Salpointe Catholic High School
Encyclopedia
Salpointe Catholic High School is a co-ed
Catholic
high school
in Tucson, Arizona
, run by the Carmelite Order. It is located in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Tucson
.
, Jean-Baptiste Salpointe, who worked as a missionary in the Arizona Territory
from 1866 to 1885. Much of Salpointe's early development was headed by Helena S. Corcoran, who donated $8–$10 million for construction of the Salpointe infrastructure ($10M in 1963 would currently equal roughly $61,080,225 due to inflation ). Under her sponsorship, the school grew from 400 to 1,000 pupils, and the physical infrastructure that forms today's campus was established.
In the late 1940s, Tucson's parochial grammar schools had nine grades. The desire to build a Catholic high school for these graduates prompted the Diocese of Tucson to purchase the 40 acres (161,874.4 m²) Florence Addition. Salpointe Catholic High School began in 1950 as a modest school consisting of what is now the Farr Patio and cafeteria. On the first day of school Salpointe opened its doors to 100 students. At this time Tucson High School and Amphitheater High School were the only other high schools in Tucson.) There were nine classrooms, a library and administrative offices. A back room in the cafeteria housed a locker room and showers for students taking physical education. The first principal was Rev. Victor Stoner. He was followed by Rev. Edward Carscallen and Rev. George Dyke.
The admissions process starts quite early in the semester, before a student intends to enroll at Salpointe. During the Christmas vacation, several important admissions-related events are held at Salpointe.
The current administrative structure consists of a "leadership team." The power held by members of this team falls into two classes. The first class, occupied by the Chief Executive Officer and Head of School, Fr. Frederick Tillotson, O.Carm. retains supervening authority over all matters of the school administration. The second administrative class is occupied by 7 "leadership team members", heading departments of the school, and reporting directly to the Head of School.
SAT preparation in the Tucson community.
scholar-athlete awards than any other school in Arizona. The Lancers' primary in-town rivals are the Bluedevils from Sunnyside High School
. The Lancers' previous rival was the Dorados of Canyon del Oro High School
, but they do not currently play them, as the Dorados have moved down to a different division. Salpointe's cross country
, soccer, football
, volleyball
, basketball
, tennis
, swimming
, and golf
teams (the men's golf team has produced five college players in the past two years, including Jonathan Khan at Arizona, Alex Johnson at Pacific, Scott Tunnell at Newman, Ryan Sheffer at Notre Dame de Namur, and Robert Perrott at Pacific) are perennially strong; each usually wins top regional honors, and several teams have become State Champions.
Individual State Champions include Tommy McGeorge (Tennis), Whitney Dosty (Track), and Bryce Livingston (Track). Salpointe athletes are frequently recruited to play NCAA athletics. Some well-known recent NCAA athletes of the school include Tommy McGeorge, (University of Iowa, Tennis), Whitney Dosty, (Arizona, Women's Volleyball),Bryce Livingston, (West Point/Army, Track and Cross Country) Tyler Graunke, (Hawaii, Football), Jack Darlington, (Nevada, Football), CJ Kaufman, Jr., (Akron, Soccer), Joshua Williams, (Columbia, Football), Max Fritz (San Diego, Football), Kristofer O'Dowd
(USC, Football), Chris Ciarvella (Cornell, Football), Matt Ransom (Princeton, Football), Kevin Grenier (SMU,Football) Moses Roberts (Florida A&M, Football), Charles Blase (San Diego, Soccer), Michael Descisciolo (Arizona, Football), Emma Darlington(Arizona, Women's Swimming).
, Salpointe has developed an active campus ministry. Students are encouraged to attend a number of retreats throughout their time at Salpointe, culminating in the Kairos
experience during their junior or senior year.
, an external testing company, to test for any drug usage within the prior 90 days. Announcement of the program sparked polemical discussion on the local newspaper's online discussion boards, some of which came from former alumni upset with the announcement. Subsequent on-campus fora were less animated, with Head of School Tillotson arguing, "We don't need, in a private school, to have to go to parents to implement our values and our mission."
In March 2007, high school administrators became aware of a physical relationship between a teacher and a 17-year-old student. The teacher subsequently pled guilty to four offences.
Coeducation
Mixed-sex education, also known as coeducation or co-education, is the integrated education of male and female persons in the same institution. It is the opposite of single-sex education...
Catholic
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
high school
High school
High school is a term used in parts of the English speaking world to describe institutions which provide all or part of secondary education. The term is often incorporated into the name of such institutions....
in Tucson, Arizona
Arizona
Arizona ; is a state located in the southwestern region of the United States. It is also part of the western United States and the mountain west. The capital and largest city is Phoenix...
, run by the Carmelite Order. It is located in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Tucson
Roman Catholic Diocese of Tucson
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Tucson is an ecclesiastical territory or diocese of the Roman Catholic Church in the southwestern region of the United States. It comprises nine counties of the state of Arizona, making it the fifth largest diocese in the continental United States in terms of area...
.
Founding and early development
Salpointe was founded in 1950 as a school for 100 pupils, and is named for Arizona's first BishopBishop
A bishop is an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight. Within the Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox Churches, in the Assyrian Church of the East, in the Independent Catholic Churches, and in the...
, Jean-Baptiste Salpointe, who worked as a missionary in the Arizona Territory
Arizona Territory
The Territory of Arizona was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from February 24, 1863 until February 14, 1912, when it was admitted to the Union as the 48th state....
from 1866 to 1885. Much of Salpointe's early development was headed by Helena S. Corcoran, who donated $8–$10 million for construction of the Salpointe infrastructure ($10M in 1963 would currently equal roughly $61,080,225 due to inflation ). Under her sponsorship, the school grew from 400 to 1,000 pupils, and the physical infrastructure that forms today's campus was established.
In the late 1940s, Tucson's parochial grammar schools had nine grades. The desire to build a Catholic high school for these graduates prompted the Diocese of Tucson to purchase the 40 acres (161,874.4 m²) Florence Addition. Salpointe Catholic High School began in 1950 as a modest school consisting of what is now the Farr Patio and cafeteria. On the first day of school Salpointe opened its doors to 100 students. At this time Tucson High School and Amphitheater High School were the only other high schools in Tucson.) There were nine classrooms, a library and administrative offices. A back room in the cafeteria housed a locker room and showers for students taking physical education. The first principal was Rev. Victor Stoner. He was followed by Rev. Edward Carscallen and Rev. George Dyke.
Policies and procedures
Admissions decisions are made on the basis of information provided on several application forms, recommendations, transcripts, and an optional personal interview.The admissions process starts quite early in the semester, before a student intends to enroll at Salpointe. During the Christmas vacation, several important admissions-related events are held at Salpointe.
"Leadership Team" model
Following a 5-year experiment with a "president-principal" model of school administration, the Salpointe board opted to implement a more hierarchical administrative structure on an experimental basis. Under the new plan, the office of the school President was elevated to "Head of School," whereby the occupant would be explicitly and directly involved with the day-to-day operations of the school, while ultimately responsible for accomplishing the school's overarching development initiatives.The current administrative structure consists of a "leadership team." The power held by members of this team falls into two classes. The first class, occupied by the Chief Executive Officer and Head of School, Fr. Frederick Tillotson, O.Carm. retains supervening authority over all matters of the school administration. The second administrative class is occupied by 7 "leadership team members", heading departments of the school, and reporting directly to the Head of School.
Board of Directors
Salpointe's ultimate governance falls to its Board of Directors, which constitute the leadership of the Salpointe Catholic High School corporation. The Head of School is responsible to this group. The Board of Directors crafts long-term strategy for the School, and - along with the Carmelites - retains ultimate authority over its direction. Members of the Board are selected from the Salpointe community.Overview
Salpointe has maintained high academic standards throughout its history, despite its mission to serve the entire Tucson community. In spite of the lure of specializing as a purely college preparatory institution, Salpointe has also worked hard to offer a meaningful educational experience to those students who require assistance with learning difficulties. Also, consistent with Salpointe's Carmelite identity, Salpointe seeks to attract students of all economic, racial, and ethnic backgrounds."College Preparatory" education
In 1987, Salpointe became the first school in southern Arizona and the third school in the state to be accredited "college preparatory" by the North Central Association. Although Salpointe was a relative latecomer to the effort to create Advanced Placement classes, its students have benefited from close relationships with nearby community colleges and universities. Salpointe's early development was guided by the principle that vocational development was crucial, which caused difficulties in the 1970-80s as the vestiges of vocational training restrained the school's development into a college preparatory institution. Today, due to reform efforts in the late 1980s, as well as the efforts of Ruth Jenson and Jeff Mounts, the failure to implement AP courses has been rectified, and Salpointe boasts a high-school-to-college conversion rate of 98%. Many instructors hold advanced degrees, and a recent push to develop infrastructure in the sciences has greatly enriched the college preparatory curriculum.Humanities program
In recent years, the Humanities program has adapted its courses so that students studying at the highest level will also be prepared for Advanced Placement tests in American History, History of Art, World Literature, and English Literature & Language.Summer Institute
The Salpointe Summer Institute is a recent development at Salpointe. The institute operates separately from the regular Salpointe curriculum, and the institute's head reports directly to the Head of School. The institute offers educational experiences that transcend what one might consider the typical high school experience, particularly since it reaches out to adult learners and those who might be interested summer school or Princeton ReviewThe Princeton Review
The Princeton Review is an American-based standardized test preparation and admissions consulting company. The Princeton Review operates in 41 states and 22 countries across the globe. It offers test preparation for standardized aptitude tests such as the SAT and advice regarding college...
SAT preparation in the Tucson community.
Athletics
Salpointe offers 23 varsity sports to its students, and many of these have achieved state-wide success. Salpointe athletes have earned more Arizona Interscholastic AssociationArizona Interscholastic Association
The Arizona Interscholastic Association is the major high school sports association in the state of Arizona. It comprises most of the state's public district high schools, various charter and private schools, plus one high school in California San Pasqual High School in Winterhaven, California,...
scholar-athlete awards than any other school in Arizona. The Lancers' primary in-town rivals are the Bluedevils from Sunnyside High School
Sunnyside High School (Fresno)
Sunnyside High School is a high school in Fresno, California, USA. It is a part of the Fresno Unified School District. Its mascot is a wildcat. The school colors are blue and yellow. The school opened its doors in the 1999-2000 school year. As of the 2007-2008 school year the student population was...
. The Lancers' previous rival was the Dorados of Canyon del Oro High School
Canyon del Oro High School
Canyon del Oro High School, also known as CDO, is a comprehensive public high school in Oro Valley, Arizona, located north of Tucson at the base of Pusch Ridge. Established as a high school in 1964, CDO is one of three high schools of Amphitheater Public Schools and serves about 1,800 students in...
, but they do not currently play them, as the Dorados have moved down to a different division. Salpointe's cross country
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...
, soccer, football
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
, volleyball
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...
, basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
, tennis
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...
, swimming
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...
, and golf
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....
teams (the men's golf team has produced five college players in the past two years, including Jonathan Khan at Arizona, Alex Johnson at Pacific, Scott Tunnell at Newman, Ryan Sheffer at Notre Dame de Namur, and Robert Perrott at Pacific) are perennially strong; each usually wins top regional honors, and several teams have become State Champions.
Individual State Champions include Tommy McGeorge (Tennis), Whitney Dosty (Track), and Bryce Livingston (Track). Salpointe athletes are frequently recruited to play NCAA athletics. Some well-known recent NCAA athletes of the school include Tommy McGeorge, (University of Iowa, Tennis), Whitney Dosty, (Arizona, Women's Volleyball),Bryce Livingston, (West Point/Army, Track and Cross Country) Tyler Graunke, (Hawaii, Football), Jack Darlington, (Nevada, Football), CJ Kaufman, Jr., (Akron, Soccer), Joshua Williams, (Columbia, Football), Max Fritz (San Diego, Football), Kristofer O'Dowd
Kristofer O'Dowd
Kristofer O'Dowd is an American football center who is currently a free agent. He was signed by the Arizona Cardinals as an undrafted free agent in 2011...
(USC, Football), Chris Ciarvella (Cornell, Football), Matt Ransom (Princeton, Football), Kevin Grenier (SMU,Football) Moses Roberts (Florida A&M, Football), Charles Blase (San Diego, Soccer), Michael Descisciolo (Arizona, Football), Emma Darlington(Arizona, Women's Swimming).
The Lancer Fight Song
(Sung to the melody of the Notre Dame Victory March)-
- We're going to tell you something tonight,
- About the team that you're going to fight,
- We're the Lancers, Salpointe High,
- If we don't win we're willing to try DANGER ZONE!
- Out on the field we're ready to fight, (FIGHT!)
- We're going to fight with full force and might, (MIGHT!)
- Win or lose we'll stick together,
- Onward to victory!
- Lancers, Lancers, Let's take State!
Campus ministry
Under the guidance of the CarmelitesCarmelites
The Order of the Brothers of Our Lady of Mount Carmel or Carmelites is a Catholic religious order perhaps founded in the 12th century on Mount Carmel, hence its name. However, historical records about its origin remain uncertain...
, Salpointe has developed an active campus ministry. Students are encouraged to attend a number of retreats throughout their time at Salpointe, culminating in the Kairos
Kairos retreat
Kairos, adapted to mean "God's time", is a Christian retreat program for high school and college students that takes place around the world.The retreat is a four day, three night residential retreat, that provide participants the chance to contemplate God's role in their lives.-Process:The retreat...
experience during their junior or senior year.
Counseling services
Associate Head of School for Student Services Mr. Mike Urbanski heads Salpointe's counseling services. In addition to routine student counseling and schedule management, Salpointe's counseling department has undertaken a number of novel initiatives in recent years. Urbanski brought the "Community of Concern" program to Salpointe, which requires parents to attend informational forums about substance abuse and to pledge to prevent illegal parties from taking place in their homes.Notable alumni
- Antonio Nagore, international operatic tenor and recitalist
- Patricia Preciado Martin, award winning writer on Mexican-American culture
- John HuppenthalJohn HuppenthalJohn Huppenthal is the current Arizona Superintendent of Public Instruction.His political career includes serving as City Councilman, State Representative, and State Senator. Huppenthal was also a Senior Planning Analyst for Salt River Project.- Personal :Huppenthal was born in Michigan City,...
Arizona State Senator - Tairia Mims, Softball Olympic Gold Medalist and NCAA Softball Champion at UCLA
- John FinaJohn FinaJohn Joseph Fina is a former American football offensive lineman, who spent eleven years in the National Football League, ten of those with the Buffalo Bills, and a one-year stint with the Arizona Cardinals...
, NFL Buffalo BillsBuffalo BillsThe Buffalo Bills are a professional football team based in Buffalo, New York. They are currently members of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
Offensive Tackle - Alex FlanaganAlex FlanaganAlex Flanagan is an American sportscaster who is a graduate of the University of Arizona and Salpointe Catholic High School in Tucson, Arizona...
NBCNBCThe National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
Sports Reporter & NFL NetworkNFL NetworkNFL Network is an American television specialty channel owned and operated by the National Football League . It was launched November 4, 2003, only eight months after the league's 32 team owners voted unanimously to approve its formation...
Anchor and Reporter. - Kelly Walbert Cagle, All-American Soccer Player and ACC Player of the Year as a student at Duke UniversityDuke UniversityDuke University is a private research university located in Durham, North Carolina, United States. Founded by Methodists and Quakers in the present day town of Trinity in 1838, the school moved to Durham in 1892. In 1924, tobacco industrialist James B...
. Currently Women's Soccer Head Coach at Virginia Tech - John Roll, chief judge for the United States District Court for the District of ArizonaUnited States District Court for the District of ArizonaThe United States District Court for the District of Arizona is the federal district court whose jurisdiction is the state of Arizona. Court is held in the cities of Phoenix, Tucson, Flagstaff, Yuma, and Prescott. The district was created on June 20, 1910, by 36 Stat. 557...
.
Controversies
Salpointe has announced mandatory drug-testing for all students beginning in fall 2007. Hair samples will be taken at random from all enrolled students, which will be sent to Psychemedics CorporationPsychemedics Corporation
Psychemedics Corporation is a United States corporation which provides patented, FDA-cleared, CAP certified clinical laboratory services for the detection of drugs of abuse...
, an external testing company, to test for any drug usage within the prior 90 days. Announcement of the program sparked polemical discussion on the local newspaper's online discussion boards, some of which came from former alumni upset with the announcement. Subsequent on-campus fora were less animated, with Head of School Tillotson arguing, "We don't need, in a private school, to have to go to parents to implement our values and our mission."
In March 2007, high school administrators became aware of a physical relationship between a teacher and a 17-year-old student. The teacher subsequently pled guilty to four offences.