The dedicated bronze statue of Jesus, standing in the center of the amphitheater, gleamed in the late-summer sun. Yellow forklifts and construction trucks on school grounds hold the promise of even more additions to the campus and exciting renovations, including the renewal of the gymnasium and the construction of a second science laboratory.
These are not the only changes to the campus, however, and they are certainly not the only new additions. As the size of the school expands, so too does the student body.
Although Aquinas High School saw 120 students graduate in May, the 2016 school year brought in over one hundred new, smiling faces in the form of freshmen. This year’s freshmen are entering from local Catholic schools and public schools alike, raising the size of the Aquinas student body to nearly 430 students.
But the freshmen aren’t the only new students on campus– the International Program is thriving, and the campus is richly diverse with visitors from China, Korea, and Germany.
The Aquinas community also welcomes five new additions to its faculty. This school year, the ethics department has expanded by welcoming Sister Jennifer Otuonye to teach Junior Ethics. As a Catholic private high school, Aquinas holds the role of ethics in a high school curriculum in high regard and prioritizes the quality of religious education received throughout four years.
Aquinas has also strengthened the language, media and arts, and history programs with new and wonderful teachers.
The school curriculum is ever-expanding, featuring new classes that offer real-world information and experience for those students looking to delve into specialized careers. Sports medicine and visual communications are among the many classes that prepare students for careers and courses of study in the years following high school. As a college-preparatory school, Aquinas provides an array of courses designed to strengthen minds and challenge students to grow academically, all while bettering the chances of students being accepted into colleges and universities.
How do the seniors feel about starting their last year as a part of the Aquinas community? Most students eagerly anticipate senior year from the very moment they set foot on campus as freshmen, and await the day that diplomas are secured in hand.
It isn’t until senior year that students realize it truly is their final year as a member of the Aquinas student body, and that it is the end to the years of high school fun.
“Aquinas has been a great experience and I’m very excited for all the things that are going to be happening this year, but I’m also sad that I’ll be leaving Aquinas when this year is over,” said senior Henry Widdicombe.