Providence Catholic High School

Infobox School
name = Providence Catholic High School
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location =
streetaddress = 1800 W. Lincoln Highway
region =
city = New Lenox
state = Illinois
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zipcode = 60451
country = USA
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coordinates = coord|41.5209|-88.0002|display=inline
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authority =
religion =
denomination = Roman Catholic
oversight = Diocese of Joliet
affiliation = Order of Saint Augustine
superintendent =
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specialist =
president = Fr. Richard McGrath, OSA
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principal = Mr. Don Sebestyen
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teaching_staff = 63
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gender = coed
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type = secondary parochial
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tuition = US$7,935 [ [http://www.providencecatholic.org/prosp_students/tuition.html 2008-09 tuition] ]
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grades = 9—12
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slogan = "Your family ... your future"
song =
fightsong =
motto = "Love ... Truth ... Unity"
accreditation = North Central Association
rival =
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sports =
patron =
team_name =
nickname = Celtics
school_colours = color box|#4CBB17 kelly green
color box|white white
school_colors =
yearbook = "Kelt"
publication =
newspaper = "Proviscope"
opened = 1962
established = 1880
founded = 1918
status =
closed =
students =
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enrollment = 1,100
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homepage = http://www.providencecatholic.org

Providence Catholic High School (often referred to as Providence or abbreviated PCHS) is a Roman Catholic secondary school located in New Lenox, Illinois. Located in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Joliet, Providence Catholic is a private school run by the Augustinians. The president of Providence is Father Richard McGrath, OSA, with Mr. Don Sebestyen as its principal.

Located right on historic Lincoln Highway (also part of U.S. Highway 30), the school is perhaps best known throughout the area for their strong football and wrestling programs. It is also known as one of the few Catholic schools in Illinois that has a self–imposed enrollment limit.

History

Providence Catholic High School began as St. Mary Academy for Girls, a commercial school in Joliet, Illinois run by the Sisters of Loretto. The school opened in 1880, though the original building was not opened until 1883. Eventually, academic classes were added.

In 1918, the Diocese of Joliet invited the Sisters of Providence to take over the school. On October 22 of that year, the school's name was changed to "Providence High School". In 1931, the academic classes were stopped as the Great Depression took its toll on the school. In 1932, the school was reverted to a two-year commercial school, with a four-year secretarial program opened in 1938. Though the academic courses were reinstated after the Depression, the school building was condemned as a fire hazard in 1959. From 1959 through 1962, the school met at St. Mary's Parish. A popular story in the school community is that students would visit the site of the demolished school and scavenge undamaged bricks to sell in order to raise funds for a new school which was already in development.

In 1962, the modern Providence High School was opened. The most obvious change was location: the school had left Joliet, and was now located a few miles to the east in New Lenox. The other major change was the shift to a coed school. Though a relatively brand new school, the area of New Lenox, at the time was not heavily populated. Enrollment dropped, and the school began suffering financially. A new principal arrived in 1970 and began a campaign to improve the academic standing of the school, and to improve transportation options for students traveling great distances. The 1971 enrollment of 490 reached 785 by 1975. The late 1970s and early 1980s saw the need for additions to be built on to the school.

The Order of Saint Augustine was invited by the Diocese to take control of the school after the 1984-85 school year. An addition of a college preparatory curriculum was one initiative, as was a refocus on the spiritual mission of the school. Attention was made to upgrading the religious studies course work, and a retreat program was started. The name of the school was changed to "Providence Catholic High School" to reflect these changes. In 1998, the school decided to limit enrollment in order to retain a more personal atmosphere with students. Since 1998, the enrollment has hovered between 1,000 and 1,200. [ [http://www.providencecatholic.org/about_pchs/history.html History of Providence Catholic HS] ]

Academics

Providence is a college preparatory school, and uses a weighted grading system.

The school offers twelve Advanced Placement courses: English Language, English Literature, Statistics, Calculus (AB), Biology, U.S. History, U.S. Government & Politics, European History, Psychology, Spanish Language, Music Theory, and Studio Art. [ [http://www.providencecatholic.org/academics/ap_honors.html AP courses offered] ]

Athletics

The Providence Celtics compete in two conferences. Mens teams compete in the Chicago Catholic League (CCL), while the women compete in the East Suburban Catholic Conference (ESCC). Providence competes in state tournaments sponsored by the Illinois High School Association (IHSA).

The school sponsors teams for men and women in basketball, cross country, golf, soccer, tennis, track & field, and volleyball. Men may also compete in baseball, football and wrestling. Women may compete in cheerleading and softball. While not sponsored by the IHSA, the school also sponsors a mens ice hockey team, and a pom—poms team for women.

The following teams have finished in the top four of their respective state tournament sponsored by the IHSA. This is a total of 45 top four finishes and 22 state titles: [ [http://www.ihsa.org/school/records/sum1411.htm IHSA record page for Providence Catholic HS] ]
*baseball •• State Champions (1977—78, 81—82)
*basketball (boys) •• 3rd place (1977—78); State Champions (1978—79)
*cheerleading •• 2nd place (2006—07)
*football •• 2nd place (1998—99, 2000—01); State Champions (1987—88, 91—92, 94—95, 95—96, 96—97, 97—98, 2001—02, 02—03, 04—05)
*golf (girls) •• 4th place (1989—90, 90—91)
*soccer (boys) •• 2nd place (2002—03)
*track & field (girls) •• 4th place (1981—82); 3rd place (1979—80); 2nd place (1980—81); State Champions (1977—78)
*volleyball (boys) •• 4th place (2007—08)
*volleyball (girls) •• 3rd place (1988—89)
*wrestling •• 3rd place (1976—77, 86—87, 92—93, 93—94, 95—96); 2nd place (1979—80, 81—82, 89—90, 2002—03, 03—04, 07—08); State Champions (1977—78, 80—81, 87—88, 88—89, 96—97, 97—98, 98—99, 99—00, 2000—01, 01—02)

Of special note are the accomplishments of the football and wrestling teams. The football program's nine state titles is the third most in state history (trailing conference rival Mt. Carmel and local rival Joliet Catholic). [ [http://www.ihsa.org/activity/fb/records/mult.htm Table of IHSA multiple state titles in football] ] The records set in state competition are too numerous to list in this article. [ [http://www.ihsa.org/activity/fb/records/tteam.htm IHSA football team records] ] [ [http://www.ihsa.org/activity/fb/records/tindiv.htm IHSA individual football records] ]

The wrestling team's ten state titles ties with Proviso East High School for the most in state history. [ [http://www.ihsa.org/activity/wr/records/mult.htm Table of IHSA multiple state titles in wrestling] ] Mark Ruettiger (1978—81) was the first wrestler in state history to win four individual state championships. [ [http://www.ihsa.org/activity/wr/records/mult.htm Table of individuals with multiple IHSA state wrestling titles] ] As with the football team, the records held in state competition are too numerous to list here. [ [http://www.ihsa.org/activity/wr/records/trecs.htm IHSA wrestling team & individual records] ]

Providence Catholic Children's Academy

The school also houses the Providence Catholic Children's Academy, which is for ages 3—5. Three and four year olds may partake in half—day preschool classes, while five year olds may take full—day kindergarten. [ [http://www.providencecatholic.org/PCCA/index.html PCCA home page] ]

Notable alumni

*Pete Bercich (class of 1990) was an NFL Linebacker who spent his entire career (1995–98, 2000) with the Minnesota Vikings. [ [http://www.databasefootball.com/players/playerpage.htm?ilkid=BERCIPET01 Pete Bercich stats & bio @databasefootball.com] ]
* Brad Guzan (class of 2003) is a goalkeeper who has played for Chivas USA, the US National Team, and for Aston Villa of the English Premier League. [ [http://web.mlsnet.com/players/bio.jsp?team=t120&player=guzan_b&playerId=guz059326 Brad Guzan biography @ Chivas, USA website] ]
* Carmen Pignatiello (class of 2000) is a Major League Baseball pitcher who has pitched for the Chicago Cubs (2008). [ [http://mlb.mlb.com/team/player_career.jsp?player_id=450320 Carmen Pignatiello bio & stats @mlb.com] ]
*Bryan Rekar (class of 1990) was a Major League Baseball pitcher (1995–2002). [ [http://www.thebaseballcube.com/players/R/Bryan-Rekar.shtml Bryan Rekar stats and bio] ]
* Eric Steinbach (class of 1998) is an NFL offensive guard who plays for the Cleveland Browns (2003–present). [ [http://www.nfl.com/players/ericsteinbach/profile?id=STE195838 Eric Steinbach's stats & bio @nfl.com] ]

References

External links

* [http://www.providencecatholic.org// Providence Catholic Home Page]
* [http://www.osanet.org Order of St Augustine, International Homepage]
* [http://www.geocities.com/Athens/1534/ruleaug.html Text of the Rule of St. Augustine]
* [http://www.augnet.org/ Augnet] International Cooperative Web Site for Schools in the Tradition of St. Augustine