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2 schools named to
archived from: 2008-12-15
by: William Hill

Two Catholic high schools in the Diocese of Pittsburgh were recognized recently as being among the 50 best Catholic secondary schools in America by their selection to the Catholic High School Honor Roll.

Honored were St. Joseph in Natrona and Aquinas Academy in Hampton Township. Nearly 1,300 schools were invited to apply to the honor roll that measures academic excellence, Catholic identity and civic education.

“This honor is a confirmation of the quality academic program that students receive in an environment of faith,” said Father Kris Stubna, secretary for education. “I want to commend all those who contribute on a daily basis to the excellence in Catholic education that is a hallmark of these schools.”

The honor roll is an independent project of the Acton Institute, an international research and educational organization. It is produced in consultation with a national advisory board comprised of Catholic college presidents and noted Catholic scholars. “It is a joy to learn that two of our Catholic high schools operating in the Diocese of Pittsburgh, St. Joseph High School and Aquinas Academy, have been recognized by the Catholic High School Honor Roll as among the 50 best Catholic high schools in the United States,” said Bishop David Zubik. “This is a distinct and well-deserved honor.

“In congratulating these schools, I also want to highlight the work of all of the administrators, faculty, staff and especially the students. We have long been proud, with good reason, of our Catholic schools for the excellent academic preparation they provide our students and also for the solid Catholic faith formation they offer,” he said.

“This is also an occasion of great satisfaction for the parents and benefactors of these schools as they work so hard together with the Diocese of Pittsburgh to sustain all of the efforts that make St. Joseph High School and Aquinas Academy successful programs.”

Leslie Mitros, head of school at Aquinas Academy, said, “Aquinas is very pleased to receive this recognition for the fourth year.

“With regard to the areas that are the focus of the honor roll — strong academics, supported by a rich understanding of orthodox Catholic principles that inform responsible citizenship — our graduates are shining examples of our strength,” Mitros said.

“Currently, two of our graduates are instrumental in the start-up of pro-life organizations on the campuses of Yale and CMU. They have, through responsible leadership, established avenues for college students to live their faith and to see the social dangers inherent in a path of disregard for the human person.”

Founded in 1996, Aquinas Academy received accreditation by the Middle States Association last December. With an average class size of 16 students, the high school offers the opportunity to participate fully in extracurricular activities that range from athletics to the fine arts.

New to Aquinas Academy will be the Rhodora J. Donahue multipurpose building, including a gymnasium and space for theater productions. The facility is scheduled for completion in January.

This is the third consecutive year St. Joseph has been named to the Catholic High School Honor Roll. St. Joseph has a 90-year history of providing quality college preparatory education grounded in Catholic values.

Beverly Kaniecki, principal of St. Joseph, said, “This honor is a tribute to the entire St. Joseph High School community. It recognizes our commitment to the serious purpose of preparing our young men and women for life leading to heaven.

“While we continue to excel academically, now offering as many as 35 college credits and a new engineering/robotics elective, we have not deviated from our core mission values of sanctity, justice, honor and scholarship. The excellent, dedicated faculty, very supportive parents and diligent, conscientious students who create our tight-knit community of learners are the ones to be commended and congratulated,” she said.

“The recognition also honors our many friends and alumni who have supported and invested in us over the years and into the future. With the help of many supporters we will soon have an athletic complex and a science and technology center for the 2008-09 school year.”

Quigley Catholic in Baden was on the honorable mention list in the category of Catholic identity for the fourth time, making it the fifth year overall for Quigley to be included since the recognition program began.

Dr. Madonna Helbling, principal, said that while Quigley Catholic offers a strong academic program, it never loses sight of its Catholic identity and its commitment to service orientation.

“The students focus on the fact that they just can’t learn to be Christians, they have to live it,” she said.

In its five years, the honor roll has seen more than 50 percent of America’s nearly 1,300 Catholic high schools participate at least once. This year nearly 300 schools completed the three detailed surveys that measure a school’s adherence to the church’s educational mission. Each school also receives an evaluation to see how it compares to other schools nationwide.

To see a list of the top 50 schools, as well as lists of honorable mention schools in each category, visit http://www.chshonor.org.

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