Student Life Overview

The Campus Ministry Program at Catherine McAuley High School is intended to create a Christ-centered community of faith within the Judeo-Christian tradition. Through the programs offered, it seeks to nurture the faith development and spiritual growth of the entire school community.

Based on the history and tradition of Catherine McAuley High School, Campus Ministry is rooted in the Gospel values, and fostered by the charism of the Sisters of Mercy. Therefore, Campus Ministry seeks to emphasize compassionate service, global awareness, respect for diversity, and inclusiveness to those of varying religious traditions.

The Office of Campus Ministry is primarily responsible for the liturgy, prayer and retreat component, as well as the service program of the "McAuley Education" experience.

PURPOSE: Caritas, meaning "to care," is the Big Sister/Little Sister program that exists to help establish a sense of ease and comfort for our new students.

Each year, an upperclassman is paired up with an incoming freshman and a Big Sister/Little Sister relationship is established. This pairing is designed to provide a contact and advisor for our new students who may be feeling a bit unsure or uncomfortable during their first days at McAuley.

Big Sister/Little Sister assignments are made prior to Freshman Orientation, which is held in August. Big Sisters are expected to contact their Little Sisters prior to the first day of school.

The Civil Rights Team, in partnership with McAuley’s newly-formed Social Awareness Group, discusses and endeavors to remedy issues on the international, national, state-wide, local, and school-wide levels.

The Catherine McAuley Speech and Debate team participates in Public Forum and Lincoln Douglas style interscholastic debate competitions that are held around the state from October through March. Students will research and persuasively advocate both sides of monthly resolutions (controversial statements) designated by the National Forensic League. Typically these resolutions focus on the environment, politics, government, health care or international relations. Students learn to persuasively argue and advocate both sides of the resolution while also honing cross examination skills. Participants become members of the National and Catholic Forensic Leagues and accumulate participation points toward distinctions and may participate in national and state qualifying tournaments. Local attorneys assist Mr. Wagner, a social studies teacher, in coaching and mentoring the students through this interesting and challenging extra-curricular event. The level of a student's participation may vary depending on the student's schedule. Students will be expected to participate in self-directed preparation and research and to attend practices.

The Limelighters, the after school drama club, is well known in the state of Maine for their competitive one-act plays. Each year McAuley receives numerous All-Festival awards for acting and ensemble, but students have also been recognized for their innovative contributions to choreography, music, set, costume, sound, lighting, and hair/makeup design. The Limelighters perform twice annually--a late fall variety show that showcases the many talents of McAuley actors, singers, dancers, and musicians, as well as the spring one-act competition play, the varsity drama team.

The Limelighters believe that there is a place for everyone in theater, both onstage and behind the scenes, and students are welcomed and encouraged to find their special niche in McAuley drama.

The French Club encourages the study of the French language, its culture and the civilization of France, as well as extends the speaking of the language in conversation outside of regular classroom work. Furthermore, it engages members in activities that will promote the love and interest of the French language, its history, culture and people.

The Latin Club encourages students to explore our classical roots, and teaches students classical motifs and the origins of our Christian heritage. The Club also encourages travel and the learning of fundraising skills.

Key Club is dedicated to community service. It provides a practical means to form enduring friendships, to render unselfish service, and to build better communities. It attends to the human and spiritual, rather than the material, values of life.

The Catherine McAuley High School Mock Trial team participates in an interscholastic competition sponsored by the Maine Bar Association. The Center supplies a hypothetical case each year, either civil or criminal. Each school prepares the plaintiff's and defendant's case with students playing the roles of attorneys and witnesses. They present their cases against other schools, with a panel of real attorneys assessing their performance. An actual state judge presides over the "trial". The team is open to all students who have an interest in the law, public speaking and theatrics.

Catherine McAuley High School is a chartered chapter of the National Honor Society, an organization founded in 1921 to recognize those students who exhibit high standards in four qualifying areas: scholarship, character, service, and leadership. Juniors and seniors with a cumulative grade point average of 90 or above qualify and are considered for candidacy during the first quarter of each academic year.

The Newspaper Club publishes Between the Lions on a quarterly basis. The newspaper is designed to give students an opportunity to write an a wide range of issues and in many different genres, including current events, school news, interviews, reviews of movies, books, music, current issues, poetry, fiction and reflective essays.

PACS educates the McAuley community about alcohol and other drugs and provides support and chem-free activities for students.

The Science Club explores science beyond the classroom and makes the student body aware of important issues, such as recycling and endangered species.

• Planned Activities:
• Bradbury Mtn. Hike
• Beach Clean-up
• Boston Trip
• Star Seeking
• Trip to Envirothon

Fundraisers:

• Ink Cartridge Collection
• School-wide Paper Recycling
• Bake Sale

BIENVENIDOS!
The Spanish Club meets twice monthly -- once for business and secondly for a cultural activity.  The Club has made quesadillas, created Guatemalan friendship bracelets, and hosted gatherings for our Chilean Academic Exchange students, including the annual Salsa Dance.  Many girls also share photos of their trips to various countries.  The Spanish Club also seeks out various service opportunities to help local Hispanic Immigrants and supports Global Health Ministry's medical mission to Chulucanas, Perú.

McAuley has an Academic Exchange with a high school in Santiago, Chile.  For one month, a group of McAuley students go to Chile, to study and live with families, and in another month, Chilean students come to McAuley and live here in Maine.  It's a life-changing experience for all involved.

The Varsity Club is a club for all Varsity athletes who would like to join. This club puts on our infamous pep rallies for each Varsity team. They also pick a player of the month for each sport, and provide intramurals for students between athletic seasons.  The Club also attends college games of our alumnae.  When teams make the play-offs, the Club coordinates an obstacle course between the different teams that are playing during that particular season.

The Yearbook Club creates and designs the yearbook and records the memories of a year at McAuley. From photography to writing, Yearbook is a wonderful way to hone your creative skills.