Fairfield College Preparatory School disciplined several students after Instagram posts used antisemitic slurs against the New Canaan High School hockey team ahead of their March 23 state championship. The offensive images, now removed, featured slogans like “Win or lose we booze, and at least we’re not Jews.” Administrators confirmed the posts violated Jesuit values.

The school, a private Jesuit boys’ academy of about 850 pupils with annual tuition of $26,000, issued a letter to families denouncing the “disparaging and antisemitic language” and promising reflection on personal accountability. spokeswoman Lauren Castagnola said privacy rules limited disclosure of specific disciplinary actions, but affirmed that consequences were imposed.

New Canaan’s principal, Bill Egan, reached out to the targeted student and his parents, offering support and an apology from Fairfield. He also reminded his community that hate speech “has no place in school.” The incident adds to a statewide surge, with the Anti‑Defamation League recording 9,354 antisemitic incidents in 2024, a 344% rise.

Connecticut, home to roughly 154,000 Jews, ranks eighth nationally for school‑based antisemitic reports despite a modest population. Local leaders, including Rabbi Levi Mendelow, emphasized the town’s inclusive response after the Oct. 2023 Israel‑Gaza conflict, citing interfaith vigils. The episode underscores how social‑media vitriol can quickly spill into real‑world school environments.