Mary McElroy
McGill-Toolen Class of 2011
By Rachel Robertson, Class of 2012
As a small town girl living in Robertsdale, Mary McElroy has always dreamed of living in the big city, and now she finally has her chance. Accepted to Barnard College in New York City, Mary has certainly made McGill-Toolen proud. Her hard work and leadership are exemplified not only through a rigorous course load but through varsity soccer and multiple clubs as well. Lettering in a varsity sport her junior and senior year, Mary has learned what balancing a schedule really means. Her commute to school takes an hour, and her soccer practice and homework often grow overwhelming. She explains that taking on so many responsibilities has taught her how to discover what is important in life: school, soccer, family, and friends. Even with athletics and academics, she always makes time for a social life. She credits McT for her Catholic education that readies her to face any challenge that may arise in the future. Devoted not only to God but to school as well, Mary serves in the Ambassador Club, National Honor Society, Scholars Bowl, Hi-Q Team, and The McGillian newspaper, using her impressive intellect to give back to McGill. She eagerly accepted the challenge of five AP classes her senior year, ultimately graduating with a 4.17 weighted GPA and 32 on the ACT. Becoming a National Merit Commended Student and voted Ideal Graduate of McT, Mary became the desired student of every college; she received an appointment to the Coast Guard Academy, was accepted to the Honors Program at Boston College, and was accepted to Fordham University where she was offered the Dean’s Honor Scholarship. Despite all of her options, Mary was most attracted to Barnard College, where she will attend this upcoming fall majoring in environmental biology.
The St. Thomas Aquinas Academy
The St. Thomas Aquinas Academy is a program of study named in honor of the saint Catholics believe to be the Church’s greatest theologian and philosopher. One of the thirty-three Doctors of the Church, St. Thomas is considered the model teacher as his influence on Western thought is considerable. The Aquinas Academy is designed to challenge the most gifted and motivated students in a demanding course of study. The development of the students’ abilities in all areas of the academic curriculum is emphasized along with various outside reading, writing, and extra activities. Students who complete this program will emerge as caring, capable, well-rounded young men and women ready to face worldly challenges and avail themselves of opportunities – armed with the strength of their faith and an exemplary academic program. They will live the philosophy of St. Thomas – “Three things are necessary for the salvation of man: to know what he ought to believe; to know what he ought to desire; and to know what he ought to do.”
During their time at McGill-Toolen, Aquinas Scholars (as they will be referred to) must maintain a 3.5 grade point average (weighted); complete a minimum of seven credits of AP or Pre-AP courses, twelve credits of honors courses and two years of Latin. Students will be encouraged to take more foreign language courses. For each semester, the student will complete a different assignment and/or activity based on learned coursework for that particular semester. In addition, certain electives will be required for each year. The Aquinas Scholars program will not deter a student from participating in the athletic, music, or extra-curricular programs. An additional goal for these students in the Academy is achieving National Merit Finalist and AP Scholar status.
Aquinas Scholars will be the first students invited and encouraged to participate in an annual college tour conducted by the school. The trip is designed for high-achieving students to visit out-of-state colleges and universities. Students will learn more about the admissions process and eventually apply and be accepted to some of the most selective schools in the country. Those seniors graduating and fully meeting the requirements of the program will be recognized separately at the graduation ceremony in addition to other special recognition throughout their participation in the Academy.
Incoming freshmen whose placement test scores are in the national percentile range of 90 or above are eligible. Their grades from middle school are required to be all A’s and B’s (or the equivalent). Students who do not qualify for honors geometry as entering freshmen may enter the Academy but will need to double-up in math during one of the years of participation if they plan to graduate with Calculus.
The typical Aquinas Scholars curriculum is documented below. The Assistant Principal of Academic Affairs will oversee the program with attention to extra projects, essays, and papers. Please contact Lisa Robertson at 445-2905 for more information.
Freshman Year
Honors Old/New Testament
Honors World History
Honors Algebra or Geometry
Honors Principles of Physics
Honors Literature/Composition
Latin I
Keyboarding/P.E. , Band or Chorus
+
1st Semester— Presentation on World Leaders/Nations
2nd Semester— PSAT Prep
Sophomore Year
Honors Church History
AP European or World History
Honors Algebra I or II
Honors Chemistry
Pre-AP Literature
Latin II
Health/Driver's Ed/P.E.
Band or Chorus
+
Semester 1 - Significant Leaders of the Church Essay Presentation
Semester 2 - Participation in the National Latin Exam
Junior Year
Honors Morality
AP U.S. History
Honors Algebra II or Pre-Calculus
Honors/AP Biology or AP Chemistry
AP English Language
Electives (2 credits)*
+
Semester 1 - Tutoring
Semester 2 - Biology Project
w/environmental implications
Senior Year
Honors Apologetics
Honors Catholic Doctrine
AP Government
AP Science
(Chemistry, Physics, Biology, Environmental Science)
AP English Literature
Honors Pre-Calculus, Honors Calculus or AP Calculus
Electives (2 credits)*
+
Semester 1 - Defense of the Faith
Essay - Apologetics
Semester 2 - Research Paper AP English Lit
* Possible electives - Latin III Honors, AP Latin IV,Fine Arts Survey, Band, Choral Music, Public Speaking, Athletic P.E., Science Courses, Other Foreign Language Courses, Social Studies Electives and Technology Courses
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