Saint Stanislaus College

History

In 1854 the Brothers of the Sacred Heart bought land for the foundation of a boarding school. Two years previously Brothers Basile Venable, Leo Maligne, and Joseph Deimer came to Bay Saint Louis, Mississippi from France to teach in the boy's parish school fulfilling the desire of Father Stanislaus Buteux of Our Lady of the Gulf Catholic Church. In late 1854 the Father petitioned superior general of the Brothers of the Sacred Heart (Brother Polycarp) for more teachers that a boarding school could be started. In response Brothers Eusebe Gulonnier, Ephrem Flechet and George Leydier were sent.

The land bought by the brothers cost $4000. The first school building built on this land cost $3800. The school was named after Father Stanislaus and was placed under the protection of Saint Stanislaus Kostka. The first president of the school was Brother Athanasius.

When the Civil War erupted a few years later, some of the students left to join the army. At least one student was forcibly brought back by his mother. This student would later write to his mother complaining of his classmates' cursing, drinking, and other immoral activities. Before the war was over, the Union army arrived in Bay Saint Louis marching down the road between SSC and the present day all-girl school across the street. The street was named Union Street in remembrance which leads to quite a few jokes about the street being aptly named. In exchange for the school and church being left alone, the brothers and father promised to pray for the Union soldiers.

Mission

The Mission of Saint Stanislaus, a Catholic residency and day school for young men, is to teach Gospel values and to nurture the total development of each student according to the charism of the Brothers of the Sacred Heart. The school fosters character formation and integrates faith development within a curriculum that is primarily college preparatory. As an integral part of its mission, Saint Stanislaus maintains a residency program that offers students opportunities for educational success and personal growth within a disciplined and structured environment.

Athletics

The Saint Stanislaus College Rock-A-Chaws field teams in baseball, basketball, cross-country, football, golf, powerlifting, sailing, soccer, swimming, tennis, and track and field. In the 2014-2015 school year, Saint Stanislaus won 4 State Championships: golf, soccer, cross-country, and baseball, as well as State Runner-Up in football.

Notable clubs and organizations

Rock-a-chaw mascot

Rock-a-chaw comes from an old Choctaw Indian word meaning devil grass and today is also known as sandbur (Cenchrus L.). Several species are common in the area, especially coastal sandbur. "Rock-a-chaw" was the name give to the hard, spiny, globose or oval bur of the plant. It is covered with stiff spines, which stick to fur and clothing and can be quite difficult to extract. The burs can also be quite painful when landed on such as during football games. They littered the playing fields and campus before these areas were tilled and seeded with grass. During sporting events, it was not uncommon for the students to do their best to remove the many burs from the playing fields where the prickly weeds grew in the sandy soil that is common for the Gulf Coast area. Sometimes students would drag blankets made of wool across the fields. Because the rock-a-chaws had small spikes, they clung to the wool. This aided in quicker removal of the rock-a-chaws from the playing fields.

Camp Stanislaus

Camp Stanislaus is a summer camp that has been in business since 1928. The camp hosts many different activities, including: sailing, water-skiing, archery, rifles, hobbies, kayaks, canoes, baseball, dances, swimming, gym, tennis, basketball, pool, go-carts, art, weightlifting, volleyball, marine science, math, bonfires, fishing, movies, soccer, barbecues, skit nights, football, reading, karaoke, shows, beach activities, digital photography, and much more.

Notable alumni

J'Noel Gardiner (Class of 1976) University Professor and defender of human rights of sexual minorities and freedom from religion.

Notable students

Hurricane Katrina

Hurricane Katrina had a huge impact on Saint Stanislaus and its surrounding neighborhood. Katrina destroyed many buildings, including the first floor and dormitories of Saint Stanislaus. The school was closed for two months. Saint Stanislaus, along with its next door neighbor Our Lady Academy, an all-girl Biloxi dioscean Catholic school, resumed classes together on November 1, 2005 and operated jointly for the remainder of the 2005-2006 school year. Both schools suffered damage in Hurricane Katrina with Our Lady Academy being forced to knock down one of its buildings. In August 2006, Our Lady Academy resumed operations on its own campus, sharing some classes with Saint Stanislaus as it had done prior to Hurricane Katrina. Since 2005, Saint Stanislaus has renovated most of its campus buildings including its famous 1,000 foot fishing pier (2010), a new band hall (2007), a new cafeteria (2010), remodeled gym (2006), remodeled rec halls, classrooms and offices (2014), remodeled dormitory (2014 and in progress), and remodeled baseball and football fields (2013 & 2014).