# Catholic Central High School (Windsor, Ontario)

Catholic Central High School is a high school in Windsor, Ontario, Canada. It is operated by the Windsor-Essex Catholic District School Board (WECDSB). Melissa Cavallin is the school's current principal. Catholic Central High School has a diverse, multicultural student body.

## History

Catholic Central was founded in 1985 / 1986 when the Windsor Catholic School Board voted to open a fourth Catholic high school in the city. In January 1986, a principal was chosen: Mr. Ed Johnston (principal 1986 - 1988), who began to visit the feeder schools and work with students who would soon be the school's first class, and would eventually become the first graduates of the school.
The physical location of the school was the first major problem. It was decided that the first year classes would be held in the vacated St. Hubert's School in South Windsor (now occupied by Monseigneur Jean Noel). The first classes began in September 1986 with a staff of 16 teachers. Students were bused out to South Windsor for their classes.
In August 1987, negotiations with the Windsor Public School Board were completed and the school location moved from St. Hubert's. The new location had a long history in the area as a grade school (Guppy), a commercial high school (Commerce) and as the Adult Education Center. In the second year, the staff grew to 36 and there were 470 students in grades 9 and 10. In the fifth year, there were 1074 students and 75 teachers.

### Expansion

In 1992, the school began a $4.6 million addition and renovations. The grand opening was held on Nov. 19, 1993 under the leadership of Mr. R. Stephens (Principal 1989 - 1994)

### New Building and Location

In November of 2016, the Ontario Minister of Education confirmed that the Windsor-Essex Catholic District School Board would receive approximately $26 million in funding to build a new school to replace the aging Catholic Central High School on Tecumseh Road East.
Initially, the plan was to build the school on a five-acre site in Windsor's downtown core, where the former Windsor Arena stood. However, after further evaluation, the WECDSB decided to purchase an 11-acre property between Ouellette and McDougall Avenue to speed up the construction process. The Ministry of Education funded this new site purchase in June 2019. This new location is less than a kilometer south of the former school.
On January 28, 2020, the WECDSB approved a recommendation to hire +VG Architects to design the new school, which would accommodate the estimated 900 students and incorporate modern educational practices. On March 16, 2021, the WECDSB's board of trustees passed a motion approving Oscar Construction Company Ltd. to build the new school. Construction began shortly thereafter.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, illnesses and supply chain shortages delayed the progress of construction on the building, pushing the opening of the new building multiple times from its estimated September 2022 opening date.
On January 9, 2023, the new $30 million Catholic Central High School building opened to staff. Students began attending classes on January 10, 2023.

### Boys Basketball

Catholic Central has developed a strong history of championship boys basketball teams named the Catholic Central Comets (or CCH Comets). The boys basketball teams have won three Ontario Federation of School Athletic Associations (OFSAA) championships (2006, 2013, 2015), two OFSAA silver medals (2007, 2014) and two OFSAA bronze medals (1997, 1998), as well as 35 WECSSAA and SWOSSAA championships. Individually, 27 times Catholic Central players have been selected to the 1st team All City and 6 times as WECSSAA MVPs. At the Junior and Freshman levels, 12 times Catholic Central players were selected as WECSSAA MVPs.

## Notable alumni

* James Bondy - Professional actor and star of the PBS show Ribert & Roberts Wonderland of Boston, Mass.
* Tyrone Crawford - Arcanum Award recipient. Defensive End for Boise State. Junior College All American (2009). Named Breakout Player for 2011 by ESPN. Drafted in the 3rd round, 81st overall in the 2012 NFL draft to the Dallas Cowboys (2012). Led Catholic Central to OFSAA gold medal in basketball in 2006 and silver in 2007. Named league MVP in basketball in 2007. OFSAA champion in Shot Put in 2004 and 2008.
* Brendan Dunlop - sportscaster and host of Fox Soccer News / Soccer Central for Sportsnet
* Samir El-Mais - 2014 Canadian Heavy Weight Boxing Champion and Commonwealth Games Gold Medalist also Heavy Weight Boxing Bronze Medalist at 2015 Pan Am Games
* Miah-Marie Langlois - Olympian, professional basketball player and women's national team member. Led University of Windsor to 4 consecutive national championship.
* Matt Martin - Plays in the NHL for the Toronto Maple Leafs and previously the New York Islanders
* Daryl Townsend - Professional football player with CFL, Montreal Alouettes
* Mychal Mulder - Professional basketball player for the Orlando Magic