Background
St. Patrick-St. Vincent High School's long history began in 1870 when St. Vincent Ferrer parish established the Catholic Free School in Vallejo. The first graduates received diplomas in 1880. St. Vincent Ferrer, the "Saints," remained a co-educational high school serving students from the greater Solano County (Benicia, Fairfield, Napa, Vacaville, Vallejo) and West Contra Costa County until June 1968. In September 1968, at the urging of Msgr. Thomas Kirby, the Diocese of Sacramento opened St. Patrick High School, "St. Pat's," an all-boys school at the current location on Benicia Road. St. Vincent became an all-girls school.
During the succeeding years, the two high schools shared social events and occasionally shared faculty and instructional resources. Eventually, the schools had several co-ed athletic teams. In 1983, the changing demographics of Solano County and the rising cost of Catholic education necessitated some long range planning, and the decision was made to merge St. Patrick and St. Vincent High Schools. On October 18, 1986, the groundbreaking for a new classroom facility, to meet the expanding student body, took place, and in the fall of 1987, the first classes of St. Patrick-St. Vincent High School were united to continue the long and excellent tradition of Catholic secondary education in Solano County. The Dominican Sisters of San Rafael administered St. Vincent Ferrer High School under the auspices of the Diocese of Sacramento. The Congregation of Christian Brothers (formerly known as the Christian Brothers of Ireland) administered and staffed St. Patrick High School. After the merger, the Christian Brothers and the Dominican Sisters continued to serve in both administrative and teaching capacities. In 1993, when the Christian Brothers withdrew from St. Patrick-St. Vincent High School the Diocese of Sacramento assumed the responsibility for hiring the administrator of the school.
The traditions of both the Christian Brothers and the Dominican Sisters serve as a strong foundation upon which St. Patrick-St. Vincent High School can continue the mission of Catholic education well into the 21st century. [2]
Academics
- Curriculum
St. Patrick-St. Vincent High School offers a rigorous, college preparatory education with an emphasis on math, science and the humanities. Classes meet all relevant Common Core standards. AP classes are offered in the areas of English (Literature and Composition, Language and Composition), Math (Statistics and Calculus), Computer Science, Art (Studio, 2-D and 3-D) World Language and Culture (Spanish and French) and History (World and US).
- Requirements
To graduate from St. Patrick-St. Vincent High School, students must earn a total of 260 credits as outlined below. Juniors and seniors must carry a minimum of 60 credits per academic year. Freshmen and sophomores must take 70 credits each year. St. Patrick-St. Vincent High School is under no obligation to accept credits from other institutions. Make-up courses (night school and summer school) must be approved. The Assistant Principal makes all final decisions concerning the evaluation of credits.
The following courses are required of all students:
- Religious Studies - 40 credits
- English 40 - credits
- Mathematics - 30 credits
- Science 20 - credits
- Social Studies (must include World History, U.S. History, Civics, and Economics) - 30 credits
- World Language (required of honors/college-bound students; recommended for all others) - 20 credits
- Physical Education (including 5 credits of Health) - 20 credits
- Fine Arts - 10 credits
- Electives - 40 credits
- Christian Service Annual requirement
- SPSV Honor Code
Every member of the St. Patrick-St. Vincent High School community strives to live by the letter and the spirit of the SPSV Honor Code:
"As a member of the St. Patrick-St. Vincent High School Community, I promise to aspire to the highest level of personal and academic integrity. I will work toward building an environment of trust and mutual respect in all that I do. Furthermore, I commit myself to truth (Veritas), avoiding dishonesty in both academic work and in personal encounters. I will always endeavor to create an atmosphere of peace and tolerance, with respect for others and their ideas." [2]
School crest
The St. Patrick-St. Vincent High School crest incorporates the shields of St. Patrick High School and St. Vincent Ferrer High School. In the upper left hand corner of the crest is the shield of the Christian Brothers. The star in the crest is a reminder that those who instruct many unto justice shall shine as stars for all eternity. The star is set upon a Celtic cross, the source of the inspiration of faith and the instrument of redemption.
In the lower right hand corner is the traditional Dominican shield. Having its origins in medieval times, the shield's "cross fleury" signifies fruitful victory, duty, and self-sacrifice. The alternating dark and light represent various qualities. The dark stands for silence, wisdom, and fortitude; the white for peace, purity, charity and sincerity.
The two mottos "Veritas" (Latin for "Truth" and the motto of the Dominican Order) and "Facere et Docere" (Latin for "To do and To Teach" and the motto of the Congregation of Christian Brothers) represent the essence of Catholic education: to lead young people to the knowledge of the truth, which is God, and to reflect the charity of Christ in the many processes of instruction. [2]
Vallejo is a city in Solano County, California and the second largest city in the North Bay region of the Bay Area. Located on the shores of San Pablo Bay, the city had a population of 126,090 at the 2020 census. Vallejo is home to the California Maritime Academy, Touro University California and Six Flags Discovery Kingdom.
Benicia is a city in Solano County, California, located on the north bank of the Carquinez Strait in the North Bay region of the San Francisco Bay Area. It served as the capital of California for nearly thirteen months from 1853 to 1854. The population was 27,131 at the 2020 United States Census. Benicia is just east of Vallejo and across the strait from Martinez.
Dominican University of California is a private university in San Rafael, California. It was founded in 1890 as Dominican College by the Dominican Sisters of San Rafael. It is one of the oldest universities in California.
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Vincent Memorial Catholic High School is a private, Roman Catholic high school in Calexico, California. It is located in the Roman Catholic Diocese of San Diego The school serves approximately 300 students.
St. Vincent Ferrer High School is an independent, college-preparatory Roman Catholic high school for girls located on the Upper East Side of the Manhattan, in New York City, New York.
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Immaculate Heart of Mary (IHM) Seminary is a Roman Catholic college seminary for men in Winona, Minnesota, in the United States that is sponsored by the Diocese of Winona.
St. Catherine of Siena School in Vallejo, California is a Catholic school in the Diocese of Sacramento. The school has nine classes: kindergarten to junior high school. Although St Catherine is a private Catholic school, it accepts applications for all students regardless of parish or religious affiliations. Its kindergarten is full day for entire school year. The school also offers pre-kindergarten and after school programs.
Christian Brothers High School is a private, Catholic, college-preparatory high school in the Oak Park neighborhood of Sacramento, California. It is located within the Diocese of Sacramento and was founded by the De La Salle Christian Brothers in 1876. As of 2021, the school enrolled 1,150 students drawn from approximately 75 local parochial, private, and public elementary and middle schools.
St Rose's Dominican College was a non-selective, Catholic Maintained, all ability, school for girls aged 11–18 years located in West Belfast, Northern Ireland. It was founded in 1961 by nuns of the Dominican order who also ran the neighbouring St Dominic's Grammar School for Girls. The college was located in the Beechmount area of the Falls Road. The school motto was Veritas, meaning truth, showing St Rose's pride in their aim for proper catholic education. It became part of All Saints College / Coláiste na Naomh Uile in 2019.
Benicia Unified School District is a public school district based in Benicia, a city in Solano County, California. It operates two high schools, a middle school and four elementary schools. The district had approximately 4,900 students enrolled in the 2018–2019 school year.
