Bishop Sullivan Catholic High School
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| Bishop Sullivan Catholic High School | |
| Motto | Quis ut Deus. |
| Established | 1953, as Norfolk Catholic High School |
| School type | Private, Roman Catholic, Co-educational |
| Grades | 9-12 |
| Principal | Dennis W Price |
| Location | Virginia Beach, Virginia, USA |
| Enrollment | 456 students |
| Faculty | 40 |
| Mascot | Crusader |
| Colors | Gold, Green, and White |
| Homepage | www.chsvb.org |
Bishop Sullivan Catholic High School (known until 2004 simply as Catholic High School; commonly referred to as "Catholic" or "BSCHS") is a Roman Catholic secondary school in Virginia Beach, Virginia founded as Norfolk Catholic High School in 1953. In 2004, the school received its new name in honor of Walter Francis Sullivan, Bishop Emeritus of the Diocese of Richmond and a significant benefactor during the school's foundation, as well as with the creation of the Barry Robinson Fine Arts Center which opened the same year at the school's renaming. The current principal is Mr. Dennis Price, acting in place of the retired Monsignor William Pitt. Their athletic teams compete in the Tidewater Conference of Independent Schools (TCIS), and are known as the Crusaders. [1]
[edit] Mission Statement
The mission of Bishop Sullivan Catholic High School is to provide a college preparatory education which nurtures the intellect, shapes character, and forms Christian values. Bishop Sullivan Catholic High School is a community which reveals God's presence in the world by affirming the Gospel message and challenging, when necessary, the views of a secular society.
[edit] Academics
Bishop Sullivan CHS is a college preparatory school, fully acredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) and the Virginia Catholic Education Association (VCEA). Almost 98% of BSCHS' senior classes enroll in an insitution of higher learning upon graduation.
All students are required to fulfill the following course requirements for graduation:
Four years of Religion courses
Four years of English courses
Four years of Social Studies
Four years of Mathematics
Three years of Physical Sciences
Three years of a Foreign Language (or Two years each for two Foreign Languages)
Two years of Physical Education
One year of Electives (Electives range from various arts and computer-oriented courses)
Courses of higher level (i.e. Calculus, Physics, US Government, or any honors or AP course) receives a "weighted distinction" on the student's transcript. This incentive encourages students to challenge themselves and take the harder courses offered.
All students are also required to complete at least 100 confirmed hours of community service to be accumulated during a student's time of matriculation in Sullivan High School.
AP Courses BSCHS offers the highest level of academic study, and offers AP courses in English Literature, World History, U.S. History, U.S. Government and Politics, Calculus AB, Calculus BC, Biology, German, French, Spanish, Latin: Literature, Latin: Vergil, and Studio Art.
In 2006, Sixty-one percent of the senior class was registered in at least one AP class, and almost 80% of all AP testers (senior class and others) scored a 3 or higher on their respective exam.
[edit] Religious Instruction
The first facet is Informational – Bishop Sullivan Catholic High School offers courses in Hebrew & Christian Scripture, Human Sexuality, Prayer & Sacraments, Christian Moral Decision-making, Church History, Comparative Religions, Christian Lifestyles, & Justice Issues.
The second facet is Formational – At Catholic High, there are regular liturgical and para-liturgical celebrations. They celebrate the Sacrament of Reconciliation twice each year (with approximately 70% participation). They are blessed with the gracious participation of the region’s priests at these celebrations. Also, they mark several significant events (Rite of Passage, Baccalaureate) with liturgy, and also have daily morning prayer, in homeroom, Advent & Lenten prayer, and individual liturgies for the foreign language classes, in their language of study.
The third facet, of which they deserve great acclaim, is Transformational – they offer peer-led retreats for all four years. The 9th & 10th graders have one day retreats in the spring. We call these GENESIS & KOINOS. The 11th grade has a three day, two night retreat called KAIROS. The 12th grade has a two day, overnight retreat – KRONOS.
BSCHS tries to give the students a chance to get in touch with their relationship to God. As we all know, this portion of the program is as much about "planting seeds" as making change. BSCHS hopes that both things happen. Students serve as Eucharistic Ministers & Lectors at all of religious celebrations and help with the planning and preparation of all services. [2]
