The community that I belong to is a group I have been part of for the last four years and this is a community I will be part of for the rest of my life. This community is my High School, Holy Cross.
(Rufo)
The school is located in Whitestone, New York and is within close proximity to myhome. All of the people who make up this population, the principal, the teachers, the priests and the students have made an everlasting impression on me that will continue throughout my lifetime. This school is a place where I feel like I belong because I am always welcome with open arms and whenever I need help I know they will be there for me. There are many advantages of attending an all male Catholic High School.
One of the most important advantages of attending an all male school is that the young men are not sidetracked by all of the attractive females. When a young man attends a co-ed school, he is often dreamy, preoccupied and does not pay attention in class. According to Holy Cross High School teacher Mr. Terence Tarpey, “It is very beneficial for the boys to attend classes without girls because they are less distracted because they do not need to impress the girls all day long.” In addition, with Mr. Tarpey’s fifteen years of teaching experience he can confirm, that there are really no disadvantages of attending an all boys’ school. The onlyexample he could provide would possibly be that a few young men might be shy around girls at a dance. From Mr. Tarpey’s experience in speaking with the young men entering an all boys’ school as freshmen, they really do not like the idea of being isolated from the girls, but by the time they become seniors they realize what valuable experience it was and are grateful for brotherhood they have formed with their peers. I believe that when girls occupy the same school as boys, the boys are going to pay more attention to thegirls and they will have less concentration and devotion to their schoolwork. A catholic high school education is very expensiveand parents are sending their son to an all boys’ school to make sure they get an excellent religious education and not to flirt and impress girls. There are many statistics that prove that when boys are in an all boys’ school they succeed and achieve their full potential. Studies show that on Comprehensive Placement Tests “Boys in co-ed classes: 37% of the boys scored proficient and boys in single-sec classes: 86% of the boys scored proficient” (Grossberg) The facts confirm that boys will perform substantially higher on tests in an all boys’ school than in a co-ed school.
(Markowitz)
Another advantage of attending Holy Cross all male high school is the achievement of becoming a Holy Cross Man. The qualities of a Holy Cross Man are respect, leadership, excellent academics and community service. All of the teachers and faculty at Holy Cross are committed to helping the students grow and develop into the Holy Cross Man. According to the Holy Cross website, “The Holy Cross Manis a refined gentlemen who lives by Faith. Devoted to his soul’s welfare, he reflects often on God.” (Burns) A Holy Cross man respects himself and others. Becoming a Holy Cross man consists of showing signs of maturity through out their high school years by being diligent students, hard workers, service-oriented citizens and leaders in their school and in their community.
(Mulligan)
Many of the dedicated faculty members are Holy Cross alumni. The alumni continues to be a very strong presence strong because they realize how much Holy Cross helped them become the spiritual, educated and prosperous men they are today. Not only due the alumni come back to work at the school, they donate their time to raise funds for the school, they act as mentors to the students and they are a valuable resource whenin the workplace. In 2005, the Holy Cross Alumni raised enough money to build new a football field, basketball court, bleachers and new locker rooms.
(Ehalt)
(Rufo)
Of course this cost a lot of money, but that was not the important lesson that was conveyed to the students, the lesson was that when you become a Holy Cross Man you give back to those that gave to you. The alumni often come back to speak with the students and provide them with advice and insights on their life experiences and they also advise the young men that they won’t be the men that they are today if it were not for their four years they spent at this all boys high school becoming a Holy Cross Man.
Another advantage of attending an all boys’ catholic high schools is the continuation of their spiritual and catholic faith.
(Anderson)
(Totino)
These are crucial years in a young man’s life where he needs direction, guidance, understanding and love. Praying and attending mass before class each day fills the students mind and soul with goodness and strength to make the right choices and decisions in his life. It is critical for the boys to have teachers and faculty to guide them in the right direction.
During interview with Mr. Tarpey, he said, “We as a faculty do not only teach what is in the books but we teach what is outside of the books. We prepare our students to be the best they can possibly be when they leave Holy Cross.” I think this is what makes Holy Cross such a strong high school and community. You are not just another face in the crowd; every teacher at the school takes a vested interest in your success and knows your name, weaknesses and strengths, these attributes are beneficial in advancing the education of the students because the teachers can give the proper assistance and guidance where and when it is needed which increases confidence, independence and grade point averages.
Additional advantages of attending an all boys’ school are that these schools can focus on the exact style of learning that will be helpful to boys. Single sex schools allow the students to learn and progress at their own pace. All boys’ schools foster camaraderie and lifelong friendships. A 2008 study by the U.S. Department of Education found that students in single-sex high schools were more engaged in academic activities, more likely to complete homework, and less likely to initiate classroom disruptions. The same study found that parents who switched their sons to all boys’ schools observed an increased eagerness to learn and compete academically. (Scott)
I entered Holy Cross as a young boy and graduated as a Holy Cross Man. Holy Cross is a close-knit community and once you become a member you will always be proud to be amongst the ranks of such a great group of people. I am honored to say that I was part of the Holy Cross community for four years as a student and now as an alumnus. I might even consider becoming a teacher and working at the High School in the future.
Work Cited
Anderson, John “ Information on Holy Cross High School” NYC Private Schools Web 4 September 2011.
http://schools.nycprivateschoolsblog.com/l/130326/Holy-Cross-High-School
Burns, Joseph. “School Information” Holy Cross High School. Web. 1 September. 2012. http://www.holycrosshs.org/pages/Holy_Cross_HS/SCHOOL_DIRECTORY
Ehalt, Matt “CHSAA Advising players not to play in battle” EspnHS Web 12 March 2012.
http://espn.go.com/blog/new-york/high-school/tag/_/name/paul-gilvary
Grossberg, Blythe. “Single-Sex vs Coed: The Evidence” Nasspe. Web 21 October 2012.
http://www.singlesexschools.org/research-singlesexvscoed.htm
Markowitz, Judy “ Judy Markowitz and Holy Cross High School” Energized Realty Group. Web. 6 January 2011.
http://judy-run-realestate.com/?tag=holy-cross-high-school
Mulligan, Kate “Holy Cross High School Spreads Holiday Cheer” The Tabelt. Web 22 December 2011.
http://thetablet.org/holy-cross-high-school-spreads-holiday-cheer/
Scott, Catherine “Six Advantages of All Boy`s Schools” Orange County Web 12 October 2008.
http://www.orangecounty.net/html/edu_article12.html
Tarpey, Terry. Assistant Dean Of Holy Cross High School. Alumni 83’
Totino, Dominick “ Holy Cross High School Unveils 9/11 memorial” Queens Chronicle Web 4 October 2012.
\y Cross Man is a refined gentleman who lives by Faith. Devoted to his soul’s welfare, he reflects often on is a refined gentleman who lives by Faith. Devoted to his soul’s we
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