Cardinal Gibbons High School Viewbook

BECOME A LEADER

At Cardinal Gibbons, we believe that every student is unique and full of potential, and you’re no exception. You’re about to embark on your high school journey, where we’ll help you dream big, explore your passions and find a path for your future. Here, surrounded by extraordinary faculty and supportive peers, you can become anything when you become a Chief.

MISSION STATEMENT

Cardinal Gibbons High School is dedicated to providing our students with a strong formation of Catholic values, academic excellence, lifelong learning and a commitment to service.

VISION Living and learning through a Catholic education.

ABOUT

CARDINAL GIBBONS Cardinal Gibbons has spent nearly 60 years building a reputation of excellence as a college preparatory school within the Archdiocese of Miami. But who we are today has a lot to do with how we began.

Named after James Cardinal Gibbons, the second appointed Cardinal in the United States, Cardinal Gibbons High School opened its doors in 1961 as a co-institutional school. With a rapidly growing student-body of young Christian scholars, Cardinal Gibbons expanded and became a co-educational institution in 1972— and we’ve been expanding and improving ever since. Featuring an 18-acre campus with 10 academic buildings, an interactive Media and Technology Center, science labs, a chapel that seats 300. In addition, our just completed academic wing, the Phil Smith Family Building, which features a Maker Space, choral room, band studio, digital music lab, a Think Tank and television editing and production studio. We’ve come far from our humble beginnings.

BECOME

A PART OF OUR CATHOLIC MISSION

LIVE AND LEARN

THROUGH CHRIST Our faith is central to who we are, and it’s what has helped us build a vibrant community of students and teachers united by God. Our Catholic identity and mission not only help us better prepare our students for college, but also for life as young, inspired Christians.

Rooted in the tradition of the Catholic Church, we pride ourselves on providing our students with a valuecentered, spiritual education.

At Cardinal Gibbons, we firmly believe that a complete education encompasses not only academics, athletics and extracurricular activities but also faith and spirituality.

There are numerous opportunities for spiritual development and personal growth at Cardinal Gibbons.

We start and end every day and class period with a prayer.

We celebrate the Eucharist once a month as a community

of faith, offer our students the opportunity to receive the sacraments and participate in the liturgies in our campus chapel to afford our students a more intimate space to reflect and worship.

The religious programs available at Cardinal Gibbons allow our students to strengthen, or even establish, their relationship with God in a unique and

“Our students actively grow in faith and live out the Gospel message.” personal way. Retreats, which feature prayer sessions, group activities and discussion, enable our students to evaluate their relationship with God, and, with the help of our lay faculty and their peers, reflect upon how it relates to their relationship with themselves, as well as others.

Other opportunities, such as Campus Ministry programs, allow our students to actively grow in faith and live out the Gospel message.

Within our faith-based mission, we emphasize the importance of service to others, and a life-long commitment to service is at the

core of the Cardinal Gibbons experience. Our students are committed to making a lasting, positive impact on the world through their service. We firmly believe that service to others, whether in our local community or across the globe, empowers our students and reminds them of the profound impact they can make by acting as instruments of God. Each of our students is required to complete at least 25 community service hours per academic year; meaning, you’ll have spent 100 hours—or more—making a difference in the community by the time you graduate and start your next big adventure.

Our diverse student body has an equally diverse array of talents, and we encourage each of our students to explore the numerous ways in which their unique talent can benefit the community. HOPE South Florida, Kids in Distress, Relay for Life, Bright Horizons, St. Vincent de Paul Food Pantry and the Special Olympics are just a few of the organizations that our students love to support.

BECOME A SCHOLAR

DEFINE

YOUR PATH TO SUCCESS At Cardinal Gibbons, our academic programs go beyond that of the typical high school experience.

Diverse course offerings, dedicated teachers and classrooms equipped with the latest technology allow our students to dive deeper into education and emerge as well-rounded leaders, ready to take on the world. Thanks to our innovative programs, we’re not just breaking the mold of standard education, we’re reinventing it into an experience you can only have at Cardinal Gibbons.

“Our curriculum is designed to challenge and expand the minds of our students.”

The academic journey students take at Cardinal Gibbons is guided by their interests. With help from the Cardinal Gibbons Department of School Counseling and Academic Advising, you can explore non-traditional courses, such as Robotics, Forensic Science or Creative Writing, craft a plan for your future and lay a foundation for lifelong

success. Cardinal Gibbons only employs or contracts teachers who are state-certified, hold baccalaureate or higher degrees, have at least three years of teaching experience in public or private schools or have special skills, knowledge or expertise that qualifies them to provide instruction in subjects taught, so you can be confident that your education is in good hands.

Our curriculum is designed to challenge and expand the minds of our students, helping them reach their full academic potential. With a 1:1 iPad program, we are ensuring that our students are immersed in 21st-century classrooms, better preparing them for their journey to college and the ever-evolving world outside our doors. By offering Honors, Advanced Placement and Dual Enrollment courses, we’ve made sure that our students are given every opportunity to challenge themselves and find a course level that fits their personal needs and goals.

Gibbons At A Glance

14 Dual Enrollment Courses 23 Advanced Placement Courses 68 Honors Classes Offered in All Core Academic Areas

BECOME CAREER READY

Already have an idea of where you want your academic journey to take you? Pursue your passion and let one of our College Preparatory programs help you get there!

But no matter what path you choose to pursue at Cardinal Gibbons, you can be confident that the knowledge and skills you’ve acquired during your time with us will have prepared you to take on anything.

EMERGENCY MEDICAL TECHNICIAN PROGRAM Develop life-saving skills and launch your career by earning an Emergency Medical Technician certification at Cardinal Gibbons. We’re proud to be the first private school in Broward County to offer this certification in partnership with Barry University. Through classroom instruction and field experience, you’ll learn from local healthcare workers and first responders. This program is ideal for students interested in becoming a firefighter, paramedic or emergency room medical technician, as well as those pursuing careers in the nursing, medical and biomedical fields.

FINANCIAL TECHNOLOGY PROGRAM Prepare for your future in the dynamic field of finance through our Financial Technology, or FinTech, program. In our new STEAM building, you’ll track global stocks, develop business plans and build a strong personal finance foundation.

From investing strategies and business ethics to decision-making and problemsolving skills, FinTech courses will equip you with the knowledge you need to succeed in this exciting and evolving industry.

DIGITAL VIDEO PRODUCTION Video is all around us, and in our new production studio, you’ll create it. As a digital video production student, you’ll take projects from concept to completion using industry-level studio and editing equipment. Then, you’ll strengthen your collaboration and public speaking skills by sharing your stories on the Cardinal Gibbons television network, CGTV. You’ll keep your classmates informed and connected while growing as a digital storyteller.

meetings, new and veteran club members work together to create robots for fun and for competition.

COMPUTER SCIENCE Computer science is a growing field that incorporates many industries. In fact, many colleges and universities require students to enroll in a computer science class. Through our coding and programming courses, available your freshman year through graduation, you’ll build problem solving, sequential thinking and computational thinking skills while collaborating with your peers in a student-led learning environment.

ENGINEERING At Cardinal Gibbons, you won’t just learn about engineering, you’ll experience it— in our customized Innovation Lab. Part of the new Phil Smith Family Building, the Innovation Lab is specially designed to encourage student collaboration and facilitate practical applications of electrical, mechanical and structural engineering concepts. Enhance your critical-thinking skills as you build robots, configure computers and control circuits.

Looking for even more hands-on experience? During weekly Robotics Club

Gibbons At A Glance

9 Academic Departments Offer More Than 180 Courses 65% of Our Senior Class Graduated With Potential College Credits earned through dual enrollment courses

✓ 62% of Our Students Who Took

AP Courses Received a 3 or Higher

BECOME READY FOR SUCCESS

PREPARE

FOR YOUR JOURNEY With five full-time school counselors on staff, Cardinal Gibbons is dedicated to fostering the academic, spiritual and personal growth of students. From the very start, students are encouraged to take charge of their academic experience, explore their interests and discover who they want to become. By working closely with their counselors, students can create an individualized academic plan, develop skills, set goals and chart a course for success, regardless of the path they choose after graduation.

Our students are prepared to take on any academic challenge, and colleges and universities around the country are taking notice. Each year, over 150 college and university admission representatives visit Cardinal Gibbons to meet and build relationships with our students. Our counselors actively support students and their families, helping them navigate the college admissions and recruitment processes through various events, workshops and informational sessions.

The following abbreviated list of colleges and universities highlights where our students have previously been accepted: American University Auburn University Babson College Barry University Boston College Boston University Brown University California Polytechnic State University Carnegie Mellon University The Catholic University of America Case Western Reserve University The Citadel Clemson University Colby College Colgate University College of the Holy Cross College of William and Mary Columbia University Cornell University Dartmouth College Duke University Emory University Florida State University Fordham University The George Washington University Georgetown University Georgia Institute of Technology Harvey Mudd College Hobart William Smith Colleges Howard University Johns Hopkins University Lehigh University Loyola University Maryland Lynn University Miami University, Oxford MIT New York University Northeastern University Notre Dame Pennsylvania State University Pepperdine University Princeton University Purdue University Regis College Rhodes College Rollins College

Saint Joseph’s University Saint Leo University Saint Mary’s College Saint Michael’s College Savannah College of Art and Design St. John Fisher St. John’s University-New York St. Thomas University Stetson University Stevens Institute of Technology Syracuse University Temple University Tulane University United States Air Force Academy United States Coast Guard Academy United States Merchant Marine Academy United States Military Academy, West Point United States Naval Academy University of California, Berkeley University of California, Los Angeles University of Central Florida University of Chicago University of Colorado, Boulder University of Florida University of Georgia University of Maryland, College Park University of Miami University of Michigan The University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill University of Notre Dame University of Pennsylvania University of Pittsburgh University of Southern California Vanderbilt University Villanova University Virginia Tech Wake Forest University Yale University

Gibbons At A Glance

95% of Our Graduates Attend College 5 Full Time Counselors on Staff 150+ Number of Colleges That Visit Gibbons Each Year

BECOME A PART OF OUR TRADITION

GET THE FULL HIGH-SCHOOL

EXPERIENCE

our students to bond with one another, creating a sense of unity, enriching their lives and helping to establish friendships that will last a lifetime.

But the Cardinal Gibbons experience doesn’t end after graduation. Through our Alumni Association,

At Cardinal Gibbons, your education will extend

you’ll join a network of over 13,000 loyal alumni

far beyond the classroom. Our diverse community

and always be connected to the Cardinal Gibbons

of students has created nearly 40 clubs and

family. From reunions to networking events, there

organizations, so it’s easy to find your niche—along

are numerous opportunities for you to come home,

with a new group of friends who love the same

reconnect with friends and continue living the

things you do. Whatever your skills or interests

Cardinal Gibbons experience.

are, whether they include photography, robotics or politics, you’ll have every opportunity to pursue them at Cardinal Gibbons.

“Traditions define the Cardinal Gibbons experience.”

In addition to our dozens of clubs and student

Gibbons At A Glance

39 Clubs and Organizations

organizations, we also proudly sponsor a number of academic honor societies to complement your studies perfectly. Regardless of what academic

60 Years of Quality Catholic Education

area in which you excel, you’ll find an opportunity to celebrate your talents and further enrich your education alongside your mentors and peers.

There is no shortage of things to do on campus, and we know our pep rallies, dances, recollections

13,000 Loyal Gibbons Alumni 25,000+ Community Service Hours Performed Each Year by Our Students

and movie nights are sure to become some of your fondest high school memories. Traditions like Welcome Week, Homecoming and our annual Raffle define the Cardinal Gibbons experience and allow

18 Acre Campus Located in Fort Lauderdale Along the Beautiful Intracoastal Waterway in Coral Ridge

BECOME INSPIRED

TRANSFORM YOUR PASSION INTO A

PATHWAY TO COLLEGE

We are dedicated to inspiring our students and providing them with every opportunity to pursue their passions. Whether you dream of painting breathtaking murals, composing the next great concerto or bowing to thunderous applause on stage, we’ll help you get there and be your biggest supporter along the way.

We embrace the belief that creativity contributes to the development of a well-rounded person, and our students are proof that there is no shortage of creativity at Cardinal Gibbons. Our visual art students are continuously developing technical skills and a profound

appreciation for the arts, and the community is taking notice. The Fort Lauderdale Museum of Art, the Boca Art Museum and Nova Southeastern University are just a few of the local artistic hubs that have exhibited artwork by Cardinal Gibbons students.

“Creativity contributes to the development of a well-rounded person...”

The students in our Music and Drama Departments have seen no shortage of success either.

Featuring Marching Band, Jazz Ensemble, Wind Ensemble, String Orchestra, Chorus and Electronic Music courses, our Music Department provides our students with a robust education in music theory and hones their performance skills. Our students consistently receive Superior

ratings at local and state Florida Bandmasters Association competitions and have traveled to Georgia and New York to perform and display their talents.

The students in our Drama Department work hard year-round, producing two Mainstage productions and a one act performance, while also participating in local and state competitions through the International Thespian Society, where our troupe earns Superior ratings every year. Acting, choreography, stagecraft and vocal techniques are just a few of the skills our students learn in the Drama Department while building confidence and character that they’ll carry with them to college.

Gibbons At A Glance

47% of Students Participate in Fine Arts

BECOME A CHAMPION

BECOME A CHAMPION

PLAY HARD

WORK HARDER

Cardinal Gibbons is where athletes become champions and excel on the field as well as in the classroom. Since opening our doors in 1961, we’ve produced 57 state championship teams and over 70 individual state champions. With a winning tradition like ours, it’s easy to see why over 70 percent of our students participate in at least one of the 43 athletic teams we have on campus.

We strive to give our student-athletes all of the tools they need to succeed on the field, in the water and on the green. Our extensive athletic facilities include a 1,200seat air-conditioned gym, a state-of-the-art synthetic turf football field, a quarter-mile track, batting cages, baseball and softball fields, weightlifting facilities, a wrestling room and access to tennis courts, golf courses, a local pool and an ice hockey rink.

Gibbons At A Glance

70% of Students Participate in Athletics 43 Sports Teams for Boys and Girls with a Proud History of Success

BECOME A CHIEF VISIT US Come and experience firsthand all that Cardinal Gibbons has to offer to help you become the best version of yourself.

Admissions Department admissions@cghsfl.org (954) 491-2900 Ext. 148

BOOK A CAMPUS TOUR Explore our campus and get a glimpse into the life of a Cardinal Gibbons student on a campus tour. Led by a member of our Admissions team, a campus tour will show you points of interest throughout our extensive academic and athletic facilities.

During your tour, you’ll see firsthand what sets Cardinal Gibbons apart from other local high schools and you’ll learn how we can help you reach your full potential. Campus tours are offered on select weekdays and can be booked online by visiting www.cghsfl.org/admissions.

Gibbons At A Glance

1,200 Students

17:1 Teacher Ratio 1:1 iPad Program

BE A LEADER TUITION AND FINANCIAL AID INVEST IN YOUR FUTURE

State sponsored scholarships that are accepted by Cardinal Gibbons are: • AAA All students must be enrolled in the FACTS tuition management • Family Empowerment formerly program. Parents may elect to pay known as the Gardiner tuition monthly, quarterly, semiScholarship annually or annually.The first tuition • Family Empowerment payment of the academic year is Scholarship due on, or prior to, July 1.

• McKay Scholarship • Step Up for Students Cardinal Gibbons offers needbased financial assistance to Cardinal Gibbons does not offer students and families on an or award scholarships based upon annual basis. Once a student has athletic abilities. been accepted and registered, a financial assistance application Visit our website for the can be submitted through FACTS Grant and Aid to be reviewed latest tuition and registration by the financial assistance information. committee. Please note that all families applying for financial assistance from Cardinal Gibbons must first apply for a state funded scholarship. Cardinal Gibbons Financial Assistance will not cover 100% of the tuition cost for the student and must be applied for annually.

BECOME A CHIEF ADMISSIONS CHECKLIST Q

Q

APPLY ONLINE

Create an Admission Portal by completing our online application at www.cghsfl.org/admissions. The following are required to submit an application and register for the HSPT Exam. Copy of Birth Certificate, Application Fee $50 and the Release of Records Form.

TAKE THE HIGH SCHOOL PLACEMENT TEST

To be considered in the priority pool of applicants, all current ninth-graders must take the HSPT at Cardinal Gibbons in December. All transfer students are exempt from testing.

Q

Q

COMPLETE THE APPLICATION PROCESS

Current ninth-graders must submit copies of their seventh and eighth grade report cards and most recent standardized test scores to the admissions portal. Transfer students will need to submit copies of their high school report cards and transcripts, as well as recent test scores (SAT, ACT, PSAT). A link will be provided to submit letters of recommendation.

RECEIVE A DECISION

Decision letters for all current ninth-graders will be mailed out in January. Decisions for all transfer students will be made on a rolling basis beginning in May. All supplemental documents must be received by the Admissions Office before an application will be reviewed for consideration.

View our website for details about the application and registration process.

CONTACT

Admissions Department admissions@cghsfl.org (954) 491-2900 Ext. 148

CARDINAL GIBBONS HIGH SCHOOL 2900 NE 47TH Street Fort Lauderdale, FL 33308 (954) 491-2900 www.cghsfl.org #BeAChief

A Roman Catholic College Preparatory School

2900 NE 47th Street, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33308 www.cghsfl.org | (954) 491-2900

Cardinal Gibbons is fully accredited by COGNIA and a member of the National Catholic Educational Association