Our Lady of Good Counsel High School (Maryland)

Our Lady of Good Counsel High School
Address
17301 Old Vic Boulevard Olney , Maryland 20832
Coordinates	39°8′30″N77°2′43″W / 39.14167°N 77.04528°W / 39.14167; -77.04528
Information
Type	Private, Coeducational
Motto	Faciat Maria Nos Videre (English: Mary, make us see.)
Religious affiliation(s)	Roman Catholic
Established	1958
School district	Archdiocese of Washington Catholic Schools [1]
CEEB code	211-083 [2]
President	Mr. John Ciccone
Principal	Mr. Tom Campbell
Chaplain	Fr. Tom Lavin
Grades	9–12
Enrollment	1200+ (2019-2020)
Campus	51 acres (210,000 m2)
Color(s)	Blue and Gold
Slogan	We inspire our students to excel, serve, and love.
Athletics conference	Washington Catholic Athletic Conference
Mascot	Falcon
Accreditation	Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools [3]
Publication	The Counselor (literary magazine)
Newspaper	The Talon
Tuition	$29,350
Affiliation	Xaverian Brothers
Admissions Director	Maria Nichols
Athletic Director	Steve Howes
Website	https://www.olgchs.org/about-us/at-a-glance

Our Lady of Good Counsel High School is a private, Catholic, college-preparatory, coeducational high school in Olney, Maryland, an unincorporated area of Montgomery County, Maryland. It is located in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Washington.

Operated under the sponsorship of the Xaverian Brothers, Our Lady of Good Counsel serves students grades nine through twelve.

History

The school was founded in 1958 as an all-boys school in Wheaton, Maryland. In 1988, the school became coeducational, and during the 2006-2007 school year, the school relocated to a new campus in Olney, Maryland, about 7 miles (11 km) north of its previous location in Wheaton, Maryland. ^[4]

Academics

Good Counsel High School has Advanced Placement courses, a STEM Program, and the International Baccalaureate Program. The school also has the Ryken Program, which is geared towards students with mild learning differences. It is named after Theodore Ryken, founder of the Xaverian Brothers. ^[5]

The faculty consists of 200 teachers, counselors, and administrators. In September 1993 and 2002, Good Counsel High School was awarded the Blue Ribbon Award for Excellence in Secondary Education by the United States Department of Education.^{[ citation needed ]} The school is fully accredited by the Middle States Association.^{[ citation needed ]}

Religious life

Students are required to take four years of religious studies classes ^[6] as well as participate in religious retreats. There is a daily Mass as well as all-school Masses on major religious holy days. All students are required to complete a certain number of community service hours each year.

Fine arts

The school offers theatre, band, chorus, dance, and visual arts classes. ^[7] Musical ensembles include a wind ensemble, symphonic band, string ensemble, beginning and advanced percussion ensembles, jazz ensemble, and a marching band.

The school's theater program performs two mainstage productions a year. A 650-seat performing arts center opened in 2016. ^[8] Good Counsel's theatre production of Les Misérables in 2013 received a five-star rating from the DC Metro Theatre Arts Magazine. ^[9]

Athletics

Good Counsel competes in the WCAC and has many highly ranked athletic teams in the region.^{[ non-primary source needed ]} Many student-athletes have continued at the collegiate level and have received athletic scholarships at division one schools. The football team has even had several players make it to the NFL. ^[10]

Notable alumni

• Rev. Robert B. Lawton, S.J., Ph.D. 1965 – President, Loyola Marymount University.
• Al Checchi 1966 – former Chairman of Northwest Airlines and California gubernatorial candidate. ^[11]
• Marty Hurney 1974 – American football executive. ^[12]
• John Berry 1977 – United States Ambassador to Australia.^{[ citation needed ]}
• Kevin Blackistone 1977 – columnist, Dallas Morning News; panelist, ESPN Around The Horn. ^[13]
• Joseph Curl 1978 – Columnist, White House correspondent, The Washington Times. Editor, The Drudge Report. ^{[ citation needed ]}
• Mark Povinelli 1989 – actor, Water for Elephants (2011 film), Modern Family , Cold Case . ^[14]
• Rick Yune 1989 – actor, The Fast and the Furious and Die Another Day (James Bond villain), a graduate of Wharton School (Penn), cousin of NBA star Jeremy Lin.^{[ citation needed ]}
• Zach Hilton 1998 – former NFL player with New Orleans Saints 2003–2005 and New York Jets 2006; graduated from University of North Carolina. ^{[10] [15]}
• Chas Gessner 1999 – professional football player, member of 2003 Super Bowl champion New England Patriots. ^{[10] [16]}
• Roger Mason Jr. 1999 – NBA player for 7 different teams; graduated from University of Virginia; Executive Vice President of NBA Players Association. ^[17]
• James Gist 2004 – 2008 second-round draft pick for NBA's San Antonio Spurs; player for Greek professional basketball powerhouse Panathinaikos; graduated from University of Maryland. ^[18]
• Jelani Jenkins 2009 – 2013 fourth-round draft pick for NFL's Miami Dolphins, linebacker for Oakland Raiders, Buffalo Bills, and Houston Texans; graduate of University of Florida. ^{[10] [19]}
• Lou Young 2010 – undrafted free agent signed in 2014 by NFL's Denver Broncos; defensive back for Georgia Tech, Baltimore Ravens, Jacksonville Jaguars, Carolina Panthers, Washington Redskins, and Arizona Cardinals. ^{[10] [20]}
• Rodney Glasgow Jr. 2010 - professional basketball player for Sheffield Sharks.
• Blake Countess 2011 – 2016 sixth-round pick by NFL's Philadelphia Eagles; defensive back for Los Angeles Rams, University of Michigan and Auburn University. ^[21]
• Phylicia Pearl Mpasi 2011 - actress, The Color Purple (2023) and Broadway and National Tour cast member of The Lion King ^[22]

• Stefon Diggs 2012 – WR for NFL’s Houston Texans; 2015 fifth-round pick by NFL's Minnesota Vikings; WR and KR for University of Maryland; ACC Rookie-of-the-Year runner-up. ^{[10] [23]}
• Jack Conger 2013 – Rio de Janeiro 2016 Summer Olympics 4 × 200 meter freestyle relay gold medalist; national high school record holder for the 500-yard freestyle. ^[24]
• Kendall Fuller 2013 – 2016 third-round pick by NFL's Washington Redskins; defensive back for Washington Commanders and Virginia Tech; ACC Defensive Rookie-of-the-Year; Super Bowl LIV Champion with NFL’s Kansas City Chiefs. ^{[10] [25]}
• Dorian O'Daniel 2013 – 2018 third-round pick by NFL's Kansas City Chiefs; linebacker for Clemson University; winner of 2017 College Football Playoff National Championship; Super Bowl LIV Champion. ^[25]
• Margaret Purce 2013 – current member of senior United States women's national soccer team and Sky Blue FC of the NWSL. Drafted with the 9th pick in the 2017 NWSL College Draft by the Boston Breakers and former member of the Portland Thorns. Elected to Harvard University's Board of Overseers. ^[26]
• Kyle Snyder 2014 – wrestler, 2016, 2017 and 2018 NCAA heavyweight champion, 2015, 2017 world champion; Rio de Janeiro 2016 Summer Olympics 97 kg freestyle gold medalist. ^[27]
• Imani Dorsey 2014 – current member of senior United States women's national soccer team and Sky Blue FC of the NWSL. Drafted by Sky Blue FC with the 5th overall pick in the 2018 NWSL College Draft and later named 2018 NWSL Rookie of the Year. ^[28]
• Sam Mustipher 2014 - undrafted free agent signed in 2019 by NFL's Chicago Bears; center for Notre Dame.
• Uche Eke 2015 - Tokyo 2020 Summer Olympics Gymnastics event participant for Nigeria.
• Nicole Enabosi 2015 - professional basketball player for MBK Ružomberok.
• Keandre Jones 2016 - undrafted free agent signed in 2020 by NFL's Chicago Bears; linebacker for Cincinnati Bengals.
• Lindsey Pulliam 2017 - professional basketball player for Elazığ İl Özel İdarespor. Drafted by the Atlanta Dream in the third round of the 2021 WNBA draft.
• Josh Paschal 2017 - 2022 second-round pick by NFL's Detroit Lions; defensive end for The University of Kentucky; named to 2021 All-SEC football team.
• Jalen Green 2019 - defensive end for the James Madison Dukes ^[29]
• Cam Hart 2019 - college football cornerback for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish ^[30]
• Kris Jenkins 2020 - college football defensive tackle for the Michigan Wolverines ^[31]

External links

• Official website

References

1. "Find a School". Archdiocese of Washington Catholic Schools.
2. "Code Search". The College Board. 2010. Retrieved September 12, 2010.
3. MSA-CSS. "MSA-Commission on Secondary Schools". Archived from the original on September 17, 2009. Retrieved July 31, 2009.
4. "History of Our Lady of Good Counsel". olgchs.org. Retrieved August 27, 2023.
5. "Academics". olgchs.org. Retrieved August 27, 2023.
6. "Course Offerings". olgchs.org. Retrieved August 27, 2023.
7. "Artistic Programs Performing Arts Information". olgchs.org. Retrieved August 27, 2023.
8. "Performing Arts Center". olgchs.org. Retrieved August 27, 2023.
9. Georgia, Jennifer (March 18, 2013). "Les Misérables at Our Lady of Good Counsel High School" . Retrieved February 23, 2019.
10. "NFL Alumni". Our Lady of Good Counsel High School. Olney, MD. Retrieved August 17, 2020.
11. Pressley, Sue Anne (April 15, 1991). "Spirit of a Friend Lives On". Washington Post.
12. Russell, Chris. "Hurney Homecoming? Did Panthers Just Fire WFT's Next GM?". SI.com. Retrieved March 2, 2021.
13. Hyman, Mark (January 5, 2009). "ESPN's interest gives prep sports a home under bright lights". Sports Business Daily.
14. "Alumni Spotlight Series". Our Lady of Good Counsel High School. November 11, 2019.
15. Freeman, Rick (November 2, 2000). "Family Values". Washington Post.
16. Orton, Kathy (October 11, 2002). "Brown's Gessner Is Quite a Catch". Washington Post.
17. "For Mason, lessons in persistence". The Washington Times. April 24, 2008.
18. Markus, Don (July 29, 2016). "Former Terp James Gist feels at home playing in Greece". Baltimore Sun.
19. Parker, Brandon (April 24, 2013). "NFL draft 2013: Jelani Jenkins, Good Counsel alum, looks to prove himself at pro level". Washington Post.
20. Diven, Keely (June 7, 2017). "Redskins sign local DB, waive another DB to make room". NBC Sports Washington.
21. Lee, Edward (August 6, 2018). "For Rams safety Blake Countess, practice in Owings Mills is a happy homecoming and 'business trip'". Baltimore Sun.
22. "High School Theater Company Musicals Acting Stage Design MD". www.olgchs.org. Retrieved September 15, 2023.
23. "#TBT: Vikings standout Stefon Diggs was an All-USA WR at Good Counsel (Md.)". USA TODAY High School Sports. September 28, 2017. Retrieved April 9, 2018.
24. Reinink, Amy (June 26, 2017). "Bethesda Interview: Jack Conger". Bethesda Magazine.
25. Bogage, Jacob (January 31, 2020). "Good Counsel teammates Kendall Fuller and Dorian O'Daniel team up for Chiefs at Super Bowl". Washington Post.
26. Detweiler, Eric (November 28, 2012). "Midge Purce lifts Good Counsel girls' soccer atop final rankings for second straight year". Washington Post.
27. Eilerson, Nick (January 22, 2017). "Olympic champ Kyle Snyder returns to high school gym to wrestle for Ohio State". Washington Post.
28. "Maryland Girls Soccer POY: Imani Dorsey". USA TODAY High School Sports. February 6, 2014.
29. "Jalen Green - Football". James Madison University Athletics.
30. Glenesk, Matthew. "Signing Day: Meet Notre Dame football's 2019 recruiting class". IndyStar.
31. Michigan football: 3-star DE Kris Jenkins commits to U-M