Top 10 Reasons for Choosing Cardinal Spellman HS, Bronx, NY

Top 10 Reasons for choosing Spellman
Cardinal Spellman HS, The Bronx, NY Catholic, Excellent, Co-ed, Diverse, Proud, College-oriented, Creative, Friendly, Comprehensive, Well-equipped Facilities. [ Short Summary of the Top 10 Reasons ]
1. Catholic, with Vision
1	We are joyfully Roman Catholic, preserving the best of our great heritage, learning to live the human and Christian virtues in wisdom and compassion, walking with Jesus who calls us friends, not servants. We are the daughters and sons of God, brothers and sisters to the Lord Jesus, and brothers and sisters to one another. In all our learning, most especially in our Religion classes, and in all our daily activities, the spirit of Jesus shapes our work and our play, our speech and our silence, our creativity and our compassion. We share a vision of growth, empowerment and improvement ...... a vision of a world made new again, in Christ ...... a vision of God's perfect kingdom; and as we pray for the coming of that kingdom ...... we seek the courage to make it so today. Read our school's statement of Mission and Philosophy. At Spellman, we each grow, in Christ, into daily caring, and compassionate community. (Top of this page)
2. Excellence, with Heart
2	Our goal is gently to assist each individual student to achieve his or her own personal best in academics, athletics, activities, and most importantly, in their growth as happy, healthy, wholesome individuals well prepared to meet the challenges they will face, and to excel. Graduates say they appreciate what they learned here as members of the Spellman community. To do this, Spellman offers a wide range of required and elective academic courses (Regents level, Honors, and Advanced Placement) and assists each student in learning how not just to do well, but often to do better, and always to aim for their best. Self-education is the best skill a student can master and Spellman teaches the "how-to's" of life-time learning and growing. We begin with the skills of reading, writing, speaking and thinking, and we always try to share our visions and dreams. Likewise in the (required) physical education program and (optional) athletic programs, students participate in many opportunities to develop life-long physical fitness habits, to learn team-work, and grow into leaders. Spellman girls and boys join teams in many sports (both intra-mural and inter-scholastic) and learn to compete successfully against themselves and their peers. Spellman students learn achievement by achieving. The food, music, and artistic presentations of International Cultures Days at Spellman show the combined imaginative efforts of our many ethnic clubs and activities. Jazz and stagecraft, dancing and singing and acting, cheerleading and twirling, chess and medical arts and science clubs, all these and many more extra-curricular activities give students personal opportunities to choose fun ways of exercising their curiosity and developing their talents, sometimes growing into lifetime careers, and often into lifetime friendships. At Spellman, each student, the whole person (body and mind, heart and soul) grows daily toward his or her full and unique potential. (Top of this page)
3. Co-ed, with Respect
3	Our wonderful world is filled with God's own sons and daughters and from its beginnings in 1959-60, Spellman has offered a college-preparatory "education for life" to girls and boys, from the Bronx, Manhattan, Queens, and Westchester County. Begun as a co-institutional secondary school with separate academic departments for young men and women, in the early 1970's these departments and the school administration were merged into a completely co-educational school. Seniors, when asked, often say that the leading reason they chose Spellman was this co-ed opportunity to learn and grow in the friendly company of both GIRLS and BOYS, and that they are very happy with their choice. Graduates of many years say the same. Some of our graduates met and married their best friends from Spellman, and are sending their sons and daughters to CSHS. At Spellman, we learn to live, to work, and to play together, always with understanding and respect. (Top of this page)
4. Diverse, with Unity (our Students)
4	In age (frosh, sophs, juniors, seniors), abilities and interests, skills and talents, backgrounds, ethnic origins, neighborhoods, grade schools, religious practices, and in many more ways, the Students and the Faculty of Spellman blend a marvelous diversity into a wondrous unity. Each contributes their own special uniqueness to the community of Cardinal Spellman High School. We learn from one another, and we teach one another. We grow to respect the ways of others and they learn to understand and cherish ours. We grow wise in openness to the traditions of others and in appreciation of our own. At Spellman, we live the motto of the United States of America, "E pluribus - Unum" ......Out of many - One. (Top of this page)
5. Proud, with a Past (our Grads)
5	We are very proud of our 18,960 graduates, including in a special way the 371 members of the CSHS Class of 2008. They are path finders and record setters, and remain strong supporters of Spellman, filled with happy memories of their years with us. They live all over the USA and the world. They have entered the professions (medicine and health care, the law, the judiciary, the military, accountancy, teaching, priesthood and religious life, etc). They have careers in politics and public service, science and engineering, the arts and journalism, the media and entertainment, technology and computing, commerce and finance, business and sales. They are peace keepers and home makers. They are making the world a better place for all of us. Some have publicly given their lives in the armed forces of the US far away from home in Viet Nam, some closer to home in the FDNY and the PAPD during the 9-11 tragedy at the World Trade Center. Visit our alumni memorial pages to see their names. Others have given many hidden gifts to their communities and ours. As mothers and fathers, they have started and sustained fine families, following the example of Joseph and Mary and Jesus. Some of their children have already graduated from CSHS, and it won't be long, perhaps, before many of their grandchildren are also Spellman graduates. We have already graduated one young woman whose father, and mother, and mother's mother are each also Spellman grads. The traditions our wonderful graduates have started here are part of "the Spellman style" and still set the tone of our daily activities. It may be of interest that over sixty graduates have returned to join the CSHS Faculty as professional teachers and administrators; this year (2007-2008) these faculty-grads number twenty-two. We honor them, each and all, and are proud of them beyond all measure. Their continuing love and support daily strengthen all at CSHS. You may wish to visit our alumni/ae pages on this website for more info. At Spellman, we proudly honor our path-finders, and walk in their footsteps, with hope and zest. (Top of this page)
6. College-oriented (our Prep for the Future)
6	Since Cardinal Spellman High School graduated its first class in June of 1963, each year, over 90% (often over 97%) of our graduates (now numbering 18,960 including our 46th Graduation Class of 2008) have been accepted into colleges of their choice. Many have won full or partial scholarships to these colleges. They have been successful in college, often graduating with honors and entering into fine professions and careers. Preparing each student for college acceptance and achievement is a priority goal of the entire Spellman program, and a deep personal enthusiasm of every teacher and administrator. We also look beyond college in helping Spellman students prepare for the rest of their lives. Statistics on recent graduating classes and a listing (with links) of colleges attended by CSHS seniors in recent years are available on our website for your interest. You may also wish to view the info sheet we provide for college admissions officers about CSHS. At Spellman, acceptance into a college of one's choice, and successful achievement there, is an important priority goal of all we do. (Top of this page)
7. Creative (our Tools for Tomorrow)
7	Personal growth, wonder-filled curiosity, depth of understanding, imagination, creativity, problem solving abilities, self-confidence, and enthusiasm --- these are the tools we will need for tomorrow's challenges. Spellman's approach is to excite a person's mind, to stimulate lifelong curiosity, to accustom students to techniques for breaking problems into small pieces and having the confidence to solve them. To be cheerfully resilient, confidently persistent, and quietly imaginative --- these are virtues that bring wisdom, achievement, and success not only in work and in play, but especially in our whole life. At Spellman, we share open minds, open ears, and open hearts. We have small-school friendliness and big-school opportunities. (Top of this page)
8. Friendly (our Companions for Life)
8	Friends are very important at Spellman. You will meet old friends when you come to Spellman, friends from your grammar school, from your parish and from your neighborhood. You will meet and make new friends as soon as you arrive at Spellman, and through your four years here, many more will be added to your list. Some of these will be "best friends," and a few will be close friends for the rest of your lives. Some Spellman "best friends" have married and are sending their own sons and daughters to CSHS now. You will also find and make friends among the CSHS Faculty members who will help you on your path, and you will understand and appreciate the meaning of the words of Jesus, "... I have called you my friends ..." At Spellman, we make friends for living, and friends for life. We have small-school friendliness with big-school opportunities. (Top of this page)
9. Comprehensive (our Tools for Learning)
9	Young men and women at Cardinal Spellman High School receive an imaginatively balanced education, developing all aspects of their personalities and talents. All the academic courses in the various academic departments, and all our extra-curricular activities, as well as "the Spellman style" so carefully developed over 40 years of successful operation, have been arranged into a well co-ordinated, systematic and comprehensive plan designed to promote each student's individual and personalized growth. The best of traditional methods and content, and the best of the newest technologies and modern subject matter are presented to interest the students, to stimulate their curiosity and their enthusiasm, and to help them develop personal styles of life-long learning and further growth. We do not rely on "rote-learning" or un-structured knowledge of un-related details. It is important to understand the forest as well as to know the individual trees. At Spellman, we pay attention to the details, but we range far-and-wide in our common quest for knowledge, understanding, and wisdom. This approach provides the tools for our futures. At Spellman, we focus on small-school friendliness and individual personal growth, with big-school opportunities (Top of this page)
10. Facilities (how & where we do it all)
10	Cardinal Spellman HS is located in a beautiful, modern and well-maintained building on a 13-acre campus where the Bronx and Westchester meet, easily accessible to public bus and subway, close to major highways, and filled with spaces to learn, to play, and to perform. Library; Chapels; Gym and Locker Rooms; Little Theater; Auditorium; Cafeteria and Kitchens; 82 Classrooms; 5 Science Labs with Lecture and Preparation Rooms for the Earth Sciences, Biology, Chemistry and Physics; Newspaper, Yearbook, and Student Government Offices; College Info Center and Guidance Suites; Alumni and Advancement Offices; Administrative, Maintenance and Staff spaces; Nurse's Suite; School Copy Center; Audio-Visual Center; Department Offices for Faculty; Faculty Dining Rooms; Garden Courtyard; Bookstore; outdoor Running Track and Playing Fields; Art Rooms; 3 Computer Labs; Physical Fitness Center; Weight Room; Band Room and Individual Practice Rooms --- all these (and more) serve the Spellman student body. As we enter the Summer of 2008, the spectacular renovation of our outdoor athletic fields is nearing its completion. Technology is not lacking: Master antenna systems; Bronx Cable TV; Archdiocesan ITV; Channel-One Satellite system; 3 fully-furnished (30 PC's each) Computer class Labs; school-wide T-1 fast Internet connections; Research computers in the Library; Faculty Computers and Department Office Internet access; Computer networking LANs; Mobile Laptop Computing Set-ups; Computer projection systems; Internet interactive SmartBoards; superb Stage and Backstage facilities; Weather Station; Photographic Darkroom; Teachers' Copy Center; wired display cases, and much more. At Spellman, "Learning is Job-One" and we have the "where-with-all" to make it happen. We have small-school friendliness with big-school opportunities. (Top of this page)