Fairfield College Preparatory School
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| Motto | Per Fidem Ad Plenam Veritatem |
|---|---|
| Established | 1942 |
| Type | Private |
| Affiliations | Jesuit (Roman Catholic) |
| President | Rev. John J. Hanwell, S.J. |
| Chairman | John E. Callies |
| Principal | Dr. Robert A. Perrotta |
| Dean | Mr. John Brennan |
| Founder | The Jesuits |
| Faculty | 105 |
| Students | approx. 920 |
| Grades | 9-12 |
| Location | 1073 North Benson Road, Fairfield, Connecticut, United States |
| Campus | Suburban |
| Mascot | Jesuit |
| Yearbook | Hearthstone |
| Newspaper | Zeitgeist |
| Website | The Fairfield Prep Website |
Fairfield College Preparatory School (Fairfield Prep) is a Jesuit, Catholic high school, located on the campus of Fairfield University in Fairfield, Connecticut, United States. It is an all male school of about 900 students. It was first founded by the Society of Jesus in 1942. Operating with the approbation of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Bridgeport, Fairfield Prep is self-sufficient with no diocesan or government financial assistance.
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[edit] History
In 1942, the Provincial of the New England Province of the Society of Jesus was invited by Bishop McAuliffe of Hartford to establish a Jesuit high school and college in Fairfield County. The Provincial, Father John McEleney, (later Archbishop) purchased 200 acres of land overlooking Long Island Sound in the town of Fairfield. The original Jennings mansion became McAuliffe Hall, the first classroom building, and the Lashar mansion became Bellarmine Hall, the first Jesuit residence. The first graduating class of 1943 consisted of eleven young men.
By 1946, the school's enrollment was approaching 800 and two new buildings, Xavier and Berchmans, were on the drawing boards. 1947 also marked the establishment of Fairfield University.
Through the fifties, enrollment remained by design between 800 and 900 students. In the meantime, the University expanded rapidly and the original campus of two buildings and fifty students grew into the campus of today, with twenty-four buildings and over 3,000 students.
Today, Fairfield Prep has an enrollment of 896 students. It conducts classes in Xavier Hall, Berchmans Hall and Pedro Arrupe Hall. The growth of the University has opened up to Prep a host of new facilities: The Nyselius Library, the Recreation Complex with its indoor swimming pool, basketball, racquetball, and tennis courts, the Quick Center for the Arts, and the Egan Chapel of St. Ignatius of Loyola.
[edit] Academics
Fairfield Prep is known for its rigorous academic schedule. All students must take four years of Mathematics, Theology, and English. History and Science must be taken for three years, with the option of taking a fourth course senior year as an elective. A course known as Guidance Seminar must be taken all four years as well, but is worth no credits. Many teachers at Fairfield Prep, including the infamous Geraldine Knapik, are also professors at Fairfield University, adding to the school's theme of preparing for college. Students are typically scheduled to have six classes per day, operating on a seven-day rotating schedule cycle.
[edit] Student Life
Fairfield Prep draws students from several towns in Connecticut and New York. Approximately one-third of the school commutes by way of Metro North. More than half of the student body resides in Fairfield, CT.
Students often have 'free periods' during breaks in the school day, in which they are free to study or utilize various facilities found on the campus of Fairfield University, but are not permited to leave campus as of 2007. Students are often found in the Academic Center, which contains a small library, computer stations, and several tables used for school work. The Academic Center is located in Pedro Arrupe Hall.
Students are able to lounge in the Berchman Hall cafeteria where breakfast and lunch is available to the students. Students often purchase lunch from Mike's Pizza, a small Italian restaurant found in the Fairfield University building, The Levee.
[edit] Athletics
Fairfield College Preparatory School is well known for their successful athletic program. They are part of the Quinnipiac Division in the Southern Connecticut Conference.
Fairfield Prep has been known for its very successful hockey program in the past five years. In 2007, Prep won its third state title in four years by beating cross-town rival Notre Dame of Fairfield. In 2008, Prep once again beat Notre Dame of Fairfield in the State Finals, giving them their fourth state title in five years and their second consecutive title. (The score of the 2007 game was 3-2 in overtime, and the score of the 2008 game was 5-3) Coach Matt Sather has now won six state titles in his nine years as head coach of the varsity hockey team.
In 2007, Prep enjoyed its most successful swim season finishing the year 15-0. The Prep swim season culminated in decisive victories at the SCC Championship and the Class L State Championship. The 2008 Prep Swim Team went 15-0 in the regular season, but lost to Greenwich in the Class LL Championship. In addition, they finished 3rd in the State Open.
Prep's lacrosse program is also one of the top in the state, winning the Class-L state championship in 2006, 2007, and 2008. The 2006 title was over Norwalk, the 2007 was over Greenwich, and the 2008 title was a 15-14 triple-overtime thriller over Ridgefield. In addition, Prep was ranked nineteen in the country by a 2008 preseason poll by Inside Lacrosse [1]
The Fairfield Prep rugby program has come in third place in the Northeast the past two years.
Prep's rivals include Notre Dame of West Haven, Notre Dame of Fairfield, Shelton, Xavier, and Greenwich.
[edit] Notable Alumni/Former Students
- Bob Skoronski '52 - Greenbay Packer; Offensive Captain Super Bowls I & II
- Sean McManus '73 - President CBS News and CBS Sports
- Kevin Heffernan '86 - Actor/Comedian/Film Writer (Broken Lizard)
- Peter Sarsgaard '89 - Actor
- Chris Drury '94 - Professional Hockey Player
- Justin Long '96 - Actor
- William J. Lavery '55 - Chief Court Administrator, former Chief Judge, Connecticut Appellate Court
- Mike McGlone '91 - Actor
[edit] Notable Former and Current Faculty
- John McLaughlin - Television talk show host and advisor to President Richard Nixon
- Francis A. Sullivan - Jesuit theologian and ecclesiologist
