Sacred Heart Cathedral "Preparatory", commonly known as SHC, or SH, is a Catholic school located in the Cathedral Hill neighborhood of San Francisco, California. Founded in 1852, Sacred Heart Cathedral is the oldest Catholic secondary school and the first co-ed Catholic high school in San Francisco.
SHC is owned by the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of San Francisco, and sponsored by the Daughters of Charity and the Christian Brothers. SHC offers a values-based curriculum in the Lasallian and Vincentian traditions. The school prides itself on its commitment to its educational philosophy: "Enter to learn; leave to serve."
The school's motto is a combination of the Christian Brothers and Daughters of Charity mottos: "Signum Fidei, Caritas Christi Urget Nos".
Maps, Directions, and Place Reviews
Facilities
The school is located in San Francisco's Western Addition, with the two academic buildings located on the corner of Gough and Ellis Streets.
De Paul Campus for the Arts
On the northwest corner of the intersection is the former Cathedral High School building, now named the De Paul Campus for the Arts in honor of St. Vincent de Paul. It houses the Sister Caroline Collins, DC, Theater, opened in fall of 2010; freshman lockers; the history, visual and performing arts, and foreign language departments.
The building adjoins San Francisco's Cathedral of Saint Mary of the Assumption; the school's former building was razed by the Archdiocese of San Francisco to make room for the construction of the new Cathedral. The cathedral's rectory is adjacent to the De Paul Campus but there is no access to it from the school; the entrance is located on the northeast corner entrance of the campus. Pope John Paul II stayed in the rectory at the De Paul Campus during his trip to San Francisco in 1987, which is marked by a plaque at the entrance of the rectory.
La Salle campus
On the southeast corner of Gough and Ellis Streets lies the school's La Salle campus, named in honor of St. John Baptist de La Salle. This campus has a six story building which houses school administration offices, the library, and the English, Mathematics, Science, and Religion departments. The library occupies the entire sixth story, except for a small chapel and veranda offering panoramic views to the west and south.
Student Life Center
The Sister Teresa Piro, DC, Student Life Center, completed in 2004 at an estimated cost of $16 million, houses a 1,500-seat athletic gym and 1,000-seat Dining Hall. The building is adjoined to an older facility housing a gymnasium, weight room, and fitness center.
Sacred Heart Prep Baseball Video
Academics
SHC offers an array of courses, from college preparatory through honors and advanced placement curriculum. All students are required to take English and Religious Studies for four years, as well as three years of Math and Social Studies. Students typically opt to take three or four years of Science and a modern language, and one year of a visual or performing art. Freshmen test into Biology or Earth Science and choose a language from among Spanish, French, Japanese, Mandarin and American Sign Language. Sophomores do a year of a Visual or Performing Arts courses and a Church History class. Juniors and Seniors may choose from such courses as AP Government, Senior Seminar, Irish Literature, Calculus AP, or AP Chemistry.
All full-time faculty, librarians, and counselors are represented by a labor union, the San Francisco Archdiocesan Federation of Teachers, Local 2240, which is an affiliate of the California Federation of Teachers (AFT, AFL-CIO). and have a collective bargaining agreement with the Archdiocese of San Francisco.
Admissions
In addition to basic information, applicants must prepare at least two essays about a specific question asked on the application. The applicant will answer questions about him/herself and what they can individually offer the school community. A recommendation letter from a faculty member of their institution previously attended is also required in the application. There is a fee of $85 for submission of the application. The letters of notification are sent out in March. Students with family members who graduated from SH, CHS or SHC, also known as "legacies" have a higher chance of getting into the school and the De Paul Scholarship Program. This has caused some controversy in the admissions process. Sometime in the month of May, applicants are required to take a math placement exam to assess mathematical abilities.
Tuition at SHC for the 2016-2017 is $18,300 plus $1,200 registration fee totaling $19,500 per student.
Irish for a Day & Open House
The Irish for a Day Program allows any 8th Grade student to spend a day with a student ambassador who will take you through a day in the life of a student here and experience SHC firsthand. There is also an open house, where parents and students come to the school to explore the campus.
Prospective students can also take a virtual tour of the campus, in addition to participating in the shadow program and open house.
Demographics
Sacred Heart Cathedral enrolls approximately 1,250 students from San Francisco and its suburbs. Reflecting the diversity of the Bay Area, students represent different religious, economic, and ethnic backgrounds, including Caucasian, Asian, Filipino, Latino, African American, and Native American. Recently, SHC (partnered, as always, with the Christian Brothers and Daughters of Charity) founded the De Marillac Academy in San Francisco's Tenderloin neighborhood, an impoverished urban community several blocks away from the high school.
Athletics
The athletic teams, known as the Fightin' Irish, compete in the West Catholic Athletic League. There are 22 teams and 53 sport levels for boys and girls at SHC split into Fall, Winter, and Spring seasons. Boys and girls cross country, football, girls golf, girls tennis, and girls volleyball all occur in the fall. Boys and girls basketball, boys and girls soccer, and wrestling compete in the winter. Baseball, softball, boys volleyball, boys and girls lacrosse, boys golf, boys tennis, boys and girls swimming, and boys and girls track and field finish the year's athletics in the spring.
Sacred Heart Cathedral's long time cross-town rival is Saint Ignatius College Preparatory. The rivalry is considered the longest west of the Rockies and the oldest Catholic school rivalry in the country. The two schools compete annually for The Bruce Mahoney Trophy. Named after Bill Bruce, a student from Saint Ignatius College Preparatory, and Jerry Mahoney, a student from then-Sacred Heart High School, in dedication of the loss of their lives while fighting in World War II. The trophy goes to the school victorious in the first scheduled league game in two out of three of the following men's sports: football, basketball, and baseball. Sacred Heart Cathedral Preparatory won the trophy in the 2011-2012 school year by sweeping the football (38-14) and basketball (45-37) games. The first Sacred Heart-St. Ignatius contest was a rugby game played on St. Patrick's Day in 1893. The Irish won by a score of 14-4 (3 touchdowns and two PAT's to one touchdown and a missed PAT). One of the players, D.A. White, went on to be Chief of Police in San Francisco.
Other cross-town rivals are the Crusaders of Archbishop Riordan High School. The varsity football teams compete against each other annually for the Stanfel Cup which was started in 1992. Dick Stanfel (Richard Anthony Stanfel) played at Riordan and was a coach at Sacred Heart. He attended The University of San Francisco and was drafted to the Detroit Lions in the 2nd round, 19th overall in the 1951 NFL Draft. Most recently, in 2013, the Stanfel Cup was won by Archbishop Riordan, 21-24.
The girls basketball team has had major success at Sacred Heart Cathedral. SHC has won the state title four times: in 1998, 2006, 2007 and 2008. In the 2007-08 season, the Irish went undefeated in one of the toughest leagues (West Catholic Athletic League) in the nation, with three wins over 2007 Division II champion, Archbishop Mitty High School and three wins over arch-rival St. Ignatius. They were ranked the best team in the nation in the end of the 07-08 season. They won the USA Today National Championship in 2007-2008.
The girls volleyball team grew into prominence in the 2000s as well. Under head coach Margi Beima, SHC volleyball has won 6 Central Coast Section Championships and 4 Northern California Championships, appearing in the State Division III Finals four times. SHC has qualified for the CIF State Tournament eight years straight. Many players have graduated from SHC and had successful college athletic careers.
On September 10, 2011, the varsity football team set a national record, returning five fumbles for touchdowns against St. Mary's of Berkeley. The mark bested the NCAA all-division record, the NFL record and the recognized high school record for more fumbles returned for touchdowns. The touchdown scorers were Zach Tapel, Tom Wallace, Viliami Uikilifi, John Morello, and Dennis Light.
The Irish won three CCS Division III titles in the winter season in 2011-2012. Boys basketball, girls basketball, and boys soccer all took home titles on the same day, with the soccer team winning their first in program history. Both the boys and girls volleyball teams also won CCS in 2011-12, setting the all-time school record for most CCS titles in a single season at five. In addition, the boys basketball team also won the Northern California championship.
Student activities
Clubs
Student activities at SHC range from clubs and student government to social events including dances, barbecues, and community volunteer opportunities. There are over 25 clubs, and many are created by the students with the help of a teacher. Current clubs and organizations include Big Green, Block Club, Book Club, Break Dancing, Broadcasting Club, Chorus, California Scholars Federation, Dance Team, The Emerald Newspaper, French Club, Guitar Club, History Club, the Inquiry and Innovation Program, International Thespian Society, Japanese Club, Lasallian Vincentian Youth (LVY), NetWorld Club, The Oracle, Polynesian Dance Club, Speech and Debate Team, Spoken Word, Sports Medicine Club, Ping Pong Club, Badminton Club, Video Club, Martial Arts Club, Art In Action Club, Ultimate Frisbee Club, Chess Club, Tech Crew, Guitar Club, and the Shamrock Yearbook. All students are encouraged to join a club, but only Freshmen are required to do so (if they do not join a sports team) as a way of immerse themselves in the school community. Most clubs meet on White days during their activity block created by the school so that everyone has the opportunity to participate without having to stay after school hours.
Students also have the opportunity to participate in non-club performing arts activities in the form of the Fall Play and Spring Musical, Digital Photography, Computer Programming, Instrumental Music, Concert Chorus, Chamber Chorus, Women's Ensemble, Testostertones, Vocal Jazz and Jubilee Chorus. Participation in these activities receives a graded credit.
Campus Ministry
Campus Ministry offers opportunities for the SHC community to actively participate in relationships with God, self, and others through discussion, reflection, service, and prayer. Through this community, teachers organize retreats for all grades, such as Venaver Montana and Venaver New Orleans. These are weeklong service trips on which the students incorporate reflection, discussion, service, and prayer, providing community members with the chance to authentically engage their spirituality. A key component of Campus Ministry is Lasallian Vincentian Youth (LVY), run by students who reflect service, faith, and community. In 2012-13, the school began offering the Kairos retreat to seniors and some juniors.
Performing Arts
SHC's chorus groups, theatre company, and band participate in and put on many school wide events. The chorus sings at school masses, special performances, and in front of international audiences. The chorus has successfully competed in competitions. Their choir has traveled around the world to destinations like the Philippines, London, Hawaii, New York, Italy, and Paris. Members have also performed in the Vatican in Rome and St. Patrick's Cathedral in New York. The theater company puts on a play in the beginning of the year around November or December and a musical around March or April. In years past they have also provided entertainment at alumni events and put on a student showcase. The SHC orchestra performs at school masses, while the band performs in school rallies, concerts and sporting events and in the annual Columbus Day Parade, Chinese New Year Parade, and St. Patrick's Day Parade. The two also work with the Jazz Ensemble and Guitar Club to put together two yearly concerts for Winter and Spring, occurring in January and May respectively.
Walk-a-Thon
The SHC Walk-a-Thon is the only annual student-driven fundraiser, in which the entire school participates in seeking support from friends, family, and the community. The homeroom with the most donations for the day is awarded a prize such as a free breakfast at the Student Life Center cafeteria. A yearly goal is set and each student is asked to raise $250 toward that goal. Incentives are given for turning in money early as well as for reaching the $250 personal goal. Prizes include a $250 "Shamrock Club Shirt", modified-dress passes, and chances to win cash, gift cards, or iPods by spinning the Prize Wheel. This event happens sometime in September at the Polo Fields in Golden Gate Park. The Walk-a-thon raises money for student activities, athletics, clubs, student travels, construction of new buildings or renovations and updating technology for the school. Examples of use of the funds are the construction of the Student Life Center, library, athletic field, gateway and Fitness-for-Life Center.
Alma mater
This is commonly sung at athletic, or athletic related events.
Notable people
Notable alumni
- James J. Corbett - professional boxer; won heavyweight title on September 7, 1892 by defeating John L. Sullivan in 21 rounds
- Harry Heilmann - professional baseball player, inducted into Hall of Fame; batted .403 in 1923, lifetime .342 hitter
- Joe Cronin - professional baseball player, inducted into Hall of Fame and American League president
- Joseph Alioto - Mayor of San Francisco (1968-1976)
- Dolph Camilli - professional baseball player, 1941 National League MVP while playing for Los Angeles Dodgers
- LaRoy Doss - college basketball player and community leader
- Francis P. Filice - biologist and Catholic priest
- Jim Gentile - professional baseball player 1957-66, 6-time All-Star
- Kevin Gogan - NFL All-Pro guard, formerly of San Francisco 49ers, Miami Dolphins, Dallas Cowboys, and San Diego Chargers
- C. J. Goodell - Associate Justice, Court of Appeal of California, First Appellate District (1945-1953)
- Jason Hill - football player (Washington State University), selected 76th overall in 2007 NFL Draft; wide receiver for New York Jets, San Francisco 49ers and Jacksonville Jaguars
- Eric White - professional basketball player
- Cyril Jordan - member of The Flamin' Groovies
- Frank Jordan - former Chief of Police and Mayor of San Francisco (1992-1996)
- Gary Lucchesi - producer and President of Lakeshore Entertainment, executive producer of Best Picture Award-winning film Million Dollar Baby
- Bob Marshall - Mayor of San Bruno, California (1980-1992)
- Matthew Moy - actor, Han Lee of CBS sitcom 2 Broke Girls
- Troy L. Nunley - District Judge, Eastern District of California
- Shannon Rowbury - runner, 1500 and 5000 meters; member of U.S. track and field team in 2008 Beijing Olympics, 2012 London Olympics, and 2016 Rio Olympics; American record holder in 1500m
- Sal Valentino - musician, member of The Beau Brummels
Notable staff
- Mike Holmgren - former president of NFL's Cleveland Browns, former head coach of Seattle Seahawks and Green Bay Packers; led his teams to three Super Bowl appearances and one victory; assistant SHCP football coach for two years; Irish snapped 24-game losing streak in 1974; he was also a mechanical drawing instructor
- Steve Franceschi - pitcher in San Francisco Giants minor league system from 1970-71, current assistant baseball coach and P.E. teacher at SHC
- Tobias Wolff - Pulitzer Prize-winning author, professor at Stanford University, former English teacher
Source of the article : Wikipedia
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