1. ​God is the center of our existence and Jesus Christ must be the model for our life.
2. Through a Gospel-centered curriculum, the faculty and staff strive to develop and nurture the whole person: morally, intellectually, emotionally, physically, spiritually and socially.
3. An important component of Catholic education is the formation of young men and women of integrity.
4. Our commitment to academic excellence is a priority and an integral part of our identity.
5. The faculty challenges students to be actively engaged in the learning process by using a variety of educational resources and instructional approaches.
   
6. Students learn in a safe, orderly and non-threatening environment. There is mutual respect among students, faculty and staff.
7. All students are provided an equal opportunity to be successful. They are encouraged to develop their own distinct abilities, talents and interests.
8. Open communication among administration, faculty, staff, parents and students ensures a fair and consistent learning environment.
9. Students and the entire school community participate in service projects in order to strengthen their awareness and concern for others and thus work toward social justice.
10. We value a commitment to continuous improvement in our school curriculum and due to the inevitability of change with technology and change in the workplace, we attempt to develop the desire to be a life-long learner in our students.
11. Opportunities are provided for parents, alumni, and the community to participate in and support Geibel Catholic Junior-Senior High School.

When he saw the crowds, he went up the mountain, and after he had sat down, his disciples came to him.  He began to teach them… (Mt 5:1-2)

Jesus Christ has many titles – Son of God, Lamb of God, Savior of the World, King of the Universe.  But his disciples called Him one thing above all else: Rabbi, meaning Teacher.  Jesus is a teacher.  He spent a great deal of his time teaching people.  He spoke with authority, interpreting the Jewish Scriptures and adding to them with his parables and exhortations.  He taught in the synagogues and in the streets, on the mountains and in the plains.  He is the greatest teacher of all because He is the one who teaches us how to be ourselves most fully.

While the apostles learned from the words of Jesus, they learned much more from being in His presence.  Christ is truly present in our school.  The students learn about Him here not just in religion class or in the chapel in all that we do.  Our community bears witness to Him in every aspect, from academics to sports, from extracurriculars to service.

Nearly two thousand years after Jesus' earthly ministry, He continues to teach us.  Every day, our students, teachers, and staff are invited to listen more intently.

Whoever has ears, ought to hear. (Mt 11:15)

God bless you.

Fr. Dan Carr

​Geibel Catholic Junior-Senior High School has been honored by the Cardinal Newman Society as a Top 50 Catholic High School, chosen from 1,200 Catholic high schools in the United States. The following is an article from a 2012 issue of The Catholic Accent, the official newspaper of the Diocese of Greensburg, documenting Geibel Catholic's Top 50 Catholic High School recognition:

Geibel Catholic named one of top 50 Catholic high schools in the nation

CONNELLSVILLE - As it prepares to celebrate its 50th anniversary, Geibel Catholic Junior-Senior High School has earned another golden honor. Today (Sept. 20) it was named one of the nation's top 50 Catholic high schools in the Catholic High School Honor Roll competition.

The top 50 schools are recognized for excellence in Catholic identity, academics and civic education. The list of honorees was released this morning by the Cardinal Newman Society, which administers the program, and Geibel Catholic celebrated its honor at a pep rally later in the morning.

See www.cardinalnewmansociety.org or www.catholichonorroll.org for the organization's Sept. 20, 2012, announcement and additional information. Read the national news release.

The top 50 schools are recognized for overall excellence in all three Honor Roll categories, and other schools receive special recognition in particular categories. This year, seven schools were recognized for excellence in Catholic identity, six schools for academics, five schools for civic education and five additional schools for two of the three categories.

"As principal of Geibel Catholic, I am elated to have our school recognized for excellence on the national level as our teachers prepare our students for the challenges of life in the 21st century," said Don Favero, principal of Geibel Catholic.

Favero was named principal of the school in 2011, and at the time said he believed Geibel Catholic could achieve this honor.

"Our classroom dynamics and educational philosophy are tied to the latest university methodologies, while our approaches are rooted in the Gospel values of our Lord, Jesus Christ," Favero said. "This educational synergy is what makes Geibel Catholic one of the best high schools in the United States."

Favero said Geibel Catholic shares the honor with all the schools in the Diocese of Greensburg and expressed his "deep appreciation for the wisdom, care and vision of Bishop Lawrence E. Brandt and the leadership of Trent Bocan, the superintendent of Catholic Schools."

Bishop Brandt said, "This honor validates what we have known for many years. Geibel Catholic Junior-Senior High School provides an excellent education in a Catholic environment that focuses on all facets of the development of a young person--mind, body and spirit--with a strong emphasis on faith formation, academic excellence and service to others."

Bocan said, "Geibel Catholic is a top-notch, Catholic institution that offers unmatched academic programming, including collegiate-level courses on campus, a fine extracurricular program in the arts and athletics, and service learning that promotes giving back to the surrounding communities.

"A family in the Fayette County region could not ask for anything more in an educational institution. I congratulate the inspired, energetic, professional and caring leadership of Don Favero and his administrative team, our teachers and support staff, and the pastoral leadership of our chaplain, Father Bob Lubic."

Patrick Reilly, president of the Cardinal Newman Society, said "the Honor Roll has been a helpful tool for administrators, families and benefactors in recognizing the quality of a Catholic high school" since the competition began in 2004.

"The Honor Roll schools are a reminder that Catholic education is getting better every day -- not only academically, but in the renewal of Catholic identity--and we are delighted to see the increased level of competition among the schools that participated in the program this year," Reilly added. The society noted that the top 50 Honor Roll schools are diverse: large and small, new and long-established, highly selective and open enrollment admissions policies, and high and low tuition rates. The common trait is an institutional commitment to providing a truly integrated and faithful Catholic education across all disciplines and in all areas of student activities, according to the society's media release.

The top 50 schools are located in 21 states (Pennsylvania has the most with seven), and the sizes range from nearly 1,500 students (Archbishop Edward McCarthy High School in Florida) to 48 students (St. Ignatius College Preparatory School and Faustina Academy, both in Texas).

Geibel Catholic has 114 students in grades 9-12 and 36 students in grades 7-8.

Geibel Catholic is named for the late Father Henry Geibel, longtime pastor of Immaculate Conception Parish in Connellsville. Construction of the school on East Crawford Avenue began in 1963, and the school opened its doors to students in January 1964.

Geibel​ Catholic will celebrate its 50th commencement this spring. Golden anniversary plans for 2013, and 2014, are being developed.

By Jerry Zufelt, The Catholic Accent