We are the CARDINALS!

Archbishop Announces St. Michael Catholic High School Mascot

(Daphne, Al September 29, 2015) St. Michael Catholic High School will open its doors in less than a year, and now the school has its mascot. Thomas J. Rodi, Archbishop of Mobile, made the announcement at a press conference on Tuesday morning in front of nearly 450 students, parents and teachers, the result of a voting process which included students from Christ the King in Daphne, St. Patrick in Robertsdale, St. Benedict in Elberta and McGill-Toolen freshmen who live in Baldwin County.

“I am pleased to announce,” said the Archbishop, smiling, “that you have chosen the name for your high school. From this point forward, you shall be called the St. Michael Catholic High School Cardinals.”

Amid the roar of approval from the students present, Ms. Gwen Byrd, superintendent of Catholic schools, was also smiling. “We’ve had such tremendous support from the parents in Baldwin County for this school, and look--that enthusiasm is now evident in their children,” Byrd said. "Catholic high schools are special places, and we think St. Michael will prove to be a great home for our kids here.”

“It was fun to go through this process with our future students,” commented Faustin Weber, hired this summer as the school’s first principal. “When I went to the schools to ask them for suggestions, they were eager to share their ideas. We had over 650 nominations! Seventeen students from our schools and parishes nominated the “Cardinals.” They will be able to tell their grandchildren one day that they named St. Michael. We think that’s a special thing, and we’re going to find a way to acknowledge them permanently in our hallways. “

Those students are: Timothy Mullek, Mary Grace McKeough, Rebekah LaConsay, Hannah Gray, Fairby Caldwell, James Koons, Claire Hayes, Jeb Taylor, Emily Corbett, Edward Cowles, Patrick Andrews, Jonah Calvery, Andrew Corbett, Margaux Duchesne, Ally Maver, Emma Claire Lee and Campbell Brown.

“Things are moving fast now, “Weber said. “Construction is on schedule for an August 2016 opening. Now that we know our mascot, we’ll work with a graphic designer for a logo, and pretty soon, Baldwin County folks will be seeing a lot of red and gray (the school colors) on shirts, hats, bumper stickers and signs. Expect announcements that give specifics about our academic and athletic programs very soon. Early admissions will begin in late October, with placement testing and interviews in November--it’s going to be busy, but fun!”

The school will open with freshman and sophomores in August, 2016, and will add one class each year thereafter. For more information about St. Michael, including drone video footage of the construction progress, visit the school’s website at stmichaelchs.org.