Catholic High School (Baton Rouge)

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Catholic High School
A view toward the mall from the foyer of the main building
Motto The mission of Catholic High School is to teach Gospel values in an environment of academic excellence according to Catholic tradition and the spirit of the Brothers of the Sacred Heart. (mission statement)
Established 1894
Type Private, Roman Catholic
Head Brother Barry Landry, SC, Principal
Mr. Gene Tullier, President
Location Baton Rouge, Louisiana, United States
Campus Urban
Enrollment 972
Tuition $6,195 (+$100 for first year)
Colors Black and Orange
Homepage http://www.catholichigh.org/

Catholic High School is an all-male Catholic college-preparatory school in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, run by the Brothers of the Sacred Heart. It offers grades eight through twelve.

Contents

[edit] History

Catholic High School was founded in 1894 under the name St. Vincent's Academy. The school was so named in recognition of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, who helped organize and establish the school. The original site of the school was an old frame building in downtown Baton Rouge, and the enrollment was comprised of 106 students. By the 1920s, the enrollment had grown to approximately 300 students, and in 1928, the Brothers of the Sacred Heart built a new school, gym, and brother's residence at the corner of North Street and Fourth Street.

With this move, the school's name changed to Catholic High School. This name change stemmed from the fact that the word "academy" was becoming more associated with all-girls schools in the 1920s. In the 1930s and 1940s, the school's enrollment continued to increase, prompting the Brothers to purchase 10 acres of land in midtown Baton Rouge to build a campus to accommodate a larger student body. After 10 years of delayed construction, Catholic High School, with its student body of 450 students, moved to its present location at 855 Hearthstone Drive in September 1957. The original buildings on the new campus included a residence for brothers and teachers, a small building used as a PE locker room and band room, and a main building. The main building at the time contained several offices, a library, six classrooms, and a few science lab classrooms.

CHS's main building, the oldest on the current campus, was built in 1957.
CHS's main building, the oldest on the current campus, was built in 1957.

In 1963, the gymnasium was built. In 1971, the R. Frank Cangelosi Mall was built between the main bulding and gym for student use as an auxiliary cafeteria. In 1972, a new student wing, containing six classrooms, a cafeteria called the Union, and a library was added; the original library was converted into a faculty workroom.

In the early 1980s, a football practice field and baseball field were added, along with an all-weather track (which was renovated and repaved in 2000). In 1985, the Fine Arts-Computer Center, containing a computer lab and classroom, a band room, a chorus room, art room, drafting room, and several classrooms was added. Around this time, the original band room was converted into a weight room. In 1990, a maintenance shed was added, and in 1991, in preparation for the school's 100th anniversary, the Centennial Courtyard was built. Also in the early 1990s, the school purchased three homes across the street from the campus to use as additional offices.

In the fall of 2002, the gymnasium was renovated to install air conditioning, and at that time CHS dedicated a new Health and Physical Education Center with a weight room, a wrestling room, locker rooms for athletes and PE students, and two new classrooms. In 2005, the Brother Gordian Udinsky Science Center, containing updated science labs for biology, chemistry, and physics, a new computer lab, and several classrooms, was dedicated and opened.

In the future, the school plans to build a new brother's residence, chapel, and library. There are also plans to expand the current student union.

[edit] 1972 Master Plan

In the past few decades, there have been several different Master Plans designed to improve Catholic High's facilities to accommodate a larger student body and to address some shortcomings persistent to the school.

In 1972, during the construction of the new cafeteria building, alumni Dennis Losavio created a master plan to further address the needs for a larger student body. At the time, enrollment was around 450, and the school had the desire to expand its enrollment to 900, near its current level. His plan called for improved science labs and athletic facilities. By the early 1970s, the relatively new science labs were considered antiquated by then-contemporary standards. His plan suggested a two-story northern classroom wing to complement the southern cafeteria building. This proposed building would have contained two locker rooms, a swimming pool, a multipurpose room, six additional classrooms, a resource room, and a planetarium. Another proposal in his plan included an auditorium near the existing gymnasium and union for large assemblies and masses. The proposed auditorium also would have included better facilities for the band.

In addition, the residence for brothers and teachers would have been expanded to accommodate a larger faculty, and the plan called for an improvement to the school's baseball field near the present-day football and track field. There was also a proposal to build a football practice field with a surrounding track near the school's present-day baseball field. These proposed sports fields also called for improved stadium seating.

While a majority of this master plan was never put into effect, it is thought the construction of the fine arts building and the new science building stemmed from some of the ideas presented in this plan.

[edit] Students

As of 2006, it has 972 students, 34 of which are eighth graders. There is a dress code and requirement for community service. In addition, students are required to attend a yearly retreat. Admission is selective with school record, interview, recommendations, a standardized admissions test, family history of attending Brothers of the Sacred Heart schools, prior attendance of Catholic schools, and minority status all coming under consideration.

[edit] Academics

The Brother Gordian Science Center, Catholic High's newest building, was finished in 2005.
The Brother Gordian Science Center, Catholic High's newest building, was finished in 2005.

CHS was designated as a “National School of Excellence” in 1989, 1993, 1998 and 2003 by the U.S. Department of Education. As of 2003, only three other schools in the United States have received this honor four times. From 1990-2006, CHS had 149 National Merit Semifinalists. The class of 2006 had average ACT and SAT scores of 24.6 and 1268, respectively.

It offers six AP courses, foreign language instruction in French, Latin, and Spanish, and honors level courses in mathematics, science, social studies, English, and the foreign languages. Elective classes are offered in: accounting, architectural drafting, art, band, business law, chorus, computer applications and science, foreign languages, physics, psychology, publications, speech, and word processing.

Each year, a student must take at least one class in English, math, religion, and physical education. A different half-year class is taken in alternating quarters with PE each year; they are, in order: civics, computer applications, religion, and free enterprise. In all years but the junior, religion is a full year course. In each year, a service requirement, ranging from 5 hours for the 8th grade year to 60 hours as part of a Christian Service Experience for junior year, is done concurrently with the religion course. A science class is mandatory for all students save seniors; they are nevertheless encouraged to take physics. American history is required of juniors, and world history is required of seniors.

The school has a summer reading program in which eighth grade and academic-level English students must read two books listed by the English Department, and honors-level and AP-level English students must read three books. Students are tested on these books within two weeks of returning from school without prior discussion of the novels, and many teachers assign essays associated with the books.

Eighth graders have a separate curriculum of courses in which they must take: Algebra I, Geography 8 (prior to 2005, 8th graders took Louisiana history), Religion 8, English 8, Science 8, Physical Education 8, and one elective.

Students who maintain a 4.0 GPA each year receive Principal's Honors (also known as Highest Honors), and students who have a 3.5-3.99 GPA receive First Honors. A student can letter in academics if he maintains at least a 3.5 GPA for two years.

As of 2006, there are 99 faculty and staff, 79 of which are teachers. The student:teacher ratio is 12.3. The average class size is 22.8. In addition to a president and principal, the school has three assistant principals: one in instruction, one in academics, and one in discipline.

[edit] Alma Mater

The Catholic High Alma Mater has, as of 2004, been played at the end of every Catholic High football game. Prior to that, the Alma Mater was somewhat forgotten among students at CHS. Its words are:

Dear Alma Mater, We'll be true to you When storm clouds hover And when the skies are blue.

Long may you prosper. May your ills be few.

Dear Alma Mater We'll be ever true. C....H....S.

[edit] Bruin Fight Song

Come on and fight, all you Bruins, and triumph on the field! Big Bruin cohorts are cheering, for the Bears will never yield. Hey! Hey! This day we’re all out for vict’ry no matter the cost ’Cause we’ll fight forever ’til the last white line is crossed.

[edit] Honor Board

One notable feature of Catholic High is its Honor Code. It deals primarily with academic honesty. It was written and installed in 1997, and it was modeled and inspired by various honor codes at universities. The Honor Code is enforced by the Honor Board, which consists of three sophomores, four juniors, six seniors, and two faculty members, and these people are all nominated and elected by the student and faculty bodies.

At the beginning of each school year, every student must handwrite a copy of the Honor Code and sign it with his parents. Around September of each year, there is an Honor Code Ceremony in which all freshmen, eighth graders, and other new students sign it before the student body. At the end of each test and quiz issued at Catholic High, a student must write a statement swearing that he abided by the Honor Code and sign it.

If a student is accused of cheating or plaigarism, he is asked to report himself to the Honor Board. At a weekly meeting, the accused student pleads his case before the Honor Board. After reviewing the student's case, the Honor Board, along with the assistant principal for discipline, deliver judgment to the student and any punishment the student may have.

[edit] Honor Code

On my honor, I will do my own work, uphold the ideals of Catholic High School and the Brothers of the Sacred Heart, protect the good name of the school and see that all others do the same. I vow to transmit the school greater and better than it was transmitted to me.

I will do my own work both in and out of school. I will not plagiarize the work or ideas of others, nor will I allow another student to use any part of my work as his own.

I will not lie. I will not forge the signature of another student, my parent, a teacher or authority on notes or school documents including, but not necessarily limited to, reports, tests or status reports.

I will report myself to the honor board for any infringement of the above rules and regulations. I will ask another student to report himself to the honor board for any infringement of these rules and regulations. I will report to the honor board another student who fails to report himself when asked to do so.

[edit] Athletics

Catholic High has many sports for students. The school is a member of the Louisiana High School Athletic Association. Students can letter in athletics based on regulations outlined in the LHSAA handbook. Catholic's current Athletic Director is Pete Boudreaux, who is also the track and cross country coach. Its football coach is Dale Weiner. The basketball team is coached by Kemper Todd, and Gerry Garidel coaches the baseball team.

CHS has teams in Baseball, Basketball, Bowling, Cross Country, Football, Golf, Soccer, Swimming, Tennis, Track, and Wrestling. In many of these sports, there are varsity, junior varsity, and freshmen teams. The school also runs intramurals in basketball, pickleball, volleyball, flag football, and other sports.

Since 2000, Catholic High has won 6 state championships, 3 state runner-up titles, 6 regional titles, 9 city titles, 11 district championships, and 14 playoff berths in various athletic events. In 2003 and 2004, Catholic High won the local Sportsmanship Award presented by BellSouth. The swim team claimed the AAAAA Louisiana Swimming State Championship in 2005.

[edit] Extracurriculars

Catholic High offers an array of extracurricular activities, and many of these local chapters receive awards on a state and sometimes national level. Its extracurriculars include 4-H Club, Art Club, Astronomy Club, Bearly Published (newspaper), Beta Club, Bruin (yearbook), Disc Sports Club, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Fencing, French Club, Games Club, Hi-Y, Junior Classical League, Key Club, Mu Alpha Theta, National Honor Society, National Junior Honor Society, Photography Club, Quiz Bowl, Science Club, Spanish Club, Student Council (in which members are elected by their grade or appointed by faculty members based on an interview), and Student Ministry (which helps plan the class retreats and monthly freshmen and eighth grade small group talks). Some clubs are operated jointly with the nearby all-female school, St. Joseph's Academy, including the band, Bruinettes (dance team), cheerleaders (though CHS students rarely elect to participate), chorus, drama club, and intramural volleyball.

[edit] Costs

As of 2006, yearly tuition and fees are somewhat over $6,000. Financial aid is available upon condition of participation in a summer work study program. This program involves simple manual labor and pays a minimum wage salary (in addition to any aid grants the student might receive).

In addition, students are required to buy various books for courses (such as religion textbooks and novels required for English classes), and there are additional fees that a student may run across for such things as the yearbook, parking, AP testing, extracurriculars, yearly retreats, and graduation.

[edit] Awards

Catholic High has several awards for students. There are a few scholarships offered to students who need financial aid. A student can letter in athletics, academics, or some extracurriculars, like band.

The Golden Bear is one of the most prestigious awards offered at Catholic High. A student can receive a Golden Bear in academics or extracurriculars. The senior with the highest grade and progress in each academic department is awarded a Golden Bear at the final Honors Convocation of the school year. Golden Bears are also offered in many extracurricular clubs. In the qualifying clubs, the members of each club vote for the Golden Bear recipient in a secret ballot, and the award is given to the winning student at the Honors Convocation.

In addition to the Golden Bear, Catholic High names approximately fifteen students Men of the Year. These individuals are chosen by the faculty members and receive recognition at the final Honors Convocation. These people also get to participate in the commencement exercises.

Besides valedictorian and salutatorians, an Outstanding Graduate is also named. Consideration to academic and extracurricular involvement is used to decide the recipient for this award.

[edit] Notable alumni

[edit] Notes

  • As a Brothers of the Sacred Heart school, CHS is not a parochial school, falling outside the direction of the Diocese of Baton Rouge.
  • Catholic High School is one of the few United States schools without a federally funded lunch program. The school has an independent lunch program which offers either a hot plate or hot sandwich meal for students to purchase using their student ids as debit cards. In addition, the program also offers breakfast before school begins.
  • Catholic High School runs several classes and extracurriculars jointly with St. Joseph's Academy, the all-girls school located near CHS. Beginning in 2005, an annual event known as the CHS-SJA Challenge was held in which members of each school compete against each other in various games, such as egg tossing and volleyball. The school that wins the challenge is awarded a trophy, and the administrators and Student Council moderators and officers pie the administrators and Student Council members of the losing team.

[edit] See also

[edit] External links

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