Chaminade High School
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Chaminade High School | |
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Address | |
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340 Jackson Avenue , 11501-2441 | |
Coordinates | 40°44′39″N 73°38′58″W / 40.744123°N 73.64946°W |
Information | |
Type | Private |
Motto | Fortes in Unitate (Strength in Unity) |
Religious affiliation(s) | Roman Catholic (Marianist) |
Established | 1930 |
President | Thomas Cleary |
Principal | Joseph Bellizzi |
Chaplain | Garret Long |
Grades | 9-12 |
Gender | Boys |
Enrollment | 1,730 (2014-2015) |
Average class size | 35-40 students |
Student to teacher ratio | 22:1 |
Color(s) | Crimson and Gold |
Athletics | 18 varsity sports |
Athletics conference | CHSAA |
Team name | Flyers |
Accreditation | MSA[2] |
Publication | Skylight (literary magazine) |
Newspaper | Tarmac |
Yearbook | Crimson and Gold |
Tuition | $8,755 (2014-2015) |
Dean of Students | Robert Paul |
Athletic Director | Donald Scarola |
Website | chaminade-hs.org |
Chaminade High School is a Roman Catholic college preparatory high school for young men. Located in Mineola, New York, United States, the school was founded in 1930 by the Society of Mary (Marianists), an international Roman Catholic teaching order of priests and religious Brothers. The school is named after Father William Joseph Chaminade, S.M. (1761–1850), who founded the Marianist order in 1817, and who was beatified by Pope John Paul II in 2000. The school continues to be operated by the Marianists and is independent of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Rockville Centre. The student body numbers over 1,700 and comes from Long Island (Nassau and Suffolk Counties), and neighboring New York City. The administration and faculty consists of both Marianists and lay men and women.
Students follow a traditional liberal arts curriculum, including four years each of English, Foreign Language (either French, German, Latin, Mandarin Chinese, or Spanish), Mathematics, Religion, Science (Earth Science or Oceanography, Biology, Chemistry, and Physics), and Social Studies, as well as one year each of Art, Music Appreciation, and Health. In senior year, students take an additional (advanced) year of either Art or Music Appreciation. Chaminade is known for its rigorous academic program, and average SAT scores are consistently well above the national average.[1] Historically, 100% of Chaminade graduates are accepted into college, and each year over 99% of them chose to attend college. In 2014, all 399 graduates were accepted into college; the class of 2014 was awarded 1,390 scholarships, with 284 students being awarded one or more scholarship.
Chaminade has a large and diverse selection of co-curricular and extra-curricular activities, with over 90% of the student body participating in at least one activity. Additionally, more than 50% of the student body participates on at least one interscholastic athletic team.[3] The school's athletic teams are nicknamed the Flyers, in recognition of the fact that at the time of Chaminade's founding, Mineola and the surrounding communities of Long Island were part of what was then a "cradle of aviation", with pioneering aviators such as Charles Lindbergh, Wiley Post, and Amelia Earhart making world-record flights from nearby Roosevelt Field. In line with Chaminade's chosen nickname the school newspaper is, appropriately, called Tarmac, a term for airport pavement.
Religious identity
All students take four years of Religion, beginning with biblical and Salvation history (Freshman and Sophomore years), followed by Christian morality and ethics (Junior year), and Christian existentialism (Senior year). The entire student body gathers for Mass each month; additionally, the Gold Star Mass is celebrated every Fall to honor those Chaminade alumni who gave their lives in protection of the United States as members of the military services. Students have the opportunity for the Sacrament of Reconciliation (Confession) every Tuesday and Thursday, while Eucharistic adoration is offered every Monday to students and faculty. A short prayer service is also offered daily, prior to the start of each lunch period.
Athletics
The following are the varsity sports offered at Chaminade:
Fall Season: Crew; Cross-Country; Football; and Soccer
Winter Season: Basketball; Bowling; Ice Hockey; Indoor Track & Field; Riflery; Swimming and Diving; and Wrestling
Spring Season: Baseball; Crew; Golf; Lacrosse; Outdoor Track & Field; Tennis; and Volleyball
Finances
In 1986, Father Philip Eichner, S.M., then president of Chaminade, established a permanent endowment fund for the school, which is known as the Torch Fund. Together with Brother Gary Eck, S.M., the Director of Development at the time, Father Eichner envisioned a time when the school's tuition would be capped, if not eventually lowered. The Torch Fund's principal balance has grown substantially over the years and presently, the interest income earned on the principal balance serves to partially defray the cost of the school's tuition. For the 2014-2015 school year, interest income from the Torch Fund's principal balance pays $1,400 (14%) of the total annual tuition cost for each student, resulting in parents having to pay only $8,755 of each student's total tuition cost.
Other
- Chaminade's musical performance groups include three concert bands (based on level of experience and performance), a string orchestra, a pep band (for sporting events), a jazz band, a bagpipe corps, junior and senior Glee Clubs, and a vocal chamber ensemble. The school produces two plays each year, a dramatic production in the Fall and a musical production in the Spring, utilizing young women from nearby schools for the female roles.
- Student publications at Chaminade include the school newspaper (Tarmac), the yearbook (Crimson and Gold), and the literary magazine (Skylight).
- The school's Robert C. Wright Speech and Debate Team (named in honor of alumnus and former Chairman of NBC Universal Robert C. Wright) regularly competes with high school speaking and debating teams in both the New York City Metropolitan area and nationwide.
- Chaminade's "Activities and Athletic Center" opened in 2007, with a main arena that holds 1,500 for basketball games and 2,500 for Masses and non-athletic events. The facility also incorporates a 1/10 mile indoor track suspended over the main arena, a wrestling room, and a 200 seat auditorium. A new stadium for the main athletic field and an upgraded practice field were completed in 2014.
- Chaminade owns a theater pipe organ having 3 manuals and 15 ranks, which is housed in the school's 1,200 seat Darby Auditorium. The organ consists of a Robert Morton console with ranks by Wurlitzer, Robert Morton, Austin, and Barton.[4]
Notable alumni
- Alfonse D'Amato, United States Senator from New York, from 1981 to 1999.
- Brian Dennehy, actor.
- Louis Gerstner, former Chairman and CEO of IBM, and The Carlyle Group.
- Glenn Hughes, singer, The Village People.
- Stephen Karopczyc, recipient of the Medal of Honor.
- George Kennedy, actor.
- Gene Larkin, former Major League Baseball player for the Minnesota Twins. [5]
- Bob McKillop, head coach of the Davidson College basketball team.[6]
- William "Bill" O'Reilly, Fox News political commentator.
- Christopher Ruddy, CEO of Newsmax Media.
- Thomas Suozzi, former County Executive of Nassau County, NY.[7]
- Robert C. Wright, former Chairman and CEO of NBC Universal and former Vice Chairman of the General Electric Company.
References
- ^ a b Hu, Winnie (September 28, 2008). "At a Boys' Catholic School, Tradition Fuels Demand". The New York Times.
- ^ MSA-CSS. "MSA-Commission on Secondary Schools". Retrieved 2009-05-27.
- ^ Chaminade High School
- ^ New York Theatre Organ Society Web page Retrieved 2013-05-03.
- ^ Eisenberg, Carol (2005-12-02). "Last tango for Chaminade prom". Newsday. Archived from the original on 2007-11-18. Retrieved 2007-12-28.
- ^ "Head coach Bob McKillop provides Davidson's motivation". Daily News. New York. 2008-03-24.
- ^ Healy, Patrick D. (2006-02-26). "L.I. Democrat Takes On Spitzer in Governor Race". NY Times. Retrieved 2008-01-25.