Brother Martin High School
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| Image:Brother Martin High School Crest.gif | |
| Motto | Ametur Cor Jesu
(Love be the heart of Jesus) |
|---|---|
| Established | 1869 |
| Type | Roman Catholic, all-male secondary school |
| Affiliation | Roman Catholic Church (specifically the Brothers of the Sacred Heart) |
| President | Mr. John Devlin |
| Principal | Mr. Gregory M. Rando, '77 |
| Founder | Archbishop Jean Marie Odin C.M. |
| Students | 1600+ |
| Grades | 8-12 |
| Location | 4401 Elysian Fields Avenue, New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S.A. |
| Colors | Crimson and Gold |
| Mascot | Crusader |
| Website | BrotherMartin.com |
Brother Martin High School is a prestigious all-male, Roman Catholic, secondary school located in New Orleans, Louisiana, United States operated by the Brothers of the Sacred Heart. It was established in 1869 by the Brothers of the Sacred Heart, establishing the school as St. Aloysius College. The school's colors are crimson and gold and the mascot is the Crusader. It is located in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New Orleans.
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[edit] History
Brother Martin traces its history to 1869, making it the second oldest all-male catholic school in New Orleans. In 1869 New Orleans Archbishop Jean Marie Odin invited the Brothers of the Sacred Heart to open a school in New Orleans, St. Aloysius opened on September 26, 1869 with six students. In 1892 the school was moved to a larger campus on the corner of Esplanade and Rampart avenues, in 1969 for the second time in the school's history it moved again under the newly changed name of Brother Martin High School. The combination came about after the Brothers of the Sacred Heart decided that expansion and cost saving would be better achieved with one school on the larger Cor Jesu campus. In 1969, after celebrating the school's 100th anniversary, the school was renamed after Brother Martin Hernandez, a brother of the Sacred Heart who was principal of St. Aloysius from 1934 to 1949, and was treasurer of the Brothers from 1969 to 1991. Brother Martin Hernandez was also a noted athlete, having been named to the New Orleans Sports Hall of Fame in 1980.
[edit] School Mascot and Colors
The history of the school mascot and colors began in 1921 when the school fielded its first football team. The school's mascot was a panther and the colors purple and gold, this combination of the mascot and colors were changed under the insistence of Bro. Martin Hernandez, the school's principal, to crimson and white and the mascot as a crusader. When the school was consolidated the school kept the crusader as the mascot and crimson but changed the white for gold. The crimson represents the Brothers of the Sacred heart devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and Brother Martin as being a Sacred Heart school and also the mascot, the crusader, who would sacrifice oneself for the preservation of Catholicism. Gold, a color from Cor Jesu High School, comes from their mascot was a kingmen and gold represented nobility.
[edit] School Crest
Blending the tradition of the past with momentum for the future, the crest symbolizes true crusader spirit.
On top of the shield is the helmet of a crusader symbolizing Christians of the past who were willing to give up their lives so that future generations might grow up Christian.
Under the helmet is a chain that represents the consolidation of St. Aloysius and Cor Jesu high schools in Brother Martin. From the five Brothers of the Sacred Heart who first opened St. Aloysius College in 1869 has grown Brother Martin High School.
The shield is divided into four quadrants by the Cross of Christ. In the upper left corner is the Sacred Heart, which represents the Brothers of the Sacred Heart and recalls their ministry of 138 years in New Orleans.
The fleur de lis in the lower left corner represents the French heritage of the city.
In the lower right corner, a torch symbolizes striving for excellencewhile the book in the upper right corner represents learning in the fullest sense.
[edit] Campus
Brother Martin High School is located on Elysian Fields Avenue in Gentilly, an established residential neighborhood in New Orleans. The sprawling school campus features Cor Jesu Hall, the oldest building on the current campus; built in 1954, the Conlin Gymnasium, the largest high school gym in the city, and the three newest components on campus; the Thomas F. and Elaine P. Ridglely Fine Arts and Athletic Center, commonly known as the "Ridgley Center", E. A. Farley Field, used for Soccer, Baseball and non-varsity football, and the Roland H. & Macy Paton Meyer Science and Mathematics Building, the newest building on campus. Also to be constructed through the capital campaign are the new Chapel and a new library building.
[edit] Thomas F. and Elaine P. Ridgley Fine Arts and Athletic Center
In January 1999, over 400 alumni, Brothers and friends attended the dedication ceremony for the Thomas F. and Elaine P. Ridgley Fine Arts and Athletic Center. The dedication of this 40,000-square-foot (3,700 m²) facility was presided over by Bishop Gregory Aymond, CJ’67, hosted by Brother Ivy LeBlanc, S.C. President of Brother Martin High School and was the realization of the goal of the first phase of the Campaign for Brother Martin High School. You enter the beautiful Ridgley Center Lobby on a diagonal. The diagonal sits on the Faubourg-Darcantel line, one of the oldest boundaries in the city. Upstairs in the second floor lobby, you face a wall of windows which frames E.A. Farley Field. Throughout the Ridgley Center there are rooms named to honor some of those who have contributed mightily to keeping us faithful to our deepest call. The band room is named in honor of Professor Joseph Taverna. “Prof” Taverna was the band director at St. Aloysius from 1931-1961. The athletic training room is named to honor Dr. Winston P. Riehl who has mended Crusader athletes since 1966. Under the leadership of Tom Benson, the St. Aloysius Class of 1944 was the only class to have a donation made in the name of every class member. Brother Mark Thornton was the first principal of Brother Martin High School. In naming the terrace, the most beautiful room in the building, after him we hope to perpetually remember that religious values are the cornerstone of our mission.
[edit] E. A. Farley Field
Between 1945 and 1947 the Brothers of the Sacred Heart, looking toward the future had purchased more than seven acres of property, primarily from the Farley family, in the growing residential area of Gentilly. By 1952 Brother Martin Hernandez as provincial planned and supervised the construction of Cor Jesu High School on the Gentilly site. Through his Youth Progress Program Archbishop Joseph Francis Rummel contributed $475,000 toward construction and furnishings of the new school. From 1980 through 1983 the school purchased parcel of land from the Farley Family which was bordered by Mandeville Street, Gentilly Boulevard, St. Aloysius Drive (formerly Stephen Girard St.) and Cor Jesu Drive (formerly Marigny St.) for use in their athletic and extracurricular programs. The field underwent a renovation as part of Phase II of the Capital Campaign during which a baseball field was constructed and additional athletic storage and restrooms were added. The playing surface was redone and drainage and a sprinkler system were installed.
[edit] Roland H. & Macy Paton Meyer Science and Mathematics Building
The Roland H. & Macy Paton Meyer Science and Mathematics Building opened for the 2007-2008 school year on August 17th. The Meyer Building is located at the corner of Elysian Fields Avenue and Sumpter Street, the former site of the Brothers’ Residence (circa 1955). This 35,000-square-foot (3,300 m²) building houses computer, chemistry, physics and biology labs. For flexibility, eight science classrooms adjoin the three state-of-the-art lab spaces on the second floor. The first floor has seven math classrooms and a computer lab. Labs and classrooms are equipped with ceiling mounted projectors, video and DVD players, document cameras; screened X & Y coordinate graphs, LCD screens, teacher computer work stations and wireless connectivity. The classroom windows with manual solar protection and room darkening systems control varying daylight conditions while promoting student comfort, productivity and energy efficiency.
[edit] Admissions
The considerations used in admitting prospective students include student priority of choice in selecting Brother Martin, overall elementary school record, recommendation of elementary school principals, and an interview with each applicant.
Brother Martin High School admits students regardless of race and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national and ethnic origin in administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, scholarship and financial aid programs, athletics and other school-administered programs.
[edit] Students
The current enrollment of Brother Martin, as of 2007, is 1,350. In 2001, Brother Martin had the largest enrollment of any Catholic school in the state, with students numbering 1600. Brother Martin has a uniform code and a required Christian service project for each grade. In addition each student must abide by the Behavior Policy and attend a class level retreat each year.
As of 2006, the cost of attending Brother Martin is around $6,000. Financial aid is administered by emergency grants, which are provided to a student should the death of a parent should jeopardize a student's attendance, or Work Study Program, which is awarded to a limited number of students. This program involves simple manual labor and pays a minimum wage salary (in addition to any aid grants the student might receive).
[edit] Academics
Brother Martin High School is fully accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. Brother Martin offers classes to young men in grades 8-12. It provides a college preparatory curriculum designed to develop skills and create options for higher education. There is a program specially designed for eighth grade. Eighth grade students are required to carry a minimum of six courses including Religion 8, English 8 or English 1 honors, Introduction to Algebra, Algebra 1 or Algebra 1 honors, physical science or physical science honors or computer applications, world geography, and health/PE.
To graduate, students must earn a minimum of 24 credits. Each course is equal to one credit. Freshmen, sophomores and juniors are required to carry and successfully complete all required courses and a minimum of six credits each year, seniors must carry and complete all required courses and a minimum of five credits.
Students enrolled in all four honor courses during their sophomore year are invited into the Honors Program. A student that is participating in the Honors Program will be required to continue taking honors or advanced placement courses in English, math, science and social studies. In addition, a student must also complete three consecutive credits of the same foreign language. The successful participation of a student in the Honors Program earns him an honors diploma at graduation.
At the end of the first quarter, the first semester, the third quarter, and the second semester, students earning a grade point average of 4.0 or above are placed on the Principal's Honor Roll. Students earning a grade point average of 3.50 to 3.99 are placed on the Alpha Honor Roll. Students earning a grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 to 3.49 are placed on the Beta Honor Roll.
Starting in 2008, seniors will be able to choose a variety of new electives such as Anatomy and Physiology, Publications, Law Studies, Marine Biology, Creative writing, Engineering, and Forensic Science. Also included will be an Animations and Digital Graphics course, the first ever course offered in the state.
[edit] School Organization and Administration
The official governing body of Brother Martin High School is the school's Board of Directors, which is responsible for setting school policy and regulations and hiring the school president and principal, the administration of Brother Martin is a President, who is head of the school and directs the school's development and capital campaign, the Principal, in charge of day-to-day operations of the school, a vice-principal in charge of discipline, an academic assistant principal in charge of the academic programs, an assistant principal for admissions and an assistant principal for student formation, in charge of the honors and curriculum programs. In addition, each academic department has a department chairperson reprsenting that particular department.
[edit] Athletics
Brother Martin athletics started back in the early 1900s with basketball and baseball. Now over 100 years later, Brother Martin has more than 10 varsity athletics for students to chose from. Brother Martin's years of athletic traditions has yielded numerous State and District Championships over the years. Brother Martin is a member of the Louisiana High School Athletic Association and participates in District 10-5A, also known as the Catholic League for the number of Catholic schools in the district.
The school has teams in baseball, basketball, cross country, football, golf, soccer, swimming, tennis, track and wrestling- which is regarded as the best wrestling program in the city at 12 championships since 1978. All teams except tennis, swimming, golf and bowling consist of four levels of competition: eighth grade, ninth grade, junior varsity and varsity. The school has had a bowling team as a club sport for many years, but in the 2007-2008 school year, it came out with a varsity bowling team. The team competes as a member of the LHSAA. Teams are selected through a tryout process.
[edit] State Championships
- Baseball
- 1974-1975 - District, State Runner-up
1983-1984 - State
1984-1985 - State Runner-up
1988-1989 - District Tournament
1990-1991 - District
1995-1996 - State
- Basketball
- 1969-1970 - District, State, National
1970-1971 - District, State
1972-1973 - District
1973-1974 - District, State
1978-1979 - District
1986-1987 - District
2002-2003 - District, State Runner-up
2003-2004 - District, State
2004-2005 - District, State
2006-2007 - District
- Cross Country (7)
- 1969-1970 - City
1970-1971 - City, District
1971-1972 - City, District, State
1972-1973 - City, District, State Runner-up
1973-1974 - City, District
1974-1975 - City, District
1975-1976 - City, District
1976-1977 - City, District
1977-1978 - City, District
1978-1979 - City, District
1979-1980 - City, District, State Runner-up
1980-1981 - City, District, State
1981-1982 - City, District, State
1983-1984 - City
1984-1985 - City, State Runner-up
1986-1987 - City
1991-1992 - City, District, State Runner-up
1992-1993 - City, District, State Runner-up
1993-1994 - State
1994-1995 - City, District, State Runner-up
1995-1996 - City, District
1997-1998 - State Runner-up
1998-1999 - State
1999-2000 - District, State
2000-2001 - City, District
2001-2002 - City
2002-2003 - City, District, State
2003-2004 - City, State Runner-up
2004-2005 - City, State Runner-up
2005-2006 - City, State Runner-up
2006-2007 - City
2007-2008 - City, State
- Football (1)
- 1969-1970 - Miracle Strip Bowl
1971-1972 - District, State
1972-1973 - District
1975-1976 - Shrimp Bowl
1977-1978 - District
1978-1979 - Turkey Bowl
1983-1984 - District
1985-1986 - District
1989-1990 - State Runner-up
1992-1993 - District
2007-2008 - District
- Golf (1)
- 1969-1970 - District
1970-1971 - District
1971-1972 - City
1976-1977 - District, Regional
1985-1986 - District
1988-1989 - District, Regional
1992-1993 - Regional
1993-1994 - Regional
1995-1996 - Regional
2003-2004 - State
2006-2007 - District, Regional
- Soccer (2)
- 1987-1988 - District, State Runner-up
1988-1989 - District, State Runner-up
1994-1995 - State Runner-up
1995-1996 - State Runner-up
- Tennis (1)
- 1977-1978 - City
1984-1985 - State Runner-up
1985-1986 - City, District
1986-1987 - City, District, State
1987-1988 - State Runner-up
- Track and Field
- 1971-1972 - District
1972-1973 - District
1975-1976 - District
1978-1979 - District
1979-1980 - District
1982-1983 - District
1983-1984 - District
1984-1985 - District
1986-1987 - District
1990-1991 - Indoor State Runner-up
1994-1995 - Indoor State Runner-up
1995-1996 - Regional
1996-1997 - Regional
2003-2004 - District, Regional
2005-2006 - District, Regional
2007-2008 - District, Regional
- Wrestling
- 1977-1978 - District, State Runner-up
1978-1979 - City, State
1980-1981 - State Runner-up
1981-1982 - City, State
1982-1983 - District, State Runner-up
1983-1984 - City, State
1984-1985 - District, State
1985-1986 - District, State
1986-1987 - District, State
1989-1990 - District
1995-1996 - District, Regional, State Runner-up
1996-1997 - State Runner-up, District
1998-1999 - District, State
1999-2000 - District, State
2000-2001 - District, State
2001-2002 - District, State
2002-2003 - District, State
2005-2006 - State Runner-up
2006-2007 - District, State
- Source: BMHS Athletic Championships
[edit] Crusader Fight Song
We're going to fight for our Alma Mater
For Brother Martin, crimson and gold,
We're going to shout 'til the skies resound it;
We're going to win over foes untold.
The Crimson Crusaders are our heroes;
They are the men who never say die.
So while the whole gang is here
Let's stand up and cheer
For Brother Martin High!
- Source[1]
[edit] Extracurriculars
Some extracurricular activities offered include: NJROTC, The Academic Games team, Marching, Concert and Symphonic Bands, a jazz ensemble, cheer leading, chess club, chorus, close-up, drama club, Excalibur National Honor Society, inline hockey team, intramural athletics, key club, a literary magazine (The pen and the sword), magic club, Mu Alpha Theta, National Honor Society, National Junior Honor Society, newspaper (The Crusader), quiz bowl team, rugby team, speech and debate club, student ministers, student recruiting team, welcoming diversity team, student council, lacrosse and yearbook(Yesterday).
[edit] Campus Ministry
Campus ministry is an important part of the curriculum. Working closely with the school administration and the religion department, the goal of campus ministry is "to complement the family in its primary role in religious education, to support the parish as a center of Catholic life, and to extend the religion lessons of the classroom to lived faith experiences." The school strives to "recognize the many gifts of the 'Spirit' within our students and staff and call forth those gifts for service and ministry to the school community and to the church." The current moderators are Mr. Melito, Mr. Songy, and Mrs. Stewart.
[edit] Notable Alumni
- Paul Meany, lead singer of the band Mute Math
- DJ Augustin, University of Texas basketball point guard
- Blair Barbier, former LSU baseball player and current volunteer assistant coach at LSU
- Tom Benson, owner of the New Orleans Saints
- Pascal F. Calogero, Jr., Chief Justice,Louisiana Supreme Court
- Allen J. Ellender, United States Senator, 1937-1972, was President Pro Tempore of the Senate as well as Dean of the Senate
- Stanton Moore, drummer of New Orleans band Galactic
- Arthur J. O'Keefe, former mayor of New Orleans (1926-1929)
- Michael D. Perry, software engineer, photographer and writer
- Rick Robey, basketball player, member of 1978 NCAA champion Kentucky Wildcats and 1981 NBA champion Boston Celtics
- Edward Scheidt, retired Chairman of the CIA Cryptographic Center
- Richard Simmons, fitness guru and celebrity
- Ronnie Virgets, journalist
[edit] Brothers of the Sacred Heart Schools Around the World
- Catholic High School (Baton Rouge)
- Saint Stanislaus College,Bay St. Louis, MS
- Vandebilt Catholic High School, Houma, Louisiana
- Edward Douglas White Catholic High School, Thibodaux, Louisiana
- Mount Saint Charles Academy, Woonsocket, Rhode Island
- St. Joseph High School, Metuchen, New Jersey
- Bishop Guertin High School, Nashua, New Hampshire
- McGill-Toolen Catholic High School, Mobile, Alabama
- St Columba's College, St Albans, England, UK
- Msgr. McClancy Memorial High School, Queens, New York
- Cor Jesu College, Digos City, Philippines
- Colegio Corazonista, Bogotá,Colombia
The Catholic League (Other all-male, catholic high schools in New Orleans)
- Jesuit High School (New Orleans)
- Holy Cross High School, New Orleans
- Archbishop Rummel High School
- St. Augustine High School (New Orleans)
[edit] References
- Official website
- The Archdiocese of New Orleans Official Website.
- Southern Association of Colleges and Schools– Official website
- [2]; Brother Martin Crusader Band Website
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