| Saint Lawrence Academy | |
|---|---|
| Address | |
| 2000 Lawrence Court Santa Clara, California, 95051 United States |
|
| Information | |
| Type | Private, Coeducational |
| Religious affiliation(s) | Roman Catholic |
| Established | 1975 |
| Principal | Christie Fillios |
| Vice principal | Laurainne Ventura |
| Faculty | 30 |
| Grades | 9-12 |
| Enrollment | 237 (2010-2011) |
| Average class size | 21 |
| Student to teacher ratio | 15:1 |
| Campus | Suburban |
| Color(s) | Green and Gold |
| Team name | Celtics |
| Accreditation(s) | Western Association of Schools and Colleges[1] |
| Tuition | $12,175 |
| V.P./Dean of Students | Laurainne Ventura |
| Admissions Director | Mary Dixon |
| Athletic Director | Joe Endaya |
| Activities Director | Julie Tsutsui |
| Website | saintlawrenceacademy.com |
Saint Lawrence Academy, SL, a college-preparatory Roman Catholic high school in Santa Clara, California, USA, was founded in 1975. It stresses its small size, which translates to close interaction among students, administration, faculty, and counselors. It is located in the Roman Catholic Diocese of San Jose in California.
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As a college preparatory school, St. Lawrence Academy's graduation requirements include coursework in English, mathematics, social studies, science, foreign language, fine arts, religious studies, computers and physical education. SL also offers Advanced Placement and various honors courses. Students at SL have taken the AP exam in subjects such as English Literature, English Language, French Language and Culture, Spanish Language and Culture, U.S. History, Calculus AB and BC, Physics, Macro and Micro Economics, and Psychology. Three languages are currently offered for study: Spanish, French, and Sign language. However, it is unfortunate to note that the French language program will be discontinued starting the school year of 2011-2012.
SL also possesses a very notable performing arts program. For over a decade, the school has had an annual musical; hugely popular with the students and community, the annual musical features at least a third of the student body each year as actors and assisting behind the scenes as Tech Crew. Great numbers of the remainder of the student body also attend, with free tickets sent in recent years to prospective freshmen in order to give them a taste of SL. The performing arts program contains a "no-cut" policy, enabling all interested students to participate. Pictures and mp3 recordings of previous years' plays can be found at http://www.surace.com/lawrence
With approximately 70% of St. Lawrence students participating in athletics, success of the teams are varied. The Celtics field 14 teams in 11 sports. Sports include basketball, baseball, cross country, golf, soccer, swimming, tennis, track and field and volleyball.
SL cross country competes in the Private Schools Athletic League (PSAL). Celtics cross country began in 1998. Since then, it has earned 10 individual qualifications to the Division 5 CIF State Cross Country Championships . Celtics runners have competed in State Championship races in 2000, 01, 02, 03, 04, 05, 06, 07, and most recently during the 2010 season. Three former athletes finished runner-up in the Division 5 Central Coast Section (CCS): Omar Ahmad, 2nd place, 2001 and 02; Amina Ahmad, 2nd place, 2004 (3rd place in 2003); and Carlos Chavez, 2nd place, 2007. Omar Ahmad competed in cross country and track & field for Santa Clara University and graduated from SCU in 2007.
In 2010, the cross country team went undefeated during the regular league season and were co-league champions of the PSAL, representing the best overall team effort on the largest team in school history (33 athletes). The 2010 team broke numerous school records, including overall team size, going undefeated during the regular league season, earning a perfect score in a league meet (JV league finals with a score of 15), two first place race finishers in two league meet races in the same meet (varsity and JV boys individual champions) and many more. One very important school record was established by the girls—having five girls stay together all season to finish with the first ever girls team in school history. The fall 2011 edition of SL cross country brings in a lot of momentum. Losing only two seniors to graduation, the 2011 cross country team promises to have even more potential success. Already with 30 athletes signed up, including 12 girls, the team could surpass last year as the biggest and most successful, especially considering incoming freshmen athletes have yet to join.
SL track & field competes as a supplemental member of the West Bay Athletic League (WBAL). Celtics track & field began also in 1998. Since then, it has earned a total of 11 CCS trials qualifications. Celtics athletes have competed in the CCS trials in 2001, 03, 05, 06, 07, 08, 09, 10, and most recently qualified two athletes at the end of the 2011 season. The 2011 track & field team had a roster of 58 athletes and 4 student managers, which represented 25% of the student body of SL. For one sport to contain a quarter of a school's enrollment is uncommon. The track team enjoyed great success and broke several school records. Athletes in the track & field/cross country programs are currently involved in off-season personal training at different levels of commitment. It has been noted by several coaches familiar with SL, once the athletes discover summer training, SL has the potential to be competitive at a much higher level.
The biggest story in athletics at St. Lawrence is in track & field. SL has the distinct honor to have had as a former student/athlete, the 11th best pole vaulter in CCS history and current member of the Cornell University Big Red track & field team, Josh Cusick. During his time at St. Lawrence, Josh earned All-American status twice: in the decathlon at the 2007 USATF National Junior Olympic Championships in Walnut, CA and in the pentathlon at the 2008 National Scholastic Indoor Championships in New York City. During his junior year, Josh finished 6th in the state of California at the State Championships in the pole vault. During his senior year he jumped a school record of 16-00.75 and became the 11th best all-time pole vaulter in the CCS. Josh finished his high school career with a total of 16 school records (400m, 800m, 1000m, 60m/65m/110m/300m/400m hurdles, long jump, high jump, discus, pole vault, 4x400m relay, javelin, pentathlon, and decathlon). In February and May 2011, as a sophomore at Cornell, Josh became the Ivy League's reigning men's heptathlon runner-up and men's decathlon runner-up at the indoor and outdoor Heptagonal Championships, respectively.
St. Lawrence's baseball team has also been invited perennially to the CIF-CCS championships. The soccer team from the 1995-96 school year made the CCS playoffs for the first time in school history. More summary and history of St. Lawrence athletics in progress.
After over 20 years of being vice principal, Mrs. Anne Eubanks retired as Vice Principal and Dean of Students, being replaced by Mrs. Laurraine Ventura. To add, Mrs. Cheryl Weeks retired as Counselor for lower class-men and was replaced by Mrs. Larragoiti, who serves as the counselor for freshmen and juniors. She is also an adjunct lecturer at Notre Dame de Namur University in Belmont.
Mr. Michael DeCarlo also left, after being offered a position at Saint Francis High School. His position of teaching Algebra 2 was taken over by Mrs. Julie Tsutsui and a new mathematics instructor, Mrs. Anne Meuller, now teaches Geometry exclusively.
Ms. Jennifer Claudio, after 8 years as a teacher in Biology and Physiology, resigned and was replaced by Mrs. Donner-Greer.
Many of the former staff, including Ms. Claudio and Mr. Decarlo, are now dearly missed by students who wished to have them stay for another year.