Крейтон Преп: Тарих және даму жолы

Jesuit boys' high school in Omaha, Nebraska

From 1878 to 1958 Creighton Prep functioned as a department of Creighton University. In 1953, both organizations determined their functionality would be best served if they were to separate into two independent institutions. The initial plot of land for Creighton Preparatory School was purchased in 1953, fundraising for the school began in 1956, and construction was completed prior to the start of the 1958 fall term. In 1967, led by Fr. Daniel Kenney, Creighton Prep founded a student led service organization called "Operation Others" (simply referred to as "OO"), as a food box give away program.

Led by Mike Wilmot, S. J., volunteers and students constructed the "Tin Gym" in 1970. This provisional building was to serve as a secondary gym along the north side of the school. This gym served the purpose of hosting dances, informal sports games, and other student activities. This building was later demolished in 2009 to make way for the construction of the Heider Center gymnasium, and the wood floor was placed into long term storage until being sold to St. Joan of Arc School in 2015. Creighton Prep was significantly damaged by an F4 tornado during the 1975 Omaha Tornado Outbreak, resulting in approximately $500,000 in damage and early termination of the school year. Clean up efforts involved over 1500 individuals and surveys of the damage showed significant damage to the building's second floor. Final exams for the school were held in the "Tim Gym", with many believing that the school may need to be permanently closed due to its extensive damage. The school was repaired prior to the beginning of the fall term. In 1985, Mike Wilmot, S. J. oversaw students, parents, and volunteers in the construction of the Creighton Prep weight room. In 1999, the 25,000 sq/ft Dr. James B. and Joan C. Peter Science Center completed construction. Approximately 100,000 sq/ft of the east side of the school was renovated in addition to the construction. Large portions of the Jesuit residence were renovated and re purposed to be used as classrooms and administration offices. Further renovations included the construction of the current main entrance, a 2000 person football stadium, and the addition of a wrestling room.

In 2001, Robert Hotz, S. J., president of Creighton Prep at the time, invited alumnus William Glenn (1962), a gay man, to address the faculty on his experiences of homosexuality in high school and how to better assist gay students. In 2003, President of Creighton Prep, Reverend Robert Hotz, S. J. resigned after inviting another openly gay alumnus, Don Fraynd (1990), to speak at school Mass on his experiences pertaining to religion, service, and homosexuality. The Advocate was critical of the resignation while Creighton Prep never listed an official reason for Hotz's resignation. In celebrating the 50 year anniversary of the original completion of the campus, Creighton Prep began a $20 million construction project in 2008. This project was part of a $37 million capital campaign lasting from 2007 to 2013.

In 2014, Creighton Prep partnered with the City of Omaha Storm Water Program to construct a bio retention garden near the front of the school. By partnering with student clubs: Creighton Prep Architecture Club, the Creighton Prep Junior Green Jays, and the Creighton Prep Science Club, the garden was constructed in 2014 with monitoring systems to determine the project's efficacy. This same year, construction of the Circo Memorial Plaza took place. During the 2015–2016 school year, Creighton Prep implemented a one on one IPad program in which students would be required to provide an IPad to their classes. In 2016, Creighton Prep renovated the Henry L. Sullivan, S. J. Campus Center, reorganizing the space in order to accommodate a new catering service. Creighton Prep had previously relied on restaurant vendors and volunteer work in order to feed the student body but starting in fall of 2016, Creighton Prep contracted FLIK Independent School Dining to serve as the primary food provider. This also included an expansion of the before and after school food service, now providing breakfast and after school meals. The transition to professional dining services came from concerns over lack of nutritional value and inadequate accommodation of food allergies and dietary restrictions. FLIK Independent School Dining services were specifically selected due to their association with the Catholic Schools Network and their successful implementation at both Rockhurst High School and Marquette University High School. The change in meal provider also resulted in a $450 increase in tuition cost with each lunch now costing $2.62. This project further encompassed renovations to the school's Skinner Chapel. and includes the addition of an on staff student psychologist. The Learning Commons also included the addition of a "learning differences" specialist, academic coach, director for student outreach and advocacy, and construction of a student services department. Funding for the project came from Scott Heider, managing principal of Charwell Capital, and his wife Cindy Heider who provided $8 million donation and led the capital campaign for the addition costs.

Creighton Preparatory School's athletic teams are known as the Junior Jays. They compete in NSAA District A 1 for football, District A 4 for wrestling and cross country, and District A 2 for track & field. The Junior Jays have won over 160 state championships in various sports. The Creighton Prep student section at athletic events is often referred to as "The Birdcage". The Birdcage is known for its chants, but has been previously criticized for the content of their chants, and alleged acts of vandalism carried out by students. Likewise, due to Creighton Prep's status as an all male school, it has often been subject to anti gay chants. There is a rivalry between Creighton Prep and Westside High School in athletics, which is considered the oldest high school rivalry in the state. This rivalry began in 1958 when Prep was moved to its current site was largely formed due to the close proximity of the two schools. There also exists a rivalry between Creighton Prep and Omaha Central due to their similar academic rigor. This rivalry is born partly out of the 1960 state title football championship where both teams were undefeated and ended the game with a scoreless tie. The title was split with both teams receiving the championship title. This game was viewed by approximately 15,000 people and was later published in the book Omaha Central, Creighton Prep, and Nebraska's Greatest High School Football Game. The 2013 Class A Boys Soccer State Championship, won by Omaha South High School against Creighton Prep (1 0) at Morrison Stadium, holds the current record as the highest attended soccer match in the State of Nebraska. The estimated attendance of this game was 8,200 people, beating the previous record of approximately 6,900 people held by the Creighton Men's Soccer team. In September, 2020, Creighton Prep's basketball team made a 26 point comeback against Millard West. Referred to as "Creighton Prep's Miracle Comeback", Creighton Prep came back from a 26 0 deficit, scoring 29 points in the last 9 minutes 40 seconds of the game's 4th quarter. This game broke the previous school record (Prep v. Burke, 2012, with Prep making a 25 point comeback) and is the 4th largest high school come back in Nebraska state history.

As of 2019, approximately 16% of the Creighton Prep student body is made up of people of color, with 84% of the student body being white. Of the minority students reported, 5% of students are African American, 3% are Asian, 3% are Latino, and 3% identify as mixed race. 12% of students come from non Catholic religious beliefs and 88% of student identify as Catholic. 22% of students attended public elementary and middle school, and 78% of students attended private Catholic school, prior to admittance to Prep. Approximately, 45 52% of students receive financial aid. In efforts to increase income and racial diversity in the student body, Creighton Prep began scholarship programs in the mid 2010s, citing that their student body should better reflect the racial and financial demographics of Omaha. As of fall 2014, Creighton Prep has become the first high school in Omaha to implement a mandatory drug testing policy for the entire student body, with approximately 80 90% of all students being tested annually. The policy change was born out a decade of participation in the Nebraska Risk and Protective Factor Student Survey done by the state to assess the drug usage of the cumulative student body and as an initiative to begin expanding Prep's health and wellness program. The company contracted is Psychemedics, who have also successfully implemented a similar policy at Rockhurst High School. For the first offense, the student and their parents or guardian will meet with the student's councilor and discuss interventions. There is no disciplinary punishment enacted by the school but the student must undergo a follow up test in 90 days which will cost $60. For the second offense, the student will meet with the Dean of Student and must complete a chemical dependency screening, follow recommendations made by the administrators, and undergo a second follow up test in 90 days. If the student receives a third offense, they will then be dismissed from the school. Each grade has its own individual service requirements and retreat options. Freshmen are required to attend a two and one half day retreat organized by Creighton Prep's Campus Ministry, upper class students, and adult volunteers. This retreat is designed to welcome new students into the prep community and serve as an introduction to Ignatian spirituality. Freshmen are paired with a "Big Brother" during their freshman year, an upper class student who serves as a guide to the new student. During the fall semester, each Freshman student must complete 3 hours of community service alongside their Big Brother. There exists an additional, optional overnight retreat which is a 24 hour peer led retreat at Camp Fontanelle in Nickerson, NE which focuses on Ignatian Spirituality and reflection. Junior year: Juniors are required to complete one of two retreats. The first, called the Junior Encounter Retreat is a two and one half day retreat focusing on "Christian Community and sacraments". The retreat focuses heavily on group discussion and reflection on Christian themes. The retreat takes place at Creighton University Retreat Center in Griswold, IA with five possible dates being offered to students. BASH annuals has approximately 650 750 attendees and relies on both donors and advertisers as the means of income. Historically, BASH was first held in 1971 and led by J. Don Ashford and Mrs. John Cleary alongside 20 volunteers. This event earned approximately $25,000 which was then employed to fund the financial aid program at the time. In 2016, it was reported that the net proceeds from BASH resulted in over $800,000, constituting a large percentage of the $1.9 million offer in financial aid to the student body.

In April 2016, filming for the movie Downsizing took place at Creighton Prep. Downsizing is a 2017 American science fiction comedy drama film directed by Alexander Payne, written by Payne and Jim Taylor and starring Matt Damon, Christoph Waltz, Hong Chau, and Kristen Wiig. This film was the first movie to have been shot in Omaha since 2002's "About Schmidt" and the first film to ever feature Creighton Prep. The film stars Matt Damon playing the role of a Creighton Prep alum who, in part of the film, returns to Creighton Prep during a high school reunion. The choice to film at Creighton Prep was decided 2 weeks prior to shooting by director Alexander Payne, who graduated from Creighton Prep in 1979. Set up for the film included conversion of the interior of the school into crew space and decoration of the exterior of the school at Payne's request to feature a large banner with the Creighton Prep's seal. Damon and Payne would later autograph memorabilia to be auctioned off at Prep's BASH fundraiser and the Creighton Prep's students would host a fundraiser for Damon's charity, Water. org. Rev. J Michael Cannon (employed from 1979 to 1987), Fr. Thomas R. Haller (employed from 1955 to 1980), Rev. Jim Sinnerud (employment terminated in 2018) and Rev. Daniel Kenney (employed from 1965 to 1989). While the former four are deceased, Rev. Kenney was permanently removed from the ministry as of 2003 following eight individual accusations. These documents and the current status of Rev. Kenny's priesthood become public in 2018. It was later revealed by Creighton Prep staff that Rev. Kenney had his previous tenure at Creighton Prep prematurely ended in 1989 for similar accusations involving sexually explicit behavior with students but no official record was kept from the alleged events. Rev. Kenney was laicized in November 2020 and is no longer a Jesuit priest. An interdisciplinary research team at Creighton University received a grant from Fordham University in 2021 to investigate Kenney's abuse and to understand the culture at Creighton Prep that enabled it. Rev. Jim Sinnerud also has received allegations of sexual assault of a minor. This has resulted in his tenure at Creighton Prep in 2018 being terminated and him being barred from participating in ministerial services. This latter accusation came independent of the Midwest Province of the Society of Jesus' release earlier in the year, instead citing an incident that occurred prior to his employment at Creighton Prep. In 2019, "Book of Mormon" star Andrew Rannells released his memoir Too Much Is Not Enough: A Memoir of Fumbling Toward Adulthood, in which, he described sexual encounters that occurred between him and a priest, referred to as pseudonymous "Father Dominic", while attending Creighton Prep.