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Detroit Catholic Central High School

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Detroit Catholic Central High School
File:CCcampus.jpg
Location
Map
Novi
,
Michigan

United States
Information
TypePrivate, Catholic
MottoTeach Me Goodness, Discipline, and Knowledge
Established1928
Head teacherFr. Richard Ranaletti, C.S.B.
Number of students~1,000
CampusPatrick M. Nesbitt Campus
Color(s)Royal Blue and White
MascotThe Shamrocks
Websitewww.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 school is staffed by both Basilian fathers and lay teachers. The Shamrocks, as they are known in competition, 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 colors, Royal Blue and White, are the colors of the school's patron and alma mater - the Virgin Mary.

The Shamrocks are members of the Catholic High School League and have fierce rivalries with the University of Detroit Jesuit High School and Birmingham Brother Rice High School.

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 (the same length of time it had been on Outer Drive). In July 2005, the school relocated to 27225 Wixom Road in Novi.

While Catholic Central enjoys strong alumni support, many alumni have complained that the school has abandoned its historical commitment to metro Detroit's working and middle class families. Base tuition (excluding other fees and books) has grown to $9,000 per year.

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.

The new campus is one of the first in the state to utilize Internet Protocol for computers, telephony, 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 inside of the city of Wixom and still attempts to keep its name in the Detroit title. Everyone realizes that this is not true, therefore the school is referred to as Novi Detroit Redford Wixom 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. 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, 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 2001.
  • 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:

CC's main athletic rival is Birmingham Brother Rice High School. Other rivals include Orchard Lake St. Mary's Preparatory, Livonia Stevenson High School, U of D Jesuit High School, Novi High School, and Trenton High School (particularly in hockey).

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.

In the 2004-05 school year, they bands performed in Honolulu.

In the 2006-07 school year, the bands performed in London's New Year's Day Parade and associated events.

  • 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 is comprised mostly 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. They 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 and certain percussion instruments. They do not take part in Marching Band. The orchestra plays at the Spring and Christmas Concert. They also play at the MSBOA band festival and perform an individual solo 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

In February of each school year, the students hold a fund-raiser known as "The Drive." Money is raised by selling raffle tickets. In 2008, a record $300,947.13 was raised, surpassing the old record from 2007 by about $30,000.00. During The Drive, the campus is decorated according to the year's theme (ie. Movies or Music), and a contest is held for the class and home-room winners.

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 go 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. 1960, 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. Fr. Ned never taught at Andrean. He was assigned to teach at Andrean in 1960, but a change in assignment kept him at Catholic Central in Detroit. 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. Father Donoher, or "Father D." as the students call him, continues to be a big part of CC, present at major assemblies as well as in student-produced Drive skits. On February 18, the last day of the 2008 CC Drive, the entire student body wore "Ned Head" T-shirts, with a likeness of Fr. Donoher on the front and the interlocking CC emblem on the back.

Now living near Toledo, Ohio, Fr. Donoher continues to be a powerful presence at Catholic Central.

Notable Alumni

St. Catherine of Siena Academy

There are currently confirmed rumors that many of the planners, architects, and managers involved in the construction of the new Novi campus of Catholic Central are working in conjunction with the Sisters of Mary, Mother of the Eucharist, in planning an all-girls Catholic high school in the Novi-Wixom area. It was thought that the school would be located on the lot adjacent to Catholic Central. This plan was scrapped due to zoning issues. The school will be built two miles (3 km) away and will not be affiliated with Catholic Central. Construction is scheduled to begin in Spring of 2009, and the school should open in Fall of 2010. It will initially house 125-150 freshmen, and 25-40 sophomores, but when at fully capacity will accommodate 650 students.

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