St. John Vianney High School (Kirkwood, Missouri) Explained

St. John Vianney High School
Streetaddress:1311 South Kirkwood Road
County:(St. Louis County)
Zipcode:63122
Country:USA
Coordinates:38.5606°N -90.4081°W
President:Ian Mulligan
Principal:Will Armon
Ratio:12:1
Tuition:$18,950
Campus Size:37 acres
Hours In Day:8:15 AM - 2:45 PM
Slogan:Men of Character and Accomplishment
Motto:Verso l'alto
Motto Translation:To the highest
Accreditation:North Central Association of Colleges and Schools[1]
Rival:Chaminade College Preparatory School, Saint Louis University High School
Team Name:Griffins
Nickname:Golden Griffins
Yearbook:The Talon
Newspaper:The Griffin
Established:1960
Enrollment:550
Free Label1:Dean of Students
Free Text1:Scott Hingle
Free Label2:Admissions
Free Text2:Director, Tom Mulvihill
Free Label3:Athletics
Free Text3:Director, Michael Potsou
Homepage:Vianney

St. John Vianney High School (a.k.a. Vianney High School, or simply Vianney) is a Marianist private, all-boys Catholic college preparatory school in Kirkwood, Missouri. The school was opened in 1960 by the Society of Mary, a religious order of priests and brothers who continue to run the school, and is part of the Archdiocese of Saint Louis, along with the Marianists' Chaminade College Preparatory School and St. Mary's High School.

History

The creation of a new school was needed in the late 1950s to cater for the increasing population of Baby Boomers. It was founded by Archbishop Joseph Ritter as a private, Marianist, Catholic high school for boys. The school has grown over time, changed its curriculum and adapted to educational trends.

Some of the notable events include the introduction of female teachers in 1973, lighting of the football field in 1977 and sale of part of the campus to Lutheran Church in 1980. The school has undergone several expansions and renovations including a new entrance, commons area, media center and state-of-the-art classrooms added in 2007. Subsequent updates included improvements to sports facilities, STEM labs, baseball fields and creation of an Esports Center in 2021.

Over the years, this school’s ability to adapt and grow with financial support has made it thrive. Major renovations and upgrades have been done such as HVAC system updates, window installations and a $1 million STEM labs upgrade. The most recent renovation in 2021 involved converting original locker rooms and weight rooms into a modern facility for student training that includes unique locker rooms, fitness equipment and dressing rooms for Griffin Theatre.[2]

Athletics

Vianney sponsors athletic teams in football, soccer, cross country, basketball, swimming, wrestling, baseball, golf, tennis, track and field, volleyball. There are also club teams for outdoor lacrosse, bowling, chess, lacrosse, racquetball and ice hockey.

In 2011 and 2013, the Varsity Chess Team won the National Championships.

Vianney is a member of the Metro Catholic Conference of private Catholic high schools, along with:

State championships

National championships

School mascot

The school mascot is the Golden Griffin: half lion and half eagle. The school colors, black and gold, reflect the colors of the Griffin. The school states that the Griffin represents certain virtues in all of its students.

School fight song

The St. John Vianney High School fight song, written by former guidance counselor Brother Harold Lootens is often sung at football and basketball games and at pep rallies: "We are the black and gold of Vianney. We are the Golden Griffins of Vianney High. Half Lion, half Eagle, so the Griffin can roar, so the Griffin can soar above the lightning and the thunder. We will win, win, win, yeah Vianney. Oh hear the din, din, din, of our clamor and cheers. We want the world to be told about the black and the gold of old Vianney, Vianney, Vianney, Hey!"

Controversy

In 2006, Vianney President Fr. Robert Osborne (1933–2014) was accused in a civil lawsuit of sexual misconduct with a student.[3] Osborne stepped down temporarily, then the school fired him after another accuser stepped forward.[4] The school later settled the lawsuit for an undisclosed amount.[5] [6] Osborne was investigated by the Kirkwood Police but not charged with a crime.[7] A subsequent Marianist investigation found "no credible or substantiated allegation of abuse", but the following year, the order stripped him of his priestly faculties.

In 2023, a nurse at the school was terminated from her position for inappropriate contact with a student.[8] St. Louis County later charged her with two felony sex crimes,[9] pleaded guilty, and was given a suspended five-year sentence and registered as a sex offender.[10]

Notable alumni

Sports and entertainment

MLB player (Montreal Expos, Florida Marlins)

Minor League Baseball player (Chicago White Sox) and Republican politician

actor

MLB player (St. Louis Cardinals, Cincinnati Reds)

NFL quarterback

president, St. Louis Cardinals Major League Baseball Club (2006 World Champions)

Cleveland Browns tight end

St. Louis Cardinals radio and television broadcaster

NFL offensive lineman

Major League Baseball pitcher

Major League Baseball pitcher

soccer player

US Volleyball Olympian, outside hitter, 2008 Beijing Games gold medalist

midfielder, Houston Dynamo

American football running back, Los Angeles Rams

soccer player

Arts and sciences

founder of St. Louis City Museum

Human Genome Project scientist

professor

Law and government

Tennessee House of Representatives

Notable faculty

See also

References

  1. Web site: NCA-Council on Accreditation and School Improvement . 2009-06-23 . NCA-CASI . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20090429033455/http://www.advanc-ed.org/schools_districts/school_district_listings/ . April 29, 2009 .
  2. Web site: Our History - St John Vianney High School . www.vianney.com . 12 January 2024.
  3. St. Louis Post Dispatch, February 24, 2006, C5
  4. Web site: msorkin@post-dispatch.com 314-340-8347 . Michael D. Sorkin . Priest removed after accusations of abuse at Vianney High School has died . 2022-07-13 . STLtoday.com . 28 April 2014 . en.
  5. St. Louis Post Dispatch, June 27, 2007, C8
  6. Web site: Kirkwood priest removed after abuse complaint dies . 2022-07-13 . AP NEWS . 28 April 2014 . en.
  7. St. Louis Post Dispatch, October 12, 2006, C1
  8. News: Cummings . Travis . Former school nurse fired for inappropriate contact with student at Vianney High School . 27 April 2023 . KSDK . 2023-04-26.
  9. Web site: Benchaabane . Nassim . Former St. John Vianney school nurse charged with sex crimes against underage student . STL Today . 5 May 2023 . Ray Farris . 25 May 2023.
  10. News: Obradovic . Monica . Former St. John Vianney Nurse Pleads Guilty to Sex Crime Against Student . 2 August 2024 . Riverfront Times .