Christian Service
We are called by our faith to serve, and this calling shapes all that we do at McNicholas High School.
Students at McNicholas are immersed in a service-oriented culture and challenged to put their faith into action in our school, our city, our nation, and our world. Students find that their experiences of service through McNicholas greatly impact their sense of purpose, shape their understanding of their vocation, and form them to be people who embrace Christian service as a way of life.
In addition to service-learning and immersion experiences in Cincinnati and rural Tennessee, our students support many school-wide service projects such as Gifts of Hope which supports Hope Emergency, the St. Patrick’s Day ‘Senior’ Prom that supports clients at Sem Haven Nursing Facility, and our annual Penny Drive for Change that supports the CISE Fund and Project Education.
Students can also get involved in these service and social justice-minded groups.
“As Christians, we are called to be salt and light for the earth, and at McNick we are called to strive to grow in full stature towards Christ. SVDP encourages students to do that actively in our community, which has a positive effect on the whole of our society.”
Audrey, Class of 2024
Students in Mrs. Kendra Lonneman’s personal finance classes learned about the importance of philanthropy and supported pediatric cancer research by participating in the Magnified Giving program.
The senior St. Joseph Scholars highlighted the ways they have grown in compassionate leadership as they presented their Social Justice Capstone Projects.
The Class of 2025 grew in compassionate leadership this week as they bonded together during leadership formation. This day of formation laid the groundwork for the Leadership McNick program, a joint venture between McNicholas and the Xavier University Leadership Center (XLC), that will officially kick off next school year.
As part of the Guardian Angels School’s CANabilities Program, McNicholas hosted the eighth grade class from GA, leading them through a morning of witness, reflection, and activities fostering kindness and compassion.
Around McNicholas, you will often hear the phrase, “Once a Rocket, Always a Rocket.” So when one of your own is about to play on football’s biggest stage, we don’t just cheer (though we’ve been doing a lot of that!). We act. To support 2004 McNicholas graduate Kevin Huber, senior Grant Must designed and marketed a “Rockets show their stripes” t-shirt whose proceeds benefit Huber’s FUR Foundation.
Rockets grew in compassionate leadership today thanks to Hands Across Campus (HAC), our inclusion and diversity student organization, who organized an assembly whose topic was autism and theme was “Show me my neighbor.”
St. Joseph Scholars spent the day serving and learning at the Cincinnati Recycling and Reuse Hub. Scholars sorted recyclables, “shopped” for reusable items, and learned about ways that they can be more sustainable in their daily lives.
McNicholas is excited to announce that we are adopting a President/Principal model of school administration to meet the school’s continued growth in its academic, spiritual, and community initiatives.
During October, McNicholas Rockets for Life challenged our community to reflect more deeply on the dignity of every human life through prayer, a Pro-Life Poster Contest, a Cup-Cake Day, a clothing drive benefiting A Caring Place, the annual Evening for Life, and more.
Over the past month, Hands Across Campus (HAC) has led our community in the celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month, a time dedicated to recognizing influential Hispanic Americans and their positive impact on society.
McNicholas is excited to welcome Father Kevin Scalf of the Missionaries of the Precious Blood as School Chaplain and Theology Teacher.
After 45 years of service, Mr. John Norman taught his last class at McNicholas High School and exited the school building amidst the cheering of students and staff.
Congratulations to freshman artist Lucy Timko whose artwork was selected as one of twelve designs for the Archdiocese of Cincinnati Bicentennial Holy Cards.
Senior Bella Dawson received the Spirit of Sr. Dorothy Stang Award for exemplifying Sr. Dorothy’s values, including outreach to others and care for creation.
Morgan Vogler, Class of 2017, speaks to faculty and students about taking steps toward sustainable living.
The McNicholas St. Vincent de Paul Youth Conference helps members grow in compassionate leadership through service learning.
McNicholas celebrates its 125th Kairos retreat.
Students team up with CancerFree KIDS to fundraise for and spread awareness about childhood cancer. Rockets raised over $15,000.
Rockets celebrate Martin Luther King Day by participating in a service learning opportunity through the Society of St. Vincent de Paul's Ozanam Center.