Northwest Catholic HS
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Northwest Catholic High School, or NWC for short, is a coeducational, college preparatory, private-catholic high school located in West Hartford, Connecticut.
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[edit] History
School History In 1958, the Archdiocese of Hartford purchased thirty acres of land on Wampanoag Drive, West Hartford with an eye to future development. Two years later, the Most Reverend Henry J. O'Brien, D.D., Archbishop of Hartford, announced that a high school would be built on this tract of land to serve the students in the surrounding parishes.
The first principal was the Reverend Bradford Colton (1961-1968) who guided the school during its founding years. He was succeeded as head of school by Reverend William F. O'Keefe in 1968; Sister Doris Regan, O.P., in 1977; Reverend Henry C. Frascadore in 1985; and Dr. Michael S. Griffin in 1996.
The official dedication of the school was held September 24, 1961 with the Auxiliary Bishop of Hartford, the Most Reverend John F. Hackett, D.D. officiating. In June 1965, the first class was graduated.
In December 1971, the Commission on Independent Secondary Schools granted Northwest Catholic institutional membership in the New England Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools for a period of ten years. This accreditation has since been renewed in 1981, 1991 and 2001.
In 1989, Northwest Catholic High School was recognized by the U.S. Department of Education as an Exemplary School.
[edit] School Motto
"In lumine tuo videbimus lumen."
Translated, this is "In Your light we shall see light."
This motto is a reminder that the years spent at Northwest Catholic are years of serious study. The purpose of study is the attainment of TRUTH-in science, in the classics, in social relationships, in the arts, in every field of human knowledge. The light of God's help directs our study so that we recognize truth as it really is in His light - untarnished by political, social or economic bias - that we find true WISDOM in eternal TRUTH as revealed to us by eternal LIGHT.
[edit] Student Life
Northwest Catholic high school provides a strong foundation and extensive alumni base for students seeking to enter professional occupations. 99% of students enter college immediately upon graduation.
[edit] Dress Code
For males, a uniform is not required but a dress code is enforced. An oxford dress shirt, tie and dress slacks are standard. Between the months of October and May, a blazer is also required. For females, a uniform is enforced. A Neil Roberts navy blue, grey or plaid skirt or blue Neil Roberts slacks must be work with a pastel colored oxford shirt that may also be purchased from the uniform company. A sweater, for girls, is also required between the months of October and March. Black or brown leather shoes are required for all. Failure to adhere to these strictly enforced guidlines results in a detention.
[edit] Scandals and Controversies
In the winter of 2004, Northwest Catholic adopted new regulations for all school sponsored dances (including the semi-formal and prom). This was prompted by a Northwest Catholic student's parents discovering the nature of school-sponsored functions, with dancing on garbage cans and bending over one another. During an often ridiculed assembly in the Navin Brother's cafeteria, Academic Dean Cusson mistakenly said that the school will "not tolerate anything that stimulates...I'm sorry, simulates sexual activity." This caused tremendous laughter amongst the students and some muffled and hidden laughs by the faculty.
In late 2004, female senior students of the class of 2005 were summoned to assemble in the school's main auditorium. The principal informed the female students that their appearance during dress-up days was at the level of "ladies of the night." This caused a major disagreement amongst students both male and female. The remainder of the 2005 school year was spent "pushing the dress code limits," with rolled-skirts and tight shirts. Some female students gained a reputation for having daily detentions for violating the dress code.
In 2005, a female student called a bomb threat on Martha's Vineyard. Of course, this threat was false, for she was only trying to spend more time with her friends. A considerable amount of money was wasted by the state of Massachusetts looking for this false bomb and some millions of dollars of trade were lost during the shutdown of Martha's Vineyard ferry service and shipping industries.
[edit] Detentions
Friday Detention Friday detentions are supposed to be "2 hours" of janitorial work but are often ended early after an hour.
Office Detentions Office detentions are usually held in the room of the teacher assigned to supervise the detainees. The punishment for getting caught skipping (often forgetting or never being informed) is a Friday detention. Many students never attend these detentions and are never caught or bothered. Lists of students for office detentions are kept in the office where many students don't pass by during the day.
Personal Detention Personal detentions are given usually during class time, some because of talking out of turn, being late, or chewing gum when not allowed. But there can be almost any reason for a teacher to give one. Skipping a personal detention can sometimes be made up for the next day or, with stricter teachers, with an office detention.
[edit] Address
29 Wampanoag Drive
West Hartford, CT 06117
