Hudson Catholic Regional High School

Infobox School
background = #FFFFF
border = #FF2400
name = Hudson Catholic Regional High School

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motto = Sign of Faith
founded = 1964
type = All-Boys Private Secondary School
religion = Roman Catholic Church
address = 790 Bergen Avenue
Jersey City, NJ 07306
country = USA
President = Fr. Warren Hall
Principal = Fr. Warren Hall
grades = 9 - 12
affiliations = Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Newark
accreditation = Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools
enrollment = 539 (as of 2005-06)
faculty = 27.3 (on FTE basis)
ratio = 19.7
yearbook = "The Hawk"
newspaper = "The Commentator"
teamname = Hawks
athletics = 13 varsity sports
colors = Black and Gold color box|#030300 color box|#D5CC45
conference = Hudson County Interscholastic Athletic Association
information = 201-332-5970
homepage = [http://www.hudsoncatholic.org School website]

Hudson Catholic Regional High School is a regional University-preparatory school four-year Catholic high school for young men located in Jersey City, in Hudson County, New Jersey, United States. The school was established in 1964 by the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Newark, and currently serves around 400 young men in grades 9 through 12. The high school is conducted by the De La Salle Christian Brothers of the Baltimore District.

As of the 2005-06 school year, the high school had 539 students and 27.3 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), the school had a student-teacher ratio of 19.7. [http://nces.ed.gov/surveys/pss/privateschoolsearch/school_detail.asp?Search=1&SchoolID=00862314&ID=00862314 Data for Hudson Catholic Regional High School] ] , National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed May 14, 2008.]

History

In 1958, Archbishop Thomas Boland announced a campaign to build additional high schools throughout the four counties of the Archdiocese of Newark. To help achieve this goal, he requested the De La Salle Christian Brothers to administer Hudson Catholic Regional High School for boys, one of seven such high schools owned and operated by the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Newark. Catholic teaching and values are integrated into each educational activity, program, curricular and extra-curricular program at Hudson Catholic.

The Bergen Avenue location of the school was formerly the site of the Jersey City Armory. In the eighteenth century the site was the home of Jane Tuers, a member of the Van Rypen family and an American Revolutionary War heroine. Today the adjacent area is known as McGinley Square.

While the school was under construction in 1964, St. Patrick's Parish hosted Hudson Catholic's first class of 143 students. In the following year, students moved into the partially completed school building. On April 20, 1968, Bishop Martin Stanton officiated at the laying of the cornerstone and the blessing of the school facilities. In June of that year, Archbishop Boland presided at the school's first commencement ceremonies and presented diplomas to 109 graduates.

2008 proposed closing

On April 11, 2008, Hudson Catholic announced that the school was to close on June 30, 2008, due to declining enrollment and a rising deficit. [Fink, Jason. [http://www.nj.com/news/jjournal/index.ssf?/base/news-6/120798150548990.xml&coll=3 "Hudson Catholic to close"] , "The Jersey Journal", April 12, 2008. Accessed April 14, 2008. "Hudson Catholic Regional High School in Jersey City will close at the end of this school year, a spokesman for the Archdiocese of Newark confirmed last night."] A campaign was started to save Hudson Catholic Regional High School led by current students, alumni, faculty, and the surrounding community. On May 7, 2008, it was announced at a meeting that $500,000 was raised and the school would stay open. [ [http://www.nj.com/news/jjournal/index.ssf?/base/news-3/1210228188141470.xml&coll=3 "Answered Prayers, Alumni surpass goal by $108G to save school"] , "Jersey Journal", accessed May 8, 2008.]

The Brothers of the Christian Schools

From the time of its founding in 1964, Hudson Catholic has been staffed by De La Salle Christian brothers, a religious congregation of men in the Catholic Church who are devoted exclusively to the education of young people. The Brothers of the Christian Schools, as St. John Baptsit de la Salle's followers came to be known, live in a prayerful community in a residence on campus. As a matter of fact, the "FSC" designation after the name of all the Brothers (as listed in our directory) is an abbreviation for the Latin phrase for Brothers of the Christian Schools. They take vows of poverty, chastity and obedience. They are not priests, since St. La Salle wanted them to consider teaching as their only vocation in life and as an indication of their commitment to young people. Countless students throughout the history of the Christian Brothers have benefited tremendously from the ideals of St. La Salle and his followers, many of whom we have been privileged to have at Hudson Catholic, where currently nine Brothers serve the young men of Hudson Catholic daily.

The proper form of address is "Brother [followed by the Brother's first name] ."

The Catholic Church thinks so much of the Brothers' efforts in education that in 1900, Pope Leo XIII declared St. La Salle the "Patron Saint of all Teachers." In a Church that is more than 2,000 years old with many, many teaching orders of men and women, that is a singular honor bestowed on the community of men that continues to serve the young men at Hudson Catholic.

Academics

Students who attend Hudson Catholic are required to take four years of both Religion and English, in addition to three years of Science, History and Mathematics. Only two years are required for a Modern Language and Physical Education. However students do take more than the required years of the school's set academic requirements. The average class size is 26 students.

The school year is divided into two semesters, each having two quarterly marking periods. Mid-terms are administered at the conclusion of the first semester in late January and Finals are administered at the conclusion of the second semester in early June.

Faculty

75% of the Hudson Catholic faculty have Masters Degrees, while one member possesses a Doctorate and two others a PhD. The 43 teaching faculty members share 49 Masters Degrees and three members of the faculty are also adjunct professors at area colleges.

De La Salle Scholars Program

The De La Salle Scholars Program is a comprehensive and integrated 4-year program intended to provide a scholarly, liberal education. The requirements are designed to meet the special needs of the academically gifted student. Accelerated content, in-depth study, small group discussion, interdisciplinary approaches and experimental learning opportunities are integral parts of the Scholars Program.

Student Participants
De La Salle Scholars are a select group of students who commit themselves to the pursuit of truth and knowledge. These scholars are expected to be active learners who take responsibility for their education.

Student Selection
Students are selected for the Scholars Program based on their overall intellectual ability as demonstrated by their grammar school grade point average, their high school entrance test scores, and recommendations provided by a teacher and/or counselor. Eighth grade students who select Hudson Catholic Regional High School as one of their choices for secondary education and who meet the criteria will be invited to join the Scholars Program. The invitation is accompanied by a scholarship offer of no less than $1000.00.

Program Requirements
> One week pre-freshman summer program in communication, research and study skills.
> A full Honors course load, including Honors Latin, during the freshman year.
> An Integrative Seminar during the sophomore year.
> A Service Project during the junior/senior year.
> A Scholars Qualifying Paper during the senior year.
> Three years of a Modern Foreign Language.
> A minimum of two subject area (one in humanities, one in science) at the Honors level throughout the four years, including at least one Advanced Placement course.

Program Goals
> To ensure that each student has an opportunity to develop his intellectual gifts to the fullest.
> To enhance the opportunities for fellowship, service and leadership in a Christian community.
> To provide guidance and mentoring to students in the appreciation of their own talents and those of others.

Extra-Curricular Activities

At Hudson Catholic, students are strongly encouraged to become involved in one or more of the extra-curricular activities and/or sports sponsored by the school, which include: Amnesty International, Biology Club, "The Commentator", Drama Club, Filipino-American Club, French Club, "Hawk" Yearbook, Lasallian Youth Group, Music Club (School Choir), National Honor Society, Peer Ministry, Spanish Club, Student Government, Technology Club, History Club, Anime/Manga Club, Madden Club, Ebony Club, Chemistry Club, Math Club, Model United Nations, Mock Trial,and just newly added a Forensics club.

Athletics

The Hudson Catholic Regional High School Hawks compete in the Hudson County Interscholastic Athletic Association (HCIAA), which includes 22 private and parochial high schools in Hudson County. The league operates under the supervision of the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA). [ [http://www.hciaa.com/home.html Hudson County Interscholastic Athletic Association] . Accessed July 15, 2007.] Hudson Catholic's latest state championship was in 2000 for hockey.

In addition to intramural sports, thirteen interscholastic teams are sponsored by Hudson Catholic:
*Fall Sports: Cross Country, Football, Soccer, Outdoor Track
*Winter Sports: Basketball, Bowling, Hockey, Indoor Track, Wrestling
*Spring Sports: Baseball, Golf, Tennis, Track and Field

Guidance Counseling

The Brother David S. Baginski, FSC Guidance Center is an integral part of the Hudson Catholic campus. Located on the first floor, the Guidance Center is one of the busiest rooms on the campus. Contained within are two Counseling Offices, the College Placement Office and The Learning Center for Compensatory Education and Supplemental Instruction.

A full-time counselor runs the College Placement Office. In addition to the various catalogs, brochures, and viewbooks that are available, the room is equipped with high-speed cable Internet which enables the students to take virtual tours of college campuses, as well as apply on-line when applicable. A TV/VCR is available to view the video library of colleges and universities.

Three counselors are assigned to the freshman, sophomore and junior classes. The counselors coordinate school programs and events such as the SAT’s, college fairs, career days, financial aid seminars and study skills workshops.

Technology

As of the 2006-2007 school year, Hudson Catholic is the home to 200+ Pentium computers, three computer labs, High–speed wireless cable internet, Virtual Reality Unit, Mini-networks in labs, Video microscopy, Electronic balances, Digital microscopes, Level 3 SMART classroom (Biology Lab), and nine Smart Boards.Fact|date=September 2008

References

External links

* [http://www.hudsoncatholic.org Hudson Catholic Regional High School]
* [http://nces.ed.gov/surveys/pss/privateschoolsearch/school_detail.asp?Search=1&SchoolID=00862314&ID=00862314 Data for the Hudson Catholic Regional High School] , National Center for Education Statistics
* [http://www.nj.com/hudson/index.ssf/2008/05/archdiocese_hudson_catholic_to.html "Archdiocese: Hudson Catholic to go co-ed in '09"] , "The Jersey Journal", May 20, 2008