St. Joseph High School (Westchester, Illinois)
Encyclopedia
St. Joseph High School is a Roman Catholic
, coeducation
al, college prep, school in Westchester, Illinois
, and is sponsored by the Christian Brothers of De La Salle
.
St. Joseph High School is accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools and approved by the Illinois State Board of Education
. St. Joe's is a member of the National Catholic Educational Association
and the Christian Brothers Educational Association. The school is also a member of the Illinois High School Association
(IHSA) and the East Suburban Catholic Conference
(ESCC).
. The students are accepted for admission based on the entrance exam, grade school records, and teachers’ recommendations for freshman year. Transfer students are accepted based on their academic records, discipline reports, and recommendations. Currently, the racial make up of the school is Caucasian, Hispanic, African American, Biracial, Asian, and Native American.
Archbishop of Chicago, invited the Christian Brothers to start a new high school in Westchester, Illinois
. Though classes began at the new school in September 1960, work on the building continued through early 1961. The school was dedicated on September 16, 1961 by Cardinal Stritch's successor, Cardinal Albert Gregory Meyer.
The school earned national attention in the 1994 documentary film Hoop Dreams
. The subjects of the film, William Gates and Arthur Agee
, were both students at the school, and both played on the basketball team under head coach Gene Pingatore.
In 2004, the school became the first Catholic high school in the state of Illinois to enter an all wireless, all laptop learning campus. Every student and teacher receives an IBM
/Lenovo laptop computer which they either purchase or lease from the school.
St. Joseph was an all-male institution until 2005, when Francis George, O.M.I., Cardinal Archbishop of Chicago, permitted the school to become coed in light of the closing of Immaculate Heart of Mary High School, the neighboring all-female institution.. Prior to the opening of school in 2006, St. Joseph's purchased the former grounds and building of the Immaculate Heart of Mary High School, and started the second semester of the 2006-07 school year by moving classes into the building. The original St. Joseph High School building is now used primarily for athletic facilities.
order of Brothers who sponsors St. Joseph High School. At the top of the crest is the Latin phrase Signum Fide, which means "the sign of faith". Below the Brothers’ crest is the broken shield, the family emblem of St. John Baptist De La Salle, the 17th century French saint who founded the Christian Brothers.
Below it hangs the star of Bethlehem
, a symbol used by Lasallian schools around the world.
On one side of the star of faith is the symbol of the atomic age
which depicts the school's dedication to learning and technology. On the other side, is the hammer and chisel representing the school's patron saint, St. Joseph the Worker, who was noted for his simple, but hard work as a carpenter and as the foster father of Christ.
The entire crest is surrounded by plumes and a knight’s helmet, representing the English tradition of the Village of Westchester
.
Finally, at the top of the great seal of St. Joseph High School is the school motto, “Vincit Qui Laborat,” which means “Victory Belongs to Those Who Work.” Directly below the school seal is a cross to indicate Roman Catholic Church
.
Coursework is broken down into three divisions:
The school offers the following AP courses: Calculus
, English Literature, Studio Art
, Spanish Language
, and European History
In addition, students have the opportunity to take certain business courses on-line through Triton College
.
Every spring, St. Joseph High School hosts ChargerFest and (since 1995) sponsors its US$10,000 Super Raffle, which are the school’s biggest fundraisers. ChargerFest features a buffet, door prizes, additional raffles, games, and music.
In December 2005, St. Joseph High School hosted an event entitled “Becoming a True Leader,” which featured prominent leaders of today sharing leadership experiences and advice with the entire St. Joe's student body and visitors. Cardinal George began the program by blessing the St. Joseph community and the school’s past heritage and new initiatives.
The school won the 1998—99 Illinois High School Association
boys basketball championship.
St. Joe's Head Basketball Coach Gene Pingatore and alumnus Isiah Thomas were both members of the first class of the East Suburban Catholic Conference’s Hall of Fame in 2006.
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
, coeducation
Coeducation
Mixed-sex education, also known as coeducation or co-education, is the integrated education of male and female persons in the same institution. It is the opposite of single-sex education...
al, college prep, school in Westchester, Illinois
Westchester, Illinois
Westchester is a village in Cook County, Illinois, United States. It is a western suburb of Chicago. The population was 16,824 at the 2000 census. The current Village President is Sam D...
, and is sponsored by the Christian Brothers of De La Salle
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...
.
St. Joseph High School is accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools and approved by the Illinois State Board of Education
Illinois State Board of Education
The Illinois State Board of Education administers public education in the state of Illinois. The State Board consists of nine members who are appointed by the Governor with the consent of the...
. St. Joe's is a member of the National Catholic Educational Association
National Catholic Educational Association
The National Catholic Educational Association is a private professional educational association of over 200,000 educators in Catholic schools, universities, and religious education programs...
and the Christian Brothers Educational Association. The school is also a member of the Illinois High School Association
Illinois High School Association
The Illinois High School Association is one of 521 state high school associations in the United States, designed to regulate competition in most interscholastic sports and some interscholastic activities at the high school level. It is a charter member of the National Federation of State High...
(IHSA) and the East Suburban Catholic Conference
East Suburban Catholic Conference
The East Suburban Catholic Conference is an athletic conference consisting of 13 Catholic high schools in the suburbs of Chicago, Illinois . The conference became independent in 1974....
(ESCC).
Admission
Students come from more than 100 elementary schools from the western suburbs and the City of ChicagoChicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
. The students are accepted for admission based on the entrance exam, grade school records, and teachers’ recommendations for freshman year. Transfer students are accepted based on their academic records, discipline reports, and recommendations. Currently, the racial make up of the school is Caucasian, Hispanic, African American, Biracial, Asian, and Native American.
History
Samuel Stritch, CardinalCardinal (Catholicism)
A cardinal is a senior ecclesiastical official, usually an ordained bishop, and ecclesiastical prince of the Catholic Church. They are collectively known as the College of Cardinals, which as a body elects a new pope. The duties of the cardinals include attending the meetings of the College and...
Archbishop of Chicago, invited the Christian Brothers to start a new high school in Westchester, Illinois
Westchester, Illinois
Westchester is a village in Cook County, Illinois, United States. It is a western suburb of Chicago. The population was 16,824 at the 2000 census. The current Village President is Sam D...
. Though classes began at the new school in September 1960, work on the building continued through early 1961. The school was dedicated on September 16, 1961 by Cardinal Stritch's successor, Cardinal Albert Gregory Meyer.
The school earned national attention in the 1994 documentary film Hoop Dreams
Hoop Dreams
Hoop Dreams is a 1994 documentary film directed by Steve James, with Kartemquin Films. It follows the story of two African-American high school students in Chicago and their dream of becoming professional basketball players....
. The subjects of the film, William Gates and Arthur Agee
Arthur Agee
Arthur "Man" Agee, Jr. is one of two Chicago-area high school basketball players whose lives were chronicled in the 1994 Kartemquin Films documentary, Hoop Dreams.-Early life:...
, were both students at the school, and both played on the basketball team under head coach Gene Pingatore.
In 2004, the school became the first Catholic high school in the state of Illinois to enter an all wireless, all laptop learning campus. Every student and teacher receives an IBM
IBM
International Business Machines Corporation or IBM is an American multinational technology and consulting corporation headquartered in Armonk, New York, United States. IBM manufactures and sells computer hardware and software, and it offers infrastructure, hosting and consulting services in areas...
/Lenovo laptop computer which they either purchase or lease from the school.
St. Joseph was an all-male institution until 2005, when Francis George, O.M.I., Cardinal Archbishop of Chicago, permitted the school to become coed in light of the closing of Immaculate Heart of Mary High School, the neighboring all-female institution.. Prior to the opening of school in 2006, St. Joseph's purchased the former grounds and building of the Immaculate Heart of Mary High School, and started the second semester of the 2006-07 school year by moving classes into the building. The original St. Joseph High School building is now used primarily for athletic facilities.
Great Seal
In the center is the crest of the De La Salle Christian Brothers, the CatholicCatholic
The word catholic comes from the Greek phrase , meaning "on the whole," "according to the whole" or "in general", and is a combination of the Greek words meaning "about" and meaning "whole"...
order of Brothers who sponsors St. Joseph High School. At the top of the crest is the Latin phrase Signum Fide, which means "the sign of faith". Below the Brothers’ crest is the broken shield, the family emblem of St. John Baptist De La Salle, the 17th century French saint who founded the Christian Brothers.
Below it hangs the star of Bethlehem
Bethlehem
Bethlehem is a Palestinian city in the central West Bank of the Jordan River, near Israel and approximately south of Jerusalem, with a population of about 30,000 people. It is the capital of the Bethlehem Governorate of the Palestinian National Authority and a hub of Palestinian culture and tourism...
, a symbol used by Lasallian schools around the world.
On one side of the star of faith is the symbol of the atomic age
Atomic Age
The Atomic Age, also known as the Atomic Era, is a phrase typically used to delineate the period of history following the detonation of the first nuclear bomb Trinity on July 16, 1945...
which depicts the school's dedication to learning and technology. On the other side, is the hammer and chisel representing the school's patron saint, St. Joseph the Worker, who was noted for his simple, but hard work as a carpenter and as the foster father of Christ.
The entire crest is surrounded by plumes and a knight’s helmet, representing the English tradition of the Village of Westchester
Westchester
Westchester may refer to:*Westchester, Connecticut*Westchester, Florida*Westchester, Illinois*Westchester, Indiana*Westchester, Los Angeles, California*Westchester County, New York*The Westchester, a shopping mall in White Plains, New York...
.
Finally, at the top of the great seal of St. Joseph High School is the school motto, “Vincit Qui Laborat,” which means “Victory Belongs to Those Who Work.” Directly below the school seal is a cross to indicate Roman Catholic Church
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
.
Academics
There are three academic programs in which students pursue coursework: Honors, College Prep (A), and College Prep (B).Coursework is broken down into three divisions:
- Applied Sciences: Mathematics, Science, Computer/Technology, Physical Education
- Language Arts: English, Fine Arts, Foreign Language
- Social Sciences: Religious Studies, Business, Social Studies
The school offers the following AP courses: Calculus
AP Calculus
Advanced Placement Calculus is used to indicate one of two distinct Advanced Placement courses and examinations offered by the College Board, AP Calculus AB and AP Calculus BC....
, English Literature, Studio Art
AP Studio Art
AP Studio Art is a series of Advanced Placement Courses divided into three different categories: AP Studio Art Drawing, AP Studio Art 2D, and AP Studio Art 3D.-The portfolio:...
, Spanish Language
AP Spanish Language
Advanced Placement Spanish Language is a course and examination offered by the College Board as part of the Advanced Placement Program.-The course:...
, and European History
AP European History
Advanced Placement European History is a course and examination offered by the College Board through the Advanced Placement Program...
In addition, students have the opportunity to take certain business courses on-line through Triton College
Triton College
Triton College is a two-year community college located in River Grove, Illinois, a suburb northwest of downtown Chicago. Triton College facilitates accredited degrees, career-oriented learning opportunities, and English as a second language and GED classes.Over 17,000 students enroll at Triton...
.
Every spring, St. Joseph High School hosts ChargerFest and (since 1995) sponsors its US$10,000 Super Raffle, which are the school’s biggest fundraisers. ChargerFest features a buffet, door prizes, additional raffles, games, and music.
In December 2005, St. Joseph High School hosted an event entitled “Becoming a True Leader,” which featured prominent leaders of today sharing leadership experiences and advice with the entire St. Joe's student body and visitors. Cardinal George began the program by blessing the St. Joseph community and the school’s past heritage and new initiatives.
Athletics
St. Joseph is a member of the [Chicago Catholic League].The school won the 1998—99 Illinois High School Association
Illinois High School Association
The Illinois High School Association is one of 521 state high school associations in the United States, designed to regulate competition in most interscholastic sports and some interscholastic activities at the high school level. It is a charter member of the National Federation of State High...
boys basketball championship.
St. Joe's Head Basketball Coach Gene Pingatore and alumnus Isiah Thomas were both members of the first class of the East Suburban Catholic Conference’s Hall of Fame in 2006.
Notable alumni
- Andy FrederickAndy FrederickAndrew Brian Frederick is a former American football offensive tackle in the National Football League for the Dallas Cowboys, Cleveland Browns, and the Chicago Bears. He played college football at the University of New Mexico and was drafted in the fifth round of the 1977 NFL Draft....
(class of 1973) was an offensive tackle in the National Football LeagueNational Football LeagueThe National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
(1977-85) and was a member of the Super Bowl XIISuper Bowl XIISuper Bowl XII was an American football game played on January 15, 1978 at the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana to decide the National Football League champion following the 1977 regular season...
champion Dallas CowboysDallas CowboysThe Dallas Cowboys are a professional American football franchise which plays in the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League . They are headquartered in Valley Ranch in Irving, Texas, a suburb of Dallas...
and the Super Bowl XXSuper Bowl XXSuper Bowl XX was an American football championship game played on January 26, 1986 at the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana to decide the National Football League champion following the 1985 regular season...
champion Chicago BearsChicago BearsThe Chicago Bears are a professional American football team based in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
. - William Gates (class of 1991) basketball player; subject of the documentary film Hoop DreamsHoop DreamsHoop Dreams is a 1994 documentary film directed by Steve James, with Kartemquin Films. It follows the story of two African-American high school students in Chicago and their dream of becoming professional basketball players....
- Steven HarrisSteve Harris (actor)Steve Harris is an American actor who has appeared in a number of films including; Quarantine, Tyler Perry's Diary of a Mad Black Woman, Bringing Down The House, The Rock, The Mod Squad, and Minority Report. He is most famous for his role as Eugene Young on the legal drama The Practice...
is a professional actor. - Wood HarrisWood HarrisSherwin David "Wood" Harris is an American actor. He is perhaps best known for his roles as drug kingpin Avon Barksdale on the HBO television drama The Wire, and as high-school football player Julius Campbell in the 2000 motion picture Remember the Titans.-Life and career:Harris was born in...
is a professional actor and younger brother of Steve Harris. - Amal McCaskillAmal McCaskillAmal Omari McCaskill is an American professional basketball player, at the center position. He currently plays for the KTP-Basket in the Finnish Basketball League....
was a professional basketball player, playing in the NBA (1996-97, 2001-04). - Isiah ThomasIsiah ThomasIsiah Lord Thomas III , nicknamed "Zeke",is the men's basketball coach for the FIU Golden Panthers, and a retired American professional basketball player who played point guard for the Detroit Pistons of the National Basketball Association from 1981 until 1994. He led the "Bad Boys" to the NBA...
(class of 1979) NBANational Basketball AssociationThe National Basketball Association is the pre-eminent men's professional basketball league in North America. It consists of thirty franchised member clubs, of which twenty-nine are located in the United States and one in Canada...
player, coach, executive, member of the 50 Greatest Players in NBA History team - Evan TurnerEvan TurnerEvan Marcel Turner , nicknamed The Villain, is an American basketball player for the Philadelphia 76ers. Turner was drafted 2nd overall by the 76ers in the 2010 NBA draft. Turner plays the point guard, shooting guard and small forward positions. Turner is a first-team 2010 NCAA Men's Basketball...
(class of 2007) is a basketball guard/forwardSmall forwardThe small forward, or colloquially known as three, is one of the five positions in a regulation basketball game. Small forwards are typically somewhat shorter, quicker, and leaner than power forwards and centers, but on occasion are just as tall...
for the Philadelphia 76ersPhiladelphia 76ersThe Philadelphia 76ers are a professional basketball team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They play in the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association . Originally known as the Syracuse Nationals, they are one of the oldest franchises in the NBA... - Demetri McCameyDemetri McCameyDemetri McCamey, Jr. is an American professional basketball player for Mersin Büyükşehir Belediyesi S.K. of the Turkish Basketball League. Previously he played with the University of Illinois basketball team where he completed his senior season for the 2010–11 team...
(class of 2007) is a basketball guard for the Illinois Fighting IlliniIllinois Fighting IlliniThe Fighting Illini are the intercollegiate athletic teams of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. The University offers 10 men's and 11 women's varsity sports....
men's basketball team