Belen Jesuit Preparatory School
Encyclopedia
Belen Jesuit Preparatory School is a Roman Catholic preparatory school
in Miami
, Florida
operated by The Society of Jesus
. It was established in Cuba
by the Jesuits
in 1854, but moved to the United States
after the communist government of Fidel Castro
, himself an alumnus
, took power and expelled the Jesuits. It has since developed into one of the top Catholic high schools in the United States.
issued a royal charter founding the "Colegio de Belén" in Havana
, Cuba
. The school began its educational work in the building formerly occupied by the convent and convalescent hospital of Our Lady of Belen, hence the name of the school. Over time, the school expanded through the donation of several nearby buildings in Havana. The resulting complex would ultimately be known as "El Palacio de Educacion" (The Palace of Education). "El Palacio" still stands, now called the Instituto Tecnico Militar
(Military Technical Institute).
, opened the following year. Initial enrollment on the new grounds consisted of 598 students.
1992 to 2002 marked a period of expansion for the school. The library was renovated, multiple computer labs were built as well as an athletic center and the number of classrooms were increased. Belen inaugurated the Ignatian Center for the Arts in 2004 which included new classrooms, a choir and orchestra practice room, a stagecraft workshop, an amphitheater, the Olga & Carlos Saladrigas Art Gallery, and the Ophelia & Juan Js. Roca Theater with a 662 patron capacity.
The 2008 fall semester was Rev. Marcelino Garcia's SJ's last semester serving as President and Principal of Belen Jesuit after twenty-five years of exceptional service. Spring 2010 marked the beginning of Rev. Pedro Suarez SJ's service as President and Rev. Guillermo Garcia-Tuñon, SJ's as Principal.
In addition to need-based aid, in 2006 Belen and Ocean Bank created the Agape Scholarship to promote diversity at the school and committed $1.2 million over the next ten years for the program. The scholarship fully covers tuition, books, and other educational expenses. The school also created a scholarship committee charged with ensuring the success of the scholarship recipients.
After not competing for twenty years, in 2003 Belen resumed competitions with its local rival (Christopher Columbus Highschool).
The library also houses La Colección Cubana (The Cuban Collection), a special collection of Cuban books. La Colección Cubana consists of over 7,000 volumes, with books either about Cuba or written by Cubans and Cuban-Americans. La Colección Cubana is open to the public. La Colección Cubana is the second-largest collection of Cuban books and other media (second only to the University of Miami)outside of Cuba
University-preparatory school
A university-preparatory school or college-preparatory school is a secondary school, usually private, designed to prepare students for a college or university education...
in Miami
Miami, Florida
Miami is a city located on the Atlantic coast in southeastern Florida and the county seat of Miami-Dade County, the most populous county in Florida and the eighth-most populous county in the United States with a population of 2,500,625...
, Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
operated by The Society of Jesus
Society of Jesus
The Society of Jesus is a Catholic male religious order that follows the teachings of the Catholic Church. The members are called Jesuits, and are also known colloquially as "God's Army" and as "The Company," these being references to founder Ignatius of Loyola's military background and a...
. It was established in Cuba
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
by the Jesuits
Society of Jesus
The Society of Jesus is a Catholic male religious order that follows the teachings of the Catholic Church. The members are called Jesuits, and are also known colloquially as "God's Army" and as "The Company," these being references to founder Ignatius of Loyola's military background and a...
in 1854, but moved to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
after the communist government of Fidel Castro
Fidel Castro
Fidel Alejandro Castro Ruz is a Cuban revolutionary and politician, having held the position of Prime Minister of Cuba from 1959 to 1976, and then President from 1976 to 2008. He also served as the First Secretary of the Communist Party of Cuba from the party's foundation in 1961 until 2011...
, himself an alumnus
Alumnus
An alumnus , according to the American Heritage Dictionary, is "a graduate of a school, college, or university." An alumnus can also be a former member, employee, contributor or inmate as well as a former student. In addition, an alumna is "a female graduate or former student of a school, college,...
, took power and expelled the Jesuits. It has since developed into one of the top Catholic high schools in the United States.
Belen's time in Cuba
In 1854, Queen Isabella II of SpainIsabella II of Spain
Isabella II was the only female monarch of Spain in modern times. She came to the throne as an infant, but her succession was disputed by the Carlists, who refused to recognise a female sovereign, leading to the Carlist Wars. After a troubled reign, she was deposed in the Glorious Revolution of...
issued a royal charter founding the "Colegio de Belén" in Havana
Havana
Havana is the capital city, province, major port, and leading commercial centre of Cuba. The city proper has a population of 2.1 million inhabitants, and it spans a total of — making it the largest city in the Caribbean region, and the most populous...
, Cuba
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
. The school began its educational work in the building formerly occupied by the convent and convalescent hospital of Our Lady of Belen, hence the name of the school. Over time, the school expanded through the donation of several nearby buildings in Havana. The resulting complex would ultimately be known as "El Palacio de Educacion" (The Palace of Education). "El Palacio" still stands, now called the Instituto Tecnico Militar
Instituto Tecnico Militar
Belen School aka Instituto Tecnico Militar was designed by the Cuban architectural firm of Morales & Cia in 1925...
(Military Technical Institute).
Belen's History in the United States
In 1961, the new political regime of Cuba confiscated the school's property and expelled the Jesuit faculty. Belen Jesuit was re-established in Miami the same year, and by the next year it had acquired its own building and moved to a new site on the corner of S.W. 8th Street and 7th Avenue in Miami. 1980 saw a Ground-breaking ceremony for a new building on a 30 acres (121,405.8 m²)-site located in west Dade CountyMiami-Dade County, Florida
Miami-Dade County is a county located in the southeastern part of the state of Florida. As of 2010 U.S. Census, the county had a population of 2,496,435, making it the most populous county in Florida and the eighth-most populous county in the United States...
, opened the following year. Initial enrollment on the new grounds consisted of 598 students.
1992 to 2002 marked a period of expansion for the school. The library was renovated, multiple computer labs were built as well as an athletic center and the number of classrooms were increased. Belen inaugurated the Ignatian Center for the Arts in 2004 which included new classrooms, a choir and orchestra practice room, a stagecraft workshop, an amphitheater, the Olga & Carlos Saladrigas Art Gallery, and the Ophelia & Juan Js. Roca Theater with a 662 patron capacity.
The 2008 fall semester was Rev. Marcelino Garcia's SJ's last semester serving as President and Principal of Belen Jesuit after twenty-five years of exceptional service. Spring 2010 marked the beginning of Rev. Pedro Suarez SJ's service as President and Rev. Guillermo Garcia-Tuñon, SJ's as Principal.
Financial Aid
Belen Jesuit annually provides over $1.9 million in need-based grants to students. The grants are funded by the endowment, private donations, and profits from the annual fair ("Tombola").In addition to need-based aid, in 2006 Belen and Ocean Bank created the Agape Scholarship to promote diversity at the school and committed $1.2 million over the next ten years for the program. The scholarship fully covers tuition, books, and other educational expenses. The school also created a scholarship committee charged with ensuring the success of the scholarship recipients.
Academics
Belen is perennially ranked as one of the top 50 Catholic high schools in the United States.Arts
The humanities and arts are held at a high esteem at Belen. As of 2004, a new building was added to the campus solely for the arts, named The Ignatian Center for the Arts. The Center consists of a theater, art gallery, music rehearsal hall, a film lab, various classrooms and an administrative office. The humanities department at Belen Jesuit Preparatory school is currently overseen by Leopoldo Nuñez who is also the director of the Center for the Arts. The Ophelia & Juan Js. Roca Theatre features a 662 person occupancy, an orchestra pit, catwalk, a stage area and male and female dressing rooms. Prior to the construction of the theater, Belen productions were staged in the school auditorium which has since been re-named in honor of Guillermo F. Kohly.Athletics
Belen competes baseball, basketball, crew, cross country, football, golf, lacrosse, roller hockey, soccer, swimming, tennis, track and field, volleyball, water polo, and wrestling. In 2006 and 2007, Belen won state titles in cross country, swimming, and track and field.After not competing for twenty years, in 2003 Belen resumed competitions with its local rival (Christopher Columbus Highschool).
Library
The Ramón Guiteras Memorial Library, located on the campus, is one of the top school libraries in Miami-Dade County. It serves the student body and faculty of Belen, as well as the community at large. The library currently has over 35,000 volumes, 15,000 ebooks, and subscriptions to electronic databases. The library staff includes one professional librarian and three assistants.The library also houses La Colección Cubana (The Cuban Collection), a special collection of Cuban books. La Colección Cubana consists of over 7,000 volumes, with books either about Cuba or written by Cubans and Cuban-Americans. La Colección Cubana is open to the public. La Colección Cubana is the second-largest collection of Cuban books and other media (second only to the University of Miami)outside of Cuba