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Independence, MO —
The new Catholic high school that is slated to open in 2015 has a name.
Of the more than 500 votes received during the Kansas City-St. Joseph’s Catholic Diocese’s naming contest, more than 60 percent were for St. Michael the Archangel High School, making it the clear winner. The other two finalists were St. Francis of Assisi and Mother of Mercy. The name was announced publicly Sept. 7 in the issue of "The Catholic Key."
“The reaction has been great,” said John O’Connor, principal of both St. Mary’s and Archbishop O’Hara. “The students are very excited that we have a name. Now, we can move forward.”
The name was chosen through a naming contest created by the diocese. People could submit possible names that had to include one or more of the following: a saint’s name; title of Jesus Christ or Mary, such as Good Shepherd or Mater Dei; or a Catholic leader or belief, such as Holy Family, cardinal virtues or Bishop “Smith.” Three finalists were then chosen.
Although the school is still in the planning stages, between 600 and 800 students are expected to enroll once it opens in three years. Plans include closing both St. Mary’s and O’Hara and combining the student populations. The current freshmen, the class of 2016, will be the first to graduate from St. Michael the Archangel.
The high school, which was announced in January, will sit on land purchased by the diocese in north Lee's Summit. It is bordered on the east by the Lee’s Summit Airport and on the north by Strother Road. Lee’s Summit Road borders the property to the west, which is the direction the main entrance will face. Behind the high school will be the football and soccer fields and a baseball diamond.
The goal over the next three years is to begin merging the students at the high schools as much as possible, while still preserving the history and traditions at both schools. O’Connor, who began leading both buildings this year, said the next step is to choose the school colors and a mascot.
“The diocese is already pulling together a group of parents and other leaders to discuss the process by which to choose the mascot and colors,” he said. “After that, students from both high schools as well as from the lower grades will be brought together, so they can have some input in this decision.”
The new Catholic high school that is slated to open in 2015 has a name.
Of the more than 500 votes received during the Kansas City-St. Joseph’s Catholic Diocese’s naming contest, more than 60 percent were for St. Michael the Archangel High School, making it the clear winner. The other two finalists were St. Francis of Assisi and Mother of Mercy. The name was announced publicly Sept. 7 in the issue of "The Catholic Key."
“The reaction has been great,” said John O’Connor, principal of both St. Mary’s and Archbishop O’Hara. “The students are very excited that we have a name. Now, we can move forward.”
The name was chosen through a naming contest created by the diocese. People could submit possible names that had to include one or more of the following: a saint’s name; title of Jesus Christ or Mary, such as Good Shepherd or Mater Dei; or a Catholic leader or belief, such as Holy Family, cardinal virtues or Bishop “Smith.” Three finalists were then chosen.
Although the school is still in the planning stages, between 600 and 800 students are expected to enroll once it opens in three years. Plans include closing both St. Mary’s and O’Hara and combining the student populations. The current freshmen, the class of 2016, will be the first to graduate from St. Michael the Archangel.
The high school, which was announced in January, will sit on land purchased by the diocese in north Lee's Summit. It is bordered on the east by the Lee’s Summit Airport and on the north by Strother Road. Lee’s Summit Road borders the property to the west, which is the direction the main entrance will face. Behind the high school will be the football and soccer fields and a baseball diamond.
The goal over the next three years is to begin merging the students at the high schools as much as possible, while still preserving the history and traditions at both schools. O’Connor, who began leading both buildings this year, said the next step is to choose the school colors and a mascot.
“The diocese is already pulling together a group of parents and other leaders to discuss the process by which to choose the mascot and colors,” he said. “After that, students from both high schools as well as from the lower grades will be brought together, so they can have some input in this decision.”
