St. Paul's School (Covington, Louisiana)
Encyclopedia
Saint Paul's School is a private all-boys Lasallian
high school, located in Covington, Louisiana
just to the north of New Orleans
, United States. Located in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New Orleans
, the school is run by the Christian Brothers
and is one of the 1,000 Lasallian schools in more than 90 countries. It is part of 300 years of history originating from the founding of the Christian Brother Schools by Saint Jean Baptiste de La Salle
.
In 1911, the school property was sold to the Benedictine
s of nearby Saint Joseph Abbey
. The school was renamed St. Paul's, and reopened in September, 1911, with only 48 students. However, its reputation for academic excellence spread quickly, and by the end of the first session, enrollment numbered 70 boarders and 30 day students.
Meanwhile, nineteen French Christian Brothers
had emigrated to Louisiana from France and Mexico, having been exiled for political reasons. After purchasing the school from the Benedictines, the brothers devoted themselves to the school, "not only teaching and guiding their students, but also staffing the school as carpenters, painters, plumbers, electricians, and yardmen.".
Although St. Paul's originally taught students only at high school level, it grew to encompass middle and elementary levels; this continued into the 1950s. However, by the 1960s there were enough other schools in the area to allow St. Paul's to begin to eliminate the younger grades, with the intention of focusing on a college preparatory
curriculum. By the late 1970s, the school had a six year program, 7th-12th grades. The 1981-82 year was the final session with a 7th grade class, and the school continues a five-year program to this day.
The original Dixon Academy building (known as Dixon Hall on campus) had long been supplanted by other buildings, but remained standing and used for storage. In November 1981, during Thanksgiving break, the building burned to the ground; a forensic investigation determined old electrical wiring to be the cause. Using bricks from the original structure, a patio/garden area was created on the site, and dubbed "Founders' Circle".
The last of the original 19 brothers, Bro. Charles Crouzet, remained living on campus, although retired from teaching, until his death in 1985. A statue of Jesus was erected in Founders' Circle and dedicated to Bro. Charles in honor of his faithful devotion to the school and God.
As a boarding school
, St. Paul's was able to accommodate students from a wide geographic area; over the years, students from Central
and South America
, France
, Greece
, Russia
, Korea
, and Japan
attended. However, due to a general decline in boarders, the increasing expense of housing residents, and faced with the prospect of overhauling a dormitory which was in disrepair, St. Paul's converted to an all day-student program beginning with the 2003-2004 school year. In 2010-2011, Lasalle Hall (the dormitory building) underwent a full renovation and conversion into classroom space as the new Math and Science building. The construction is projected to be completed in the late fall of 2011.
As of the 2008-2009 school year, St. Paul's boasted attendance of over 800, the largest in its history.
In 2011, St. Paul's celebrated its centennial birthday with a yearlong series of parades, reunions, and other events.
(Mass
) during which students proclaim the Scriptures and help distribute Holy Communion. All classes begin with prayer or reflection.
(Sister school)
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...
high school, located in Covington, Louisiana
Covington, Louisiana
Covington is a city in and the parish seat of St. Tammany Parish, Louisiana, United States. The population was 8,483 at the 2000 census. It is located at a fork of the Bogue Falaya and the Tchefuncte River....
just to the north of New Orleans
New Orleans, Louisiana
New Orleans is a major United States port and the largest city and metropolitan area in the state of Louisiana. The New Orleans metropolitan area has a population of 1,235,650 as of 2009, the 46th largest in the USA. The New Orleans – Metairie – Bogalusa combined statistical area has a population...
, United States. Located in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New Orleans
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New Orleans
The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New Orleans, officially in Latin Archidioecesis Novae Aureliae, is an ecclesiastical division of the Roman Catholic Church administered from New Orleans, Louisiana...
, the school is run by the Christian Brothers
Institute of the Brothers of the Christian Schools
The Institute of the Brothers of the Christian Schools is a Roman Catholic religious teaching congregation, founded in France by Saint Jean-Baptiste de la Salle and now based in Rome...
and is one of the 1,000 Lasallian schools in more than 90 countries. It is part of 300 years of history originating from the founding of the Christian Brother Schools by Saint 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...
.
History
In 1904, a group of residents of the Covington area banded together to fund the building of a new public school. After acquiring a tract of land and building a one-story, 2 bedroom building, the school, called Dixon Academy, opened in 1907. The school failed to attract enough students to remain viable.In 1911, the school property was sold to the Benedictine
Benedictine
Benedictine refers to the spirituality and consecrated life in accordance with the Rule of St Benedict, written by Benedict of Nursia in the sixth century for the cenobitic communities he founded in central Italy. The most notable of these is Monte Cassino, the first monastery founded by Benedict...
s of nearby Saint Joseph Abbey
Abbey
An abbey is a Catholic monastery or convent, under the authority of an Abbot or an Abbess, who serves as the spiritual father or mother of the community.The term can also refer to an establishment which has long ceased to function as an abbey,...
. The school was renamed St. Paul's, and reopened in September, 1911, with only 48 students. However, its reputation for academic excellence spread quickly, and by the end of the first session, enrollment numbered 70 boarders and 30 day students.
Meanwhile, nineteen French Christian Brothers
Institute of the Brothers of the Christian Schools
The Institute of the Brothers of the Christian Schools is a Roman Catholic religious teaching congregation, founded in France by Saint Jean-Baptiste de la Salle and now based in Rome...
had emigrated to Louisiana from France and Mexico, having been exiled for political reasons. After purchasing the school from the Benedictines, the brothers devoted themselves to the school, "not only teaching and guiding their students, but also staffing the school as carpenters, painters, plumbers, electricians, and yardmen.".
Although St. Paul's originally taught students only at high school level, it grew to encompass middle and elementary levels; this continued into the 1950s. However, by the 1960s there were enough other schools in the area to allow St. Paul's to begin to eliminate the younger grades, with the intention of focusing on a college preparatory
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...
curriculum. By the late 1970s, the school had a six year program, 7th-12th grades. The 1981-82 year was the final session with a 7th grade class, and the school continues a five-year program to this day.
The original Dixon Academy building (known as Dixon Hall on campus) had long been supplanted by other buildings, but remained standing and used for storage. In November 1981, during Thanksgiving break, the building burned to the ground; a forensic investigation determined old electrical wiring to be the cause. Using bricks from the original structure, a patio/garden area was created on the site, and dubbed "Founders' Circle".
The last of the original 19 brothers, Bro. Charles Crouzet, remained living on campus, although retired from teaching, until his death in 1985. A statue of Jesus was erected in Founders' Circle and dedicated to Bro. Charles in honor of his faithful devotion to the school and God.
As a boarding school
Boarding school
A boarding school is a school where some or all pupils study and live during the school year with their fellow students and possibly teachers and/or administrators. The word 'boarding' is used in the sense of "bed and board," i.e., lodging and meals...
, St. Paul's was able to accommodate students from a wide geographic area; over the years, students from Central
Central America
Central America is the central geographic region of the Americas. It is the southernmost, isthmian portion of the North American continent, which connects with South America on the southeast. When considered part of the unified continental model, it is considered a subcontinent...
and South America
South America
South America is a continent situated in the Western Hemisphere, mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere. The continent is also considered a subcontinent of the Americas. It is bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean and on the north and east...
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
, Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
, Korea
Korea
Korea ) is an East Asian geographic region that is currently divided into two separate sovereign states — North Korea and South Korea. Located on the Korean Peninsula, Korea is bordered by the People's Republic of China to the northwest, Russia to the northeast, and is separated from Japan to the...
, and Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
attended. However, due to a general decline in boarders, the increasing expense of housing residents, and faced with the prospect of overhauling a dormitory which was in disrepair, St. Paul's converted to an all day-student program beginning with the 2003-2004 school year. In 2010-2011, Lasalle Hall (the dormitory building) underwent a full renovation and conversion into classroom space as the new Math and Science building. The construction is projected to be completed in the late fall of 2011.
As of the 2008-2009 school year, St. Paul's boasted attendance of over 800, the largest in its history.
In 2011, St. Paul's celebrated its centennial birthday with a yearlong series of parades, reunions, and other events.
Spiritual life
As a Lasallian school, St. Paul's is committed to the educational philosophy of Jean-Baptiste de la Salle. The school's website states that this means teachers "...are called to touch hearts by the power of God's Spirit...to build on the affection that the children have....to draw them to God who loves them." The Office of Campus Ministry is charged with ensuring that this vision is expressed in the lives of students and faculty at St. Paul's school.Retreats and prayer
Students in every year group participate in a retreat suited to their level, with the seniors taking part in a 3 day retreat. Throughout the school year, the St. Paul's community comes together for the celebration of the EucharistEucharist
The Eucharist , also called Holy Communion, the Sacrament of the Altar, the Blessed Sacrament, the Lord's Supper, and other names, is a Christian sacrament or ordinance...
(Mass
Mass
Mass can be defined as a quantitive measure of the resistance an object has to change in its velocity.In physics, mass commonly refers to any of the following three properties of matter, which have been shown experimentally to be equivalent:...
) during which students proclaim the Scriptures and help distribute Holy Communion. All classes begin with prayer or reflection.
Community service
Embracing the Catholic Church's preferential option for the poor, students at St. Paul's are required to complete a certain amount of service hours each year; chores, service or work done for family members do not count towards fulfilling this requirement.Activities and clubs
- LA-041 Air Force JROTC
- Big Brother
- Bowling Club
- Boys State
- Close-Up
- Computer Club
- Drama (Marian Players)
- Environmental Science Club
- French Club
- Guerrilla Wolves Video Club
- Habitat Club
- Level Retreats
- Marching Band (Marching Wolves)
- Mu Alpha Theta
- Music Show
- National Junior Honor Society
- National Honor Society
- Pirate Club
- Quiz Bowl
- School Dances
- School Newspaper
- Spanish Club
- The Society of St. Gregory the Great
- Student Council
- Student Hosts
- Ultimate Frisbee Club
- Winging It
- Yearbook (Conifer)
- Young Lawyers Club
- Fitness Club
Athletics
The St. Paul's School offers many options for students to play sports on both JV and Varsity levels. Many of their sports programs have gone on to win district and state titles. **The first state title in school history was won in 1991 by the tennis team. Below is a list of the sports programs the school offers.- Baseball
- Basketball
- Bowling- Stephen Neal bowled the only perfect game in school history on February 9, 2007.
- Cross Country - 4 consecutive state championships 98',99',00',01. Top runners include Pat Gavin, Jimmy Wiggins, Chris Mediamolle, Doug Fields, and Carl Franzella.
- Football - Nilo Silvan was state MVP in 1992. Standout player at the University of Tennessee. Played professional football for Tampa Bay Bucs. Currently coached by Ken Sears.
- Golf
- Hockey
- Lacrosse (started 2008-2009 school year)
- Power-lifting
- Soccer - 2010-2011 State Champions. The game winning goal was scored by Will "The Thrill" Gutterman aka "Tripping Billy"
- Swimming- Colin Babcock won two individual state championships in 2009
- Tennis - **Trey Glorioso and Jimmy Dunn won the regional and state title in 1991 (15-0) and 1992 (13-1).
- Track and Field
- Wrestling - Marc Schroeder and Jason Pelloat won individual state titles in 1992. Korey Miller, Norman Faucheux and Lee Morgan won individual state titles in 2009.
Buildings
- Benilde Hall: a three storied building used for Foreign Language, Math and Computer/Library
- Main School: a two storied building used for Science, Math, English, AFJROTC, Social Studies
- La Salle Hall: originally used for dormitories but now being constructed into classrooms for AFJROTC, Art, Mother's Club, Math, guidance, etc.
- Student Center: used for Campus Ministry, graduation performances, fund raisers, school functions, etc.
- Gene Bennet Complex: Basketball Court, Wrestling room, Weight Room, locker room, trainer's office, coach's office
- Alumni Memorial Theater: used for theatrical performances.
- Guidance Office Building
- Cafeteria
- Horack Pavilion & Wolf Dome
- Art Building
- Maintenance Building
- Chapel
- Brother's Residence
- Administration Building
- Band Building
- Hunter Stadium
Associated schools
St. Scholastica AcademySt. Scholastica Academy (Covington, Louisiana)
St. Scholastica Academy is a private, Roman Catholic, all-girls high school in Covington, Louisiana. It is located in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New Orleans.-Background:...
(Sister school)
Notable alumni
- Ernest AngeloErnest AngeloErnest Angelo, Jr., known as Ernie Angelo , is a Texas oilman and Republican politician who served from 1972–1980 as mayor of the West Texas city of Midland and was in 1976 the co-manager of the Ronald W...
, Texas businessman and politician. - Francois Collins, writer.
- Ian SomerhalderIan SomerhalderIan Joseph Somerhalder is an American model, actor and producer, best known for playing Boone Carlyle in the TV drama Lost and Damon Salvatore in the TV drama The Vampire Diaries.-Early life:...
, actor.