The Xavier Summer Tour concluded as it began, with a series of wonderful events. On August 21, Steve ’75 and Nancy Vincent hosted over 40 alumni, ranging from classes in the 1940s to the 1990s, at their home in Quogue. On Saturday, August 23, Joe and Betsy Gorski and Mark and Jill Mongelluzzo welcomed over 30 alumni to the Black Cat in Hyannis for our Cape Cod reception. Dan’ 57 and Irma Rodriguez graciously underwrote the Black Cat reception. The summer tour concluded with Drinks at Xavier in the Tirelli Quad on Wednesday, August 27. Hosted by the Xavier Business Council (XBC) over 100 alumni, faculty, staff and parents were present. Once again there was a great turnout of more recent graduates and it was a treat to have them back on campus. Our thanks to all who came out to celebrate Xavier this summer.

The 48th Jesuit Higher Achievement Program concluded with graduation in the Church of St. Francis Xavier on July 31, the feast of St. Ignatius Loyola. Graduation was a wonderful celebration of HAP. After HAP concluded Coach Joe McGrane once again led the Xavier basketball and sports camps for 5th through 9th grade students over two consecutive August weeks. The basketball camp had 70 campers and the sports camp had 40. Mr. McGrane noted: “Both camps were terrific. There was a significant amount of teaching at skill stations and games were played with great intensity. The sports camp had our very own Aidan Byrne, Kevin Kelly and Shawn Rafferty as instructors. There were 3 dynamic lecturers during the week highlighted by Xavier’s former freshman coach Koby Altman who is now the Director of Player Personnel for the Cleveland Cavaliers. The campers loved the NBA Q and A session!”

As summer winds down, many of our physical plant projects are drawing to conclusion. Halls have been painted, floors waxed and new furniture installed. The Larkin/Hurtado Hall project is nearly complete: the new floor has been installed and waxed. It looks terrific. New chairs for the cafeteria were delivered on Thursday. We await the new tables and high tops. The construction documents for the 15th St. building have been completed and are being reviewed by the Xavier architects, engineers, consultants and administrators. The project will go out to bid in September. Early August saw the Jesuit community gave to the high school the third floor of Old Stone Building for school use. The space formerly housed the Jesuit dining room and Jesuit community chapel. With the renovation of the Jesuit community space that was completed in January the Jesuit community no longer needed the Old Stone space and gifted that space to the school. For the upcoming school year the former dining room will be used as a student Commons and the former chapel will be used as a classroom. There is also a new bathroom for school use on that floor. The space is been newly painted, new lights installed and is ready to receive students. The first two floors of Old Stone have new air-conditioning, the gym and Common gym floors of been refinished and the plant is ready for action.

On August 19 and 20, the Xavier leadership gathered at Loyola Jesuit Center in Morristown for an annual retreat. Father Joseph Marina, S. J., pastor of the Church of St. Francis Xavier and former Xavier High School board member, led the retreat. Mark Mongelluzzo, director of development, when asked about his time in Morristown commented, “It was a terrific experience. The chance to be away with colleagues, to have an opportunity to pray and to share our experience was a real gift. Father Marina’s talks opened up new insights for us all into Ignatian spirituality. I’m very grateful for the opportunity to start the new year this way.”

The fall sports season is underway with both the JV and varsity football teams away at Camp Timber Lake West in Roscoe, NY, home of the world famous Roscoe Diner. The soccer team is also at Camp Timber Lake for the first-ever Xavier soccer experience. Cross-Country has been making their traditional first week rounds to the great New York running sites including Central Park, Prospect Park and Van Cortlandt Park. Not only do they get great places to run they also get to see a lot of Manhattan, Brooklyn and the Bronx! The newest members of the Xavier faculty are on campus for their orientation August 27, 28 and 29. New faculty orientation is coordinated by our Dean of Faculty, Mr. Brian McCabe. Labor Day week will see opening faculty meeting, orientation for all students and the first day of classes followed by the Mass of the Holy Spirit on Friday, September 5.

Plans are well underway for a great Xavier Hall of Fame celebration at Pier 60 on Friday, November 7. The summer Xavier magazine contains info on the Hall of Fame honorees and outstanding articles on Xavier athletics. If you have not received your magazine in the mail by Monday, please contact Ms. Norma Piecyk at piecykn@xavierhs.org and we will get you a copy.

We will be back to the weekly E-News schedule while school is in session starting next week. Have a great Labor day weekend, and for all our alumni and parents with school age children, a wonderful start to school.