OPEN HOUSE EDITION
OCTOBER 2015
WWW.XHSNEWSPAPER.COM
Michael-Scott Greco
William Jordan Kay
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Mr. Thomas Snyder ’06 MODERATOR
A Note from the Editor By Will Kay ‘16 Each and every year, hours upon hours are put into this publication. We've never been more proud of our staff than we have been this year, who stay up late finishing articles, doing research, and formatting the physical layout of the paper. We do a lot of work, but we do not work unprecedentedly. Xaverian's student newspaper has undergone many changes throughout the years; name changes, an everrotating staff, the like. But how we do our jobs has changed, too. With technology, we are so much more connected than we could have ever imagined. The internet spits information out at speed never before imagined, giving us ample topics to write about. Xaverian's 1:1 computing environment also makes it possible for our staff to compile articles and collaborate in infinitely brilliant ways. From Google Docs to Dropbox, we are as savvy as it comes. While we change the world, there will be plenty to come after us. We pave the way for a whole new generation of the Xaverian Family. While the student body and its demographics change, the zeal that drives this publication will remain a constant. We pride ourselves on coming together to ensure a smooth, professional publication, and that will always be the case with this paper. As Theodore James Ryken said, “In harmony, small things grow.” And so, this paper grows. The spirit of Xaverian grows within each and every one of us, and we try to funnel that into this publication. We remember that although we are not the first, and will not be the last, that what we do is worthy of doing; that we work to a higher goal. And in doing this, we must never forget to be simple, and to be honest, never letting sensationalism get the best of us. In that spirit, I would like to thank you for reading this wonderful edition of The X-Press, and hope that this note gives you the lens through which you can better see how much truly goes into this work.
Xaverian Opens its Doors to All By Michael-Scott Greco '18 “Aiming for excellence is a must, and anything short of that is unacceptable.” Last March, the members of Xaverian's Board of Trustees announced their unanimous decision to expand co-education from the halls of Genesis up to the high school. Xaverian opened its doors to the residents of New York City in 1957, standing tall, with over 15,000 alumni, the giants upon whose shoulders we stand, supporting the advancement and overall betterment of the school. Faculty, students, alumni and administration all want to achieve the same goal: a greater enrichment of education at Xaverian. In May 2014, the Michael T. Strianese '74 STEM Program was introduced to students, providing them some insight into the engineering sectors which will expand over the next few years. This next move by the Board promises only good things, from which only more positive impacts can come and prosper. We, the Xaverian Clippers, walk the halls of the building at 7100 Shore Road each day, iPads in hand, smartphones in pocket, and books in bag. We're teenage boys, attempting to play sports, roasting each other at the cafeteria’s tables and, as students, learning. However, we mustn't forget that outside of our seemingly perfect, needle-resistant bubble, there is this breathing, animate thing… The teenage girl. People don't necessarily want to accept impactful changes on their comfortable lives. Despite this, people also need change, for without it, their lives will soon become dull and generic, like the movies in the Die Hard series. Veteran English teacher, Ms. Harrington, who has spent over two decades teaching at Xaverian, stated “Brothers have sisters.” The brotherhood at Xaverian, a Xaverian Brothers Sponsored School, dates back to the founding year. Every student in our “home away from home” works towards embodying the values of the Brothers each day. These include: humility, zeal, compassion, trust and simplicity. The Brothers’ values and bonds are seen throughout the day, as we, the student body of Xaverian's upper school act together as brothers. The focus of the plan is to build upon three essential areas: enhancing academic achievement, embracing the whole student body, and empowering our future. President Robert Alesi '78 proudly stated, ”We are excited to implement the next phase of our long-range strategic plan to become an even stronger school.”
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