Junípero Serra High School

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Junípero Serra High School

Principal Mr. Lars Lund
Established 1944
School type Private
Location San Mateo, California, USA
Enrollment Approximately 1000
Campus Suburban
School colors Blue and Gold
Athletic Conference WCAL
Website www.serrahs.com

Junípero Serra High School is the Archdiocesan Catholic school educating the young men of San Mateo County, California. The school has a strong academic focus with a college preparatory curriculum. Although Serra is a school for young men, they are involved in a partnership with two schools for young women – Mercy, Burlingame and Notre Dame, Belmont. This program, called "tri-school" hosts coed activities including classes, retreats, drama and music productions, club activities and dances.

Contents

[edit] History

Junípero Serra High School opened on September 11, 1944 with a faculty of five and a student body of eighty-six freshman and sophomore boys. Established by San Francisco Archbishop John Joseph Mitty as the Archdiocesan high school to provide for the Catholic educational needs of the boys of San Mateo County, it was named in honor of Padre Junípero Serra,

Padre Junípero Serra.
Padre Junípero Serra.

the Apostle of California, and was the first Catholic high school west of the Mississippi River to be staffed entirely by diocesan priests. The Reverend Vincent I. Breen was assigned as the first principal of Junípero Serra, which was originally located at what is now the site of St. Bartholomew's parish on Columbia Drive and Alameda de las Pulgas.

In 1955, Serra opened the doors to their new campus on West Twentieth Avenue in San Mateo where they are located today. Under the leadership of Monsignor James F. Maher, principal from 1961 to 1967, Junípero Serra continued as a strong influence in the academic community; and as the number of laity on the faculty and staff increased, a greater effort was made to try to begin to meet their financial and retirement needs, thus enabling the school to retain a stable and qualified faculty.

In 1978, Mr. C. Michael Peterson became the first lay person to serve as principal of Junípero Serra High School. The Reverend Stephen H. Howell was also appointed at that time to serve as the school's first President. In that role, Fr. Howell provided for the pastoral needs and guidance of the school. Under this administration, Junípero Serra's mission as a Catholic school with a strong college preparatory focus flourished. Those who led the school during this period ensured that the school "developed the gifts and talents of each student and fostered Gospel values in an environment of academic excellence and mutual respect."

Recently the school has engaged in several development efforts which have led to significant campus renovations and improved student and faculty access to technology resources.

[edit] Location

Situated in residential San Mateo, Junípero Serra High School is located less than five minutes from both Interstate 101 and Interstate 280, just off California Highway 92. Over 98% of the student body comes from the Peninsula (San Francisco through Palo Alto, including the coastal areas of Half Moon Bay and Pacifica).

[edit] Curriculum

Junípero Serra High School offers a college preparatory curriculum, including more than twenty Advanced Placement and Honors courses. Serra students are required to complete a minimum of 240 units, pass all required courses, and perform eighty hours of Christian Service in order to graduate. Students may also earn college credits while at Serra. Ninety-nine percent of graduates continue their education at the college or university level. Serra attributes its students academic success to the school's creation of a challenging, yet comfortable learning environment in which students are placed at various academic levels according to their needs and abilities.

[edit] Notable Universities Attended by Graduates

Among the schools currently being attended by Serra graduates are Harvard, Princeton, UCLA, Dartmouth, Stanford, Santa Clara, Yale, Cal Poly, Duke, and UC Berkeley.

[edit] John L. Zoph Library

The John L. Zoph Library contains approximately 18,000 volumes and over 30 online subscription databases. It is a curriculum-based collection that can be accessed by Junípero Serra students on campus or remotely through the Serra website.

[edit] Guidance Department

The Junípero Serra Guidance Department assists students in making academic, social, spiritual and personal decisions. Our College & Career Center allows students to research more than 3000 colleges and universities on College View, a multimedia program. In addition, the Guidance Department helps coordinate the annual Tri-School College Night, an informational gathering which includes more than one hundred of the top colleges and universities form throughout the country.

[edit] Extra Curricular Activities

Extra curricular activities are an important part of life at Junípero Serra High School for many of their students.

[edit] Athletics

Junípero Serra High School has a rich athletic tradition. Many of our student-athletes have competed at some of the top collegiate programs in the country, while several have also been successful in professional sports. Serra participates in the West Catholic Athletic League, one of the top leagues in California.

Serra participates in the following sports: Baseball, Basketball, Crew, Cross Country, Football, Golf, Soccer, Swimming, Tennis, Track and Field, Volleyball and Wrestling. Also being introduced this year will be outdoor Lacrosse.

[edit] Clubs

  • Amnesty International
  • Anglers' Club
  • Art Club
  • Big Brothers
  • Block "S" Club
  • Bowling Club
  • Broadcasting Club
  • California Scholarship Federation
  • Canyons and Canvas Club
  • Close-Up
  • College_N_Site
  • Creative Writing Club
  • Cycling Club
  • Fantasy Sports Club
  • French Club
  • Golf Club
  • Habitat for Humanity
  • Hip Hop Club
  • Improv Club
  • Junior Statesman of America
  • Leadership Club
  • Math Club
  • Multi-Cultural Club
  • National Honor Society
  • Performance Car Club
  • Performing Arts Club
  • Rock Climbing Club
  • Sailing Club
  • Ski/Snowboard Club
  • Spanish Club
  • Speech Club
  • Tri Music Honor Society
  • Trivia Club
  • Yell Leaders

[edit] Visual & Performing Arts

The arts are an essential component education at Serra. Offerings include: Symphonic Band, Men’s and Mixed Chorus, Jazz Band, Dramatic Workshop and Musical Theater Workshop. In addition the school puts on a Fall play and Spring musical.

Other visual and performing arts classes include Architectural Design, Art, Advanced Art, Beginning Guitar, Beginning Percussion and Films.

[edit] Publications

  • El Padre Yearbook
  • Serra Friar Newspaper

[edit] Student Government

The student government at Serra is made up of an executive student council, class officers and homeroom representatives. Members plan activities including dances and rallies and work to improve Serra with the school’s administration.

[edit] Spirituality

The Junípero Serra Campus Ministry Program provides students with liturgical and prayer opportunities, builds community through retreats, and empowers students to develop their gifts and talents through our Christian Service program. Theology courses offer instruction in the Catholic faith, morality and worship, and stress the importance of individual faith development. The curriculum addresses the needs of students with extensive religious education as well as those with little or no knowledge of the Catholic faith.

[edit] Faculty & Staff

The faculty and staff at Junípero Serra High School has been described as talented and dedicated. The average tenure for Serra faculty members is nearly 15 years. In addition, many Serra graduates have returned over the years to join the staff.

[edit] Notable Alumni

[edit] See also

San Mateo County high schools

[edit] External links

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