Bethlehem Central High School
Encyclopedia
Bethlehem Central High School is a high school in Delmar, New York
, just south of Albany. Located at 700 Delaware Avenue, the school serves students in grades 9-12 from the towns of Bethlehem
and New Scotland
. The school was ranked 1048 on Newsweek's 2010 " Top US High Schools."
The high school was established in 1932 at 332 Kenwood Avenue. Within 20 years, the original building was deemed too small, and the school moved to its current location in 1954. The former building now serves as the district's Middle School. But the building continues to bear the words "Bethlehem Central High School," which are carved into its rock, confusing some out-of-towners.
2006 Inductees
symbols. This policy was met with considerable student protest, culminating in a petition that accumulated more than 1000 signatures in one day. The issue drew coverage in the Times Union and local television news formats.
The school's construction project is complete after several months of construction. Several additions have been added by contractor Sano-Rubin Construction Services. A gym
nasium and gate station have been added. Also several wings on the second and first floors and three science labs have been added. As well, they have moved the Pupil Personnel Services, expanded the Counseling Center, expanded and moved art rooms, expanded the cafeteria, and moved the fitness center.
The school's Science Bowl
team finished first in their regional competition in the 2005-06, 2008–09, and 2009-10 school years, earning them trips to the national competition in Washington, DC.
Bethlehem High School has produced excellent Masterminds
teams that have won several championships in their league. The Bethlehem Masterminds team recently won the state 2010 Masterminds tournament, becoming state Section II champions.
The Eagles compete in the following sports:
On June 20, 2006, funds for Ice Hockey, Cheerleading, and Gymnastics were cut from the budget. Supporters held multiple fund raisers the teams, allowing all of them to play their sports by the season. The 2007 budget restored funding for these teams.
In 2006, the boys' soccer team made the Final 4 in the state championship. Four members of the girls' swim team made the state championship as well, placing 3rd in the 200-yard Medley Relay. That same year's boys' 200 freestyle relay was ranked 2nd in New York State and named All American.
The boys' Indoor and Outdoor Track teams are recognized as one of the best in the suburban council. In 2010, the boys Indoor Track team sent five athletes to the Nike Indoor Nationals in Boston.
The Lab School is a school-within-a-school and has a total of around 111 students in all four grades (9-12). It is focused more on hands-on projects and has an overall passing average of an 80 or above per year, instead of the regular 65. Students also participate in an internship their senior year. This internship must meet various guidelines as set forth by the school in order to meet various educational requirements. Throughout this internship, the participating student must keep a journal of their hours and experiences and hand it in at the end of the year for a grade.
Each year, there are several field trips that the Lab School takes. These include several trips to the Capital Repertory Theater in Albany, NY, the YMCA Camp Chingachgook and the YMCA Silver Bay Camp (both in the Adirondack Mountains
). Each Spring there is an educational trip taken to either Williamsburg
, VA, Washington, D.C.
, Boston
, or Philadelphia. Every two years, the Juniors and Seniors take a week long trip to the Florida Keys
for a marine biology experience.
Delmar, New York
Delmar is a hamlet in the town of Bethlehem, Albany County, New York. A census-designated place has been established since 1980 by the US Bureau of Census for tabulating the population of what the census has defined as the boundaries of the urbanized area in and around Delmar. The population was...
, just south of Albany. Located at 700 Delaware Avenue, the school serves students in grades 9-12 from the towns of Bethlehem
Bethlehem, New York
Bethlehem is a town in Albany County, New York, USA. The population was 33,656 at the 2010 census. The town is south of Albany. Bethlehem includes the following hamlets: Delmar, Elsmere, Slingerlands, Glenmont, Selkirk, South and North Bethlehem. U.S. Route 9W passes through the town...
and New Scotland
New Scotland, New York
New Scotland is a town in Albany County, New York, United States. The population was 8,648 at the 2010 census.The town is southwest of Albany, New York, the state capital. New Scotland is centrally located in the county.-History:...
. The school was ranked 1048 on Newsweek's 2010 " Top US High Schools."
The high school was established in 1932 at 332 Kenwood Avenue. Within 20 years, the original building was deemed too small, and the school moved to its current location in 1954. The former building now serves as the district's Middle School. But the building continues to bear the words "Bethlehem Central High School," which are carved into its rock, confusing some out-of-towners.
Notable alumni
- Mitchell Kahl, class of 1976, Investments and Finance NYC.
- Megyn KellyMegyn KellyMegyn Marie Kelly , formerly known as Megyn Kendall, is an American journalist and news anchor employed by the Fox News Channel. Kelly currently hosts America Live from 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM EST live from the network’s New York City headquarters...
, class of 1988, Fox News anchor - Scott SullivanScott Sullivan (executive)Scott D. Sullivan is an American Certified Public Accountant and the former Chief Financial Officer, Treasurer, Board member and Secretary of WorldCom, who engineered WorldCom's $11-billion accounting fraud, the largest scandal of its kind in U.S...
, class of 1979, WorldComMCI Inc.MCI, Inc. is an American telecommunications subsidiary of Verizon Communications that is headquartered in Ashburn, Virginia...
Inc.'s former chief financial officer - Bill KarinsBill KarinsBill Karins is a NBC meteorologist. He reports weekdays for NBC's Early Today, MSNBC's First Look, Morning Joe, Jansing and Company and CNBC. Prior to being named NBC Meteorologist Karins was one of the original meteorologists for the now shuttered NBC Weather Plus. He is MSNBC and NBC News Chief...
, Class of 1992, NBC meteorologist.
Hall of Fame
2005 Inductees- Rear Admiral (select) Dennis E. Fitzpatrick '76 - became commanding officer of the USS John F. KennedyUSS John F. Kennedy (CV-67)USS John F. Kennedy is a John F. Kennedy class aircraft carrier, the last conventionally powered carrier built for the United States Navy. The ship is named after the 35th President of the United States, John F...
in October 2004. He joined the NavyUnited States NavyThe United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
in 1981 as a pilot. In 1989, he was named Instructor Pilot of the Year. He earned a master’s degree in national security and strategic studies from the Naval War CollegeNaval War CollegeThe Naval War College is an education and research institution of the United States Navy that specializes in developing ideas for naval warfare and passing them along to officers of the Navy. The college is located on the grounds of Naval Station Newport in Newport, Rhode Island...
and in 1999 was selected for the Nuclear Power Program. As of April 1, 2008, he has been nominated for appointment to the rank of Rear Admiral (lower half). Fitzpatrick is currently serving as head, Fleet Warfare Requirements and Program Planning Division, N80, U.S. Fleet Forces Command, Norfolk, Va. Dennis’s at-sea tours include executive officer of USS Theodore RooseveltUSS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN-71)USS Theodore Roosevelt is the fourth Nimitz-class supercarrier. Her radio call sign is Rough Rider, the name of President Theodore Roosevelt's volunteer cavalry unit during the Spanish-American War...
during a deployment in support of Operation Enduring Freedom after September 11September 11, 2001 attacksThe September 11 attacks The September 11 attacks The September 11 attacks (also referred to as September 11, September 11th or 9/119/11 is pronounced "nine eleven". The slash is not part of the pronunciation...
and as commanding officer of USS ShreveportUSS Shreveport (LPD-12)USS Shreveport is an Austin-class American amphibious transport dock. It is the second ship of the United States Navy to be named for the city in Louisiana. Her keel was laid down on 27 December 1965 by the Lockheed Shipbuilding and Construction Company of Seattle, Washington. She was launched on...
. His awards include the Legion of MeritLegion of MeritThe Legion of Merit is a military decoration of the United States armed forces that is awarded for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services and achievements...
, Meritorious Service MedalMeritorious Service Medal (United States)The Meritorious Service Medal is a military decoration presented to members of the United States Armed Forces who distinguished themselves by outstanding meritorious achievement or service to the United States subsequent to January 16, 1969...
; Air MedalAir MedalThe Air Medal is a military decoration of the United States. The award was created in 1942, and is awarded for meritorious achievement while participating in aerial flight.-Criteria:...
with Combat "V"Valor deviceThe Valor device is an award of the United States military which is a bronze attachment to certain medals to indicate that it was received for valor...
; Navy and Marine Corps Commendation MedalCommendation MedalThe Commendation Medal is a mid-level United States military decoration which is presented for sustained acts of heroism or meritorious service. For valorous actions in direct contact with an enemy force, but of a lesser degree than required for the award of the Bronze Star, the Valor device may...
with three Gold Stars and Combat "V"; Navy and Marine Corps Achievement MedalAchievement MedalThe Achievement Medal is a military decoration of the United States military. The Achievement Medal was first proposed as a means to recognize the contributions of junior officers and enlisted personnel who were not eligible to receive the higher Commendation Medal or the Meritorious Service...
and various unit and campaign awards. - Neal ShapiroNeal ShapiroNeal B. Shapiro is the president of PBS station Thirteen/WNET New York City, installed in February 2007. He is the chief executive of the station's license holder, the Educational Broadcasting Corporation , which also operates the Long Island, New York, PBS outlet WLIW.- Life and Career :Shapiro...
'76 - Former president of NBC NewsNBC NewsNBC News is the news division of American television network NBC. It first started broadcasting in February 21, 1940. NBC Nightly News has aired from Studio 3B, located on floors 3 of the NBC Studios is the headquarters of the GE Building forms the centerpiece of 30th Rockefeller Center it is...
, where he oversaw the global operations of NBC’s News division and the news operations of MSNBCMSNBCMSNBC is a cable news channel based in the United States available in the US, Germany , South Africa, the Middle East and Canada...
, the 24-hour24-hour news cycleThe 24-hour news cycle arrived with the advent of television channels dedicated to news, and brought about a much faster pace of news production with increased demand for stories that can be presented as news, as opposed to the day-by-day pace of the news cycle of printed daily newspapers...
cable newsUnited States cable newsCable news refers to television channels devoted to television news broadcasts, with the name deriving from the proliferation of such networks during the 1980s with the advent of cable television. In the United States, early networks included CNN in 1980, Financial News Network in 1981, and CNN2 ...
television networkTelevision networkA television network is a telecommunications network for distribution of television program content, whereby a central operation provides programming to many television stations or pay TV providers. Until the mid-1980s, television programming in most countries of the world was dominated by a small...
. For eight years, Neal served as executive producer of Dateline NBCDateline NBCDateline NBC, or Dateline, is a U.S. weekly television newsmagazine broadcast by NBC. It previously was NBC's flagship news magazine, but now focuses on true crime stories. It airs Friday at 9 p.m. EST and after football season on Sunday at 7 p.m. EST.-History:Dateline is historically notable for...
, helping the program win awards and become the first primetime network newsmagazine to appear several nights a week. Among the stories he helped cover were the Oklahoma City bombing, the ColumbineColumbine High School massacreThe Columbine High School massacre occurred on Tuesday, April 20, 1999, at Columbine High School in Columbine, an unincorporated area of Jefferson County, Colorado, United States, near Denver and Littleton. Two senior students, Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold, embarked on a massacre, killing 12...
tragedy and the terrorist attacks on September 11September 11, 2001 attacksThe September 11 attacks The September 11 attacks The September 11 attacks (also referred to as September 11, September 11th or 9/119/11 is pronounced "nine eleven". The slash is not part of the pronunciation...
. He was executive producer of several acclaimed news specials, including reports on corporate layoffs in America, migrant farm workers and welfare reform. Shapiro began his career in broadcast journalism at ABC NewsABC NewsABC News is the news gathering and broadcasting division of American broadcast television network ABC, a subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company...
, where he served in various producer capacities and earned a George Polk AwardGeorge Polk AwardsThe George Polk Awards in Journalism are a series of American journalism awards presented annually by Long Island University in New York in the United States.-History:...
, two Emmy awardsEmmy AwardAn Emmy Award, often referred to simply as the Emmy, is a television production award, similar in nature to the Peabody Awards but more focused on entertainment, and is considered the television equivalent to the Academy Awards and the Grammy Awards .A majority of Emmys are presented in various...
and an Investigative Reporters and EditorsInvestigative Reporters and EditorsInvestigative Reporters and Editors, Inc. is a nonprofit organization that focuses on the quality of investigative reporting. Formed in 1975, it presents the IRE Awards and holds conferences and training classes for journalists. Its headquarters is in Columbia, Missouri, at the University of...
award. - Jo-Carol Block Davidson, '74: singer, songwriter and stage performer in the San Francisco area, prominent neighborhood activist and civic leader. Davidson worked to preserve local parks, most notably San Francisco’s Cayuga ParkCayuga ParkCayuga Park is a small park and playground in San Francisco, located at the edge of the Cayuga Terrace neighborhood. The history, location and aesthetics of the park make it unique among the parks of San Francisco....
, and woked to raise awareness of AIDSAIDSAcquired immune deficiency syndrome or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome is a disease of the human immune system caused by the human immunodeficiency virus...
and funds to seek a cure. When she died suddenly in 2003, the California State AssemblyCalifornia State AssemblyThe California State Assembly is the lower house of the California State Legislature. There are 80 members in the Assembly, representing an approximately equal number of constituents, with each district having a population of at least 420,000...
issued a proclamation honoring her humanitarian and civic work and service to the arts.
2006 Inductees
- Eva Marie SaintEva Marie SaintEva Marie Saint is an American actress who has starred in films, on Broadway, and on television in a career spanning seven decades. She won an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her performance in the drama film On the Waterfront , and later starred in the thriller film North by...
'42 - Academy Award-winning actress who played graceful leading ladies in many films starting in the 1950s. She won an Oscar for Best Supporting Actress for her role in On the WaterfrontOn the WaterfrontOn the Waterfront is a 1954 American drama film about union violence and corruption among longshoremen. The film was directed by Elia Kazan and written by Budd Schulberg. It stars Marlon Brando, Rod Steiger, Eva Marie Saint, Lee J. Cobb and Karl Malden. The soundtrack score was composed by Leonard...
(1954) and is best known for her roles in A Hatful of RainA Hatful of RainA Hatful of Rain is a 1957 dramatic film. The movie was a rarity for its time in its frank depiction of the effect of drug addiction.It is a medically and sociologically accurate account of the effects of morphine on an addict and his family ....
(1957), North by NorthwestNorth by NorthwestNorth by Northwest is a 1959 American thriller film directed by Alfred Hitchcock, starring Cary Grant, Eva Marie Saint and James Mason, and featuring Leo G. Carroll and Martin Landau...
(1959) and ExodusExodus (film)Exodus is a 1960 epic war film made by Alpha and Carlyle Productions and distributed by United Artists. Produced and directed by Otto Preminger, the film was based on the 1958 novel Exodus, by Leon Uris. The screenplay was written by Dalton Trumbo, which represented the breaking of the Hollywood...
(1957). Saint also appeared in several made-for-TV movies and won an EmmyEmmy AwardAn Emmy Award, often referred to simply as the Emmy, is a television production award, similar in nature to the Peabody Awards but more focused on entertainment, and is considered the television equivalent to the Academy Awards and the Grammy Awards .A majority of Emmys are presented in various...
in 1990 for her role in the miniseries “People Like Us.” Most recently played the role of Superman'sSupermanSuperman is a fictional comic book superhero appearing in publications by DC Comics, widely considered to be an American cultural icon. Created by American writer Jerry Siegel and Canadian-born American artist Joe Shuster in 1932 while both were living in Cleveland, Ohio, and sold to Detective...
mother in the film Superman ReturnsSuperman ReturnsSuperman Returns is a 2006 superhero film directed by Bryan Singer. It is the fifth and final installment in the original Superman film series and serves as a alternate sequel to Superman and Superman II by ignoring the events of Superman III and Superman IV: The Quest for Peace .The film stars...
. She also has two stars on the Hollywood Walk of FameHollywood Walk of FameThe Hollywood Walk of Fame consists of more than 2,400 five-pointed terrazzo and brass stars embedded in the sidewalks along fifteen blocks of Hollywood Boulevard and three blocks of Vine Street in Hollywood, California...
. Saint is also involved in charities such as the Epilepsy Foundation, and she and her husband offer an annual award to future filmmakers. - Joseph Cannizzaro '72 - a New York State Supreme Court Justice, graduated from Albany Law SchoolAlbany Law SchoolAlbany Law School is an ABA accredited law school based in Albany, New York. It was founded in 1851 by Amos Dean , Amasa Parker, Ira Harris and others....
in 1982 and spent his career as an assistant public defender, a private practice attorney and a principal law clerk. In 2000, he was elected to the New York State Supreme Court. Cannizzaro was active in his community as a little league team sponsor, a religious education instructor and a member of the Albany City School’s PTA and The Parents Association at LaSalle Institute. Cannizzaro died in 2005. - Dr. Richard JadickRichard JadickRichard H. Jadick, D.O. is an American Naval surgeon who was awarded the Bronze Star with “Combat V” device for heroic valor in January 2006. He was credited with saving the lives of 30 Marines and sailors during the Second Battle of Fallujah. Jadick was a lieutenant commander in the U.S...
'83 - an osteopathic physician, completed a combat tour of duty in Iraq during 2004 and 2005 as a lieutenant commander in the U.S. Navy ReserveUnited States Navy ReserveThe United States Navy Reserve, until 2005 known as the United States Naval Reserve, is the Reserve Component of the United States Navy...
, assigned as a battalion surgeon to the First Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division from Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. Jadick is credited with saving the lives of more than 30 Marines who were wounded during combat in Falluja, IraqIraqIraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....
. In January 2006, he was awarded the Bronze StarBronze Star MedalThe Bronze Star Medal is a United States Armed Forces individual military decoration that may be awarded for bravery, acts of merit, or meritorious service. As a medal it is awarded for merit, and with the "V" for valor device it is awarded for heroism. It is the fourth-highest combat award of the...
with “Combat V”Valor deviceThe Valor device is an award of the United States military which is a bronze attachment to certain medals to indicate that it was received for valor...
device for heroic valor. He was profiled in a cover story in NewsweekNewsweekNewsweek is an American weekly news magazine published in New York City. It is distributed throughout the United States and internationally. It is the second-largest news weekly magazine in the U.S., having trailed Time in circulation and advertising revenue for most of its existence...
magazine. Before attending medical school, Jadick was a captain in the U.S. Marine CorpsUnited States Marine CorpsThe United States Marine Corps is a branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for providing power projection from the sea, using the mobility of the United States Navy to deliver combined-arms task forces rapidly. It is one of seven uniformed services of the United States...
.
Current events
In 2006, the school forbade students to wear hats, hoods, bandannas, and handkerchiefs, saying that these can be gangGang
A gang is a group of people who, through the organization, formation, and establishment of an assemblage, share a common identity. In current usage it typically denotes a criminal organization or else a criminal affiliation. In early usage, the word gang referred to a group of workmen...
symbols. This policy was met with considerable student protest, culminating in a petition that accumulated more than 1000 signatures in one day. The issue drew coverage in the Times Union and local television news formats.
The school's construction project is complete after several months of construction. Several additions have been added by contractor Sano-Rubin Construction Services. A gym
Gym
The word γυμνάσιον was used in Ancient Greece, that mean a locality for both physical and intellectual education of young men...
nasium and gate station have been added. Also several wings on the second and first floors and three science labs have been added. As well, they have moved the Pupil Personnel Services, expanded the Counseling Center, expanded and moved art rooms, expanded the cafeteria, and moved the fitness center.
The school's Science Bowl
Science Bowl
Science Bowl is a high school and middle school academic competition, similar to Quiz Bowl, held in the United States. Two teams of four students each compete to answer various science-related questions. In order to determine which student has the right to answer the question, a buzzer system is...
team finished first in their regional competition in the 2005-06, 2008–09, and 2009-10 school years, earning them trips to the national competition in Washington, DC.
Bethlehem High School has produced excellent Masterminds
Masterminds (Quiz Bowl)
MasterMinds is an academic Quiz Bowl Public-access television program active in Upstate New York. There are currently four regions multiple sets of leagues for the different areas of New York State: the Albany Leagues, Buffalo Leagues, Rochester Leagues, and the recent additions of the Syracuse...
teams that have won several championships in their league. The Bethlehem Masterminds team recently won the state 2010 Masterminds tournament, becoming state Section II champions.
Athletics
Bethlehem Central believes that sports foster education, and supports more than 20 sports across three seasons. The district belongs to the New York State Athletic Association and competes as a Class AA school in Section II. BC's league affiliation is with the Suburban Scholastic Council, in which it competes in the gold division.The Eagles compete in the following sports:
On June 20, 2006, funds for Ice Hockey, Cheerleading, and Gymnastics were cut from the budget. Supporters held multiple fund raisers the teams, allowing all of them to play their sports by the season. The 2007 budget restored funding for these teams.
In 2006, the boys' soccer team made the Final 4 in the state championship. Four members of the girls' swim team made the state championship as well, placing 3rd in the 200-yard Medley Relay. That same year's boys' 200 freestyle relay was ranked 2nd in New York State and named All American.
The boys' Indoor and Outdoor Track teams are recognized as one of the best in the suburban council. In 2010, the boys Indoor Track team sent five athletes to the Nike Indoor Nationals in Boston.
Lab School
Founded by James Nehring in 1992, the Lab School of Bethlehem Central High School was headed by Jane King until the 2005-06 school year, when she chose to take a job in Clifton Park, NY overseeing the creation of a biomedical curriculum. Its current head is Stephen Smith, who also oversees the school's newspaper, The Talon.The Lab School is a school-within-a-school and has a total of around 111 students in all four grades (9-12). It is focused more on hands-on projects and has an overall passing average of an 80 or above per year, instead of the regular 65. Students also participate in an internship their senior year. This internship must meet various guidelines as set forth by the school in order to meet various educational requirements. Throughout this internship, the participating student must keep a journal of their hours and experiences and hand it in at the end of the year for a grade.
Each year, there are several field trips that the Lab School takes. These include several trips to the Capital Repertory Theater in Albany, NY, the YMCA Camp Chingachgook and the YMCA Silver Bay Camp (both in the Adirondack Mountains
Adirondack Mountains
The Adirondack Mountains are a mountain range located in the northeastern part of New York, that runs through Clinton, Essex, Franklin, Fulton, Hamilton, Herkimer, Lewis, Saint Lawrence, Saratoga, Warren, and Washington counties....
). Each Spring there is an educational trip taken to either Williamsburg
Williamsburg, Virginia
Williamsburg is an independent city located on the Virginia Peninsula in the Hampton Roads metropolitan area of Virginia, USA. As of the 2010 Census, the city had an estimated population of 14,068. It is bordered by James City County and York County, and is an independent city...
, VA, Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
, Boston
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
, or Philadelphia. Every two years, the Juniors and Seniors take a week long trip to the Florida Keys
Florida Keys
The Florida Keys are a coral archipelago in southeast United States. They begin at the southeastern tip of the Florida peninsula, about south of Miami, and extend in a gentle arc south-southwest and then westward to Key West, the westernmost of the inhabited islands, and on to the uninhabited Dry...
for a marine biology experience.