St. John's Preparatory School (Danvers, Massachusetts)

:"This article describes a school in Danvers, Massachusetts. For the similarly named school in Shrewsbury, Massachusetts, see St. John's High School (Massachusetts)."

Infobox Private School
name = St. John's Preparatory School
motto = "Concordia Res Parvae Crescunt" meaning "In Harmony Small Things Grow"
established = 1907
type = Private
religion = Roman Catholic
head_name = Headmaster
head = Dr. Albert Shannon
city = Danvers
state = MA
country = USA
campus = Suburban
enrollment = 1,250 [http://www.stjohnsprep.org/stjohnsprep2.aspx?pgID=878]
faculty = 113
class = 20
ratio = 11:1
year = 2006
SAT = 1216/1600
athletics = Division 1
campus size = 175 acres
colors = Navy blue and white
mascot = Eagle
homepage = [http://www.stjohnsprep.org/ www.stjohnsprep.org]

St. John's Preparatory School is a Catholic, non-boarding, all-boys college preparatory school located in Danvers, Massachusetts. It is located in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Boston. The school was founded in 1907 by the Xaverian Brothers. St. John's was formerly a combination commuter-boarding school but ended its residential program in 1975.

Campus

St. John's Preparatory school is located in the city of Danvers, Massachusetts, about 15 miles (24 km) north of Boston. The school is spread out over 175 acres of wooded, residential land. The student population spends the majority of its time in the two main academic buildings, Xavier Hall (Built 1911; renovated 2004-05) and Brother Benjamin Hall (1964; minor renovations 2007). Other buildings of note include the Administration Building (1880), which includes a small chapel and the Student Commons, a gathering place for students; Ryken Center for the Arts (1916; renovated 1995), a former dormitory building that has been renovated into a fine arts facility; Memorial Dining Hall (1925; renovated in 2007), the cafeteria; Alumni Hall (1965; renovated in 1993), home to the 350-seat Kaneb Theatre; Memorial Gymnasium (1955; renovated 1991); and the state-of-the-art A.E. Studzinski Library(2003), which includes the school's computer labs. Also on the property of St. John's are two homes for Xaverian Brothers, Xaverian House and the Xavier Center, and a function building/trophy room, Griffin Hall

Extracurriculars

Athletics

St. John's was the 2006 winner of the Nasson Award - the Boston Globe's annual Scholastic Awards [ [http://www.boston.com/sports/schools/articles/2006/12/26/competitive_balance_at_st_johns/?page=1 Boston Globe] ] AthleticsSt. John's Preparatory School has a very competitive athletics program, and traditionally has excelled in track and field, football, baseball, wrestling, hockey and rugby. In 2006 their soccer team completed an undefeated season with a record of 22-0-2, captured the Massachusetts Division-1 State Title, and topped it of with a 6th place national ranking. Some of the lesser known spectator sports, such as rugby, wrestling, swimming, fencing, and volleyball, have dominated their respective fields in the state of Massachusetts. The athletic program has a longstanding rivalry with Catholic Conference competitor Xaverian Brothers High School. The other members of the Catholic Conference include Malden Catholic High School, Boston College High School, and Catholic Memorial High School.

Recently, a Boston Globe article described some of St. John's Prep's most stunning accomplishments. [http://www.boston.com/sports/schools/articles/2006/12/26/competitive_balance_at_st_johns/?page=1Link

Recently, Sports Illustrated rated St. John's Prep's athletics number one in the state of Massachusetts.

Clubs and Other Extracurriculars

St. John's is the home of more than 60 clubs and extracurricular activities. While faculty moderators are present many of these groups are run solely by the students. The clubs include serious organizations, such as The Spire yearbook committee, the Concordia newspaper, and the Cicero Society debating club, as well as including fun clubs such as the Improvisation Club and the Aviation Club. Also, many fine arts activities are offered, including after-school music lessons and the award-winning Drama Guild.

History

In 1891, the Xaverian Brothers purchased the Jacob Spring Family Estate, which included 100 acres and three buildings, for $19,500. At this time, the Xaverian Brothers began St. John's Normal College, a school for young men aspiring to become members of the Congregation of the Brothers of St. Francis Xavier.

In 1907 Brother Benjamin, with seven Xaverian Brothers, founded St. John's Preparatory School for young men. The vision was simple: "the full and harmonious development of all the faculties that are distinctive of a person recognizing that learning is an instrument of education, not its end."

According to records, our Headmaster-Principal model has been in effect from the start. While Brother Benjamin guided the administrative finances and construction projects, Brother Thomas conducted St. John's toward a path of academic excellence.

Brother Benjamin's building program began in the fall of 1907, with construction of a wood frame gymnasium which housed the basketball team until the early 1950's. In 1908, the chapel was added to the rear of the Administration Building. To keep pace with school growth, Xavier Hall was built 1910-1911, housing 16 classrooms, a library and reading room, a study hall, an assembly hall, as well as 50 private rooms and a dormitory room for about 80 beds. In 1916, with the resident population rising to 230 and an additional 100 "day hop" students, Ryken Hall opened, named after Theodore James Ryken, founder of the Xaverian Brothers. The building housed 150 students both in private rooms and in an open dormitory. The academic wing contained six large classrooms, study halls, club meeting rooms and recreational facilities. Today the residential wing is gone but the academic wing houses our thriving Center for the Arts.

The first clubs were formed at St. John's under the second headmaster, Brother Norbert C.F.X. The first two clubs were based on national fraternities: Alpha Delta Phi and Kappa Kappa. The two clubs became "great rivals." Sigma Nu formed in 1923 and became such a powerhouse that it hosted three club meeting rooms, a gym of its own, and a bowling alley in the basement of the Ryken dormitory building. After a run-in with the headmaster, Sigma Nu offered to buy the Administration Building. Brother Norbert also oversaw construction of our Gothic-style dining hall building.

In 1926, Brother Edmund earned the distinction of being the first alumnus and former faculty member to become Headmaster of the school. His Brothers recognized his leadership skills and later appointed him President of Xaverian College.

New extracurricular activities, fraternities, and scholastic societies carried St. John's up another rung on the ladder of success under headmaster Brother Ambrose 1929-34. He oversaw the development of our present football stadium, track, tennis courts, and enlargement of the library in the Administration Building.

In 1930 St. John's saw the addition of the Sisters of the Divine Redeemer to the staff. These sisters served as the dietitians and cooks for the students and Brothers for the next twenty-one years. A remarkable group of women, all were born in Germany.

During World War II, students were allowed to graduate in three years plus one summer so that they might contribute to the war effort. This dramatically reduced the student body, so between 1944 and 1947 seventh and eighth grade boys were allowed to attend the school.

Memorial Gymnasium opened in 1955, and it has seen many victories for the Eagles. (The gym will undergo exciting renovations and expansion, as part of the school's "Next Challenge Campaign") The success of the athletic teams during the 1950s - the track and baseball teams for example - got the Prep into newspaper headlines. The talented baseball teams of the late fifties drew many professional scouts to campus.

The tumultuous times of the 1960s saw change at the Prep . In the early 1960s the first capital campaign funded the building of Brother Benjamin Hall and Alumni Hall, both of which were completed during the 1964-65 school year. On May 22, 1965 - fifty years after the dedication of Ryken Hall - Cardinal Cushing dedicated the two new buildings.

During the 1960s St. John's expanded their course offerings and created the independent study program. Another important change that occurred was increased athletic spirit. The 1967 and 1968 football teams were Class B State Champions. These two championships were certainly the beginning of a new age for Prep athletics, which soon added soccer, swimming and other programs that continue to breed success and pride.

In the late 1960s, the Board of Trustees voted to phase out the residential program during the next several years - a difficult decision indeed and one that took a lot of faith and courage. The residential program finally ended in 1975. Another change during the early 1970's was the end of the suit coat and tie dress code, opting for a more casual attire consisting of a button up shirt paired with khaki dress pants.

Changes continued at St. John's during the 1970s. Young men of different faiths entered the school and lay people outnumbered Brothers among the faculty and school leaders. The most unexpected change occurred when the Prep accepted young women due to the closing of two Catholic schools on the North Shore. A short-term decision, urged by the parents of the male students, turned into a wonderfully enriching six-year program which concluded in 1977 that resulted in nearly seventy-five alumnae, many of whom have children that currently attend the school.

During the late 1970s the first official Alumni Office was created to maintain strong contact with the many alumni. The Development Office was also formed to help create support for the school through alumni, parents, and friends.

In 1980 enrollment reached an all-time high surpassing the one thousand mark and causing a much more competitive admissions process. The class of 1980 was the first to graduate with more than 200 members (211).

The 1980's marked the continuation of an impressive string of "championships" for the SJP Drama Guild under the direction of Brother Ronald Santoro, C.F.X. and Headmaster Brother Edward Keefe, C.F.X. hosted the 75th Anniversary Celebration in 1982.

In 1989 Brother William Drinan, C.F.X. succeeded Brother Keefe as Headmaster and he initiated plans for the "Building on the Prep Experience" campaign. As a result of this $3 million initiative and strategic plan, Fine Arts were added to the curriculum in the early 1990's and in 1995, Ryken Hall was renovated into Ryken Center for the Arts with art instruction, gallery space, theater instruction and design studios, along with an entire floor devoted to musical instruction and performance.

The 1997 football team completed their first eleven-win season including a dramatic Thanksgiving Day victory over Xaverian High School and a "Super Bowl" championship. In 1998 St. John's Prep graduated its 10,000th alumnus, just after the school's 90th anniversary celebration. In the 12 years that Brother William Drinan served as headmaster, he saw religion restored as an academic requirement, unparalleled athletic successes and a revitalization of the lay-Xaverian partnership that is the hallmark of Prep excellence. Brother Drinan still serves the school as Headmaster Emeritus.

After a nation wide search in 2001, Albert J. Shannon, Ph.D. was named the 15th Headmaster of St. John's. He became the first Catholic layman to hold the position of Headmaster in the Prep's history. He and his wife, MJ, have brought a continuation of the "Prep Pride" tradition to campus. Late that same year, the Prep received a five million dollar gift in support of academic and facility initiatives at the school. It is believed to be one of the largest non-estate gifts ever received by a New England Catholic School.

The Prep celebrated its 95th Anniversary in September 2002 with a gala celebration that brought alumni, families, faculty and staff together on campus. That same year the school saw the breaking of ground for the new $12 million Academic Resource Center Project, adding 24,000 square feet (2,200 m²) of space, including the A.E. Studzinski Library, featuring the Ozzie Technology Center, and six new classrooms. With this state-of-the-art building, the facilities are able to keep pace with the quality of education and experience at St. John's. The A. E. Studzinski Library and Ozzie Technology Center opened in September 2003 and Brother Benjamin Hall was remodeled with six new science labs(The Carey Science Center), the Ford Family Counseling suite and new academic department offices. Both facilities are equipped with wireless internet access and sophisticated technology resources in keeping with the needs of today's students and faculty.

Xavier Hall reopened in September 2005 following a year of extensive renovations. The revitalized campus landmark stands ready for a second century of service with 31 new state-of-the-art classrooms, a wireless Internet environment, academic department offices, and a new 4,000-square-foot (400 m²) Campus Ministry Center.

In 2007, The Prep commenced its 100th Anniversay Celebration. The celebration included a Mass for alumni, students, and faculty before the year began, and the school newspaper was renamed "The Concordia" in honor of the school's original newspaper publication.

Notable alumni

* Victor Bernson, General Counsel, Executive Office of the President [ [http://www.stjohnsprep.org/profiles.aspx?pgID=1197 Victor Bernson ] ]
* Paul Gorman, Four Star General - Retired.Fact|date=December 2007
* Peter G. Torkildsen, former United States Congressman, Chairman of the Massachusetts Republican Party
* Bo Burnham, comedian. [cite web
url=http://www.comedycentral.com/comedians/browse/b/bo_burnham.jhtml
title=Comedy Central: Comedians: Bo Burnham
publisher=www.comedycentral.com
accessdate=2008-07-07]
*Mark Vitagliano, Senior Account Rep, Health Concepts Partners

ports

* Bob Carpenter, first American-born hockey player to be drafted into NHL out of high school [ [http://www.hockeydraftcentral.com/1981/81003.html 1981 NHL Entry Draft - Bobby Carpenter ] ]
* Rob Konrad, professional football player [ [http://www.databasefootball.com/players/playerpage.htm?ilkid=KONRAROB01 Rob Konrad Past Stats, Statistics, History, and Awards - databaseFootball.com ] ]
* Brian St. Pierre, professional football player [ [http://www.nflplayers.com/players/player.aspx?id=34473 Brian St. Pierre | PLAYERS | NFLPLAYERS.COM ] ]
* James Pedro, Olympic bronze medalist, judo [ [http://www.brainyhistory.com/events/1970/october_30_1970_139507.html James Pedro, Danvers Massachusetts, lightweight judoka, Olympics-bronze-92, 96 October 30 in History ] ]
* Wayne Lucier, former professional football player [ [http://www.nfl.com/players/playerpage/396023 NFL Players ] ]
* Matt Antonelli, baseball player for Wake Forest; first-round draft pick, San Diego Padres [ [http://wakeforestsports.cstv.com/sports/m-basebl/mtt/antonelli_matt00.html Player Bio: Matt Antonelli :: Baseball ] ]
* Peter Giunta, secondary coach, New York Giants [ [http://www.giants.com/team/coach.asp?coach_id=20 Coach - Giants.com ] ]
* Paul Sorrento, professional baseball player [ [http://www.thebaseballcube.com/players/S/Paul-Sorrento.shtml Paul Sorrento Statistics - The Baseball Cube ] ]
* John McCarthy, Boston University hockey; draft pick, San Jose Sharks [ [http://www.boston.com/sports/schools/allscholastics/winter2004/boys_hockey_04/ Boston.com / Sports / High school / Globe All-Scholastics / 2004 Winter Globe All-Scholastics / boys_hockey ] ]
*Steven D. Langton, current member of U.S. National Bobsled Team [http://www.usbsf.com/SteveLangton.pdf] /
*Jonathan Goff, football defensive captain, Vanderbilt University, Pick 30, Round 5 (165th overall) New York Giants, 2008

References

13. ^http://vucommodores.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/goff_jonathan00.html

External links

* [http://www.stjohnsprep.org/ Official website]
* [http://www.xaverianbrothers.org/ Xaverian Brothers Official Website]