Catholic High School (New Iberia, Louisiana)
Encyclopedia
Catholic High School of New Iberia, Louisiana
, was opened in 1957 by the Brothers of the Christian Schools, and is located on De La Salle Drive, a road named after Saint
Jean-Baptiste de la Salle
, the man who founded the Brothers in 1680. De la Salle, an innovator in the field of education, was canonised by the Catholic Church on 24 May 1900, and in 1950 Pope Pius XII
declared him to be the Patron Saint
of teachers.
The school is a private, coeducational institution which embraces the Catholic
tradition, though it welcomes students from all faith communities. As of 2007, the enrolment was 900+ students from 4th-12th grades. The mascot is the panther. The school has membership in the National Catholic Educational Association
and the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools
. It is co-owned by the New Iberia parishes of Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Saint Peter
s, Sacred Heart
and Nativity of Our Lady
.
By the late 1980s the number of students at both schools had declined; the Board, together with the owners (the pastors of 4 New Iberia parishes) of Catholic High made the decision to become co-educational, and this took effect with the beginning of the 1987-1988 school year. Due to various circumstances, the Sisters of Mount Carmel decided to close their school at the end of the 1987-1988 school year. After Catholic High became co-educational, the enrolment surged from around 350 to near 950 in one year; this was due, not only to the (roughly 250) girls from Mount Carmel, but also to an influx of over 300 students from state schools. It was ironic that the Catholic High authorities had to lease the former Mount Carmel High school building until an expansion programme had been completed on the De La Salle campus. Conscious of the high esteem in which the Sisters of Mount Carmel were held by the people of New Iberia, the expanded Catholic High later embraced some traditions of that institution, such as the capping of graduating seniors and incorporating into its crest the crown of the Carmelite Order. Once the campus additions had been completed in 1992, the school's chaplain sought to have the well-known statue of Our Lady of Mount Carmel
transferred to De La Salle Drive, but the Sisters declined. Unfortunately, during that same year Hurricane Andrew
caused one of the large oak trees on Mount Carmel's campus to collapse, destroying the statue.
In the 1990s, due to a fall in vocations, the Brothers of the Christian Schools found it necessary to end their time at Catholic High after serving the New Iberia community for many years. Brother Richard Kovatch, the last brother-principal, at the time of leaving, had been the only brother in residence for 3 years.
, Catholic High School came to be seen as something of an innovator in the areas of retreats and community service during the 1980s and 1990s. By 1981 most of its upper level students had begun taking part in an annual retreat, prepared and organised by the students themselves over several months. The 3-day senior retreat, though voluntary, was invariably attended by the whole class. As time progressed, retreats were added for all levels of the upper school (9-12), something which is now taken for granted in most Catholic
high schools.
Catholic High was unique in the Diocese of Lafayette in that it had a full-time chaplain
, Fr. David Coupar, for several years. He and the then principal, Br. Dale Guyote, were instrumental in having the bishop (at the time Harry Flynn) change the policy of the Catholic Schools' Office that any girl found to be pregnant had to leave school. The principal and chaplain were concerned that a girl might seek an abortion
rather than reveal her pregnancy and risk having to leave a Catholic school. They also proposed to Bishop Flynn that the Gospel
of Christ
required compassion, understanding and support at such a time in a girl's life. The bishop, fairly new to the Diocese, was apparently unaware of the policy, and readily agreed to a change. Consequently, throughout the diocese, any decision to leave Catholic education now rests solely with the girl, her family and her physician. The school was also the first in the Diocese
to implement education units (developed by the education office of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops) on H.I.V. and A.I.D.S. during the early days of the disease when little was known about the illness and prejudice was widespread.
Another way in which Catholic High was seen to lead the field was that it was one of the first Catholic schools to institute a service programme. The motto of the school is "Acta non Verba" which means "Actions not Words", and this was the driving force behind the decision in the 1980s to reach out to the most needy members of the wider community. Initially, the programme encompassed only those students in high school (freshmen 5 hours, sophomores 10 hours, juniors 15 hours and seniors 25 hours) but it was later extended to include 7th & 8th graders. In the late 1980s, Br. John Fairfax added an important spiritual element to the whole process by establishing the popular Lasallian Youth at the school. Service programs are now a feature of many Catholic high schools.
Catholic High also established a reputation for excellence in the areas of science and mathematics, with its well-attended annual fairs, organised and directed by long-serving faculty member, Dr. Donald Voorhies.
In the minds of the Brothers "For Lasallian establishments to be the living expression of the Good News, they must be places for dialogue in truth, freedom, and hope."
Therefore, the mission which Catholic High embraces is to educate the whole person, challenging each student to reach his/her fullest potential as a well-round individual who is intellectually competent, open to growth, religious/spiritual, loving, and committed to doing justice through generous service to the People of God. Education at CHS aims to integrate a student's faith with knowledge, and to encourage everyone to apply both in improving the world in which they live.
were added and every student (and faculty member) took part in a retreat each year. As required by the Diocese of Lafayette, the school operates a non-discrimination policy in regards to race, gender or religion in the areas of admission, academics, athletics and extracurricular activities. Catholic High has two main feeder schools: Saint Edward's (Pre K-3) in New Iberia and Saint Joseph's (K-8) in Jeanerette.
In 2006, the advent of Timothy Uhl as principal was accompanied by a change of vision, which brought a degree of controversy. As a result, the student enrolment fell to 853 by the start of the 2009-2010 academic year; there was also a 70 person turnover in personnel in that three year period. In late July 2009, the Board of Pastors met with Uhl. After the meeting, the school chancellor, Fr. Charles Langlois, published a letter in the Daily Iberian newspaper; the letter stated that: "The 70 person turnover in personnel was discussed as well as other issues." However, "No motions were made for further action." The nature of the 'other issues' was not revealed. Not long after, Uhl informed the community that he would not be returning after the 2009-2010 academic year. It was announced in March 2010 that Catholic High alumnus, Mr. Ray Simon (Class of 1965), then-principal of St Thomas More High School in Lafayette, Louisiana
, would take over at Catholic High, assuming his duties at the beginning of the 2010-2011 academic year.
During his first semester as principal, Simon saw the establishment of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes
(although established by evangelical Protestants, Catholics are welcome) as well as daily student-led prayer in the school chapel. Simon also announced the intention of the school to establish a band program as he believed that such a venture would touch not only Catholic High School but the New Iberia community at large. Consequently, the appointment of a new band director was announced in April 2011 Also, during Simon's first year as principal, the annual senior class appreciation crawfish boil was re-established (a tradition begun by Br. Bernard Beleto and Fr. David Coupar in 1982). During Lent
numerous projects were held: a car wash, bake sale and pay-to-dress day in aid of the missions in Guatemala
; a prayer and praise night led Campus Ministry students; First Friday adoration and Benediction; a baby food and clothes drive for struggling mothers; an Easter bag collection for retired clergy and religious brothers.
At the end of the 2010-2011 academic year, Catholic High was able to announce that the graduating seniors had been offered a total of $4.3 million in scholarship money and that 70% had received a tops scholarship, both high levels for a school which does not use academic criteria as part of the admissions process. Also, the student enrolment returned to its previous level, and stood at 944 as of the 2011-2012 school year.
John M Duhe U.S. 5th Circuit Court of Appeals Judge
New Iberia, Louisiana
New Iberia is a city in and the parish seat of Iberia Parish, Louisiana, United States, 30 miles southeast of Lafayette. In 1900, 6,815 people lived in New Iberia; in 1910, 7,499; and in 1940, 13,747...
, was opened in 1957 by the Brothers of the Christian Schools, and is located on De La Salle Drive, a road named after Saint
Saint
A saint is a holy person. In various religions, saints are people who are believed to have exceptional holiness.In Christian usage, "saint" refers to any believer who is "in Christ", and in whom Christ dwells, whether in heaven or in earth...
Jean-Baptiste de la Salle
Jean-Baptiste de La Salle
Saint Jean-Baptiste de La Salle or John Baptist de La Salle was a priest, educational reformer, and founder of Institute of the Brothers of the Christian Schools...
, the man who founded the Brothers in 1680. De la Salle, an innovator in the field of education, was canonised by the Catholic Church on 24 May 1900, and in 1950 Pope Pius XII
Pope Pius XII
The Venerable Pope Pius XII , born Eugenio Maria Giuseppe Giovanni Pacelli , reigned as Pope, head of the Catholic Church and sovereign of Vatican City State, from 2 March 1939 until his death in 1958....
declared him to be the Patron Saint
Patron saint
A patron saint is a saint who is regarded as the intercessor and advocate in heaven of a nation, place, craft, activity, class, clan, family, or person...
of teachers.
The school is a private, coeducational institution which embraces the Catholic
Catholic
The word catholic comes from the Greek phrase , meaning "on the whole," "according to the whole" or "in general", and is a combination of the Greek words meaning "about" and meaning "whole"...
tradition, though it welcomes students from all faith communities. As of 2007, the enrolment was 900+ students from 4th-12th grades. The mascot is the panther. The school has membership in the National Catholic Educational Association
National Catholic Educational Association
The National Catholic Educational Association is a private professional educational association of over 200,000 educators in Catholic schools, universities, and religious education programs...
and the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools
The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools is one of the six regional accreditation organizations recognized by the United States Department of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation...
. It is co-owned by the New Iberia parishes of Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Saint Peter
Saint Peter
Saint Peter or Simon Peter was an early Christian leader, who is featured prominently in the New Testament Gospels and the Acts of the Apostles. The son of John or of Jonah and from the village of Bethsaida in the province of Galilee, his brother Andrew was also an apostle...
s, Sacred Heart
Sacred Heart
The Sacred Heart is one of the most famous religious devotions to Jesus' physical heart as the representation of His divine love for Humanity....
and Nativity of Our Lady
Nativity of Mary
The Nativity of Mary, or Birth of the Virgin and various permutations, is celebrated as a liturgical feast in the Roman Catholic calendar of saints and in most Anglican liturgical calendars on 8 September, nine months after the solemnity of her Immaculate Conception, celebrated on 8 December...
.
Brief history
Until 1957, the school, established in 1918, had been called St. Peter's College, and was situated close to the church of the same name in the centre of New Iberia. The school catered for boys from 4th-12th grade. At the same time as the move to a new campus, the Brothers transferred ownership of the school to the Catholic parishes of the town. New Iberia also had a school for girls, owned and operated by the Sisters of Mount Carmel, who had been present in the community since the middle of the 19th century.By the late 1980s the number of students at both schools had declined; the Board, together with the owners (the pastors of 4 New Iberia parishes) of Catholic High made the decision to become co-educational, and this took effect with the beginning of the 1987-1988 school year. Due to various circumstances, the Sisters of Mount Carmel decided to close their school at the end of the 1987-1988 school year. After Catholic High became co-educational, the enrolment surged from around 350 to near 950 in one year; this was due, not only to the (roughly 250) girls from Mount Carmel, but also to an influx of over 300 students from state schools. It was ironic that the Catholic High authorities had to lease the former Mount Carmel High school building until an expansion programme had been completed on the De La Salle campus. Conscious of the high esteem in which the Sisters of Mount Carmel were held by the people of New Iberia, the expanded Catholic High later embraced some traditions of that institution, such as the capping of graduating seniors and incorporating into its crest the crown of the Carmelite Order. Once the campus additions had been completed in 1992, the school's chaplain sought to have the well-known statue of Our Lady of Mount Carmel
Our Lady of Mount Carmel
Our Lady of Mount Carmel is the title given to the Blessed Virgin Mary in her role as patroness of the Carmelite Order. The first Carmelites were Christian hermits living on Mount Carmel in the Holy Land during the late 12th and early to mid 13th centuries...
transferred to De La Salle Drive, but the Sisters declined. Unfortunately, during that same year Hurricane Andrew
Hurricane Andrew
Hurricane Andrew was the third Category 5 hurricane to make landfall in the United States, after the Labor Day Hurricane of 1935 and Hurricane Camille in 1969. Andrew was the first named storm and only major hurricane of the otherwise inactive 1992 Atlantic hurricane season...
caused one of the large oak trees on Mount Carmel's campus to collapse, destroying the statue.
In the 1990s, due to a fall in vocations, the Brothers of the Christian Schools found it necessary to end their time at Catholic High after serving the New Iberia community for many years. Brother Richard Kovatch, the last brother-principal, at the time of leaving, had been the only brother in residence for 3 years.
Innovative School
Within the Roman Catholic Diocese of LafayetteRoman Catholic Diocese of Lafayette in Louisiana
The Diocese of Lafayette in Louisiana is an ecclesiastical division of the Catholic Church in the United States. The oldest church in the diocese is the parish church of St. Martinville, dating back to 1756. The diocese was created on January 11, 1918 from the western part of the Archdiocese of New...
, Catholic High School came to be seen as something of an innovator in the areas of retreats and community service during the 1980s and 1990s. By 1981 most of its upper level students had begun taking part in an annual retreat, prepared and organised by the students themselves over several months. The 3-day senior retreat, though voluntary, was invariably attended by the whole class. As time progressed, retreats were added for all levels of the upper school (9-12), something which is now taken for granted in most Catholic
Catholic
The word catholic comes from the Greek phrase , meaning "on the whole," "according to the whole" or "in general", and is a combination of the Greek words meaning "about" and meaning "whole"...
high schools.
Catholic High was unique in the Diocese of Lafayette in that it had a full-time chaplain
Chaplain
Traditionally, a chaplain is a minister in a specialized setting such as a priest, pastor, rabbi, or imam or lay representative of a religion attached to a secular institution such as a hospital, prison, military unit, police department, university, or private chapel...
, Fr. David Coupar, for several years. He and the then principal, Br. Dale Guyote, were instrumental in having the bishop (at the time Harry Flynn) change the policy of the Catholic Schools' Office that any girl found to be pregnant had to leave school. The principal and chaplain were concerned that a girl might seek an abortion
Abortion
Abortion is defined as the termination of pregnancy by the removal or expulsion from the uterus of a fetus or embryo prior to viability. An abortion can occur spontaneously, in which case it is usually called a miscarriage, or it can be purposely induced...
rather than reveal her pregnancy and risk having to leave a Catholic school. They also proposed to Bishop Flynn that the Gospel
Gospel
A gospel is an account, often written, that describes the life of Jesus of Nazareth. In a more general sense the term "gospel" may refer to the good news message of the New Testament. It is primarily used in reference to the four canonical gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John...
of Christ
Christ
Christ is the English term for the Greek meaning "the anointed one". It is a translation of the Hebrew , usually transliterated into English as Messiah or Mashiach...
required compassion, understanding and support at such a time in a girl's life. The bishop, fairly new to the Diocese, was apparently unaware of the policy, and readily agreed to a change. Consequently, throughout the diocese, any decision to leave Catholic education now rests solely with the girl, her family and her physician. The school was also the first in the Diocese
Diocese
A diocese is the district or see under the supervision of a bishop. It is divided into parishes.An archdiocese is more significant than a diocese. An archdiocese is presided over by an archbishop whose see may have or had importance due to size or historical significance...
to implement education units (developed by the education office of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops) on H.I.V. and A.I.D.S. during the early days of the disease when little was known about the illness and prejudice was widespread.
Another way in which Catholic High was seen to lead the field was that it was one of the first Catholic schools to institute a service programme. The motto of the school is "Acta non Verba" which means "Actions not Words", and this was the driving force behind the decision in the 1980s to reach out to the most needy members of the wider community. Initially, the programme encompassed only those students in high school (freshmen 5 hours, sophomores 10 hours, juniors 15 hours and seniors 25 hours) but it was later extended to include 7th & 8th graders. In the late 1980s, Br. John Fairfax added an important spiritual element to the whole process by establishing the popular Lasallian Youth at the school. Service programs are now a feature of many Catholic high schools.
Catholic High also established a reputation for excellence in the areas of science and mathematics, with its well-attended annual fairs, organised and directed by long-serving faculty member, Dr. Donald Voorhies.
Lasallian School
The website of the Christian Brothers New Orleans-Sante Fe Province lists Catholic High as a Lasallian school. The LaSallian tradition, which reaches as far back as the 17th century, means that Catholic High is called to strive to help students grow in faith through prayer, active participation in their place of worship, together with involvement in the wider community through service to others, particularly to those people most in need.In the minds of the Brothers "For Lasallian establishments to be the living expression of the Good News, they must be places for dialogue in truth, freedom, and hope."
Therefore, the mission which Catholic High embraces is to educate the whole person, challenging each student to reach his/her fullest potential as a well-round individual who is intellectually competent, open to growth, religious/spiritual, loving, and committed to doing justice through generous service to the People of God. Education at CHS aims to integrate a student's faith with knowledge, and to encourage everyone to apply both in improving the world in which they live.
Recent years
Following the dramatic enrolment increase of late 1980s, Catholic High maintained a student population between 950-975, and continued the expansion of its campus. New classrooms, a new cafeteria and library, a renovated gymnasium, a new chapelChapel
A chapel is a building used by Christians as a place of fellowship and worship. It may be part of a larger structure or complex, such as a church, college, hospital, palace, prison or funeral home, located on board a military or commercial ship, or it may be an entirely free-standing building,...
were added and every student (and faculty member) took part in a retreat each year. As required by the Diocese of Lafayette, the school operates a non-discrimination policy in regards to race, gender or religion in the areas of admission, academics, athletics and extracurricular activities. Catholic High has two main feeder schools: Saint Edward's (Pre K-3) in New Iberia and Saint Joseph's (K-8) in Jeanerette.
In 2006, the advent of Timothy Uhl as principal was accompanied by a change of vision, which brought a degree of controversy. As a result, the student enrolment fell to 853 by the start of the 2009-2010 academic year; there was also a 70 person turnover in personnel in that three year period. In late July 2009, the Board of Pastors met with Uhl. After the meeting, the school chancellor, Fr. Charles Langlois, published a letter in the Daily Iberian newspaper; the letter stated that: "The 70 person turnover in personnel was discussed as well as other issues." However, "No motions were made for further action." The nature of the 'other issues' was not revealed. Not long after, Uhl informed the community that he would not be returning after the 2009-2010 academic year. It was announced in March 2010 that Catholic High alumnus, Mr. Ray Simon (Class of 1965), then-principal of St Thomas More High School in Lafayette, Louisiana
Lafayette, Louisiana
Lafayette is a city in and the parish seat of Lafayette Parish, Louisiana, United States, on the Vermilion River. The population was 120,623 at the 2010 census...
, would take over at Catholic High, assuming his duties at the beginning of the 2010-2011 academic year.
During his first semester as principal, Simon saw the establishment of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes
Fellowship of Christian Athletes
The Fellowship of Christian Athletes is a non-profit interdenominational Christian organization founded in 1954 and that has been based in Kansas City, Missouri since 1956. It falls within the tradition of Muscular Christianity. Although established by evangelical Protestants, the concept has...
(although established by evangelical Protestants, Catholics are welcome) as well as daily student-led prayer in the school chapel. Simon also announced the intention of the school to establish a band program as he believed that such a venture would touch not only Catholic High School but the New Iberia community at large. Consequently, the appointment of a new band director was announced in April 2011 Also, during Simon's first year as principal, the annual senior class appreciation crawfish boil was re-established (a tradition begun by Br. Bernard Beleto and Fr. David Coupar in 1982). During Lent
Lent
In the Christian tradition, Lent is the period of the liturgical year from Ash Wednesday to Easter. The traditional purpose of Lent is the preparation of the believer – through prayer, repentance, almsgiving and self-denial – for the annual commemoration during Holy Week of the Death and...
numerous projects were held: a car wash, bake sale and pay-to-dress day in aid of the missions in Guatemala
Guatemala
Guatemala is a country in Central America bordered by Mexico to the north and west, the Pacific Ocean to the southwest, Belize to the northeast, the Caribbean to the east, and Honduras and El Salvador to the southeast...
; a prayer and praise night led Campus Ministry students; First Friday adoration and Benediction; a baby food and clothes drive for struggling mothers; an Easter bag collection for retired clergy and religious brothers.
At the end of the 2010-2011 academic year, Catholic High was able to announce that the graduating seniors had been offered a total of $4.3 million in scholarship money and that 70% had received a tops scholarship, both high levels for a school which does not use academic criteria as part of the admissions process. Also, the student enrolment returned to its previous level, and stood at 944 as of the 2011-2012 school year.
Notable alumni of the three schools
- Robert AngersRobert AngersRobert John Angers, Jr. , was an American journalist, businessman, and conservative politician. A Dictionary of Louisiana Biography describes Angers as "a tireless and unselfish promoter of good government, the Acadiana region, and free enterprise."-Early years, education, military:Angers was born...
(1919–1988), journalistJournalistA journalist collects and distributes news and other information. A journalist's work is referred to as journalism.A reporter is a type of journalist who researchs, writes, and reports on information to be presented in mass media, including print media , electronic media , and digital media A... - Kathleen Babineaux Blanco, Governor of Louisiana (2003–2007)
- Rev. Fr. Paul Bienvenu, Class of 1982. Priest, Diocese of Lafayette.
- Rev. Fr. Darren Eldridge, Class of 1981. Priest, Diocese of Lafayette.
- Richard T. Haik, Chief Judge, District Court, W.Louisiana.
- George RodrigueGeorge RodrigueGeorge Rodrigue is a Cajun artist who grew up in New Iberia, Louisiana. Rodrigue began painting outdoor family gatherings framed by moss-clad oak trees in an area of French Louisiana known as Acadiana.-Biography:...
, nationally known artistArtistAn artist is a person engaged in one or more of any of a broad spectrum of activities related to creating art, practicing the arts and/or demonstrating an art. The common usage in both everyday speech and academic discourse is a practitioner in the visual arts only...
John M Duhe U.S. 5th Circuit Court of Appeals Judge