Detroit Catholic Central High School

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Detroit Catholic Central High School
Teach Me Goodness, Discipline, and Knowledge
Location
Novi, Michigan, United States
Information
Head teacher Fr. Richard Ranaletti C.S.B.
Students 1,000+ students
Type Private, Catholic
Campus Patrick M. Nesbitt Campus
Color(s) Royal blue and White
Established 1928
Mascot "The Shamrocks"
Homepage www.catholiccentral.net

Detroit Catholic Central High School, commonly referred to as Catholic Central or CC, is a private, Catholic, all-male, college preparatory high school in Novi, Michigan. It is operated by the Congregation of St. Basil and staffed by both Basilian fathers and lay teachers. Enrollment is currently about 1100 students, drawing from across the suburban Detroit area. The school was founded in 1928 in Detroit, and was located in several different locations before moving to the current facility. The school colors are royal blue and white, and the athletic teams are referred to as the Shamrocks. The colors blue and white were chosen to represent the Virgin Mary, the school's patron. The nickname "Shamrocks" was chosen because the three leaves of the shamrock represent the three elements of the school's motto: Goodness, Discipline, and Knowledge; the three leaves in one also symbolize the Holy Trinity. Shamrock teams have won multiple state championships in American football, ice hockey, baseball and cross country. Catholic Central has also won multiple Quiz Bowl state championships; two of these quiz bowl teams would go on to win the national title.

Contents

[edit] History

Detroit Catholic Central was founded in 1928 in Detroit and was originally located on Harper Avenue, at the site of Holy Rosary Church. In 1934, control of Catholic Central was assumed by the Basilian Fathers and the school moved to 60 Belmont Street, just north of Woodward Avenue site of the Cathedral of the Most Blessed Sacrament, the seat of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Detroit. The school's enrollment continued rising, so the Basilians purchased a seventeen acre tract of land on the corner of Hubbell and West Outer Drive. Though the planned construction was not complete until 1961, Catholic Central moved into 6565 West Outer Drive (a site formerly occupied by Renaissance High School and presently occupied by the Foreign Language Immersion School) in 1951.

The Belmont Street location later housed the similarly named Detroit Cathedral High School, staffed by the Brothers of Christian Instruction from the early 1950s until the late 1960s.

Detroit Catholic Central would remain on West Outer Drive until 1978, when it moved out of the city of Detroit because we, Catholic Central. CC utilized a former middle School in Redford (George C Marshall Junior High) that became available when the South Redford School district consolidated its two junior highs into one school. Although this was only intended to be a temporary move, Catholic Central remained in Redford at 14200 Breakfast Drive for another 27 years (the same length of time it had been on Outer Drive). In July 2005, the school relocated to 27225 Wixom Road in Novi.

While Catholic Central enjoys strong alumni support, many alumni have complained that the school has abandoned it's historical commitment to metro Detroit's working and middle class families. Base tuition (excluding other fees and books) has grown to nearly $9,000 per year and scholarships are limited.

[edit] Academics Overview

The curriculum of Catholic Central High School is designed to meet the special needs and interests of all students while developing skills and attitudes basic to their social and civic studies. It offers an integrated Christian approach and is endorsed by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools leading to a fully accredited high school diploma.

Courses are offered in art, computers, English, French, health, history, Latin, math, music, science, Spanish, and theology. The school also has advanced placement courses in American government, American history, biology, calculus AB, calculus BC, chemistry, computer science, English, European history, French, and Spanish.

Detroit Catholic Central High School is accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools.

[edit] Academic Excellence

Detroit Catholic Central boasts one of the strongest academic programs in the state. The school consistently graduates high numbers of National Merit Finalists and students receiving National Letters of Commendation.

The new school is one of the first in the state to utilize Internet Protocol for computers, telephony, and video services. Five full computer labs are available for curricular use. Additional computers are available in the Media Center, science labs, the yearbook and newspaper centers, and in the Art and Music Suites. Every student is provided with his own user name and e-mail account.

The school succeeds as a college preparatory institution. Students score well above national and state averages on both the ACT and SAT. The percentage of graduates attending college immediately after graduation is typically between 95-100%.

[edit] Campus

The new campus, opened in August of 2005, sits on 60 acres of wooded land in the suburban City of Novi. The land and most of the funding for construction was donated by friends and alumni of the school.

It includes a 350 person capacity chapel, a laboratory for each scientific discipline, 5 computer labs, art and music studios, computer connectivity in every room, a fitness center, two gymnasiums, 8 tennis courts, two baseball fields, and a 4,500 seat athletic stadium with Field Turf.

The Catholic Central Library Media Center is the school's curriculum support hub. Fourteen thousand books and multimedia information vehicles comprise the core campus collection. This sizable collection is accessed, searched, and circulated via the automated catalogue. Ninety national and international newspapers plus 1,800 periodical titles are available, on campus and at home, to faculty, students, and alumni.

An enormous venue of academic software, arranged in academic program groups, provides reference materials, practice ACT/SAT tests, foreign language exercises, and Java driven graphics to animate history, travel, the arts, and sciences. The Library Media Center's marvelous interweaving of print and nonprint sources offers a rich menu to maximize enjoyable learning and academic success. Faculty and students have home access to the Media Center's book, media, periodical and newspaper resources.

[edit] Extracurricular

  • The school newspaper is The Spectrum, which for national ads is a member of the High School National Ad Network.
  • There are currently four bands at Catholic Central. (see more about the bands below)
  • The Quiz Bowl team has won multiple State Championships and two National Championships and is the reigning state champion since 2001.
  • Other activities: Bowling League, Chess Club, Computer Club, French Club, Intramural Sports Program, Mathematics Club, Monogram Club, Science Club, Student Council, Yearbook, Robotics, Science Olympiad, and Spanish Club.

[edit] Band

There are five full-year bands at CC, in addition to two part-year bands. The full-year bands are Beginning Band, Concert Band, Symphonic Band, Jazz Band, and Orchestra, while the part-year bands are Marching Band and Full Orchestra. All bands are under the direction of Mr. Gregory Normandin who has been the music instructor since 1981.

[edit] Beginning Band

Beginning Band is for those first starting an instrument. Beginning Band does not take part in Michigan Solo and Ensemble Festival, or play at any games or events, excluding the Christmas and Spring Concerts.

[edit] Concert Band

Concert Band is mostly for freshmen who have played their instrument for at least 6 months. Concert Band is required for all freshmen who do not audition for Symphonic Band, though it is optional for sophomores, juniors, and seniors. The Concert Band does play at the MSBOA band festival. Each member of the Band is required to take part in the Michigan Solo and Ensemble Festival, the Christmas and Spring Concerts, and take part in Marching Band during football season.

[edit] Symphonic Band

Symphonic Band is comprised mostly of sophomores, juniors, and seniors. Symphonic Band is optional without audition for all bandsmen who have played with the band for at least a year. The CC Symphonic Band has a record of consistently getting perfect "I" ratings at the MSBOA band festival. Each member of the Band is required to take part in the Michigan Solo and Ensemble Festival. The Symphonic Band does play at the Christmas and Spring Concerts, and takes part in Marching Band during football season.

[edit] Jazz Band

Jazz band is open to any student at Catholic Central and it is a before-school program. Jazz band does not play at the MSBOA band festival, though it does play at the Christmas and Spring Concert every year. They also play at various school events such as the Family Fest and an all night band benefit night which they supply all the music.

[edit] Orchestra

Orchestra, a relatively new addition (created in the 2007-08 school year), is open to all string and certain percussion instruments. They do not take part in Marching Band. The orchestra plays at the Spring and Christmas Concert. They also play at the MSBOA band festival and perform an individual solo at the Michigan Solo and Ensemble festival.

[edit] Full Orchestra

Full Orchestra, also new to CC, consists of the Orchestra, in addition to a select few Symphonic Band musicians. They do not perform at the MSBOA band festival, though they do play at the Christmas and Spring Concert every year.

[edit] Marching Band

The Concert band and Symphonic band combine as a Marching Band to play at all home games, Boys' Bowl, and Prep Bowl. Also, a smaller, "pep band" is sent to support the football team at away games. The Marching Band goes on a trip every other year to overseas events. In the past, the Marching Band has gone to and won awards at London, Hawaii, and Paris. It currently considers Rome and Sydney, Australia in addition to London, Hawaii, and Paris.

  • In the 2004-05 school year, the Marching Band went to Hawaii and performed at the parade in Honolulu.
  • In the 2006-07 school year, the Marching Band went to London in December and January and performed in the annual New Year's Day Parade.

Catholic Central has two fight songs: The "School Song", played at key points during sporting events and written by Father Ned Donoher, and the "Spirit Song", played after touchdowns at varsity football games. The spirit song's tune may be familiar to those from Texas as the Aggie War Hymn of Texas A&M University.

Familiar formations to the Marching Band are "Block Formation", in which the band is arranged in a block for marching forward normally, and "The Double 'C's", in which the band is arranged into two interlocked "C"s, the symbol of CC.

In addition to the Marching Band, the CC drum line performs a Drum Feature each year, revealed at the annual Boy's Bowl assembly. This solo performance is an exciting display of talent, but also one more of the many symbols of tradition to Catholic Central. The 2007 CC Drum Feature, written by Matthew "Beast" Kaczor and Connor Parks, can be found here.

[edit] The Drive

Beginning in February of each school year, the students hold a fund raiser known as "The Drive". The school and homerooms are decorated according to the year's theme, and a contest is held for the winners. Money is brought in by selling raffle tickets, and as money goals are reached, the principal of the school grants free days off school, usually around 12 per year. In 2008, $300,947.13 was raised. It is the highest amount raised in CC history.

[edit] Song Lyrics

  • Mary, Alma Mater

Mary, Alma Mater, Your sons of Central honor, And trusting in your goodness, We hopefully implore, That by your grace we may every day, Prove that we are men, Of Mary, Alma Mater, Inspire us evermore.

Mary, Alma Mater, Your sons of Central honor, And proudly wear your colors, The royal Blue and White, May valiant Blue and peerless White, Teach us to be men, Of Mary, Alma Mater, Inspire us evermore.

  • Brotherhood Song

If we unite, our future's bright, we'll have Shamrock brotherhood. Let's all agree that unity will help us be like we should. It's a new day a brand new way, together we'll make things bright! Working together, sunny weather, shine on our Blue (Blue!), shine on our White (White!), Shine on our Blue and White!

  • Aggie War Hymn (Spirit Song)

Hullabaloo, Caneck, Caneck! Hullabaloo, Caneck, Caneck! We've got a spirit that we're glad we've got, We've got a spirit that no one can tame, Hey! We've got a spirit that the rest have not, Come on gang let's win this game! Fight, Fight, Fight! We've got a spirit that spells victory, We've got a team that hears our call! Oh, we've got the double-pull for old CC, Shamrocks, all together, Give em' a C! Give em' a C! Give em' a H for CCH!

  • School Song

We're gonna cheer for the Shamrocks! We're gonna boast of our fame! We'll tell the world we're the Shamrocks! When they ask us, "What's you name?" (fight, fight, fight) We're number one 'cause we're Shamrocks! We're gonna back up our claim! We've go the roughness, We've got the toughness, To win this game!

(Cheer) (C)-Say what's your name? (R)-Shamrocks! (C)-Say what's your name? (R)-Shamrocks! (C)-Gonna win this game? (R)-Yeah, man! (C)-Gonna win this game? (R)-Yeah, man! (C)-Got the team? (R)-Yeah! (C)-And the coach? (R)-Yeah! (C)-And the roughness? (R)-Yeah! (C)-And the toughness? (R)-Yeah! (C)-Say what's your name? (R)-Shamrocks! (C)-Say what's your name? (R)-Shamrocks! (C)-Gonna win this game? (R)-Yeah, man! (C)-Gonna win this game? (R)-Yeah, man! (ALL)-Gonna live and die for CC High!

(Repeat Chorus)

[edit] Father Donoher

Father Edward "Ned" Donoher C.S.B. 1960, called Father Ned or, more recently, Father Donoher is a priest at Detroit Catholic Central High School. Many of the CC Songs were composed or re-written by Fr. Donoher, who created the Catholic Central "School Song", the various Drive songs, and the "Mary, Alma Mater", as well as the Alma Mater for Andrean High School in Merrillville, IN. Fr. Ned never taught at Andrean. He was assigned to come to the Andrean in 1960, but a change in assignment kept him at Catholic Central in Detroit. His brother, Fr. Paul Donoher started the music department at Andrean. He taught at Catholic Central until the 2004-2005 school year, after which the school moved from Redford to Novi. Father Donoher, or "Father D." as the students call him, continues to be a big part of CC, present at major assemblies as well as in student-produced Drive skits. On February 18, the last day of the 2008 CC Drive, the entire student body wore "Ned Head" T-shirts, with a likeness of Father Ned Donoher on the front and the double CC symbol on the back. Father Donoher continues to be a power presence in Catholic Central

[edit] Notable alumni

[edit] Commendation from ACT

In the spring of 2007, Catholic Central was one of 400 schools in the nation identified by ACT, Inc. as having a challenging core curriculum that significantly improved ACT test scores for all students.[2]

[edit] St. Catherine of Siena Academy

There are currently confirmed rumors that many of the planners, architects, and managers involved in the construction of the new Novi campus of Catholic Central are working in conjunction with the Sisters of Mary, Mother of the Eucharist, in planning an all-girls Catholic high school in Novi. It will be housed on approximately 52 acres of land adjacent to the Catholic Central lot, and called the St. Catherine of Siena Academy. Construction is scheduled to begin in Spring of 2009, and the school should open in Fall of 2010. It will initially house 125-150 freshmen, and 25-40 sophomores, but when at fully capacity will accommodate 650 students.

[edit] External links