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St. Teresa High School (Decatur, Illinois)

Coordinates: 39°52′21″N 88°57′14″W / 39.87250°N 88.95389°W / 39.87250; -88.95389
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This is an old revision of this page, as edited by 2600:1008:b002:694d:ed27:811f:a91:cf0 (talk) at 22:31, 25 November 2022 (IHSA State Finishes[1]: Added football championship). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

St. Teresa High School
St. Teresa High School, Decatur, Illinois
Address
Map
2710 North Water Street

,
62526

United States
Coordinates39°52′21″N 88°57′14″W / 39.87250°N 88.95389°W / 39.87250; -88.95389
Information
TypePrivate
MottoServiam
(I will serve.)
DenominationRoman Catholic
Patron saint(s)St. Teresa of Ávila
Established1866
FounderUrsuline Sisters
OversightDiocese of Springfield
CEEB code141565
PresidentDr. Kenneth C. Hendriksen
PrincipalMr. Larry B. Daly
FacultyMrs. Jennifer Brummer (Dean of Students), Mr. Todd Vohland (Director of Athletics), Fr. Michael Trummer (Chaplain), Mrs. Angela Young (Guidance Counselor)
Teaching staffMr. Mario Podeschi, Chair of English

Ms. Amanda Hoffman, Chair of Theology

Mr. Paul Furman, Chair of Mathematics

Mrs. Judy Saloka, Chair of Science

Mr. Todd Vohland, Chair of History

Mr. Luis Peralta, Chair of Foreign Language

Ms. Sandra Bronson, Chair of Business

Mrs. Nancy Sullivan, Theatre Director

Mrs.Colleen Hillyer, Music Director
Grades912
GenderCoed
Enrollment276 (2021)
Average class size14
Campus size21 acres (8.5 ha)
Campus typeClosed
Color(s)  Orange
  Blue
SloganCollege Prep. Life Ready.
AthleticsIHSA
Athletics conferenceCentral Illinois Conference
MascotBulldog
Team nameBulldogs
AccreditationNorth Central Association of Colleges and Schools[2]
Publication"Bulldog Biz" (newsletter)
YearbookTeresian
Tuition$7,500 (2021-2022) [1]
Websitewww.stteresa.org

St. Teresa High School is a private, Roman Catholic high school in Decatur, Illinois. It is located in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Springfield in Illinois.

History

St. Teresa was established in 1866 as Academy of St. Teresa by the Sisters of the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary. In 1868 the Ursuline Sisters took over the responsibility of operating the school. St. Teresa was originally located on the 400 block of East Eldorado Street, until 1913, when it was moved to its current location and designated as an all-girls boarding school.

In 1930, due to increases in student enrollment, the Ursuline Sisters petitioned Bishop Griffin for an expansion of the academy. Bishop Griffin fulfilled their request, and in return the nuns were asked to build a co-ed building. After the transition into a co-educational institution, the school was renamed as St. Teresa High School and Sister Loretto Boland was appointed as the first principal. In 1955, as enrollment further increased, eight classrooms and a gymnasium were built and dedicated to Bishop O'Connor[3]

In 1996, the Ursuline Sisters withdrew their sponsorship of the school and a not-for-profit corporation was formed to assume ownership and control of St. Teresa High School.[4]

In 2015, a new athletic wing was built, containing new locker rooms and an exercise/weight lifting room. Its construction was possible by donations and had its first use in the 2015-2016 school year.

Starting in 2016, St. Teresa launched its "Sustain the Future" Campaign, which aims to raise $10.5 million, of which over $7 million has been raised.[5]

In 2022, a new football and track complex was constructed, with a new synthetic turf football field, and the addition of a track, which the school did not have before. The project budget was $4.25 million.[6]

Approach

St. Teresa High School requires that each student earn a total of twenty-six credits (defined as one year of coursework) to graduate, including four from theology and English and three from mathematics and science. Other required courses include consumer education, computer concepts, and health. St. Teresa High School also requires ten service hours to the community per school year, and students must pass the Illinois and U.S. Constitution Tests. Many Honors courses are available to students in math, chemistry, English, biology, anatomy, and physics. Several AP classes are also available: Calculus AB and BC, Computer Science, Chemistry, English Literature and Composition, Physics, and US History. Seventh and eighth graders from the three Catholic schools in the area (Holy Family, St. Patrick, and Our Lady of Lourdes) can take advanced math and science on campus.

95% of students take part in extracurricular activities or athletics[7] (listed below), including Student Council, Scholastic Bowl, WYSE (Worldwide Youth in Science and Engineering), FBLA (Future Business Leaders of America), National Honor Society, Drama (with two major productions each school year), Art, Band, and Chorus. Students also take part in the various clubs formed at the school, such as Art Club, Debate Club, International Club, Juggling club, and Serviam club (named after the school motto).

Campus

The current campus is one building in three parts. The science wing, which also includes the music room, chapel, and multipurpose room, is on the south side. A glass hallway separates it from the main building, which contains the majority of the classrooms and offices. The athletic wing, including the Joe Venturi gymnasium, locker rooms, weight room, and a few classrooms, is on the north side. To the east of the school are the football field, (doubling as a soccer pitch), press box, and baseball diamond. The softball diamond is to the south of the school. Students must remain on campus throughout the school day.

Athletics

Depending upon the sport, St. Teresa competes in IHSA Class 1A or 2A (sometimes styled as A or AA) and always competes in the IHSA Central Illinois Conference. The school offers football and baseball for boys, volleyball, softball, and cheerleading for girls, and cross country, tennis, track and field, basketball, soccer, bass fishing and golf for both.

IHSA State Finishes[8]

Sport IHSA State Finishes
Football 2A State Champions - 1974, 1975, 1979, 2022; 2A State Runner-Up - 1986; 1A State Runner-Up - 2016
Volleyball 2A 4th Place - 2010, 2011; 1A State 3rd Place - 2018
Boys Cross Country (ind.) 1A 4th Place - 2018
Girls Cross Country 1A State Champions - 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013; 1A State Runner-Up - 2009; 1A State 3rd Place - 2005
Girls Tennis (Doubles) 1A State Runners-Up - 2010, 2013; 1A State 3rd Place - 2011; 1A State 4th Place - 2012
Girls Track & Field 1A State 3rd Place - 2018, 2019
Boys Basketball 1A State Runners-Up - 2014
Girls Basketball 1A State Champions - 2004
Boys Soccer 1A State 3rd Place - 2018
Scholastic Bowl 1A State Champions - 1997; 1A State Runners-Up - 1998, 2016; 1A State 3rd Place - 2005

Alumni

References

  1. ^ St. Teresa High School. "Tuition and Fees". Retrieved September 4, 2021.
  2. ^ NCA-CASI. "NCA-Council on Accreditation and School Improvement". Archived from the original on April 29, 2009. Retrieved July 28, 2009.
  3. ^ St. Teresa High School. "History of St. Teresa High School". Retrieved October 19, 2015.
  4. ^ "Board of Directors | St Teresa Catholic High School". www.st-teresahs.org. Retrieved October 19, 2015.
  5. ^ St. Teresa High School. "Sustain the Future". Retrieved May 23, 2019.
  6. ^ "St. Teresa Launches Build The Future Campaign". St. Teresa High School. Retrieved October 25, 2022.
  7. ^ St. Teresa High School. "Student Organizations". Retrieved August 13, 2016.
  8. ^ IHSA. "Records & History". Retrieved May 27, 2019.