Classical High School

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Classical High School
Established 1843
Type Public secondary
Principal Cheryl Gomes
Students 1085
Grades 9–12
Location Providence, Rhode Island, USA
Campus Urban
Colors Purple and White
Mascot Lady Purple/Athena
Website www.providenceschools.org/hs/classical/
Cahir Street View

Classical High School, founded in 1843, is a public exam school in the Providence School District, in Providence, Rhode Island, United States.[1] It was originally an all-male school, but has since become co-ed. Its motto, the Latin phrase Certare, Petere, Reperire, Neque Cedere, is a translation of the famous phrase taken from Tennyson's Ulysses, "To Strive, to Seek, to Find, and Not to Yield". It has been rated "High Performing and Sustaining" by its performance in 2005 on the New Standards Reference Exam, placing it third highest in the state. Classical High School stands roughly the intersection of the Federal Hill, West End, and Upper South Providence neighborhoods.

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[edit] Mission Statement

Classical High School, a demanding college preparatory examination school, serves a diverse community and provides its students with the means to achieve high standards in a rigorous learning environment. Classical encourages its students to pursue academic, artistic, athletic, and personal growth so they will experience success in colleges and universities, and will demonstrate excellence in leadership within the community.

[edit] Notable Achievements

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The Classical High School debate team had more teams finish in the top ten at the 2007 state championships than any other school, including the #3 team and the #1 team. This was Classical's sixth state championship in the past eight years. It also marked the second time ever that a sophomore was on the champion team (both Classical debaters were sophomores).

At the 2006 National Japan Bowl in Washington, D.C. for students of Japanese, Classical High School's Level 2 (Marilyn Le, Kavy T. [Capt.], and Karen Castillo), and 4 (Matthew Lopes, Julian Robinson, Nathan Weissburg [Capt.]) teams placed first in the nation, with its Level 3 team (Dennis Hul, Miguel Miranda, Steven Pelcovits [Capt.]) tying for 3rd place and winning 4th place after an intense tiebreaker. In the two previous annual National Japan Bowls (which were, unlike the 2006 Japan Bowl, preceded by Regional Japan Bowl competitions), Classical High School had maintained a high profile, successively placing 3rd and then 2nd in the nation at respective Levels 2 and 3. Classical was also conspicuous as a strong public high school.

Classical High School has regularly placed first in the Rhode Island Science Olympiad competition.

Classical High School's cheerleading team has come in first place in the novice competition at the state cheerleading competition in 2006. They then went on to win first in the co-ed competition in 2007.

Classical High School's Girls Soccer team won States in the fall 2004 and 2005.

Classical High School's Boy's Basketball and Football went undefeated in their respective divisions in 2007/8 to capture state championships.

Classical High School's Girls Outdoor Track and Field won State Championship for the first time in June 2007.

Classical High School defeated Bishop Hendricken in a Boy's Outdoor Track Meet for the first time in 25 years.

Classical High School's Math Teem tied for 2nd at the State Meet in the spring of 2008.

[edit] Architecture

Classical High School's current building was finished in 1970 and is one of few buildings in the area created in the Brutalist architectural style, making it an adventitious addition to the West End neighborhood of Providence.[2] Large faces of exposed concrete adorn the Modernist building.

The design is not popular among the students, mostly citing poor circulation and lack of natural light. Wm McKenzie Woodward, a well-known architectural historian and staff member of the Rhode Island Historical Preservation & Heritage Commission, does not agree aesthetically with the building, going so far as to write in his Guide to Providence Architecture, "It's no wonder Modernism has gotten such a bad reputation in Rhode Island."[2]

The previous building, a yellow brick building with a peaked room (under which was the study hall), was considerably smaller and was bounded by Pond Street which was consumed in the creation of the new campus. When the old building was razed the yellow bricks were sold to students and alumni.


[edit] Notable Teachers and Staff

  • Ms. Deborah Bustin - Athletics Department (retired)
  • Ms. Francesca Leclerc- English Department
  • Ms. Louise Delellis- Mathematics (retired)
  • Ms. Sandra Lewis- English Department, Film Studies
  • Mr. Donald Kanarian- Groundskeeper

[edit] Famous alumni

[edit] References

  1. ^ Classical High School - Providence, Rhode Island/RI - Public School Profile
  2. ^ a b Woodward, William McKenzie (2003). PPS/AIAri Guide to Providence Architecture. Providence, RI: Providence Preservation Society, 207. ISBN 0-9742847-0-X. 

[edit] External links