GRAND RAPIDS, Mich., Dec. 20, 2011 -- Mrs. Cynthia A. Kneibel has been appointed principal of West Catholic High School. Grand Rapids Catholic Secondary Schools President, Tom Maj, recommended Mrs. Kneibel to GRCSS Pastor, Rev. Msgr. R. Louis Stasker, and diocesan Superintendent of Schools, David Faber, who approved the appointment earlier this week.

Read this and other news releases from Catholic Secondary Schools.

December 5, 2011

Dear Parents of Current Students,

In order for Catholic Secondary Schools to prepare, plan and welcome students to a new school year we have developed some very specific budget setting and enrollment processes.

We begin the budget setting process as early as August of the current school year in preparation for the next year.  Throughout the current year, we will draft an estimated budget reflecting enrollment trends and typical expense patterns of Catholic Central and West Catholic High Schools based on data collected by the Business Office.

Using projected enrollment numbers and those estimated costs, the Business Office will develop standard operating and student budgets for the awarding of grants and scholarships, staffing and labor costs, supplies, operations, programming, Campus Ministry, course offerings, transportation, etc.

Ninety percent of our operating revenue comes from tuition, so an enrollment deadline of March 1 allows us to gain an accurate projected student count early in the year. This allows us to better prepare for staffing needs, the scheduling of core courses, class size, additional course offerings, extra-curricular offerings, including athletics and the performing arts, bus runs, and campus ministry.

Since three quarters of the student population is made up of returning students we feel that it is a reasonable expectation for us to have 75 percent of course schedule and staffing needs identified by the enrollment deadline.  Ultimately, we want our faculty to feel certain of their employment and of the courses they’ll be teaching. Our goal is to have a course and daily schedule in place on the first day of classes to insure the best use of our resources and your investment in your child’s education.

As you are aware, course registration cannot take place until enrollment is complete. Yet we have experienced a recent trend toward late enrollment on the part of many of our returning families. This trend has a negative effect not only on staffing but also on programming, possibly compromising our number of course offerings – especially singleton classes, such as Advanced Placement and Honors courses. Late enrollments also put a strain on the master schedule as we attempt to balance course offerings; class sizes are affected; and individual student schedules must be adjusted to accommodate changes.

To help remedy the situation, we are reminding our returning families to enroll no later than March 1, submitting both the completed Tuition Contract forms and the $100 (per family) enrollment fee to the Business Office.  Further, beginning in 2012 returning families who do not complete the enrollment process by March 1 will be assessed an additional amount in enrollment fees for a total of $400*, per a recent policy passed by the CSS School Board. 

To clarify, the enrollment process is as follows:

* Complete a Tuition Contract

* Pay the Enrollment Fee ($100 per family if paid by March 1)

* Complete the Payment Processing Agreement

* When the enrollment process is complete, your student may register for classes.

By making use of these budget setting and enrollment processes, we can provide an efficient start to the school year, a higher degree of employment certainty for faculty and staff and continued high-quality programming. We ask that our families also consider these goals when enrolling your student(s) for next year.  Necessary enrollment forms will be mailed to homes and available on the school websites near the end of January 2012.

Please don’t hesitate to contact your building principal with questions.

Sincerely,

Tom Maj
President, Catholic Secondary Schools

* Please notify the Business Office if your future enrollment is uncertain due to job status change, medical issue, or other hardship.

Download the letter (pdf)

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich., Oct. 10, 2011 -- Students from Catholic Central and West Catholic high schools raised $102,395 last Wednesday in their 20^th Annual All A’s Walk, topping their $100,000 goal by more than $2,000. 

Nearly 1,200 students from the combined schools walked three miles to John Ball Park in the culmination of a month-long effort to raise funds to assist Catholic Secondary Schools families with tuition costs.

Read this and other news on our Current News Releases page.

Sister Robert Ann Erno, a Dominican teaching Sister at Catholic Central High School, will receive a Lifetime Service Award for her 41 years of service at the school’s first annual Evening of Excellence Awards Dinner.

The gala dinner and program will be held at 6 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 10, at the Eberhard Center of Grand Valley State University in downtown Grand Rapids.

 Read the News Release (pdf)

Download photos of Award Recipients

Read other recent news on our Current News Releases page.

Catholic Central and West Catholic high schools each will host an open house for prospective students, their parents and the community on Sunday, October 9, from 1-3 p.m. 

The events will be held in the respective high school buildings.

More information.

The three-mile trek to John Ball Park is the culmination of a month-long effort on the part of students to raise $100,000 to assist Catholic Secondary Schools families with tuition costs.

Read this and other news on the Current News Releases page on this site.

Seniors Ryan Pelak, David VanderZee, Jonah Potter, and Brian Lach have been named as Semifinalists in the 2012 National Merit Scholarship Program.

Read the news release.

GRAND RAPIDS, MI, September 2, 2011 – The Board of Directors of the Catholic Secondary Schools announced today the appointment of the following four new board members:

Mr. John Brechting is a Project Engineer in the design, development and coordination of industrial system and manufacturing facilities construction for BP&R Engineering, Inc. in Holland.  He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering from Michigan Technological University and is a licensed professional engineer.  John is a member of Holy Trinity parish in Grand Rapids.  He and his wife, Patricia, have 5 children.

Mr. Thomas McGovern is President of Rockford Construction Company, Inc. in Grand Rapids, and brings extensive experience in facilities and construction management.  He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Facilities Management from Grand Valley State University.  Tom is a member of Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish in Grand Rapids.  He and his wife, Jackie, have 3 children.

Mr. Kevin McGrath is Vice President of Sales & Marketing for First Telecommunications in Grand Rapids, and brings experience in the marketing and classroom technology planning.  He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Grand Valley State University and a Master’s degree in Industrial/Organizational Psychology from the University of Baltimore.  Kevin is a member of Blessed Sacrament Parish in Grand Rapids.  He and his wife, Kasie Lynn, have 3 children.

Mrs. Cheryl Ora is a Supply Chain Manager within Steelcase, Inc.’s Wood Division, and brings extensive experience in communications and organizational change management to our Board.  She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Finance/Public Administration from Western Michigan University.  Cheryl is a member of St. John Vianney Parish in Wyoming.  She and her husband, Ben, have 2 children.

“We filled some important needs with these appointments,” said Reverend R. Louis Stasker, Pastor of the Grand Rapids Catholic Secondary Schools.  “Each of them brings gifts and broad experiences to our Board that will enhance our ability to deliver a quality, faith-filled education to the students of Catholic Central and West Catholic high schools.  I am honored to make these appointments and look forward to their contributions over the coming years.”

The Board wishes to acknowledge and express deep gratitude to Mr. Steven Abid, Mr. Pius Ezeh and Mrs. Mary Beth Barkeley for their years of service as members of the Grand Rapids Catholic Secondary Schools Board.

West Catholic High School Interim Principal Jack Young has announced he has accepted the position of principal at Coleman High School in Coleman, Michigan. We accepted his resignation with regret and accommodated Coleman's request that it be effective immediately.

A statement received from Jack is as follows:

"After much thoughtful consideration, I have decided to take on the new challenge of principal at Coleman high school. I am thankful for my time at West Catholic, working with Tom Maj and all the faculty and staff. I sincerely appreciate all the support I've received over the years from the West Catholic community." 

Jack graduated from Catholic Central and served for many years in various faculty and administrative positions at CC and West before being appointed associate principal, then interim principal at West. He has been a respected figure at both schools and his leadership will be missed.

West Catholic Social Studies Department Head Ms. Cindy Kneibel will assume responsibilities of interim principal, having also submitted her application for the permanent position. Cindy earned her BA from Georgetown University and holds a master’s degree from Aquinas College. She has taught religion and social studies classes at West Catholic for eight years and has been very active serving the school and the West Catholic community, including as adviser to Student Government and the Robotics Team. She also is a tireless volunteer, and as a past student activities director she was involved in such causes as community blood drives and the annual All A’s Walk fundraiser.  Her teaching responsibilities will be assumed by West Catholic alumna Ms. Emilee (Tanis) Lowell.

We are confident that West Catholic will see continued success under Ms. Kneibel’s capable leadership, and with assistance from WC graduate and Dean of Students Tony Fischer, our school and our community will be well served.

With solid interim leadership in place, we will continue our search for a candidate with outstanding credentials who as principal will lead West Catholic High School into the decades ahead with enthusiasm and passion for Catholic school education. We appreciate your prayers of support and will keep the community updated on the progress of that search.

Sincerely,

Rev R. Louis Stasker, Pastor          Tom Maj, President

Summer Reading Academy students show how many books they read over the summer.

In less than two months, the 14 students read a total of 229 books (compared to 120 books during their entire 8th grade school year) and 44,716 pages.

The students posted an average 8 percentile growth on their High School Placement Test Reading Post-Test.

Ms. Faith Marko and Ms. Julia Reynolds coached the students, encouraging them to read constantly to build comprehension and vocabulary.

Show dates are October 27, 29 and November 3, 5 at 7:30 p.m. and October 30 and November 6 at 3 p.m. with all performances at the Performing Arts Center at Aquinas College.

For a rundown of the cast and a couple of photos, go here.

Beginning at noon on Sunday, July 10, buses and vans filled with church youth groups from around the United States will arrive in Grand Rapids ready to repair nearly 80 homes with basic carpentry, roof repair and painting.

About 450 volunteers will spend the week “camping” at Catholic Central where they will sleep on classroom floors, eat in the cafeteria, shower and participate in evening programs.

The Grand Rapids Workcamp is organized through the Group Workcamps Foundation and sponsored locally by Catholic Charities West Michigan (CCWM).

Youth and adults will work on houses for elderly, disabled and underprivileged homeowners in the greater Grand Rapids area who were selected through an application and review process. The repairs the campers make will allow residents to remain in homes that might have otherwise been deemed unsafe for habitation.

A camper’s typical day begins at 6:45 a.m. with a wake-up call and they are kept busy

until 11 p.m. when the “lights out” call comes. On Wednesday, the teen volunteers

will have a free afternoon to visit some West Michigan local attractions including a visit to Lake Michigan.

“The Grand Rapids Workcamp volunteers will donate about 12,000 hours of labor

that is worth at least $80,000 to our community,” said Deborah J. Nykamp, President/CEO,

Catholic Charities West Michigan. “Their hard work and dedication to helping others will

provide help and create hope to those in need.”

“Hosting the Workcamp is not only a sign of Catholic Central’s commitment to the city of Grand Rapids, but also reflects the importance of service for our school community,” said Principal Greg Deja.  “We are pleased to play a small part in assisting these volunteers to benefit our city.”

The Group Workcamps Foundation is a non-profit interdenominational Christian volunteer

home-repair organization headquartered in Loveland, CO. This summer, an anticipated

30,000 young people and adults will volunteer their time to repair homes for a week

in 64 Workcamps in communities across the United States and Canada.

"Grand Rapids Catholic Secondary Schools (GRCSS) soon will undergo modifications to its administrative structure as approved this week by Walter A. Hurley, bishop of the diocese of Grand Rapids, and based on recommendations from the secondary school board, the superintendent of schools, the Connecticut-based consulting firm Catholic School Management, parents and myself.

"The new structure is consistent with findings in an ongoing study of diocesan school governance commissioned by the diocese with Catholic School Management as part of the “Our Faith, Our Future” initiative.

"The new structure calls for the organization to be led by a canonical administrator – a pastor – with a president heading up external affairs for the schools. A principal at each high school will be charged with oversight of internal affairs, including day-to-day operations within the buildings. 

"I will retain my role as pastor, and current Principal Thomas Maj will assume the duties of president. Associate Principal Greg Deja of Catholic Central will take on the responsibilities of principal at Catholic Central. Jack Young, who is currently associate principal at West Catholic, will serve as interim while a search is conducted for a permanent principal for the school. 

"In my role as pastor, I will ensure adherence to canon law and will have specific reserved powers. As president, Tom Maj will be responsible for GRCSS external affairs, including oversight of mission effectiveness, business affairs, fundraising, board relations and liaisons with external constituencies, including parishes and the community. The principals will be charged with overseeing faith community, academic and student affairs for their respective buildings.

"The new structure more closely aligns the two Catholic high schools under a common vision while still allowing them to serve their unique communities. This process of restructuring and further defining roles is the next in a series of steps necessary to achieve the strategic priorities stated in our vision, which was adopted in 2010 along with 12 strategic priorities that are critical to building and maintaining a sustainable organization.

"These changes further align the organization and support the vision of our high schools to continue to be renowned as high-quality Catholic schools preparing students to realize their full potential as active participants in their faith communities. I have put my full support behind Tom Maj as a leader who is tremendously capable of guiding our schools toward a sustainable, viable future. "

For more detail on the CSS administrative restructure, see the Q & A.

Media Inquiries: 616-292-3177

kathleenvandervelde@grcss.org or
kathleen.vandervelde@gmail.com

The Grand Rapids Catholic Secondary Schools School Board elected officers for 2011-12 at its regular meeting on June 9, 2011, as follows:

Mark Scott, Chairman. A member of St. John Vianney Parish, Scott is corporate controller at Autocam Corporation. He is entering his sixth year as member of the Board and has served as chairman since 2007.

David Veneklase, Vice Chairman. The executive vice president for organizational development at Davenport University, Veneklase is a member of St. Anthony of Padua Parish. This will be his third year on the Board, having served as secretary in 2010-11 and as chairman of the Strategic Planning Vision Committee from 2009 - present.

Michael Lown, Treasurer. Beginning his fifth year as a Board member, Lown belongs to St. Thomas the Apostle Parish and is director of accounting & tax at Fox Motors. He served as Board treasurer from 2007-present.

Donald Duba, Secretary. A member of St. Anthony of Padua Parish, Duba is an attorney at law for Duba & Duba, PLLC. He is entering his second year as member of the Board.

All were elected unanimously and will serve in these capacities until the June 2012 Board meeting.

It was the first regional crown for Catholic Central since Coach Brett Serba played in 2003.

CC advances to the state finals against Gull Lake at at 2 p.m. on Tuesday June 14 in Holland.

Read the Grand Rapids Press account here. 

It is the Cougars' first girls lacrosse state title.

Read the article in the Grand Rapids Press here.

Three Catholic Central students were among 18 finalists in a field of about 250 who submitted entries in this year’s President Gerald R. Ford Student Essay Challenge. They were second-place winner Steve Jakubowski, Emily Prins, who earned a top-six honorable mention, and Maggie Weighner. Steve was awarded a savings bond.

The topic was integrity, according to instructor Tiffany Marrinan. “Although each … took a different approach, all [of the essays] revealed the  character, skill, and intelligence of our students,” she said. “Emily wrote of how much she values the sacrifices her family has made to send her to Catholic Central, Maggie wrote of personal choices she has made and Steven’s intellectual approach was incredibly thought-provoking.”

The students were honored in a ceremony at the Gerald R. Ford Museum on Feb. 21.

The boys golf team under coach Andy Weatherhead finished 2^nd at the Regional meet on June 9. They have qualified for the State Tournament, scheduled for Friday and Saturday June 17 and 18 at Forest Akers in East Lansing.

Also - congratulations to Sam Weatherhead, who finished first in regionals with a round of 72.

WC golf team

Sam Weatherhead - 72

Steve Strain - 78

Kenny Nawrocki - 80

Matt Kowalczyk - 85

Adam Rooney - 85

Read entire release (pdf)

Nick Burciaga was named Outstanding Artist in the area of Drawing

Alyssa Ellen was named Outstanding Artist in Design

Jacquie Sochacki was named Outstanding Artist in the area of Studio Art

Megan Rogalski was named Most Improved Artist

Jenna Rood and Mike Harmon were named Artists of the Year

Mike Harmon, Jenna Rood and Jacquie Sochacki had artwork selected for display at Vern Ehlers’ Third Congressional District Art Exhibit, Artfest 2011 at the Gerald R. Ford Museum

Jenna Rood had artwork purchased by the KISD for a permanent exhibit in the main building

Anna Brechting received West Catholic Band Director’s Award

Alec Maguire received John Phillip Sousa Award

Angela Stoddard and Stacy Sienkiewicz were the recipients of our West Catholic Drum Major Awards

Eamon Carmody was named the Louis Armstrong Award recipient

Lindsay Zenner received the William Staudacher Memorial Choir Award

Michael Hurst was awarded the National School Choral Award

Jacquie Sochacki received the WC Drama Award

Jennifer Stancroff and Lindsay Zenner received Father Lawrence Griffin Drama Awards

Josh Laske was the recipient of the Theatre Director’s Award

Matt Outman and Woody Nelson received the “Call to Places” Awards

Katie Kosnik was honored with the Liturgical Musical Award

Five individuals will be inducted into the West Catholic Wall of Fame during the 2011-12 school year, announced Athletic  Director Rohn at last Friday's 28th annual Falcon Golf Classic. The inductees are: Dave Abanas, Rose Arbanas, Jim Schaffer, Katie Clifford Jazwinski and Mike Cherrette.

The Arbanas family is being recognized as special honorees because of their years of service to both the athletic department and the Boosters. Together, they help to form the boosters and develop the golf classic, along with assisting in Project Falcon. Dave and Rose had three children graduate from WC and currently have grandchildren competing for the Falcons.

Jim Schaffer spent 26 years at West Catholic as a teacher and coach, and he served as  athletic director from 1992-1998. Schaffer coached basketball, track and cross country during his time at West, before he moved on to take the role of athletic director at Kent City High School. Schaffer was highly respected throughout the area by all people involved in athletics. He recently lost his battle with cancer.

Katie Clifford Jazwinski graduated from West Catholic in 1998. While here she was named to the all-state teams in both cross country and track. She also was a member of the basketball team. Jazwinski continued her success at the University of Michigan and qualified for the 2012 Olympic Games. She currently lives and coaches in Dexter, Mich.

Mike Cherrette graduated from Catholic Central in 1965. He taught religion at West until 2010 and coached both softball and golf at WC. His golf teams accumulated numerous conference and regional championships and competed at the state level many times. Cherrette had three sons -- Mark, Tom and John  -- graduate from WC. He is currently a member of the Michigan High School Golf Coaches Hall of Fame.

Ceremonies and celebrations for each of the inductees will take place at athletic events during the 2011-12 seasons.

During the second semester, West Catholic students raised over $2000 for HELP Pregnancy Crisis Aid. This fund drive was coordinated by the members of the school’s Students for Life club. The club made a commitment this school year to find ways to support HELP Pregnancy Crisis Aid. HELP is a Catholic crisis pregnancy center on the West Side of Grand Rapids.

As a Lenten almsgiving project, Students for Life placed baby bottles in each religion class. Each day, as part of West Catholic’s Help the Needy (HTN) program, students collected money to fill the baby bottles for HELP. $1800 was raised for HELP in this Lenten project. Students made special trips to their cars to find loose change, others baked cookies and brownies to sell to classmates, and some teachers offered to match student donations—all to support HELP and raise awareness about the pro-life cause.

Also, in response to a shortage of baby formula at the HELP center, two students worked with a teacher to sell candy to raise $285 for HELP’s formula fund.

The students presented their donations to HELP in May. Judy Dunst, director of HELP Pregnancy Crisis Aid, expressed her gratitude for the students’ donation. “All of the time, energy and hard work that went into these amazing efforts were truly authentic acts of love. Your donations verify that the work that is done at HELP to assist each individual or baby in a crisis situation is worth supporting. We extend our heartfelt thank you to all of the staff and student body at West Catholic for supporting the Culture of Life.”

The girls lacrosse team won the regional title and will compete in the Division 2 state championship game on Saturday.

The number three Cougars (17-3-3) beat Livonia Ladywood 16-12 at Okemos on June 8. 

 They will play Bloomfield Hills Academy of the Sacred Heart, a 13-12 winner over Flint Powers Catholic, at 2 p.m. Saturday at Troy Athens.

See the Grand Rapids Press account of their regional win here.

Highlights

Valedictorian

Eamon Raphael Carmody

Salutatorian

Kathryn Nicole Kosnik

Paragon Award

Thomas Richard Doyle, II

Kathryn Nicole Kosnik

Top Ten Seniors

Tiffany Alexis Boorsma

Anna Elizabeth Brechting

Eamon Raphael Carmody

Ryan Anthony Diehl

Nicholas Andrew Dyga

Jared Richard Heys

Kathryn Nicole Kosnik

Joshua Allen Laske

Matthew John Moser

Rachel Elizabeth Szczytko

National Merit Finalists

Eamon Raphael Carmody

Jared Richard Heys

National Merit

Commended Scholars

Nicholas Andrew Dyga

Jacob Gregory Kneibel

See the complete Commencement program here.

Highlights

Valedictorian
Tuong Vi Nguyen

Salutatorians
Mitchell Cavanaugh
Maureen Daum

Magna Cum Laude
Tuong Vi Nguyen
Mitchell Cavanaugh
Maureen Daum
Mark Farha
Nnenna Ezeh
Nicholas MacDonald
Margaret Lawrence
Matthew Wallick
Eric Sink
Ann Marie Jakubowski

Man of the Year

Keegan McCorry

Woman of the Year

Kaitlyn Hoffman

National Achievement Scholar

Nnenna Ezeh

National Merit Scholar

Maureen Daum

National Merit Finalists

Margaret Lawrence

Keegan McCorry

Grace Tomaszewski

Matthew Wallick

National Merit Commended

Mitchell Cavanaugh

Scott Dripchak

Matthew Fallon

Ann Marie Jakubowski

Patricia Williams

See the complete programs for CC’s Mass and Commencement Ceremony here.

Reece Czarnecki

1st Year

5-11

175

Wing

Wyoming, Mich. / West Catholic, 2010

Keenan Dolan

2nd Year

6-4

220

Lock

Lumberton, N.C. / GR Catholic Central, 2008

Erin Hillary

2nd Year

5-8

165

Center

Grand Rapids, Mich. / GR Catholic Central, 2008

John Nowak

2nd Year

6-3

220

Lock

Grand Rapids, Mich. / West Catholic , 2008

Gabe Sochanek

1st Year

5-7

220

Hooker

Grand Rapids, Mich. / West Catholic,  2010

DU will take on Harvard in the semifinal game, which will be streamed live this Friday, May 13 at 4 p.m. PST (7 p.m. MI Time) at www.ustream.tv/usarugby.  National Championship final takes place Saturday, May 14, 4 p.m. PST (7 p.m. MI Time) and will be streamed at www.ustream.tv/usarugby.

Catholic Secondary Schools is proud to unveil a newly designed Alumni News with the Spring 2011 issue, which arrived in mail boxes this week.

The clean, uncluttered design makes use of color photography throughout to connect the community of alumni, friends and family of Catholic Central and West Catholic high schools.

Regular departments include news from the schools, alumni, advancement and the Foundation for Catholic Secondary Education (FCSE). There is also a letter from Pastor/President Rev. R. Louis Stasker and a memorial listing for deceased classmates.

The Class Notes page will be a place to read about the accomplishments and life changes for classmates, such as a new job, new marriage, new baby, etc. Announcements and photos for Class Notes should be sent to communications@grcss.org.

View the current issue on this site at Communications > Alumni News magazine

If you are an alum of Catholic Central or West Catholic and have not received your copy by May 9, please email communications@grcss.org with your current name, name at graduation, current email and mailing address. We'll get a copy out to you right away and put you on the mailing list for future issues.

As the State of Michigan wrestles with difficult economic decisions, including cutting millions from public education, Grand Rapids Catholic Secondary Schools continue to offer thorough and sound intellectual formation by expert faculties in a faith-based setting for less cost-per-student. The results: 

(Download and print the entire message, or keep reading below.)

·         Our graduates average a full point or more higher on the ACT compared to their peers at state colleges and universities

·         Our students account for nearly 15% of the area’s National Merit Semi-Finalists

·         College scholarships and awards to the graduating classes over the past five years average over $5 million

·         97% of our graduates go on to college, are accepted into their majors, and graduate in less than five years (depending on their program).

·         Our bands and choirs consistently receive first division ratings at district and state competitions

·         Our students have provided service in Haiti, Latin America, Africa, Appalachia and Grand Rapids

·         Within the past three years, six graduates have entered seminary or convent

·         Our sports teams have achieved  five state title appearances and four titles in the past 12 months

If you’re interested in having your son or daughter join a community of students from five counties, 21 school districts, and 31 communities all desiring to effect real change in the world, Catholic Central or West Catholic may be the right choice.

Your student will experience a combined interdisciplinary study with practical problem-solving skills. He or she will gain new perspectives that come from Catholic theology and a Catholic intellectual tradition that is thousands of years old. Our unique locations and history enrich all of our offerings, from innovative courses like pre-engineering and research, to the performing arts and athletics. Our dynamic faculty provides training within the context of personal attention that is unmatched. Care is given to the development of the imaginative, emotional and creative dimensions of every student in all courses of study.

Now more than ever, there is no better place to attend high school that at Catholic Central or West Catholic. That’s why I invite you to accept my personal invitation to visit and learn more about us. For an appointment at Catholic Central call (616) 233-5816. Or phone West Catholic at (616) 233-5918. We are enrolling students now for the 2011-12 school year.

Sincerely,

Thomas Maj
Principal
Catholic Central High School
West Catholic High School

View current employment opportunities with GRCSS here.

WC Quiz Bowl Team preparing to compete at the State Tournament

From left: Jack Brooks, Patrick Harwood, Ryan Diehl, Brendan Kosnik

The team posted a State Tournament record of 5 wins and 2 losses, defeating Otsego, Morley-Stanwood, Fremont, Flint Powers, and Yale, before being eliminated by Gull Lake in the last minute of a very close match. Competing at State for West Catholic were Jack Brooks, Ryan Diehl (team captain), Patrick Harwood, and Brendan Kosnik.

West Catholic earned its berth in the State Tournament by winning the Grand Rapids Metro Quiz Bowl League. The team posted a record of 11-1 in league matches this year to win its first-ever league championship. Jack Brooks and Brendan Kosnik received all-conference honors.

The team had 13 members competing at varsity and junior varsity levels this year: seniors Mackenzie Bush, Ryan Diehl, Patty Pierzchala, and Kris Zakfeld, juniors Patrick Harwood and Katrina Marks, sophomores Jack Brooks, Katie Hartman, Brendan Kosnik, and Zach Zakfeld, and freshmen Pete Brechting, Chris Jensen, and Joe O’Brien. The team is coached by Mr. Patrick Nugent.

Congratulations Quiz Bowl Team for a very successful season!

The articles, by Tiffany Boorsma and Katrina Marks, were published as part of a series of reflections from students on the meaning of Lent.

Read Katrina's article here and Tiffany's here.

West Catholic's first and second place teams with their coaches.

Out of 15 teams in three divisions, West Catholic placed second overall, less than three points behind the top school.

The Math Challenge consists of teams of six students from the 9^th and 10^th grades who compete in four different events, involving both team and individual problem-solving skills. Two teams from West Catholic took part.

Top individual scorers for West Catholic were sophomores Jack Brooks and Brendan Kosnik. Members of the first-place team were Brooks, Kosnik, Jackie Wilson, Meg Normand, Ryan Linak, and Joe O’Brien. Members of the second place team were Clare Coddington, Claire Goodfellow, Grant Goodfellow, Ellen Hackett, Ellie Ryan, and Andy Woodruff.

The teams were coached by math teachers Miss Sandy Golembiewski and Mr. Pat Nugent, assisted by junior students Jennie Connell and Jacob Dean.

Sophomore Desree Ortega-Furgeson took sixth place in the North American Cup Division II Women's Foil Fencing Championship (non-school competition).

She lost to a 20-year-old competitor from Mexico, 12-15. Desree is now considered the sixth best female foil fencer for Division II (C and under, all age brackets, including college and adults) in the entire North American continent. Congratulations, Desree!

Congratulations to West Catholic's Lady Falcon basketball team on their second consecutive OK Blue conference championship!

The team finished the season 17-3 overall and 12-0 in conference play. They move to the district playoffs vs. Allendale in Coopersville on Wednesday, March 2 at 5:30 p.m.

The winner of that game will play in the finals matchup in Coopersville on Friday, March 4, at 7 p.m.

West Catholic’s Mitch Bredberg was selected to play in the 31st Annual Michigan High School Football Coaches Association East/West All-Star game. He was chosen kicker for the West team.

Bredeberg is one of eight area players selected Sunday to take part in this year’s game. The others are: Byron Center fullback Derek Sievers, Morley-Stanwood fullback Tyler Havens, Zeeland East running back Brad Horling, West Ottawa linebacker Desmond Morgan, Rockford linebacker Brett Egnatuk, Grand Haven linebacker Dalton Stenberg and Grant offensive tackle Thad Cook.

This is the fourth consecutive year that a player from West has been selected for the roster:

2007 Kirk Deering

2008 Luke Buitendyk

2009 Travis Makita

2010 Mitch Bredberg

The June 25 game was moved to Central Michigan University’s Kelly/Shorts Stadium from MSU Spartan Stadium due to an event scheduling conflict. Game time is TBD. Tickets are $5 before the event and $10 at the gate on game day. Call 734-676-4486 or visit www.mhsfca.com.

Tickets are available for a limited time only. Get yours now! www.wearecc.org has all the information.

The game came down to the final minutes and final yards for exciting last minute plays to clench the win.  Coach Kolster and staff had confidence in their team, and the Cougars earned it by winning the game 27-23. 

The Cougars played with heart and soul last night.  Their hard work, discipline, and hunger for a State Championship paid off in spades....and with a State Championship Trophy.  Well done!

Congratulations Cougars!

On Wednesday, October 13, the teachers, staff and administration of Catholic Central and West Catholic high schools, along with Bishop Hurley and Father Stasker, gathered together at the Basilica of St. Adalbert for a wonderful afternoon of fellowship, reflection and prayer.

Following a Polish lunch (west-side style), Bishop Hurley discussed the changes to the Roman Missal and how it will affect the Mass, and how it is an opportunity to strengthen our prayer life and our relationship with the Lord. Then, Father Stasker discussed the role of Catholic culture in our two schools. The afternoon concluded with Mass at the Basilica.

About 34,000 Commended Students throughout the nation are being recognized for their exceptional academic promise. Although they will not continue in the 2011 competition for National Merit Scholarships, Commended Students placed among the top 5 percent of more than 1.5 million students who entered the 2011 competition by taking the 2009 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT).

“Recognition of high-achieving students is essential to advancing excellence in our nation,” commented a spokesperson for NMSC. “As demonstrated by their outstanding performance in our highly competitive program, the young men and women named Commended Students represent some of the most academically talented students in our country. We sincerely hope this recognition will enhance their educational opportunities and encourage them in their pursuit of academic success.”

This scholarship program honors individual students who show exceptional academic ability and potential for success in rigorous college studies. Carmody, Daum, Heys, Lawrence, McCorry, Tomaszewski and Wallick, along with 16,000 other academically talented high school seniors, will have an opportunity to continue in the competition for some 8,400 National Merit Scholarships, worth more than $36 million, that will be offered next spring.

About 1.5 million juniors in some 22,000 high schools entered the 2011 National Merit Program by taking the 2009 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test, which served as an initial screen of program entrants. The nationwide pool of semifinalists, which represents less than 1 percent of U.S. high school seniors, includes the highest scoring entrants in each state.

To become a finalist, a semifinalist must have an outstanding academic record throughout high school, be endorsed and recommended by the high school principal, and earn SAT scores that confirm the student's earlier performance on the qualifying test.

Approximately 15,000 semifinalists are expected to advance to the Finalist level. 2011 National Merit Scholarship winners will be announced in the spring.

The fact that Catholic Central Cougar pride continues for years after graduation was made evident by the class of 1960 when they celebrated their 50^th reunion this summer.

Walking into the reunion, everyone was warmly welcomed by former classmates, checked-in and given a name tag. From there, it was easy to find friendly faces and begin to catch up and reminisce. A few weeks before the reunion, Catholic Central was contacted to help determine where a financial gift from the class would best be suited. The school’s technology needs seemed to be a good fit for the class of 1960. The class had a wonderful time dancing, chatting, enjoying dinner and raising $300 to give back to their alma mater. The $300 gift will be used in the technology upgrade going on at the school, which includes creating a wireless campus and purchasing and installing smart boards and projectors. This technology upgrade gives some ease to the teachers in their duties and allows students to learn in state-of-the-art ways. Many of the alumni present had children of their own attending Catholic Central, and a few noted that they were looking forward to having their grandchildren attend their school! On behalf of the school teachers, staff, administration and students, we want to thank the Class of 1960 for their generous gift and congratulate them on their 50 years of Cougar Pride!

Catholic Central High School is celebrating 100 years of outstanding football competition this fall.

On September 11, 2010, we honored all our former football players, coaches and cheerleaders on a special night of football and cheer as our Catholic Central Cougars defeated Ottawa Hills 41-27.

The text of the halftime ceremonies, written by Mike Neuman:

On a cold and windy November night in 1959, an early winter storm dumped 8 inches of snow on the frozen tundra of venerable Houseman Field. Two undefeated Michigan high school teams, ranked #1 and #2 in the State by the sports writers, were scheduled to play each other that afternoon in the last game of the season. There were no playoffs in 1959, so the game would determine the State Championship.  But the storm had left Houseman Field buried in snow.  Phone calls went out to the school community for assistance and many people arrived with shovels to clear the field for the kick-off. With snow piled high along the sidelines, the teams battled back and forth until the Grand Rapids Catholic Central Cougars prevailed over their worthy opponents, the Muskegon Catholic Crusaders. A community and a team had earned a State Championship.

This game, played a half-century ago, epitomizes the spirit and dedication of players, coaches, student supporters, families, and alumni creating the tradition driving Catholic Central football to excellence for 100 years. The places and faces change over time, but each provides memories of anticipation and preparation; two-a-day practices in the August heat; and finally the joy of victory or the agony of defeat. The sound and feel of colliding helmets and pads filled the air at football locations old and new: Buckley Field by the railroad tracks, Rumsey Park by the factory, South Field on Madison Ave., and St. Joseph’s Seminary on Burton St. are distant memories.  The CAT, Houseman Field, Eagle Stadium, and other venues now create new excitement as the Cougars begin another 100 years of football.

But Catholic Central football exists because good people work hard to create better people.  Tonight we want to recognize some of the many people who have contributed to the great tradition of Cougar Football.

At this time we ask all former Catholic Central cheerleaders and band members to stand up and be recognized for your outstanding support to Cougar football. (Applause) Thank you. At this time we ask all former Catholic Central football players and team managers to stand up and be recognized for your participation and contribution to 100 years of Cougar football. (Applause) Thank you. 

Whether participating on the field or in the stands, whether young or old, you learn about yourself and others from absorbing the efforts of dedicated coaches who spend hundreds of hours each year giving leadership and instruction to the football team. We direct your attention to the 50-yard line where current and former Cougar football coaches are gathered. These men, and those who they represent, made this proud football program possible. Their selfless determination pushed their players to their physical and mental limits, and made them better people. Among those with us tonight are:  George Barcheski, Gary Dickerson, Dale Hollern, Mike Neuman, Dick Ott, and Larry Ward. Let’s acknowledge these (and all) Cougar coaches. (Applause) Each coach will receive a commemorative CC coin from the Cougar Booster Club. Coaches, we thank you for 100 years of Catholic Central football! (Applause)

Boys/Girls Cross Country: The Boys and Girls Cross Country Teams had great seasons. They were both in the OK-Gold Conference race for most of the year. The Boys Cross Country team qualified for the Division 2 State Finals and the girls came up just short of qualifying. The teams were coached by Mrs. Kelly Schipper and Mr. Jackson Fox.

Girls Golf: The Girls Golf team finished a great first season under new leadership. The team really improved over the course of the season with several new faces leading the way. The team was coached by Mrs. Melanie Loughin.

Boys Soccer: The Boys Soccer team completed a tough regular season schedule on their way to a District Tournament run that ended in the Finals to Grand Rapids Christian. The team had many different line ups battling injury and illness, but finished the season strong. The team was coached by Mr. John Matlak.

Football: The Football team made the playoffs for the second straight year. The team finished the regular season with a 5-4 record, qualifying for the Division 4 playoffs. The team was coached by Mr. Tim Rogers.

Volleyball: The Volleyball Team had a great first year under new leadership. The program started to gel towards the end of the season only to come up short in the District Tournament. The program took a lot of steps forward for the future. The team was coached by Mrs. Michelle Morrow.

Girls Swimming: The Girls Swimming team had a strong season under a new coach. The team took 2^nd place in the OK-Rainbow Conference. Many of the girls had strong finishes and we had 10 swimmers qualify for the State Meet. The team was coached by Mr. Adam Vera.

Boys Tennis: The Boys Tennis team had a great season ending in the state finals. The boys finished second place in the OK-Gold Conference and qualified for the State Tournament as a Team. The team was coached by Mrs. Pat Williams.

Fall 2009 1^st Team All OK-Gold Team:

Dominic Ens – Football

Nathan Lowe – Football

Dan Quinn – Football

Maggy Lawrence – Volleyball

Jorgie Watson – Swimming

Kristine Craven – Swimming

Nick Ellis – Tennis

Andrew Jakubowski – Tennis

Andrew Mooney – Tennis

Drew Morley – Tennis

J.P. Rizik – Soccer

Ben Ertl – Soccer

Allison Danhoff – Girls Cross Country

Geoff Albaugh – Boys Cross Country

Congratulations to all our student-athletes on a fine, fall season!

To view previously published News Briefs which feature many of our successes, please click on the following.

News Briefs Archived