Providence Catholic High School

Providence Catholic High School (often referred to as Providence, Provi, 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 Order of Saint Augustine and is a member of the Augustinian Secondary Education Association..

Providence Catholic High School
Address
1800 West Lincoln Highway

New Lenox
,
Illinois
60451

United States
Coordinates41.5209°N 88.0002°W / 41.5209; -88.0002
Information
Typeprivate secondary
MottoTruth ... Unity... Love
DenominationRoman Catholic
Established1880
AuthorityDiocese of Joliet
OversightOrder of Saint Augustine
PresidentFr. John Merkelis, OSA
PrincipalDr. John Harper
Teaching staff63
Grades9–12
Enrollment983 (2019-2020 http://www.ihsa.org/data/school/schools/1411.htm)
Average class size23
Campus size75 Acres
Campus typesuburban
Color(s)  kelly green
  White
SloganJesus Christ is the reason for our School
Athletics conferenceChicago Catholic League
MascotCharlie Celtic
Team nameCeltics
AccreditationNorth Central Association of Colleges and Schools[1]
NewspaperProviscope
YearbookKelt
Websiteprovidencecatholic.org

The school is located at the crossroads of Lincoln Highway (also part of U.S. Highway 30) and Interstate 80.

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.[2]

In 1918, the Archdiocese of Chicago 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 reverted to a two-year commercial school. 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 and demolished. From 1959 through 1962, the school met at St. Mary Nativity Elementary School.[2] When the old building was demolished, it is said that students sifted through the wreckage looking for bricks that were not crushed. They wrapped the bricks and sold them as souvenirs to help build the new Providence.[3][4]

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 Providence was a relatively new school, the community of New Lenox was not heavily populated then. Enrollment decreased, and the school began suffering financially. Father Roger Kaffer (later Bishop Kaffer) was named the new principal and arrived in 1970. He began a campaign to improve the academic standing of the school and the transportation options for students traveling great distances. It was his practice to visit every family that had a child enrolled in the school. The 1971 enrollment was 490; by 1975, it had reached 785. Growth during the late 1970s and early 1980s made additions to the school building necessary.[4]

The Province of Our Mother of Good Counsel, the Midwest U.S. province of the Order of Saint Augustine, was invited by the diocese to take control of the school after the 1984–85 school year. A college preparatory curriculum was added, as was a refocus on the spiritual mission of the school. The religious studies course work was upgraded, and a retreat program was begun. The name of the school was changed to "Providence Catholic High School" in 1985 to reflect these changes. In 1998, the school decided to limit enrollment in order to retain a more personal atmosphere with students. The school has added 55,000 square feet to the original building with the addition of a science and fine arts wing in 2002 and a Student Commons Addition in 2018. Today the school sits on 75 acres with three campuses. In 2018 the school celebrated its 100th Anniversary as Providence Catholic High School.

Academics

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

The school offers eighteen Advanced Placement courses: English Language, English Literature, Statistics, Calculus (AB), Calculus (BC), Biology, U.S. History, U.S. Government & Politics, European History, Psychology, Spanish Language, Music Theory, Advanced Placement Computer Science and Studio Art.[5]

Student life

Clubs & Activities

The school's activities involves several departments in and out of the fine arts program that tours in and out of state for competitions and exhibition performances. In addition to competitive units, it also includes clubs for recreational purposes and/or volunteering around their local communities. Some after school clubs that aren't competitive includes programs such as Celtic Pipers Corps, Math Team, The International Club, jazz band, theater, and many more.[6] The more competitive programs includes the marching band, concert band, choir, winter guard, Esports, and several other teams.

The marching band started their first competitive season in 2006[7] and since then, had received awards and recognition in several fields in local/regional, state, and national competitions such as Bands of America. They also have performed at the halftime show of the 2010 Outback Bowl.[8][9] The marching band placed in states finals for the first time in the schools' history at Illinois State University in class 2A.[10] For the 2020-2021 school year, with several closures and cancellations of on-site competitions due to COVID-19, the marching band participated through virtual competitions that were hosted through USBands[11] and The Cavaliers GearWORKS.[12] In October 31, 2020, the marching band placed 1st for the state of Illinois in class 1A through USBands.[13][14] In November 7, 2020, they placed 3rd place in the nation in class 1A with first place in the Visual caption and overall Midwest Regional Champions.[15]

The winter guard first started their competitive program in 2002, in which they compete in the Midwest Color Guard Circuit (which is a local circuit that uses the WGI competing format, and utilizes several similar competing rules and regulations), where they currently are in class SRA. The choir, jazz, and concert band departments performs in performances through ILMEA,[16] IHSA,[17] Midwest Music Festival,[18] and Music for All[19] in which they have several awards and medals for both groups and solo performances.

  • Marching Band: ISU States; 2nd Place (2019 Class 2A), USBands; IL State Championships 1st place (2020 Class 1A), USBands; National Championships 3rd place, (2020 Class 1A)
  • Winter Guard: SRA Division; 2nd Place (2013, 2014, 2015), 1st Place (2003) | SRA-Red Division; 3rd Place (2016)

Athletics

Providence Catholic High School holds a record 30 team state championships. No other private High School in Illinois has more. The Providence Celtics compete in two conferences. Men's teams compete in the Chicago Catholic League (CCL), while the women compete in the Girls Catholic Athletic Conference (GCAC). 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, bowling, football, lacrosse and wrestling. Women may compete in cheerleading, dance and softball. In 2016, the hockey team won their second Kennedy Cup against rival Benet Academy.[20] In 2017, the Skating Celtics won their 3rd Kennedy Cup against Fenwick 6-2 in game 2 of the best of 3 final. In the 2017 Kennedy Cup playoffs, the Providence Varsity did not lose a game, going 6-0, sweeping the opening, semi-final, and final series in the prestigious 6 team tournament. The Providence Catholic Baseball team won a state championships in 2014, 2015 and 2016 bringing the high school a record 30 state championships.

The following teams have finished in the top four of their respective state tournament sponsored by the IHSA. Top four finishes and state titles:[21]

  • Baseball: 2nd Place (2010–11); State Champions (1977–78, 1981–82, 2013–14, 2014–15, 2015-16) At the end of the 2015-16 baseball season, they became the first team in the state of Illinois to win three state championships in a row.
  • Basketball (boys): 3rd place (1977–78); State Champions (1978–79)
  • Football (boys): 2nd place (1998, 2000, 2010); State Champions (1987, 1991, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 2001, 2002, 2004, 2014)
  • Cheerleading: 3rd place (2010-2011, 2013–14); 2nd place (2006–07, 2015–16); State Champions (2012–13)
  • Golf (girls): 4th place (1989–90, 1990–91)
  • Ice hockey (Varsity): White division State Champions 2009, Kennedy Cup champions 2014, 2016, and 2017, 2014 Final Four Red division, National Championship finalists 2014, state second place red division 2016, state second place 2017
  • Ice hockey (Junior Varsity): Kennedy Cup Champions 2010-11, 2011-2012, 2012-2013, 2013-2014, 2014-2015, 2015–2016, 2016-2017, 2017-2018 State Champions 2010-2011, 2013-2014, 2014–2015, 2015-2016, 2016-2017
  • Pom-Poms: 3rd Place (2013–14)
  • Soccer (boys): 2nd place (2002–03)
  • Softball (girls): 3rd place (2011-2012)
  • Track & Field (boys): 2nd place (2012–13)
  • 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)
  • Golf (boys): 4th place (2014–15)
  • Wrestling (boys):4th place (2015-2016) 3rd place (1976-1977, 1986-1987, 1992-1993, 1993-1994, 1995-1996,2017-2018) 2nd place (1979-1980, 1980-1981, 1987-1988, 1989-1990, 2002-2003, 2003–2004, 2007-2008); State Champions (1977-1978, 1980-1981, 1987-1988, 1988-1989, 1996-1997, 1997-1998, 1998-1999, 1999-2000, 2000–2001, 2001-2002)


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.[22]

Notable alumni

References
  1. NCA-CASI. "NCA-Council on Accreditation and School Improvement". Archived from the original on 2009-09-23. Retrieved 2009-07-28.
  2. "Illinois High School Glory Days web site". Retrieved May 14, 2013.
  3. "Providence Catholic High School web site". Archived from the original on November 19, 2012. Retrieved May 14, 2013.
  4. https://www.providencecatholic.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/history.html
  5. AP courses offered Archived June 7, 2008, at the Wayback Machine
  6. https://www.providencecatholic.org/activities-clubs/
  7. http://ilmarching.com/bands_indiv.php?BandID=187
  8. http://www.triblocal.com/mokena/2009/12/23/providence-catholic-marching-celtics-to-perform-at-outback-bowl/index.html
  9. https://www.pressreader.com/usa/chicago-sun-times/20091228/page/12
  10. https://finearts.illinoisstate.edu/band-day/
  11. https://usbands.org/news/article.php?ID=37
  12. https://cavaliers.org/gearworks
  13. https://www.theherald-news.com/2020/11/08/providence-catholic-marching-celtics-win-state-title/a66c9vp/
  14. https://www.flomarching.com/results/6808129-2020-usbands-state-championships/28238
  15. https://www.flomarching.com/results/6814734-2020-usbands-national-championship/28253
  16. https://ilmea.org/
  17. https://www.ihsa.org/SportsActivities/Music.aspx
  18. https://midwestmusicfest.org/
  19. https://www.musicforall.org/
  20. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2014-03-10.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  21. IHSA record page for Providence Catholic HS Archived March 4, 2016, at the Wayback Machine
  22. PCCA home page Archived September 13, 2008, at the Wayback Machine
  23. https://www.thedraftreview.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=10933:walter-downing&catid=88&Itemid=342
  25. Pete Bercich stats & bio @databasefootball.com Archived April 11, 2016, at the Wayback Machine
  26. Brad Guzan biography @ Chivas, USA website Archived August 16, 2007, at the Wayback Machine
  27. Carmen Pignatiello bio & stats @mlb.com
  28. Bryan Rekar stats and bio Archived November 18, 2008, at the Wayback Machine
  29. Eric Steinbach's stats & bio @nfl.com Archived June 22, 2011, at the Wayback Machine
  30. https://www.disabledsportsusa.org/athelete-profile/41381/
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