President's Page

Welcome from John

Welcome to Malden Catholic! We are so excited – and delighted - that you are ready to take an adventure with us, as your child moves through one of the most formative stages of his or her life. The high school years, like no other time, set the foundation for a future of promise, and we know that the Malden Catholic experience will allow your teen to explore the widest range of possibilities that lay before him or her.

We know this because Malden Catholic has been transforming students’ lives in the Xaverian tradition for over 85 years. We offer an outstanding and unique educational model that provides students with an ideal environment for success. We provide an excellent academic program which is designed to be sensitive to individual needs. We inspire students to discover new talents and interests through exciting extracurricular opportunities. Plus, we take pride in developing the character and leadership skills along with a moral compass for every one of our graduates. Let’s take a look at what makes Malden Catholic different from other schools.

First, we deliver our academic program in a codivisional environment. This model features single-gender academic programs in separate divisions for boys and girls. Boys study with boys; girls study with girls. Faculty are able to tailor curriculum to the needs and interests of young men and women, while providing a learning environment free of distractions, where students can form strong, enduring, personal relationships that feel like a brotherhood and a sisterhood. The codivisional model also allows for social interactions between boys and girls before and after school as well. This unique educational model does indeed offer the best of both worlds!

Next, we offer an excellent academic and leadership-based foundation. With close to 20 Advanced Placement classes, a nationally recognized STEM and Project Lead the Way (PLTW) program, and an outstanding faculty, students find an academic experience that calls forth the best in each individual. Known for rigorous academics, Malden Catholic intends both to inspire and to challenge, not to overwhelm. Our multiple levels of instruction help us meet this objective. Here, students with widely varying abilities can thrive. Our faculty also support this goal by striving to build transformative learning relationships with each student. We are proud that over half of MC’s Class of 2020 were accepted into the Top 100 Colleges and Universities as identified by U.S. News & World Report; and over 80% of our students graduate from a four-year college, as compared to the 60% national rate.

To complement our top-tier academics, we offer over 40 different extracurricular opportunities for our students. From high-quality athletic programs to a wide variety of clubs and activities, we take pride in developing the whole student. Over 80% of our 9^th-graders participate in athletics, and we offer an end-of-day “club period,” so all students can participate in their activity of choice. We have also embedded Center for Leadership programming within the school day, so MC students can expand their leadership capacity. These extracurricular opportunities create well-rounded teens who can pursue their personal interests and develop critical skills they can use in the future. Malden Catholic is place where lives are changed beyond what you can imagine!

Finally, what sets us apart is the character of a Malden Catholic graduate. We believe that our Xaverian traditions form a faith-based and life-changing environment. Vital Campus Ministry, liturgical and service programs support this belief. Studies have shown that students who grow in a faith environment develop a better self-image, perform better academically, and are more persevering. We understand that providing opportunities for young people to grow in their faith allows them to become the best version of themselves during their time at Malden Catholic. As one of our graduates recently commented, “I carry MC in my heart wherever I go, and it is what made me into the person that I am today.”

My prayer is that your student will join us at Malden Catholic for their high school journey. We would love to partner with you during these important, transformative years. We have experienced unprecedented growth over past several years. We have our largest enrollment in the last ten years and our student retention is near 100 percent. Malden Catholic is truly leading the way in high school education. It’s a great day to be a Lancer!

Sincerely,

John K. Thornburg

The Vision

Founded upon the Xaverian Brothers charism, we strive to role-model and emphasize the life-changing transformation that faith offers. The theme for this school 2019-20 year chosen by our students is United in Spirit, Intent on One Purpose. Taken from St. Paul’s Letter to the Philippians, the theme emphasizes the importance of the Xaverian spiritual value of humility in our relationships with each other. Developing a strong spiritual theme which encourages faith development is important to us. We believe faith is a critical part of today’s students reaching their full potential.

President's Reflections

Humility and Leadership

During my junior year in college, I attended a summer mission project in New Jersey. The goal of the project was to provide college students opportunities to grow in their faith. During the day we held down full-time jobs, the evenings were for faith formation and the weekends for community outreach and service.

Making Plans

There is a small, desolate island off the tip of Door County in Wisconsin. It is called Rock Island and is accessible by a ferry for those wishing to visit the island. The ferry is limited to only carrying people and runs a tight schedule during the day. Most visitors come to hike during the day, but there are a few places where camping is allowed. Campers are without electricity, running water or access to civilization.

Finding a Level Place

We recently purchased an older home which we knew would need some major home improvements. Growing up in the Midwest, an older home was considered to be from the 1940s or so. I used to take my children to Old World Wisconsin where there is a series of themed villages built to historical specifications.

A Letter From The Headmaster

This spring has been a very difficult one for our school community. The challenges associated with the COVID-19 pandemic have erased what we considered normal for not just our school, but for all our families as well.

Paddling in a Straight Line

I used to work during the summers at an adventure camp for middle and high school boys. There was an emphasis on leadership and during the program each student was given the opportunity to lead. It was rewarding to see the boys’ transformation over the two-week program.

The Essence of Mother's Day

It was Mother’s Day this past weekend and I hope you had an opportunity to honor your mom or if you are a mother your children did something special for you. We are truly blessed by the mothers in our Malden Catholic community who are teachers, staff and parents.