Xavier High School (New York City)

Xavier High School

"Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam'"
For the Greater Glory of God
Address
30 West 16th Street
New York (Chelsea, Manhattan)
New York 10011, United States
Coordinates 40°44′17″N 73°59′42″W / 40.738173°N 73.994886°W / 40.738173; -73.994886Coordinates: 40°44′17″N 73°59′42″W / 40.738173°N 73.994886°W / 40.738173; -73.994886
Information
Type Private
Religious affiliation(s) Roman Catholic
Patron saint(s) St. Francis Xavier
Established 1847 (1847)
Founder Rev. John Larkin, S.J.
Sister school Notre Dame School
Oversight Society of Jesus
President John R. Raslowsky II
Headmaster Michael LiVigni
Chaplain Rev. Ralph Rivera S.J.
Faculty 72
Grades College (until 1912) and Ninth grade-Twelfth grade
Gender Boys
Enrollment 1,044 (2010-2011[1])
Campus Urban
Color(s) Maroon and Blue          
Slogan "Men and women for others..."[2]
Song "Sons of Xavier"
Athletics 15 sports
Athletics conference CHSAA New York section
Sports Fall Sports: Football, Soccer, Cross Country, Swimming and Diving, Fall Baseball, Winter Sports: Basketball, Hockey, Wrestling, Indoor Track, Swimming and Diving, Spring Sports: Baseball, Rugby, Outdoor Track, Lacrosse, All Year JROTC Sports: Rifle Team, Raiders, Drill Team
Mascot Knight
Team name Knights
Rival Regis High School (Manhattan, NYC)
Fordham Preparatory School (Bronx, NYC)
Accreditation Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools[3]
Publication Lexicon (literary journal)
Newspaper The Review
Yearbook The Evening Parade
Endowment $41 million
Affiliation Jesuit Secondary Education Association, National Catholic Education Association, New York State Association of Independent Schools
Dean of Academics Luciano Lovallo
Dean of Faculty Brian McCabe
Dean of Students Kevin Jacobsen
Admissions Director Jonathan Cambras
Athletic Director Anthony Paolozzi
Senior Army Instructor LTC Roy Campbell
Website xavierhs

Xavier High School is an independent Jesuit university-preparatory high school for young men located at 30 West 16th Street, in the Chelsea neighborhood of Manhattan, New York City. It was founded in 1847, as the College of St. Francis Xavier (also known as St. Francis Xavier College[4]) by Father John Larkin, S.J.

The school draws students from all five boroughs of New York City, as well as New Jersey, Connecticut, Nassau County, Suffolk County, Westchester County, Rockland County, and Orange County.

Xavier is joined by Regis High School, Fordham Preparatory School, Loyola School, and St. Peter's Preparatory School as the five Jesuit high schools in the New York City metropolitan area; a sixth, Brooklyn Preparatory School, closed in 1972.[5]

Xavier has maintained its Jesuit and academic traditions despite significant changes during its history. Xavier challenges students to think critically and to become "men for others." Though tuition has risen in recent years, a substantial percentage of the cost for each student's education is covered by donations from alumni.

History

The school was founded in 1847 by Father John Larkin, S.J., a professor at St. John's College in Rosehill Manor, then in Westchester County, now a part of the Borough of the Bronx, and which later became Fordham University. It taught boys from the age of eight to twenty-one. The Regents of the University of the State of New York chartered Xavier in 1861.<ref name=XHS /[6]

A military training unit began at the school in 1886 under the direction of the National Guard, and membership became mandatory in 1892. Five years later, collegiate and secondary studies were separated into different departments, and the college level department was closed in 1912. The Regiment became a Junior ROTC unit in 1935, and the school was declared a military institute in 1968, offering four years of military science and training which would be recognized upon enrollment in any branches of the United States Military. Participation in military studies was declared optional in 1971.[7]

In 2004, Xavier announced the appointment of Dr. Joseph Gerics as the first lay headmaster in the school's history, following former headmaster Fr. David S. Ciancimino's appointment as Socius (Councilor) to the Provincial Superior for the Jesuit Province of New York. In 2006 Michael LiVigni replaced Gerics as the school's second lay headmaster.

The Ignatian identity of the school has been affected by the declining number of Jesuits at the school. Xavier's lay faculty have consistently renewed themselves to the mission of Ignatian Spirituality, contributing to an increase in the number of students able to intelligently articulate the school's mission.

On June 25, 2007, Father Daniel J. Gatti, S.J. '59, announced the end of his unprecedented 12-year term as Xavier's 32nd President. On Friday, January 4, 2008, the Board of Trustees announced that Francis J. Morison '58 was elected as interim president. He was to assume office on August 1, 2008, but, due to health concerns, was unable to assume the presidency.[8] Morison died in February 2010. With the permission of his superiors, Gatti was allowed to remain in the office of president. On June 17, 2009, the Board of Trustees announced that John R. Raslowsky II would succeed Gatti. Raslowsky assumed office on July 2 of that year.

Academics

The school has reinforced its commitment to social justice by refocusing its fourth year religion curriculum to include a half year required course on social justice and by instituting a freshman service program to First Fruits Farm . Xavier offers numerous honors classes and thirteen Advanced Placement classes, some of which are available as early as sophomore year, including Biology, Calculus AB, English Language and Composition, English Literature, European History, Italian, Spanish, French, Arabic, Latin, Physics, Comparative Government and Politics, U.S. History, and World History. In senior year, the school also offers a course devoted to the study of film history called "Elements of Cinema".

Admissions

Admission to Xavier is based on the admission exam results (TACHS, CHSEE, COOP, ISEE), the Xavier application, a teacher recommendation, and the academic records of the student from grades 7 and 8. Xavier offers a spend-a-day program for prospective eighth graders called Knight For A Day.

Admission for transfer students is handled on a case-to-case basis.

Financial aid

Over 1.8 million dollars in financial aid is administered to approximately 30% of the student body at Xavier High School. In addition, Xavier offers Merit Scholarships to students who demonstrate a strong academic background.

Campus ministry

Xavier an active Campus Ministry department, which organizes liturgies, retreats and community service programs. Campus Ministry has recently revised its retreat program, renewing the freshman retreat, instituting a sophomore overnight retreat and moving the Kairos retreat to the junior year. The Magis retreat, available to seniors, offers seniors the opportunity to experience an adult retreat in the Ignatian tradition.

The "Companions of St. Francis Xavier", or "CFX", another Campus Ministry program, organizes service trips that send groups of student volunteers for a few weeks during the summer to help build homes for people in need in Maryland, Tennessee, Alabama, and Mexico. The program also raises money each year to assist the sponsor organizations at the places of service. The group in Maryland works with First Fruits Farm , Tennessee works with Habitat for Humanity, while the group in Tijuana, Mexico, works with Esperanza International. There are also community service opportunities for all sophomores, juniors, and seniors.

Athletics

Xavier, a CHSAA member, provides its students the opportunity to pursue a wide variety of sports: baseball, basketball, bowling, cross-country, football, golf, hockey, indoor/outdoor track and field, rugby, soccer, lacrosse, swimming, tennis, and wrestling. Other extracurricular activities include boxing club, choir, speech and debate, chess team, anime, film, science fiction, and skiing /snowboard clubs, school newspaper, The Review, drama productions, and the Blue Night Jazz Band. The Blue Night Band won best trombone section at the 2010 Villanova University Big Band Festival.

Xavier's current mascot is a knight, and all of its athletic teams are referred to as the Knights. However, for many years, the teams were called the Cadets, a reflection of Xavier's military program, while a terrier was used as a mascot. After a variety of replacements, including the 1980s Bruins, the nickname of the Knights was decided upon in the early 1990s and has been official since.

Football

The Xavier Football program began in the late 19th century. It has a continued rivalry with the Bronx's Fordham Preparatory School. The two schools compete in an annual "Turkey Bowl", the oldest high school football rivalry in New York City.[9] Their very first game against one another took place in the late 19th century when the game was called due to darkness, ending in a tie. Many of these football matches were played at Manhattan's famed Polo Grounds, until its demolition.

Rugby

Rugby is a popular sport a Xavier. Rugby has varsity status, and fields four teams with over 125 players.[10] Xavier has fielded one of the top rugby teams in the United States since the club's founding in 1976.[11] The team achieved an undefeated season in 2007, winning the Tier B National Championship Tournament. The Xavier Rugby Team also won National Championship Tournaments in 1985 and 1993 and has won the East Coast/Northeast US Championship Tournament every year from 2000 to 2009. The team won their 4th National Championship on May 22, 2010. They defeated Gonzaga 32-10 to win the Boy's National High School Championship.

Track

The Freshman Track and Field team won the indoor and outdoor 2009 CHSAA Intersectional Championships, the first time in team history.[12] In 2010, the team defended their outdoor victory as sophomores. The Track and Field team competed in the Nationals track meet in Greensboro, North Carolina and finished fifth in both the 4 by 100 and 4 by 200 meter relay, earning Emerging Elite Metals.[13] In June 2012, Edward Wagner, a Xavier track and field athlete became the school's first to earn All-America honors during the outdoor season with a 4th place overall finish in the 400 meter hurdles at the National Championship.[14]

Other sports

In 1859 the College of St. Francis Xavier and St. John's College (now Fordham University) played the first collegiate level baseball game, featuring the new nine-man team style of play. Fordham won the game 33-11.[15]

Buildings of Xavier High School

Xavier High School's JV Soccer team won the CHSAA Intersectional Championship in both 2008 and 2009.[16]

JROTC

Xavier High School offers an Army Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps unit, known as "The Regiment", which is available to students in all grade levels. Before 1972, the Regiment was a mandatory piece of Xavier education, and thus helped to label Xavier as Manhattan's unofficial Military School. Many notable alumni have been former cadets in the Regiment, including Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia, who spoke to the Regiment at a recent award ceremony, recounting the important role that the Regiment played in kindling his growth as a student and cementing the ideals that Xavier instilled in him.[17]

Colonel Anderson of the Eastern Region Command called the Xavier Regiment one of "the top five in the Northeast".[18] Under the leadership of LTC Roy E. Campbell, US Army (ret.), it achieved a school record overall score of 99.2 in the 2005 inspection. During its Army Formal Inspection on April 28, 2011, Xavier achieved a score of 99.1.[19] The Regiment marches annually in the St. Patrick's and Columbus Day parades. Xavier's Regiment has four extracurricular teams: the Rifle Team, the Raider Unit, the X-squad and the Saber Guard. The X-Squad and Saber Guard are a part of Xavier's regimental drill team, the former being established in 1937. X-Squad being the armed portion and the Saber Guard being the unarmed portion. They compete in local competitions in New York and New Jersey, as well as the National High School Drill Team Championship and Army Nationals. Formerly known as the Black Jacks, the Raiders are the Regiment's physical fitness team. They compete annually in the Raider Challenge and the Commander's Cup. The Rifle Team, one of the three oldest sports teams at Xavier, competes nationally in postal matches, as well as regional tournaments. During parades, the Rifle Team, Raiders, Saber Guard, X-squad and the Blue Night Band, Xavier's jazz band, march alongside the Regiment. As a unit, it has twice has been named best high school marching unit in the St. Patrick's Day Parade.

Notable people

Alumni
Faculty

In popular culture

Xavier High School has been used in several television shows and movies, including:

See also

References

Notes
  1. ↑ 2010 Annual Report
  2. ↑ "Mission Statement" on the Xaxier High School website
  3. ↑ MSA-CSS. "MSA-Commission on Secondary Schools". Retrieved 2009-05-27.
  4. ↑ NY Times article, published 1862
  5. ↑ Brooklyn Prep Alumni Association. "History of Brooklyn Prep".
  6. ↑ "History". Xavier High School.
  7. ↑
  8. ↑ "School Mourns Loss of Frank Morison ’58". Xavier High School. Retrieved 12 February 2013.
  9. ↑ Robinson, Joshua (November 24, 2010). "A Turkey Day of Prep Pigskin". The Wall Street Journal.
  10. ↑ "USA's Mike Petri says tier two rugby needs more games against elite teams", ESPN, October 12, 2015.
  11. ↑ Xavier Rugby, Xavier High School. Accessed November 30, 2007.
  12. ↑ 2009 track
  13. ↑ 2010 track
  14. ↑ 2012 track
  15. ↑ The New York Times, April 6, 2009, p D7
  16. ↑ Soccer
  17. ↑ " ". Xavier High School.
  18. ↑ Bios
  19. ↑ Benigno, Michael (20 April 2011). "Xavier Regiment Retains the Gold Star". Xavier Alumnews. Retrieved 11 December 2011.
  20. ↑ COLONEL DONALD COOK SQUARE, New York City Department of Parks and Recreation. Accessed November 27, 2007.
  21. ↑ via Associated Press. "Joseph F. Finnegan, Ex-Director Of U.S. Mediation Service, Dies; Lawyer Held Federal Post From 1955 to 1961, Then Headed State Board", The New York Times, February 13, 1964. Accessed July 9, 2009.
  22. ↑ "Biography.com article on Bobby Flay"; video footage at 06:30-06:38 shows Flay at school track event wearing team shirt. Accessed October 16, 2013.
  23. ↑ Cornelius Augustine McGlennon, Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Accessed October 2, 2007.
  24. ↑ Robert J. Reiley, AIA Architect Roster Questionnaire, 1946, 1953 (Accessed 11 January 2011)
  25. ↑ Al Roker Biography, The Biography Channel. Accessed November 18, 2007. "After graduating from Xavier High School in Manhattan, Roker studied communicatons [sic] at State University of New York at Oswego, where he got his first shot at weathercasting."
  26. ↑ Santos, Fernanda."Who's That Guy? Without Robes, Grand Marshal Is Mystery", The New York Times, October 11, 2005. Accessed November 3, 2007. "Justice Scalia, 69, had marched at the parade once before, five decades ago as a student at Xavier High School in Chelsea."
  27. ↑ O'Neill, Patrick. "Catholic pacifist pro-life activist dies", National Catholic Reporter, November 9, 2007. Accessed September 17, 2008.
  28. ↑ "Obituary: Robert F. Trehy". Centre Daily Times. November 24, 2009.
  29. ↑ Peacemaker
  30. ↑ New Kids
  31. ↑ Premium Rush
  32. ↑ Winning Season

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