St. John Vianney High School
www.vianney.com

St. John Vianney High School receives its identity and mission by participating in the contemporary education mission of the Catholic Church and that of its Marianist sponsors, the Society of Mary-Province of the United States. Canonically and legally, Vianney is associated with the Society of Mary-Province of the United States through the “Members of the Vianney High School Corporation,” and “the Vianney High School Board of Directors.” Accordingly, Vianney emphasizes the Marianist expression of the teaching ministry of Jesus Christ, “Son of God become Son of Mary for the salvation of all,” while seeking to cooperate with Mary in her mission of bringing the fullness of Christ to all within a caring, family-like community. To this end Vianney affirms the characteristics of Marianist education:

>educate for formation in faith;
>provide an integral, quality education;
>educate in the family spirit;
>educate for service, justice and peace and
>educate for adaptation and change.

This approach is summarized in the thought of the Marianists’ founder Blessed William Joseph Chaminade: “Through the Mother to the Son,” and “We teach only in order to educate, and we educate in order to Christianize.”

THE STORY OF THE GRIFFIN
The Griffin is a mythical creature that is half lion and half eagle. Lions rule the earth while eagles rule the sky. The eagle and lion are also the symbols of the Gospels of St. John and St. Mark, respectively. Our school mascot serves as a symbol to our entire school community of the values in these two gospels. Griffins were huge creatures of great strength and evolved into a universal symbol of vigilance and bravery. The earliest legends of the griffin date from 3000 BC.

The griffins at the entrance to Tower Grove Park in St. Louis provided Brother Kenneth Nesbit, S.M., Saint John Vianney High School’s first principal, with the inspiration to select this mascot. The gospel values along with the characteristics of strength, determination, reliability and integrity associated with the griffin create the ideal toward which the entire Vianney family strives.

SCHOOL FIGHT SONG
We are the Black and Gold of Vianney
We are the Golden Griffins of Vianney High
Half lion, half eagle so the Griffin can roar
So the Griffin can soar above the lightening and thunder
We will win, win, win, yeah Vianney.
Oh hear the din din din and our clamor and cheer
We want the world to be told about the Black and Gold of
O'l Vianney, Vianney, Vianney, Heah!