Junípero Serra High School (Gardena, California)

Junípero Serra High School
Address
14830 South Van Ness Avenue
Gardena, California, (Los Angeles County), 90249
 United States
Information
Type Private, Coeducational
Motto "You Shall Be My Witnesses."
(Acts 1:8)
Religious affiliation(s) Roman Catholic;
Marianists (1950-1994)
Established 1950
School code 051025
President Erick Rubalcava
Principal Mike Wagner
Vice principal Christian De Larkin
Grades 9-12
Campus Suburban
Color(s) Royal Blue and Scarlet         
Team name Cavaliers
Accreditation(s) Western Association of Schools and Colleges[1]
Tuition $6,400 (2011-2012)
Marketing Director John Posatko
Athletic Director Ted Dunlap
Website www.la-serrahs.org

Junípero Serra High School is a private, Roman Catholic high school in Gardena, California, a suburban city located 14 miles southwest from downtown Los Angeles. Honored as a State School of the Year, Serra is operated by the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Los Angeles.

Contents

Background

Junípero Serra High School was founded by James Francis Cardinal McIntyre in 1950.[2] It is named for founder of the California Missions, Blessed Fray Junipero Serra, The school, which was largely staffed by the Society of Mary graduated its first class in 1953.[2] Religious of the Sacred Heart and Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet and archdiocesan priests have also helped to staff the school at various times in its history. The Marianists left in 1994 due to lack of members to staff all their schools.[3] The school has played a very important role in the life of the community, graduating over four thousand students.

The current administration and faculty are predominately lay women and men. Their dedication to the Catholic philosophy of education and values of the Gospel serves as an example for today's youth.[2]

In addition to Gardena, the school also serves Carson, Compton, Hawthorne, Inglewood, Lawndale, Lennox, Los Angeles, Manhattan Beach, and Torrance.[2] The student body brings with it a diverse cultural and ethnic background which continues to enrich the traditions begun in 1950.[2]

Philosophy

In the tradition of Padre Serra, Serra High School provides a Catholic and college preparatory education for our students with varied curricular and extracurricular programs. With the support of faculty, parents, alumni, the advisory board and the community, students from diverse cultural, economic and religious backgrounds work together to create a true Christian spirit.[2]

This tradition, based on the Gospel of Jesus Christ, educates the whole person, emphasizing the importance of developing the individual spiritually, academically, socially, and physically. This emphasis instills the self-motivation for success in life now and in the future.[2]

Academics

In the past four years, 100% of Serra graduates have been accepted to college.

In 2010, U.S. Congresswoman Maxine Waters (D-CA) presented school administrators with a framed copy of a statement she filed in the Congressional Record that honors Serra and its academic and athletic achievements.[4][5]

In 2011, Serra won its second consecutive national championship in the Catholic Math League, outscoring 29 top high schools from around the country.[6]

Athletics

School of the Year

In the 2009-2010 academic year, the Serra Cavaliers, who compete in the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF), became the first school in California history to win state football and basketball titles in the same academic year. For this achievement, Serra was named "2009-2010 State School of the Year" by Cal-Hi Sports. Based on school enrollment, Serra is the smallest school to ever receive this honor and the first State School of the Year recipient from the South Bay region of Los Angeles in 44 years.[7][8][9]

Championships

On December 10, 2010, the Serra Cavaliers won their second consecutive CIF Football Championship, defeating Arroyo Grande 35-10 for the Western Division title and extending their winning streak to 29 games.[10] That streak was broken on December 18, 2010, when they fell to the Folsom High School Bulldogs in the CIF Division II State Football Championship.[11] In 2009, Serra won the CIF Southern Section Northwest Division Championship,[12] and the Division III California State Football Championship, defeating Marin Catholic High School.[13]

The 2010 Serra Cavaliers basketball team also won CIF and California State titles, defeating Bishop O'Dowd, of Oakland, California in the final game.[14] Since 1980, the school has won numerous state and CIF Championships, in addition to dozens of league titles:[15]

Notable alumni

Notable faculty

References

  1. ^ WASC-ACS. "WASC-Accrediting Commission for Schools". http://www.acswasc.org/directory_search.cfm. Retrieved 2009-06-05. 
  2. ^ a b c d e f g JSHS. "About Us". Junípero Serra High School website. http://www.serrahighschool.com/about_us.jsp?rn=7098196. Retrieved 2007-09-04. 
  3. ^ JSHS. "School History". Junípero Serra High School website. http://www.serrahighschool.com/school_history.jsp?rn=5808737. Retrieved 2007-08-01. 
  4. ^ Levin, Michael. "Congresswoman Waters Praises Students and Teachers for Serra High School’s Success". Press Releases. Congresswoman Maxine Waters. http://waters.house.gov/News/DocumentSingle.aspx?DocumentID=205107. 
  5. ^ Image of Congresswoman Waters at the “Welcome Back to School” assembly at Junipero Serra High School
  6. ^ www.educontest.com
  7. ^ "A Nod For Small Schools Everywhere - Espn Rise | High School Sports News, Training For Performance And College Recruiting | How To Be A Better Athlete". Rise.espn.go.com. http://rise.espn.go.com/all-sports/articles/2010/07/19-CA-State-School-of-Year.aspx. Retrieved 2010-11-05. 
  8. ^ Gittelson, Gerry (2010-07-19). "Serra named Cal-Hi Sports state school of year; H.W. also honored - Daily News High School Spotlight". Insidesocal.com. http://www.insidesocal.com/prepsports/2010/07/serra-named-cal-hi-sports-stat.html. Retrieved 2010-11-05. 
  9. ^ "Serra wins Cal-Hi Sports State School of the Year honor". The Daily Breeze. 2010-03-09. http://www.dailybreeze.com/preps/ci_15555916. Retrieved 2010-11-05. 
  10. ^ Bolch, Ben (2010-12-10). "Gardena Serra rolls past Arroyo Grande, 35-10, for second straight title". Los Angeles Times. http://www.latimes.com/sports/la-sp-1211-serra-arroyo-grande-20101211,0,7059437.story. 
  11. ^ Sondheimer, Eric (2010-12-18). "Folsom dominates Serra in state Division II bowl game". Los Angeles Times. http://articles.latimes.com/2010/dec/18/sports/la-sp-1219-serra-folsom-sondheimer-20101219. 
  12. ^ LA Times article
  13. ^ Folsom dominates Serra in state Division II bowl game San Jose Mercury article
  14. ^ "Gardena Serra Wins D3 State Title | Junipero Serra High School Boys' Basketball". iHigh.com. 2010-03-29. http://www.ihigh.com/school17081/article_24409.html. Retrieved 2010-11-05. 
  15. ^ "Junipero Serra High School". Serrahighschool.com. 1999-12-31. http://www.serrahighschool.com/athletics/athletic_history.jsp. Retrieved 2010-11-05. 
  16. ^ "Memorial service held for blow molder Melville". Plastics News. http://plasticsnews.com/headlines2.html?id=19576. Retrieved 2010-11-05. 
  17. ^ Gittelson, Gerry (2010-07-21). "Serra's Woods is Cal-Hi Sports' male state athlete of year - Daily News High School Spotlight". Insidesocal.com. http://www.insidesocal.com/prepsports/2010/07/serras-woods-is-cal-hi-sports-1.html. Retrieved 2010-11-05. 

External links