Christopher Columbus High School

Infobox School
name = Christopher Columbus High School


type = Private
location = Miami, Florida, USA
campus = Suburban
established = 1958cite-web|url=http://www.columbushs.com/about.asp|title=Christopher Columbus High School Web Site]
affiliation = Catholic (Marist)
grades = 9-12
enrollment = 1400
role model = Jesus Christ
principal = Br. Michael Brady (2008- present)
president = Br. Kevin Handibode
colors = Navy Blue, White, and Red
mascot = Explorers
website = [http://www.columbushs.com/ www.columbushs.com]

Christopher Columbus High School is a Catholic, college preparatory, all-male high school set on a 24 acre campus in Miami, Florida. It was established in 1958 by the Marist Brothers who also form part of school administration and faculty. With just over one hundred teachers and 1400 students, the student teacher ratio is 14:1. Offering the full range of academics, sports and clubs, it was recently selected, for the third time in a row, as one of the top 50 Catholic high schools in the United States by the [http://www.chshonor.org/roll/school.php?id=17 Catholic High School Honor Roll of 2006] . The school is one of only two private schools in Florida that compete in sports at the 6A level and as such, has a long history of winning championships. It is located in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Miami, and is funded through tuition. Financial aid is available to those who qualify.

Admission and academics

As a Catholic institution, the school does not discriminate on the basis of race or religion in its admissions process. The school is funded by tuition with significant discounts offered for 2nd and 3rd children enrolled in the school. Financial aid is available for those who qualify.

In order to graduate, students require twenty-four credits and a grade point average (GPA) of at least 2.0. They must also complete seventy-five hours of

Dual-enrollment classes are offered through both St Thomas University and Barry University also Florida International University . These classes enable the student to earn both high school and college credit for the course.

Mas Family Scholars Program

Begun in the 2005-2006 school year, the Mas Family Scholars Program is an accelerated program at Christopher Columbus High School. The program was begun to provide select Columbus students with a challenging curriculum comparable to the very best preparatory schools in the nation. In addition to having an advanced curriculum, the students in the program participate in extracurricular activities. Mas Scholars are encouraged to participate in sports and to encompass the ideal of the student athlete. Mas Scholars [Cite web|title=Christopher Columbus High School Mas Family Scholars Program|url=http://www.columbushs.com/alumni/documents/spring.05pdf.pdf|work=Adelante: The Christopher Columbus Alumni Newsletter|date=Spring 2005|format=PDF|accessdate=2007-04-09]

Faculty

Christopher Columbus faculty consists of over 140 teachers, many of whom have taught at or been affiliated with this institution for many years. The student teacher ratio is 14:1. A vast technology system connects all the classrooms and provides teachers with the latest software and online grading system. Parent, student and teacher communication is facilitated by these online technologies.

ocial Life and Clubs

Although the school is an all male institution, the social formation of the students includes girls from neighboring co-ed St. Brendan's High School in after-school clubs. Our Lady of Lourdes Academy, the Catholic all-girls sister school to Columbus handles the cheerleading for CCHS sports teams. Columbus High School also plays host to both Homecoming and Prom events each year for their students and their dates.

A wide variety of clubs are available for students. These include:Adelante (Yearbook), Chess Club, Close Up, Dominoes Club, Democratic Student Alliance, Drama Club, Fairchild Tropical Challenge, Film Club, French Club, French Honor Society, Future Business Leaders of America, Intramural Athletics, Key Club, Math Honor Society - Mu Alpha Theta, National Honor Society, Robotics Club, Salsa Club, Science Honors Society, Scuba Dive Club, Rho Kappa and History Club, Spanish Club, Spanish Honor Society, Speech and Debate, Squires Club, Student Activities Committee - S.A.C, Surf and Skate Club, The Log, Video Game Club, Weight Lifting, World Languages Club.

Sports

Columbus and its sister school, Our Lady of Lourdes Academy, are the only private schools in Florida that compete at a 6A level. The sports program at Columbus has a long history of winning championships and developing successful athletes.

Varsity level sports offered are: baseball, basketball, football, volleyball, hockey, soccer, bowling, cross country, golf, lacrosse, swimming, tennis, track and field, water polo and wrestling.

Junior varsity level sports include: baseball, basketball, football, volleyball, hockey, soccer.

Freshman level sports offered are: baseball, basketball, football and volleyball.

Campus

The campus is set over 24 acres and includes several facilities for student and faculty use. There are four main academic buildings that are supplemented with a media center that contains a technical resource center, an auditorium, a TV news studio, a chemistry laboratory, a robot-fighting arena, a concession stand, and several offices. The science building contains a physics and chemistry lab. The school also has several computer labs, gymnasium, a tennis complex, a baseball complex, a weight room, football field, stadiums and track.

Campus expansion

In 2006, Christopher Columbus High School began construction on the three-story "Mas Technology Complex", which contains administrative offices, computer labs, a large library, and a school store. The project is expected to be completed, in time to celebrate the school's 50th anniversary in Spring of 2008. [Cite web|title=Mas Technology Complex|url=http://www.columbushs.com/alumni/newsletter/wntr06.pdf|work=Adelante: The Christopher Columbus Alumni Newsletter|date=Fall 2006|format=PDF|accessdate=2007-04-09]

Catholic Identity

As a Catholic institution, students are offered the opportunity to go to confession, attend Mass and various Catholic retreats. Catholic religious education is part of everyday curriculum yet students are also exposed to the various world religions in their regular history classes. St. Brendan's Catholic Church adjoins the school campus and is available for those students who need to spend some time with God either in private prayer or daily Mass as desired.

Notable Alumni

* Hernan Organvidez - '81 Police Captain, Miami-Dade Police Department
* Jorge Mas Santos - '81 Chairman of the Cuban American National Foundation and MasTec.
* Pedro J. Aguas - '86, Publisher of What's Happening Orlando Magazine.
* Hugo V. Alvarez - '91, founder and Managing Partner for Alvarez, Paz & Barbara, LLP.
* Raoul G. Cantero, III - '78, Justice of the Florida Supreme Court.
* Mario Cristobal - '88, Florida International University Head football coach.
* Luis Gazitua - '94, Appointed by Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos Alvarez as a Senior Advisor in the Office of the Mayor.
* Brian Griese - '93, quarterback for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
* Alonzo Highsmith - '83, former University of Miami and NFL football player and former professional boxer. Currently a scout for the Green Bay Packers.
* Carlos A. Gimenez - '72, Miami-Dade County District 7 Commissioner.
* Cesar Odio - '77, head basketball coach at Barry University.
* Abram Rodriguez - '92, actor.
* Ray Rodriguez - '69, President of Univision
* Jose Fuentes - '92, former Deputy Director of Advance to Vice President Dick Cheney
* Mike Shula - '83, former University of Alabama football coach, current quarterbacks coach for the NFL Jacksonville Jaguars
* Lester Sola - '83, Miami-Dade County Elections Supervisor as of April 2005.
* Luis Vazquez-Bello - '99, Barry University star basketball player
* Izzy Molina - '90, Former MLB player for the Oakland A's and Baltimore Orioles
* Marc Buoniconti - '83, helped fund, along with his father, The Miami Project to Cure Paralysis
* Michael A. Rodriguez - '90, Executive Director Palm Beach County Hispanic Democratic Caucus
* Christian M. Hernandez - '95, Vice President, Regions Bank
* Robert MacMahon - '85, Executive Vice President, Diebold ImageWay
* Abel Sanchez - '90, Author [http://www.amazon.com/Van-Halen-101-Abel-Sanchez/dp/1420878867 Van Halen 101]
* Orestes Destrade - '80 Former MLB player for the Florida Marlins, New York Yankees, and Pittsburgh Pirates. Current ESPN baseball analyst on Baseball Tonight.
* Carlos Borges - '02, Vice President, Biomedical International Corp.
* Juan "John" Frochaux - '01, studio musician, producer, and drummer for popular Latin American (Panama) punk rock band [http://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Factor_Viii Factor VIII]

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