Northeast Catholic High School

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Northeast Catholic High School
Northeast Catholic H.S. Banner
Tenui Nec Dimittam
(I have taken hold, and I will not let go)'
Location
1842 Torresdale Avenue
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19124
Information
School district Archdiocese of Philadelphia
Affiliation(s) Roman Catholic, Oblates of Saint Francis de Sales
Principal Fr. Nicholas Waseline
Enrollment

750
Faculty 45
Type Private
Grades 9-12
Campus Urban
Athletics conference Philadelphia Catholic League
Mascot Falcon
Color(s) Red and White
Established 1926
Information 215 831-1234
Homepage http://www.northcatholic.com/
Philadelphia Portal

Northeast Catholic High School opened in 1926 as Northeast Catholic High School for Boys, and is located at 1842 Torresdale Avenue, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19124. It is under the administration of the high school system of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Philadelphia and its sports teams participate in the Philadelphia Catholic League. During the course of its history, at one point it had the largest student body of any Catholic boys school in the world, and today it is known for having the largest number of all-male alumni of any high school in the world.

Northeast Catholic follows the Salesian tradition, which means that "North" priests follow in the footsteps of Saint Francis de Sales in their day to day actions and mission statement.


Contents

[edit] History

Northeast Catholic High School for Boys was opened in September 1926 as the fourth Diocesan High School in Philadelphia. The site for the school was purchased from the Pennsylvania Railroad Company for $150,000. The new students were welcomed at the first assembly, held in the gym, by the Rev. Joseph Butler, OSFS, the Principal and Superior. On September 28, the first classes were held.

The Falcon was chosen as a symbol of the school for three reasons: It is "a bird of prey that never lets go of what it has captured; it is completely faithful to its trainer; and it is the fastest of God's creatures". The students also chose Cardinal Red and White as the school colors: Cardinal Red in appreciation of Dennis Cardinal Dougherty's sponsorship of the school, and White for purity and fidelity. In 1928, the school newspaper, The Good News, was born followed by the founding of The Falcon, the North Catholic Yearbook in 1929.

[edit] Early years

In September of 1927, North Catholic entered inter-scholastic competition with a football schedule of eight games. Their sole win was over LaSalle 7-6 at the old Frankford Stadium.

October 5, 1928, marked the first of the traditional North-Frankford games. Frankford won 20-7. June 12, 1929, marked the first commencement of the school. Bishop Gerald O'Hara presented the diplomas to the 98 graduates.

By the fall of 1935, North's enrollment had climbed to 2,300 students. On September 2, 1937, 2,500 students were enrolled. The school was originally built to accommodate 1,500. To solve the problem of needed space, an annex was opened at the Visitation Parish School.

From 1934 to 1937 North's Football team, Coached by Ken Symindinger and featuring players like future NFL stars Frank Reagan & Bucko Kilroy, won 4 straight League Championships.

[edit] World War II

Shortly after the bombing of Pearl Harbor, the U.S. Government sought men for the armed forces who had some knowledge of engineering and technical skills. A night school was established at North, and instructors from nearby colleges and universities conducted the classes. These courses continued until the surrender of Japan.

The school year of 1942 opened with an enrollment of 3,159 students. On November 23, 1942, an Open House attracted over 5,000 people to visit the displays marking the achievements of North Catholic. By this time, over 1,200 alumni were serving in the armed forces.

While many high schools were forced to cancel their Spring Sports programs due to the large number of students working part-time in the War industries, North was able to field championship teams in baseball, track and crew.

On September 4, 1945, 1,186 freshmen reported to North, and the total enrollment was 3,503.

[edit] Post World War II

1946 found North filled beyond capacity. Enrollment was up to 4,050, and additional annexes were opened. By 1948, the student population had grown to over 4,300 students.

The Alumni Association undertook the task of designing and constructing a shrine to honor those alumni who gave their lives in World War II. On June 5, 1949, the shrine of Our Lady of Fatima was dedicated as a memorial to the 183 alumni who paid the supreme sacrifice.

By September 1951, the school enrollment had reached 4,205, a figure considered maximum for the school. However, in 1952, the roll swelled to 4,305.

September 1953 saw Northeast Catholic recognized as the world's largest Catholic high school for boys. The population of 4,726 from 98 parishes was served by 109 Oblates, 9 nuns, and 14 laymen.

The school year beginning September, 1954 marked the first decrease in enrollment in a decade.

September 1955 was remarkable in that for the first time in 16 years, freshmen attended classes in the Main Building. On June 8, 1956, 1,103 seniors graduated - the largest class ever.

The North Catholic Football Team under Head Coach Jack Gillepie won League titles in '49 '50 '52 & '56 and City Titles in 3 of those 4 years.

The 1958 academic year showed an enrollment below 3,000 for the first time in 20 years. In September 1960, Rev. Edward Conlin replaced Fr. Tocik as Rector of Northeast Catholic. In September of 1962, Rev. Edward Corcoran, Class of 1932 replaced Fr. Conlin as Rector; the first time an alumnus headed the school.

The fall of 1963 marked the seventh consecutive Catholic League title for the soccer team, and they repeated in 1964.

North Catholic's Drama Department became well-known in the city for producing top-notch shows. The department's "golden years" between 1967 and 1973, produced some of the best shows in the school's history. For many of those years, the school did a comedy in the fall, a drama in the winter and a musical in the spring. The school's impressive band, featured in its own concerts, was among the highlights of the spring musical.

The 1967 Basketball team led by Hank Siemiontkowski took the PCL and City Championships But it was the 1968 basketball season that brought national recognition to Northeast Catholic. On the day of the 1st round of the Catholic League playoffs, Jack Friel, Hon. 1970, coach and disciplinarian, was forced to suspend the entire varsity team. The Junior Varsitys took the floor and defeated McDevitt.

The 1971 school year was marked by a national championship for the Model U.N. Debating team. For the fourth consecutive year, in 1973, North captured the Harvard Debating Championship. The team then went on to capture the National Championships in 1974, 75 & 76.

NC Baseball won the PCL & City Titles in the Spring of 1977 and in the fall of 1977 the school year opened with 2,384 students. 1978 marked the 50th Anniversary of the North-Frankford rivalry. A large crowd of over 20,000 was present at Vet Stadium to see North win 21-14.

The Soccer team won both the Catholic League & City Titles in 1970, 1975, 1977, 1978 & 1979. The City Title was discontinued in 1980. The 1981 & 1986 Falcons won 2 more PCL Baseball crowns.

[edit] Today

In more recent years North Catholic has added a brand new computer lab and Information Technology Academy. Students can achieve certification in various microsoft applications. In addition to computer courses there is also a computer workshop where students learn how to actually repair computers and see the inner workings of the hard drive and monitor. North has a 3 to one student to computer ratio which is the highest in the city. I.T. certification and computer literacy courses are included in the students tuition at no extra cost. Adults may also take computer courses in the evening at a greatly reduced cost.

NC also has a Cartoonist Society and Journalism course to help prepare students for a variety of careers as they enter the new millennium. North's 15 to 1 student to teacher ratio is also the best in the Archdiocese and that means your son gets the attention he needs, when he needs it. North Catholic teachers are among the longest tenured in the Archdiocese.

The language department offers Latin, Spanish, German & French. In 2009 the school will also offer Chinese and Italian. The Language Department also offers a Greek language course in the summer for students who excel in Latin and other languages. The Spanish club is also visiting Mexico this year with 15 NC student representatives to test their language skills there.

North Catholic is proud to have several recent graduates accepted into the University of Pennsylvania's prestigious Wharton School for Business. NC sends many graduates to Penn State University as well as all of the Big 5 Universities and Drexel University. North has a particularly strong connection with St Joseph's, LaSalle & Temple Universities.

Many North Catholic Graduates are members of the Philadelphia Police & Fire Departments as well as strongly represented in the area Labor Unions. This shows the strength and diversity of the young men who attend the school.

On February 28, 2007 the Northeast Catholic Model United Nations team achieved two national awards at the North American Invitational Model United Nations in Washington D.C. which was hosted by Georgetown University. In May 2007, Northeast Catholic High School, in cooperation with Salesianum School and Father Judge High School, won the UNA-USA World Championships which were held at the United Nations in New York City.

[edit] Academics

All students must complete four years of English and theology, three years of mathematics, science and social studies, one year of physical education/health and a half year in word processing and service. Electives are available in foreign languages (French, German, Latin and Spanish), television production, computer science, business/accounting, journalism, art and music.

[edit] Online AP Classes

The new AP ON-Line program has concluded for the upcoming school year, and the AP program will be up and running in September 2007.

Over forty students have chosen AP courses offered in conjunction with College Board and Keystone Virtual.

In addition to the AP classes offered in school (Literature, Language, and Calculus), the following AP courses will be offered on-line: European History, US History, US Government, and Psychology.

[edit] Student life

Clubs

  • Audio-Visual
  • Band
  • Chess Club
  • Community Service
  • Diversity Team
  • Drama
  • Drum Line
  • Mathletes
  • Ministry Team
  • Model UN
  • National Honor Society
  • Newspaper
  • Peer Meditation
  • Prom Planning
  • Student Government
  • Yearbook

[edit] Athletics

North Catholic participates in the Philadelphia Catholic League (PCL) in the following sports: baseball, basketball, bowling, crew, cross country, football, ice hockey, indoor track, golf, lacrosse, outdoor track, rugby union, soccer, and wrestling.

  • North plays Frankford High School every year in the "Turkey Bowl" on Thanksgiving Day at 9:45 AM, making it the earliest high-school football game in the country on Thanksgiving.
  • Since it opened in 1926 North Catholic has won more Philadelphia Catholic League Championships, in soccer (21), bowling (16), wrestling (12) and baseball (11), than any other Philadelphia Catholic High school. They also have 8 titles in football, basketball and swimming.
  • In 1956 North won the PCL championship in basketball, baseball, football and soccer. They also won the City Title in 3 out of the 4 sports, only losing in soccer.
  • The North Catholic soccer team did not lose a single PCL contest in 116 straight games stretching from 1956 to 1967. Most recent PCL Titles were on 2001 & 2002. The NC soccer program recently inducted 12 of it's greatest players from 80 years of Philadelphia soccer history to the newly established "NC Soccer Hall of Fame" in March, 2008. Go to www.northcatholicsoccer.com for all the details.
  • Since 1991 The North Catholic Wrestling team has won 13 of the 17 team PCL titles contested.
  • The bowling team has recently won three consecutive titles in 2005, 2006, and 2007.
  • In the 2007 - 2008 year NC teams have qualified for the playoffs in Football, Soccer, Bowling, Basketball & Wrestling.
  • The basketball team & wrestling team are the 2008 PCL champions in their sport.

[edit] Traditions

[edit] School Prayer

"My God, I give you this class. Please give me the grace to conduct myself during it, in a manner most pleasing to you. God be blessed!

"Saint Francis DeSales- Pray For Us!"

[edit] Alma Mater Lyrics

See our banner wave proudly before us, colors gleaming in hues ever glorious! Flag of honor, o'er foe victorious, led thou on to the triumph we gain........

(CHORUS) Onward, Onward! Behold where dawns the glory! Hail, alma mater, our North Catholic High! Sing with, joyful, heart and voice the story! Hail alma mater, our North Catholic High!

May the sunshine of youth never leave thee! And the shadow of age never grieve thee! Falcon symbol, we now salute thee! Sons who love, and revere, thy fair name.......

(CHORUS) Onward, Onward! Behold where dawns the glory! Hail, alma mater, our North Catholic High! Sing with, joyful, heart and voice the story! Hail alma mater, our North Catholic High!

[edit] Trivia

  • As North Catholic is an all-boys school, they have a sister school, Little Flower High School, an all-girls school.
  • North's class of "1956" had 1,103 graduates; making it the largest all boys Catholic High School graduating Class ever in the world.
  • The North Catholic Model United Nations team travels to Washington D.C and New York City every year to debate with students from around the country and even the world.
  • In May 2007, Northeast Catholic High School, in cooperation with Father Judge High School, won the UNA-USA World Championships which were held in the United Nations in New York City. Every year Northeast Catholic hosts the DeSales Oblate Schools Model UN Conference, or better known as OMUN. It is currently in its 40th year and is still run by Father John Hurley OSFS.
  • In 1968 the varsity basketball team was suspended by coach/disciplinarian Jack Friel for cutting out on an assembly. Instead the JV team took the court for a PCL playoff game and defeated the McDevitt squad after being booed by fans at the Palestra. In the Semis NC varisty we back on the floor only to lose on a last second shot by O'Hara.

[edit] Alumni Association

Northeast Catholic High School has graduated 40,000 men since 1929. Therefore it's Alumni Assn is one of the largest and most active Organizations of its kind in the country. The current President, Mr. Edward White (Class of 1955), is dedicated to continuing a strong connection with the school which include Academic and Need-based Scholarships as well as assisting in the maintenance of the Academic & Athletic Programs at the school. The Alumni Assn. also sponsors numerous annual social events to encourage membership participation including a Communion Breakfast, The Summertime "Falcons Fun in the Sun" and Trips to Broadway and local Sporting events. For more information contact your Class representative at our website: www.necathalumni.com Northeast Catholic Alumni Assn. P.O. Box 4896, Philadelphia, PA 19124 - Phone (215) 289-4994

[edit] Notable alumni

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  1. ^ Gen. Thomas Kelly, 67, Dies; Pentagon Voice in Gulf War. New York Times. Retrieved on 2008-05-12.
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[edit] External links