Salesianum School

Salesianum
Address
1801 North Broom Street Wilmington , Delaware 19802-2891 United States
Coordinates	39°45′39″N 75°32′58″W
Information
Type	Catholic
Motto	Tenui Nec Dimittam (I have taken hold and will not let go.)
Established	1903
President	Mr. Brendan Kennealey
Principal	Rev. Christian Beretta, OSFS
Grades	9–12
Enrollment	approx. 1,100
Team name	Sallies
Accreditation	Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools
Newspaper	The Review
Yearbook	The Salesian
Tuition	$12,500 (2012-2013)
Website	http://www.salesianum.org

Salesianum School is a Roman Catholic independent school for boys, located in Wilmington, Delaware. It is run independently within the Roman Catholic Diocese of Wilmington and is operated by the Oblates of St. Francis de Sales. The current enrollment is just above 1,100 students, from Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey and Pennsylvania. The school has two sister schools, Padua Academy and Ursuline Academy, close by in the city. Salesianum has also established a close connection with Lycée Saint Michel, another Oblate high school, located in Annecy, France. St. Mark's High School is the school's historic rival, located southwest of Wilmington. Salesianum was named one of the Top 50 Catholic High Schools in America by the Catholic Honor Roll in 2007, 2008, 2009, and 2010.

Since 2004, the Wilmington/Philadelphia Province of the Oblates of St. Francis de Sales has been named in lawsuits in the Superior Court of Delaware filed by 40 plaintiffs, each of which contained allegations of sexual abuse of a minor. Delaware’s passage of the Child Victims’ Act in 2007 led to a total of 40 survivors filing lawsuits seeking justice and reconciliation.

Campus

The 22-acre (89,000 m²) campus is home to the school itself as well as a gymnasium. In addition to the campus, the athletic program also makes use of Wilmington's Baynard Stadium located directly across from the school.

Athletics

• Salesianum is an independent for interscholastic sports. Salesianum holds over 130 State Championships. Every sports team except the Salesianum Basketball team has won at least one State Championship.
• Salesianum is the only school in Delaware to achieve a "triple crown" (i.e., where all three fall sports win the state championship). The school achieved this in back to back years in 2005 and 2006.
• Through the 2007 season, the school's baseball team had competed in the Catholic Conference with Archmere, St. Mark's, and St. Elizabeth. However, Archmere joined the Diamond State Conference in 2008, while the rest of the Catholic Conference today remains independent.
• Salesianum does not have an official nickname or mascot. The school's general nickname is "Sallies", while local media outlets such as WDEL and The News Journal often use the sports moniker "The Sals" incorrectly
• In 1994, Salesianum's football team defeated Bethlehem Catholic from Bethlehem, PA in one of the greatest upsets in school history. Bethlehem Catholic's quarterback, Dan Kendra, was widely regarded as the #1 high school quarterback in the U.S. and went on to play the position at Florida State University before tearing his ACL and being moved to fullback.
• In 1976, Salesianum's baseball team, led by Delaware Hall of Fame coach Rev. Robert Kenney, OSFS, compiled a 20-0 record and won the Delaware state championship. There has not been an undefeated baseball state champion either before or after Father Kenney's 1976 team.
• Salesianum's boys' soccer team has won the Delaware State Championship in 1983, 1989, 1993, 2002, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2010, 2011 and 2012.
• Salesianum's classic athletic rival is the St. Mark's Spartans. Every year the Salesianum vs. St Mark's football game yields one of the largest turnouts in Delaware and the game is labeled "The Holy War"
• Salesianum's swim team has won 8 consecutive swimming and diving state championships, and have won 12 of the last 13 titles under head coach Chip Hannig.
• Salesianum's marching band has won numerous awards over the past ten years, including multiple best percussion, best drum major, and best overall performance.
• In May of 2013, Salesianum's rugby team won the first ever Delaware High School Rugby State Championship, although not yet officially sanctioned by the Delaware Interscholastic Athletic Association.

Student clubs and activities

Original Location - 8th & West Sts

Front entrance

Salesianum students can participate in many academic, artistic, service clubs, and activities, including National Honor Society and Model United Nations. Salesianum also recently started an advanced physics program known as taCOSΘ which provides more advanced AP students with the opportunity to interact with those who are in need of assistance in their studies of physics. Salesianum's Life Smarts team has represented Delaware at the national competition each year from 2006 to 2012.

History

Salesianum (Latin for "House of Sales", referring to St. Francis de Sales) was founded in 1903 and stood at 8th and West Streets until the move to its current location in 1957. In 1950, Rev. Thomas Lawless, OSFS, a 1908 graduate of Salesianum, admitted five African American students, four years prior to the Brown v. Board of Education decision made it mandatory; thus making Salesianum the first racially integrated school in the state of Delaware, and recently was recognized for this with a historical marker.

Notable alumni

• Christopher Castellani (1990): Novelist
• Paul Anthony Ciancia (2008): Suspect in the November 1, 2013 Los Angeles International Airport shooting
• Cesidio Colasante (1994): Midfielder in the NPSL and USL A-League
• Bill Marsilii (1980): Screenwriter
• Anthony Monaco (1977): President of Tufts University (2011–present), professor of human genetics at the University of Oxford
• Bill Press (1958): Liberal political commentator and talk radio host (The Bill Press Show), chair of the California Democratic Party (1993–1996)
• Kevin P. Reilly (1969): National Football League linebacker for the Philadelphia Eagles and the New England Patriots
• Andrew Szczerba (2007): National Football League tight end for the Atlanta Falcons
• Ken Szotkiewicz (1965): Major League Baseball shortstop for the Detroit Tigers (1970)
• Francis D. Vavala (1965): Major General in the United States Army and adjutant general for Delaware
• Tom Welling (as a freshman in 1992): Actor, transferred to Okemos High School

External links

• Salesianum School (Official School Link)