Our History
Steeped In Tradition
A trip through the hallways at Xavier High School, a stroll through the yearbooks, time spent looking through the many files and boxes in the archives in the back of the library is an education in itself.

A school should make you thirst for knowledge, so exploring Xavier's seven decade history and its many traditions whets the appetite. It also leads to answering many questions and raising others.
We want to learn more about the significance of St. Francis Xavier and all that is in the Xavier crest.
What is the history of the student newspaper? Why is the yearbook named “The Don?”
What were the rules like back in 1963 as compared to now? And just how did Xavier get the nickname Falcons and colors black and white?
Let's find out about the 25th, 40th and 50th anniversaries of the school and the various dedications as the school expanded.
Dust off the archives, dig deep into one’s memory. The answers to more than 20 questions lie in photos, newspaper clippings, yearbooks, files, and the memories of faculty and staff.
As we stroll through the building, it soon becomes clear to keep our eyes open at every turn. You never know what you’ll see in the building. A 9-11 flag. A statue of St. Joseph. A photo of Bro. Celestine. More questions arise. So more answers are needed.
The short history is this: Xavier opened its doors in 1963 and was founded by The Most Rev. Vincent J. Hines, the second bishop of the Diocese of Norwich, pictured above in a groundbreaking ceremony in 1961. It is a Xaverian Brothers' Sponsored School, and at the heart of its mission is this written by St. Irenaeus: "The glory of God is the human person fully alive." Xavier seeks to educate the whole person: spirit, mind and body."
But that is the one-paragraph description. Our stroll down memory lane is divided into multiple parts. This history project originally was published in 2019, but we know history does not stop, so we knew more would have to be written. We had no idea we would be writing about the coronavirus but just added that chapter.
Below are links to the stories, each representing a piece of Xavier's fabulous history. Pick and choose, or read them all over time. Enjoy.
The Planning For Xavier
The Dedication of Xavier
Rules: Then And Now
The School Motto: "Be A Man"
The Xavier Mission: Then And Now
The Xavier Seal
The School Prayer
The Xaverian Values
The Xavier Alma Mater
The Procession At Mass
The Xavier Nicknames And Colors
The Xavier Chapel
Big Falcon-Little Falcon Program
The Don, The Xavier Yearbook
Xavier Publications Over The Years
The Pioneers: St. Francis Xavier
The Pioneers: Theodore James Ryken
The Pioneers: Our Xaverian Brothers
The Pioneers: Our Principals & Headmasters
The Pioneers: Our Fab 5 In Athletics
Xavier Remembers: The 9-11 Flag
Xavier Remembers: The Sandy Hook Memorial Garden
Through The Years: Xavier Dedications
Through The Years: Xavier Anniversaries
Xavier Reacts: The Coronavirus Pandemic
Rick Misenti '72 Becomes the First Alumni to Lead Xavier