Our Catholic School -- the Student Perspective

After my post a week or so ago on my sons' Catholic high school, Barb, SFO, left a comment asking about the Catholic culture being fostered there. I've been thinking about this question and while I don't have any really great answers, I have a few points to make. While I compose them, I thought I'd post this essay that my oldest wrote about a year ago. He was asked by an alum, who is the CEO of a large advertising corp in NY, to write about the school. Anthony sent him this essay, which the alum, in turn, sent to several fellow alumni (high execs, as well as several members of the clergy in high places). It was well-received.

For the safety of my children and their classmates, I've change the name of the school for this post, as well as it's patron saint. The school I have changed to SCPS and the saint to SC or C of B. I apologize that it does make it choppy to read, but there are just too many creepies out there.

The Character of SC

The character associated with SCPS has its roots in the school’s namesake, SC. The manner in which C of B lived, is analogous to the “character of SC,” and the enduring tradition of servitude, enthusiasm, and integrity that is expected from Carolians can be paralleled to C of B’s legacy. This is exemplified in Leonard Foley’s assessment of SC’s life:

“SC made his own the words of Christ: "...I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, a stranger and you welcomed me, naked and you clothed me, ill and you cared for me, in prison and you visited me" (Matthew 25:35-36). C of B saw Christ in his neighbor and knew that charity done for the least of his flock was charity done for Christ. ” 1

The level of servitude to which SC devoted much of his life saturates the unofficial SCPS motto: “Be Your Brother’s Keeper.” The service that “Be Your Brother’s Keeper” entails can vary from help on a difficult lesson to the devotion of the many hours of work on the “Service Learning Project” required for graduation from SC.

In addition to a heavy emphasis on servitude, the “character of SC” stresses a degree of enthusiasm and willingness to work. In the realm of scholarly dedication and enthusiasm, the “character of SC” is identified by the student’s desire to go above and beyond the expectations of anyone else, including those of the student. In order to achieve this, one must challenge his own limits. It may be necessary that the student exceed his comfortable level of effort. The atmosphere of enthusiasm of the student body is bolstered by the fact that SPCS is one of many local school choices. The men that attend the school embrace the challenges posed personally, and by the academic and service agenda.

The integrity present in the “character of SC” is, essentially, a stout presence of both individuality and a willingness to work. There are few places on this earth where 600 adolescent males willingly sing Gaudeamus Igitur with some degree of zeal.

The summation of the “character of SC” unites the individual elements of servitude, enthusiasm, and integrity to form a relationship similar to the classic analogy of the “three legged stool.” Without one of the legs, the stool’s structure fails and collapses, much like the “character of SC” cannot exist without servitude, enthusiasm, and integrity working in unison.

1Saint of the Day (5th Revised Edition): Lives, Lessons and Feasts;
Leonard Foley, O.F.M., Revised by Pat McCloskey, O.F.M.