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.
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Background
On June 15, 1954, Bishop Charles F. 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 Lemman 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.
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 20Â 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 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 Gogo-Aquinas 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 consists of the construction of a new 4000 sqft. lobby for the Aquinas-Gogo Gymnasium (scheduled completion 8/17), a new administration building located on the north side of campus (scheduled completion 12/17), the conversion of the old administration building to a new student support center (scheduled completion 12/17), production studio, digital media/graphic design lab, engineering/robotics lab (all scheduled completion 12/17), and the 17,000 sqft. San Manuel Performing Arts Center (scheduled completion 3/18), which will consist of a music room, drama classroom, set shop, and dressing rooms. The facility will also provide the ability to teach classes in lighting and sound design.
Academics
Aquinas offers 18 AP courses and 11 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 iPad and technology in the classroom and within the curriculum. In the spring of 2017 Aquinas was voted as the "Best Private School" in San Bernardino County for the 6th consecutive year.
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. Aquinas athletic teams have won over 100 league championships, 5 CIF championships, and 2 state championships.
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.
- Football â€" 1958, 1960, 1962, 1964, 1968, 1979, 1981, 2005, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2016
- CIF Champions 2000, 2005
- CIF runner up 2016
- Division V State Champions 2005
- Girls' volleyball â€" 1999, 2000, 2012, 2013
- Girls' tennis â€" 1982, 1983, 1984, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2011, 2015, 2016
- CIF runner up 2005, 2010
- Girls' cross country - 2009, 2010
- Boys' basketball â€" 1960, 1962, 1963, 1964, 1966, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1980, 1983, 1984, 1988, 2008, 2009, 2010
- CIF Champions 1973
- CIF runner up 1968, 1969
- Girls' basketball â€" 1983, 1992, 1993, 2001, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017
- Boys' soccer â€" 1982, 1983, 1986, 1988, 1989, 1993, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999
- CIF Champions 1998
- Girls' soccer â€" 1990
- Wrestling â€" 1979, 1984, 1985, 1986
- Baseball â€" 1959, 1963, 1964, 1965, 1966, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1990, 1997
- Softball â€" 1976, 1983, 1985, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2017
- CIF Champions 2013
- Division IV State Champions 2013
- Golf â€" 1983, 1984, 2000, 2009
- Boys' track â€" 1958, 1988, 2003, 2004, 2005
- Girls' track â€" 2003, 2004
Notable alumni
- Ted Alejandre, Current San Bernardino County, California Superintendent of Schools
- Rod Pacheco, former Riverside County, California District Attorney, former California Assembly member.
- Chris Parker, American football player.
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