Xaverian Viewbook

DO YOU KNOW YOUR OWN STRENGTH? XAVERIAN BROTHERS HIGH SCHOOL

STRONG IS ABOUT MUCH MORE THAN MUSCLES AND WILL.

Strong is about respecting others and yourself. It’s taking responsibility and giving credit where it’s due. Strong is speaking out, and it is also holding back. Strong is doing a favor and not expecting one in return. Strong is doing the right thing even when it’s not popular. Strong is having faith in the face of doubt.

At Xaverian Brothers High School, you will discover the true meaning of strength in an inclusive community where the dignity of each person is respected so that all can thrive. We empower students to achieve beyond their expectations and share their gifts with a world in need.

For over half a century, we have helped to shape strong young men in the best sense of the word. Today, we are more than 10,000 strong.

STRONG IS

THE SPIRIT OF XAVERIAN

IT’S WHAT YOU DON’T SEE THAT MATTERS MOST Spanning across, through, and around the academics, athletics, arts, and extracurricular activities is our “invisible curriculum.” You won’t find it in a textbook. It’s not found in a calculus problem. It’s not in our football team’s playbook.

No, the invisible curriculum (our X-factor, you might say) is found in the respect and the enduring relationships between teacher and student. It’s in a senior’s willingness to give a freshman a helping hand. It’s in the way we greet a visitor. It’s in our credo that we rise by lifting others.

It’s in the small, seemingly insignificant moments—what Theodore Ryken, founder of the Xaverian Brothers, called “the ordinary, unspectacular flow of everyday life”—that a Xaverian man distinguishes himself.

COME AS YOU ARE “Welcoming” and “compassionate” are just two of the many positive words used to describe the personality of our school. From headmaster to the youngest student, Xaverian prides itself on its honest, unpretentious, and

full potential.

XAVERIAN IN A WORD (OR TWO) We asked some students, faculty, and parents to select three words they felt described the personality of the school. Not only are we delighted with the result, but equally encouraging is the fact that adults and students pretty much chose the same words.

But don’t take our word for it, experience Xaverian for yourself. Contact the admissions office to schedule a campus visit!

welcoming

honest devoted

strong

energetic compassionate enthusiastic

disciplined

FEELING LIKE YOU TRULY BELONG

who they are, stretch themselves, and take risks to find and develop their

humble

STRONG IS

caring atmosphere—a place where ALL students feel comfortable to be

intelligent

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HAVING A SOLID FOUNDATION GRADES 7-8: OPPORTUNITY AWAITS The middle school years bring exuberant growth, physically and emotionally. It is a time of great opportunity, and with opportunity comes some risk. How a young person spends his time will shape his chances for success. With the right guidance, the right stimuli, and teaching techniques tailored to boys in seventh and eighth grade, we channel that exuberance to help students engage with the larger world. These years are when students begin discovering their individual interests. They take part in serious conversations about who they are and who they want to be. Whether it’s sports or science, mathematics or music, theater or theology, or all of the above, Xaverian motivates students to explore and learn.

In our Francis Xavier Division classrooms (grades seven and eight), you might say that learning is a moving experience. Engaging young teens’ sensory motor skills heightens the attention span and improves memory.

Our FXD classrooms are stimulating places where students are encouraged to be “hands on,” to talk, work hard, collaborate with their classmates, and use their senses to grasp subject matter thoroughly.

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THE COURAGE TO ASK FOR HELP

EMPOWERED TO FIND THE ANSWERS At Xaverian, you will have a college preparatory curriculum of the highest caliber with state of the art technology and resources that are the ingredients of the best schools and colleges. Admittedly, our academic experience is challenging and not all the answers will come quickly, but help is always there.

Xaverian students are taught to take the initiative. Our academic centers are a powerful resource for students and they are right down the hall. There, teachers from every area of study are ready, willing, and able to help students solve the problem. And no, we won’t do your homework for you, but we will make ourselves available at every turn to help you stay on course, and maybe if you’re up for it, even get to the head of the class. GO FOR IT!

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DEVELOPING A LIFELONG LOVE OF LEARNING

SPARKING IMAGINATION Where there is interest, there is memory, which is why our teachers create thought-provoking, interactive experiences that spark curiosity and imagination. Our engineering students build bridges with straws to understand mass-to-weight ratios. Forensic science students dust for fingerprints and solve crimes (don’t worry; they’re staged crimes).

Students interested in architecture create renderings of famous structures, while those studying French can visit France to see if they can “talk the talk.” All students get to experiment using state-of-theart equipment in our six science labs. And, biology students “go wild” in 1,137 acres of land and water at Hale Reservation. Reality-based, hands-on, and out-of-classroom experiences make learning fun, meaningful, memorable and, whenever possible, adventurous.

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UNDERSTANDING THE FORCES OF NATURE

IGNITING CURIOSITY

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE XAVERIAN SCIENCE PROGRAMS

Since first opening our doors in 1963, the science curriculum at Xaverian has

 Over 20 courses in all branches of science

always been a strong suit. Today, it’s even more robust as students’ interests expand and many plan to study science, technology, engineering, math, and medicine in college. With Advanced Placement courses in subjects like Computer Science, Calculus (AB/BC), Statistics, Physics (1/C), Biology, Chemistry, and Environmental Science, we provide exceptional opportunities for collegiate-level study.

As technology evolves, so does Xaverian, advancing as an innovator with programs like robotics, game design, and “21st Century Science,” a oneyear, project-based life science course focused on subjects like diet/nutrition, infectious diseases, cancer biology, neuroscience, and mental health. All of our students have access to STEM-related curricula and activities.

 C omputer programming in JavaScript, Python, Unity 3D, and Scratch  P artnership with Hale Reservation (1,137 acres of trails and water) for hands-on learning  AP classes available as early as freshman year

 G rade 8 science curriculum, which is textbookfree and focuses on robots, rockets, and health and the human body, and culminates with a group project called “Mission to Mars” in which students research, present, and debate the feasibility of life on Mars

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BEING SEEN AND BEING HEARD WE’RE HERE FOR YOU Every parent knows that the teenage years can be a time of questioning, exploration, and boundary pushing. It’s when a strong support system is critical, and why Xaverian teachers serve as much more than teachers; they are mentors—deep listeners and keen observers who get to know and appreciate each student.

As any explorer will tell you, having an experienced guide will dramatically increase one’s chances of success. Xaverian teachers, of which 96% have advanced degrees, help students see the obstacles as well as the opportunities ahead, advising them on the best course based on their unique abilities. And Xaverian teachers genuinely know where the students are coming from because many of them were once Xaverian students themselves.

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THE ABILITY TO BRING AN AUDIENCE TO ITS FEET

IT’S YOUR CUE Okay, a standing ovation is not an everyday occurrence, but it does happen. Whether it’s art, design, music, public speaking, or theater, this is one area of the Xaverian experience where young men surprise themselves and those around them as they discover new talents. Whatever form of artistic expression you want to try, you’ll have the whole community supporting you. We offer a wide array of avenues for students to express themselves: studio art, sculpting, music business and entrepreneurship, audio production, advanced acting, architecture, beginner guitar and piano, jazz band, film studies, and more. If stand-up comedy is your thing, we’ll find a place for that (just not in class).

The arts are not only a confidence builder for a young man, but art can strengthen every facet of a Xaverian education. Participation in the arts can help students improve academic performance, help them grow socially and emotionally, think more critically, and be more innovative and collaborative. Art helps to build a wide range of higher order thinking skills, the skills required for effective leadership. At Xaverian, every student participates in arts education as they learn that an appreciation for the arts is an important component of being strong young men.

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THE POWER TO LIFT UP AN ENTIRE TEAM

CARRY YOURSELF WITH PRIDE That’s great if you can bench press your weight, but can you lift your team?

Can you put others before yourself? Can you be humble in your victory and graceful in your defeat? Xaverian sports provide an opportunity to play your heart out, to display your athletic prowess, to leave it all on the field, and to show your mettle. At Xaverian, you will learn how to give it your best shot, how to take life as it comes, and how to surprise your opponents with restraint and respect. You will leave every game knowing that, win or lose, you and your teammates carried yourself with pride.

There are plenty of ways to find new athletic skills, hone existing ones, and discover what you’re made of. Xaverian offers 17 sports: alpine skiing, basketball, baseball, cross country, golf, lacrosse, hockey, indoor track, football, rugby, soccer, swimming, tennis, track and field, ultimate disc, volleyball, and wrestling. And, there are no cuts in seventh and eighth grade, so everyone can build a foundation and learn about teamwork.

Xaverian varsity teams compete in the Catholic Conference at the Division 1 level, the most competitive conference in Massachusetts.

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OPENING THE DOOR TO NEW IDEAS

FIND YOURSELF HERE Beyond the obvious recreational benefits, taking up activities and interests opens doors to new worlds, new people, and different ways of thinking. Extracurricular activities add dimension to what students already know while they bring light to undiscovered parts of themselves. In this time of hyper-connectivity, it’s more important than ever that young people are prepared for our multifaceted world. Diving into something new is a great way to expand one’s vision and mindset.

The end of the day at most schools is only halftime at Xaverian. The final bell signals another opportunity for students to explore their interests and enjoy the fellowship of their peers. From board games to business club and computer club to cooking, there over are 40 extracurricular activities available. So everybody can find something to broaden their horizons. It’s no wonder that students like hanging out here…and in Ecuador, Italy, France, and Mexico. Those are just some of the destinations for students studying a language or traveling for community service.

Whether it’s down the hall or around the globe, extracurricular activity is a way to connect and create.

And last but not least, connecting with people is an opportunity to learn how and when to lead, to follow, and to collaborate.

IN HARMONY SMALL THINGS GROW

Xaverian is more than college prep; it’s life prep. Here, students are encouraged to live the values inspired by the Congregation of the Xaverian Brothers—trust, humility, compassion, simplicity, and zeal. For 175 years, Xaverian Brotherssponsored education has shown that these values are timeless and universally

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YOUR WORD, YOUR ACTIONS, YOUR COMMITMENT, YOUR HEART

appreciated. They are not limited to a particular time of day or a place; they are infused into every aspect of student life—in class, on the playing fields, in the hallways, on campus, and in the communities in which we all live and serve.

Following founder Theodore Ryken’s vision, each student is a member of “a band of Brothers who mutually help, encourage, and edify one another, and who work together.” This is the place where brotherhood begins.

The education we provide at Xaverian is rooted in our Catholic identity. We welcome students and families from all faiths and backgrounds, appreciating the richness of diversity. Our inclusive community embraces experiences and perspectives from all walks of life. We look forward to hearing about yours.

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HAVING BROTHERS FOR LIFE

WE ARE 10,000 STRONG When you graduate Xaverian, you will be part of a network that is over 10,000 strong.

Through faith, reflection, and service, students graduate as thoughtful, compassionate, and articulate leaders. Our alumni are making positive changes in every corner of the world—in business, in science, in the arts, in the military, in sports, in government, in the Church, and of course, in their families.

Xaverian men are often called to assume leadership positions. They are “go-to” people who get things done…strong men who collaborate well with others and who know how to harness the talents of those around them to achieve impactful goals. Perhaps you will come to Xaverian to find out just how strong you are. Someday, you too could join the distinguished ranks of strong Xaverian alumni.

800 Clapboardtree Street Westwood, MA 02090

781-326-6392 xbhs.com

SO…HOW DO YOU DEFINE STRONG?