From its founding by the Order of St. Augustine (the Augustinians) in 1922, Saint Augustine High School has provided educational excellence to the young men of San Diego. This time in our history provides a joyful occasion

to celebrate and reflect upon our rich heritage of developing Christian gentlemen in the Augustinian tradition—strong in mind, heart, and body. But it is also an exciting opportunity to look to the future, to “go forward and make progress,” and to “become that which we are not yet” as St. Augustine’s has challenged us.

Based upon the vision of former principal Fr. John Sanders, O.S.A., who died suddenly in 2000, St. Augustine High School is launching the second phase of a bold campus master plan: the construction of a new Student Activities Center.

This Center will be a multi-use facility consisting of a 1,500 seat gymnasium and event venue, locker rooms, sports medicine facility, training/coaching/meeting rooms, weight/cardio training, wrestling center, food services, and student activity offices (e.g. campus ministry, ASB, intramurals, year book). In order to continue the long tradition of a weekly student Mass, the Center will include a formal sacristy. The foyer and courtyard spaces included in the project will provide our students, families, and friends with community space, one of the hallmarks of Augustinian life. This project will significantly upgrade our campus and allow us to better meet our mission in the 21st century.

Father John Sanders, O.S.A ’66Born on October 7, 1948, Father John attended Saints. His excellence as a student and his desire to serve earned him the admiration of his Augustinian teachers, who encouraged him to enter the Order of St. Augustine. He was ordained to the priesthood in 1974. John began his ministry in Catholic education at Villanova Prep in Ojai, California. In 1981 he came to Saints as a teacher. Three years later, he began studies for a doctorate in education at USC. During this period, he authored a book, Before all Else, a history of the Augustinians in the Western U.S. He returned to Saints in 1988 as Principal with several goals: to improve the campus facilities and quality of instruction, grow the school’s endowment, and increase enrollment while maintaining the mission to serve boys in San Diego’s diverse urban core. He successfully overcame his primary challenge to close Bancroft Street, which bisected the campus. Years of hearings, studies and fundraising resulted in a transformed campus and a platform for future improvements. Father John’s biggest vision for the campus remained unrealized—a new gymnasium and theatre center for the arts. Father John was deeply loved by the students, parents, teachers, and friends to whom he ministered while at Saints. It is in his memory that we seek to realize his dream.

St. Augustine High SchoolBuilding Future Saints II Capital Development CampaignFulfilling the Dream of Father John Sanders, O.S.A. ’66

“Always improve, always go forward, always make progress...

so that you may become that which you are not yet.”

—Saint Augustine (Sermon 169, 15.18)

Transformative Education As San Diego’s premier school for Catholic education and formation for young men, St Augustine High School (affectionately known to all simply as “Saints”) stands alone as the region’s only urban, all-male, Catholic high school. Our commitment to diversity, our emphasis on brotherhood, and our core values of community, truth, and love create a truly unique and transformative education.

Our location in North Park allows us to serve the region’s urban core, yet our student body of 700 brings together students from as far away as Oceanside to the north, Alpine to the east, and Baja California to the south.

We strive to offer a Catholic secondary education to students of all financial means. This upcoming year, Saints will award $1.9 million in tuition assistance to 51% of students, up from an average of 33% awarded each of the previous ten years.

To maintain a student-centered environment that allows for a personal and individualized educational experience, Saints limits enrollment to 700, resulting in an average class size of 26.

As soon as freshmen enter our campus, they begin to experience a profound sense of acceptance, brotherhood, and community which sets the stage for the formation of life-long friendships and a call to serve others. This is what is known as “the Saints Experience.”

With a focus on developing the whole person, Saintsmen explore all of their God-given talents through college preparatory academics, intramural and interscholastic athletics, co-curricular activities and Christian service. They arrive at Saints as boys, and leave as men of distinguished character and committed faith, prepared to succeed in an increasingly interconnected and ever-changing world. For the past nine years, every graduate has matriculated to higher education.

Growing StrongerThe Saints Experience was vastly improved with the completion of the first phase of our campus master plan in 2007—39,575 square feet of new classrooms, science labs equipped with the latest technology, and a state-of-the-art library and computer center. This project exemplified the need to provide modern facilities that meet the learning needs of today’s students.

Our Mission

Our mission is to provide a Catholic liberal arts education for young men in an environment that promotes the development of mind, heart and body in the Augustinian tradition. By helping to form loving disciples of Jesus Christ we communicate to the world the gospel values of community, truth and love.

Master Plan PhasesThe completion of Phase I began the process of re-creating Saints. Phases 2A and 2B complete this sequence and pave the way to the next century.

Phase 1: Classroom Buildings, Science Labs, Library and Renovation of Vasey Hall (Completed)

Phase 2A: Student Activities CenterConstruct new Student Activities Center composed of a gymnasium, event venue, sacristy, locker rooms, office space, training room, meeting and teaching rooms. Spaces for food service, sports medicine, wrestling and weight lifting are included. Community patios take advantage of the structure’s four levels and rooftops.

Guiding principles underscoring the facility design are that the Center must be built vertically, that each space must serve at least two functions, and that community space must be created and celebrated.

Phase 2B: Outdoor Field and Theatre for Fine ArtsCreate a regulation all-weather track and field to improve training space and increase the visibility of the Saints’ athletic program.

Build a 400-seat theatre and music studio to accommodate up to 100 musicians, further enhancing and enriching our fine arts program to develop the whole person.

Since our new facilities opened, we have fortified our academic program with the introduction of Intersession classes and a leadership program. We have also strengthened our operations and financial position. Our Board of Directors developed a five-year financial plan, we completed our first Major Gifts Campaign (which exceeded its $250,000 goal to raise $503,000), and our Endowment Fund grew from $1.9 million to $2.9 million. Involvement by parents and volunteers has never been stronger.

As a result, demand for The Saints Experience has grown; for the past seven years more than 300 applicants have taken the entrance exam for 190 slots and our waiting list of potential freshmen has exceeded 50 applicants.

However, there is much more to accomplish if Saints is to remain one of the top choices of Catholic families for the education of their sons. A comprehensive, 13-month planning process engaged students, teachers, neighbors, alumni, architects and other school stakeholders in outreach and feedback sessions to envision future program and facility needs.

The Next Phase St. Augustine’s leaders are now looking to build upon recent success with the next phase of the master plan and Fr. Sanders’ dream— a new Student Activities Center.

The majority of Saintsmen participate in intramural and interscholastic athletic leagues, which foster a competitive spirit and impart critical life skills such as commitment, teamwork and sportsmanship. Moreover, with an alumni of over 8,000, the popularity of Saints sports draws fans from all over San Diego.

Dougherty Gymnasium, featuring its ever-fervent student section, “The Pit,” is 60 years old and simply too small

and limited to accommodate the Saints community. The gym seats 700 spectators, but large crowds of Saints supporters often force sporting events to take place off campus. Due to tight constraints, teams currently need to stagger their use of the facilities, limiting their training and requiring coaches to work longer hours.

The new gymnasium within the proposed Student Activities Center more than doubles the seating capacity to 1,500. For the first time, regional and state playoff games will be hosted on site. The four-level complex will feature a new weight and strength training center, wrestling room,

locker rooms, team rooms, coaches offices, storage space, and four outdoor basketball courts located on the roof. These facilities will allow athletes to adequately prepare for competitions and feel confident in their performance. Training space will also provide an unprecedented opportunity for instruction in sports medicine.

Food services and student activity offices, such as campus ministry, ASB, clubs, and the newspaper/yearbook, will be located inside the new Center.

Enclosed in glass, the foyer level of the Center will afford a wonderful gathering place for the Saints community and will also be made available to other community organizations. Bathed in natural light with access to a multi-level outdoor courtyard, the foyer will accommodate up to 200 people at a sit-down event, such as banquet award ceremonies for athletic teams, alumni reunions, fundraising galas and community events.

Community building events, such as the Annual Parent Christmas Social and Dinner Auction, and Grandparent’s Day will take place in the new Center.

Graduation ceremonies will be on campus rather than the convention center, heightening school pride and providing a setting that students will truly remember as their home.

The new gymnasium will also accommodate the weekly student Mass, a unique and treasured component of the Saints Experience, as well as assemblies involving the entire school. This project will create a truly student oriented activity center and valuable site for fostering camaraderie and unity.

The architectural design of the new Center stays true to the modern Spanish style of the campus’ original buildings designed by renowned architect, Richard Requa. The design’s multiple levels take advantage of the sloping site, locating a portion of the Center below ground to increase energy efficiency and reducing the overall footprint of the building on the campus.

Capital Development CampaignThe estimated cost of the project is $25 million. Due to the strong financial position of the school and success in Phase I, informal yet strong commitments have been received to finance a portion of the construction costs.

Yet to fully realize this next phase of the Master Plan, St. Augustine’s leaders are launching a $12.5 million capital campaign. The campaign’s success will rely on the support of the Saints community—alumni, parents, faculty, staff and students— as well as the broader community.

Project Elements Estimated Costs

Direct Project Costs

Cost of Construction Four story gymnasium Foyer

$19,158,612

Fixtures, Furnishings & Equipment

$414,020

Site Preparation, Landscaping, Fencing, Paving & Parking

$439,681

Architectural, Engineering Fees & Administrative Costs

$1,101,884

Contingencies

$907,815Escalation (over 2 years @ 5%)

$1,915,861

Total Direct Costs

$23,937,873

Indirect Project Costs

Development/Planning Studies $28,000Campaign Costs and Fees $232,700Pledge Shrinkage Allowance @ 7.5% $937,500

Total Indirect Costs

$1,198,200

Total Project Cost

$25,136,073

St. Augustine High School3266 Nutmeg Street • San Diego, California 92104(619) 282-2184 • www.sahs.org

In our quest to develop the whole person, Phase I focused on developing the mind through new classrooms, labs and library. This next phase will develop the body and the spirit with new facilities for athletics, co-curricular activities

and campus ministry. The new facilities also will strengthen our core value of Unitas, or unity, by creating ample meeting and community gathering space. This will allow more programming to take place on campus, increasing the sense of pride Saintsmen have for their school, enhancing our mission and attracting new families to “The Saints Experience.” We believe that Fr. Sanders’ dream will be brought to life, that we will meet the challenge to move forward, and, in so doing, that we will secure the future for generations of Saintsmen to come.