| Bishop Hafey High School | |
|---|---|
| Location | |
| Hazleton, Pennsylvania, 18201 U.S.A. |
|
| Information | |
| Type | Private, Coeducational |
| Religious affiliation(s) | Roman Catholic |
| Established | 1972 |
| Closed | 2007 |
| Grades | 7-12 |
| Color(s) | Gold and White |
| Mascot | Viking |
| Team name | Vikings |
| Newspaper | Golden Gazette |
Bishop Hafey High School was a Roman Catholic high school of the Diocese of Scranton, located in Hazleton, Pennsylvania. By the order of Bishop Joseph F. Martino, the high school was closed in June 2007.
The school's mascot was the Viking. The school's colors were gold and white.
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Bishop Hafey High School was constructed in the 1960s in the Maple Manor section of Hazleton. The prime location between PA State Route 234 and PA State Route 309 allowed for ease of transportation access. The school was the replacement to the first Catholic high school in the Hazleton area, which was St. Gabriel's.
The school was recommended for closure in 2006 by Meitler Consulting, who was retained by the Diocese of Scranton to study the school's feasibility. In a controversial decision, Bishop Joseph Martino ordered the school to be closed at the end of the 2006-2007 academic year.
In July 2007, Bishop Hafey was consolidated with the three other diocesan high schools in Luzerne County (Bishop Hoban, Bishop O'Reilly, and Seton Catholic into Holy Redeemer High School, which is located at the current Bishop Hoban site).
Many families that attended Bishop Hafey were devastated by its closing that they moved to nearby cities to join other parishes and schools. Popular locations were Pittsburgh and Philadelphia.
In August 2007, the building reopened as Holy Family Academy. But in early 2011, due to the decreased number of enrolled students in Holy Family and high-maintenance costs at the building, Bishop Joseph Bambera told parents that Holy Family Academy would move from the former Bishop Hafey High School building into the former St. Joseph's Memorial School in Hazleton. Holy Family Academy remains in its position as the only remaining Roman Catholic school in the Hazleton area.
Currently, the Hazleton Area School District is on the verge of purchasing the former Bishop Hafey High School building and its property from the Diocese of Scranton to ease overcrowding at the existing Hazleton Area High School.
The two-story brick high school building's entrance is covered with a metal canopy. As one enters the building, the gymnasium prominently displays banners of championship sports teams. Continuing down the main hall, the cafeteria/auditorium features two food service windows.
Both the first and second floor classrooms include a medley of styles, ranging from traditional classrooms, to tiered lecture settings, and science laboratories with fume hoods. Many classrooms take on the subject matter, as it is not uncommon to see artistically painted ceiling tiles in the art room or a myriad of mathematical equations on the wall of the calculus room.
The library contained many volumes of current and archived periodicals, as well as books, research journals, reference guides, and computers.
Along with the building, a football field, a soccer field, and a baseball field are located on the property behind the school.[1] Both student and faculty parking lots are on location.
Bishop Hafey High School featured grades 7 through 12. The curriculum was intended for college preparatory students, however vocational classes are available via the Hazleton Area School District's Career Center. Rigorous studies in Mathematics, English, History, and Theology fill the courses of most students. Specialized classes including accounting, psychology, anatomy and physiology, and physics allow students to broaden their horizons in education.
At the high school level specifically, Hafey provided AP level courses. The Advanced Placement courses, made available under conditions set by College Board, allowed for students to obtain college credit after successfully completing a rigorous examination.
The Bishop Hafey graduating class of 2007 included 47 students. Total college scholarship endowment reached well over $3,000,000.00.
Bishop Hafey High School athletic program included the following sports:
Of note, the boys cross country team was undefeated in the Wyoming Valley conference from 1995 through to the school's closing in 2007 for a record of 65-0 over 13 straight seasons. The boys and girls team have won the conference championship every year since 1994. The boys team won the Pennsylvania AA State Championship in 1999.