Aquinas High School (California)

Aquinas High School is a private, Roman Catholic high school in San Bernardino, California, United States. It is located in the Roman Catholic Diocese of San Bernardino.

Aquinas High School
Address
2772 Sterling Avenue San Bernardino , (San Bernardino County) , California 92404
Coordinates	34°8′32″N 117°14′39″W
Information
Type	Private, Coeducational
Motto	Lux et Veritas (Light and Truth)
Religious affiliation(s)	Roman Catholic
Established	1955
Superintendent	Dr. Samuel Torres
CEEB code	052772
President	Dr. Jim Brennan
Principal	Dr. Chris Barrows
Grades	9-12
Enrollment	525-550 (average)
Student to teacher ratio	14:1
Campus	Suburban/City
Campus size	28 acres (110,000 m^2)
Color(s)	Navy Blue, White and Grey
Athletics conference	Ambassador League
Sports	Football, boys' and girls' cross country, cheer, girls' volleyball, boys' and girls' tennis, boys’ water polo, wrestling, boys' and girls' basketball, boys' and girls' soccer, swimming, golf, baseball, softball, boys' and girls' track
Mascot	Falcon
Team name	Falcons
Rival	Notre Dame (Riverside)
Accreditation	Western Association of Schools and Colleges, Western Catholic Education Association[1]
Newspaper	The Falconer
Yearbook	The Summa
Tuition	$7,500 (2019-20)
Admissions Director	Mr. Nick Karavedas
Athletic Director	Mr. Chris Ybarra
Average college acceptance rate	~100%
Website	http://www.aquinashs.net

History

On June 15, 1954, Bishop Charles Buddy of the Diocese of San Diego (of which San Bernardino was then a part) announced Aquinas Hall would open the following academic year as a boys' Catholic high school. The school opened in 1955 with forty-nine freshmen. Bishop Buddy blessed the new facility on November 11, 1955. St. Bernadine's High School was an all-girl school, which closed its doors on its 50th anniversary in 1971. Its student body merged with Aquinas Hall, forming the co-educational Aquinas High School.

In the 2005-2006 school year facility upgrades began. In the spring of 2006 the football field was refurbished, bringing in a new playing surface and lighting. A new fence, entry walls, student drop-off area, and landscaping were completed in 2006. This was followed by the construction of the Fr. Devine Tennis Center. This facility provided Aquinas with six lit courts for their league champion Lady Falcon tennis team. Other improvements include the remodeling of the Bill Lemann Baseball Complex, the Lady Falcon softball field, the renovation of the quad area, and remodels of most of the restrooms on campus.

The 2011-2012 school year saw the dedication of the Rezek Student Center and the Matich Science Center. Both facilities allow students the use of technology to enhance their educational experience.[2]

The 2012-2013 school marked a dramatic renovation to the gymnasium and surrounding areas. A landscaping wall was constructed around the north and east side of the gym allowing for a new landscaped entry way. This entry is accessed through the Jim Ragan Parent Patio. The patio serves as a new entrance to the athletic facilities as well as providing a sitting area for parents, students and visitors. Adjacent to the parent patio is a new outdoor basketball court that allows students to play before, during and after school. This court also serves as a practice court for the junior varsity teams. Inside the gym, new motorized bleachers were installed along with a new sound system and a 20 ft projection screen and projector.

The Summer of 2013 saw the completion of The San Manuel Track. A state of the art all-weather synthetic track surface located in Reisch Stadium.

In the fall of 2014, thanks to the generosity of the Knights of Columbus, Aquinas dedicated a completely remodeled St. Thomas Aquinas Chapel. The new pews in the chapel now seat approximately 60 students. Also included in the remodel was an altar, flooring, lighting, stained glass, entry doors and extensive woodwork throughout. A new exterior facade was also constructed. That same year in December, Aquinas dedicated the Warden Barrows Prayer Garden. This prayer garden located on the north side of campus was donated by the family of Principal Chris Barrows in memory of his late father. The garden features a Stations of the Cross prayer walk.

In preparation for the school's 60th anniversary several new projects began to come to fruition. In August 2015 The Scafiddi Family Amphitheater was completed and blessed by Bishop Barnes. The amphitheater seats over 450 students and can be used for a myriad of activities from mass and assemblies to classes and theater productions. The amphitheater proved to be immediately useful during the beginning of the 2015-2016 school year. At this time the gymnasium was undergoing a major renovation causing the school to lose the only place on campus where the entire student body could gather. Thanks to the generosity of the Scafiddi family the amphitheater provided a new gathering place for the Falcon community. The first phase of the gymnasium renovation was completed in mid-October. This first phase consisted of entirely new locker rooms, football and coaches offices, gym floor, additional bleachers, lighting, air conditioning and interior and exterior doors. During the 2015 Homecoming game the gymnasium was officially renamed The Aquinas-Gogo Gymnasium in honor of the generosity of the Gogo family.

Also new for the 2015-2016 school year was an additional state-of the-art science lab constructed within The Matich Science Center.

The 2016-2017 school year saw the beginning of the largest building project in the history of the school. The 60 Years of Success project consisted of the construction of a new 4000 sqft. lobby for the Aquinas-Gogo Gymnasium (completed 8/17), a new administration building located on the north side of campus (completed 2/18), the conversion of the old administration building to a new student support center (completed 4/18), production studio, digital media/graphic design lab, engineering/robotics lab (completed 9/18), and the 17,000 sqft. San Manuel Performing Arts Center (completed 8/18), which consists of a music room, drama classroom, set shop, and dressing rooms. The facility also provides the ability to teach classes in lighting and sound design.

Academics

Aquinas offers 24 AP courses and 15 honors courses. Aquinas consistently graduates nearly 100% of its students with nearly all 100% of these students being accepted to some of the best colleges and universities across the country. Aquinas also currently offers 4 pre-professional programs, The Aquinas Healthcare Academy, The Aquinas Law Academy, The Aquinas Engineering Academy, and The Aquinas Performing Arts Academy. These programs offer students a four-year course of study which includes certain academic courses and internships at St. Bernadine Hospital, various law and engineering offices located throughout downtown San Bernardino.

In the fall of 2015 Aquinas was recognized as an Apple Distinguished School for its comprehensive use of the iPad and technology in the classroom and within the curriculum. In the spring of 2020 Aquinas was voted as the "Best Private School" in San Bernardino County for the 9th consecutive year. In the fall of 2017 Aquinas was once again recognized as an Apple Distinguished School for another two-year term. This was followed by being named an Apple Distinguished School for the 3rd time in the fall of 2019.

Athletics

Since the inception of the Falcon sports program Aquinas has maintained a consistent level of success, in particular in boys' basketball, football, boys' soccer, and baseball teams. In the summer of 2017 Aquinas was chosen as an official Nike school which allows for the outfitting of the Falcon athletic teams exclusively in Nike apparel. Aquinas athletic teams have won over 120 league championships, 8 CIF championships, and 2 state championships.

• Football – 1958, 1960, 1962, 1964, 1968, 1979, 1981, 2005, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019
  • CIF Champions 2000, 2005, 2017, 2019
  • CIF Runner-Up 2016
  • State South Region Champions 2019
  • State South Region Runner-Up 2017
  • State Champions 2005
  • State Runner-Up 2019
• Girls' volleyball – 1999, 2000, 2012, 2013
• Girls' tennis – 1982, 1983, 1984, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2011, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2019
  • CIF Runner-Up 2005, 2010
• Girls' cross country - 2009, 2010
• Boys' basketball – 1960, 1962, 1963, 1964, 1966, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1980, 1983, 1984, 1988, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2020
  • CIF Champions 1973
  • CIF Runner-Up 1968, 1969, 2020
• Girls' basketball – 1983, 1992, 1993, 2001, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018
• Boys' soccer – 1982, 1983, 1986, 1988, 1989, 1993, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2018
  • CIF Champions 1998, 2018
• Girls' soccer – 1990
• Wrestling – 1979, 1984, 1985, 1986
• Baseball – 1959, 1963, 1964, 1965, 1966, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1990, 1997
• Softball – 1976, 1983, 1985, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2019
  • CIF Champions 2013
  • State Champions 2013
• Golf – 1983, 1984, 2000, 2009
• Boys' track – 1958, 1988, 2003, 2004, 2005
• Girls' track – 2003, 2004

The Aquinas campus in the summer of 2018

Facilities

Lemann Leadership Center - New administration building completed in the winter of 2018 which now serves as the main entrance to the campus. The center is a modern, energy efficient facility, which houses the offices of the primary leadership of the school.

The Lemann Center houses the Aquinas administrative offices

San Manuel Performing Arts Center - Opened in 2018 the center contains seating for approximately 350 in the main auditorium and contains a music classroom, offices, dressing rooms, and a scene shop. The center is one of the most state-of-the-art venues in the inland empire.

San Manuel Performing Arts Center 2019

St. Bernardine Hall - One of the original classroom buildings constructed in 1955. Currently St. Bernardine Hall houses world language and ethics classrooms.

Matich Science Center - Constructed shortly after the opening of the school the Matich Science Center contains the school's science and engineering labs as well as classroom lecture space. Throughout the years the building has undergone several renovations, the most recent coming in 2015.

Rezek Student Center - Formerly the school's library constructed in 1979. 2011 saw the conversion of the building to a student centered resource area staffed until 5:00pm providing a technological enhanced facility for students to collaborate.

Scafiddi Family Amphitheater - Constructed in 2015 the 450 seat amphitheater provides space for large student gatherings and can host masses, concerts, and various student performances.

St. Thomas Aquinas Chapel - Small chapel with room for approximately 60 students.

Aquinas-Gogo Gymnasium - Opened in 1960 the main athletic center of the school serves as home to the Falcon basketball, volleyball and wrestling teams. The gymnasium also houses the football facilities and athletic offices. In 2015 the gymnasium received a major renovation which consisted of entirely new locker rooms, football and coaches offices, gym floor, additional bleachers, lighting, air conditioning and interior and exterior doors. In 2017 a new 4,000 sq.ft. lobby named "The Aquinas Hall of Champions" was completed to provide a new entrance to the gymnasium as well as displaying the rich history of Aquinas athletics.

Reisch Stadium - Reisch Stadium is home to Cadden Field and the San Manuel Track. The stadium is home to the Falcon football, soccer, and track teams. Located in the lower level of the stadium is the weight room and wrestling practice facility.

Bill Lemann Baseball Complex - Home to Fr. Andre Field and the Falcon baseball teams.

Aquinas Softball Field - Home to the 2013 state champion Lady Falcon's softball team.

Fr. Devine Tennis Center - Opened in 2006 the center provides a state-of-the-art facility for the champion Lady Falcons tennis teams.

Notable alumni

• Rod Pacheco, former Riverside County, California District Attorney, former California Assembly member.[3]
• Chris Parker, American football player.[4]

References

1. WASC-ACS. "WASC-Accrediting Commission for Schools". Retrieved 2009-06-05.
2. AHS. "School History". Retrieved 2007-05-11.
3. DeArmond, Michelle, Kimberly Trone and Jose Arballo Jr.Timeline of Pachecos political and legal career, The Press Enterprise, January 5, 2008. Retrieved October 4, 2009.
4. Springer, Steve (June 9, 1989). "TAKING A FLING : Former CS Northridge Quarterback Chris Parker Earns a Shot With the Rams After Stops in Two Foreign Leagues". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on December 29, 2014. Retrieved December 28, 2014.