Bishop George Ahr High School
Bishop George Ahr High School | |
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Address | |
1 Tingley Lane Edison, NJ, (Middlesex County) 08820 | |
Coordinates | 40°34′41″N 74°22′35″W / 40.57806°N 74.37639°WCoordinates: 40°34′41″N 74°22′35″W / 40.57806°N 74.37639°W |
Information | |
Type | Private, Coeducational |
Religious affiliation(s) | Roman Catholic |
Established | 1969 |
School district | Diocese of Metuchen |
Principal | Sr. Donna Marie Trukowski[1] |
Vice Principal | Brian Brogno[1] |
Assoc. Principal | Harry Ziegler[1] |
Faculty | 52.9[2] |
Grades | 9–12 |
Enrollment | 759 (2013-14) |
Student to teacher ratio | 14.3:1[2] |
Color(s) |
Scarlet and white[3] |
Athletics conference | Greater Middlesex Conference |
Team name | Trojans[3] |
Accreditation | AdvancED[4] |
Publication | Reflections (literary magazine) |
Newspaper | Satoma |
Yearbook | Insight |
Tuition | $12,600 (2016-17)[5] |
Athletic Director | Michael Wolfthal[1] |
Website | http://www.bgahs.org |
Bishop George Ahr High School, also known as Bishop Ahr or BGA, is a four-year, private, college preparatory, and coeducational Roman Catholic high school located on a campus covering 34 acres (14 ha) in the northern section of Edison, in Middlesex County, New Jersey, United States. The school operates under the auspices of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Metuchen.[6] The school opened in 1969 as St. Thomas Aquinas High School, and was renamed for Bishop George Ahr in 1984.
As of the 2013-14 school year, the school had an enrollment of 759 students and 52.9 classroom teachers for a student–teacher ratio of 14.3:1.[2] Students attend the school from Middlesex, Union, Monmouth, and Somerset Counties in Central New Jersey.
The administration and teaching faculty are composed of Felician Sisters and lay people. All 72 faculty members hold a B.S. or B.A. degree; a significant percentage have M.A. degrees, and some hold a Ph.D. Bishop George Ahr High School is overseen by the New Jersey Department of Education and is accredited by AdvancED.[4]
Clubs and Organizations
Clubs at Bishop Ahr include:[7]
- Adobe Generation Club: Students will learn how to create stunning images, amazing animation, captivating videos, cool games and fabulous app designs from these courses. Students also have the opportunity to learn and experiment with software packages available within the Adobe Creative Cloud including Photoshop, Flash, Edge, and After Effects.
- African-American Club: Promotes awareness of African-American culture and history both locally and nationally.
- Ahr Choice: Promotes a no use lifestyle; students must be selected to participate.
- Ahr Star: The “Ahr Star” program brings the community together to support a chronically or terminally ill child. The most important goal of the Ahr Star Program at BGA is to give the Ahr Star and his/her family financial, spiritual, emotional and community support during the year.
- Anime Club: Students share their favorite anime with other club members. Anime Club is a very casual club which many students enjoy at the end of a long week of school.
- Art Club: The goal of this club is to foster creativity within the BGAHS community. This is an opportunity for students to explore various media in a creative setting. We also look to promote BGAHS outside of the school through submitting artwork for local and national competitions.
- Book Club: The Book Club is a way of encouraging all students to enjoy reading. We come together as a group as often as we can to express our opinions on the books were reading in order to gain an appreciation for all genres of literature.
- Christian Social Action Club (CSAC): Focuses its attention on the factor of service here at BGA. AHR community strongly represents itself in this club through the social action in which Bishop Ahr is known for. Our club brings forth the true meaning of what it is to do service. Helping other people as well as helping raise up our own community, is very important.
- The Future Lawyers’ Club: Stimulates and encourages a deeper understanding of the American legal system by our students. In addition to learning the rules and procedures needed to compete in the New Jersey Mock Trial Competition, members of the club are asked to promote good sportsmanship, academic integrity, honesty, and fair play, and to fully respect each other and any members of all opposing teams.
- Gaming Club: Allows students an opportunity to learn new games and make new friends. The students organize several competitions each year to raise money for Ahr Star and other organizations.
- Green Club: Promotes environmental awareness and is concerned with the betterment of our community. Every student is encouraged to reduce, reuse, and recycle. This club serves as a model for others to follow in order to make tomorrow's world a better place.
- Hope for Animals: Educates and promotes understanding and compassion for all animals and to support animal rights and rescue groups.
- In Harm's Way: Is dedicated to the men and women who have served and who continue to serve our country, protecting its citizens and defending the Constitution and the Freedoms it affords.
- Insight: The mission of Insight is to diligently work as a team to produce and print a yearbook publication that represents the goals, accomplishments, student body, and faculty and staff of Bishop George Ahr High School as accurately as possible.
- International Club: Explores various cultures through awareness, appreciation, and connection events such as holiday celebrations, field trips, movies, food sharing, virtual tours, and language learning.
- Medical Explorers Club: This club explores various health-related fields in a fun environment, educating on the many available occupations these fields have to offer. Through the course of the year the students will have the opportunity to participate in hands-on learning and one to one sessions with health professionals.
- National Honors Society: NHS members are those who exemplify the four pillars: character, scholarship, leadership and service. Students must show evidence of leadership, have at least 50 hours of service every year, have a GPA of 3.9 or better and exemplify good character.
- Photography Club: Members discover the art of photography and learn about photographic technique in a friendly and supportive environment for those of all skill levels.
- P.in.K: Power in Knowledge is a young women's' group that provides a forum for the young women of BGA to raise awareness and discuss important issues.
- Pro-Life Club: It is our mission to foster in our school community an awareness of the dignity and sanctity of all human life from the womb to the tomb. We are dedicated to observing and promoting the teaching of the Roman Catholic Church on all life issues, including abortion, euthanasia, assisted suicide and stem cell research.
- Satoma: The quarterly published newsmagazine that captures the essence of the Bishop Ahr experience. Inside, the pulse of student life can be found. Pages full of global news, service, entertainment, and sports, Satoma highlights the accomplishments and success of the Bishop Ahr community.
- Science Club: This club is intended to improve students' understanding and overall interest in the scientific field by engaging in interactive activities. Throughout the year, multiple disciplines of science will be covered, including: Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Biochemistry, Anatomy, and Marine/Aquatic Biology.
- Student Council: Is dedicated to leading the rest of the student body in school activities/events, fundraisers, service projects, clubs, and athletic events. Each member of the Student Council has a specific position in which they are in charge of however they all strive toward the one goal of bettering the BGA community.
- Swing Dance Club: Provides an atmosphere that encourages students to express their personality through dance, charity work, and supports an active student.
- Video Production Club: Allows students to immerse themselves in the film-making process. We watch classic movies, learn about video editing strategies, produce short films, and of course have fun!
Honor Societies
Latin Honor Society, National Honor Society, Chinese Honor Society, Spanish Honor Society, Italian Honor Society, Tri-M (Music Honor Society), Science Honor Society
Athletics
The Bishop George Ahr High School Trojans[3] compete in the Greater Middlesex Conference, which includes public and private high schools located in the greater Middlesex County area and operates under the supervision of the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association.[8] Sports offered for men include: baseball, basketball, bowling, cross country, football, golf, lacrosse, soccer, swimming, tennis, wrestling, and winter and spring track. Women's sports include: basketball, bowling, cheerleading, cross country, golf, gymnastics, lacrosse, soccer, softball, swimming, tennis, volleyball, and winter and spring track.[3]
The football team was champion of the Middlesex County Blue Division in 2005, 2007, and 2008.[9] The wrestling team won the 2007 Non-Public South B sectional championship with a 46-27 win over Holy Cross.[10] Their baseball team won the 2006 team won the Non-Public South A sectional championship over St. Augustine, 16-15.[11] The school's swimming team won the Greater Middlesex Conference in 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2011. In gymnastics, the team captured yearly state titles from 2003 to 2007.
The softball team took the 2009 Non-Public South A Sectional title, shutting out both Holy Spirit High School and Camden Catholic High School, and won the tournament final over Gloucester Catholic High School to win the team's first sectional title for nine years.[12]
The girls' soccer team won the NJ Non-Public A State Championship against Immaculata High School 1-0.[13] The Varsity cheerleading team won the National Championship and best overall Grand Champion in Myrtle Beach, S.C. on March 11.[14]
Fine Arts
Bishop Ahr High School offers students a wide range of creative options, including art courses in a full-studio Art department, graphic design courses, video production, an award-winning Drama Department, and an award-winning Music department.[15]
The Drama department performs three full show runs per school year with a fall Shakespeare play, a fall drama production, and a spring musical. The Drama department has competed and won awards at the Bucks County Playhouse, among many other events.[16]
The Music Department includes a Marching Band, a Symphonic Band, a Concert Choir, a Liturgical Band, a Jazz Band, and Music Theory courses.[17]
In May 2012, Bishop Ahr's Music Department competed in the 2012 Music Showcase Festival in Busch Gardens, VA. The Jazz Band won 1st place overall Jazz ensemble. The Concert Band won 2nd place overall Concert Band. The Jazz Choir won 1st place overall jazz Choir. The Concert choir won 1st place overall mixed choir. The concert choir also won the grand championship trophy for the highest overall competition score among all vocal groups.[17]
Technology
Bishop Ahr High School has always been committed to providing a wide array of technology courses and options to its students. The cornerstone of BGA's approach to educational technology is that there isn't one right tool for every task. BGA teachers have at their disposal a number of technology options that they can call upon depending on the nature of their lesson. In addition to three computer labs, teachers also have access to a fleet of laptops, iPads, and Chromebooks that they can use to enhance their instructional offerings. To round out these offerings, BGA has a robust bring-your-own-device (BYOD) policy that allows teachers the opportunity to infuse technology on-the-fly, allowing them to incorporate technology in a real world manner and to capitalize on teachable moments.[18]
Notable alumni
- Ed Kalegi (born 1967), actor / radio personality / host / voice actor.[19]
- Tom DeSanto (born 1968), producer of the X-Men movies and Transformers.
- John McCormac (class of 1976), Mayor of Woodbridge Township, New Jersey.[20]
- Patrick Morrisey (born 1967), Attorney General of West Virginia.
- Kevin Mulvey (born 1985), drafted by the New York Mets as their first pick in the 2006 Major League Baseball Draft.[21]
- Darrin Winston (1966–2008), Major League Baseball player who played two seasons for the Philadelphia Phillies.[22]
References
- 1 2 3 4 "Staff". Bishop George Ahr High School. Retrieved May 9, 2012.
- 1 2 3 School Data for Bishop George Ahr High School, National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed April 26, 2017.
- 1 2 3 4 Bishop Ahr High School, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed December 30, 2016.
- 1 2 Bishop George Ahr High School, AdvancED. Accessed December 30, 2016.
- ↑ "Family Tuition Payment Plan". Bishop George Ahr High School. Retrieved October 31, 2013.
- ↑ Bishop George Ahr High School, Roman Catholic Diocese of Metuchen. Accessed December 30, 2016.
- ↑ Clubs and Activities, Bishop George Ahr High School. Accessed November 20, 2016.
- ↑ League Memberships – 2016-2017, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed April 26, 2017.
- ↑ Haley, John. "MIDDLESEX COUNTY FOOTBALL BLOG: All-time GMC champions chart", The Star-Ledger, November 4, 2009. Accessed October 3, 2011.
- ↑ 2007 Team Wrestling Tournament - Non-Public, South B, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed May 28, 2007.
- ↑ 2006 Baseball - Non-Public, South A, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed May 28, 2007.
- ↑ Iezzi, Bill. "Plate call pulls plug on Rams' hopes", The Philadelphia Inquirer, June 3, 2009. Accessed October 3, 2011. "Ahr (24-2), the second seed, won its first sectional trophy since 2000, when its coach, Missy Magyar, was a junior playing shortstop for the Trojans.... The Trojans, who shut out Holy Spirit, 13-0, and Camden Catholic, 2-0, to advance to the final, demonstrated that they could get their bats on the ball one through nine."
- ↑ "Girls soccer: Unranked Bishop Ahr knocks out No. 4 Immaculate Heart, 1-0, for first Non-Public A title". NJ.com. Retrieved 2017-03-25.
- ↑ Content, Submitted (2017-03-22). "Champs - Bishop George Ahr High School Cheerleaders". Greater Media Newspapers. Retrieved 2017-03-25.
- ↑ Home page, Bishop George Ahr High School. Accessed October 16, 2012.
- ↑ Drama Announcement and News, Bishop George Ahr High School. Accessed October 16, 2012.
- 1 2 Joseph Cullinan, Bishop George Ahr High School. Accessed October 16, 2012.
- ↑ Technology Policy, Bishop George Ahr High School. Accessed May 13, 2012.
- ↑ Biography Archived February 9, 2012, at the Wayback Machine., Ed Kalegi. Accessed December 24, 2011. "Some years later, Ed's acting abilities were first cultivated at Bishop George Ahr/St. Thomas High School in Edison, NJ during the early 1980s under the tutelage of Drama Director Gordon Inverno."
- ↑ "Woodbridge Mayor Challenges BGAHS", Bishop George Ahr High School. Accessed April 26, 2017. "Mr. John McCormac, the mayor of Woodbridge Township, also happens to be a BGA/STA Class of 1976 alumnus."
- ↑ Mets sign RHP Kevin Mulvey, Major League Baseball press release dated August 9, 2007. Accessed June 12, 2007. "Mulvey, 21, is a native of Parlin, N.J., and graduated from Bishop George Ahr High School in New Jersey."
- ↑ Staff. "DARRIN A. WINSTON, 42, of Clarksburg in MILLSTONE TOWNSHIP", Asbury Park Press, August 17, 2008. Accessed September 4, 2008. "Winston, who was 42, starred at Bishop Ahr High School in Edison before moving on to Rutgers."
External links
- Bishop George Ahr High School web site
- School Data for Bishop George Ahr High School, National Center for Education Statistics