McGill-Toolen Catholic High School

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McGill-Toolen Catholic High School
Location
1501 Old Shell Road, Mobile, Alabama
USA
Coordinates 30°41′21″N, 88°04′18″W
Information
Affiliation(s) Roman Catholic
President Rev. W. Bry Shields, Jr.
Enrollment

~1100
Type Private / Coeducational / Secondary
Grades 9-12
Mascot Yellowjacket
Color(s) Black and Orange
Established 1896
Homepage mcgill-toolen.org

McGill-Toolen Catholic High School, located in Mobile, Alabama, is a private co-educational high school operated by the educational system of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Mobile.

Contents

[edit] History

The original McGill Institute building, demolished in 1955.
The original McGill Institute building, demolished in 1955.

McGill Institute was founded in 1896 by Arthur McGill and his brother, Felix McGill, as a free school for boys. In 1928, the Brothers of the Sacred Heart took over the administration the school. They continue to serve on the faculty of the school today. The original McGill Institute building was located on Government Street, in downtown Mobile. In 1952, the school moved to Old Shell Road, across the street from Bishop Toolen School for Girls.

Bishop Toolen School for Girls was founded in 1928, by Bishop Thomas J. Toolen, and was administered by the Sisters of Loretto at the Foot of the Cross until it merged with McGill Institute in 1972 to form the co-educational school known today as McGill-Toolen Catholic High School.

In December of 2007, the Mobile Register reported that supporters of the school have raised $10.3 million to renovate the campus and add a new science building and student center. In addition, a new entranceway will be added along Lafayette Street and a walkway that will go over that street, connecting the two main buildings. The science facility is expected to open in the fall of 2008. The student center will be a two-story building fronting Lafayette Street and including a new cafeteria, chapel and student plaza. The new buildings and entrance will be constructed to match the school's mission-revival architecture. A facade will be added to the McGill building, which fronts Old Shell Road with its more modern style, to make it blend as well. The new science building will give all science teachers larger classrooms and their own labs.

McGill Toolen Catholic High is also the only Catholic High School in the southern party of Alabama.

[edit] Mission statement

“ McGill-Toolen Catholic High School provides a quality secondary education which enables individuals to grow in faith, to search for knowledge and truth in mind, body, and spirit, and continue building the kingdom of God on earth. By active involvement in the learning process, students are prepared for lives of Christian leadership and service. ”

—School website

[edit] Sports and traditions

McGill-Toolen is sometimes called "McT", for short. The school colors are orange and black, and the mascot is a yellowjacket. The McGill-Toolen varsity football team became the 6A Region 1 Champions for the first time in thirty years, by defeating its long-time rival, Murphy High School.The football team repeated in 2007 as the 6A Region 1 Champs. They advanced to the semifinals of the 2007 playoffs before falling to Prattville High School. In October of 2007 the school announced the construction of a football stadium at the Archbishop Lipscomb Sports Complex. The stadium will be completed in time for the 2008 season moving McGill from their long time home field of Ladd Peebles Stadium. Mcgill Toolen's golf is also an important tradition at Mcgill with its top state finishes. Mcgill's 2008 golf team was led by outstanding sophmores Lee Engerson, Patrick Rickert, and Bernard "long shot" Zieman.


[edit] School band

At the beginning of the 2007-2008 school year, the McT Band went under the direction of Mr. Steve Sims. The Marching Band performed at the Gold Medal Classic Marching Contest at Mississippi Gulf Coast Junior College. They received straight superiors, and the best in Class A Colorguard.

[edit] Notable alumni

[edit] External links

[edit] References