St. Vincent - St. Mary High School

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St. Vincent-St. Mary High School

Headmaster	Mr. David V. Rathz
School type	Private, co-ed
Religious affiliation	Roman Catholic
Location	Akron, Ohio, United States
Mascot	The Fighting Irish
School newspaper	"The Leprechaun Gold"
School yearbook	"The Phoenix"
School literary magazine	“The Beehive”
School colors	Green and Gold
Enrollment	650 students

St. Vincent - St. Mary High School is a private, coed, Catholic high school located in Akron, Ohio. It is a part of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Cleveland. The school is commonly abbreviated SVSM, St. V-M, ASVSM, or STVM. However, the school's official abbreviation is STVM.

[edit] Mission statement

“In the spirit of the Gospel, we are committed to educate the whole person to lead and to serve: enlightening the mind, developing the body, touching the heart, inspiring the soul.”

[edit] Academics overview

The school offers a rigorous college preparatory curriculum, including three tracks (basic, college preparatory, and Honors/AP) for all core academic courses. The school offers nine Advanced Placement courses and strong fine arts programs in music, drama/theatre, and visual art, with a dance program in the planning stages. The school's foreign language offerings include five years of Spanish and French, and four years of Russian. In addition, the school offers a variety of elective courses from which to choose, allowing students much control in determining their course of study above and beyond the school’s graduation requirements.

[edit] Administration

The current headmaster is Mr. David Rathz, who is responsible for all academic aspects of the school. Mr. Tim Castrigano serves as the CFO and development director, responsible for all the school's financial aspects. Mr. Dan Nichols is the current dean of students, and Ms. Carol Gill (M67) is the Academic Advisor.

[edit] History

St. Mary High School opened in 1897 and graduated the first class in 1901.

St. Vincent High School opened in 1907.

Both schools were founded by Rev. Dr. Thomas F. Mahar.

The two schools merged in 1972.

As of 2006, STVM has graduated 5,698 student since the merger, and over 16,000 since 1901.

[edit] Detailed academic information

[edit] Religious education

As the most important part of the St. Vincent-St. Mary curriculum, students are required to take four years of religious education, and therefore have religious instruction every day of the four years that they are enrolled at STVM. Freshmen take Religious Education I, a survey of Catholic doctrine and christian morality. Sophomores take Religious Education II, which combines a semester study of Hebrew Scriptures and a semester study of Christian Scriptures. Juniors take a semester course entitled Social Morality and then choose a second semester from one of three electives: Peer Ministry: Gift and Challenge; Prayer, Sacraments, and Spirituality; and Theology of Church. Seniors are required to take a semester course called Christian Lifestyles, and then choose from one of three electives: Advanced Social Morality, Medical-Moral Issues, and World Religions. At the end of their senior year, upon completion of their “Christian Service Requirement” of 25 hours of service each year, students receive a 1/4 religion credit in Christian Service.

[edit] English

All students are required to take four years of English. At the freshman level, students may choose from Honors English I (World Literature), CP English I (Survey of Literature), and English I (Survey of Literature). At the sophomore level, students take either Honors English II (British Literature), CP English II (American Literature), or English II (American Literature). Juniors fulfill their requirement by choosing between American Studies, a fully-integrated, interdisciplinary AP course combining AP U.S. History and AP English Language and Composition; CP English III (British Literature), and English III (British Literature). Seniors are given a fourth course from which to choose: AP English Literature & Composition, Honors English IV (Renaissance Seminar), CP English IV (World Literature), and English IV (World Literature). The English Department also offers elective course in Journalism (Levels I, II, III, and IV), Yearbook (Levels I, II, and III), Reading, and Creative Writing, as well as Irish Literature, a course specially designed to be rich with the Irish culture, commemorating with the school’s cultural heritage. Students are also required to complete a speech course entitled Speech and Presentation during their sophomore year.

[edit] Science

The science program at STVM also requires students to earn four credits. Each year, students are required to complete a hands-on "Science Inquiry Project," and have the opportunity to compete at the state and local "Science Fair" competitions. Freshmen take an integrated science course entitled “Physical, Earth, Space Science” at either the honors, CP, or basic level. Sophomores choose from honors, CP, or basic biology. Juniors and seniors have more flexibility in their science curriculum, and can choose from the following courses:

Earth Science
CP Earth Science
CP Chemistry
Honors Chemistry
AP Chemistry
Concepts of Physics
CP Physics
Honors Physics (under development)
AP Physics B
AP Biology

Periodically, short field-study trips are offered for academic credit over summer vacation. Trips offered have included:

Environmental Studies: The Hawiian Islands
Environmental Geology of the Grand Canyon

[edit] Mathematics

The mathematics program at STVM is equally rigorous. Students are required to complete three years of mathematics, but because of the wide variety of offerings, allowing every student to find a mathematics level where he or she is challenged, yet comfortable, many students graduate with four full credits (or more) in mathematics. Freshman choose from Honors Geometry, CP Algebra I, and Algebra I. Sophomores take either Honors Algebra II, CP Geometry, or Geometry. The junior and senior level courses are once again more flexible in nature. Juniors typically take either Honors Math Analysis, CP Algebra II or Algebra II; they also have the option of taking Trigonometry and/or Probability and Statistics. Seniors, depending on their location in the course sequence, can choose from any of those courses, and can also take AP Calculus AB or College Math Preview.

[edit] Social Studies

STVM students take a minimum of three credits of social studies courses, but once again with the wide variety of elective courses offered, many students graduate with more credits in this department. Freshmen take a course in world history, at either the honors, CP, or basic level. Sophomores take either Honors American Studies (a semester course preparing them for the junior-year American Studies course), CP American History, or American History. Juniors in the honors track then take the American Studies course, a fully-integrated, interdisciplinary AP course combining AP U.S. History and AP English Language and Composition. Seniors choose from AP U.S. Government & Politics, CP American Government, and American Government. Students fulfill their social studies credit requirement by then choosing one or more of the following electives:

World Geography (Grades 10-12)
Current & Future Issues (Grades 10-12)
Justice for All (Grades 10-12)
20th Century (Grades 10-12)
Western Thought & Culture I (Grades 11-12)
Western Thought & Culture II (Grades 11-12)
Economics (Grades 11-12)
AP European History (Grade 12)

[edit] Foreign Language

STVM offers a complete sequence in three different languages: Spanish, French, and Russian. As many area grade schools are now giving students the option of taking French or Spanish in junior high, a 5-year course sequence has been developed in these two languages. Russian is offered in a 4-year sequence. Successful completion of the upper-level foreign language sequence should help a student bypass many introductory language courses in college. The course offerings are as follows:

Spanish I
Spanish II
Spanish III, IV, and V, offered in a three-year rotation of the following courses:
- Honors Advanced Spanish Language and Literature
- Honors Advanced Spanish Language and Culture
- Honors Advanced Spanish Language and Modern Culture
French I
French II
French III, IV, and V, offered in a three-year rotation of the following courses:
- Honors Advanced French Language and Culture
- Honors Advanced French Language and History
- Honors Advanced French Language and Literature
Russian I
Russian II
Russian III and IV, offered in a two-year rotation of the following courses:
- Honors Advanced Russian Language and Culture
- Honors Advanced Russian Language and Literature

Periodically, short study-abroad trips are offered to foreign language students during summer vacation or other school breaks. These trips have included:

French Study Abroad: Quebec and Montreal
French Study Abroad: France
Spanish Study Abroad: Puerto Rico
Spanish Study Abroad: Spain
Russian Study Abroad: Moscow and St. Petersburg

[edit] Health

The Health department at STVM is designed to meet all of the requirements and standards of the State of Ohio, while at the same time providing students with flexibility. Students are required to take Physical Education I and II sometime during their high school career, and many students opt to take these courses through the Summer Physical Education program, a three-week summer course focusing on lifetime activity, physical fitness, and recreational activities. All freshmen take Health, a semester course mandated by the State of Ohio. Seniors are also given the option of taking an innovative and high-demand course entitled Family Studies, which culminates with a simulated parenting experience project called “Baby Think it Over.”

[edit] Fine Arts

According to the standards set by the State of Ohio, students must complete one full credit of classes in the fine arts (typically the combination of two semester electives). These courses may be selected from the drama/theatre department, the art department, and the music department. The possibility of a dance department is currently under development, and in the future, students may also be able to choose from dance courses to fulfill this requirement.

[edit] Drama/Theatre

Students may explore the world of the theatre with the introductory course, Introduction to Drama. Students may then choose from the school's advanced drama/theatre courses, Advanced Acting and Technical Theatre. An interactive, hands-on course, After School Drama, is offered as well, giving the students the flexibility of scheduling courses beyond the traditional school day.

[edit] Art

Students begin their study of the visual arts with a course called Visual Literacy. They then may move on to the next course in the sequence, Drawing & Design. Advanced students are then able to choose from the semester electives Advertising Graphics and Photography, or the full-year courses Advanced Art I, II, and III.

[edit] Music

The music program at STVM gives students many options to explore the world of music. Two courses in general music are offered: Music Appreciation and Music History. Students may also participate in any of the four semester-length instrumental ensembles offered by STVM: Beginning Band, Marching Band, Symphonic Band, and Jazz Band (offered after school). STVM also has four vocal music courses in which students may participate. Concert Choir is open to all students. Symphonic Choir is an advanced Choir open to students in grades 10-12 who have had previous choir experience at STVM. The Show Choir and the Madrigal Choir are offered after school, allowing students flexibility in building their course schedules. STVM also has a Liturgical choir. This is a non-credit course that meets during homeroom to prepare music for school liturgies and other special events.