ST. BENEDICT AT AUBURNDALE HIGH SCHOOL (Grades 9-12)

SUMMER CAMPS BROCHURE 2008

St. Benedict at Auburndale High School (Grades 9-12)
8250 Varnavas Drive at Germantown Parkway
Cordova, TN 38016
President/Principal: Mr. George D. Valadie, II
(901) 260-2840
Fax: (901) 260-2850
Sharon Masterson, Communications, mastersons@sbaeagles.org
Web: www.sbaeagles.org

Rooted in Faith, Focused on the Future

The rules of grammar and the theorems of geometry are not likely to change any time soon. Life would be easy if the nation’s secondary schools simply had to focus on these certainties, but high school encompasses key developmental stages. At St. Benedict at Auburndale High School (SBA), academics are part of a larger mix of focus areas designed to prepare students for adulthood by embracing their faith and leading full, successful lives.

Saint Benedict at Auburndale High School is a co-educational, college preparatory school of the Catholic Diocese of Memphis committed to academic excellence through a comprehensive and challenging multi-level curriculum presented in an atmosphere permeated with the aims, values and teachings of the Roman Catholic faith.  SBA is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (most recently re-accredited this year), a charter member of the National Catholic Education Association and an Associate Member of the Memphis Association of Independent Schools.

“At SBA, we promote personal excellence by maximizing the spiritual, physical, emotional, social and academic growth of the student,” says George Valadie, president. “Students come to us prepared to learn, and because of their experiences at SBA, they all go on to some type of post-secondary education.”

Tools of the Trade

St. Benedict at Auburndale High School serves over 900 in grades 9-12. Our remarkable campus and new state-of-the-art facilities enable students to stay ahead of the technology curve. Wireless, inside and out, the campus is designed with the future in mind. Laptops and Tablet PC’s enhance learning in the classroom and complement the school’s computer labs and SMART Board™ Rooms. In the future, access to instruction from educators based throughout the world will be commonplace in SBA’s distance learning center. SBA strives to provide an atmosphere that capitalizes on strengths. This new technology has allowed us to better serve all our students – Advanced Placement, Honors, Traditional, but particularly those enrolled in the PLUS Program (Positive Learning Utilizing Strategies) for students with learning differences. We have added a number of software applications to assist in their learning and in the administration’s attempts to assess that learning.

Responding to Students’ Interests

Knowing that the classroom is not the only arena where learning takes place, SBA provides a wide variety of co-curricular and extra-curricular activities. In addition to academics and leadership pursuits, over half the students are members of SBA’s 23 sports teams, of which several have won region and state championships.  SBA also keeps an open mind to the voice of its students, resulting in an ever-expanding roster of clubs.  SBA’s responsiveness exemplifies its mission to lead each student in the gradual transition from dependence to self-determination and personal mastery.

The performing arts theatre, seating 396 patrons, has remarkably enhanced our drama and music programs – both curricular and extracurricular. We offer dramatic and musical productions, musical concerts and have created the Crossroads Concert Series to benefit the general public as well as our school community. Our performing arts theatre allows us to be of service to others in the community for hosting their events, as does our new 1,400-seat gymnasium.

Alumni and Parents Know What we are About

Our Alumni have become active in the newly formed Alumni Council, Alumni weekends and golf tournament and our parents receive weekly and monthly electronic newsletters and have GradeQuik and Edline accessibility. All our constituencies receive the“On Eagles’ Wings” Magazine throughout the calendar year.

Education with a Catholic Heart

Our new high school has allowed us to give a home to the students of the Sister Ruth Ann Center. These young people, some of whom have Down syndrome or mild retardation, are an integral part of the learning that takes place at SBA. As stressed by Mr. Valadie, “Though, not an official part of the school, they are in every way a part of our lives. We are blessed to be able to share our building and have them here with us.”

Faith in God is SBA’s cornerstone. Daily religion classes, prayer services, First Friday Adoration each month, daily Eucharistic celebrations and outreach to the community in need help students express their faith. Students at SBA have participated in the National March for Life since the beginning of the school 19 years ago. Over 1,000 students have been able to witness for God’s most precious gift of life. The focal point of the school is the 250-seat chapel located at the center of the building, which symbolizes SBA’s distinct blend of delivering a superior preparatory education with a Catholic heart.

Different, but Still the Same

St. Benedict at Auburndale is so different on the outside than when it was first founded, but so much the same at its core. Our mission to serve God and student has never wavered. We are just able to offer it to more students than ever before.