Saint Francis High School (Athol Springs)

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Saint Francis High School is a Catholic, private college preparatory high school for young men in Athol Springs, New York. The school was founded in 1927 by Fr. Justin Figas, OFM Conv. Located within the Roman Catholic Diocese of Buffalo, the school is operated under the jurisdiction of the Saint Anthony of Padua Province of the Order of Friars Minor Conventual and is accredited by the New York State Board of Regents and the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools.

[edit] Founding and Development

The school's founder, Fr. Justin Figas, OFM Conv., OFM, Conv., wished to establish a secondary school for young men, especially to serve the Polish-American immigrant community in Western New York. The Conventual Franciscans of the Saint Anthony of Padua Province already owned a thirty-two acre parcel of land on the shore of Lake Erie in Athol Springs, NY, just outside of Buffalo, NY. The site was purchased in 1916 by Father Hyacinth Fudzinski. The land had previously been the estate of one "Dr. Pierce," who developed pharmaceuticals at the turn of the century.

A portrait of Father Justin Figas, OFM Conv that hangs in the foyer of the Alumni Auditorium of St. Francis High School.

In 1924 Father Justin assembled a group of Polish-American businessmen to help raise funds and support for the construction of the school. This group became known as the "Father Justin Drivers," or the "Justin Drivers." The group was successful and in 1925 ground was broken for the new school in a ceremony held on 12 July 1925. Construction took sixteen months and Saint Francis High School was dedicated on 25 November 1926. In 1927 the first class was enrolled. The original structure built on campus is now called Friar's Hall.

The period from 1928 to 1951 saw continued expansion and development of the school. In 1928 two wings were added to Friar's Hall followed by the addition of science laboratories and library expansion. In May of 1937 the school was found to meet all requirements of the Board of Regents of the State of New York. In 1943 the school became affiliated with the Catholic University of America in Washington, DC.

The John Ormsby Alumni Hall.

In the 1940s there was a great increase in student enrollment, and Father Justin again saw the need to build. This time he planned to build a dormitory/gymnasium building with an underground tunnel linking to the original building. In 1946 Father Justin again assembled a group of "drivers" and four years later, in 1950, ground was broken on the new complex. The gymnasium was completed first on 2 September 1951, but the dormitories were not completed for another six years. The building is now known as Justin Hall.

In the 1960s and 1970s reconstruction was done to the chapel, science labs, student dining room, residence facilities, offices, and gymnasium. The physical development of the institution also spurred development of the educational program. The school was able to offer a full college preparatory curriculum for students who lived on campus, and for students who commuted daily. Enrollment again increased and increased classroom space was needed. Classrooms were made in Justin Hall where resident living was once planned. At the same time, in the late 1970s and continuing into the 1980s, the number of resident students steadily decreased. By the late 1980s, only the top floor of Justin Hall was used for residence life. At the end of the 1988 school year, the Board of Directors terminated the residency program.

In 1985 fundraising began for the construction an auditorium complex. In May 1987 ground was broken and on 29 October 1988 the John Ormsby Alumni Auditorium opened. The building was constructed adjacent to Justin Hall and includes a thrust stage with an orchestra pit in an 800 seat auditorium, a campus book store, a fitness center, and a board room. In 1995 the complex was completed with the construction of a band room, practice rooms, dressing rooms, offices, and storage space.

The Quad addition. In the foreground is Friars Hall, one of the copper domes of the Chapel can be seen. In the upper left the original Justin Hall can be seen, and to the right is the most recent addition.

In 1999 the campus was expanded with the acquisition of a 16.5-acre (0.067 km²) parcel of land behind the school's football field on Big Tree Road. Practice fields and additional playing fields were constructed in that space.^[1] The science labs in Friar's Hall were overhauled and modernized in 2003. In November of 2004 an expansion of Justin Hall and the gymnasium began. In late 2005 construction was completed and the new facility includes additional classrooms; separate locker-rooms for gym classes, home teams, opposing teams, and referees; an additional gym floor, and an athletic trainer's room. At the time of construction the campus traffic pattern was also changed. Previously traffic flowed between the two major complexes on campus, essentially forming a sea of parking and traffic. The update saw the addition of a 52-space parking lot on the Lake Erie side of Friar's Hall and the creation of a traditional grass quadrangle with walkways between Friar's and Justin Halls. In 2007, construction began on the new Mary Schneider Visual Arts Center located in the lower floor of Friar's Hall. This state-of-the-art center features 4,695 sq ft (436.2 m²) of floor space and includes space for art classes and storage. Also included are a new classroom and a teachers' dining room.^[2]

[edit] Student Life

[edit] Dress Code

Like many private schools, St. Francis has a dress code for its students. It is truly a head-to-toe policy covering everything from hair and grooming to shoes. Hair must be neatly kept so that it is no longer than the eyebrows in the front, no longer than the ears on the side, and no longer than the collar on the back. If hair is clipped short, it must remain long enough to pinch between two fingers. Students must be clean shaven, although sideburns to the bottom of the ear are permitted. There may be no jewelry visible above the neck (piercings, etc). Tattoos cannot be visible either. A button-down dress shirt must be worn, with the top button buttoned. Prints and designs on undershirts may not show through the dress shirt. A necktie must be worn. Dress slacks are to be worn with a belt. Socks and dress shoes must be worn. From the time the clocks are changed in the fall until the time the clocks are changed in the spring, students must wear a school sweater or a sportcoat. School sweaters are available in a variety of colors and styles but all feature the school name and/or emblem. The faculty traditionally extends the privilege of wearing non-school sweaters to seniors.

[edit] The Arts

Saint Francis is known in Western New York for the high quality of its dramatic productions on in the impressive Ormsby Theater, and vocal and instrumental music groups such as the Male Chorus and Jazz Messengers. Each fall the St. Francis Players stage a drama, followed by an elaborate large scale musical in the spring. This year (2008), the St. Francis Players staged the production of "Pippin".

[edit] Athletics

Saint Francis is usually a competitor in athletics through all three seasons and has won many championships throughout the school's existence.

Saint Francis fields several athletic teams at different levels of competition. Sports include cross country, golf, football, soccer, volleyball, tennis, ice hockey, swimming, basketball, wrestling, bowling, indoor track, lacrosse, outdoor track and field, and baseball.

Saint Francis has a nationally recognized hockey program which has produced many excellent players, such as current NHLers Lee Stempniak, Aaron Miller, and Patrick Kaleta.

Saint Francis' football team became nationally ranked in fall of 2004 for their upset win against the Ohio powerhouse St. Ignatius. St. Ignatius came into the game with 3 national titles, 9 Division 1 state titles, and a ranking of 7th in the nation. This 28-13 victory was the biggest win in school history and put them in the national rankings for the first time in school history at number 22. The impressive win gained national attention as Jim Tressel, the head coach of the Ohio State Buckeyes was in attendance, and claimed he was very impressed. This was probably the best year in the school's football program history as they went on to beat St. Joe's in the Monsignor Martin Athletic Association championship game.

[edit] Notable Alumni

• Jim Kubiak, quarterback who broke 22 passing records during his college career at the U.S. Naval Academy, in Anapolis, MD. Was on Indianapolis Colts roster for one season.
• Jack Quinn (Assemblyman), New York State Assemblyman representing the 146th District. He is the son of former U.S. Congressman Jack Quinn
• Lee Stempniak, forward for the St. Louis Blues of the National Hockey League.
• Aaron Miller, defensemen for the Vancouver Canucks of the National Hockey League. Won the Stanley Cup with the Colorado Avalanche in 1996. Played on the USA hockey team in 1998, 2002, and 2006.
• Todd Krygier, played in the National Hockey League for the Hartford Whalers 1989-1991, Washington Capitals 1991-1994, 1995-1998 and Anaheim Mighty Ducks 1994-1996.
• Michael Arida (1986), NASA satellite operations lead and Peace Corps instructor.
• Kyle Smith, Arena Football Player for the Georgia Force
• Patrick Kaleta, NHL Right Wing for the Buffalo Sabres

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• St. Francis High School Website
• St. Francis High School Hockey Website