Archbishop Wood Catholic High School

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Archbishop Wood High School
Coronam, Fidelitas, Merebit


Seal of Archbishop Wood
School type Private
Established 1964
President Dr. Frederick Ciao (2004-)
Principal Mrs. Mary M. Harkins (2005-)
Faculty 56
Staff 85
Students 1100+
Mascot The Viking
Location 655 York Road, Warminster, Pennsylvania, 18974
Information 215.672.5050
Website http://www.archwood.org/

Archbishop Wood Catholic High School exists within the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania as part of the Catholic school system. The school was built in 1964 in Warminster Township in Bucks County. Named after James Frederick Wood, a nineteenth century Philadelphia archbishop, the school enjoys its status as one of the premier high schools in its archdiocese.

Contents

[edit] School Seal and Motto

The school seal is in the shape of a shield bearing a cross with green ivy and a gold crown superimposed. The symbolism of the seal and free translation of the motto:

Fidelity (the ivy) to Christian principles (the cross) will merit for students and the graduate the crown of everlasting life. Emblazoned below the shield is the school motto: "Coronam Fidelitas Merebit", meaning "Faithfulness Merits The Crown".

[edit] History

View of Archbishop Wood.
View of Archbishop Wood.

Archbishop Wood was founded and built in 1964 in Warminster Township, Pennsylvania as two separate but essentially identical buildings. The school was originally divided into Archbishop Wood High School For Boys and Archbishop Wood High School For Girls.

Though the original blueprints for the school included an auditorium to be built in the space between the separate buildings, budgetary constraints forced plans for the auditorium to be scrapped. By 1987, funding for the auditorium had been secured thanks to donations by the Archbishop Wood Alumni Association. The Sofia Friedman Auditorium was completed by 1989, coinciding with the joining of the two schools into Archbishop Wood Catholic High School, wherein the school became co-educational and the two buildings were united by means of the auditorium.

[edit] Academics

Archbishop Wood Catholic High School is well known throughout the Archdiocese of Philadelphia for its excellence in academics. The school currently offers eleven Advanced Placement classes, and over 98% of students take the SATs each year. 75% of the graduating class attend a four-year college, while 19% attend a two-year college. Graduates frequently gain acceptance into some of the most prestigious schools nationwide, including Ivy League and Patriot League schools as well as service academies, and are awarded over $10 million in scholarships yearly.

Alma mater sheet music.
Alma mater sheet music.

[edit] Alma Mater

We salute you Alma Mater
Hail with pride our honored seal
And beneath our glowing colors
Pledge to you our faith and zeal.

With our banner's cross to guide us
Bringing wisdon to the world
Ever by our faithful striving
Will our colors stand unfurled...

Hail the Black, Green, and Gold
Of Archbishop Wood
May we bring to your banner reknown
For in youth's loyal might
Serving God and the Right
Is Alma Mater's radiant crown,
Is Alma Mater's radiant crown.

[edit] Student Life

Archbishop Wood's mascot is the Viking. Students participate in a variety of co- and extracurricular activities from athletics to academic programs to student-run activities.

[edit] The Viking Voice (Newspaper)

The Viking Voice is Archbishop Wood's student newspaper. When the school was founded in 1965, the student newspaper was split into two divisions, one for the boys' school and another for the girls'. The newspaper was called "Crossroads" and "Woodwinds", respectively. When the two buildings were united and Archbishop Wood made co-educational in 1989, the newspaper was rechristened "The Viking Voice".

Individuals within the school have maintained an extensive physical archive of the newspapers dating back to 1967. Though efforts have been made to enhance the standing of the newspaper, there has historically been little financial or institutional support for an expanded, comprehensive student-run newspaper infrastructure.

[edit] The Viking (Yearbook)

Prior to the school becoming co-educational, the boys' school yearbook was titled "Woodsman".

[edit] Performing Arts Department

Archbishop Wood's performing arts department is widely recognized for its professionalism and talent.[citation needed] Two theatre productions are presented each year, one in the fall and one in the spring. Performances consistently sell out in advance, performing for over 3,000 audience members as well as over 2,000 elementary school students in the week leading up to the performance weekend.

The Marching Unit, under the direction of Mr. Gary Zimmaro, competes at the highest level of its class, having recently won a USSBA All-State Championship in 2001 and PA State Championships in 2001, 2002, 2003, and 2005. The Indoor Percussion Ensemble and Color Guard have shared in the Marching Unit's success, winning several TIA championships over the past five years.

[edit] Student Council

The Student Council consists of a president, three vice presidents, two executive board members from each graduating class, and a representative from each homeroom.

[edit] Traditions

[edit] Graduating Class Accomplishments

[edit] Class of 2005

The class of 2005 was notable for, among other accomplishments, successfully defending the Boys Football Philadelphia Catholic League Championship Blue Division by beating West Philadelphia Catholic High School for the second year in a row. The football team would go on to dominate the PCL small enrollment division again in the 2005-2006 school year, winning the PCL blue title for the third straight year.

Boys Soccer beat St. Joseph's Preparatory school in November 2004 to win its first PCL title under Head Coach Joseph Krantz.

The Viking Voice Newspaper achieved previously unseen heights, as over thirty student writers became involved. In all, five editions were released in the 2004-2005 school year totaling 64 pages (a figure more than double that of the previous three years combined) of news content in issues larger (the final issue being 20 pages) than ever before produced at the school. Digital issues of The Viking Voice from the 2004-2005 school year are available online. There are also two digital issues from the spring of the 2003-2004 school year available there.

[edit] Class of 2006

WARMINSTER WACKIES - The Warminster Wackies were created during the 2005-2006 school year, led by the spirited students of the class of '06. The Wackies were a large group of devoted Archbishop Wood sports enthusiasts. The wackies cheered the 05-06 football team to their third PCL championship in a row.

[edit] Athletics

Archbishop Wood has a proud athletic tradition with numerous Philadelphia Catholic League Champions.

The Championship teams are:

  • Boys Soccer: 2004
  • Football: 1974, 1978, 2003b, 2004b, 2005b (b - Blue Division Champions. Small Enrollment)
  • Baseball: 1990, 1993
  • Boys Cross Country (Under the Direction of Mr. John P. Sharp, 1974-2002) d. 2003
    • 1969 (Varsity: Steve Landis, John Gall)
    • 1979 (Varsity: Martin Loscalzo, Leo Resinksi)
    • 1983 (Varsity: Bob Winkler, Tom Brewer, John Meighan, Bob Devlin, Mike Leib, Mike Haney, Kevin Thompson, Joe Rueger)
    • 1984 (Varsity: Bob Winkler, Mike Ewing, Mike Leib, Mike Haney, Greg Penko, Joe Rueger)
    • 1986 (Varsity: Mike Ewing, Brian Moroney, Curt Burkholder, Dave Penko, Brett Amberson, Gordon Hornig, Andy Waldron, Dennis Daniluk)
    • 1987 (Varsity: Mike Ewing, Brian Moroney, Brett Amberson, Curt Burkholder)
    • 1988 (Varsity: Brett Amberson, Chris Wiegand, David Crowley, Michael Vivian, Rob Templeton)
    • 1990 (Varsity: Brian McCafferty, Jason Switzer, Doug Menzak, Keith Clements, Dennis Monahan, Mike Coyne, Joe Bryson, Jim McShane)
    • 1991 (Varsity: Brian McCafferty, Jason Switzer, Keith Clements, Dennis Monahan, Mike Coyne, Jim McShane, Chris Kennedy, Brian Rodowicz)
    • 1995 (Varsity: Geoff Angelone, David Polis, Chris Haas, Nick Pagano, Brian McVan, Tom Waldron, Mike Kochanski, Dan Pavlik)

[edit] Faculty

[edit] William Masterson Retires

With the conclusion of the first semester of the 2005-2006 school year, William Masterson officially retired, moving with his wife to the Delaware beach. Masterson was the last remaining faculty member who had taught at Archbishop Wood since it opened in 1964, making him one of the longest serving teachers in the Philadelphia archdiocese. In addition to his classroom responsibilities, Masterson served as the school's Alumni Director.

[edit] Notable Alumni

[edit] See also

[edit] External links

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