Bishop Shanahan High School is located in Downingtown

Downingtown, Pennsylvania

Downingtown is a borough in Chester County, Pennsylvania, west of Philadelphia. As of the 2010 census it had a population of 7,891. Downingtown was settled by English and European colonists in the early 18th century and has a number of historic buildings and structures.-History:The town was...

, Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania

The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...

. It is part of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia's

Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Philadelphia

The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Philadelphia is an ecclesiastical territory or diocese of the Roman Catholic Church in southeastern Pennsylvania, in the United States. It covers the City and County of Philadelphia as well as Bucks, Chester, Delaware, and Montgomery counties. The diocese was...

 Catholic

Roman Catholic Church

The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...

 school system. Named after Right Rev. John W. Shanahan

John W. Shanahan

John Walter Shanahan was an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as Bishop of Harrisburg from 1899 until his death in 1916.-Biography:...

, the third bishop of Harrisburg

Harrisburg, Pennsylvania

Harrisburg is the capital of Pennsylvania. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 49,528, making it the ninth largest city in Pennsylvania...

, the school is currently the only Archdiocesan High School

High school

High school is a term used in parts of the English speaking world to describe institutions which provide all or part of secondary education. The term is often incorporated into the name of such institutions....

 in Chester County

Chester County, Pennsylvania

-State parks:*French Creek State Park*Marsh Creek State Park*White Clay Creek Preserve-Demographics:As of the 2010 census, the county was 85.5% White, 6.1% Black or African American, 0.2% Native American or Alaskan Native, 3.9% Asian, 0.0% Native Hawaiian, 1.8% were two or more races, and 2.4% were...

. Construction of the current building began in 1996, was opened in 1998, and the first class graduated from it in 1999. The school had previously been located in West Chester, Pennsylvania

West Chester, Pennsylvania

The Borough of West Chester is the county seat of Chester County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 18,461 at the 2010 census.Valley Forge, the Brandywine Battlefield, Longwood Gardens, Marsh Creek State Park, and other historical attractions are near West Chester...

. In June 2008, Bishop Shanahan celebrated its 50 year anniversary with the graduation of its 50th Senior Class.

School Seal and Motto

The school seal is a shield

Shield

A shield is a type of personal armor, meant to intercept attacks, either by stopping projectiles such as arrows or redirecting a hit from a sword, mace or battle axe to the side of the shield-bearer....

 separated into thirds, emblazoned with a cross

Christian cross

The Christian cross, seen as a representation of the instrument of the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, is the best-known religious symbol of Christianity...

 (Faith), an anchor

Anchor

An anchor is a device, normally made of metal, that is used to connect a vessel to the bed of a body of water to prevent the vessel from drifting due to wind or current. The word derives from Latin ancora, which itself comes from the Greek ἄγκυρα .Anchors can either be temporary or permanent...

 (Hope), and a heart

Heart

The heart is a myogenic muscular organ found in all animals with a circulatory system , that is responsible for pumping blood throughout the blood vessels by repeated, rhythmic contractions...

(Love): the three Theological Virtues. Beneath the school shield is the motto "Quae sursum sunt Quaerite." which means "Seek the things that are above."

Academics

.

Chairpersons:

Religion---- Sr. Marianne Lallone
Math ----- Mr. Paul Finley
History ----- Mr. David McQuiston
Fine Arts ----- Mr. Charles Keating
English ----- Ms. Stephanie Belefonte
Physical Education ----- Mr. Richard Kaufmann
Science ----- Mrs. Mary Jane Ansley
Foreign Language ----- Ms. Mary Ann Nies

Alma mater

1) Let every voice upraise
A song of loudest praise;
With pride let us sing
And tribute bring
Honor to Shanahan Ways!

2) High may our banner wave,
And on our hearts engrave
A pride that is just,
A loyal trust.
True spirits, faithful and brave!

Refrain:Our motto, "Seek the things
that are found above,"
Will be our soaring Eagle's cry
For God and Country, school and home
The White and Green will fly;
For loyal sons and daughters true
Of Shanahan Catholic High!