Monsignor Farrell High School

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Monsignor Farrell High School
Image:FarrellLion.gif
Established 1961
Type Parochial Secondary
Affiliation Roman Catholic
Principal Monsignor John Paddack
Students 1200[1]
Grades 9–12
Location Staten Island, New York USA
Campus Suburban
Colors Maroon and gold
Mascot The Lions
Newspaper The Lion
Website http://www.msgrfarrellhs.org


Monsignor Farrell High School is located at 2900 Amboy Road in the Oakwood Heights section of Staten Island, New York. Opened in 1961, the school was named in honor of Monsignor Joseph Farrell, a prominent Catholic priest, as well as a religious, political and community leader on Staten Island. Once a small school, it has grown into one of the best High Schools in the country. In January 1999, U.S. News & World Report named Monsignor Farrell as "One of the Top 100 High Schools in America" and in that same month, the New York Daily News proclaimed Farrell as "One of New York City's Super Schools".

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[edit] Faculty

For the 2006-2007 academic year, the principal is Monsignor John Paddack, who has held the position since 2002. The assistant principal is Mr. Larry Musanti. The Athletic Director is Mr. Lou Baldassano. The faculty consists of both clergymen and lay staff.

Noted as one of the best schools in the State of New York as well as the United States, Monsignor Farrell offers its students non-stop guidance, a top tier education, and life lessons the students can take with them through out the course of their lives. The school motto of "Vir Fidelis" translated from the Latin means "faithful man". The goal of all Farrell Men look to uphold the great traditions and legacy of greatness which has preceded them: academically, athletically, spiritually and socially.

[edit] Student Enrollment

Each year, over 1000 freshmen hopefuls apply to Monsignor Farrell, with 300-350 accepted to attend this prestigious academic institution. The largest freshman class was the class of 2009, with 353 boys taken. Current enrollment is near the 1200 mark.



[edit] A very high percentage of Farrell graduates go on to college

Farrell graduates are currently attending Harvard, Princeton, the University of Pennsylvania, Yale, Columbia, Georgetown, West Point, the Naval Academy, the University of Michigan and NYU to name a few of the top institutions in the country. Farrell students are pursuing and are being pursued by the best academic institutions in the nation. Monsignor Farrell has had 41 graduating classes and has sent 99.3% of its matricualted students onto College and University studies.

[edit] Athletics

A main draw and attraction at Monsignor Farrell is its powerful athletic program. The football team, coached by Mr. Ben Sarullo, is a perrenial play-off and championship contender and has won four CHSAA Titles. The track team, coached by Mr. Tom Cuffe, had at one point won 29 consecutive Staten Island Championships. Last year, the team produced 21 All-Americans and set records in the 4x800, Distance Medley Relay and 4xmile indoors and the 4x800 and Distance Medley Relay outdoors. Two members of these relays went on to attend Ivy League schools. Vito Cannavo currently attends Harvard University and Jeff Carbonella is at Princeton University. The basketball team, coached by Mr. Bob Besignano, has had the distinction of winning back to back SIHSL in 2005 and 2006. Also, the 2006 baseball team, coached by Mr. Bob Mulligan, enjoyed a 16 game winning streak led by strong pitching and a potent offense. They also have an outstanding wrestling program, coached by Mr. Lou Destefano, which has currently won 3 consecutive CHSAA City championships.

[edit] Notable Alumni

Notable alumni of Monsignor Farrell High School include current U.S. Congressman from New York, Vito Fossella; Andrew Lanza, who just won the NY State Senate seat which was held for 50 years by Farrell grandfather John J. Marchi; NYS Assemblyman Michael Cusick; Michael McMahon and Jim Oddo, who are NYC Councilmen; Richmond County District Attorney Daniel Donovan; The CEO and President of Tiffany's Jim Quinn; the CEO of Mutual of America Tom Moran; the co-founder of Priceline.com Tim Brier; Champions Tour golfer Jim Albus; actor John Lavelle, MLS Soccer player John Wolyneic and former PGA Tour player Bill Britton and famous dancer Mike Bosso, Supreme Allied Commander Martin J. King. Another famous alumnus who worked on Wall Street is Drew Grosso,known as one of the sharpest ECB watchers, and as a hobby is a leading okapi breeder and activist. Author/activist Michelangelo Signorile was kicked out of the school prior to graduation due to his homosexuality. The Monsignor Farrell tennis team, under the guidance of coach Scott Lane, has enjoyed winning the Staten Island High School Tennis Championship for the years of 2005 and 2006.

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