Catholic High School (formerly known as Norfolk Catholic High School (1949–1993), Catholic High School (1993–2004), and Bishop Sullivan Catholic High School (2004–2019); commonly referred to as "Catholic" or "CHS") is a private Roman Catholic high school in Virginia Beach, Virginia, founded as Norfolk Catholic High School in 1949 and moved to Virginia Beach in 1993.[2] In 2003, the school was renamed in honor of Walter Francis Sullivan, Bishop Emeritus of the Diocese of Richmond and a significant benefactor during the school's move to Virginia Beach. The Barry Robinson Theater and Fine Arts Center opened that same year. In 2019, the school was renamed Catholic High School amid direction that all diocesan institutions, schools and parish buildings must "no longer be named after an individual bishop, pastor, founder or individual".[4]
Academics
Catholic High School is a college preparatory school and fully accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools and the Virginia Catholic Education Association. Over 98% of CHS' senior classes enrolls in an institution of higher learning upon graduation.
Catholic High School offers a variety of AP courses for advanced preparatory education, including: English Literature, English Language, World History, U.S. History, U.S. Government and Politics, Calculus AB, Calculus BC, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Environmental Science, German, Spanish, Latin: Literature, Latin: Vergil, and Studio Art.
Religious education
In keeping with its Catholic tradition, CHS also gives the students a chance to get in touch with their relationship to God. Students receive various aspects of religious education and are required to perform community service to better understand their place in the wider community, serve as Eucharistic Ministers & Lectors at religious celebrations, and help with the planning and preparation of services and community events.[5]
CHS's Campus Ministry program is one of the strongest and most active on campus. Students, whether Catholic or not, participate in retreats, communal prayer services, and lead prayer each day.
Catholic High School is a Roman Catholic school in the Diocese of Richmond. The Mass is celebrated each week for the whole campus and confessions are available weekly and celebrated as a community twice yearly. CHS also marks several significant events (Rites of Passage, Baccalaureate) with Mass. In addition each student is required to take 4 years of theology.
Athletics
Catholic High School offers 41 sports teams for students to be involved in high school athletics and is a founding member of the Tidewater Conference of Independent Schools as well as a member of the Virginia Independent Schools Athletic Association (VISAA). Catholic High School is a college preparatory school where students are asked to push themselves every day with a rigorous academic program. At the same time, athletics are very important to the students at CHS. Over 85% of the student body participates on at least one of various sports teams.
In 2013, the football team won its first state championship, defeating Potomac School (McLean, Virginia) 50–44 in the Virginia Independent Schools title game to cap off an undefeated season. However, the tenure of football coach Carl Turner ended after the season; the school released a statement saying that Turner had resigned for personal reasons, but Turner then said that he had been fired because he had "run the score up on opposing teams" after being told not to do so.[6]
Notable alumni
- Cecil Gray – former collegiate and professional football player[7]
- Khalan Laborn – NFL running back for the San Francisco 49ers[8]
- Larry Sabato – political science professor[9]
- Ronnie Valentine – former collegiate and professional basketball player[10]
- Humbert Roque Versace – Medal of Honor recipient[11]
References
- ^ a b c d "Search for Private Schools – School Detail for Bishop Sullivan Catholic High School". National Center for Education Statistics. Institute of Education Sciences. Retrieved June 27, 2019.
- ^ a b c "Catholic High School History of Bishop Sullivan CHS in Hampton Roads". www.chsvb.org. Retrieved June 27, 2019.
- ^ SACS-CASI. "SACS-Council on Accreditation and School Improvement". Archived from the original on December 8, 2015. Retrieved June 23, 2009.
- ^
- "Bishop Barry C. Knestout Announces Policy Change Affecting the Naming of Diocesan Buildings and Institutions Within the Catholic Diocese of Richmond". Catholic Diocese of Richmond (Press release). June 27, 2019. Retrieved June 27, 2019 – via richmonddiocese.org.
- "Catholic High School School Name Change". www.chsvb.org. Catholic High School. June 27, 2019. Retrieved June 28, 2019.
- Hafner, Katherine (June 27, 2019). "Bishop Sullivan's name to be removed from Virginia Beach high school, says Catholic diocese". The Virginian-Pilot. Retrieved June 29, 2019.
- Boykin, Nick; Ponton, Brendan (June 27, 2019). "Bishop Sullivan Catholic High School to be renamed 'Catholic High School'". WTKR. Retrieved June 27, 2019.
- ^ "Spiritual Life". Archived from the original on May 20, 2012.
- ^ Rubama, Larry (January 8, 2014). "Bishop Sullivan football coach goes from 12-0 to out of a job". The Virginian-Pilot. Retrieved June 28, 2019.
- ^ "Cecil Gray Stats". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved June 27, 2019.
- ^ Dustin Lewis (December 12, 2022). "Former Florida State running back finds new home: The former Seminole earned his degree during the fall". SI.com.
- ^ Crystal, Charlotte (October 24, 2008). "A Man for This Season: Larry Sabato's Passion is Politics". UVA Today. University of Virginia – via news.virginia.edu.
After graduating from Norfolk Catholic High School in 1970, ...
- ^ "Ronnie Valentine Stats". Basketball-Reference.com. Retrieved June 28, 2019.
- ^ Vachon, Duane (April 7, 2012). "A Spirit-Filled Life Cut Short - Capt. Humbert Roque Versace, U.S. Army, Medal of Honor, Korea, Vietnam (1937-1965)". Hawaii Reporter.
