The Parish Gem celebrates milestone anniversary
Parishioners call it “The Parish Gem.” Saint Dominic High School in Oyster Bay holds the distinction of being the oldest high school in the Diocese of Rockville Centre and while that is quite the honor, the school is truly an institution for a quality and value-based education.
With a mission statement to “educate young people in a community dedicated to Gospel values and Catholic teachings while ministering to students of diverse abilities to achieve wholeness through personal holiness, academic excellence and social responsibility,” St. Dominic High School is a prestigious Catholic educational institution on Long Island that has responsibilities to education from the nursery program through 12th grade.
“We’ve done a lot to plan for this year’s gala at the end of November held in honor of our schools,” said Father Kevin Smith, who has been the pastor of St. Dominic’s Bay for the past 10 and a half years. “We have flags flying up and down Anstice Street, near our main campus and in downtown Oyster Bay to renew everyone’s spirit.”
The Catholic coed institution attracts students from communities outside the local area and offers students many options in terms of programs and classes, especially those who are interested in the increasingly popular STEM studies. Smith spoke of the school’s new state of the art science center, scholars programs for incoming students and STEM-based research programs.
“We partner with The WaterFront Center in Oyster Bay to learn about bay and marine programs as well as work at the Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory,” he said. “We also partner with St. Francis Hospital, where two heart surgeons come to the school to work with the kids, showing the inner working of the heart.”
With 38 clubs and activities to choose from and more than a dozen sports and athletics throughout the year, student life abounds with something for everyone. The Campus Ministry helps to bridge the gap between what is taught in the classroom and what is lived in the world by offering retreat days, school masses and the Sacrament of Reconciliation, all of which provide students with a sense of relevance of their Catholic faith.
“Catholic education provides structure and discipline and St. Dominic’s provides an individualized education,” said Smith on why parents should consider a Catholic education for their children. “It is faith based and that is maybe something that doesn’t get discussed enough. At St. Dominic’s, you’re a name, not a number.”
In gearing up for it’s big anniversary, St. Dominic’s plans to mark the milestone in many ways. Smith spoke of the 5K Fun Run and Homecoming on Sept. 22, which leads up to parents weekend on Sept. 29, including the Alumni Hall of Fame Dinner and parish picnic on Sept. 30. The Annual Canivan Auction and Gala will take place on Nov. 30 at The Crest Hollow Country Club.
While the reasons to enroll in St. Dominic’s are many, Smith says the institution has a spirit and family aspect to it unlike any other.
“St. Dominic’s is connected to a parish that fulfills its mission that Monsignor Charles J. Canivan started 90 years ago: to make St. Dominic Parish an educational center that included a high school of outstanding merit,” said Smith.
St. Dominic High School is located at 110 Anstice St., Oyster Bay, NY. For more information about the school and enrollment, call 516-922-4888 or visit www.hs.stdoms.org.
