Calvert Hall College High School

Calvert Hall College High School
Address
8102 La Salle Road
Towson, Maryland, 21286
United States
Coordinates 39°23′29″N 76°34′52″W / 39.3915°N 76.581°WCoordinates: 39°23′29″N 76°34′52″W / 39.3915°N 76.581°W
Information
Type Private
Motto "Vitae via virtus" (Latin)
(("Virtue is the way of life"))
Religious affiliation(s) Roman Catholic
(Lasallian)
Patron saint(s) Saint John Baptiste de La Salle
Established 1845
Founder Francis McMullen
Principal Chuck Stembler
Grades 9–12
Gender Boys
Enrollment 1200
Campus size 33 acres (0.13 km2)
Color(s) Cardinal and Gold         
Athletics conference MIAA
Nickname Cardinals
Rival Loyola Blakefield
Accreditation Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools
Publication The Odyssey (Literary Magazine)
Newspaper The Hall
Yearbook Cardinal & Gold
Tuition $13,700
Affiliation The Brothers of the Christian Schools District of Eastern North America
Website www.calverthall.com
[1][2]

Calvert Hall College High School (also known as "Calvert Hall" or "CHC") is a Catholic college preparatory high school for boys, located in Towson, Maryland, in the United States. The school's mission is to make its students "men of intellect, men of faith, and men of integrity." It is located in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Baltimore, the first Catholic diocese (founded in 1789) of the United States.

The school was established in 1845 by the Institute of the Brothers of the Christian Schools as a private Catholic college preparatory high school for boys and is the oldest Christian Brothers school in the United States. The third oldest, St. John's College High School in Washington, D.C. was founded by Christian Brothers from this school in 1851.

Among its academic offerings is the McMullen Scholars Program, a four-year advanced level curriculum requiring extra coursework in Latin, Humanities, and a senior independent project. Additionally, a program for assisting students with learning differences exists (the La Salle program).

History

At the request of Archbishop Samuel Eccleston, who wished to provide a Catholic school for boys in the Archdiocese of Baltimore, the Brothers of the Christian Schools in Canada provided training for English-speaking candidates to become members of their order. Once they had taken their vows, the new Brothers, led by Baltimore native Brother Francis McMullen, FSC, returned to the Archdiocese and celebrated the first Mass on September 15, 1845 with one hundred students to commemorate the opening of what would become known as Calvert Hall College High School, the first school founded by the Institute of the Brothers of the Christian Schools in the United States.[3]

Initially, the school was located on Saratoga Street, but a rise in enrollment led to the purchase of property at Cathedral and Mulberry Streets, which was dedicated by Cardinal James Gibbons in 1891. To adapt to the changing world, Calvert Hall moved again in September 1960, under the direction of Brother Gabriel Cannon, FSC, to its current Towson location. Throughout the next five decades, Calvert Hall continued to expand, adding additional buildings which provide space for academics, technology, and extracurricular activities, as well as renovating old spaces to maintain high quality facilities.[3]

Academics

Students at Calvert Hall experience a college preparatory curriculum, operating on a cascading six day schedule fit with individual learning opportunities, during which students can choose to eat lunch, study, or meet with an available teacher. The free periods provide flexibility and allow students to develop effective time management skills. In addition, Calvert Hall uses a team teaching philosophy and a lecture-seminar format to mimic a university lecture system. Lectures are held in lecture halls that are equipped with multimedia presentation capabilities while seminars take place in classrooms centered on student learning.[4]

Students are required to take four years of English, Social Studies, and Religion; three years of Mathematics and a Laboratory Science; and two years of Foreign Language and Physical Education/Health. Freshmen must take a year of Computer Applications while Sophomores are required to take a Fine Art. Electives, which include Introduction to Engineering, Forensic Science, and Personal Finance among others, are offered in all departments. A total of four elective units are a graduation requirement.[5]

The school offers honors courses in most subjects and over twenty Advanced Placement classes. Students who score well on their entrance test and display an outstanding application are invited to interview for the McMullen Scholars Program, which " focuses on an appreciation of the Humanities as a basis for a Christian humanist education" and is headed by its own director.[6] Scholars are required to complete an independent project their senior year as well as participate in various activities within the program that demonstrate an appreciation for the Arts. Likewise, students with identified language learning disabilities can apply for the La Salle Program which has its own director and five learning specialists who meet with students everyday to address development of skills and "increase each student's understanding of his learning strengths".

Students who maintain a certain GPA and have been involved in service to the school for two years are invited to apply to the school's chapter of the National Honor Society. If they are admitted to the program, they are required to help at Orientation, Back to School Night, and Open House, as well as serve as tutors in the school's Academic Resource Center, which is led by a full-time director.

Besides the Academic Resource Center, the school offers George Young Library, complete with numerous on-line resources and 22,000 volumes, a Mathematics Resource Center staffed with a math teacher each period for one-on-one help, a Technology Resource Center which features access to the Internet and school resources, in addition to a Guidance Center where each student is assigned one of four guidance counselors and one of two college counselors.

Athletics

In one of the oldest Catholic school football rivalries in the country, dating back to 1920, Calvert Hall faces its arch-rival, Loyola Blakefield, in the annual Turkey Bowl game at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore.[2] Before M&T Bank Stadium was opened, the game was played at the old Memorial Stadium. CHC participates in the Maryland Interscholastic Athletic Association 'A' conference in all its sports, along with the Baltimore Catholic League for basketball.

Calvert Hall's strong team sports program includes baseball, Cross Country, Water Polo, Lacrosse, Rugby, football, swimming, and more recently, Hockey. The Calvert Hall baseball team has won the previous five MIAA "A" conference championships including a 4-2 victory over Gilman in 2013. On March 18, 2008 moved up to the #1 team ranking by USA Today in high school baseball. On April 7, 2008, the school's Carlo Crispino Baseball Stadium was dedicated. Named after an alumnus of that name who donated $1 million for the state-of-the-art facility, the stadium has a covered grandstand and FieldTurf, designed by Cal Ripken.[7][8] Other former Baltimore Orioles attending the ceremonies were Bill Ripken and Billy Hunter.

The water polo squad has won every MIAA championship with the exception of the inaugural game in 2000, which was won by the Gilman School and in 2009 when they lost to Loyola Blakefield. Calvert Hall Varsity water polo has gone undefeated in the MIAA for the last seven years. Calvert Hall has also had success in the Eastern Prep Championships of water polo, winning the last three, at the Lawrenceville School in New Jersey.

Calvert Hall is also represented in tennis, cross country, lacrosse, soccer, volleyball, hockey, indoor track and field, outdoor track and field, golf, wrestling, swimming, basketball, and by their competitive marching band.

The Calvert Hall basketball team ended the 1981-82 season as National Champions. The team was ranked #1 after defeating Dunbar High School in a triple overtime thriller the previous season.

The Calvert Hall lacrosse team was ranked #2 nationwide by Lax Power at the end of the 2011-2012 after winning the MIAA championship against Loyola 17-3. They were ranked #3 before the 2012-2013 season and fell 12-10 to then #1 Boy's Latin in the semi-finals of the MIAA playoffs.

The Calvert Hall hockey team won the MIAA championship between 2008–2010, in addition to winning the MAPHL Maryland State Championship in 2009.

Band

In existence for nearly 50 years, the Band performs numerous times during the year including local parades, home football games, and the Turkey Bowl. The Band is overseen by the Director of Bands, in addition to an Associate and Assistant Director.[9] To this day the Calvert Hall Instrumental Music Department features 3 Jazz Bands and a Jazz Combo, 3 Concert Bands, and 2 Marching Bands.

In 1998 the Calvert Hall College High School Competitive Marching Band began marching competitively. In 1999, their second competitive season, they qualified for the Tournament of Bands Atlantic Coast Championships (ACCs) as the 25th band out of 26. On November 13, 1999 the Calvert Hall Competition Band placed 17th at TOB’s ACCs .[10]

The band remained a TOB ACC finalist from 2001–2007, including 2 years as Silver Medal Finalists. The band has captured titles in the USSBA, BGA BCS, and TOB.

The CHC marching band was named the 2004 & 2005 Tournament of Bands Group IV, Chapter V Champions.[11][12]

In 2008, the band's tenth year of competition, the band moved out of the TOB circuit and into the USSBA circuit. In 2008, the band was named the USSBA Maryland State Champions with an undefeated Maryland State Champion Color Guard.

In January 2009, the band was selected in the Bowl Games of America’s Band Championship Series National Competition as one of twelve bands. The band entered into finals competition in Miami, FL. On January 7, 2009, the band was named the Bowl Games of America’s Band Championship Series National Champions[13] presenting their show "Facing your Fears." They captured 5 of 6 captions at Nationals, including best music, best marching, best percussion, best auxiliary, and best general effect.

In 2010, the band was awarded its 2nd USSBA Maryland State Championship, sweeping all of captions. The Band won the USSBA Maryland State Championships in 2012, marking the Band's 4th state championship, and third in the USSBA Circuit.

In December 2012, the band returned to Florida to compete in the Bowl Games of America’s Band Championship Series National Competition for a second time. The band placed first in their class taking the awards for best music, marching, percussion, auxiliary, and drum major.

Past Years Shows:
2000: Conflict and Resolution
2001: Malice and Mayhem
2002: R.E.M.
2003: The Book of Days
2004: The Heist (Chapter 5 Champions)
2005: The Quest (Chapter 5 & State Champions)
2006: Gotham
2007: Postcards from Manhattan
2008: Facing Your Fears (Maryland State Champions & BCS Grand National Champions)
2009: 2131 (pr. "Twenty-One, Thirty-One")
2010: Superstitions (Maryland State Champions)
2011: Bent (Maryland State Champions)
2012: Under My Umbrella (BCS National Class Champions)
2013: X! 2014: Haunted

Campus

"Men of intellect, men of faith, men of integrity", campus view

The 33 acre (134,000 m²) campus (left diagram) consists of three academic buildings: Keelty Hall, George Young Hall, and the Marion Burk Knott Center for the Performing Arts.

Presidents

Notable alumni

Keelty Hall is the main building
George Young Hall

Mascot and logos

As of late August 2006, Calvert Hall uses a stylized cardinal head as its mascot on sports attire. The logo can be found on midfield of Paul Angelo Russo Stadium, and on the court in Alumni Memorial Gymnasium. The Calvert Hall seal is used as a logo on letterheads and the school's website.

See also

References

  1. ↑ MSA-CSS. "MSA-Commission on Secondary Schools". Retrieved 2009-07-31.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 "93rd Annual Turkey Bowl". WMAR-TV. Scripps TV Station Group. Retrieved 2013-05-22.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Calvert Hall ~ History
  4. ↑ Calvert Hall ~ Overview
  5. ↑ http://cdn.media78.whipplehill.net/ftpimages/274/download/2013-2014%20program%20of%20studies.pdf
  6. ↑ Calvert Hall ~ McMullen Scholars Program
  7. ↑ "City/County Digest". The Baltimore Sun. 2006-01-13. p. 3B. Retrieved 2008-09-30.
  8. ↑ Nelson Coffin (2008-04-09). "No diamond in the rough: Stadium is a jewel". The Towson Times. Retrieved 2008-04-23.
  9. ↑ TOB-Info.net - Your home for TOB and TIA Scores and Information
  10. ↑ http://tob-info.net/scores/outdoor/1999/acc99.html.
  11. ↑ TOB-Info.net - Your home for TOB and TIA Scores and Information
  12. ↑ TOB-Info.net - Your home for TOB and TIA Scores and Information
  13. ↑ InsideEd: Tonight: Calvert Hall marching band at the BCS Championship game - Education news and issues in Baltimore that affect students and teachers, from kindergarten to col...
  14. ↑ Calvert Hall Football Coaches
  15. ↑ http://www.calverthall.com/podium/default.aspx?t=204&nid=734697
  16. ↑ Kelly, Jacques. "Dave Boswell, major league pitcher" (obituary), The Baltimore Sun, Wednesday, June 13, 2012.
  17. ↑ http://msa.maryland.gov/msa/mdmanual/05sen/html/msa14577.html
  18. ↑ American Joe Miedusiewski (biography)
  19. ↑ http://msa.maryland.gov/msa/mdmanual/31cc/html/msa14523.html

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