O'Hara Knowledge Bowl Team Took First Place

The Archbishop O'Hara High School Team won First Place in the West Central Conference Academic Knowledge Bowl this year.

Saint Pius came in second followed by Smith-Cotton, Center, and Warrensburg.  Clinton did not field a team.

Alex Higinbotham had the overall Conference top score.

O'Hara took the win with one bye and winning all four of the remaining rounds.

 The Knowledge Bowl Team Members were seniors Steven Gordon and Alex Higinbotham, juniors Jack Berney and Matthew Gordon and sophomore Garrett Ryan

Moderators for the O'Hara Team are Steve Loecker and Sister Barbara Schrader.

Patron of All Teachers Saint John Baptist De La Salle

The Church celebrated the Feast Day of Saint John Baptist De La Salle, Patron of All Teachers, on April 7th. 

The Founder of the Brothers of the Christian Schools was a priest in France and lived from 1651 to 1719.

The Brothers traditionally have celebrated the feast on May 15th.

He was Beatified in 1888 and Canonized in 1900.

Archbishop O'Hara High School has had the dedicated service of members of the Congregation every year of its existence.

Brother Richard Geimer served faithfully from 1969 to 1975 and from 1991 to 2013 when he retired. It was the longest stint for any Christian Brother at the school.

Live Jesus in Our Hearts

Forever

Annual Evening of Celtic Pride at O'Hara

Honoring Archbishop O'Hara High School's founding Religious Orders: the Brothers of the Christian Schools and the Sisters of Charity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the school had its 8th annual evening of Celtic Pride on March 1, 2014.

O'Hara's first two Principals Brothers Bernard LoCoco and Richard Geimer, were especially appreciative.

Thanks to everyone who supported this event.

The program included the auction, dinner, raffles, and libations between 5:30 and 11:00.

The theme for the event was Mardi Gras and New Orleans, with the benefits for the students of O'Hara High.

Lasallian Tradition at Archbishop O'Hara High School

Saint John Baptist De La Salle, a French priest, organized the Brothers of the Christian Schools (also known as the Christian Brothers) in France in 1682, an order dedicated solely to education. In the 300 plus years since then, the Christian Brothers have never lost sight of that singular mission, as the organization has grown to include secondary schools, colleges and universities in more than 80 countries.

John Baptist De La Salle was declared a saint by Pope Leo XIII in 1900, and was named patron saint of all teachers by Pope Pius XII in 1950.

Today at O'Hara High School, while the faculty and administration consist of primarily of lay men and women, the vision of De La Salle remains alive in an educational community, characterized by high standards of teaching, good relationships between teachers and students, high priority given to religious education and an overriding concern for the poor and social justice.

Among the Christian Brothers who have contributed significantly to O'Hara over the years are Brothers Bernard LoCoco, Richard Geimer, Norbert Roseberry, Timothy McNary, James Krause, Austin Makowski, Douglas Hawkins, Richard Merkel, Charles Gregor, Norman McCarthy, Christopher Englert, Lawrence Humphrey, Robert Werle, Michael Fugger, Mark Snodgrass, Martin Grimm, and Stephen O'Malley.

Hopefully this Tradition will carry over to Saint Michael the Archangel High School in Lee's Summit if and when that educational venture comes to fruition.  It may be up to John Purk and John O'Connor.

Fourteen Distinguished O'Hara Alumni

ENVISION listed fourteen Distinguished Alumni from Archbishop O'Hara High School who attended National Young Leaders Conference summer programs between the years 1999 and 2012.

The five that participated in the programs emphasizing leadership were Cyrus DeVry 2012, Lowell Thomas 2009, John Sampson 2006, Derek Ballmann 2003, and Amy Blocher 1999.

In programs having emphasis on medicine were Bridget O'Shaughnessy 2012, Kathleen Foster 2003, Jackie Riedel 2000, Lauren Moyer 1999, and Kendra Brown 1999.

The remaining four had special areas of emphasis. Ciara Bazemore 2011 in intensive law and trial, Louis Curtis 2008 in national security, Matt German 2006 in engineering and technology, and Hilary Bacon 2004 in law and CSI.

Inspirational Words From Saint De La Salle

Saint John Baptist De La Salle, Patron of All Teachers,
 has the following words for all Christian Educators.

“To touch the hearts of your students and inspire them with
the Christian spirit is the greatest miracle you could
perform, and the one that God asks of you, since this is the
purpose of your work.”

The Church celebrates his feast on April 7th. 

Daily Prayer For a Teacher

I want to teach my students how to live on earth
To face its struggles and its strife and improve their worth.

Not just the lesson in a book or how the rivers flow
But how to choose the proper path wherever they may go.

To understand eternal truth and learn the right from wrong
And gather all the beauty of a flower and a song.

For if I help the world to grow in wisdom and in grace
Then I shall feel that I have won and I have filled my place.

And so I ask your guidance, God, that I may do my part
For character and confidence and happiness of heart.

CHRISTMAS 2013