- Detroit Catholic Central High School
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Novi Catholic Central High School Motto: Teach Me Goodness, Discipline, and KnowledgeAddress 27225 Wixom Road
Novi, Michigan, (Oakland County), 48374
United StatesCoordinates 42°29′22″N 83°32′26″W / 42.48944°N 83.54056°WCoordinates: 42°29′22″N 83°32′26″W / 42.48944°N 83.54056°W Information Type Private, All-Male Religious affiliation(s) Roman Catholic, Congregation of St. Basil Established 1928 President Fr. Richard Ranaletti, C.S.B. Principal Fr. John Huber, C.S.B. Vice principal Dave Lewis Grades 9-12 Color(s) Royal Blue and White Athletics conference Catholic High School League Team name Shamrocks Accreditation(s) North Central Association of Colleges and Schools [1] Newspaper 'The Spectrum' Yearbook 'The Shamrock' Tuition $9,400 Dean of Students Daniel Anderson Athletic Director Aaron Babicz '93 Website 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. Founded in 1928 in Detroit, Michigan by the Archdiocese of Detroit, the school is operated by the Congregation of St. Basil. The Shamrocks boast a rich tradition of academic and athletic excellence, having won several state and national titles in a variety of endeavors. The school was originally located on Harper Avenue in Detroit with an enrollment of 280 students; the school has made several moves in its history and now has an enrollment of over 1,000 young men at its 60-acre (240,000 m2) campus in Novi.
"Teach Me Goodness, Discipline, and Knowledge" is the motto of the school which strives to prepare young men to become productive members of Church and Society.
The school nickname "Shamrocks" represents the three persons of the Trinity, as shamrocks have three clovers. The school colors, Royal Blue and White, are the colors of the school's patron and alma mater - the Virgin Mary. Red is sometimes used as a secondary color in athletic team uniforms.
Contents
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 17-acre (69,000 m2) 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 that would later be occupied by the Detroit Public Schools' Renaissance High School and is 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. 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. In July 2005, the school relocated to 27225 Donoher Drive in Novi.
Reputation
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. For 2008-2009 Detroit Catholic Central had 11 National Merit Semifinalists, and 8 Commendations.
The new campus is one of the first in the state to utilize Internet Protocol for computers, telephones, 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%. The school is at the far northwest corner of the city of Novi, near Wixom. The school is referred to as Detroit Catholic Central.
In 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.[1]
Academics
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. The style of education offered is classical in its approach. Students are required to spend a lot of time outside of the normal class day to do homework and study. The average amount of homework per night is 2 hours. It offers an integrated Catholic 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, mathematics, music, science, Spanish, and theology. The school also has advanced placement courses in American government, American history, biology, calculus AB, calculus BC, statistics, 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.
Campus
The new campus, opened in August 2005, sits on 60 acres (240,000 m2) 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 was named for alumnus Patrick M. Nesbitt.
Facilities include 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, an indoor track, 8 tennis courts, two baseball fields, and a 4,500 seat athletic stadium with Field Turf and an outdoor track.
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 catalog. Ninety national and international newspapers plus 1,800 periodical titles are available, on campus and at home, to faculty, students, and alumni. Also available to students are ACT/SAT preparation and college admissions resources.
Extracurricular
- The school newspaper is The Spectrum, which 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 2011.
- 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.
Athletics
Sports:
- Baseball (3 state titles: 1979, 1987, and 1999)
- Basketball (2 state titles: 1961 and 1976)
- Bowling (1 state title: 2010)
- Cross country (6 state titles: 1983, 1984, 1989, 2001, 2009 and 2010)
- Football (10 state titles: 1979, 1990, 1992, 1995, 1997, 1998, 2001, 2002, 2003, and 2009)
- Golf (2 state titles: 2003 and 2010)
- Ice Hockey (MHSAA: Division 1; 14 Class A State Championship Titles: 1959, 1961, 1968, 1974, 1994, 1997, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2005, 2009, and 2010)
- Lacrosse
- Skiing
- Soccer
- Swimming and Diving
- Tennis (3 state titles: 1985, 1986, 2010)
- Track and Field
- Wrestling (8 state titles: 1969, 1970, 1971, 1974, 1978, 1983, 1988, and 2010)
Catholic Central's arch athletic rival is Birmingham Brother Rice High School. Catholic Central holds a 27-26-1 lead in football games played between the two schools as of 2010.[2]
Catholic Central won 6 state titles in the 2009-2010 school year. This tied the previous national record for most state championships won by a single school in a single year.
The hockey team maintains a rivalry with Trenton High School. The teams play one game in nearly every regular season. In 2010, Fox Sports and "Replay Fuled by Gatorade" chose to showcase the CC-Trenton rivalry by continuing a game from the 1998-99 season which prematurely ended after a player was seriously injured on the ice when the game was tied 4-4.[3]
The Shamrocks compete in the Central Division of the Catholic High School League and in Class A/Division I (largest schools) of the Michigan High School Athletic Association.
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 currently under the direction of Gregory Normandin (alumnus, 1978), who has been the music instructor since 1982 and was a student of his predecessor, William Watts, who had served at CC from 1950-1982.
The bands travel every other year to perform in overseas events. In the past, they have performed and won awards in London, Hawaii, and Paris. It currently considers Rome and Sydney, Australia in addition to London, Hawaii, and Paris. The Shamrock Band has been invited to perform in the New Year's Day Parade in London, England on January 1, 2011.
- Beginning Band
Beginning Band is for those first starting an instrument and is strictly designed for members to improve their playing abilities. Beginning Band does not take part in Michigan Solo and Ensemble Festival nor play at any games or events.
- 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 performs in the Michigan High School Band and Orchestra Association (MSBOA) festivals. Additionally, each member is required to take part in the Michigan Solo and Ensemble Festival, the Christmas and Spring Concerts, and take part in Marching Band during the football season.
- Symphonic Band
Symphonic Band mostly consists 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 receiving perfect "I" ratings at the MSBOA festival. Each member is required to take part in the Michigan Solo and Ensemble Festival. The Symphonic Band performs at the Christmas and Spring Concerts, and takes part in Marching Band during football season.
- Jazz Band
Jazz band is open to any student at Catholic Central. Jazz band does not perform at the MSBOA band festival, though it does take part in the Christmas and Spring Concert every year. Students wishing to join the jazz band must audition for the band director. The spaces are limited, so there are only a few students accepted. The students also perform at various school events such as alumni gatherings, the CC Family Fest, and Night On The Town (a band benefit dinner-dance).
- Orchestra
Orchestra, a relatively new addition (created in the 2007-08 school year), is open to all string instruments. They do not take part in Marching Band. The orchestra plays at the Spring and Christmas Concert, the MSBOA band festival, and performs individually at the Michigan Solo and Ensemble festival.
- 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.
- Marching Band
The Concert band and Symphonic band combine as a Marching Band to play at all home football games, Boys' Bowl, and Prep Bowl. Also, a smaller, pep band is sent to support the football team at away games as well as selective games in other sports.
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, a school symbol.
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 traditions of Catholic Central.
Traditions
Boys' Bowl
Boys' Bowl, is a traditional, yearly football game which serves as the school's homecoming.
The first Boys Bowl was held October 22, 1944. That year, the football team was considered the best in the state and one of the best in the nation. Father James Martin, CSB, Athletic Director of CC at that time, came up with an idea of having the best team in Michigan play against the best team in America, Boys Town, Nebraska, and met with Edward J. Flanagan of Boys Town. The game was played at Briggs Stadium (later named Tiger Stadium). Boys Town, whose coach had gone undefeated for an indefinite amount of time, came in wearing blue. CC donned, contrary to the usual royal blue and white, jerseys of blue and gold. That first game resulted in a tie between the two teams, but it started a long-standing tradition which would last from that time to the present day Boys' Bowl.
The Drive
The Drive is a fundraiser for the school and is by far the biggest event of the year. It lasts one week in February. Each student is given tickets to sell, and based on how many tickets are sold (or how much money is brought in), the administration will give days off of school. There ares also prizes to be won such as a fish-finder, plasma screen TV, mini-fridge and much more. Also, each day of the Drive (which are all half days), there's another drawing. If the student's name is drawn, they're given back all of the money that they've brought in (as long as it's over a certain amount). Also, in April, before Spring break, all of the students get a kick-back, which means that the students get money back based on how much they brought in.
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.
This particular song has been sung by the graduating class of every graduate ceremony of Catholic Central for over fifty years.
- 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 got 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)
Father Ned Donoher
Father Edward "Ned" Donoher, C.S.B. (December 18, 1923 - December 11, 2010) , called Father Ned or, more recently, Father Donoher was 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. He was assigned to teach at Andrean in 1960, but a change in assignment kept him at Detroit Catholic Central. His brother, Fr. Paul Donoher started the music department at Andrean.
Fr. Donoher taught at Catholic Central until the 2005-2006 school year, the school's first year in Novi.
Fr. Donoher went to the Lord after dying on December 11, 2010 at 9:45am in Sacred Heart Home outside of Toledo, Ohio. He was surrounded by the Sacred Heart Home chaplain and five of the Little Sisters of the Poor who staff the home. Fr. Jim O'Neill, CSB, superior of the Basilian Fathers of Catholic Central anointed Fr. Donoher.
Notable alumni
- Thomas E. Brennan, former Chief Justice of the Michigan Supreme Court and founder of the Thomas M. Cooley Law School
- Doug Brzezinski '94, Boston College and Carolina Panthers (NFL) Offensive lineman[4]
- Mike Cox '80 (R), former Michigan Attorney General
- Sean Cox, United States District Judge for the Eastern District of Michigan
- Andy Dillon '80 (D), Michigan Treasurer, former Michigan Speaker of the House
- Billy "BD" Downs '84, founder of BD's Mongolian Barbeque
- Mike Duggan, current CEO of the Detroit Medical Center and former Wayne County, Michigan prosecutor
- James Finn Garner, satirist and author of Politically Correct Bedtime Stories
- Bryan Gruley, author and Chicago Bureau Chief of The Wall Street Journal
- Charlie Haeger, Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher
- Stan Heath, University of South Florida men's basketball head coach
- Tom LaGarde '73, member of the 1976 US Olympic gold medal basketball team and retired NBA basketball player
- Terry Malone, tight ends coach for the New Orleans Saints and former offensive coordinator for the Michigan Wolverines football team
- Mike Martin Current football player at the University of Michigan
- Thaddeus McCotter '83 (R-MI), United States Congressman
- John McHale '38, former general manager of the Detroit Tigers, Milwaukee Braves, and Montreal Expos.
- Mark Messner '84, University of Michigan and former NFL lineman
- Al Moran, former New York Mets shortstop
- Mike Morelli '08, The Biggest Loser 2009 Finalist
- David Moss, forward for the NHL's Calgary Flames
- Kevin O'Connor, co-founder of online advertising company DoubleClick
- Phil Parsons, retired NASCAR Driver
- Mike Posner, Hip-hop Artist (attended, but did not graduate)
- Vasik Rajlich, International Master in chess and developer of Rybka
- James L. Ryan, Senior Judge, United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit
- Chris Sabo, former Major League Baseball, Cincinnati Reds third baseman
- Drew Sharp, Detroit Free Press columnist
- Alex Shelley '01, professional wrestler
- Frank Tanana, retired Major League Baseball pitcher
- Bernard White, actor, screenwriter and film director
- Joshua Gatt'10, Winger/Fullback for Tippeligaen soccer team, Molde FK
External links
- Official Catholic Central Website
- Detroit News Article "Catholic Central High School is ready for new home in Novi"
- [2] "ACT Scores on the Rise at Catholic Central"
- Detroit Catholic Central Band and Orchestra Homepage
- MHSAA Ice Hockey Records
Notes and references
- ^ NCA-CASI. "NCA-Council on Accreditation and School Improvement". http://www.advanc-ed.org/schools_districts/school_district_listings/?. Retrieved 2009-06-23.[dead link]
- ^ http://detnews.com/article/20101007/SPORTS05/10070356/Brother-Rice-Catholic-Central-rivalry-still-going-strong
- ^ http://www.marketwatch.com/story/gatorade-announces-1999-detroit-catholic-central-vs-trenton-replay-game-scheduled-for-may-9-at-compuware-arena-2010-04-09
- ^ http://www.nfl.com/players/playerpage/133241
Categories:- Educational institutions established in 1928
- Private schools in Michigan
- Roman Catholic secondary schools in Michigan
- Novi, Michigan
- Boys' schools in the United States
- Schools in Oakland County, Michigan
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