Kate Browning
McGill-Toolen Class of 2001
Kate feels very fortunate to have been able to attend Catholic schools from kindergarten all the way to law school. She graduated from St. Pius in 1997 and was in the McGill-Toolen Class of 2001. She went on to graduate from Spring Hill College and Ave Maria School of Law in Naples, Florida. Kate currently works in Mobile for her father’s law firm, Richard E. Browning, P.C. They specialize in the areas of Worker’s Compensation, Social Security Disability, Longshore and Harbor Worker’s Compensation and Personal Injury.
Kate says, “I think what I loved most about McGill was the concept of helping students to grow and better themselves in mind, body and spirit. McGill-Toolen Catholic is a true community, and there is a niche for everyone.” Kate found her niche by participating in clubs such as the Student Ambassador's Club, Pro-Life Club and Key Club and playing on the girls' tennis team all four years. She enjoyed being challenged in AP and Honors classes. Kate says she loved the fact that she attended a high school that not only had exciting football games and entertaining plays, but a place where she had the opportunity to attend Mass in the school gym and begin each class with a prayer.
“While at McGill-Toolen Catholic, I was surrounded by students who became some of my closest friends and still are to this day.”, Kate said. As an alumnus, she thoroughly enjoys attending events such as football games and the Jacket Jubilation. She is really looking forward to her ten-year reunion this summer, as well! Kate said, “I cannot believe it has already been a decade since graduation, but I will be eternally grateful for the preparation I received at McGill- Toolen Catholic and look forward to being an active alumnus for many years to come.
Social Studies Courses
WORLD HISTORY SINCE 1500 (CP1, CP2, Honors) - 1 credit
This freshmen world history course assumes a global approach. Emphasis is placed on analysis of present-day problems and cultures in light of historical influences. A detailed, chronological study of the world’s history since 1500 will be completed during the year, with units on the political, economic, geographic, and historical aspects of key countries and regions.
Part 1 1500 - 1870: Enlightenment through Revolution to the Unification of Europe.
Part 2 1870 - Present: Imperialism through World Conflicts to the present.
WORLD GEOGRAPHY (CP1, CP2, Honors) – ½ credit
This sophomore course is designed to help students better understand the importance of geography and the world in which they live. This course will focus on the areas of the world through the lenses of the five themes of geography: location, place, human-environment interactions, movement and regions. Through individual and group projects, students will be given the opportunity to think both locally and globally to prepare them for the diverse society in which they live. A detailed study of the physical, cultural, political, and economic characteristics within each region, as well as their interactions, will be covered during this semester long course.
U.S. HISTORY I (CP1, CP2, Honors) – ½ credit
This more in-depth study of United States History to 1877 takes the sophomore student from our nation’s earliest beginnings to 1877. Key people and events that helped mold this country into the nation it is today will be studied.
Part 1 Pre-Colonial Period to the War of 1812
Part 2 Era of Good Feelings to Reconstruction
AP EUROPEAN HISTORY (Advanced Placement) - 1 credit
This course presents a chronological scope of major events and trends from approximately 1450, the High Renaissance period, to the present. Students are expected to develop an understanding of the principle themes, the ability to analyze historical evidence, and the ability to analyze and to express historical understanding in writing. Students taking the A.P. exam pay their own testing fee. Placement in this course in by invitation and/or teacher approval and is taken in the sophomore year.
U.S. HISTORY II (CP1, CP2, Honors) - 1 credit
This junior year course is a more in-depth study of the United States since 1877. Key events and people of the 19th, 20th, and 21st centuries that helped mold this country into the nation it is today will be covered.
Part 1 The Gilded Age through the Depression
Part 2 World War II to the Present
AP U.S. HISTORY - 1 credit
Junior level students learn to assess historical documents and data and to interpret their relevance to both past and current social issues. Independent reading and research are emphasized. Students taking the AP exam pay their own testing fee. Prerequisites: AP European History or US History I Honors and/or department approval.
AMERICAN GOVERNMENT (CP1, CP2, Honors) - ½ credit
During the first semester of the senior year, the student examines the governmental structure, political institutions, the American constitution, individual rights and responsibilities inherent in democratic citizenship, and current social problems.
AMERICAN ECONOMICS (CP1, CP2, Honors) - ½ credit
American Economics - During the second semester, senior level students will be involved with a survey of basic economic principles. This course, analytic rather than theoretical, examines current economic problems such as inflation, depression, recession, etc., and provides the opportunity for students to study topics of personal interest, such as consumerism, taxation, banking, the stock market, budgeting, credit, and various types of economic systems.
AP U.S. GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS - 1 credit
This senior level course introduces students to American government and politics by analyzing how political support is mobilized in our system and how public policy is made. Analysis of the Constitution, the federal system, its major processes, organization and institutions of national government is provided. Students will be expected to take the advanced placement exam and are responsible for testing fee. Prerequisites: AP U.S. History and/or department approval.
THE FOLLOWING COURSES ARE OFFERED BY THE SOCIAL STUDIES DEPARTMENT AS ELECTIVES. THEY DO NOT SATISFY ANY OF THE 4 SOCIAL STUDIES CREDITS REQUIRED FOR GRADUATION:
AP WORLD HISTORY - 1 credit
This course is designed to allow the student to gain a greater understanding of movements and trends throughout the history of the world from 8000 B.C. to the present. The traditional “Western” focus of world history will be reexamined as students analyze documents to gain a greater understanding of the rest of the world. Students taking the AP exam pay their own testing fee. Placement in this course is by invitation and/or teacher approval.
PSYCHOLOGY - ½ credit
This elective course involves a study of the factors that contribute to the understanding of the student’s own behavior and how it relates to the behavior of others. This study will enable the student to approach the problems of society with increasing objectivity. The course includes insights into the principles of learning, personality development, abnormal psychology, child and adolescent psychology, and behavior in social groups.
This course is offered each semester.
SOUTHERN CULTURE - ½ credit
This elective course examines the cultures, institutions, personalities, and problems that have contributed to shaping Southern culture from prehistory to the present. Special emphasis will be placed on the nature of Southern identity - what is Southern and why - and how it has changed throughout our region’s history. This course is offered each semester.
SOCIOLOGY – ½ credit
Sociology is an elective course that studies human society and social behavior. The key component of this course is to study ourselves and the society that influences our behavior. Interactions between humans are an essential part of a society. A working knowledge of both the positive and negative interactions that take place in a society is necessary in order to find answers to questions and solve problems in our world. Sociology teaches us to look at life in a scientific, systematic way. This course deals with the social atmosphere that helps to make us who we are and how we behave. Sociology will cover topics such as culture, violence, deviance, social control, socialization and personality development, group behavior, peer pressure, social class, the impact of social networking, and the role of the media on society.
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BEST PRIVATE HIGH SCHOOL IN MOBILE
2007-2008-2009-2010
