| Schenley High School | |
|---|---|
|
Enter to Learn, Go Forth to Serve
|
|
| Location | |
| 4101 Bigelow Blvd, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15213 United States |
|
| Information | |
| Type | Public, Magnet school, International Baccalaureate |
| Established | October 2, 1916 |
| Closed | Building Closed: August 2008 and relocated to East Liberty. Last Graduating Class: June 12, 2011 |
| School district | Pittsburgh Public Schools |
| Color(s) | Red, Black, and White |
| Mascot | Spartan |
| Website | Schenley High School |
| Architect: | Edward Stotz |
| Governing body: | Pittsburgh Public Schools |
| Part of: | Schenley Farms Historic District (#83002213) |
| MPS: | Pittsburgh Public Schools TR |
| NRHP Reference#: | 86002706 |
| Significant dates | |
| Added to NRHP: | September 30, 1986[2] |
| Designated CP: | July 22, 1983[2] |
| Designated PHLF: | 1992[1] |
Schenley High School is both a public school building and a school program that closed with the graduating class of 2011. Schenley High School is located in the North Oakland neighborhood at the edge of the Hill District of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States. In 2008 the school's staff and students were moved to the former Reizenstein Middle School building. The Schenley High School building is listed on the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP Reference #86002706).[2], as well as being listed on the Pittsburgh History and Landmarks Foundation Register, and a contributing property in the Schenley Farms Historic District.
The school was also home to two magnet programs: International Baccalaureate and Robotics Technology. The school was also a local or neighborhood high school for people living in Oakland, the Hill District and Bloomfield. Schenley High School graduated its final class on June 12th, 2011 with that final class, the historic name will cease to be an active Pittsburgh Public School. The Pittsburgh Public School district officially placed the Schenley High School building up for sale on September 22, 2011. The district had reviewed and rejected a bid by the PMC Property Group which had expressed interest in converting the school to residential use.
The school colors were red and black, and its mascot was the Spartan.
Contents |
Schenley High School was erected in 1916 and was named for Pittsburgh philanthropist Mary Schenley on whose land the school was built. It was designed by Edward Stotz as a triangle and constructed of Indiana limestone, the best of its kind. The first high school in the United States that cost more than one million dollars to build, Schenley High School became a showplace of the city.[3] The citizens of Pittsburgh were so proud of the building that through public donations, money was raised to present the school with a rare three-manual Skinner pipe organ. Schenley was first opened for students on October 2, 1916, the first enrollment was 1800 students with 70 teachers. By 1921, there were 2391 students and the next year enrollment was 2809. Through the twenties and thirties the enrollment climbed steadily and reached a peak of 3012 students in March 1940.
In 1983, Schenley High School underwent an innovative change which placed it in the national limelight and at the forefront of educational development in the United States. The school was rededicated as the Schenley High School Teacher Center, and from 1983 to 1989 it became a center of revitalization for teachers to incorporate the latest research data on teaching the adolescent, as well as an opportunity for teachers to enhance their skills. On September 30, 1986 Schenley High School was placed on the National Register of Historic Places and deemed a contributing property in the Schenley Farms Historic District In 1987, a new wing was added to the building; it houses the new physical education facilities, including a regulation-sized gymnasium, a larger swimming pool, dressing rooms and an office area.
In June 2008, due to severe internal maintenance problems, Pittsburgh Public Schools Superintendent Mark Roosevelt proposed to close Schenley High School to avoid an extremely high renovation bill. This led to public opposition by students and historical organizations that insisted the building was well worth the money. After months of debate the school board voted 5 to 4 to close Schenley High School after the 2008-2009 school year. The staff and student body were moved to the Pittsburgh Reizenstein Middle School facility, which had been closed a few years prior. The freshman, sophomore, and senior students who were enrolled in Pittsburgh Schenley at the time of its closure were allowed to graduate as Schenley students. The class of 2011, Schenley's final class hosted its commencement on June 12th 2011, thereby ending 95 years of remarkable educational history.
After its construction Schenley High School was noted for its remarkable design features, in today's standards it was considered a Green Building ahead of its time. Schenley High School was designed as a naturally ventilated school. Not only was each classroom given large quantities of fresh air through tall double-hung windows, corridors and stairs, lunchrooms and gyms, even the auditorium could be naturally ventilated. Schenley was also designed for daylit classrooms, daylit corridors and stairs, daylit cafeteria, and even a daylit theater for practice periods, with blackout shades for events. Schenley was also known for having "passive survivability". In emergencies the school has the most reliable conditioning systems—daylighting, natural ventilation, gravity-fed heating, and the most amazing fresh air distribution system hidden in the corridor walls.
The Schenley High School Alma Mater was written in 1932 by a Schenley english teacher.
Alma Mater, Her we cherish.
Dear Schenley High!
May all evil gainst her perish,
Dear Schenley High!
In the air on land, or water,
God preserve each son and daughter
Guard traditions years have brought her,
Dear Schenley High!
There we entered, labored, learned there.
Dear Schenley High!
On her heartstones, hopes have burned there
Dear Schenley High!
We have loved the lessons taught there.
Loved ideals sincerely sought there.
Loved the men that toiled and wrought there.
Dear Schenley High!
Alma Mater, God preserve thee
Dear Schenley High!
Through the years, we hope to serve thee,
Dear Schenley High!
We revere the spirit taught there,
Rev'rent minds that lived and thought there
Mem'ries of our Alma Mater,
Dear Schenley High!
Academically Schenley High had been a historically strong school, for the past 30 years maintaining the spot of the second highest performing high school in the district. In the 2010 PSSA's Schenley scored well above the district average in both reading and math.
In the past Schenley was well known for its basketball team which was a powerhouse in the 70's earing several state titles. Schenley held PIAA Class AAAA state champion in 2007, and was five time Pittsburgh City League Champions from 2003-08. Schenly was also widely known for its track team which has won 9 championships in the past 10 years. In the 2009-10 School year Schenley won 9 City Championships. In its final year Schenley High School had 16 varsity teams.
Schenley High was known for its school musicals and plays. In 1916, the year the school opened, it hosted its first play titled "A Thousand Years Ago." Sadly, there was a lack of sponsorship in the 50's, putting an end to these shows. Since 1972, the school had performed 40 consecutive musicals(with a 40th anniversary show performed the 2010-2011 school year), most of them notably under the direction of the theatre and english teacher, the late Roger Babusci. The Schenley musicals were known to be some of the best in the city. The school has won many Gene Kelly Awards for the program. The school's musical has been nominated 106 times for various categories and has garnered 39 awards total. The 2010 musical was "You're a Good Man Charlie Brown"; the performance was nominated for 10 Gene Kelly Awards and won three, including "Best Musical" in budget category one. The 2011 40th Anniversary Schenley spring musical was Seussical and won the 2011 Gene Kelly Award for "Best Musical". Also in honor of the 40th and final Schenley Musical the Pittsburgh City Council declared May 7, 2011 Schenley High School Musical Theater Day, the school also performed segments of its final musical in the 2011 Three Rivers Arts Festival.
| Year | Musical | Director |
|---|---|---|
| 2011 | Seussical | Ms. Kelly McKrell |
| 2010 | You're a Good Man Charlie Brown | Ms. Kelly McKrell |
| 2009 | Return to the Forbidden Planet | Ms. Kelly McKrell |
| 2008 | All Shook Up | Ms. Kelly McKrell |
| 2007 | Leader of the Pack | Ms. Kelly McKrell |
| 2006 | Joseph and the Technicolor Dreamcoat | Ms. Kelly McKrell |
| 2005 | Grease | Mr. Roger Babusci |
| 2004 | Smookey Joe's Cafe | Mr. Roger Babusci |
| 2003 | Lucky in the Rain | Mr. Roger Babusci |
| 2002 | The Melody Lingers On | Mr. Roger Babusci |
| 2001 | Once on this Island | Mr. Roger Babusci |
| 2000 | Once upon a Mattress | Mr. Roger Babusci |
| 1999 | The Wiz | Mr. Roger Babusci |
| 1998 | Anything Goes | Mr. Roger Babusci |
| 1997 | Leader of the Pack | Mr. Roger Babusci |
| 1996 | West Side Story | Mr. Roger Babusci |
| 1995 | Bubblin' Brown Sugar | Mr. Roger Babusci |
| 1994 | Once on this Island | Mr. Roger Babusci |
| 1993 | Guys and Dolls | Mr. Roger Babusci |
| 1992 | Ain't Misbehavin' | Mr. Roger Babusci |
| 1991 | The All Night Strut | Mr. Roger Babusci |
| 1990 | Pippin | Mr. Roger Babusci |
| 1989 | A Chorus Line | Mr. Roger Babusci |
| 1988 | The Wiz | Mr. Roger Babusci |
| 1987 | Leader of the Pack | Mr. Roger Babusci |
| 1986 | Anything Goes | Mr. Roger Babusci |
| 1985 | Grease | Mr. Roger Babusci |
| 1984 | Barnum | Mr. Roger Babusci |
| 1983 | Ain't Misbehavin | Mr. Roger Babusci |
| 1982 | West Side Story | Mr. Roger Babusci |
| 1981 | Bubblin' Brown Sugar | Mr. Roger Babusci |
| 1980 | The Wiz | Mr. Roger Babusci |
| 1979 | Pippin | Mr. Roger Babusci |
| 1978 | Bye Bye Birdie | Mr. Roger Babusci |
| 1977 | The Pajama Game | Mr. Roger Babusci |
| 1976 | Guys and Dolls | Mr. Roger Babusci |
| 1975 | Purlie | Mr. Roger Babusci |
| 1974 | Tambourines to Glory | Mr. Roger Babusci |
| 1973 | To be Young, Gifted and Black | Mr. Roger Babusci |
| 1972 | Five on the Blackhand Side | Mr. Roger Babusci |
Schenley High School also published a monthly newspaper called "The Triangle" in reference to the original building's shape. The paper was founded in 1919 and had produced an issue every month for the 92 years since its creation.
Schenley's boys' basketball team is the PIAA Class AAAA state champion of 2007. In 2008 (as in the last four years), the Spartans were the Pittsburgh City League Champions. The Spartans won boys and girls soccer City League Champions, and The City League Football title in the 2009-2010 school year, The Spartans also won the City swim championship for the first time since 1956. The school has also won a PSMLA Golden Globe award for its world language program for the 2009-2011 school years. On October 2, Schenley High School celebrated its 95th Anniversary since its first day of classes in 1916. Recently the Schenley Lady Spartans soccer team and girls volleyball each won their 4th consecutive City Championship. In honnor of the girls soccer teams fourth and final Schenley High win the Pittsburgh City Council declared November 30, 2010 Schenley High School Girls Soccer Day. Also in honor of the 40th and final Schenley Musical the Pittsburgh City Council declared May 7, 2011 Schenley High School Musical Theater Day.
|
|
|||||
|
||||||||||||||||||||