Tradition in all its varied history and beauty may be found in rich abundance at St. Cecilia. Inspired by the school motto, “Veritatem Dare Summa Caritas” (“To give Truth is the greatest Charity”), the St. Cecilia community draws on these words for guidance, recognizing in them a reflection of the Dominican charism that is at the heart of Saint Cecilia Academy.
Our tradition at St. Cecilia is also present in the emblems of our history. The school coat of arms or shield uniquely illustrates the school's heritage. Central to the design is a harp, representing Saint Cecilia, the patron saint of music, against a red background, symbolizing St. Cecilia's martyrdom. Above the harp is the black and white fleur-de-lis cross that is symbolic of the Dominican order. Above the cross is the date 1860, the year the school was founded. The harp, cross, and foundation date are set within a circle, around which is written the school name and location. The school’s colors are red and white, representing the virgin-martyr Saint Cecilia.
The St. Cecilia school mascot is the scarab, an ancient Egyptian symbol denoting life and vitality — qualities characteristic of the members of the St. Cecilia community, with their great enthusiasm, energy and passion for life. The first three letters of the mascot’s name, SCArab, are also the school’s initials.
“It was not without forethought that the young academy was called St. Cecilia . . .” (from Annals of Saint Cecilia Congregation). Saint Cecilia was considered a good patroness for the school because she was a cultivated young woman who was an exemplary Christian, much like the young ladies the school was founded to educate. Additionally, Saint Cecilia is the patron saint of musicians, singers, and artists; from its beginning, the school has had an outstanding fine arts program as part of its curriculum.
Each year, a member of the senior class is chosen to be the Saint Cecilia Girl. This is the highest honor that a student at St. Cecilia Academy can attain. Every year the juniors and seniors vote on the senior who best exemplifies the ideals that St. Cecilia Academy cherishes. The senior chosen as St. Cecilia Girl must have attended the school for all four years, have a minimum 2.0 GPA, and have the faculty’s approval.
There are also many special events that take place throughout the year at St. Cecilia, each one marking a distinctive tradition.
