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St. Rita of Cascia High School

St. Rita of Cascia High School is an all-male Catholic high school located in the Ashburn neighborhood on Chicago's Southwest Side., United States. It is part of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Chicago, is operated by the Province of Our Mother of Good Counsel, a Catholic jurisdiction of the Order of Saint Augustine, and is a member of the Augustinian Secondary Education Association. The school is named for Rita of Cascia (1381–1457), an Italian Augustinian nun and Roman Catholic saint

St. Rita of Cascia High School
Address
7740 South Western Avenue

,
60620

United States
Coordinates41°45′07″N 87°41′06″W / 41.752°N 87.685°W / 41.752; -87.685
Information
School typePrivate
MottoVeritas, Unitas, Caritas[6]
(Truth, Unity, Love)
Religious affiliation(s)Roman Catholic
Founded1905
FounderVery Rev. James F. Green[1]
AuthorityArchdiocese of Chicago
OversightOrder of Saint Augustine
CEEB code141255[4]
PresidentDr. Jim Quaid[2]
ChairmanClare Napleton[2]
Staff84[3]
Grades912
Genderall-male
Enrollment515[10]
Average class size25
Campus typeurban
Color(s)  red
  blue[8]
SongHymn to St. Rita
Fight songSt. Rita Fight Song
Athletics conferenceChicago Catholic League
MascotThe fighting pony’s
Team nameMustangs[8]
Rivals St. Laurence
AccreditationNorth Central Association of Colleges and Schools[7]
NewspaperThe Ritan
YearbookThe Cascian[9]
TuitionUS$10,800[5]
Websitehttp://www.stritahs.com

History

The high school was founded in 1905 by Augustinian friar Kevin Campbell, O.S.A, who bought the property on which the original school sat for US$30,000 for the 5-acre (20,000 m2) site.[1][17] Green Hall was the initial building on the original campus. The school was formally dedicated on 22 April 1906, at which time the San Francisco earthquake of four days earlier was invoked.[18]

Successor to the founder was William L. Egan, O.S.A., during whose tenure the original Harris Gym and Egan Hall were completed. In 1922, the school's first stadium was constructed.[19] Joseph B. Kepperling, O.S.A. followed Egan in 1926, but his career was brought to a close by his death in 1929. John J. Harris, O.S.A. was selected as the next rector of St. Rita.

In January 1935, a fire caused extensive damage to the school's shrine after an altar candle was placed too close to a Christmas tree.[20]

In the summer of 1935, Ruellan P. Fink, O.S.A. succeeded Harris.[21] Under Fink's leadership, technical coursework began at the school in 1936. This period also saw the construction of the Mendel Technical Building (1938), and an addition to Egan Hall (1939), which (at the time) made St. Rita the largest all-boys Catholic school in the American Midwest.[22][23] A fire destroyed the wooden stands in the athletic stadium in 1944, and were soon replaced with concrete bleachers.[19] An April 1939 benefit for the addition included actors Arthur Treacher, Fifi d'Orsay, Eddie Bracken, and Virginia Payne.[24] The new monastery was completed in 1949.[1]

John E. McLaughlin, O.S.A. succeeded Fink in 1956 as principal. In 1962 Francis P. Crawford, O.S.A. became Principal. Crawford was succeeded in 1968 by Daniel B. Trusch, O.S.A. In 1971 LaVern J. Flach, O.S.A. became principal; in 1979 David L. Brecht, O.S.A., in 1983 Patrick E. Murphy, O.S.A. became Principal and in 1989 Bernard R. Danber, O.S.A. was appointed principal. Both Murphy and Danber are graduates of the school.

In 1990 the St. Rita Campus moved from 63rd and Claremont Avenue to its current location at 7740 S. Western Avenue. Prior to St. Rita's renting of the new campus, it had been home to another Catholic high school, Quigley Seminary South High School.[25] The Archdiocese of Chicago closed Quigley South prior to St. Rita's purchase of the property, returning the Chicago minor seminary to its original site at Archbishop Quigley Preparatory Seminary.[25] At the time of the move, St. Rita had been preparing a renovation, but was forced to move when there was a concern over a new school opening on the property.[25] The school's then principal stated: "We could not afford to let another high school open there. We felt that that would be such a threat to us that we would be in danger of closing."[25] The original campus was sold to the Chicago Board of Education for US$1.8 million.[26] The original campus is now the site of Claremont Academy Elementary School.[27]

In 1993 a new president-principal model was adopted for the school. Michael J. O'Connor, O.S.A. became the school's first president. O'Connor appointed Joseph F. Bamberger as principal. In the year 2000 Thomas McCarthy O.S.A. was then named the second president and the first alumnus to be president of St. Rita High School. In the spring of 2002 McCarthy became President-Principal after Joseph F. Bamberger retired. In 2007, Sally Deenihan became not only the twelfth principal in the school's history, but also its first female principal.

In 2012, the school announced that Ernest Mrozek would be the new high school President, a position he still holds today. Father Thomas McCarthy, O.S.A., continued to serve as both the chairman and the chaplain of the school; he also focused on his new position for the Augustinian Order's new Director of Vocations.[28]

School crest

The colors which predominate the school crest are red and blue, as these are the school colors.[29] The book and the burning and pierced heart are symbols associated with Saint Augustine.[29] The rose and bees are symbols associated with Saint Rita of Cascia.[29]

Academics

Students are placed into one of three academic programs, based on an entrance exam score, and input from parents and previous teachers.[30] The Augustinian Academy is for gifted students, the Mendel Academic Program is a college preparatory program, and the Villanova Academic Study Center is geared toward students requiring more individual academic attention.[30]

As a part of the Augustinian Academy program, the school offers 12 Advanced Placement courses: 2-D Design, Studio Drawing, Calculus, Chemistry, English, Latin, Music Theory, Psychology, Spanish, U.S. History, World History.[30]

Student life

Activities

The school sponsors 14 extracurricular activities ranging from academic competition and publishing to student government, and performing arts.[31]

The school's music program supports four organizations, three of which are a marching band, a concert band, and a jazz band.[32] There is also a dance and twirling squad (the Ritanettes), made up of girls from local girls' Catholic High schools, which performs with the marching band and at performances in the winter.[32]


Every June the Varsity football team has a float in the Chicago Pride Parade

Athletics

St. Rita competes in the Chicago Catholic League (CCL). St. Rita was one of the eight founding members of the league in 1912, and one of five remaining charter members.[33] The school is also a member of the Illinois High School Association (IHSA), the organization which governs most sports and competitive activities in the state.

The school sponsors 12 interscholastic athletics teams which compete in IHSA sponsored state championship tournaments.[34] While not sponsored by the IHSA, the school also sponsors interscholastic teams in ice hockey, and rugby.[34]

St. Rita has won IHSA State Championships in football (1978–79, 2006–07) and wrestling (2002–03, 2003–04).[35]

 
1957 "Spirit of Cascia" Baby Ace airplane built at St. Rita HS – by R. Blacker & students

They also have won many State Titles in baseball and made state many times. [36] St. Rita has participated in eight Prep Bowls, the annual (since 1934) game pitting top teams from the Chicago Public League and the Chicago Catholic League. St. Rita won the game in 1963, 1970, 1971, 1977, 2007, 2009, 2013, and 2018.[37][38][39][40][41]

The 1963 football team won the national championship.[42]

In 1924, the school's football team hosted an intramural team from The University of Notre Dame coached by Knute Rockne, losing 6–0.[19]

Because Quigley South did not have a football team, there was no football stadium at the new school building. St. Rita used its old stadium until the end of September 1990 by which time the conversion of Quigley South's soccer field to a football stadium was completed.[19]

The original football stadium at 63rd and Claremont was used in the beginning of the movie Rudy.[43]

Aviation

In 1955, St. Rita of Cascia High School partnered with the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) to become the founding High School of EAA's Project Schoolflight, a nationwide youth outreach program.[44] At that

 
Spirit of Cascia Baby Ace under St. Rita of Cascia Scoreboard- 1957

time, St. Rita had the top Aviation Industrial Arts Program at the High School level in the USA. Robert D. Blacker was St. Rita's Aeronautical Instructor for the program which was inspired by The Reverend Joseph A. Coyne, O.S.A., Dean of St. Rita's Technical Department.[45] Over the next 4 & 1/2 years, Blacker and his students built the first two airplanes for Project Schoolflight. The first one, a Baby Ace airplane completed in 1957, was christened the Spirit of Cascia and the second airplane, completed in early 1960, was the EAA Biplane which is now in the EAA Aviation Museum in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. The Spirit of Cascia, an EAA award-winning plane for Outstanding Achievement at EAA's 1957 Fly-In, is currently at the Historical Aircraft Restoration Museum in Maryland Heights, Mo., where it is being restored (2021).[46]

Blacker helped the students of St. Rita form the first Junior Chapter in EAA history[47] and he also wrote articles in the EAA's Sport Aviation magazine which included photos and stories of St. Rita High School students working on the aircraft.[48][49][50] A St. Rita student's real life story of his two years in Blacker's Aviation classes is in the external link below entitled: "From a Baby Ace to a Ford Tri Motor".

 
Reverend Joseph Coyne with Spirit of Cascia – St. Rita Stadium-1957

Blacker's 1958 book, Basic Aeronautical Science and Principles of Flight, has an 'In Appreciation' Forward section on page v. which extends "deep gratitude" to The Reverend Coyne.[45]

Notable alumni


References

  1. ^ a b c "Alumni of st. rita high to build chapel in priest's memory", Chicago Daily Tribune, pp. SW 1, 17 October 1948, Alumni of St. Rita High school have launched a $100,000 to build a memorial chapel in the Augustinian Fathers monastery now under construction at 63rd st. and Claremont av ... The chapel would honor the late Very Rev. James F. Green, OSA, founder and first rector of the school ... The million dollar monastery is expected to be completed by next fall.
  2. ^ a b "St. Rita Senior Administration". St. Rita of Casica High School.
  3. ^ . St. Rita of Cascia High School. Archived from the original on 1 March 2010. Retrieved 4 October 2009.
  4. ^ "High School Code Search". College Board. Retrieved 10 October 2009.
  5. ^ "Tuition". St. Rita of Cascia High School. Retrieved 24 November 2015.
  6. ^ . St. Rita of Cascia High School. Archived from the original on 10 September 2009. Retrieved 4 October 2009.
  7. ^ NCA-CASI. . Archived from the original on 29 April 2009. Retrieved 28 July 2009.
  8. ^ a b "Chicago (St. Rita)". Illinois High School Association (IHSA). 2 October 2009. Retrieved 4 October 2009.
  9. ^ . St. Rita of Cascia High School. Archived from the original on 7 September 2009. Retrieved 4 October 2009.
  10. ^ "FAQ".
  11. ^ Jahns, Adam L. (18 September 2008). . Chicago Sun-Times. Archived from the original on 5 October 2010.
  12. ^ Nee, John (6 October 2016). "The "real" neighborhood rivalry". WCIU. While St. Rita and Brother Rice have been Catholic League rivals for over 50 years
  13. ^ Kuchta, Chris (17 February 2009). . Southtown Star. Tinley Park, Illinois. Archived from the original on 8 September 2009. Retrieved 12 December 2009. As far as South Side hardwood rivalries go, the one between St. Rita and Marist is developing quite a name for itself ... "It's always nice to get the neighborhood rivals together", said St. Rita coach Rob Sarmiento, who served for two years as an assistant under Marist coach Gene Nolan ...
  14. ^ Stablein, Tim (5 February 2009). "Huskies, Friars ready for state-tourney challenge". OakLeaves. Oak Park, Illinois. Retrieved 12 December 2009. The Friars (16-6) ended the regular season on Thursday, losing to Neuqua Valley (39-30) and beating St. Rita (40-27). Fenwick had not beaten Chicago Catholic League rival St. Rita in 10 years.
  15. ^ Currier, Dan (11 October 2007). "Ramblers top St. Rita on off day". Morton Grove Champion. Morton Grove, Illinois. Retrieved 12 December 2009. That's what the Loyola Rambers did last Thursday in a 2-1 victory over Chicago Catholic League rival St. Rita.
  16. ^ Herron, Curt (28 January 2004). "Catholic League Wrestling: Providence edged out by St. Rita; Celtics lose advantage over rival in just a week". The Sun. Naperville, Illinois: Pioneer Press. Retrieved 12 December 2009.
  17. ^ "TESTIMONY SHOWS A RUSTIC CHICAGO: "Little Venice" Witnesses Describe Rich Farm Lands Within City's Limits. WANT RATING AS TILLERS Owners of Tracts Near the Flood Bound Gage Park Object to Payments for Sewers. College Pays $6,000 an Acre. Court Declines Invitation. Gage Park Attacks Foreman. Foreman Promises Improvement. Waiting for More Land", Chicago Daily Tribune, p. 7, 14 February 1908, ... the city called the Rev. J. F. Green, president of St. Rita's college, which is situated at Sixty-third street and Oakley avenue ... Father Green testified he had paid nearly $30,000 for the five acres occupied by the college ...
  18. ^ "FRISCO CALLING FOR ARCHITECTS: Mayor Schmitz Telegraphs an Urgent Appeal to Executive in Chicago. WANTS TO REBUILD CITY. Local Members of the Profession Say Volunteers Will Be Sent to the Coast. Fears Labor Union Troubles. Hope of Truce Expressed", Chicago Daily Tribune, p. 7, 23 April 1906, At the dedication of St. Rita of Cascia college, Sixty-third street and Oakley avenue, yesterday the Rev. Father M. J. Dorney referred to the disaster at San Francisco.
  19. ^ a b c d Temkin, Barry (28 September 1990). "St. Rita stadium takes final bow". Chicago Tribune. p. 12.
  20. ^ "Fire Loss 1 -- No Title", Chicago Daily Tribune, p. 6, 4 January 1935, Damage estimated at $5,000 was caused by a fire yesterday in the shrine of the St. Rita High school at 63rd street and Oakley avenue ... Firemen who extinguished the blaze said it was caused by a Christmas tree coming in contact with altar candles.
  21. ^ "St. Rita School Head Elevated to New Post", Chicago Daily Tribune, p. 4, 28 June 1935, The Rev. John Harris, OSA, principal of St. Rita Catholic High school ... received word yesterday ... that he has been made superior at the St. Nicholas church, Bronx, NY. He will be replaced by the Rev. R. P. Fink, OSA
  22. ^ "ST. RITA'S HIGH FINDS NEED OF NEW BUILDING :Plans Drive to Obtain $75,000 Fund", Chicago Daily Tribune, pp. SW 1, 25 December 1938, St. Rita's High school, which began its new building program last summer with the erection of a $150,000 technical building, will construct a $75,000 classroom and administration building this spring.
  23. ^ "Ground broken for addition to st. rita school", Chicago Daily Tribune, pp. SW 1, 2 April 1939, The 1,200 enrollment will make St. Rita's the largest Catholic boys' high school in the middle west.
  24. ^ "Stars of stage to aid st. rita benefit party", Chicago Daily Tribune, pp. SW 1, 23 April 1939, Celebrities who will appear in person include Arthur Treacher, Fifi d'Orsay, ... Eddie Bracken ... Virginia Payne ...
  25. ^ a b c d Reardon, Patrick T; Hirsley, Michael (3 May 1990). "St. Rita to call Quigley South its new home". Chicago Tribune. p. 1.
  26. ^ Reardon, Patrick T. (11 September 1990). "All feel like freshmen at St. Rita". Chicago Tribune. p. 3.
  27. ^ "Claremont Academy sports sign to go with new name". Chicago Tribune. 3 October 2004. p. 2.
  28. ^ Murphy, Patrick. "Stronger Vocations and Leadership on the Way" (PDF). Midwest Augustinians. Province of Our Mother of Good Counsel. Retrieved 21 February 2015.
  29. ^ a b c . St. Rita of Cascia High School. Archived from the original on 10 September 2009. Retrieved 4 October 2009.
  30. ^ a b c "Academic Programs" (PDF). St. Rita of Cascia High School. Retrieved 5 October 2009.[permanent dead link]
  31. ^ . St. Rita of Cascia. Archived from the original on 7 September 2009. Retrieved 4 October 2009.
  32. ^ a b . St. Rita of Cascia High School. Archived from the original on 22 October 2009. Retrieved 4 October 2009.
  33. ^ "CATHOLICS TO FORM LEAGUE :Eight "Prep" Schools Will Enter New Football Body. DRAFT SCHEDULE TONIGHT". Chicago Tribune. 3 October 1912. p. 10.
  34. ^ a b . St. Rita of Cascia High School. Archived from the original on 2 October 2009. Retrieved 4 October 2009.
  35. ^ "Season summaries for Chicago (St. Rita)". Illinois High School Association (IHSA). 29 September 2009. Retrieved 4 October 2009.
  36. ^ "Team Info".
  37. ^ Leusch, John (1 December 1963). "St. Rita All-Chicago Champion: 81,270 watch 42-7 rout of Vocational". Chicago Tribune. pp. D1. Before a throng of 81,270, Byrne broke two Prep boal records ... to lead St. Rita to its first All-Chicago gridiron championship.
  38. ^ Leusch, John (6 December 1970). "ST. RITA BEATS LANE IN PREP BOWL, 12-8: 65,735 See Catholic String Reach 11". Chicago Tribune. pp. B1.
  39. ^ Leusch, John (5 December 1971). "St. Rita Stops Morgan Park 18-12: Keeps City Crown on Marek TDs". Chicago Tribune. pp. D1. St. Rita won its second All-Chicago high school football championship in a row yesterday by managing an 18-12 victory over Morgan Park ...
  40. ^ Shnay, Jerry (4 December 1977). "Rita fulfills prophecy". Chicago Tribune. pp. B1. St. Rita's football team profited from Coach Pat Cronin's prophecy. And that's one reason the Mustangs won the 44th annual Prep Bowl Saturday afternoon.
  41. ^ Metsch, Steve (29 November 2007). . Southtown Star. Chicago. Archived from the original on 2 November 2012. Retrieved 4 October 2009. It's not often a high school football team follows a state championship with a highly respected Chicago Prep Bowl victory. Yet, that's what St. Rita accomplished ...
  42. ^ . Chicago Sun-Times. Archived from the original on 14 September 2008.
  43. ^ "45 Darius Fleming". biography. Notre Dame University Athletics. Retrieved 4 October 2009. ... helped lead St. Rita to the Class 7A state championship in his junior season ... St. Rita's original football stadium was used in the beginning of the movie "Rudy" ...
  44. ^ Blacker, Robert D (March 1983). "SCHOOLFLIGHT- It Really Works". Sport Aviation. March Issue: 62 – via EAA.org. ...Mr. Blacker came to St. Rita High School in 1951 and initiated a class known as 'Aeronautics'.....
  45. ^ a b Blacker, Robert D (1958). Basic Aeronautical Science and Principles of Flight. Chicago Il.: American Technical Society. Lib. of Congress: 58-10423...Robert D. Blacker Instructor in Aeronautics, St. Rita High School.............Particular gratitude is extended to The Reverend Joseph A. Coyne, O.S.A Dean of Technical Department...
  46. ^ Schmid, Julie (October 1957). "Youth takes a Trophy". Sport Aviation. October Issue: 13 – via eaa.org. ...Spirit of Cascia Baby Ace....built by St. Rita students....wins " Outstanding Achievement in Aviation Education award at 1957 EAA Fly-in....
  47. ^ Lande, D.A. (2002). OSKOSH: Gateway to Aviation- 50 Years of EAA Fly Ins. Oshkosh, Wisconsin: Experimental Aircraft Association. p. 22. ISBN 1-58932-005-0.
  48. ^ Blacker, Robert D. (March 1956). "A Place for Amateur Built Aircraft in Education". Sport Aviation. March Issue: 4 – via eaa.org. ...We take our hats off to Father Joseph Coyne & instructor Robert D. Blacker of St. Rita's.....
  49. ^ Blacker, Robert D. (April 1958). "One High School's Aviation Training Program". Sport Aviation. April Issue: 11 – via eaa.org. ... By Robert D. Blacker, Instructor St. Rita High School...
  50. ^ Blacker, Robert D. (June 1959). "How EAA can Further Aviation Education". Sport Aviation. June Issue: 18–19 – via eaa.org. "...The EAA Biplane is center of attention of airplane building at St. Rita's High school junior chapter #39
  51. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Tucker, Steve (4 December 2007). . Chicago Sun-Times. Archived from the original on 30 December 2007. Retrieved 3 October 2009.
  52. ^ "Judge William J. Campbell". biography. Library of the U.S. Courts of the Seventh Circuit. Retrieved 3 October 2009. William J. Campbell was born on March 19, 1905 in Chicago, and was a graduate of St. Rita High School.
  53. ^ . Chicago Sun-Times. 31 January 1992. Archived from the original on 2 November 2012. Retrieved 3 October 2009. The Cubs signed 14-year veteran right-hander Jim Clancy to a minor-league contract ... Clancy, a Chicago native and 1974 graduate of St. Rita, spent most of his career with the Toronto Blue Jays ...
  54. ^ McNear, Claire (20 January 2016). "A guide to that wild Darius Fleming story". SBNation.com. It's an understatement to say we are proud of New England Patriot Darius Fleming, St. Rita Class of 2008.
  55. ^ "Hall of Fame". St. Rita of Cascia High School.
  56. ^ O'Hara, Mike (22 December 2020). "Golladay started path to success at St. Rita High School". detroitlions.com.
  57. ^ Macey, Alan and Tim O'Brien (25 April 2010). . SouthtownStar. Archived from the original on 29 April 2010. Retrieved 7 May 2010.
  58. ^ . Archived from the original on 24 February 2021.
  59. ^ Osipoff, Michael (30 October 2018). "All about St. Rita: Northwestern's Vic Law, Michigan's Charles Matthews maintain connection". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 12 January 2020.
  60. ^ Snyder, Mark (28 May 2017). "How Kentucky transfer Charles Matthews was groomed to be next Michigan basketball star". Detroit Free Press. Standing 6-foot-6 by his St. Rita of Cascia High School graduation in 2015
  61. ^ Goddard, Joe (21 December 2003). . Chicago Sun-Times. Archived from the original on 2 November 2012. Retrieved 3 October 2009. Lick, one of the best offensive tackles to come out of the Chicago area, helped St. Rita win the 1970 and 1971 Prep Bowls.
  62. ^ "Finnegan, Edward Rowan". biography. Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved 3 October 2009. ... attended the St. Ritas, Northwestern, and DePaulus schools, Loyola University, and Northwestern University School of Law ...
  63. ^ Ryan, Tom (20 March 2000). "Life's an open Doors for leader of legendary rock band -- Ray Manzarek: What Stone did to Morrison was a travesty". Honolulu Star-Bulletin. Retrieved 4 October 2009. Manzarek said his Chicago upbringing thrust him into music. "South Side of Chicago around 35th and Western, St. Rita High School, De Paul University, and the blues on the South Side of Chicago,"
  64. ^ . statistics and biographical sketch. databasefootball.com. Archived from the original on 14 February 2010. Retrieved 4 October 2009.
  65. ^ Southwell, David (18 November 1994). . Chicago Sun-Times. Archived from the original on 2 November 2012. Retrieved 4 October 2009. St. Rita (9-3) hosts Palatine (10-2) at 1 p.m. Saturday in Class 5A. Maladies contributed to the Mustangs' 1-3 start ... Ahmad Merritt (mononucleosis, shoulder injury) missed considerable time ...
  66. ^ Disabato, Pat (1 May 2017). "Detroit Lions make NFL draft worth the wait for St. Rita grad Pat O'Connor". Chicago Tribune.
  67. ^ "81 Tony Simmons WR". biographic sketch. New England Patriots. Archived from the original on 6 September 2012. Retrieved 4 October 2009. He attended St. Rita High in Chicago, Ill. and earned prep All-American honors ...
  68. ^ "Gene Stump Stats". Basketball-Reference.com.
  69. ^ . The Pro Football Archives. Archived from the original on 26 August 2014.

External links

  • Official St. Rita of Cascia High School site
  • Midwest Augustinians – Province of Our Mother of Good Counsel
  • Order of St Augustine, International Homepage
  • International Cooperative Web Site for Schools in the Tradition of St. Augustine
  • IHSFW.com's St. Rita Football page (News website)
  • "From a Baby Ace to a Ford Tri Motor", 2018 article.

rita, cascia, high, school, male, catholic, high, school, located, ashburn, neighborhood, chicago, southwest, side, united, states, part, roman, catholic, archdiocese, chicago, operated, province, mother, good, counsel, catholic, jurisdiction, order, saint, au. St Rita of Cascia High School is an all male Catholic high school located in the Ashburn neighborhood on Chicago s Southwest Side United States It is part of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Chicago is operated by the Province of Our Mother of Good Counsel a Catholic jurisdiction of the Order of Saint Augustine and is a member of the Augustinian Secondary Education Association The school is named for Rita of Cascia 1381 1457 an Italian Augustinian nun and Roman Catholic saintSt Rita of Cascia High SchoolAddress7740 South Western AvenueChicago Illinois 60620United StatesCoordinates41 45 07 N 87 41 06 W 41 752 N 87 685 W 41 752 87 685InformationSchool typePrivateMottoVeritas Unitas Caritas 6 Truth Unity Love Religious affiliation s Roman CatholicFounded1905FounderVery Rev James F Green 1 AuthorityArchdiocese of ChicagoOversightOrder of Saint AugustineCEEB code141255 4 PresidentDr Jim Quaid 2 ChairmanClare Napleton 2 Staff84 3 Grades9 12Genderall maleEnrollment515 10 Average class size25Campus typeurbanColor s red blue 8 SongHymn to St RitaFight songSt Rita Fight SongAthletics conferenceChicago Catholic LeagueMascotThe fighting pony sTeam nameMustangs 8 RivalsMt Carmel 11 Br Rice 12 Marist 13 Fenwick 14 Loyola Academy 15 Providence 16 St LaurenceAccreditationNorth Central Association of Colleges and Schools 7 NewspaperThe RitanYearbookThe Cascian 9 TuitionUS 10 800 5 Websitehttp www stritahs com Contents 1 History 1 1 School crest 2 Academics 3 Student life 3 1 Activities 3 2 Athletics 4 Aviation 5 Notable alumni 6 References 7 External linksHistory EditThis section needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed October 2009 Learn how and when to remove this template message The high school was founded in 1905 by Augustinian friar Kevin Campbell O S A who bought the property on which the original school sat for US 30 000 for the 5 acre 20 000 m2 site 1 17 Green Hall was the initial building on the original campus The school was formally dedicated on 22 April 1906 at which time the San Francisco earthquake of four days earlier was invoked 18 Successor to the founder was William L Egan O S A during whose tenure the original Harris Gym and Egan Hall were completed In 1922 the school s first stadium was constructed 19 Joseph B Kepperling O S A followed Egan in 1926 but his career was brought to a close by his death in 1929 John J Harris O S A was selected as the next rector of St Rita In January 1935 a fire caused extensive damage to the school s shrine after an altar candle was placed too close to a Christmas tree 20 In the summer of 1935 Ruellan P Fink O S A succeeded Harris 21 Under Fink s leadership technical coursework began at the school in 1936 This period also saw the construction of the Mendel Technical Building 1938 and an addition to Egan Hall 1939 which at the time made St Rita the largest all boys Catholic school in the American Midwest 22 23 A fire destroyed the wooden stands in the athletic stadium in 1944 and were soon replaced with concrete bleachers 19 An April 1939 benefit for the addition included actors Arthur Treacher Fifi d Orsay Eddie Bracken and Virginia Payne 24 The new monastery was completed in 1949 1 John E McLaughlin O S A succeeded Fink in 1956 as principal In 1962 Francis P Crawford O S A became Principal Crawford was succeeded in 1968 by Daniel B Trusch O S A In 1971 LaVern J Flach O S A became principal in 1979 David L Brecht O S A in 1983 Patrick E Murphy O S A became Principal and in 1989 Bernard R Danber O S A was appointed principal Both Murphy and Danber are graduates of the school In 1990 the St Rita Campus moved from 63rd and Claremont Avenue to its current location at 7740 S Western Avenue Prior to St Rita s renting of the new campus it had been home to another Catholic high school Quigley Seminary South High School 25 The Archdiocese of Chicago closed Quigley South prior to St Rita s purchase of the property returning the Chicago minor seminary to its original site at Archbishop Quigley Preparatory Seminary 25 At the time of the move St Rita had been preparing a renovation but was forced to move when there was a concern over a new school opening on the property 25 The school s then principal stated We could not afford to let another high school open there We felt that that would be such a threat to us that we would be in danger of closing 25 The original campus was sold to the Chicago Board of Education for US 1 8 million 26 The original campus is now the site of Claremont Academy Elementary School 27 In 1993 a new president principal model was adopted for the school Michael J O Connor O S A became the school s first president O Connor appointed Joseph F Bamberger as principal In the year 2000 Thomas McCarthy O S A was then named the second president and the first alumnus to be president of St Rita High School In the spring of 2002 McCarthy became President Principal after Joseph F Bamberger retired In 2007 Sally Deenihan became not only the twelfth principal in the school s history but also its first female principal In 2012 the school announced that Ernest Mrozek would be the new high school President a position he still holds today Father Thomas McCarthy O S A continued to serve as both the chairman and the chaplain of the school he also focused on his new position for the Augustinian Order s new Director of Vocations 28 School crest Edit The colors which predominate the school crest are red and blue as these are the school colors 29 The book and the burning and pierced heart are symbols associated with Saint Augustine 29 The rose and bees are symbols associated with Saint Rita of Cascia 29 Academics EditStudents are placed into one of three academic programs based on an entrance exam score and input from parents and previous teachers 30 The Augustinian Academy is for gifted students the Mendel Academic Program is a college preparatory program and the Villanova Academic Study Center is geared toward students requiring more individual academic attention 30 As a part of the Augustinian Academy program the school offers 12 Advanced Placement courses 2 D Design Studio Drawing Calculus Chemistry English Latin Music Theory Psychology Spanish U S History World History 30 Student life EditActivities Edit The school sponsors 14 extracurricular activities ranging from academic competition and publishing to student government and performing arts 31 The school s music program supports four organizations three of which are a marching band a concert band and a jazz band 32 There is also a dance and twirling squad the Ritanettes made up of girls from local girls Catholic High schools which performs with the marching band and at performances in the winter 32 Every June the Varsity football team has a float in the Chicago Pride Parade Athletics Edit St Rita competes in the Chicago Catholic League CCL St Rita was one of the eight founding members of the league in 1912 and one of five remaining charter members 33 The school is also a member of the Illinois High School Association IHSA the organization which governs most sports and competitive activities in the state The school sponsors 12 interscholastic athletics teams which compete in IHSA sponsored state championship tournaments 34 While not sponsored by the IHSA the school also sponsors interscholastic teams in ice hockey and rugby 34 St Rita has won IHSA State Championships in football 1978 79 2006 07 and wrestling 2002 03 2003 04 35 1957 Spirit of Cascia Baby Ace airplane built at St Rita HS by R Blacker amp students They also have won many State Titles in baseball and made state many times 36 St Rita has participated in eight Prep Bowls the annual since 1934 game pitting top teams from the Chicago Public League and the Chicago Catholic League St Rita won the game in 1963 1970 1971 1977 2007 2009 2013 and 2018 37 38 39 40 41 The 1963 football team won the national championship 42 In 1924 the school s football team hosted an intramural team from The University of Notre Dame coached by Knute Rockne losing 6 0 19 Because Quigley South did not have a football team there was no football stadium at the new school building St Rita used its old stadium until the end of September 1990 by which time the conversion of Quigley South s soccer field to a football stadium was completed 19 The original football stadium at 63rd and Claremont was used in the beginning of the movie Rudy 43 Aviation EditIn 1955 St Rita of Cascia High School partnered with the Experimental Aircraft Association EAA to become the founding High School of EAA s Project Schoolflight a nationwide youth outreach program 44 At that Spirit of Cascia Baby Ace under St Rita of Cascia Scoreboard 1957 time St Rita had the top Aviation Industrial Arts Program at the High School level in the USA Robert D Blacker was St Rita s Aeronautical Instructor for the program which was inspired by The Reverend Joseph A Coyne O S A Dean of St Rita s Technical Department 45 Over the next 4 amp 1 2 years Blacker and his students built the first two airplanes for Project Schoolflight The first one a Baby Ace airplane completed in 1957 was christened the Spirit of Cascia and the second airplane completed in early 1960 was the EAA Biplane which is now in the EAA Aviation Museum in Oshkosh Wisconsin The Spirit of Cascia an EAA award winning plane for Outstanding Achievement at EAA s 1957 Fly In is currently at the Historical Aircraft Restoration Museum in Maryland Heights Mo where it is being restored 2021 46 Blacker helped the students of St Rita form the first Junior Chapter in EAA history 47 and he also wrote articles in the EAA s Sport Aviation magazine which included photos and stories of St Rita High School students working on the aircraft 48 49 50 A St Rita student s real life story of his two years in Blacker s Aviation classes is in the external link below entitled From a Baby Ace to a Ford Tri Motor Reverend Joseph Coyne with Spirit of Cascia St Rita Stadium 1957 Blacker s 1958 book Basic Aeronautical Science and Principles of Flight has an In Appreciation Forward section on page v which extends deep gratitude to The Reverend Coyne 45 Notable alumni EditWilliam Joseph Campbell federal judge 1940 70 Chief Judge of United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois 1959 70 51 52 Jim Clancy MLB pitcher 1977 91 primarily with the Toronto Blue Jays 51 53 Matthew Conrath pro football defensive end for the St Louis Rams and Pittsburgh Steelers of the NFL Stuart Dybek author poet and university teacher 51 Nick Etten Major League Baseball first baseman 1938 39 1941 47 51 Ed Farmer Major League Baseball pitcher 1971 74 1977 83 and the radio voice for the Chicago White Sox 51 Darius Fleming linebacker who played for Notre Dame and the New England Patriots 54 Jesus Chuy Garcia member of the United States House of Representatives 55 Bruce Gaston pro football defensive tackle for multiple teams in the NFL Kenny Golladay pro football wide receiver currently playing for the New York Giants 56 Job Osacky of Chicago archbishop of the Orthodox Church in America s Diocese of the Midwest 51 Mike Kafka pro football quarterback previously with the Philadelphia Eagles 57 Edward Guerra Kodatt member of the Illinois House of Representatives 58 Vic Law NBA player for the Orlando Magic 59 Charles Matthews NBA player for the Cleveland Cavaliers 60 Dennis Lick NFL offensive tackle 1976 81 first round pick of 1976 NFL Draft played entire career for Chicago Bears 51 61 Edward Rowan Finnegan U S Representative 1961 64 Circuit Court of Cook County judge 1964 71 62 Ray Manzarek co founder and keyboardist for The Doors 51 63 Ahmad Merritt former NFL wide receiver 2000 04 2007 08 primarily with the Chicago Bears 51 64 65 Pat O Connor football player selected by the Detroit Lions in the 2017 NFL Draft 66 Mark Payton Major League Baseball outfielder for the Cincinnati Reds Tony Simmons NFL wide receiver 1998 2002 primarily with the New England Patriots played in Canadian Football League 2004 07 mainly with BC Lions 51 67 Scipio Spinks Major League Baseball pitcher 1969 73 51 Gene Stump DePaul and NBA basketball player 68 Bob Zimny NFL player 69 Tony Zych pitcher for MLB s Seattle Mariners citation needed References Edit a b c Alumni of st rita high to build chapel in priest s memory Chicago Daily Tribune pp SW 1 17 October 1948 Alumni of St Rita High school have launched a 100 000 to build a memorial chapel in the Augustinian Fathers monastery now under construction at 63rd st and Claremont av The chapel would honor the late Very Rev James F Green OSA founder and first rector of the school The million dollar monastery is expected to be completed by next fall a b St Rita Senior Administration St Rita of Casica High School Faculty amp staff directory St Rita of Cascia High School Archived from the original on 1 March 2010 Retrieved 4 October 2009 High School Code Search College Board Retrieved 10 October 2009 Tuition St Rita of Cascia High School Retrieved 24 November 2015 Our core values Truth Unity Love St Rita of Cascia High School Archived from the original on 10 September 2009 Retrieved 4 October 2009 NCA CASI NCA Council on Accreditation and School Improvement Archived from the original on 29 April 2009 Retrieved 28 July 2009 a b Chicago St Rita Illinois High School Association IHSA 2 October 2009 Retrieved 4 October 2009 Activities St Rita of Cascia High School Archived from the original on 7 September 2009 Retrieved 4 October 2009 FAQ Jahns Adam L 18 September 2008 St Rita Mount Carmel a friendly rivalry Chicago Sun Times Archived from the original on 5 October 2010 Nee John 6 October 2016 The real neighborhood rivalry WCIU While St Rita and Brother Rice have been Catholic League rivals for over 50 years Kuchta Chris 17 February 2009 South Side showdown St Rita tops Marist Southtown Star Tinley Park Illinois Archived from the original on 8 September 2009 Retrieved 12 December 2009 As far as South Side hardwood rivalries go the one between St Rita and Marist is developing quite a name for itself It s always nice to get the neighborhood rivals together said St Rita coach Rob Sarmiento who served for two years as an assistant under Marist coach Gene Nolan Stablein Tim 5 February 2009 Huskies Friars ready for state tourney challenge OakLeaves Oak Park Illinois Retrieved 12 December 2009 The Friars 16 6 ended the regular season on Thursday losing to Neuqua Valley 39 30 and beating St Rita 40 27 Fenwick had not beaten Chicago Catholic League rival St Rita in 10 years Currier Dan 11 October 2007 Ramblers top St Rita on off day Morton Grove Champion Morton Grove Illinois Retrieved 12 December 2009 That s what the Loyola Rambers did last Thursday in a 2 1 victory over Chicago Catholic League rival St Rita Herron Curt 28 January 2004 Catholic League Wrestling Providence edged out by St Rita Celtics lose advantage over rival in just a week The Sun Naperville Illinois Pioneer Press Retrieved 12 December 2009 TESTIMONY SHOWS A RUSTIC CHICAGO Little Venice Witnesses Describe Rich Farm Lands Within City s Limits WANT RATING AS TILLERS Owners of Tracts Near the Flood Bound Gage Park Object to Payments for Sewers College Pays 6 000 an Acre Court Declines Invitation Gage Park Attacks Foreman Foreman Promises Improvement Waiting for More Land Chicago Daily Tribune p 7 14 February 1908 the city called the Rev J F Green president of St Rita s college which is situated at Sixty third street and Oakley avenue Father Green testified he had paid nearly 30 000 for the five acres occupied by the college FRISCO CALLING FOR ARCHITECTS Mayor Schmitz Telegraphs an Urgent Appeal to Executive in Chicago WANTS TO REBUILD CITY Local Members of the Profession Say Volunteers Will Be Sent to the Coast Fears Labor Union Troubles Hope of Truce Expressed Chicago Daily Tribune p 7 23 April 1906 At the dedication of St Rita of Cascia college Sixty third street and Oakley avenue yesterday the Rev Father M J Dorney referred to the disaster at San Francisco a b c d Temkin Barry 28 September 1990 St Rita stadium takes final bow Chicago Tribune p 12 Fire Loss 1 No Title Chicago Daily Tribune p 6 4 January 1935 Damage estimated at 5 000 was caused by a fire yesterday in the shrine of the St Rita High school at 63rd street and Oakley avenue Firemen who extinguished the blaze said it was caused by a Christmas tree coming in contact with altar candles St Rita School Head Elevated to New Post Chicago Daily Tribune p 4 28 June 1935 The Rev John Harris OSA principal of St Rita Catholic High school received word yesterday that he has been made superior at the St Nicholas church Bronx NY He will be replaced by the Rev R P Fink OSA ST RITA S HIGH FINDS NEED OF NEW BUILDING Plans Drive to Obtain 75 000 Fund Chicago Daily Tribune pp SW 1 25 December 1938 St Rita s High school which began its new building program last summer with the erection of a 150 000 technical building will construct a 75 000 classroom and administration building this spring Ground broken for addition to st rita school Chicago Daily Tribune pp SW 1 2 April 1939 The 1 200 enrollment will make St Rita s the largest Catholic boys high school in the middle west Stars of stage to aid st rita benefit party Chicago Daily Tribune pp SW 1 23 April 1939 Celebrities who will appear in person include Arthur Treacher Fifi d Orsay Eddie Bracken Virginia Payne a b c d Reardon Patrick T Hirsley Michael 3 May 1990 St Rita to call Quigley South its new home Chicago Tribune p 1 Reardon Patrick T 11 September 1990 All feel like freshmen at St Rita Chicago Tribune p 3 Claremont Academy sports sign to go with new name Chicago Tribune 3 October 2004 p 2 Murphy Patrick Stronger Vocations and Leadership on the Way PDF Midwest Augustinians Province of Our Mother of Good Counsel Retrieved 21 February 2015 a b c Our Crest St Rita of Cascia High School Archived from the original on 10 September 2009 Retrieved 4 October 2009 a b c Academic Programs PDF St Rita of Cascia High School Retrieved 5 October 2009 permanent dead link Activities Directory St Rita of Cascia Archived from the original on 7 September 2009 Retrieved 4 October 2009 a b St Rita Band St Rita of Cascia High School Archived from the original on 22 October 2009 Retrieved 4 October 2009 CATHOLICS TO FORM LEAGUE Eight Prep Schools Will Enter New Football Body DRAFT SCHEDULE TONIGHT Chicago Tribune 3 October 1912 p 10 a b St Rita Athletics St Rita of Cascia High School Archived from the original on 2 October 2009 Retrieved 4 October 2009 Season summaries for Chicago St Rita Illinois High School Association IHSA 29 September 2009 Retrieved 4 October 2009 Team Info Leusch John 1 December 1963 St Rita All Chicago Champion 81 270 watch 42 7 rout of Vocational Chicago Tribune pp D1 Before a throng of 81 270 Byrne broke two Prep boal records to lead St Rita to its first All Chicago gridiron championship Leusch John 6 December 1970 ST RITA BEATS LANE IN PREP BOWL 12 8 65 735 See Catholic String Reach 11 Chicago Tribune pp B1 Leusch John 5 December 1971 St Rita Stops Morgan Park 18 12 Keeps City Crown on Marek TDs Chicago Tribune pp D1 St Rita won its second All Chicago high school football championship in a row yesterday by managing an 18 12 victory over Morgan Park Shnay Jerry 4 December 1977 Rita fulfills prophecy Chicago Tribune pp B1 St Rita s football team profited from Coach Pat Cronin s prophecy And that s one reason the Mustangs won the 44th annual Prep Bowl Saturday afternoon Metsch Steve 29 November 2007 Prep Bowl pomp saturates St Rita Southtown Star Chicago Archived from the original on 2 November 2012 Retrieved 4 October 2009 It s not often a high school football team follows a state championship with a highly respected Chicago Prep Bowl victory Yet that s what St Rita accomplished Pride of the South Side FOOTBALL YourSeason Chicago Sun Times Archived from the original on 14 September 2008 45 Darius Fleming biography Notre Dame University Athletics Retrieved 4 October 2009 helped lead St Rita to the Class 7A state championship in his junior season St Rita s original football stadium was used in the beginning of the movie Rudy Blacker Robert D March 1983 SCHOOLFLIGHT It Really Works Sport Aviation March Issue 62 via EAA org Mr Blacker came to St Rita High School in 1951 and initiated a class known as Aeronautics a b Blacker Robert D 1958 Basic Aeronautical Science and Principles of Flight Chicago Il American Technical Society Lib of Congress 58 10423 Robert D Blacker Instructor in Aeronautics St Rita High School Particular gratitude is extended to The Reverend Joseph A Coyne O S A Dean of Technical Department Schmid Julie October 1957 Youth takes a Trophy Sport Aviation October Issue 13 via eaa org Spirit of Cascia Baby Ace built by St Rita students wins Outstanding Achievement in Aviation Education award at 1957 EAA Fly in Lande D A 2002 OSKOSH Gateway to Aviation 50 Years of EAA Fly Ins Oshkosh Wisconsin Experimental Aircraft Association p 22 ISBN 1 58932 005 0 Blacker Robert D March 1956 A Place for Amateur Built Aircraft in Education Sport Aviation March Issue 4 via eaa org We take our hats off to Father Joseph Coyne amp instructor Robert D Blacker of St Rita s Blacker Robert D April 1958 One High School s Aviation Training Program Sport Aviation April Issue 11 via eaa org By Robert D Blacker Instructor St Rita High School Blacker Robert D June 1959 How EAA can Further Aviation Education Sport Aviation June Issue 18 19 via eaa org The EAA Biplane is center of attention of airplane building at St Rita s High school junior chapter 39 a b c d e f g h i j k Tucker Steve 4 December 2007 St Rita Chicago Sun Times Archived from the original on 30 December 2007 Retrieved 3 October 2009 Judge William J Campbell biography Library of the U S Courts of the Seventh Circuit Retrieved 3 October 2009 William J Campbell was born on March 19 1905 in Chicago and was a graduate of St Rita High School Cubs sign pitcher Clancy Chicago Sun Times 31 January 1992 Archived from the original on 2 November 2012 Retrieved 3 October 2009 The Cubs signed 14 year veteran right hander Jim Clancy to a minor league contract Clancy a Chicago native and 1974 graduate of St Rita spent most of his career with the Toronto Blue Jays McNear Claire 20 January 2016 A guide to that wild Darius Fleming story SBNation com It s an understatement to say we are proud of New England Patriot Darius Fleming St Rita Class of 2008 Hall of Fame St Rita of Cascia High School O Hara Mike 22 December 2020 Golladay started path to success at St Rita High School detroitlions com Macey Alan and Tim O Brien 25 April 2010 Kafka joins Eagles Barnes passed over SouthtownStar Archived from the original on 29 April 2010 Retrieved 7 May 2010 Mike Madigan replacement Edward Guerra Kodatt resigns after only 3 days Angelica Guerrero Cuellar nominated as new successor ABC7 Chicago Archived from the original on 24 February 2021 Osipoff Michael 30 October 2018 All about St Rita Northwestern s Vic Law Michigan s Charles Matthews maintain connection Chicago Tribune Retrieved 12 January 2020 Snyder Mark 28 May 2017 How Kentucky transfer Charles Matthews was groomed to be next Michigan basketball star Detroit Free Press Standing 6 foot 6 by his St Rita of Cascia High School graduation in 2015 Goddard Joe 21 December 2003 WHAT S UP WITH Dennis Lick Former St Rita standout played six seasons for Bears Chicago Sun Times Archived from the original on 2 November 2012 Retrieved 3 October 2009 Lick one of the best offensive tackles to come out of the Chicago area helped St Rita win the 1970 and 1971 Prep Bowls Finnegan Edward Rowan biography Biographical Directory of the United States Congress Retrieved 3 October 2009 attended the St Ritas Northwestern and DePaulus schools Loyola University and Northwestern University School of Law Ryan Tom 20 March 2000 Life s an open Doors for leader of legendary rock band Ray Manzarek What Stone did to Morrison was a travesty Honolulu Star Bulletin Retrieved 4 October 2009 Manzarek said his Chicago upbringing thrust him into music South Side of Chicago around 35th and Western St Rita High School De Paul University and the blues on the South Side of Chicago Ahmad Merritt statistics and biographical sketch databasefootball com Archived from the original on 14 February 2010 Retrieved 4 October 2009 Southwell David 18 November 1994 St Rita Puts 8 Game Win Streak on Line Healthy Mustangs Will Host Palatine in 5A Semifinal Chicago Sun Times Archived from the original on 2 November 2012 Retrieved 4 October 2009 St Rita 9 3 hosts Palatine 10 2 at 1 p m Saturday in Class 5A Maladies contributed to the Mustangs 1 3 start Ahmad Merritt mononucleosis shoulder injury missed considerable time Disabato Pat 1 May 2017 Detroit Lions make NFL draft worth the wait for St Rita grad Pat O Connor Chicago Tribune 81 Tony Simmons WR biographic sketch New England Patriots Archived from the original on 6 September 2012 Retrieved 4 October 2009 He attended St Rita High in Chicago Ill and earned prep All American honors Gene Stump Stats Basketball Reference com Bob Zimny The Pro Football Archives Archived from the original on 26 August 2014 External links EditOfficial St Rita of Cascia High School site Midwest Augustinians Province of Our Mother of Good Counsel Order of St Augustine International Homepage Augnet International Cooperative Web Site for Schools in the Tradition of St Augustine IHSFW com s St Rita Football page News website From a Baby Ace to a Ford Tri Motor 2018 article Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title St Rita of Cascia High School amp oldid 1124256585, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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