Curiosity often surrounds freshmen newcomers, and the overwhelming question – what do you think of freshmen year? – will bombard them upon their arrival. However, the answer depends on the student, and three current freshmen explained why they chose Cathedral Catholic in the first place.
CCHS must first choose the student, and Mr. Jeff Owen, AP World History teacher and 8th grade interviewer, broke down why students say they want to attend Cathedral Catholic.
Major factors include the reputation of Cathedral’s facilities, its safe environment, the “Catholic identity”, and, “It seems like (75%) of the students say athletics” said Mr. Owen.
According to Mr. Owen, “minimalist” answers indicate that the student obviously doesn’t wish to attend. These students are noted, and their rating effected. Similarity, enthusiasm counts, and “Maybe you didn’t have the right answer, but hey, do you want to be here?” said Mr. Owen.
Several current freshmen portray this enthusiasm and expand upon the benefits of Cathedral. Carly Wood, as she pulls out the materials needed for her Latin II class, explains that she appreciates the classes that better prepare for college, and the new innovation of the iPads, not to mention “the teachers and people here are really nice too.” Skyler Pierce also enjoys the iPads, however, she notes that, though fun and useful, they also bring distractions.
With athletics being such a huge motivator, the issue of recruitment frequently comes to light. According to Mr. Owen, however, Cathedral does not recruit student athletes. Instead, CCHS “indirectly advertises” through exposure. “If you get people to see the school, it sells itself,” said Mr. Owen. While a student may attend for the athletic program, Mr. Owen defines it as a “social standing.” Their abilities may affect a student’s treatment, but they won’t receive any advantages as a result. “(We) can’t cut corners for a kid,” said Mr. Owen.
As a player of volleyball, basketball, and track and field, Pierce said that the sports program was a strong motivator for her application to Cathedral, not to mention a major source of exposure after she played against CCHS in middle school.
Other schools also play a role, since a student may not wish to attend the options presented by their parents. For freshmen Erin McConville, the coed advantage helped Cathedral stand out from OLP, and Mr. Owen said that students may choose Cathedral if their only other option is their local high school.
