Brother Martin High School

School mascot and colors

The school's mascot is a crusader and the colors are crimson and gold. The crimson represents the Brothers of the Sacred heart devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and Brother Martin as being a Sacred Heart school and also the mascot, the Crusader, who would sacrifice oneself for the preservation of Catholicism. Gold, a color from Cor Jesu High School, comes from their mascot, which were the Kingsmen and represented nobility. The St. Aloysius mascot was also the Crusader, but although the colors are the colors from Cor Jesu.

School crest

Blending the tradition of the past with momentum for the future, the crest symbolizes true crusader spirit.

On top of the shield is the helmet of a crusader symbolizing Christians of the past who were willing to give up their lives so that future generations might grow up Christian.

Under the helmet is a chain that represents the consolidation of St. Aloysius and Cor Jesu high schools in Brother Martin. From the five Brothers of the Sacred Heart who first opened St. Aloysius College in 1869 has grown Brother Martin High School.

The shield is divided into four quadrants by the Cross of Christ. In the upper left corner is the Sacred Heart, which represents the Brothers of the Sacred Heart and recalls their ministry of 148 years in New Orleans.

The fleur de lis in the lower left corner represents the French heritage of the city.

In the lower right corner, a torch symbolizes striving for excellence while the book in the upper right corner represents learning in the fullest sense.

Campus

Brother Martin High School is located on Elysian Fields Avenue in Gentilly, an established residential neighborhood in New Orleans. The sprawling school campus features Cor Jesu Hall, the oldest building on the current campus; built in 1954, the Conlin Gymnasium, the largest high school gym in the city, and the newest components on campus; the Thomas F. and Elaine P. Ridgley Fine Arts and Athletic Center, commonly known as the "Ridgley Center", E. A. Farley Field, used for Soccer, Baseball and non-varsity football, the Roland H. & Macy Paton Meyer Science and Mathematics Building, and the James B. Branton Chapel.

Thomas F. and Elaine P. Ridgley Fine Arts and Athletic Center

In January 1999, over 400 alumni, Brothers and friends attended the dedication ceremony for the Thomas F. and Elaine P. Ridgley Fine Arts and Athletic Center. The dedication of this 40,000-square-foot (3,700 m²) facility was presided over by Bishop Gregory Aymond, CJ’67, hosted by Brother Ivy LeBlanc, S.C. President of Brother Martin High School and was the realization of the goal of the first phase of the Campaign for Brother Martin High School. The entrance to the Ridgley Center Lobby is on a diagonal. The diagonal sits on the Faubourg-Darcantel line, one of the oldest boundaries in the city. Upstairs in the second floor lobby, a wall of windows frame E.A. Farley Field. Throughout the Ridgley Center there are rooms named to honor some of those who have contributed mightily to keeping the students faithful to their deepest call. The band room is named in honor of Professor Joseph Taverna. "Prof" Taverna was the band director at St. Aloysius from 1931–1961. The athletic training room is named to honor Dr. Winston P. Riehl who has mended Crusader athletes since 1966. Under the leadership of Tom Benson, the St. Aloysius Class of 1944 was the only class to have a donation made in the name of every class member. Brother Mark Thornton was the first principal of Brother Martin High School. In naming the terrace after Brother Mark Thornton, students hope to perpetually remember that religious values are the cornerstone of the school's mission.

E. A. Farley Field

Between 1945 and 1947 the Brothers of the Sacred Heart, looking toward the future had purchased more than 7 acres (28,000 m²) of property, primarily from the Farley family, in the growing residential area of Gentilly. By 1952 Brother Martin Hernandez as provincial planned and supervised the construction of Cor Jesu High School on the Gentilly site. Through his Youth Progress Program Archbishop Joseph Francis Rummel contributed $475,000 toward construction and furnishings of the new school. From 1980 through 1983 the school purchased parcel of land from the Farley Family which was bordered by Mandeville Street, Gentilly Boulevard, St. Aloysius Drive (formerly Stephen Girard St.) and Cor Jesu Drive (formerly Marigny St.) for use in their athletic and extracurricular programs. The field underwent a renovation as part of Phase II of the Capital Campaign during which a baseball field was constructed and additional athletic storage and restrooms were added. The playing surface was redone and drainage and a sprinkler system were installed, allowing the lower level teams to play home games on campus, although the varsity plays its home games at Kirsch-Rooney Stadium at nearby Delgado Community College. This is especially where the football team practices. And also the baseball teams.

Roland H. & Macy Paton Meyer Science and Mathematics Building

The Roland H. & Macy Paton Meyer Science and Mathematics Building opened for the 2007–2008 school year on August 17. The Meyer Building is located at the corner of Elysian Fields Avenue and Sumpter Street, the former site of the Brothers’ Residence (circa 1955). This 35,000-square-foot (3,300 m²) building houses computer, chemistry, physics and biology labs. For flexibility, eight science classrooms adjoin the three state-of-the-art lab spaces on the second floor. The first floor has seven math classrooms and a computer lab. Labs and classrooms are equipped with ceiling mounted projectors, video and DVD players, document cameras; screened X & Y coordinate graphs, LCD screens, teacher computer work stations and wireless connectivity. The classroom windows with manual solar protection and room darkening systems control varying daylight conditions while promoting student comfort, productivity and energy efficiency.

The James B. Branton Chapel

The James B. Branton chapel is setteled in front of the Roland H. & Macy Paton Meyer Science and Mathematics Building and is raised on a three foot tablet signifying its importance on campus as a place of worship. The chapel is 5,500 square feet and includes two offices and narthex space which will be used for small gatherings. The chapel also features seating for 236. One design element of special interest in the chapel is the stained glass (circa 1853) preserved from the Brothers’ chapel in Paradis, located in Le Puy, France, near where the Brothers of the Sacred Heart order was founded. The stained glass pieces, depicting the Sacred Heart, have been carefully hand restored by Lizano Glass Haus in Metairie and mounted in a custom glass enclosure. Sunlight captured in the narthex of the chapel highlights the unique and historical beauty of these pieces. The chapel’s exterior cross, designed and fabricated by metal artist John Perilloux of Robert, Louisiana, is reminiscent of the mission crosses erected by the founder of the Brothers of the Sacred Heart, Father André Coindre, throughout south central France following the French Revolution. The design will incorporate centuries-old traditional blacksmith wrought iron artistry.

Admissions

The considerations used in admitting prospective students include student priority of choice in selecting Brother Martin, overall elementary school record, recommendation of elementary school principals, and an interview with each applicant.

Brother Martin High School admits students regardless of race and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, sexual orientation, national and ethnic origin in administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, scholarship and financial aid programs, athletics and other school-administered programs.

Academics

Brother Martin High School is fully accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. Brother Martin offers classes to young men in grades 8–12. It provides a college preparatory curriculum designed to develop skills and create options for higher education. There is a program specially designed for eighth grade. Eighth grade students are required to carry a minimum of six courses including Religion 8, English 8 or English 1 honors, Introduction to Algebra, Algebra 1 or Algebra 1 honors, physical science or physical science honors or computer applications, world geography, and health/PE.

To graduate, students must earn a minimum of 24 credits. Each course is equal to one credit. Freshmen, sophomores and juniors are required to carry and successfully complete all required courses and a minimum of six credits each year, seniors must carry and complete all required courses and a minimum of five credits.

Students enrolled in all four honor courses during their sophomore year are invited into the Honors Program. A student that is participating in the Honors Program will be required to continue taking honors or advanced placement courses in English, math, science and social studies. In addition, a student must also complete three consecutive credits of the same foreign language. The successful participation of a student in the Honors Program earns him an honors diploma at graduation.

At the end of the first quarter, the first semester, the third quarter, and the second semester, students earning a grade point average of 4.0 or above are placed on the Principal's Honor Roll. Students earning a grade point average of 3.50 to 3.99 are placed on the Alpha Honor Roll. Students earning a grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 to 3.49 are placed on the Beta Honor Roll.

In 2008, seniors were to be able to choose a variety of new electives such as Anatomy and Physiology, Publications, Law Studies, Marine Biology, Creative writing, Engineering, and Forensic Science. Also included will be an Animations and Digital Graphics course, the first ever course offered in the state.

School Organization and Administration

The official governing body of Brother Martin High School is the school's Board of Directors, which is responsible for setting school policy and regulations and hiring the school president and principal, the administration of Brother Martin is a President, who is head of the school and directs the school's development and capital campaign, the Principal, in charge of day-to-day operations of the school, a vice-principal in charge of discipline, an academic assistant principal in charge of the academic programs, an assistant principal for admissions and an assistant principal for student formation, in charge of the honors and curriculum programs. In addition, each academic department has a department chairperson representing that particular department.

Athletics

Brother Martin athletics started back in the early 1900s with basketball and baseball. Now over 100 years later, Brother Martin has more than 11 varsity athletics for students to choose from. Brother Martin's years of athletic traditions has yielded numerous State and District Championships over the years. Brother Martin is a member of the Louisiana High School Athletic Association and participates in District 9-5A, also known as the Catholic League for the number of Catholic schools in the district.

The Crusader football team was coached for 27 seasons (1970–96) by Bobby Conlin, who compiled a 204–99–5 record, the most wins for any Catholic League coach, and the most for any New Orleans-area coach in Louisiana's highest classification. He led Brother Martin to the 1971 Class AAAA state championship with a 23–0 victory over archrival St. Augustine. The Crusaders also reached the championship game in 1989, losing 35–7 to Ouachita Parish. Conlin was posthumously inducted into the LHSAA Hall of Fame in 2003.

Brother Martin's basketball teams won state championships in three of its first five seasons following the merger of St. Aloysius and Cor Jesu. The 1969–70 team went 36–0 and was named a mythical national champion. In 1974, the Crusaders defeated Catholic League rival Holy Cross in the championship game, led by future University of Kentucky and NBA player Rick Robey.

The school has teams in baseball, basketball, bowling, cross country, football, golf, soccer, swimming, tennis, track and wrestling- which is regarded as one of the best wrestling programs in the state, with 15 state championships since 1979. All teams except tennis, swimming, golf and bowling consist of four levels of competition: eighth grade, ninth grade, junior varsity and varsity. The school has had a bowling team as a club sport for many years, but in the 2007–08 school year, it came out with a varsity bowling team. The team competes as a member of the LHSAA. Teams are selected through a tryout process.

Championships

1974–1975 - District, State Runner-up

1983–1984 - State champions

1984–1985 - State Runner-up

1990–1991 - District

1995–1996 - State champions

2007–2008 - District

2009–2010 - District

In addition to the listed school championships, the 1983 American Legion baseball team sponsored by Brother Martin won the Louisiana state championship and Mid-South regional, and placed fourth at the American Legion World Series.

1969–1970 - District, State, National

1970–1971 - District, State champions

1972–1973 - District, State semifinals

1973–1974 - District, State champions

1978–1979 - District

1982–1983 - State semifinals

1986–1987 - District

2002–2003 - District, State Runner-up

2003–2004 - District, State champions

2004–2005 - District, State champions

2006–2007 - District

2009–2010 - District, State champions

1969–1970 - City

1970–1971 - City, District

1971–1972 - City, District, State

1972–1973 - City, District, State Runner-up

1973–1974 - City, District

1974–1975 - City, District

1975–1976 - City, District

1976–1977 - City, District

1977–1978 - City, District

1978–1979 - City, District

1979–1980 - City, District, State Runner-up

1980–1981 - City, District, State

1981–1982 - City, District, State

1983–1984 - City

1984–1985 - City, State Runner-up

1986–1987 - City

1991–1992 - City, District, State Runner-up

1992–1993 - City, District, State Runner-up

1993–1994 - State

1994–1995 - City, District, State Runner-up

1995–1996 - City, District

1997–1998 - State Runner-up

1998–1999 - State

1999–2000 - District, State

2000–2001 - City, District

2001–2002 - City

2002–2003 - City, District, State

2003–2004 - City, State Runner-up

2004–2005 - City, State Runner-up

2005–2006 - City, State Runner-up

2006–2007 - City

2007–2008 - City, State

1970–1971 - Miracle Strip Bowl

1971–1972 - District, State champions

1972–1973 - District, State semifinals

1974–1975 - State playoffs

1975–1976 - Shrimp Bowl

1977–1978 - District, State playoffs

1978–1979 - Turkey Bowl

1983–1984 - District

1984–1985 - State playoffs

1985–1986 - District, State semifinals

1986–1987 - State playoffs

1988–1989 - State semifinals

1989–1990 - State Runner-up

1991–1992 - State playoffs

1992–1993 - District, State playoffs

1993–1994 - State playoffs

1994–1995 - State quarterfinals

1996–1997 - State playoffs

1999–2000 - State playoffs

2004–2005 - State playoffs

2006–2007 - State playoffs

2007–2008 - District, State playoffs

2008–2009 - District, State playoffs

1969–1970 - District

1970–1971 - District

1971–1972 - City

1976–1977 - District, Regional

1985–1986 - District

1988–1989 - District, Regional

1992–1993 - Regional

1993–1994 - Regional

1995–1996 - Regional

2003–2004 - State

2006–2007 - District, Regional

1987–1988 - District, State Runner-up

1988–1989 - District, State Runner-up

1994–1995 - State Runner-up

1995–1996 - State Runner-up

1997–1998 - District

1999–2000 - State Champions

2000–2001 - State Champions

2001–2002 - State Runner-up

1977–1978 - City

1984–1985 - State Runner-up

1985–1986 - City, District

1986–1987 - City, District, State

1987–1988 - State Runner-up

1971–1972 - District

1972–1973 - District

1975–1976 - District

1978–1979 - District

1979–1980 - District

1982–1983 - District

1983–1984 - District

1984–1985 - District

1986–1987 - District

1990–1991 - Indoor State Runner-up

1994–1995 - Indoor State Runner-up

1995–1996 - Regional

1996–1997 - Regional

2003–2004 - District, Regional

2005–2006 - District, Regional

2007–2008 - District, Regional

2008–2009 - District, Regional

1977–1978 - District, State Runner-up

1978–1979 - City, State

1980–1981 - State Runner-up

1981–1982 - City, State

1982–1983 - District, State Runner-up

1983–1984 - City, State

1984–1985 - District, State

1985–1986 - District, State

1986–1987 - District, State

1989–1990 - District

1995–1996 - District, Regional, State Runner-up

1996–1997 - State Runner-up, District

1998–1999 - District, State

1999–2000 - District, State

2000–2001 - District, State

2001–2002 - District, State

2002–2003 - District, State

2005–2006 - State Runner-up

2006–2007 - District, State

Crusader fight song

"We're gonna' fight for our alma mater, for Brother Martin crimson and gold. We're gonna' fight 'till the skies resound it! We're gonna' win over foes untold. The Crimson Crusaders are our heroes, they are the men who never say, "Die." So while the whole gang is here let's stand up and cheer for Brother Martin High."

Extracurriculars

Some extracurricular activities offered include: NJROTC, The Academic Games team, Marching, Concert and Symphonic Bands, a jazz ensemble, cheerleading, chess club, chorus, Close-Up, world language club, drama club, Excalibur National Honor Society, inline hockey team, intramural athletics, Key Club, a literary magazine (The Pen and the Sword), magic club, Mu Alpha Theta, National Honor Society, National Junior Honor Society, newspaper (The Crusader), quiz bowl team, rugby team, speech and debate club, student ministry, student recruiting team, welcoming diversity team, student council, lacrosse and yearbook (Yesterday).

Hurricane Katrina

Hurricane Katrina forced the school to close in August 2005. Brother Martin opened a temporary facility at Catholic High School in Baton Rouge for their students. Catholic High allowed students and faculty of Brother Martin use their facilities during its afterhours. Displaced Brother Martin students continued to learn here for the remainder of 2005. Brother Martin High School reopened its doors in New Orleans in January 2006 sustaining minimal flood damage to the bottom floors.

Notable alumni

NOTE: Some of those listed below graduated from one of Brother Martin's forerunner schools, St. Aloysius (1869–1969) and Cor Jesu (1954–69)

Catholic high schools in New Orleans

The Catholic League (Other all-male, Catholic high schools in New Orleans)