St. Augustine High School
Encyclopedia
St. Augustine High School is a private Catholic high school for young men under the direction of the Order of Saint Augustine
located in the North Park
district of San Diego, California
and founded in 1922. It is located in the Roman Catholic Diocese of San Diego
.
Named after Saint Augustine of Hippo, an early Christian theologian, St. Augustine teaches young men within the framework of the Catholic faith and in the Augustinian
tradition. This culturally diverse school serves the communities of San Diego County and Tijuana, Mexico. The school also publicly states, "We open our doors to all boys we believe will benefit from our academic program."
to satisfy the need of a new boy's school in the southern part of the 80000 square miles (207,199 km²) diocese. (The Order
also operate Villanova University
in Pennsylvania, and Merrimack College
in Massachusetts, and in the early decades many of the school's religious staff were trained at these colleges.) The Order of Saint Augustine
opened St. Augustine High School in the St. Vincent's parish meeting hall on September 18, 1922 with 19 students. The school moved to its current Nutmeg Street location in the year 1923.
In 1956, the school became the first private school admitted to the San Diego City League of Athletics.
crashed and exploded several blocks (Nile and Dwight Streets) from the campus. The school shut down and became a triage
and command and control center for those authorities who responded to the emergency posed by the crash, culminating in the utilization of the gymnasium as a makeshift morgue
. The following year an arsonist burned down the school's library, which has since moved to Villanova Hall.
On June 2, 2006, together with the San Diego mayor Jerry Sanders
, the Auxiliary Bishop of San Diego Salvatore Cordoleone, the school's President John Keller O.S.A., ASB President Alexander Guittard, and various members of the Augustinian and general school community, the school broke ground for the first phase of the school's building campaign.
Work commenced in the summer of 2006 and was completed in the fall 2007 for Phase One. The second and third phases have been planned for the near future, with final completion of the project projected to fall within the early 2010s.
Most students live near and within typical driving distance of the school. The bulk of students live in San Diego and surrounding areas including La Mesa, Kearny Mesa, Point Loma, Downtown, and Beach areas. However, some students have longer commutes from areas in the North (such as Carlsbad, Del Mar, Valley Center, and Oceanside), the East (Poway, Escondido, and Lakeside), and the South (such as Chula Vista, Eastlake and Bonita) A number of students commute daily from Tijuana
.
Most students are Roman Catholic; however, the school accommodates people of other faiths, including non-Christian ones and some degree of non-faith in personal belief.
(* denotes that an Advanced Placement or honors equivalent version of the course is offered)
In these sports, Saints has 25 total CIF San Diego Division III Championship teams.
In the past few years several club sports have been organized by the student body. These sports are either non-traditional sports or the sport club has not been credited by CIF. For example, the Roller Hockey team started as a club, and eventually the school applied for the CIF Roller Hockey division. Some of the club sports include:
.
Recently, the school revived its annual musical with Oliver!
. As of late, theatrical successes include such musicals as Seussical
, The Wizard of Oz
, West Side Story, and Little Shop of Horrors
. Plays produced include Arsenic and Old Lace
and Dracula
. Saints also hosts the "Flying Ferrets," an improv
team.
The mascot is known as "Halo Joe", who has appeared in various forms over the years. They range from a comical looking angel with halo and bruised eye to a more warrior-type angel holding shield and sword. The original art was conceived in 1971 by Jesse Ochoa, class of 1971. The comical mascot is most commonly seen on school sweatshirts, while most other versions appear in printed materials or other school spirit merchandise. The mascot also is seen in costume form at sporting events where he is escorted by Saints cheerleaders to rally spirit.
closely resembles the Alma Mater of Villanova
, an Augustinian university
in Pennsylvania
which also closely resembles the Alma Mater of Villanova Preparatory School
, an Augustinian college preparatory school in Ventura Country, California:
It is sung most commonly after many sporting events by both the crowd and participating team. However, it also recited at the end of Freshman Welcome Week, class and sports rallies, and Graduation. The first verse is most commonly the only verse recited. The second is used on occasion, while the third is used rarely if ever.
, now known as Cathedral Catholic High School
, and the former Marian Catholic High School, now known as Mater Dei Catholic High School
. (The fourth, the Academy of Our Lady of Peace, is an all-girls school and has long been considered as a sister school to Saints).
The rivalry that is most prevalent is between Saints and USDHS / Cathedral, which has spanned many years. This bitter rivalry can be likened to a high school version of a USC/UCLA, Michigan/Ohio St. or UNC/Duke type feud. Since the early 1970s, a yearly 'Charity Bowl' (now called the 'Holy Bowl'), first hosted at Jack Murphy Stadium (Qualcomm Stadium
) by Bob Hope, occasionally at Balboa Stadium
, and now at Southwestern College
Stadium, has been the highlight of the rivalry. The two schools' football teams have in fact met in every season since the foundation of University High, except for 2007, when the game was cancelled as part of a county-wide cancellation of all high school sports during the October wildfires and, like all other cancelled football games, was not rescheduled.
Top students regularly matriculate to various prestigious institutions such as Stanford University
, Yale University
, The University of Southern California, University of California, Los Angeles
, Boston College
, Dartmouth College
, The University of Pennsylvania, Harvard College
, University of Notre Dame
, Georgetown University
, Washington and Lee University
and Villanova University
. A small number of students have gone on to attend the various United States military academies.
A large number of students traditionally choose to attend the various colleges of the University of California
system including University of California, Los Angeles
, and University of California, San Diego
, and the various California State University
campuses; in 2007, over 50 students planned to attend San Diego State University
.
Others attend local private colleges, such as the Catholic University of San Diego
. Some students attend community colleges locally. Some students attend schools abroad, especially in Mexico.http://www.sahs.org/aboutus/studentresources/collegecounseling/acceptances2007.htm
Order of Saint Augustine
The Order of St. Augustine —historically Ordo Eremitarum Sancti Augustini", O.E.S.A.), generally called Augustinians is a Catholic Religious Order, which, although more ancient, was formally created in the thirteenth century and combined of several previous Augustinian eremetical Orders into one...
located in the North Park
North Park, San Diego, California
North Park is a neighborhood in San Diego, California, USA. It is situated to the northeast of Balboa Park, bounded on the north by the canyons overlooking Mission Valley, on the south by Switzer Canyon and the South Park neighborhood, on the east by Interstate 805 and City Heights, and on the...
district of San Diego, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
and founded in 1922. It is located in the Roman Catholic Diocese of San Diego
Roman Catholic Diocese of San Diego
The Roman Catholic Diocese of San Diego is a particular church of the Latin Rite of the Roman Catholic Church in the western region of the United States. Its ecclesiastic territory includes all of San Diego and Imperial Counties in Southern California, with a Catholic population of 1,981,057...
.
Named after Saint Augustine of Hippo, an early Christian theologian, St. Augustine teaches young men within the framework of the Catholic faith and in the Augustinian
Order of Saint Augustine
The Order of St. Augustine —historically Ordo Eremitarum Sancti Augustini", O.E.S.A.), generally called Augustinians is a Catholic Religious Order, which, although more ancient, was formally created in the thirteenth century and combined of several previous Augustinian eremetical Orders into one...
tradition. This culturally diverse school serves the communities of San Diego County and Tijuana, Mexico. The school also publicly states, "We open our doors to all boys we believe will benefit from our academic program."
Creation
In 1922, John Cantwell, Bishop of the Diocese of Los Angeles and San Diego, asked the Order of Saint AugustineOrder of Saint Augustine
The Order of St. Augustine —historically Ordo Eremitarum Sancti Augustini", O.E.S.A.), generally called Augustinians is a Catholic Religious Order, which, although more ancient, was formally created in the thirteenth century and combined of several previous Augustinian eremetical Orders into one...
to satisfy the need of a new boy's school in the southern part of the 80000 square miles (207,199 km²) diocese. (The Order
Order of Saint Augustine
The Order of St. Augustine —historically Ordo Eremitarum Sancti Augustini", O.E.S.A.), generally called Augustinians is a Catholic Religious Order, which, although more ancient, was formally created in the thirteenth century and combined of several previous Augustinian eremetical Orders into one...
also operate Villanova University
Villanova University
Villanova University is a private university located in Radnor Township, a suburb northwest of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in the United States...
in Pennsylvania, and Merrimack College
Merrimack College
Merrimack College is an independent college in the Roman Catholic, Augustinian tradition located in North Andover, Massachusetts, north of Boston, Massachusetts. It offers undergraduate degrees in business, education, science, engineering, and the liberal arts...
in Massachusetts, and in the early decades many of the school's religious staff were trained at these colleges.) The Order of Saint Augustine
Order of Saint Augustine
The Order of St. Augustine —historically Ordo Eremitarum Sancti Augustini", O.E.S.A.), generally called Augustinians is a Catholic Religious Order, which, although more ancient, was formally created in the thirteenth century and combined of several previous Augustinian eremetical Orders into one...
opened St. Augustine High School in the St. Vincent's parish meeting hall on September 18, 1922 with 19 students. The school moved to its current Nutmeg Street location in the year 1923.
Student affairs and expansion
Due to a need to accommodate a greater number of students, the school expanded multiple times in its early history, beginning with the construction of Sullivan Hall in 1947, adding 350 additional spots for additional students. In the 1950s the school constructed a new set of classrooms, erected a gymnasium, and added additional improvements to the monastery. However, despite these expansions, by the late 1950s, the school was suffering from overcrowding.In 1956, the school became the first private school admitted to the San Diego City League of Athletics.
Middle period - 1960s to the 1970s
During the 1960s and 1970s, the school committed to smaller class sizes, new curricular innovations, and honors programs. In September, 1978, PSA Flight 182PSA Flight 182
Pacific Southwest Airlines Flight 182, registration N533PS, was a Boeing 727-214 commercial airliner that collided with a private Cessna 172 over San Diego, California on September 25, 1978. Pacific Southwest Airlines' first accident involving fatalities, the death toll of 144 makes it the...
crashed and exploded several blocks (Nile and Dwight Streets) from the campus. The school shut down and became a triage
Triage
Triage or ) is the process of determining the priority of patients' treatments based on the severity of their condition. This rations patient treatment efficiently when resources are insufficient for all to be treated immediately. The term comes from the French verb trier, meaning to separate,...
and command and control center for those authorities who responded to the emergency posed by the crash, culminating in the utilization of the gymnasium as a makeshift morgue
Morgue
A morgue or mortuary is used for the storage of human corpses awaiting identification, or removal for autopsy or disposal by burial, cremation or otherwise...
. The following year an arsonist burned down the school's library, which has since moved to Villanova Hall.
Into the modern era - 1980s to the present day
In the 1980s and 1990s, the school moved towards computerization and renovations occurred around the campus. The biggest change during this era was the creation of an on-campus parking lot and the closure of Bancroft Street, which previously divided the campus into two separate sections. In 1997, the school celebrated its 75th anniversary. The school continues to grow in the new millennium, and is embarking on an extensive building campaign which calls for most of the school being demolished and rebuilt to meet modern standards of building codes and architectural tastes. The school will also feature the latest in technology made readily available to its students and faculty.On June 2, 2006, together with the San Diego mayor Jerry Sanders
Jerry Sanders
Jerry Sanders may refer to:* Jerry Sanders * Jerry Sanders...
, the Auxiliary Bishop of San Diego Salvatore Cordoleone, the school's President John Keller O.S.A., ASB President Alexander Guittard, and various members of the Augustinian and general school community, the school broke ground for the first phase of the school's building campaign.
Work commenced in the summer of 2006 and was completed in the fall 2007 for Phase One. The second and third phases have been planned for the near future, with final completion of the project projected to fall within the early 2010s.
Tuition
Tuition at St. Augustine for the 2011-12 year is $14,900. However, students can apply for tuition assistance, whether in the form of a grant or scholarship or by working for the school (at the Lunch Counter, Bookstore, Maintenance Office, or Library). The top ten scorers on the entrance exam receive a $2,500 dollar scholarship each year, for a total amount of $10,000 over all four years.Demographics
The student body consists of many different national origins.Most students live near and within typical driving distance of the school. The bulk of students live in San Diego and surrounding areas including La Mesa, Kearny Mesa, Point Loma, Downtown, and Beach areas. However, some students have longer commutes from areas in the North (such as Carlsbad, Del Mar, Valley Center, and Oceanside), the East (Poway, Escondido, and Lakeside), and the South (such as Chula Vista, Eastlake and Bonita) A number of students commute daily from Tijuana
Tijuana
Tijuana is the largest city on the Baja California Peninsula and center of the Tijuana metropolitan area, part of the international San Diego–Tijuana metropolitan area. An industrial and financial center of Mexico, Tijuana exerts a strong influence on economics, education, culture, art, and politics...
.
Most students are Roman Catholic; however, the school accommodates people of other faiths, including non-Christian ones and some degree of non-faith in personal belief.
Curriculum
Saints offers courses in the following subjects:- Religion:
- Faith Survey
- Ethics
- Morality
- Old Testament
- New Testament
- Comparative Religions
- Religion in America
- Philosophy (Honors only)*
- Social Sciences
- Psychology (AP only)*
- World History*
- Economics*
- United States History*
- Civics and American Government*
- Speech
- Leadership (ASB)
- Foreign Language
- Spanish*
- Latin*
- French*
- English*
- Mathematics
- Pre-Algebra
- Algebra I
- Geometry
- Algebra II
- Statistics (AP only)*
- Advanced Math
- Pre-Calculus*
- Calculus*
- Business Math
- Sciences
- Sports Medicine
- Physics (AP only)*
- Biology*
- Anatomy and Physiology (Honors only)*
- Chemistry *
- Visual and Performing Arts:
- Concert Band
- Symphonic Band
- Music Theory*
- Guitar Performance and Theory
- Painting, Drawing, and Mixed Media
- Ceramics
- Art History*
- Theater Arts
- Digital Photography
- Computer Studies
- Web Design
- Graphic Design
- Microsoft Office
(* denotes that an Advanced Placement or honors equivalent version of the course is offered)
Scheduling
For the 2010-2011 school year, Saints changed its schedule to a modified block format. On Monday and Tuesday, students take six classes for forty-five minutes each. On Wednesday and Thursday, they only take three classes a day, for eighty-five minutes each. On Friday, students again attend all six classes, but classes are shortened and school ends at 12:45.Retreats
Students experience several (including three mandatory) retreats at Saint Augustine. These retreats are:- Freshman Overnight Retreat
- This retreat takes place over the first weekend in October, during which the entire Freshman class is split into several groups where they discuss and learn about the Saints community and their place in it. The groups are led by a pair of either Junior and Senior "Big Brothers," one of whom opens their home for the evening prayer service for their group, before returning to Saints. The Freshmen spend the night in the gym and are dismissed on Sunday afternoon after mass and final activities. This retreat is mandatory.
- Sophomore Retreat
- This one-day retreat at Mission San Diego de AlcalaMission San Diego de AlcaláMission Basilica San Diego de Alcalá, in San Diego, California, was the first Franciscan mission in the Las Californias Province of the Viceroyalty of New Spain. It was founded in 1769 by Spanish friar Junípero Serra in an area long inhabited by the Kumeyaay Indians...
continues the theme of helping the community, both in global and local capacities. In past years, the focus of this retreat has been on the plight of African children, followed along with a screening of Invisible ChildrenInvisible ChildrenInvisible Children: Rough Cut is a 2003 American documentary film. Its subject is the abduction and forced enlistment of children by the sectarian Lord's Resistance Army in Uganda.-Synopsis:...
, culminating with a talk given a refugee from an African nation. This retreat is also mandatory.
- This one-day retreat at Mission San Diego de Alcala
- Junior Retreat
- This retreat is also a one-day event and focuses on building the relationship of the students in the class. Several activities build on the themes and the day finishes off with a mass. It takes place at Mission San Diego de AlcalaMission San Diego de AlcaláMission Basilica San Diego de Alcalá, in San Diego, California, was the first Franciscan mission in the Las Californias Province of the Viceroyalty of New Spain. It was founded in 1769 by Spanish friar Junípero Serra in an area long inhabited by the Kumeyaay Indians...
.
- This retreat is also a one-day event and focuses on building the relationship of the students in the class. Several activities build on the themes and the day finishes off with a mass. It takes place at Mission San Diego de Alcala
- Kairos Retreat
- It is optional for seniors to go on Kairos, but it is strongly encouraged. The retreat takes place several times each year and juniors are permitted to attend Kairos in the spring.
Teams
The school supports numerous sports teams that are accredited by the CIF (SDS Division) such as:
|
Tennis Tennis is a sport usually played between two players or between two teams of two players each . Each player uses a racket that is strung to strike a hollow rubber ball covered with felt over a net into the opponent's court. Tennis is an Olympic sport and is played at all levels of society at all... Volleyball Volleyball is a team sport in which two teams of six players are separated by a net. Each team tries to score points by grounding a ball on the other team's court under organized rules.The complete rules are extensive... Cross country running Cross country running is a sport in which people run a race on open-air courses over natural terrain. The course, typically long, may include surfaces of grass and earth, pass through woodlands and open country, and include hills, flat ground and sometimes gravel road... |
Surfing Surfing' is a surface water sport in which the surfer rides a surfboard on the crest and face of a wave which is carrying the surfer towards the shore... Golf Golf is a precision club and ball sport, in which competing players use many types of clubs to hit balls into a series of holes on a golf course using the fewest number of strokes.... Swimming (sport) Swimming is a sport governed by the Fédération Internationale de Natation .-History: Competitive swimming in Europe began around 1800 BCE, mostly in the form of the freestyle. In 1873 Steve Bowyer introduced the trudgen to Western swimming competitions, after copying the front crawl used by Native... |
Lacrosse Lacrosse is a team sport of Native American origin played using a small rubber ball and a long-handled stick called a crosse or lacrosse stick, mainly played in the United States and Canada. It is a contact sport which requires padding. The head of the lacrosse stick is strung with loose mesh... |
In these sports, Saints has 25 total CIF San Diego Division III Championship teams.
In the past few years several club sports have been organized by the student body. These sports are either non-traditional sports or the sport club has not been credited by CIF. For example, the Roller Hockey team started as a club, and eventually the school applied for the CIF Roller Hockey division. Some of the club sports include:
|
Rugby union Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand... |
Sailing Sailing is the propulsion of a vehicle and the control of its movement with large foils called sails. By changing the rigging, rudder, and sometimes the keel or centre board, a sailor manages the force of the wind on the sails in order to move the boat relative to its surrounding medium and... |
Fishing Fishing is the activity of trying to catch wild fish. Fish are normally caught in the wild. Techniques for catching fish include hand gathering, spearing, netting, angling and trapping.... |
Skeet shooting Skeet shooting is one of the three major types of competitive shotgun target shooting sports . There are several types of skeet, including one with Olympic status , and many with only national recognition.- General principles :Skeet is a recreational and competitive activity where... and Trap Trap shooting Trap shooting is one of the three major forms of competitive clay pigeon shooting . The others are skeet shooting and sporting clays. There are many versions including Olympic trap, Double trap , Down-The-Line, and Nordic trap. American trap is most popular in the United States and Canada... |
Intramurals
The student body actively participates in Intramural sports. Teams are organized by homeroom and generally teams of one grade play the same grade and gradually move to play other grades. The final games of Intramurals are popular with the students and the school extends the lunch period to accommodate the finals.
|
Over-the-line Over-the-line is a bat-and-ball sport, a game related to baseball and softball. Like those games, you have the batter, pitcher, and fielders. Because a game requires only three people per team, it's considerably easier to get a good informal game going. Equipment consists of a rope , an... Dodgeball Dodgeball is any of a variety of games in which players try to hit other players on the opposing team with balls while avoiding being hit themselves. This article is about a well-known form of team sport with modified rules that is often played in physical education classes and has been featured... |
Visual and performing arts
In areas other than sports, the school supports numerous art disciplines including the dramatic, musical, and fine arts. Students artwork is prominently displayed throughout the campus. Student bands are popular and play at "8th Grade Visitation," some rally days, and at the Annual Saints/OLP Talent Show.Theatre arts
The school is known for the successful theatrical productions put on by the students, and is recognized as a chapter of the International Thespian SocietyInternational Thespian Society
The International Thespian Society is an honorary organization for high-school and middle-school theatre students located at more than 3,600 affiliated secondary schools across the United States, Canada, and abroad. The International Thespian Society was founded in Fairmont, West Virginia...
.
Recently, the school revived its annual musical with Oliver!
Oliver!
Oliver! is a British musical, with script, music and lyrics by Lionel Bart. The musical is based upon the novel Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens....
. As of late, theatrical successes include such musicals as Seussical
Seussical
is a musical by Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty based on the books of Dr. Seuss that debuted on Broadway in 2000. The play's story is a rather complex amalgamation of many of Seuss's most famous books. After a Broadway run, the production spawned two US national tours and a UK tour...
, The Wizard of Oz
The Wizard of Oz (adaptations)
The Wonderful Wizard of Oz is a 1900 novel by L. Frank Baum, which has been adapted into several different works, the most famous being the 1939 film The Wizard of Oz, starring Judy Garland...
, West Side Story, and Little Shop of Horrors
Little Shop of Horrors (musical)
Little Shop of Horrors is a rock musical, by composer Alan Menken and writer Howard Ashman, about a hapless florist shop worker who raises a plant that feeds on human blood. The musical is based on the low-budget 1960 black comedy film The Little Shop of Horrors, directed by Roger Corman...
. Plays produced include Arsenic and Old Lace
Arsenic and Old Lace (play)
Arsenic and Old Lace is a play by American playwright Joseph Kesselring, written in 1939. It has become best known through the film adaptation starring Cary Grant and directed by Frank Capra. The play was directed by Bretaigne Windust, and opened on January 10, 1941. On September 25, 1943, the...
and Dracula
Dracula
Dracula is an 1897 novel by Irish author Bram Stoker.Famous for introducing the character of the vampire Count Dracula, the novel tells the story of Dracula's attempt to relocate from Transylvania to England, and the battle between Dracula and a small group of men and women led by Professor...
. Saints also hosts the "Flying Ferrets," an improv
Improvisational theatre
Improvisational theatre takes many forms. It is best known as improv or impro, which is often comedic, and sometimes poignant or dramatic. In this popular, often topical art form improvisational actors/improvisers use improvisational acting techniques to perform spontaneously...
team.
Music programs
The instrumental music program has grown to include over 100 students and includes the Saints Marching Band & Pageantry Corps, the 32nd Street Jazz Band, Symphonic Band, Concert Band, Pep Band, Winter Drumline, Pit Orchestra and Jazz Combo and Jazz Guitar Ensemble. They also offer courses in Guitar, American Popular Music and AP Music Theory.Publications
The school is also active in journalism and the literary arts with two school-wide publications: The Augustinian and Santos. The Augustinian, published 5-6 times per year, is the school newspaper. Santos, published once yearly, features Saints students' artwork of all aspects.Club and Special Groups
Like any high school, Saints has a wide variety of student clubs and associations. St. Augustine H.S. has or has had such clubs as:- California Scholastic Federation (CSF)
- National Honor SocietyNational Honor SocietyThe National Honor Society is a recognition program for high school students in grades 10-12 in the United States and in several other countries...
(NHS) - Key Club International
- Academic League
- Academic Decathlon Team
- Spanish Club
- French Club
- Latin Club
- Drama Club
- Paintball Club
- Rugby Club
- The Pit (Fans of Saints Basketball)
- IRC Club
Mascot
School support
The school receives many donations from both organizations and private individuals. In addition, the school's Austin Parents Association is an all-around fund raising organization that contributes to all aspects of campus needs. During the school year, the APA donate for scholarships, sports programs, arts programs, and capital improvement fund. The APA prides itself in working with school administration to determine priorities in funding that benefit the entire school. The Austin Parents Association raises money throughout the year, but its yearly "Big One" is a major event for the school and occasionally throughout the years finds itself on the Society Pages of the San Diego Union-Tribune.Traditions
- Mass on Wednesdays (Originally Friday)
- Spirit Wear on Fridays (Originally Thursdays)
- Senior Parking Lot (During the 2006-2007 School Year, it was demolished to allow for the construction of a new underground parking lot, which the Seniors now use.)
- Freshmen Welcome Week
- Freshmen must wear beanies during Freshman Welcome Week
- Freshmen bringing Lunch for their Senior Partner
- The singing of the Alma Mater
- Turkey Trot
- Block 1 Donations (Generally for the Hogar Infantil Orphanage during canned food drives)
- Freshmen and Sophomores must sit in the gym's bleachers during mass and assemblies. Juniors and Seniors are allowed to sit on the gym floor in chairs.
- Seniors are allowed Spirit-Dress Mondays, in addition to Fridays where the whole school is allowed Spirit Dress.
- Seniors are allowed Off-Campus Lunch privileges, and can drive to local restaurants for lunch instead of remaining on campus.
- Seniors have some late-start days.
- Senior Trip to Grad NiteGrad NiteDisney's Grad Nite is an event hosted in April, May, or June for graduating high school senior classes who can gather for an exclusive, all-night party at Disneyland and at Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom featuring live performances by some of the...
at Disneyland Park, part of the Disneyland ResortDisneyland ResortThe Disneyland Resort is a recreational resort in Anaheim, California. The resort is owned and operated by The Walt Disney Company through its Parks and Resorts division and is home to two theme parks, three hotels and a shopping, dining, and entertainment area known as Downtown Disney.The area now...
in Anaheim- This is by invitation, and subject to the behavior of the previous class to visit. A well-known incident (class of 1971) of hooliganism involved many students and the commandeering of rafts to Tom Sawyer Island (now known as "Pirates Lair at Tom Sawyer's Island"). However Disneyland Resort Officials later changed park operations and now keep this attraction closed on Grad Nights because of such activities and liability with it being surrounded by water and lack of proper lighting.
- Senior March (senior walk on a designated course through the campus on their last official day with the band play "When the Saints go Marching In/Out" and the rest of the school stands along the path and claps and cheers)
- After an alumnus becomes a priest, he is allowed to give the whole school a day off when he returns to Saints to celebrate his first mass.
Alma Mater
The Saints Alma MaterAlma mater
Alma mater , pronounced ), was used in ancient Rome as a title for various mother goddesses, especially Ceres or Cybele, and in Christianity for the Virgin Mary.-General term:...
closely resembles the Alma Mater of Villanova
Villanova University
Villanova University is a private university located in Radnor Township, a suburb northwest of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in the United States...
, an Augustinian university
University
A university is an institution of higher education and research, which grants academic degrees in a variety of subjects. A university is an organisation that provides both undergraduate education and postgraduate education...
in 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...
which also closely resembles the Alma Mater of Villanova Preparatory School
Villanova Preparatory School
Villanova Preparatory School is an Augustinian Catholic co-ed day/ boarding school located in the small town of Ojai, California, USA. Sitting on more than 120 acres, Villanova's campus has sports fields and trails, modern gym, tennis courts and well equipped classrooms with up-to-date technology,...
, an Augustinian college preparatory school in Ventura Country, California:
When the twilight shadows gather
Out upon the campus green,
When the blue and purple night
Comes stealing on the scene,
Loyal sons of Saint Augustine
Sing a hymn of praise
To our dear old Alma Mater
And our High School days.
Saint Augustine, Saint Augustine
When we leave your sheltering walls
We will leave an echo ringing
Through your treasured halls.
We will leave an echo ringing
In the twilight cold,
While our memories are singing
"Purple and the Gold."
When the last big meet is over
And the last roll call is heard.
When the oldest pedagogue
Has had his final word
We shall come to Alma Mater
In our dream again
With a prayer to St. Augustine
And a strong Amen.
It is sung most commonly after many sporting events by both the crowd and participating team. However, it also recited at the end of Freshman Welcome Week, class and sports rallies, and Graduation. The first verse is most commonly the only verse recited. The second is used on occasion, while the third is used rarely if ever.
Rivalries
St. Augustine is one of four Catholic high schools in the San Diego area, leading to a natural state of heightened competition between the St. Augustine and the other Catholic schools in the region: the former University of San Diego High SchoolUniversity of San Diego High School
The University of San Diego High School , also known as The University High School or "Uni", was a Catholic, co-educational, college preparatory secondary school located in San Diego, California...
, now known as Cathedral Catholic High School
Cathedral Catholic High School
Cathedral Catholic High School is a private coeducational Catholic High School in San Diego, California. It is part of the Roman Catholic Diocese of San Diego, and was originally founded as the University of San Diego High School in 1957...
, and the former Marian Catholic High School, now known as Mater Dei Catholic High School
Mater Dei Catholic High School (Chula Vista, California)
Mater Dei Catholic High School is a private, Roman Catholic high school in Chula Vista, California. It is located in the Roman Catholic Diocese of San Diego. Mater Dei Catholic replaced its former school, Marian Catholic High School, in September 2007. The rebuilding/renaming came as a result of...
. (The fourth, the Academy of Our Lady of Peace, is an all-girls school and has long been considered as a sister school to Saints).
The rivalry that is most prevalent is between Saints and USDHS / Cathedral, which has spanned many years. This bitter rivalry can be likened to a high school version of a USC/UCLA, Michigan/Ohio St. or UNC/Duke type feud. Since the early 1970s, a yearly 'Charity Bowl' (now called the 'Holy Bowl'), first hosted at Jack Murphy Stadium (Qualcomm Stadium
Qualcomm Stadium
Qualcomm Stadium is a multi-purpose stadium, in San Diego, California, in the Mission Valley area....
) by Bob Hope, occasionally at Balboa Stadium
Balboa Stadium
Balboa Stadium is a football and soccer stadium located in San Diego, California. The original stadium was built in 1914 as part of the many buildings erected for the 1915 Panama-California Exposition located in Balboa Park. Originally called City Stadium, and designed by the Quayle Brothers...
, and now at Southwestern College
Southwestern College (California)
Southwestern College is a public, two-year community college located in the city of Chula Vista, California. Southwestern College's football stadium hosts Bonita Vista High School's football games...
Stadium, has been the highlight of the rivalry. The two schools' football teams have in fact met in every season since the foundation of University High, except for 2007, when the game was cancelled as part of a county-wide cancellation of all high school sports during the October wildfires and, like all other cancelled football games, was not rescheduled.
College matriculation
Saints is also known for its consistently high graduation rate, as well as its high proportion of students who intend to advance to universities; nearly every year the entire graduating class has done so, with the exception of a few students choosing to enter the military.Top students regularly matriculate to various prestigious institutions such as Stanford University
Stanford University
The Leland Stanford Junior University, commonly referred to as Stanford University or Stanford, is a private research university on an campus located near Palo Alto, California. It is situated in the northwestern Santa Clara Valley on the San Francisco Peninsula, approximately northwest of San...
, Yale University
Yale University
Yale University is a private, Ivy League university located in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701 in the Colony of Connecticut, the university is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States...
, The University of Southern California, University of California, Los Angeles
University of California, Los Angeles
The University of California, Los Angeles is a public research university located in the Westwood neighborhood of Los Angeles, California, USA. It was founded in 1919 as the "Southern Branch" of the University of California and is the second oldest of the ten campuses...
, Boston College
Boston College
Boston College is a private Jesuit research university located in the village of Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts, USA. The main campus is bisected by the border between the cities of Boston and Newton. It has 9,200 full-time undergraduates and 4,000 graduate students. Its name reflects its early...
, Dartmouth College
Dartmouth College
Dartmouth College is a private, Ivy League university in Hanover, New Hampshire, United States. The institution comprises a liberal arts college, Dartmouth Medical School, Thayer School of Engineering, and the Tuck School of Business, as well as 19 graduate programs in the arts and sciences...
, The University of Pennsylvania, Harvard College
Harvard College
Harvard College, in Cambridge, Massachusetts, is one of two schools within Harvard University granting undergraduate degrees...
, University of Notre Dame
University of Notre Dame
The University of Notre Dame du Lac is a Catholic research university located in Notre Dame, an unincorporated community north of the city of South Bend, in St. Joseph County, Indiana, United States...
, Georgetown University
Georgetown University
Georgetown University is a private, Jesuit, research university whose main campus is in the Georgetown neighborhood of Washington, D.C. Founded in 1789, it is the oldest Catholic university in the United States...
, Washington and Lee University
Washington and Lee University
Washington and Lee University is a private liberal arts college in Lexington, Virginia, United States.The classical school from which Washington and Lee descended was established in 1749 as Augusta Academy, about north of its present location. In 1776 it was renamed Liberty Hall in a burst of...
and Villanova University
Villanova University
Villanova University is a private university located in Radnor Township, a suburb northwest of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in the United States...
. A small number of students have gone on to attend the various United States military academies.
A large number of students traditionally choose to attend the various colleges of the University of California
University of California
The University of California is a public university system in the U.S. state of California. Under the California Master Plan for Higher Education, the University of California is a part of the state's three-tier public higher education system, which also includes the California State University...
system including University of California, Los Angeles
University of California, Los Angeles
The University of California, Los Angeles is a public research university located in the Westwood neighborhood of Los Angeles, California, USA. It was founded in 1919 as the "Southern Branch" of the University of California and is the second oldest of the ten campuses...
, and University of California, San Diego
University of California, San Diego
The University of California, San Diego, commonly known as UCSD or UC San Diego, is a public research university located in the La Jolla neighborhood of San Diego, California, United States...
, and the various California State University
California State University
The California State University is a public university system in the state of California. It is one of three public higher education systems in the state, the other two being the University of California system and the California Community College system. It is incorporated as The Trustees of the...
campuses; in 2007, over 50 students planned to attend San Diego State University
San Diego State University
San Diego State University , founded in 1897 as San Diego Normal School, is the largest and oldest higher education facility in the greater San Diego area , and is part of the California State University system...
.
Others attend local private colleges, such as the Catholic University of San Diego
University of San Diego
The University of San Diego is a Roman Catholic university in San Diego, California. USD offers more than sixty bachelor's, master’s, and doctoral programs...
. Some students attend community colleges locally. Some students attend schools abroad, especially in Mexico.http://www.sahs.org/aboutus/studentresources/collegecounseling/acceptances2007.htm
Notable alumni
- Politics
- Roger HedgecockRoger HedgecockRoger Allan Hedgecock is a conservative talk radio host and former mayor of San Diego, California. His show is syndicated by Radio America. Hedgecock still resides in San Diego...
- Former Mayor of San Diego and current conservative talk radio host - Ralph InzunzaRalph InzunzaRalph Inzunza was a San Diego City Council District Eight representative elected in February 2001 who resigned in 2005 along with Councilman Michael Zucchet after being involved in a corruption scandal...
- Former San Diego City Councilman
- Roger Hedgecock
- Athletics
- Darrell RussellDarrell Russell (football player)Darrell Anthony Russell, Jr. was an American football defensive lineman for the Oakland Raiders and Washington Redskins of the National Football League who died in a car crash near Los Angeles after being indefinitely banned from the NFL for repeated violations of the league's substance abuse...
, Class of '94 - Late National Football LeagueNational Football LeagueThe National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
player - Jelani McCoyJelani McCoyJelani Marwan McCoy is an American professional basketball player for Cáceres 2016. A 6'10" power forward/center, he played in the NBA from 1998-2007 for the Seattle SuperSonics, Los Angeles Lakers, Toronto Raptors, Cleveland Cavaliers, Atlanta Hawks, and Denver Nuggets. He attended college at...
, Class of '95 - Former National Basketball AssociationNational Basketball AssociationThe National Basketball Association is the pre-eminent men's professional basketball league in North America. It consists of thirty franchised member clubs, of which twenty-nine are located in the United States and one in Canada...
player - John WathanJohn WathanJohn David Wathan is a former Major League Baseball catcher and manager for the Kansas City Royals. He was considered one of the rare catchers with speed, having 105 stolen bases during his career...
- Former Major League BaseballMajor League BaseballMajor League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
player - Robert SpenceRobert SpenceRobert Spence or Rob Spence may refer to:*Rob Spence , Syracuse University offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach*Robert Spence , Archbishop of Adelaide...
- Former Major League BaseballMajor League BaseballMajor League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
player - Frankie George- Class of 71 Former Major League Baseball Player
- Monte JacksonMonte JacksonMonte Jackson is a retired American football player. Jackson played in the NFL between 1975 and 1983. He played college football at San Diego State University. Jackson prepped at St Augustine High School in San Diego....
- Class of 71 Former Major League Football Player - Terry JacksonTerry Jackson (cornerback)Terry Jackson is a former American football cornerback in the National Football League. He was drafted by the New York Giants in the fifth round of the 1978 NFL Draft. He played college football at San Diego State....
- Class of 72 Former NFL Player - Brian BardenBrian BardenBrian David Barden is an American professional baseball infielder for the Hiroshima Toyo Carp of Nippon Professional Baseball. He has played as a second baseman, third baseman, and shortstop.-Early life:...
- Current Major League Baseball player, St. Louis Cardinals - Walter Redondo - Former Professional Tennis Player
- Tom Wellman - 'professional fan' whose regular appearances at San Diego Padres, San Diego Chargers, Anaheim Angels, Los Angeles Clippers, Los Angeles Lakers, and SDSU Aztecs games are both a source of personal pride and dependable revenue for sports franchises in Southern California.
- John D'AcquistoJohn D'AcquistoJohn Francis D'Acquisto , is a former Major League Baseball player who pitched for six teams in his ten year career that spanned from to ....
- Professional baseball player for the San Diego Padres - Servando CarrascoServando CarrascoServando Carrasco is an American soccer player who currently plays for Seattle Sounders FC in Major League Soccer.-Youth and College:...
- Profesional Soccer player. Plays for Seattle Sounders FCSeattle Sounders FCSeattle Sounders FC is an American professional soccer club based in Seattle, Washington. The club competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada. Sounders FC was established in November 2007 as a MLS expansion team, making it the 15th team in...
- Darrell Russell
- Arts
- John CastellanosJohn CastellanosJohn Castellanos is an American actor best known for the contract role of attorney John Silva on the CBS soap opera The Young and the Restless. He joined the cast in May 1989...
- Actor, best known for his role on long-running soap opera The Young and the RestlessThe Young and the RestlessThe Young and the Restless is an American television soap opera created by William J. Bell and Lee Phillip Bell for CBS. The show is set in a fictional Wisconsin town called Genoa City, which is unlike and unrelated to the real life village of the same name, Genoa City, Wisconsin...
. - Gregory NavaGregory NavaGregory Nava is a film director, producer and screenplay writer, of Mexican and Basque heritage.-Education:...
- Oscar-nominated film director whose works include El NorteEl NorteThe Spanish phrase El Norte may refer to any of the following places or things:* El Norte , a 1983 motion picture directed by Gregory Nava.* El Norte , a Mexican daily newspaper, published in the state of Nuevo Léon....
, SelenaSelena (film)Selena is a 1997 American biographical drama film about the life and career of the late Tejano music star Selena, a recording artist who was well known in the Mexican-American and Hispanic communities in the United States and Mexico before she was shot to death at the age of twenty-three.The movie...
, and Why Do Fools Fall in LoveWhy Do Fools Fall in Love (film)Why Do Fools Fall in Love is an American romantic drama, directed by Gregory Nava and released by Warner Bros. Pictures. The film is a biographical film of the brief but intense life of R&B/Rock & Roll singer Frankie Lymon, lead singer of the pioneering rock and roll group Frankie Lymon & the... - Victor BuonoVictor BuonoCharles Victor Buono was an American actor and comic.-Early life and career:Buono was born in San Diego, California, the son of Myrtle Belle and Victor Francis Buono . His maternal grandmother, Myrtle Glied , was a Vaudeville performer on the Orpheum Circuit...
- Actor who was nominated for an Academy Award for his work in What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? is a suspense novel by author Henry Farrell published in 1960 by Rinehart & Company. The novel has earned a cult following and has been made into several movies.-Plot summary:...
- John Castellanos
See also
- Primary and secondary schools in San Diego, CaliforniaPrimary and secondary schools in San Diego, CaliforniaThis is a list of primary and secondary schools in San Diego, California, organized by school district.The San Diego Unified School District, also known as San Diego City Schools, is the school district that serves the majority of the city, it includes 113 elementary schools, 23 middle schools, 4...
- St. Augustine of HippoAugustine of HippoAugustine of Hippo , also known as Augustine, St. Augustine, St. Austin, St. Augoustinos, Blessed Augustine, or St. Augustine the Blessed, was Bishop of Hippo Regius . He was a Latin-speaking philosopher and theologian who lived in the Roman Africa Province...
- PSA Flight 182PSA Flight 182Pacific Southwest Airlines Flight 182, registration N533PS, was a Boeing 727-214 commercial airliner that collided with a private Cessna 172 over San Diego, California on September 25, 1978. Pacific Southwest Airlines' first accident involving fatalities, the death toll of 144 makes it the...
Crash site located near this school.