Although over seventy-five years have gone by since the first graduating class passed through St. Dominic High School in Oyster Bay, and many changes have been made, a short walk through the halls, a quick listen to the conversation, or a look at the faces of St. Dominic today, will tell you that these changes are positive ones. Much has changed, yet nothing has changed at all.

It began in 1921, when St. Dominic's pastor, Rev. Charles J. Canivan, began an effort to fulfill his dream of building a parish school where science, culture, and religion are taught for the glory of God and the advancement of mankind.

Ground was broken for the school on August 15, 1922. Thus his mission of contributing to the preparation of young people to live in a world of challenge and change was established.

With the approval of Most Reverend Thomas E. Molloy, D.D., Father Canivan invited the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary to come to St. Dominic to teach. The sisters arrived in Oyster Bay on August 24, 1924, led by Sister M. Marcella, their first Superior at St. Dominic.

St. Dominic Elementary School opened its doors on September 8, 1924. Although the building seemed colossal for the small number of children attending, Father Canivan had faith in the reality of his dreams. In his imagination he could behold the halls and classrooms filled, and he lived to see his dreams come to pass.

Expanding Beyond Elementary Education

Father Canivan's dream, indeed, extended beyond elementary education. He wished to make St. Dominic an educational center with a high school of outstanding merit. It was his firm intent to present the Blessed Lady with a high school that would draw students from all parts of the countryside. This was a bold pioneering vision since there were very few Catholic secondary schools at that time.

Fortunately the school building was large enough for expansion, having been constructed by Father Canivan with the ultimate hope of starting a high school on the premises. Four years after the opening of the grammar school, Father Canivan's hope became a reality. St. Dominic High School opened its doors for students on September 10, 1928. The first high school graduation was joyously celebrated in 1932. Approximately 1500 people attended the occasion, including the Most Reverend Thomas E. Molloy and other dignitaries.

With this excellent start, the fame of St. Dominic High School began to spread and soon pupils from neighboring towns poured through its doors. To meet the expanded recreational needs, the Cheshire property on the east side of Anstice Street was purchased in 1936. It was graded and transformed into a playground.

In 1939, the Shortill place adjoining the rectory was acquired. By 1940 it was evident that a new high school would be needed and Msgr. Canivan purchased the Cheshire home on the east side of Anstice Street.

A New High School Building

The excavation for the new high school began on April 25, 1941, and the building opened in September of 1941. The parish responded generously to a drive for funds. As a memorial to their mother, the McCann family promised to duplicate dollar for dollar, whatever funds the parish would supply. The generosity of the McCann family aided St. Dominic on many occasions. In the early days of the high school, Mrs. Helen McCann presented the parish with a bus to provide transportation for Syosset and Bayville students.

The new high school was a two story structure containing 10 classrooms, one library, one medical office, one science laboratory, and administrative offices. In the basement there were bowling alleys and a projection room with an auditorium capable of seating 500 people. The auditorium doubled as a recreation room.

Msgr. Canivan's labors came to an end on March 14, 1944. Both his parishioners and the people of Oyster Bay mourned his death.

Rev. Vincent M. Short was appointed pastor of St. Dominic in July, 1944. Father Short quickly won his way into the hearts of the people of Oyster Bay. He made artistic changes to the interior of the church, improved the grounds of the church and schools, and built the Convent for the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary. Father Short died in July, 1964, after serving as Pastor of St. Dominic for 20 years.

In September, 1964, Rev. James E. Collins was appointed Pastor. Though there was a remarkable growth in Oyster Bay during the past twenty years from 1930-1950, expansion became even more phenomenal during the next twenty years from 1950-1970. St. Dominic High School was very well recognized, and hundreds of students within a convenient radius of travel came to include the area covered by 18 public school districts. In 1970, twenty-nine buses transported students to St. Dominic from all parts of the countryside.

Father Collins began his duties as Pastor by making a thorough survey of needs. Recognizing the overcrowded situation in the schools and church, he concentrated on a new and extensive building program.

Because the high school activities overflowed into the elementary school, another educational building was needed to keep up the high standard of primary and secondary education. There was also a pressing need for a new and larger church. On Sundays, with the upper church and the basement in use, eleven masses were necessary.

The ground breaking ceremony for the new church and the adjoining elementary school took place on Sunday, Sept. 15, 1968. The parishioners were reminded that a similar ceremony had taken place seventy-five years ago for the stone church, which would still be preserved in all its beauty as a chapel when the new church was completed.

Upon completion of the new church and adjoining elementary school in 1970, attendance in both school and the reputation of St. Dominic education soared. Father Collins won the hearts of all who cared about St. Dominic, and he himself put St. Dominic first in his life.

In 1974, a concelebrated Mass was offered for the fifty years of dedicated service the IHM sisters had given to St. Dominic Schools. A party in their honor immediately followed the Mass. Over 100 Sisters came to celebrate, many of whom had taught here in the past, and some who were just good friends. Sr. Rose Ann, the Superior of the Convent, represented all the sisters.

Bishop John R. McGann once again came to St. Dominic in 1976 to bless the groundbreaking ceremony of what was soon to become the next gym. This marked the high point in several years of planning and fundraising on the part of the students, parents, faculty, staff, and friends of St. Dominic. The $600,000 raised certainly made this dream a reality. Although various unexpected difficulties delayed the building of the new gym, it was Sept. 10, 1978 that marked the Dedication Day, exactly 50 years from the opening of the High School. Once again, Bishop McGann returned to bless the accomplishment in which students and community members anxiously awaited. The new Sports Center opened up many opportunities to students. Equal facilities for both boys and girls were provided, and the program allowed for interscholastic indoor sports and activities including boys and girls basketball, volleyball, badminton, tennis, and gymnastics. The Physical Education Department looked forward to an extended and vigorous program.

Since the addition of the new Sports Center, St. Dominic athletics have seen the thrill of victory many times. All athletes have felt the glory of being in the winners' circle at one time or another.

When Father Collins was appointed Monsignor by Bishop McGann in 1986, he announced that he would be leaving his position as Pastor of St. Dominic the following year. His twenty-three years as Pastor were productive and fruitful. He was loved and admired by all who were in contact with him, and he loved his life and his work here at St. Dominic. He added much to the education at St. Dominic, and will always be remembered.

The Tradition Continues

The next two decades saw continued growth and improvement of the high school and its facilities. Through the generosity of many benefactors, numerous improvements were made to the campus. The old gym in Canivan Hall was converted to a new theatre, two newly designed computer rooms were created, a new courtyard was created outside the entrance to Canivan Hall, the student cafeteria was completely renovated and many other improvements were made to the buildings and grounds.

Due to the school's location in the village, finding central facilities for outdoor athletics had always been a challenge, and many different sites had to be used for practices and games. The need for outdoor athletic facilities was answered when Charles Wang presented the school with a tract of property in nearby Muttontown for the purpose of creating a center for outdoor athletics. This site includes baseball, softball, soccer and lacrosse fields as well as tennis courts. A conference center was also created in an existing building on the site.

Additional improvements and expansions have been made in recent years to the High School in particular. The addition of the Office of Development and Alumni Affairs, as well as the Office of Admissions, have contributed significantly to our endeavors. Working with alumni and current parents in the financial stability of the school, the Office of Development and Alumni Affairs has assisted in numerous class reunions, introduced a very impressive alumni newsletter, worked tirelessly on numerous fundraising activities, including the Annual Giving Program, and maintains a current database on all alumni from St. Dominic. The Office of Admissions focuses its efforts on attracting and maintaining a high caliber of students.

Goals of Education

St. Dominic High School offers young men and women a strong value-centered college preparatory education. The school's size, presently about 520 students, permits students to learn in an environment where the words "individual" and "personal" have real meaning.

At St. Dominic, students are recognized as individuals with diverse skills and needs, who will grow, develop and achieve their optimum potential when encouraged and challenged. The administration and faculty of St. Dominic High School are committed to helping each student mature intellectually, socially, and spiritually.