A Message from our Head of School

Dear Friends,

2 We are blessed to have so many wonderful accomplishments to celebrate. I’d like to share just a couple of them. The most notable being the completion of The St. Augustine Center for Social Impact. The addition of this building to our campus provides collaboration space for our students and faculty, meeting space for faculty and administrators, and state-of-theart tools and resources to educate our young Friars. The Center advances STEM to the next level. If Chapel nourishes our spiritual life, the Center celebrates the imagination and elevates the value of inquisitiveness to solve problems for the betterment of humanity.

In addition to the Center, we have transformed the traditional pathways between buildings into a beautifully appointed Quad. Benches and lighting surround our common room and provide a space to strengthen the bonds of Unity, a treasured Augustinian Core Value. As the Christmas Tree in the center of it reminded us of God’s engagement with humanity through the Birth of Christ, the Lenten Cross now recalls the purpose of our Faith, to accept God’s offer of abundant life here and hereafter. Also, with the arrival of warmer weather, I anticipate students, faculty, and administrators enjoying the space as well as hosting events for the entire Malvern Community.

I am grateful for the generous benefactors that have made and continue to make the vision of The St. Augustine Center for Social Impact a reality. When I walk through the Center connecting Sullivan and Carney Halls, I am aware of the integration of the Sciences and Humanities commingling for an independent Augustinian, brain-based, student centered

education -- shaping the character of young Friars to live life with humility and heart.

I want to share with you that the Leadership Team together with the Board of Trustees of our school has chosen the challenging topic of diversity, specifically, racial diversity as our top priority for this and for the next academic year. The Board, Faculty, and Staff have been reading White Fragility by Dr. Robin DiAngelo. On March 12, Malvern hosted an ADVIS (Association of Delaware Valley Independent Schools) event during which Dr. DiAngelo spoke to our Board, Faculty, and Staff and colleagues from other schools. Due to concerns about the Coronavirus, this event was held using remote conferencing technology. I am grateful that we were able to proceed with the event. We have and will continue to discuss this important topic in order that our Inclusivity Statement is not only aspirational but impactful: “Malvern Prep

works proudly in many ways to reflect the diversity of the world and to make clear that all are welcomed, all are valued.”

As I conclude my third year as Malvern’s Head of School, I am excited about what happens every day on campus: educating the minds and hearts of young men who are unique and intentional creations of a loving God. Malvern imparts a way of life offering academic excellence, spiritual grounding, and life-long friendships. What a privilege it is to be part of our beloved school! Be assured of my prayers for you and your family.

In Augustine,

Letters to the Editor

SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS WITH US!

We welcome all readers to give us feedback on this issue or to share story ideas for future issues. All letters to the editor that we receive will be considered for publishing in the next issue of the Malvern Magazine. (Letters are edited for length.)

Letters to the Editor can be mailed to:

Malvern Preparatory School 418 S. Warren Ave. Malvern, PA 19355-2702 Attn: Malvern Magazine or email communications@malvernprep.org.

Q&A with Brian Riley P‘21‘26, Malvern Prep Trustee and Parent

What was your first introduction to the Augustinians? We first met the Augustinians when our son, Jack, enrolled at Malvern Prep. We realized that the Friars were going to be instrumental in our son’s faith formation. In a society where messages can pull our youth into different directions, we began to see the Augustinians as our partners in raising our children in their Christian faith.

What attracted you to choose Malvern Prep for your sons? We were attracted to the concept of brotherhood and community at Malvern, and how the Augustinian values and charism teach our boys about Christ and how to live by his teachings.

What inspired you to financially support the Augustinians? We were curious as to whether our support of Malvern Prep benefited the Friars, so we asked. We found out that it didn’t. The deep appreciation we have for the Friars prompted us to think about what we could do to help them. We want them to live securely and with the knowledge that we place great value on what they have done and continue to do for our sons and for our shared Catholic faith. We established a monthly gift to give them the resources, certainty, and confidence to live and minister. We are committed to doing this for as long as we possibly can.

How has your involvement with the Augustinians and Malvern Prep enriched your life? Christ is at the center of our faith community, and the Augustinians have brought that community to life at Malvern Prep, at Villanova, and to our extended faith community in Philadelphia and beyond. Most people today are not part of such a strong community, and we feel blessed to be welcomed into something so special and unique. We have come to view the Friars not just as leaders in our faith, but as friends.

How important are the Augustinians to the future of Malvern Prep? The Augustinians are an all-important presence in the lives of the boys at Malvern Prep, providing structure and guidance consistent with Christ’s teachings. Malvern Prep’s unique qualities, and its future, depend on a strong Augustinian presence.

Do you view the Augustinians as a key differentiator for Malvern Prep? We could have chosen to send our sons to any number of great schools providing a fine education with a great faculty, great sports, extracurricular activities, and outstanding facilities. We chose Malvern Prep because, unlike the other schools, we knew the Augustinians would provide our sons something far more important—an education in Christ’s teachings and an example of men living a good, decent, Christian life.

Malvern Theatre Society Presents Bye Bye Birdie

The Malvern Theatre Society (MTS) produced fan-favorite Bye Bye Birdie in the fall. The show was incredibly successful, leaving the cast and crew to perform to sold-out audiences!

Teen heartthrob Conrad Birdie, played by Aidan White ‘20, has been drafted, so he chooses all-American girl Kim MacAfee, played by Villa Maria Academy student Corinne Stroup, for a very public farewell kiss. A loving send-up of the early 1960s small-town America, teenagers, and rock & roll,

Bye Bye Birdie remains as fresh and vibrant as ever.

Every aspect of the MTS program is led by students. Members of the program gain experience in the following areas: acting, singing, dancing, costuming, hair design, makeup, lighting design, sound design, set construction, set decorating, ushering, graphic design, and box office management. It truly takes a village to produce these productions.

Congratulations to all the students and faculty members who worked to bring this show to life! mp

Student Talent Shines at Celebration of Learning & the Arts Nights

Malvern Prep students were on hand to demonstrate and

celebrate their thinking, learning, and doing at our Celebration

of Learning & the Arts held in early December. This 'open

campus' evening allowed attendees to choose what they see

and when they see it, while highlighting our Augustinian values

and experiencing a deep sense of community. Eighty-three

students showcased learning in all of its shapes and forms —

from music to visual arts and from science to theology. mp