Lancaster
High
Catholic School
Admissions Guide
Welcome
to lancaster catholic
Something extraordinary is taking place in the heart of Lancaster County! Young men and women are sharing a high school experience like no other – an experience in a high school that is driven by a living faith, academic excellence, the convergence of tradition & innovation. Lancaster Catholic High School was founded in 1928 by the faithful of the Lancaster County Catholic community. Since then, over 10,000 souls have been nurtured and nourished within the halls of 650 Juliette Avenue. A Lancaster Catholic education is one that is college preparatory, laying the ground work for post-secondary studies. Even more, a Lancaster Catholic education prepares young men and women for life by instilling in them the recognition of their value as a unique creation of an all-loving God. This central tenet permeates all that we do and all that we are. Students at Lancaster Catholic are educated, nurtured, guided and formed in a highly supportive community by faculty and staff who passionately embrace their role in this noble endeavor.
A Lancaster Catholic student is
Intellectually Astute
our students strive to be critical thinkers, thoughtful consumers and innovative creators.
The academic experience at Lancaster Catholic is characterized by rigor, critical thinking, real-world application and readiness. Put simply, a Catholic High graduate possesses the competencies needed to be successful in any post-secondary endeavor of their choosing, with 95% pursuing higher education. Lancaster Catholic offers a traditional education steeped in the liberal arts. All students complete yearly courses in theology and select from liberal arts electives. Lancaster Catholic students are consistently among the top students on national tests and in academic competitions. At Lancaster Catholic, you are not a number. Our 12:1 student-to-faculty ratio allows our students to expand their knowledge individually and our faculty to discover the gifts and needs of each student. Lancaster Catholic students represent a diversity of learners with one commonality: a commitment to the hard work of academic excellence and personal growth.
Collegiate Model The academic schedule at Lancaster Catholic is designed to provide students with more focused and in-depth learning time while opening up opportunities for additional learning and support during the school day. Students will carry their core credits for the entire year, though classes will alternate days, similar to a collegiate schedule. In the middle of each day our Crusader Periods provide opportunities for academic support, club meetings, enrichment activities and small assemblies, ultimately reducing the burden for students to arrive early or stay after dismissal to engage in these valuable activities.
A Rigorous & Balanced Educational Experience There is no “one size fits all” education at Lancaster Catholic as we recognize that each student is a unique creation of an all-loving God. Students are encouraged to use their God-given talents to pursue excellence through a variety of unique opportunities. Instructional Support – Lancaster Catholic provides a student-centered educational supplement for students with diagnosed learning exceptionalities. Through the use of academic, social and emotional opportunities, and opportunistic learning, we endeavor to meet student goals while providing support for self-advocacy and personal excellence. Certificate Programs – Recognizing that a high school diploma is just the starting point, Lancaster Catholic is proud to offer our students the opportunity to earn an additional credential in academic areas that are of specific interest. Certificate opportunities include: St. Augustine Scholars, Fine & Performing Arts, STEM and Entrepreneurial Leadership, which is in collaboration with Millersville University. Educational Partnerships – The Lancaster Catholic community is blessed to work with numerous educational institutions which allow us to provide students with programs that best meet their future interests. •
HACC – Students have the opportunity to earn college credits while still attending high school by electing from seven three-credit classes offered in the areas of English, Humanities and History.
•
Lancaster County Career & Technology Center – Lancaster Catholic students may attend half-day and full-day programs focused on high-priority occupations. Students earn both a Lancaster Catholic diploma and the CTC certificate of completion.
•
Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology – Students who are making satisfactory progress toward their graduation requirements at Lancaster Catholic may apply for dual-enrollment in their senior year.
Lancaster Catholic students routinely earn recognition through: National Merit Scholarship Program Scholastic Writing Awards Young Artist Awards Local, Regional & National Science & Technology Competitions
A Lancaster Catholic student is
Passionately Faithful our students strive to be women and men of faith who consistently seek to deepen their relationship with God through the gift of His Church.
Campus Ministry Opportunities Serve in Liturgical Ministries as: • Music Ministers • Lectors • Altar Servers • Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion Retreat Leaders More than 17 Retreats Weekly Eucharistic Adoration Sacraments Prayer Groups
At Lancaster Catholic, our mission radiates from the person of Jesus Christ as Master Teacher. Passionately faithful begins with him, and we strive to make him evident in all we do and all we are. Theology classes, daily prayer, retreat programs, Masses and liturgies are vital to our community, not supplementary. As our young people face a society rampant with spiritual ambivalence, moral relativism and an overall loss of respect for human life, we ensure that they are equipped with the spiritual, emotional and intellectual maturity to successfully navigate the often troubled waters of young adulthood. At Lancaster Catholic, students encounter the sacred. They are supported in their individual journey of faith through open dialogue, dynamic orthodoxy and pastoral prudence. Most of all, Lancaster Catholic provides students with something which is noticeably absent from other educational institutions: perspective. At Lancaster Catholic, we share a world-view deeply rooted in our belief in an all-loving and all-powerful God and faithful to the teachings and traditions of the Roman Catholic Church. These central tenets guide all of our actions and activities. Amen.
Clubs & Activities
A Lancaster Catholic student is
Socially Responsible our students strive for a just society where all are treated with dignity and respect and all recognize their role as stewards of Creation.
At Lancaster Catholic, being involved is the norm, not the exception. An involved student is a successful student. Through our clubs, teams and activities, our students are afforded a wide variety of venues for personal growth, social development and success. Student Life at Lancaster Catholic is enhanced by opportunities for everyone through our numerous extracurricular offerings. Writers, actors, chess enthusiasts, leaders, activists, entrepreneurs and more will all find opportunities for expression and personal growth. The clubs and activities not only provide an additional dimension to the student experience, they also provide the opportunity to develop leadership skills. Many of our activities and clubs are student-formed and student-led. We believe the best way to refine leadership is by giving our students the opportunity to lead.
Aevidum Chess Nuts Dance Team Environmental Club Future Business Leaders of America Future Medical Leaders of America Good Samaritan Link Crew MiniTHON National Honor Society Prom Committee Quiz Bowl Respect Life Club Rosmarian – Yearbook Serteen Student Ambassadors Student Council Writers Anonymous . . .just a few of our many clubs
Leadership & Integrity through
Athletics
FALL Cheerleading Boys Cross Country Girls Cross Country Field Hockey Football Golf Boys Soccer Girls Soccer Girls Tennis Volleyball
WINTER Boys Basketball Girls Basketball Bowling Cheerleading Boys Swimming Girls Swimming Wrestling
SPRING Baseball Boys Lacrosse Girls Lacrosse Softball Boys Tennis Boys Track & Field Girls Track & Field
With 24 varsity sports and a long tradition of excellence, students can truly become part of something special. Our student athletes, a full 60% of our student body, recognize that lessons learned in the classroom are complemented by those learned on within athletic competition. The athletic program is a seamless extension of what occurs in the classroom. Our identity and mission are maintained and reinforced through an athletic program which promotes confidence, hard work, dedication and sportsmanship – at all times. Athletics are only a small part of the Lancaster Catholic experience and never the sole reason a student should consider joining our family. Student athletes who meet with the greatest success do so because they embrace the mission of Lancaster Catholic: family, academics, discipline and faith.
ATHLETIC HIGHLIGHTS OVER THE LAST FIVE YEARS: 21 Section Championships 5 Team & 1 Individual League Championships 5 Team & 7 Individual District Championships 1 Team & 3 Individual State Championships
A Commitment to the
Arts
The Fine & Performing Arts program at Lancaster Catholic offers students who are passionate about the arts an outlet to explore and grow their passion. Whether your love is acting, art, music, media arts or playwriting, we offer more than 40 courses and performance opportunities throughout the school year. In 2017, Lancaster Catholic was recognized by the Middle States Association for our Music Program of Distinction. With such a broad offering, students are able to shape a program as focused or as diverse as their interests. Instruction is provided by some of Lancaster’s best artists and performers, and students have endless opportunities to showcase their talents. The Fine & Performing Arts fuels student passion for the arts with hands-on learning, practice and performance. In addition to their diploma, the Fine & Performing Arts Certificate offers talented students a dedicated path to an addition credential. Earning the certificate requires dedication, commitment and a desire to delve deeper into the arts. Pursuit of the certificate requires participation in field trips, stage productions, ensembles, recitals and completion of a portfolio. Whatever direction you want to go, we have the courses, faculty and opportunities you will need to reach your goals!
FINE & PERFORMING ARTS OPPORTUNITIES Academic Humanities Acting Techniques I & II AP Art History (online) AP Music Theory Art I, II, II Brass Ensemble Ceramics Color Guard Concert Band Concert Choir Dramaturgy Fall Play Cast & Stage Crew
Grade School Band Grace School Strings Guitar Ensemble Honors Humanities Independent Music Composition Instrumental, Guitar & Vocal Lessons for Credit Jazz Band Marching Band Mass Choir Mixed Chorus Music History
Music Theory Percussion Ensemble Photography Playwriting Rock Band Spring Musical Cast, Stage Crew, Orchestra String Ensemble Vox Pop Acapella Singers Woodwind Ensemble
The Living Legacy of
Lancaster Catholic
The greatest testament to Lancaster Catholic’s success is what happens in the lives of our students upon graduation. With a 99% graduation rate and 95% of students pursuing post-secondary education, Lancaster Catholic prepares students to meet the challenge of their future. Graduating classes earn, on average, $10 million in scholarship aid toward their post-secondary education and report that over 80% of the students were accepted into their first-choice college. A Lancaster Catholic education solidly prepares young people for future academic and professional success. It also equips them to encounter the cultural and personal challenges they may face in their daily lives. This preparation begins by providing students the opportunity to interact with the larger community. Academic preparation in the classroom is just one part of the educational experience that creates the legacy of Lancaster Catholic. Equally vital to preparation for the future are the opportunities for education that happens outside of the classroom. Through our Good Samaritan Program, students are provided numerous opportunities each year to complete volunteer work throughout the Lancaster County community. On average, the young men and women of Lancaster Catholic provide over 18,000 hours of service annually, well above the 20 hours of service required of each student. Students use service opportunities to share their God-given gifts with others while developing the virtue of life-long service. The Christian Service class allows students to assist at local elementary schools, nursing homes and other community organizations as a means for practicing the tenets of social justice taught in the classroom. Participation in DeSales Service Works provides an opportunity to engage with the reality of poverty in Newark, New Jersey and volunteer with the social service agencies that minister to the impoverished. Lancaster Catholic students may choose to participate in Lancaster Chamber of Commerce Women in Business mentoring program and attend the Annual Business Expo. Humanities and English classes add dimension to the curriculum by visiting cultural sites in New York City, Philadelphia and Washington D.C. In partnership with North Museum, STEM Sisters provides mentoring and career counseling for young ladies who are interested in STEM careers. These experiences more fully prepare our students for their departure from Lancaster Catholic. Whether they arrive on a college campus, enter the military or join the work force, they are equipped with a first-class education and a world-view grounded in faith and service to humanity. We prepare students for the temporal and the eternal.
Check us out online www.lchsyes.org ·
on Instagram @lcatholic ·
on Twitter @LCatholic ·
on Facebook
www.facebook.com/lancastercatholichighschool/ ·
on YouTube
www.youtube.com/lancastercatholic ·
O Catholic High, we hail thy name, Loved guardian of our youth. O Radiant the holy flame That lights thy lamp of truth. We pledge you our firm loyalty, O Alma Mater dear. We’ll cherish, love and honor thee And thy great name revere, We’ll cherish, love and honor thee And thy great name revere. 650 Juliette Avenue | Lancaster, PA 17601 717.509.0313 | www.lchsyes.org