Cheverus High School
Encyclopedia
University-preparatory school
A university-preparatory school or college-preparatory school is a secondary school, usually private, designed to prepare students for a college or university education...
school in Portland
Portland, Maine
Portland is the largest city in Maine and is the county seat of Cumberland County. The 2010 city population was 66,194, growing 3 percent since the census of 2000...
, Maine
Maine
Maine is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States, bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the east and south, New Hampshire to the west, and the Canadian provinces of Quebec to the northwest and New Brunswick to the northeast. Maine is both the northernmost and easternmost...
. It is located in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Portland
Roman Catholic Diocese of Portland
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Portland is an ecclesiastical territory or diocese of the Roman Catholic Church in the New England region of the United States comprising the entire state of Maine...
. Cheverus High School was founded in 1917 as a Diocesan school and was named after French Roman Catholic Cardinal Jean-Louis Lefebvre de Cheverus
Jean-Louis Lefebvre de Cheverus
Jean-Louis Anne Madelain Lefebvre de Cheverus , French ecclesiastic, was the first Bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Boston, Massachusetts.-Early life:...
. The Society of Jesus
Society of Jesus
The Society of Jesus is a Catholic male religious order that follows the teachings of the Catholic Church. The members are called Jesuits, and are also known colloquially as "God's Army" and as "The Company," these being references to founder Ignatius of Loyola's military background and a...
took over responsibility of the school in 1942.
Campus
The school is located on property overlooking Portland's Back Cove. It consists of two buildings: the Main building and Loyola Hall, (named after Saint Ignatius of LoyolaIgnatius of Loyola
Ignatius of Loyola was a Spanish knight from a Basque noble family, hermit, priest since 1537, and theologian, who founded the Society of Jesus and was its first Superior General. Ignatius emerged as a religious leader during the Counter-Reformation...
). Most math and science classes are taught in the main building, while English, history, theology, and fine arts classes are taught in Loyola Hall. The sports facilities are in the Rev. John Keegan Gymnasium, which connects to the main building. The campus also includes Boulos Stadium and Shea Field.
History
Originally named The Catholic Institute High School, it was renamed Cheverus in 1926 after the first bishop of Boston, Jean-Louis Lefebvre de CheverusJean-Louis Lefebvre de Cheverus
Jean-Louis Anne Madelain Lefebvre de Cheverus , French ecclesiastic, was the first Bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Boston, Massachusetts.-Early life:...
. Cheverus was first located on Free Street, moved to Cumberland Avenue in 1946, and then moved to its current location on Ocean Avenue in 1952.
Cheverus was originally run by diocesan priests. In 1942, the Society of Jesus
Society of Jesus
The Society of Jesus is a Catholic male religious order that follows the teachings of the Catholic Church. The members are called Jesuits, and are also known colloquially as "God's Army" and as "The Company," these being references to founder Ignatius of Loyola's military background and a...
assumed responsibility of the school.
In 2000, the school became coeducational.
Sex abuse scandal
In 1998, nine male alumni claimed that they had been molested while attending Cheverus. Two former faculty members were accused. The school confirmed the abuse and apologized to the victims. The victims also accused both Cheverus High School and the Portland Diocese of hiding information, and that they had previously known about the abuse.Settlements to victims have reached a cumulative seven figures, with ongoing counseling additional. Primarily, two long time Cheverus faculty members, one the former chair of the English Department, the other, the former head of the Track Team, have admitted they are guilty. Both teachers lost their jobs at Cheverus in 1998.
Academics
Cheverus offers 12 APAdvanced Placement Program
The Advanced Placement program is a curriculum in the United States and Canada sponsored by the College Board which offers standardized courses to high school students that are generally recognized to be equivalent to undergraduate courses in college...
classes, and has an honors option for most of its courses. Students must take 25.5 courses in 4 years, including at least 4 mathematics courses, 4 English courses, 4 Theology courses, 3 science courses, 3 foreign language courses (continuing within the same language), and 3 social studies courses http://www.cheverus.org/info/AboutCheverus.asp.
In 2005, the schools' average Verbal SAT score was 575, and the average math score was 576http://www.cheverus.org/info/AboutCheverus.asp.
Athletics
Cheverus offers many varsityVarsity team
In the United States and Canada, varsity sports teams are the principal athletic teams representing a college, university, high school or other secondary school. Such teams compete against the principal athletic teams at other colleges/universities, or in the case of secondary schools, against...
sports, including soccer, lacrosse, sailing, cross country, football, field hockey, ice hockey, basketball, lacrosse, indoor track, track & field, softball, baseball, alpine and nordic skiing, and lacrosse. Cheverus has won 65 Class A State Championships in the following sports:
Boys Baseball (1): 2011
Boys Cross Country (18): 1971, 1972, 1974, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2001, 2009
Girls Cross Country (1): 2009, 2010, 2011
Boys Basketball(9): 1930, 1940, 1948, 1961, 1981, 1982, 1997, 2008, 2010
Football (3): 1985, 2010, 2011
Boys Golf (1): 2005
Boys Ice Hockey (2): 2005, 2006
Boys Soccer (1): 2001
Boys Swimming (1): 1979
Boys Tennis (4): 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991
Boys Indoor Track (17): 1977*, 1978*, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1992, 1993, 1995, 1997, 1998
Boys Outdoor Track (10): 1979*, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1989, 1994, 1997, 1998
Girls Ice Hockey (1): 2010
Sailing (2): 2007, 2010
- *Denotes Class B Championship
Spirituality
Cheverus’ Campus MinistryCampus Ministry
Campus Ministry may refer to:*Religious organizations on college campuses College religious organizations*The collegiate student ministry of Campus Crusade for Christ is also called The Campus Ministry...
provides opportunities for students to experience Jesuit tradition and develop their own personal faith through prayer, reflection and services. Campus Ministry programs include liturgies and services, retreats, and involvement with Habitat For Humanity. Cheverus High School gathers for worship at significant times during the year. During a regular week, an optional daily Mass is held for students, faculty, staff, parents, and friends in the Loyola Chapel on every morning at 7:15 a.m. In addition to its Theology courses, Cheverus has a retreat program tailor-made to meet the spiritual needs of its students. Prominent among these retreats is Kairos (retreat), open to juniors and seniors (with priority given to seniors). The retreat was begun after three students made the retreat with Boston College High School
Boston College High School
Founded in 1863, Boston College High School is an all-male Jesuit Roman Catholic college preparatory secondary school with historical ties to Boston College. It has an enrollment in grades 7-12 of approximately 1,500 students and is located on a campus on Morrissey Boulevard in the Dorchester...
and returned to lead Cheverus' Kairos V at Cheverus in the fall of 2006.
Dress code
Both male and female students are required to wear a suit coat, a button-down uniform shirt, and dress shoes. Male students must also wear a tie and dress pants, while females may wear either skirts or dress pants. http://www.cheverus.org/admissions/dressCodes.aspNotable alumni
- Joseph E. Brennan, former governor of Maine
- Ian CrockerIan CrockerIan Lowell Crocker is a former American swimmer and five-time Olympic medalist. He is a former world record holder in the 100 meter butterfly ....
, Olympic swimmer - John Joubert, serial killer
- Dick Joyce, Major League baseball player
- Charles J. Loring, Jr.Charles J. Loring, Jr.Charles Joseph Loring, Jr. was a fighter pilot in the United States Army Air Corps in World War II, and later in the United States Air Force in the Korean War...
, Medal of HonorMedal of HonorThe Medal of Honor is the highest military decoration awarded by the United States government. It is bestowed by the President, in the name of Congress, upon members of the United States Armed Forces who distinguish themselves through "conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his or her...
recipient, namesake of Loring Air Force BaseLoring Air Force BaseLoring Air Force Base is a former United States Air Force base that was under the operational control of the Strategic Air Command for most of its existence. In 1992, it was transferred to the newly-established Air Combat Command, and it was finally closed as an active Air Force installation in... - John O'LearyJohn O'Leary (ambassador)John O'Leary served as mayor of Portland, Maine, and as United States ambassador to Chile under President Bill Clinton.-Personal life:...
, Mayor of Portland, Maine and U.S. Ambassador to Chile 1998-2001
School Administration
- Rev. William R. Campbell, S.J., President
- John H.R. Mullen, Principal
- William L. Burke, Academic Vice Principal
- Gary G. Hoyt, Athletic Director