| St. Patrick High School | |
|---|---|
| Address | |
| 500 South Silber North Platte, Nebraska, (Lincoln County), 69103 United States |
|
| Information | |
| Religious affiliation(s) | Roman Catholic |
| Established | 1891 |
| Opened | 1955 |
| Superintendent | Kevin Dodson |
| Principal | Mark Skillstad |
| Chaplain | Fr. Jim Golka and Fr. Jim Novakowski |
| Faculty | 39 |
| Grades | 7–12 |
| Color(s) | Green, Gold, and White |
| Slogan | "Be The Best" |
| Fight song | Notre Dame Victory March |
| Athletics | Football, Volleyball, Cross Country, Basketball, Wrestling, Golf, and Track and field |
| Athletics conference | SPVA |
| Team name | Irish |
| Rivals | Hershey, Sutherland, Maxwell |
| Yearbook | The Shamrock |
| Endowment | North Platte Catholic Endowment Trust |
| Tuition | $2,590 |
| Athletic Director | Mark Skillstad |
| Website | http://npcs.esu16.org/ |
St. Patrick High School is a Roman Catholic high school in North Platte, Nebraska. It is located in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Grand Island. St. Patrick High School is part of North Platte Catholic Schools, which also includes McDaid Elementary and Little Leprechaun Pre-School.
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Nativity Convent School (St. Patrick) was established on September 8, 1891. Among the first students was Irma Cody, daughter of William F. Cody. Five young women were the first graduates in 1895.[1]
In 1916, St. Patrick School was constructed at Fourth and Walnut Streets, at an expense of $52,000. The building was described as the "finest educational structure in the area."[1]
The current St. Patrick High School building was opened in 1955 near E and Silber Streets. The former building continued to serve as the elementary school. In 1967, it was renamed McDaid Elementary, in honor of Father Patrick McDaid, the pastor of the parish from 1910 to 1948.[1]
Increasing enrollment in the late 1950s and 1960s necessitated expansion of the facilities, which took place in 1963 and 1967. During that time, the junior high program was established at the high-school building.[1]
In 1968, Bill McGahan was appointed principal of McDaid Elementary. He became the first lay school administrator in the Diocese of Grand Island. In 1970, he was named principal of both the elementary and high school. He became superintendent in 1974, and continues in that capacity.[1] He has announced that he will retire in July 2011, and will be succeeded as superintendent by current teacher and coach Kevin Dodson.[2]
The entire North Platte Catholic Schools system (K–12) has an operating budget of around $2 million. Enrollment system is about 420, making up approximately 11% of school-aged children in North Platte. North Platte Catholic Schools has a professional staff of 39 and a service staff of 15. The school has had over 2,200 graduates.[1]
St. Patrick won its first state championship in 1928 (Boys Basketball). Its first football team was organized in 1939, under former University of Nebraska All-Star Leo Scherer.[1]
St. Patrick has been a member of the South Platte Valley Association athletic conference since 1969. They have won the following NSAA State Championships [3]:
Athletic facilities for St. Patrick High School include two gymnasiums, a football field, a weight room, and a practice field. Varsity basketball and volleyball hold their practices and games in the McGahan Activities Center, at McDaid Elementary. Wrestling practice is held in the weight room, also at McDaid. Wrestling meets are held in the McGahan Activities Center. The gymnasium at St. Patrick High School was previously the only gym, until McGahan Activities Center was opened in 2000. Currently, the St. Patrick gym is mainly used for Junior High activities. The football team plays all home games at Knights of Columbus Field. Football practices are held at the practice field east of McDaid. St. Patrick does not have an adequate track for track meets. Home track meets are held at North Platte High School. The golf team holds their activities at local golf courses, in North Platte.