THE MULLEN HIGH SCHOOL BRAND

2. THE MULLEN HIGH SCHOOL BRAND

2A THE MULLEN HIGH SCHOOL HISTORY

Mullen High School is named for John Kernan Mullen, famed businessman and philanthropist and founder of the Colorado Milling and Elevator Company. Together with his wife, Catherine, Mullen envisioned the founding of a high school in Denver for orphaned boys. In 1928, working with Bishop Henry Tihen, Mullen contacted Father Edward Flanagan, the founder of Boys’ Town, for advice on how best to design and operate such a school. Following Father Flanagan’s recommendation, Mr. Mullen wrote to an order of religious men working in Santa Fe, New Mexico and invited them to be the directors and teachers of his planned school – they were The Brothers of the Christian Schools founded by St. John Baptist de La Salle, more commonly know as the Christian Brothers. St. John Baptist de La Salle was a 17th century French priest who established gratuitous schools for the children of the poor and working classes, as well as an order of religious men to teach in and run the schools. An innovator both in the Catholic Church and in education, St. La Salle was a pioneer of the practical liberal arts curriculum, the simultaneous method of classroom instruction, early childhood education, and formal teacher training. In 1950, he was named the Patron Saint of All Teachers of Youth. Small wonder that J.K. Mullen chose these credentials and these men to lead his new school!

In June, 1928, Mullen opened negotiations with the De La Salle Christian Brothers. Unfortunately, both Catherine S. and J. K. Mullen died before the project could be completed, but their daughters and their husbands carried on with their plans. They purchased a 420-acre plot of land on the outskirts of Denver known as the Shirley Dairy Farm. An agreement was made that would allow the dairy to remain in operation in exchange for the students’ opportunity to work in the dairy and receive training in agriculture and mechanics. And so, on April 8, 1932, 17 boys and three Brothers moved into the new J.K. Mullen Home for Boys.

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Since that historic day, Mullen High School has experienced four distinct eras of change and growth:

The Orphanage Farm Years, 1931 – 1950

The school was conducted for orphan boys only, who both attended school and worked in the dairy farm;

The Boarding School Years, 1950 – 1965

Paying boarders and day students joined the orphans as students and the school’s farm operations ended. Its name was changed to J.K. Mullen High School;

The Boys’ High School Years, 1966 - 1989

The last of the orphans graduated, the boarding section closed, and the school became a four-year college preparatory high school for boys;

The Modern Years, 1989 – Present

The school became a co-educational high school and modernized its facilities and programs to become the campus and the school that today is Mullen High School. While much has changed since those early years on the farm, the heart and soul of Mullen have remained the same. Our Lasallian mission to provide a human education to the young, with attention to those most in need, is as alive and vibrant today as when our school’s doors first opened to the youth of Denver. Our core Lasallian principles of faith in the presence of God, concern for the poor and social justice, respect for all persons, inclusive community, and quality education remain the hallmarks of the Mullen High School experience. Above all, our tradition of educating in the Holy Presence of God, done with constant care and vigilance for the life of every student, continues to make us a family and to make Mullen not just a school, but a home for our hearts and a place of salvation for our souls. MULLEN HIGH SCHOOL BRAND STANDARDS

2B BRAND PLATFORM

Mullen High School’s brand platform is built upon the fundamental truth of our history and our identity. The articulation of the brand is informed by extensive quantitative and qualitative research conducted in 2011 for Mullen High School by an independent market research firm as well as by the work of a Mullen communications committee. The communications committee consisted of Mullen educators, parents and students. This work involved surveys, research, and in-depth interviews with Mullen leaders, students, educators as well as with external opinion leaders in secondary education. The Mullen brand has since been re-evaluated by the Mullen Leadership Team inclusive of 22 Mullen Educators. It is important to note, the communications committee and Mullen Leadership Team elected to remove the phrase “Performance with Character” from the Mullen brand.

2C CORE IDENTITY

CATHOLIC. LASALLIAN. COLLEGE PREP. This is the unifying statement and core of the Mullen High School brand.

At its core, Catholic, Lasallian education is instruction based on mentoring and relationships. The relationship between the student and the school, the student and the family, the family and school, and everyone with God all contribute to the education of the whole student. modeling gospel values as expressed in the sacred Scripture and Tradition of the Roman Catholic Church. Mullen's purpose is to dedicate our lives to the building of God’s kingdom here and now. Within the Mullen community we strive to:    Honor God Nurture a Catholic, Lasallian School Culture Achieve Academic Excellence Mullen High School is a Catholic, Lasallian college preparatory school conducted in the tradition of St. John Baptist de La Salle to give a human and Christian education to the young, especially the poor, by observing the Five Lasallian Core Principles of:

A Catholic high school is a community that exists to minister to its members through teaching and      Faith in the Presence of God Concern for the Poor and Social Justice Respect for All Persons Quality Education Inclusive Community

2D EXTENDED BRAND IDENTITY

Extending beyond the core of the Mullen High School brand are the school’s mission and fundamental practices that round out the articulation of who we are as well as what we should continue striving to be. The mission and practices are essential aspects of Mullen High School’s identity, and they should all be considered when creating materials for the school.

MISSION STATEMENT

In the tradition of St. John Baptist de La Salle and the Brothers of the Christian Schools, Mullen High School is a Catholic college preparatory high school whose graduates embrace God’s gift of learning, devote their lives to seeking ceaselessly for His learning, and commit themselves to using His learning in the service of others. Mullen’s hallmarks are its exemplary teaching, its community of faith, its scholastic rigor, and its care and vigilance for each student.

WE ARE COMMITTED TO:

...A LASALLIAN TRADITION

Our mission is to provide a human and Christian education to the young, with attention to those most in need, that all may achieve personal fulfillment and redemption. We endeavor to do this in cooperation with the spirit of God to promote a civilization of peace, justice, and love.

...A CHALLENGING COLLEGE PREPARATORY EDUCATION

Our mission is to provide a curriculum that presents students with a variety of courses that will prepare them for both college and life. Required courses stress content, skills mastery, and learning strategies in all core academic disciplines. Elective courses enrich students’ special interests, needs, and abilities.

...EDUCATING THE WHOLE CHILD IN THE SPIRIT OF THE GOSPEL

Our mission is to develop the whole child, fostering the development of young men and women of the highest character. Dedicated to the ideal of excellence in academics, artistic and athletic pursuits, through curricular and co-curricular programs of learning, and tempered by the Lasallian spirit of humility and equality, Mullen brings to its students those experiences that will help them develop as persons of compassion, faith and intellect.

...THE PROMOTION OF SOCIAL JUSTICE

Our mission is to educate students in issues of social justice and encourage them to commit themselves to the creation of a more just society. As a community that is committed to social justice, Mullen reflects the Church’s dedication to the poor and disadvantaged in both its actions and its policies.

...OUR COMMUNITY OF EDUCATORS

Our mission is to develop a community of educators capable of carrying forth the exemplary teaching of the Christian Brothers’ tradition. Educators are helped to develop and advance their classroom teaching mastery and are provided with the necessary means and support to achieve this mastery. Educators are regularly supervised as a means of sustaining the highest standards of teaching and encouraged to provide one another with mutual collegial support.

WE ARE MULLEN!

2E BRAND CONCEPT RATIONALE

Up to this point, you have seen all of the building blocks: Mullen High School’s history and its brand platform. Taken together, they create a powerful rationale for our brand as we move forward, one that distills both our brand’s essence and our brand’s intentions.

RATIONALE

The Mullen High School community shares a sense of purpose and a special bond. When Mustangs work together to advance the common good, the results are nothing short of awe-inspiring. This brand aims to elevate the excellence and achievement of the school - and Mustangs everywhere - on all fronts to convey how Mullen’s values, tradition and culture produces ambitious and influential leaders throughout the nation.