Pacelli High School (Columbus, Georgia)

Pacelli High School is a private, Roman Catholic high school in Columbus, Georgia, United States. It is located in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Savannah and is the only Catholic high school in southwestern Georgia. The school is connected to St. Anne School, and both schools are governed through a joint system by St. Anne Catholic Church.[4]

Pacelli High School
Address
2020 Kay Circle Columbus , Georgia United States
Coordinates	32°29′0″N 84°56′3″W
Information
Type	Private, coeducational
Motto	Pax per sapientiam. (Latin) (Peace through wisdom.)
Religious affiliation(s)	Christian
Denomination	Roman Catholic
Established	1958
Founder	Reverend Monsignor Herman J. Deimel
Oversight	Roman Catholic Diocese of Savannah
School code	110832
Rector	Rev. Jeremiah McCarthy, JCL
Principal	Veronica Collins
Faculty	19[1] (2014)
Grades	9–12
Average class size	13
Student to teacher ratio	11:1
Campus size	23 acres (0.093 km^2)
Color(s)	Red, white and navy
Athletics	11 interscholastic sports
Athletics conference	Georgia High School Association Class A Region 4
Mascot	Viktor the Viking
Team name	Vikings/Lady Vikings
Accreditation	Southern Association of Colleges and Schools[2]
Newspaper	Voice of the Vikings
Yearbook	The Skald
Affiliation	National Catholic Educational Association[3]
Website	Pacelli High School

History

On March 2, 1958, Holy Family High School was established by Reverend Monsignor Herman J. Deimel, priest at the Church of the Holy Family. Holy Family was the first Roman Catholic high school established in the city of Columbus, attached to Holy Family School (a K‒8 parish school). In late 1958, Thomas Joseph McDonough, Bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Savannah, decided to change the name to honor Pope Pius XII (whose birth name was Eugenio Pacelli).

Pacelli's athletic program began with its first football team, which was established in 1960.[5]

St. Anne Catholic Church was established in 1961 following a Mass being celebrated in the Pacelli cafeteria. The lower school, Holy Family School was changed to St. Anne School, and the new church was connected to it. In the summer of 1980, St. Anne Church and School, along with Pacelli, underwent extensive renovation. This renovation included a new St. Anne church, along with additions to St. Anne School.[6] The original church was turned into a media center/library for Pacelli. A small chapel still remains today in the Pacelli media center, containing six pews, an altar, and a small tabernacle. These renovations concluded with the addition of the Pacelli Sports Arena, a multi-purpose gymnasium. Its name was later changed to the W. Donald Land Sports Arena.

In 1989, construction of the Elena Amos Arts and Science Center was completed. This allowed for the addition of five more classrooms, along with an alumni office. Later that year, Pacelli's fitness center (weight room) was also completed. It was later named after the late Nathan Rustin, a long-time Pacelli football coach. Pacelli expanded again in 1999, with new additions including a fully equipped science lab, updated art studio, renovated kitchen and faculty dining facilities, and new building for administrative offices connected to St. Anne School.

In 2008, plans were finalized to combine Pacelli High School with St. Anne School. The decision to combine the schools came from the recommendation of various committees and St. Anne Catholic Church. Both schools are now governed by St. Anne Church. Pacelli and St. Anne School operate in a unified manner, sharing office workers, admission directors, and other employees.[7]

In 2010, nearly all of Pacelli's athletic facilities received renovations. In 2011, the Nathan Rustin Fitness Center was completely renovated, and additions included new high quality weight lifting and exercise equipment.[8] In May 2012, a donation from the Sisters of Mercy prompted a major renovation of the Pacelli media center/library, which was completed at the end of 2012.[9]

Academics

Pacelli is known locally for its numerous Advanced Placement classes. It offers AP classes in American Government, Biology, Calculus, Chemistry, English Literature, Microeconomics, Statistics, Studio Art, and United States History.[1] As in most schools, students have the option of preparing for AP exams independently, and many do. Students travel to nearby Columbus State University to take their AP exams. Pacelli also offers 19 honors courses.[1]

No strict core curriculum exists, but ninth and tenth graders are offered limited flexibility in their courses. Juniors and seniors are freer, selecting electives and other courses.

Graduation requirements

Pacelli students entering grade 9 must earn a minimum of 24 Carnegie credits. Students must take one core course each year in English, math, science, social studies, and religion. All students are also required to earn one credit in fine arts, as well as 1/2 credits in both health and physical education.[1]

Course type	Credits needed
English	4 credits
Mathematics	4 credits
Science	4 credits
Religion	4 credits
Social studies	3 credits
Foreign language	2 credits
Health/physical education	1 credit
Fine arts elective	1 credit
Choice electives	1 credit

Community service

Each year, students must complete community service projects as part of religion class. 9th graders are required to do two projects per semester while 10th, 11th, and 12th graders are required to do three. Seniors are also required to do a senior project. To earn full credit for the projects, students must turn in a journal of each experience. The project portion of the students' Religion grade is 10% of their final average.[10]

Activities

Athletics

Original "Pacelli High School" sign (2011)

Pacelli has competed in different regions and classifications under the Georgia High School Association as PHS has grown through the years:[11]

• 1961-63: 3-C
• 1964-67: 3-South-B
• 1968-69: 5-South-B
• 1970-77: 5-B
• 1978-97: 5-A
• 1998-99: 3-A
• 2000-05: 2-A
• 2006-: 4-A

Interscholastic athletic teams[12]

Sport	Level	Season	Gender
Baseball	V, JV	Spring	Boys'
Basketball	V, JV	Winter	Coed
Cheerleading	V, JV	Fall, winter	Girls'
Cross-country	V, JV	Fall	Coed
Football	V, JV	Fall	Boys'
Golf	V, JV	Spring	Coed
Soccer	V, JV	Spring	Coed
Softball	V, JV	Fall	Girls'
Tennis	V, JV	Spring	Coed
Volleyball	V, JV	Fall	Girls'
Wrestling	V, JV	Winter	Boys'

• V = Varsity, JV = Junior varsity

GHSA state championships

• Baseball - 2008[13]
• Golf - 2007 (girls')[14]
• Softball - 2002[15]
• Cross country - 1980, 1982, 1986, 1989-91 (boys'); 1984, 1986-87 (girls')[16]

GHSA Class A Region Championships

2011 Pacelli football helmet design

• Baseball - 1983, 1984, 1991, 1993, 2001, 2002, 2006, 2008
• Cheerleading - 2002
• Cross country - 2002, 2004, 2007, 2010, 2011, 2012 (girls'); 1979–82, 1986, 1989–91, 2002 (boys')
• Football - 1970, 1975, 2003, 2004
• Golf - 2006 (boys'), 2008 (girls')
• Soccer - 1990, 1997, 2003, 2008, 2009, 2016, 2017, 2018 (boys'); 1998 (girls')
• Softball - 2003, 2004, 2008, 2012
• Tennis - 1993 (boys')
• Track - 2008 (girls')

Pacelli-Brookstone rivalry

Pacelli has played Brookstone in football since 1972 for this red and blue milk jug.

Pacelli's biggest rival is Brookstone High School, located in North Columbus (8 miles (13 km) north of Pacelli's Midtown campus). Although Pacelli plays Brookstone in all of their sports, the most popular rivalry is their yearly football game, dubbed the "Battle for the Jug".[17][18] The winner of this game gets to keep the "Broocelli Jug" (a milk jug painted red and blue) at their campus for the next year, along with bragging rights. In 2013, Pacelli received the jug for the first time since 2004 in a 14–7 win.[19] The rivalry first began in 1972, and Brookstone leads the series 27–17–1.[20]

Clubs and organizations

Pacelli bell tower, located at the campus' north entrance

Pacelli features student-led clubs and organizations. They include the following:[21]

Drama Club Empty Bowl Club Green Team Literary Team Math Team Pep Club

Pro-Life Club Prom Committee Rotary Interact Club SKALD Yearbook Club Student Ambassadors Student Council

Notable alumni

• Jeff Beeland, Oscar winner for visual effects for the movie Life of Pi
• Donna D'Errico, actress and model
• Matt Dunham, professional football player, Columbus Lions
• Mark LeGree, professional football player
• Michael O'Neal, baseball player, Atlanta Braves
• Mark Spillane, entrepreneur
• Allen Brinkman, President of Seacoast Bank Founder of Hawksix NFP low income community restoration www.hawksix.com Former Chairman and CEO of SunTrust Bank West Florida Division.

See also

• National Catholic Educational Association

Notes and references

1. School Profile. Retrieved 2015-1-29.
2. AdvancED. "AdvancED-Find Accredited Institutions". Archived from the original on 2015-09-15. Retrieved 2015-09-24.
3. NCEA. "NCEA School Locator". Archived from the original on 2015-09-25. Retrieved 2015-09-24.
4. St. Anne Catholic Church - St. Anne-Pacelli Catholic School Archived 2013-02-03 at Archive.today. Retrieved 2012-19-12.
5. Georgia High School Football Historians Association Archived 2012-11-17 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2012-05-29.
6. http://www.stannecsg.com/history
7. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2012-03-06. Retrieved 2012-05-30.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
8. Pacelli Weight Room
9. Pacelli Media Center Project
10. 2010‒2011 Good News Student Planner.
11. "Georgia High School Football Historians Association". Archived from the original on 2013-10-04. Retrieved 2013-10-03.
12. Athletics Archived 2011-07-24 at the Wayback Machine @ sasphs.net. Retrieved 2011-8-10.
13. 2008 GHSA State Baseball Champions GHSA.net. Retrieved 2012-06-06.
14. Results of the 2007 GHSA State Golf Meets Archived 2010-06-20 at the Wayback Machine GHSA.net. Retrieved 2012-06-06.
15. GHSA Fast-Pitch Softball Champions GHSA.net. Retrieved 2012-06-06.
16. GHSA.net. Retrieved 2013-04-22.
17. "Brookstone and Pacelli to Battle It Out Over The Jug". WTVM. Retrieved 5 November 2007.
18. White, Chris (15 October 2010). "Pacelli looks to get back on track in battle against rival Brookstone for the Broocelli Jug". Ledger-Enquirer. Retrieved 6 June 2012.
19. Mitchell, David (4 October 2013). "Pacelli 14, Brookstone 7: Peterson, Vikings end losing streak to Cougars". Ledger-Enquirer. Retrieved 8 October 2013.
20. Georgia High School Football Historians Association. Archived 2012-04-04 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved 2011-10-31.
21. Activities Archived 2011-07-24 at the Wayback Machine @ sasphs.net. Retrieved 2011-8-10.

External links

• School website
• Roman Catholic Diocese of Savannah