St. Rita High School Viewbook

t n e d u t S Every matters. An Augustinian College Preparatory High School Since 1905

Tradition

Celebrating 105 years of Augustinian Education

Remembering our past, as we work in the present, to build for the future. Did you know? The Class of 2009 was the 100th graduating class from St. Rita. 23,207 men have graduated from St. Rita since 1909. Over 20 St. Rita faculty/staff members are alumni, with over 30 others who are relatives of alumni.

St. Rita of Cascia High School was founded at 63rd and Claremont, Chicago, Illinois, in 1905 by the Very Rev. James F. Green, O.S.A. Over 23,000 men have graduated from St. Rita since 1909. St. Rita Alumni have found success in a wide range of professions. CEOs, Authors, Professional Athletes, Musicians, Educators, Doctors, Lawyers, and more have all benefited from a St. Rita education. St. Rita is a Catholic college preparatory school for young men, which is ingrained in the tradition of St. Augustine, and follows the Augustinian philosophy of education. In the Catholic tradition, we form each student as a whole person – spiritually, intellectually, emotionally, physically, and socially. As a college preparatory school, we provide young men with the necessary skills to succeed in college, leading to life-long learning and personal awareness. Through the Augustinian core values of Veritas (truth), Unitas (unity), and Caritas (love), it is the goal of St. Rita to develop a bond between the members of the entire community – Augustinians, faculty/ staff, students, parents, and alumni.

“You have made us for yourself O Lord, and our hearts are restless until they rest in you.” – St. Augustine

Truth † Unity † Love 3

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ACADEMICS

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St. Rita High School is completely committed to a College Preparatory curriculum. All students are placed in an academic program that is tailored to meet their needs. Our course of studies will challenge each student to fully develop his intellectual talents. The Augustinian Academy allows qualified students the opportunity of accelerated course work. The Mendel Academic Program provides students all the essential tools for success at the college level. The program structured through the Villanova Academic Study Center provides individual attention, small group work, and advice regarding study and organizational skills to those who need some assistance. All students, regardless of their academic program, may avail themselves of the services offered by the Villanova Academic Study Center. We are proud of our students and proud that the United States Board of Education has cited St. Rita as an Exemplary Secondary School. Over 97% of our graduates go on to higher education. In the last four years, St. Rita students have earned nearly 28 million dollars in merit-based scholarships to such prestigious universities as Cornell, Notre Dame, Northwestern, the University of Chicago, the University of Illinois, Villanova, Yale, and the United States Service Academies.

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Did you know

St. Rita’s Class of 2009 earned over 10.6 million dollars in merit-based scholarships. Seven members of St. Rita’s Class of 2009 qualified as Advanced Placement Scholars. 18% of the students in St. Rita’s Class of 2009 were named Illinois State Scholars.

opening doors & minds

SPIRITUALITY & FAMILY St. Rita High School is a private Catholic secondary school owned and operated by the Augustinian priests and brothers. We are proud of our Catholic Augustinian heritage, one rich in tradition and history.

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Did you know The entire St. Rita community is invited to Family Masses four Sundays each year.

St. Rita students take part in annual retreat opportunities with their classmates. All St. Rita students are required to complete community service experiences.

In the spirit of St. Augustine, we are restless in our pursuit of the knowledge of God, and in the spirit of St. Rita, we are committed to our faith. Though not all St. Rita students are Catholic, we encourage full participation in our school community. Our goal is to instill in our Ritamen a love of God and all of God’s people. Each student takes courses in Theology, attends Mass monthly and on all Holy Days of Obligation, and begins and ends each day with a prayer. All grade levels participate in an annual retreat, with seniors having the opportunity to experience a three-day Kairos retreat program. We also offer daily morning Mass and Reconciliation services throughout the year. In addition, all students are required to perform community service. The atmosphere present at St. Rita makes it more than a high school. It is a second family, and not just for four years, but for a lifetime. Our enrollment for the 2008-2009 academic year was 731 students. This means you will not be simply a number at St. Rita. Teachers, coaches, and administrators will get to know you individually, and welcome you into the St. Rita family.

Augustinian Values

St. Rita High School also celebrates diversity in the family. Students come to us from 194 different grammar schools throughout the Chicagoland area. A variety of experiences mix together in our hallways, but everyone at St. Rita is family. 6

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ATHLETICS

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St. Rita High School encourages students to participate in a variety of sports, and to develop all of their talents. We have a rich tradition of athletic success, which we believe is bred by determination and character. St. Rita’s high expectations in the classroom are upheld on the athletic field, and the term ‘student-athlete’ carries real weight here. In-season athletes have their grades checked weekly for eligibility. Additionally, our programs build characteristics that are essential for future success, such as discipline, teamwork, dedication, and sportsmanship.

• Baseball St. Rita offers 15 interscholastic

• Basketball

sports, nearly all with three levels.

• Bowling

St. Rita athletic teams are members

• Cross Country

of the Chicago Catholic League, one

• Football

of the most competitive in the state.

• Golf

Our teams regularly compete for league and state championships, and have won 70 Catholic League, 40 Regional, and 5 State Titles. We maintain exceptional state-of-

• Hockey • Lacrosse • Rugby • Soccer • Swimming

the-art athletic facilities on our 37-

• Track & Field

acre campus. All of our sports have

• Volleyball

coaches who are members of the

• Water Polo

faculty, staff, or administration.

• Wrestling

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Did you know

Within this decade the varsity football team has won four Chicago Catholic League championships, one State championship, and one Prep Bowl championship. In addition they have made two state-semi final and two state quarter-final appearances. The Varsity Baseball Team has averaged over 30 wins per year during the past 10 seasons. Over the past four seasons, the varsity hockey teams record in the Chicago Catholic League is 59 - 8 - 5.

ambitious goals

ACTIVITIES & CLUBS St. Rita High School promotes involvement. By currently offering numerous clubs and activities in addition to athletics, we hope to ensure that every student will find something to spark his interest.

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Did you know

St. Rita students volunteer weekly at the P.A.D.S. Homeless Shelter and take part in an annual service trip.

Technical and social skills • Band  (Marching, Jazz, Symphonic)

• Billiards • Cheerleading

St. Rita’s Theater Group produced its first ever musical in 2009 with its performance of Cotton Patch Gospel.

• Eucharistic Ministers

and the working world.

At St. Rita, young men learn

• Hispanic Culture Club

from the very beginning the

• International Exchange Program

importance of giving to others.

• Intramural Sports • Knights of Augustine  Service Fraternity • Math Team • Mustang Ambassadors

Many of our clubs and activities offer students the opportunity to contribute their time, talents, and energy to the outside

• National Honor Society

community. Ritamen volunteer

• P.A.D.S Volunteers

for the P.A.D.S. Homeless Shelter,

• Paintball • Peer Tutors • Ritanettes

sponsor local food drives, participate in the LifeSource

• Scholastic Bowl

blood drive, and are active in our

• Service Trip Volunteers

service fraternity – the Knights of

• Stock Market Club • Students Against Destructive Decisions • Student Government • Student Trainers

exceptional opportunities

prove useful in higher education

• Chess • Guitar Club

The St. Rita Band invites all students to join, even if they have never played a musical instrument before.

learned in clubs and activities will

• The Ritan Newspaper • The Cascian Yearbook • Theater Group • Video Games Club • Weightlifting

Augustine.

Socially, young women are welcomed to campus to help us cheer on our athletic teams, help us build school spirit at pep rallies, and attend our dances.

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St. Rita High School provides the latest in cutting

We have four state-of-

edge innovation. We are dedicated to keeping

the-art computer labs, with

students on the forefront of technology, as it has

a total of 210 computers

become ever more essential in their everyday lives.

located throughout the school. Eight classrooms are fully equipped with SMART Board technology, providing students with interactive instruction. Teachers continuously use classroom computers and projectors to enhance lessons.

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TECHNOLOGY

Did you know

Students have interactively taken part in a human autopsy in St. Rita’s Distance Learning Center.

St. Rita chemistry and physics classes use high-tech equipment in lab procedures.

The Distance Learning Center connects students to resources and presentations throughout the world.

Our technological advances aim to engage

The MIDI Lab and Electronic Music course at St. Rita allows students to work with sound engineering.

all students in the learning

Students observe and analyze data gained from a 1 kilowatt solar photovoltaic panel system located on the roof of St. Rita.

greater educational success.

technology & innovation

process and provide them with tools that will lead to

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Why An All-Boys School? Studies have proven that boys thrive in a single sex academic setting. With no girls to “impress,” boys can be themselves. Conformity gives way to individuality. They explore subjects like languages and the arts without fear of ridicule. Source: International Boys’ Schools Coalition

Admission Process and Transfer Policy

Financial Aid and Scholarships

8th grade boys seeking admission to St. Rita High School must take the entrance exam in January. Admission is based upon their score on the test along with transcripts submitted by their grade school, including their disciplinary record. Final acceptance is contingent upon the successful completion of the 8th grade. St. Rita reserves the right to deny admission to any student whose final record indicates a major change in academic performance. For questions about the entrance exam, please contact the Admissions Office at (773) 925-7482.

St. Rita High School awards over $900,000 in Financial Aid and Scholarships Annually.

Present high school students seeking to transfer to St. Rita must contact the Admissions Office. A current transcript from the student’s school must be sent to:

St. Rita of Cascia High School C/O Admissions Office 7740 S. Western Ave. Chicago, IL 60620

Academic Scholarships are awarded on the basis of the results of the St. Rita Entrance Examination. Students with the top 2 scores on the Entrance Exam are awarded a $2,500 Academic Scholarship. This scholarship is renewable each year, provided renewable standards are met, for a total of value of $10,000. Students who score in the 95th percentile or above are awarded a $1,250 Academic Scholarship. This scholarship is renewable each year, provided renewable standards are met, for a total value of $5,000. Students who score in the 88th to 94th percentile are awarded a $1,000 Academic Scholarship for the first year. In order to be eligible for an Academic Scholarship, students MUST take the Entrance Examination at St. Rita.

Students whose academic and disciplinary records are satisfactory will be contacted for an interview with the Principal, Mrs. Sally Deenihan.

Unitas Service and Involvement Award (Formerly known as the Cascian Award) – Applications for the Unitas Award are available at registration. Amounts of Unitas Awards vary.

Tuition

Legacy Essay Scholarship – Students who have a father or grandfather (maternal or paternal) who graduated from St. Rita High School or Mendel Catholic High School are awarded a $1,000 Legacy Scholarship for the first year. The student must submit a 1-page essay on “What St. Rita means to me.”

Tuition at St. Rita for the 2009-2010 school year is $8,350. There is a non-refundable registration fee each year of $300. Discounts of $1,000 are offered to families with 2 or more students in attendance. St. Rita DOES NOT Charge for the following: Mandatory Fundraising Underclassmen Retreats Graduation Yearbook 14

Under IHSA rules, St. Rita does not offer any athletic scholarships.

Class Fees Lab Fees Technology Fees Activity Fees

Applications for St. Rita Financial Aid are available at registration. The amount of St. Rita Financial Aid varies depending on need. Go to www.stritahs.com/admissions for more scholarship opportunities such as HighSight, Daniel Murphy, and Link.

Additional Information Regular School Hours

Monday 8:55 a.m. – 2:20 p.m. Tue – Thur 7:55 a.m. – 2:20 p.m.

St. Rita Main Office Hours 7:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Main Office and Attendance (773) 925-6600 St. Rita Admissions Office (773) 925-7482

Dress Code St. Rita has a strict uniform policy, which consists of a St. Rita polo shirt (blue or red), dress pants that are blue, black, khaki, or gray with a belt, and black or brown dress shoes. St. Rita wind shirts can be worn in the winter months. Hair must be neatly groomed and may not touch the collar. No facial hair is allowed. St. Rita adheres to a strict dress code, which not only defines what is worn, but more importantly the manner in which it is worn. Go to www.stritahs.com to access the St. Rita Student Handbook.

Transportation St. Rita High School is committed to providing students with the most efficient and safest transportation possible. St. Rita offers the following transportation options:

St. Rita Bus Service St. Rita owns three 14-passenger buses. These allow students to have a shorter commute at a lower cost. St. Rita buses operate mainly in the Western Suburbs, Oak Lawn, and the Chicago Midway area. Routes are redrawn each year after ridership is determined for the upcoming school year.

Students in Joliet, New Lenox, Mokena, Frankfort, Tinley Park, Oak Forest, and Midlothian are able to use the Metra Rock Island Line to and from St. Rita. Students are picked up and dropped off at the Blue Island – Vermont St. station before school, after school, and after activities by a St. Rita shuttle bus. Students in Naperville, Lisle, Westmont, Downers Grove, Clarendon Hills, and Hinsdale are able to use the Metra BNSF Railway Line to and from St. Rita. Students are picked up and dropped off at the LaGrange Rd. station (25W Burlington Rd.) before school, after school, and after activities by a St. Rita shuttle bus. Students in Joliet, Lockport, Lemont, and Willow Springs are able to use the Metra Heritage Cooridor Line to and from St. Rita. Students are picked up and dropped off at the Willow Springs station (87th & Archer) before school, after school, and after activities by a St. Rita shuttle bus. Students who live in downtown Chicago may also use the Metra Southwest Line into the Wrightwood Station.

St. Rita Car Pool Program

Metra Rail System

The St. Rita Car Pool Program is a free computerized service that can match St. Rita families looking to share rides. This program is accessible at www.stritahs.com.

St. Rita offers the Metra Rail as an option for students.

CTA Bus Service

Students in Manhattan, New Lenox, Lockport, Homer Glen, Orland Park, Palos Park, Palos Heights, Worth, Chicago Ridge, and Oak Lawn are able to use the Metra Southwest Line to and from St. Rita. Students are picked up and dropped off at the Wrightwood Station (79th & Kedzie) before school, after school, and after activities by a St. Rita shuttle bus.

St. Rita High School is accessible via public transportation. Go to www.transitchicago.com for schedules and fares. For questions about transportation contact Director of Admissions Craig Ferguson at (773) 925-7482 or [email protected]. 15

La Grange Garfield Ridge

West Lawn

Burbank St. Rita High School

Oak Lawn

Lemont

Evergreen Park

Beverly

Orland Park

Homer Glen

Morgan Park

Oak Forest

Students come to St. Rita from 194 different grammar schools in the Chicagoland area. Cody Akel ’12 Central Junior High School Evergreen Park

Connor Hughes ’12 St. Albert the Great Burbank

Robert Raehl ’12 St. Symphorosa Chicago – Garfield Ridge

Anthony Andres ’10 LaGrange Highlands Western Springs

Connor LePretre ’11 St. Cajetan Chicago – Beverly

John Sheedy ’10 St. Gerald Oak Lawn

Zachary Bernicky ’12 Homer Junior High School Homer Glen

Ernesto Lopez ’12 Queen of the Universe Chicago – West Lawn

Shakir Spells ’12 St. Ethelreda Chicago – Morgan Park

Sean Esposito ’12 Central Middle School Oak Forest

Joseph McDonnell ’12 Old Quarry Middle School Lemont

Ronald Turcich ’11 St. Michael Orland Park

St. Rita of Cascia High School An Augustinian College Prep School Since 1905 7740 S. Western Avenue | Chicago, IL 60620 | (773) 925-6600 | www.stritahs.com