Garces Memorial High School

Garces Memorial High School
Address
2800 Loma Linda Drive
Bakersfield, California, (Kern County), 93305
United States
Coordinates 35°24′0″N 118°59′58″W / 35.40000°N 118.99944°WCoordinates: 35°24′0″N 118°59′58″W / 35.40000°N 118.99944°W
Information
Type Private, Coeducational
Religious affiliation(s) Roman Catholic
Established 1947
Oversight Diocese of Fresno
President John Fanucchi
Principal Kathleen Bears
Vice principal Mike Susank
Grades 9-12
Average class size 26
Campus size 32 acres (130,000 m2)
Color(s) Green Gold and White             
Athletics Baseball, Basketball, Cross Country, American football, Golf, Soccer, Softball, Swimming, Track & Field, Tennis, Volleyball, Diving, Water Polo
Athletics conference Southeast Yosemite League
Mascot Ram
Team name Rams
Rival San Joaquin Memorial High School, Bakersfield High School, East Bakersfield High School
Accreditation Western Association of Schools and Colleges[1]
Yearbook El Padre
Tuition $8,985 for Catholics, $9,285 for Non-Catholics[2]
Dean of Students John Fanucchi
Athletic Director Lela Steiber
Activities Director Myka Peck
Website http://www.garces.org

Garces Memorial High School, commonly shortened to Garces High School, is a Catholic high school in Bakersfield, California.

The school offers college prep, honors, and Advanced Placement (AP) courses in many subjects. As a Catholic institution, the high school requires theology classes for all four years. Electives include art, yearbook, and others.

The Garces sports teams, nicknamed the "Rams," compete in CIF Central Section Division III. The school has 106 valley championships, ranking it fourth all-time in the Central Section. Most notably, Garces took the 2006 valley championship in football, coached by David Fanucchi.

Clubs and activities include mock trial, the theater company, and the Key Club.

Formal and casual galas make up a major part of Garces's fundraising efforts. With help from the students, parents, alumni and the Garces community, numerous items are donated and auctioned off at these events.

History

Founded in 1947, the school is named after Father Francisco Garcés, a Spanish Franciscan friar and missionary who explored much of the southwestern part of North America, including what is now the Bakersfield region. The school is located near the terminus of the Panorama (aka China Grade) Bluffs on the exact site that Father Francisco Garces wrote would make a perfect place for a mission for the local Indian populace in his exploration of the Rio Bravo de San Felipe now known as the Kern River. This site overlooks central Bakersfield atop a bluff that was once the delta of the Kern River.

In the early years, the Dominican Sisters' Congregation of St. Thomas Aquinas taught the girls and handled the school's administration and the Brothers of the Christian Schools (Christian Brothers) taught the boys. The Christian Brothers, due to financial issues within their order, withdrew from the school in 1971 and the school became fully co-educational. In 1978 the administration of the school was taken over by the laity and is currently overseen by the Fresno Diocesan Office of Education, who also oversees Garces' main rival, San Joaquin Memorial High School of Fresno.

In 2007, Garces celebrated its 60th anniversary.

On June 14, 2008, Principal Robert Garcia died from pneumonia at age 58, three years into his tenure.[3]

In 2014, Garces High School became the first Kern County school to implement a 1:1 iPad program.[4]

Notable alumni

Controversies

Garces has had two faculty members accused or convicted with misconduct with a student. In 2007, a history teacher was accused of sexual misconduct with a minor.[10][11] In the spring of 2013, a baseball coach was arrested for unlawful sex with a 17 year old.[12]

References

  1. ↑ WASC-ACS. "WASC-Accrediting Commission for Schools". Retrieved 2009-06-05.
  2. ↑ http://www.garces.org/Portals/0/pdf/Tuition_Contract.pdf
  3. ↑ "Garces' principal dies at 58". KGET-TV. June 16, 2008. Retrieved September 20, 2014.
  4. ↑ Steinberg, Lia (January 29, 2013). "Garces Memorial High School incorporates iPads in the classroom". KERO-TV. Retrieved September 20, 2014.
  5. ↑ "Mike Ariey". The Pro Football Archives. Retrieved September 20, 2014.
  6. ↑ Mullen, Robert (February 20, 2014). "Haslam talks about a classic Steinbeck novel". The Renegade Rip (Bakersfield College). Retrieved September 20, 2014.
  7. ↑ Gavin, Camille (January 28, 2014). "Haslam's eyes have seen the glory in 'Wrath'". Bakersfield Californian. Retrieved September 20, 2014.
  8. ↑ "Bob McCaffery". The Pro Football Archives. Retrieved September 20, 2014.
  9. ↑ "Bakersfield native, football great earns place in Packers Hall of Fame". KBAK-TV. December 10, 2013. Retrieved September 20, 2014.
  10. ↑ "Police arrest Garces teacher". KGET-TV. December 16, 2007. Retrieved September 20, 2014.
  11. ↑ "Marshall Neal Phone Transcripts/Emails". KERO-TV. January 16, 2008. Retrieved September 20, 2014.
  12. ↑ "Garces Memorial High School assistant baseball coach accused of sex with underage girl". KERO-TV. April 2, 2013. Retrieved September 20, 2014.

External links