matthew Hayes - first day of school 2014;
Kevin Prata, Alex Di Martino, Brian Hayward, Cam Tullie - first day of school 2014;
Michael Collins and Patrick Butler at Hale Reservation 2014
Opposite page: Louis DiPietro
Te Class of 2020 made the Xaverian values
their own. Teir strong spirited sense of
community, their abiding friendships, and
many successes in academics, the arts, athletics,
and Christian service have earned them a
special place in Xaverian history.
BROTHER DANIEL SKALA, C.F.X.
between the middle and high school. Mr. Brennen remarks, “Students in
the FXD are not second-class members of the community. Tis special
quality of the FXD helps fully integrate the students into the Xaverian
community as quickly as possible.” Mr. McGilvray echoes this sentiment,
emphasizing the positive effect of an FXD education on a Xaverian student’s
next four years of high school. “FXD students have the advantage of
taking challenging classes, early exposure to campus ministry and service
opportunities, and are more confident that they can be successful Xaverian
high school students,” he says. “Not having the high school be this big
mystery sets these young men up for success.”
It’s a poetic coincidence that the Class of 2020 should start and end
their collective Xaverian experience as true trailblazers. Teir legacy as
a graduating class will not just be as the inaugural veterans of the FXD
program, but also as the class who finished the final lap of their senior year
during the COVID-19 pandemic. As Mr. Brennen notes, many students
missed their final sports season at Xaverian or were not able to perform in
XLI CLASS OF 2020
their final play, yet even through every unexpected roadblock of 2020, the
historic graduating class showed true leadership. In Brother Dan’s words,
“Te Class of 2020 made the Xaverian values their own. Teir strong
spirited sense of community, their abiding friendships, and many successes
in academics, the arts, athletics, and Christian service have earned them
a special place in Xaverian history. Tey served as leaders through the
devastating pandemic and right up until their graduation. I am so proud
of the Class of 2020, and I am looking forward to seeing them fulfill their
dreams in the years ahead.”
Winter 2021 Xaverian Magazine 5