Reitz Memorial High School

Reitz Memorial High School
Evansville Memorial High School
Address
1500 East Lincoln Avenue
Evansville, Indiana, Vanderburgh County 47714
United States
Coordinates 37°58′14″N 87°32′12″W / 37.97056°N 87.53667°W / 37.97056; -87.53667Coordinates: 37°58′14″N 87°32′12″W / 37.97056°N 87.53667°W / 37.97056; -87.53667
Information
Type Private, Coeducational
Religious affiliation(s) Roman Catholic
Patron saint(s) St. Joseph
Established 1925
Founder Francis Joseph Reitz
President Br. Lawrence Murphy
Principal Dr. Anne Marie Williams
Chaplain Fr. Tyler Tenbarge
Faculty 56
Grades 9 – 12
Enrollment 728 (2014-2015)
Student to teacher ratio approximately 14:1
Color(s)      Royal Blue
     White
Athletics conference Southern Indiana Athletic Conference
Mascot Tigers
Accreditation Indiana Department of Education,
North Central Association of Colleges and Schools [1]
Tuition $4,200–$6,600
Affiliation Diocese of Evansville
Alumni 13,000+
Assistant Principal for Student Services Mr. Rick Wilgus
Phone (812) 476-4973
Fax (812) 474-2942
Assistant Principal for Curriculum & Instruction Mrs. Lisa Popham
Counselors Mrs. Heidi Bennett,
Ms. Dorrinda Cullum
Website http://www.reitzmemorial.org

Reitz Memorial High School or simply Memorial High School (MHS), is an inter-parochial Catholic High School on the east side Evansville, Indiana. It sits on a 13-acre (53,000 m2) tract of land off Lincoln Avenue that was bought with money donated by Francis Joseph Reitz in 1922 in memory of his parents John Augustus and Gertrude Reitz . The school officially opened its doors on January 5, 1925. It is part of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Evansville. The IHSAA uses Evansville Memorial High School instead of Reitz Memorial High School mainly to distinguish the school from the older public Reitz High School on Evansville's west side, both of which are named in honor of Francis Joseph Reitz.

More than 94% of its students graduating in 2014 attended a four-year college or university.[2] It is one of two Catholic high schools in Evansville that serve the students of Vanderburgh, Posey, Gibson, and Warrick counties. It also has a significant number of students from Henderson County, Kentucky which is part of the greater-Evansville metropolitan area.

History

In 1922 Francis Joseph Reitz pledged one million dollars for the school to be built, for which he was presented with the insignia of Knight and Knight Commander of the Order of Pius IX. The original, main building was built three stories high of Ohio gray brick and elaborate trimmings of Indiana limestone with a Tudor-Gothic design. On New Year’s Day, 1925, Reitz Memorial High School, with its 18 classrooms, auditorium that was used as a gymnasium as well, cafeteria, library, candy store, parlor, and large recreation room, was dedicated by Bishop Chartrand of Indianapolis. Classes began on January 5, 1925 with the Brothers of The Holy Cross from Notre Dame University teaching the boys and the Sisters of Providence teaching the girls, each on separate floors.[3]

In 1969, a new addition was completed. The new wing extending along Bennighof Avenue came with expanded first and second floors, a new gym, band room, and library. The new gym could hold up to 2,000 people.

In 1998, a new addition, costing roughly $5 million was added to the western part of the building. The new wing, also known as often called "the west wing", added eight more classrooms, two art studios, two science labs, a wrestling room, a second, smaller auxiliary gymnasium, and a new media center. The final renovations increased the student capacity to 900 students.[4]

Coat of Arms

The top left corner section is the coat of arms for the Brothers of The Holy Cross. The cross indicates that the cross is our only hope, and the two crossed anchors represent the unity of the Brothers of The Holy Cross & the Priests of The Holy Cross.[5]

The top right corner section is combined emblems of the Sisters of Providence. The left side is a popular evergreen tree with a Latin cross on either side of it, taken from the family of the foundress of the order, Madame du Roscoat. On the right side are three eaglets, symbolic of the Holy Trinity.[6]

The bottom left corner section is the symbol of Evansville, IN, the city where MHS is located. The crescent moon represents Evansville, “the crescent city”. The parapet underneath the crescent moon is there simply to help complete the image of a city. The two wavy lines represent the two major rivers located in the diocese, the Ohio River and the Wabash River. The line representing the Ohio River is supposed to be thicker than the line for the Wabash River.[7]

The bottom right corner section is the symbol of knowledge, indicating that Memorial High School is a place of learning and increased knowledge.[8]

Every academic year, every student must complete at least 10 service hours and provide the necessary documentation for that service in order to graduate.[9]

Each school day is begun with school-wide prayer, and each class period begins with class prayer. Mass is offered twice a week before school starts in the school chapel, and every month there is an all-school liturgy in the auditorium where students can participate as lectors, Eucharistic ministers, gift bearers, and music ministers.[10]

Academics

Reitz Memorial High School is known for its high academic standards. It is fully accredited by the Indiana Department of Education and AdvancED/North Central Association Commission on Accreditation and School Improvement.[11] In the 2001-2002 school year, MHS was recognized with the National Blue Ribbon Award of Excellence in Education. A prestigious and honorable title, it recognizes schools that "are models of excellence and equity, that demonstrate a strong commitment to educational excellence for all students, and that achieve high academic standards."

Academic offerings include courses in Business, English, Fine Arts, Health, Foreign Languages, Mathematics, Science, Social Studies, and Theology. In addition to a wide array of Advance Placement courses, the school offers a Bridge Program with the University of Evansville courses through Ivy Tech, as well as a resource program for students.[12]

The school calendar is split into two semesters, each eighteen weeks long, and midterm grade reports are provided every nine weeks. Each school day has four 85-minute class periods, a lunch period, and a homeroom period. Every student is required to enroll in eight courses each semester.[13] The academic calendar runs on block scheduling, in which four classes are scheduled on “Blue Days” and 4 other classes are scheduled on “White Days”, and the Blue and White days alternate days of the week.

Memorial’s grading system is on a six-point grading scale, for which grades are reported as 6 (95–100%), 5 (90–94%), 4 (85–89%), 3 (80–84%), 2 (75–79%), 1 (70–74%), or 0 (0–69%).[14]

Sports

Also see: Sports in Evansville

State titles

Evansville
Reitz Memorial
IHSAA or Other Athletic
State Championships
SPORT TITLES YEAR(S)
Boys' Baseball 3 1978, 1989, 1993
Football 2 1937*, 1958*
Girls' Soccer 4 1989*, 1997,
2008, 2012
Girl' Softball 1 2002
Girls' Tennis 7 1991, 1993, 1994,
1995, 1996, 2005,
2012
Boys' Soccer 11 1979, 1980, 1981,
1983, 1984, 1986,
1988, 1989, 1990,
2007, 2008 , 2016
Girls' Basketball 1 2011
Individual Wrestling 1 2007
Boys' Basketball 3 1941**
Girls' Bowling 1 1997*
Total 33

* Indicates title won before IHSAA State Tournament was initiated.

** Indicates title won for Indiana Catholic High School Athletic Association.

Fall Sports

Winter Sports

Spring Sports

National titles

Evansville
Reitz Memorial
National Championships
SPORT TITLES YEAR(S)
Football 1 1937*
Boys' Soccer 1 2007
Total 2

* National Champions, ranked #1 in Adidas Top 25

Memorial Pep Song

Fight Tigers fight, fight Tigers fight

Show your colors, blue and white

Hip hip hooray, on with the fray

We're with you all the way

Hey, hey, hey!!!

Fight Tigers fight, fight Tigers fight

Fight with all your might

We'll do or die for Memorial high

So it's fight Tigers, fight Tigers, fiiight!!!

(T-I-G-E-R-S, Tigers Tigers are the best! Goooo Tigers!)[15]

Memorial Fight Song

Cheer, cheer for Memorial High

Shake down the thunder from the sky

Send a volley, cheer on cheer

Let it be known that we are here

What though the odds be, great or small

Memorial High will win over all

As our loyal sons go marching

Onward to victory. Rah, rah, rah!!!

(T-I-G-E-R-S, Tigers Tigers are the best! Goooo Tigers!)[16]

Club Sports

Lacrosse finally made its way to Evansville, IN in 2008. The Tigers formed their first club team playing in the GEYLA (Greater Evansville Youth Lacrosse Association) along with Evansville North, Evansville Central, and Castle High School. In 2009, the 4 GEYLA High School Club teams joined the IHSLA (Indiana High School Lacrosse Association) which holds 30 Indiana High School teams. The Tigers currently remain in the ever growing IHSLA league until the sport grows enough for it to be sanctioned by the IHSAA. [17]

Notable alumni

Athletics
Business
Entertainment
Politics

See also

References

  1. ↑ NCA-CASI. "NCA-Council on Accreditation and School Improvement". Retrieved 2009-06-23.
  2. ↑ "Reitz Memorial High School 2013-2014 School Profile". Reitz Memorial High School. Retrieved 2014-10-24.
  3. ↑ "Reitz Memorial High School About MHS: History of Reitz Memorial High School". Reitz Memorial High School. Retrieved 2014-10-24.
  4. ↑ "Reitz Memorial High School About MHS: History of Reitz Memorial High School". Reitz Memorial High School. Retrieved 2014-10-24.
  5. ↑ "Reitz Memorial High School About MHS: Coat of Arms". Reitz Memorial High School. Retrieved 2014-10-24.
  6. ↑ "Reitz Memorial High School About MHS: Coat of Arms". Reitz Memorial High School. Retrieved 2014-10-24.
  7. ↑ "Reitz Memorial High School About MHS: Coat of Arms". Reitz Memorial High School. Retrieved 2014-10-24.
  8. ↑ "Reitz Memorial High School About MHS: Coat of Arms". Reitz Memorial High School. Retrieved 2014-10-24.
  9. ↑ "Reitz Memorial High School About MHS: Our Mission". Reitz Memorial High School. Retrieved 2014-10-24.
  10. ↑ "Reitz Memorial High School Spirituality". Reitz Memorial High School. Retrieved 2014-10-24.
  11. ↑ "Reitz Memorial High School Academics". Reitz Memorial High School. Retrieved 2014-10-24.
  12. ↑ "Reitz Memorial High School Academics". Reitz Memorial High School. Retrieved 2014-10-24.
  13. ↑ "Reitz Memorial High School About MHS: 2013-2014 School Profile". Reitz Memorial High School. Retrieved 2014-10-24.
  14. ↑ "Reitz Memorial High School About MHS: 2013-2014 School Profile". Reitz Memorial High School. Retrieved 2014-10-24.
  15. ↑ Reitz Memorial High School. “MHS Spirit.” The Review Vol. 94 2012-2013: 52. Print.
  16. ↑ Reitz Memorial High School. “MHS Spirit.” The Review Vol. 94 2012-2013: 52. Print.
  17. ↑ Nussmeier, Louis. “Lacrosse Rising Throughout Indiana.” Evansville Courier & Press [Evansville, IN] 14 Apr. 2011: A2. Print.
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