Cardinal Spellman High School (New York City)
Encyclopedia
Cardinal Spellman High School is a Catholic
diocesan
high school
located in the New York City
borough of the Bronx
. It is named after Cardinal
Francis Spellman, the sixth archbishop
of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New York
.
In September 1959, the newly created Cardinal Spellman High School opened in temporary quarters (formerly, the Biograph Motion Picture Studios
of Thomas Alva Edison) on Marmion Avenue in the Bronx. Its permanent location on Baychester Avenue, between Boston Road
and East 233rd Street, covers thirteen acres (including ball fields, grandstands, running track, and parking lots). The founding principal was the Rev. Msgr. John Breheny, PhD.
Cardinal Spellman personally dedicated the new school facilities on May 27, 1962. Many years later, the name of Needham Avenue, in front of the school, was officially changed by then Bronx Borough President and former alumnus Fernando Ferrer
to Cardinal Spellman Place.
At first the school was co-institutional, with separate classes for boys (staffed by diocesan priests, Brothers of the Christian Schools and laymen) and for girls (staffed by the Sisters of Charity
of Mount St. Vincent and laywomen). Each of the two departments (Boys' and Girls') had its own principal and assistant principal, and (to coordinate) a Principal of the School. In Fall 1971, the co-institutional model was changed to the current co-ed system.
In May 1963, Cardinal Spellman High School was admitted to the University of the State of New York
and thus accredited by the Board of Regents of the State. Accreditation by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools was first announced on December 2, 1965, and was renewed in December, 1975. This accreditation has been renewed regularly in 1977, 1982, 1986, 1997 and most recently in 2008.
Playwright and Oscar winning director
John Patrick Shanley
attended Spellman but did not graduate from there.
Catholic school
Catholic schools are maintained parochial schools or education ministries of the Catholic Church. the Church operates the world's largest non-governmental school system...
diocesan
Diocese
A diocese is the district or see under the supervision of a bishop. It is divided into parishes.An archdiocese is more significant than a diocese. An archdiocese is presided over by an archbishop whose see may have or had importance due to size or historical significance...
high school
High school
High school is a term used in parts of the English speaking world to describe institutions which provide all or part of secondary education. The term is often incorporated into the name of such institutions....
located in the New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
borough of the Bronx
The Bronx
The Bronx is the northernmost of the five boroughs of New York City. It is also known as Bronx County, the last of the 62 counties of New York State to be incorporated...
. It is named after Cardinal
Cardinal (Catholicism)
A cardinal is a senior ecclesiastical official, usually an ordained bishop, and ecclesiastical prince of the Catholic Church. They are collectively known as the College of Cardinals, which as a body elects a new pope. The duties of the cardinals include attending the meetings of the College and...
Francis Spellman, the sixth archbishop
Archbishop
An archbishop is a bishop of higher rank, but not of higher sacramental order above that of the three orders of deacon, priest , and bishop...
of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New York
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New York
The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New York covers New York, Bronx, and Richmond counties in New York City , as well as Dutchess, Orange, Putnam, Rockland, Sullivan, Ulster, and Westchester counties in New York state. There are 480 parishes...
.
In September 1959, the newly created Cardinal Spellman High School opened in temporary quarters (formerly, the Biograph Motion Picture Studios
Biograph Studios
Biograph Studios was a studio facility and film laboratory complex built in 1912 by the Biograph Company, formerly American Mutoscope and Biograph Company, at 807 E. 175th Street, in the Bronx, New York....
of Thomas Alva Edison) on Marmion Avenue in the Bronx. Its permanent location on Baychester Avenue, between Boston Road
U.S. Route 1 in New York
U.S. Route 1 is a part of the U.S. Highway System that runs from Key West, Florida, to the Canada – United States border at Fort Kent, Maine. In the U.S. state of New York, US 1 extends from the George Washington Bridge in Manhattan to the Connecticut state line at Port Chester...
and East 233rd Street, covers thirteen acres (including ball fields, grandstands, running track, and parking lots). The founding principal was the Rev. Msgr. John Breheny, PhD.
Cardinal Spellman personally dedicated the new school facilities on May 27, 1962. Many years later, the name of Needham Avenue, in front of the school, was officially changed by then Bronx Borough President and former alumnus Fernando Ferrer
Fernando Ferrer
Fernando James "Freddy" Ferrer was the Borough President of The Bronx from 1987 to 2001, and was a candidate for Mayor of New York in 2001 and the Democratic Party nominee for Mayor in 2005.- Background :...
to Cardinal Spellman Place.
At first the school was co-institutional, with separate classes for boys (staffed by diocesan priests, Brothers of the Christian Schools and laymen) and for girls (staffed by the Sisters of Charity
Sisters of Charity of New York
The Sisters of Charity of New York is a religious congregation of women in the Catholic Church whose primary missions are education and nursing and who are dedicated in particular to the service of the poor.-History:...
of Mount St. Vincent and laywomen). Each of the two departments (Boys' and Girls') had its own principal and assistant principal, and (to coordinate) a Principal of the School. In Fall 1971, the co-institutional model was changed to the current co-ed system.
In May 1963, Cardinal Spellman High School was admitted to the University of the State of New York
University of the State of New York
The University of the State of New York is the State of New York's governmental umbrella organization responsible for most institutions and people in any way connected with formal educational functions, public and private, in New York State...
and thus accredited by the Board of Regents of the State. Accreditation by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools was first announced on December 2, 1965, and was renewed in December, 1975. This accreditation has been renewed regularly in 1977, 1982, 1986, 1997 and most recently in 2008.
Notable alumni
- Knox CameronKnox CameronKnox Cameron, better known as Knoxy to his friends, is a Jamaican-born American soccer player who currently plays for Michigan Bucks in USL Premier Development League.-College and Amateur:...
, professional soccer, MLS, Columbus Crew - Keith R.A. DeCandido (Class of 1986), Author/Novelist, Star Trek, SupernaturalSupernatural (TV series)Supernatural is an American supernatural and horror television series created by Eric Kripke, which debuted on September 13, 2005 on The WB, and is now part of The CW's lineup. Starring Jared Padalecki as Sam Winchester and Jensen Ackles as Dean Winchester, the series follows the brothers as they...
, FarscapeFarscapeFarscape is an Australian-American science fiction television series filmed in Australia and produced originally for the Nine Network. The series was conceived by Rockne S. O'Bannon and produced by Jim Henson Productions and Hallmark Entertainment... - John M. Fahey, Jr.John M. Fahey, Jr.John M. Fahey, Jr. became the President and Chief Executive Officer of the National Geographic Society in 1998, succeeding Reg Murphy. Fahey also serves as a member of the Board of Trustees, as well as Chairman of its executive committee....
, President and CEO of National Geographic Society - Fernando FerrerFernando FerrerFernando James "Freddy" Ferrer was the Borough President of The Bronx from 1987 to 2001, and was a candidate for Mayor of New York in 2001 and the Democratic Party nominee for Mayor in 2005.- Background :...
, former Bronx Borough President. - Tomiko FraserTomiko FraserTomiko Fraser is an American fashion model and actress. She is best known for being the face of Maybelline as well as her role in the 2001 movie Head over Heels. She is also known for her involvement in Lupus erythematosus awareness....
, model and actress - Nakia D. JohnsonNakia D. JohnsonNakia D. Johnson is an American author who specializes in African-American literature. She is the author of the novel Uptempo. An alum of Cardinal Spellman High School and Manhattan College, where she earned a Bachelors of Science in management, Johnson presently resides in New York City where she...
, novelist - General Arthur LichteArthur LichteArthur James Lichte was a four-star general in the United States Air Force. His last military assignment was as the commander of Air Mobility Command based in Scott Air Force Base, Illinois from September 2007 to November 20, 2009. Air Mobility Command's mission is to provide rapid, global...
, Commander, Air Mobility Command, United States Air Force - Orio PalmerOrio PalmerOrio Joseph Palmer was a Battalion Chief of the New York City Fire Department who died while rescuing occupants of the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001...
, (class of 1974) Battalion Chief of the New York Fire Department who died while rescuing occupants of the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001 - Angelo ParraAngelo ParraAngelo Parra is an American playwright. He was born in Manhattan and grew up in the Bronx, New York City. After graduating from Fordham University, his career included work as a reporter/photographer, public relations professional, politician, free-lance writer, and PR and journalism teacher at...
, (class of 1967) award-winning playwright and educator - Carolyn PorcoCarolyn PorcoCarolyn C. Porco is an American planetary scientist known for her work in the exploration of the outer solar system, beginning with her imaging work on the Voyager missions to Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune in the 1980s. She leads the imaging science team on the Cassini mission currently in...
, (class of 1970) planetary scientist - John E. PotterJohn E. PotterJohn E. "Jack" Potter is the current President and CEO of the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority since July 18, 2011. He is the former United States Postmaster General and CEO of the United States Postal Service , having become the 72nd Postmaster General on June 1, 2001.-Early postal...
, (class of 1973) former Postmaster General of the United States and current President and CEO of the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority - Sonia SotomayorSonia SotomayorSonia Maria Sotomayor is an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States, serving since August 2009. Sotomayor is the Court's 111th justice, its first Hispanic justice, and its third female justice....
, (class of 1972) Associate JusticeAssociate JusticeAssociate Justice or Associate Judge is the title for a member of a judicial panel who is not the Chief Justice in some jurisdictions. The title "Associate Justice" is used for members of the United States Supreme Court and some state supreme courts, and for some other courts in Commonwealth...
of the Supreme Court of the United StatesSupreme Court of the United StatesThe Supreme Court of the United States is the highest court in the United States. It has ultimate appellate jurisdiction over all state and federal courts, and original jurisdiction over a small range of cases...
.
Playwright and Oscar winning director
Film director
A film director is a person who directs the actors and film crew in filmmaking. They control a film's artistic and dramatic nathan roach, while guiding the technical crew and actors.-Responsibilities:...
John Patrick Shanley
John Patrick Shanley
John Patrick Shanley is an American playwright, screenwriter, and director. He also contributed articles on the performing arts to The New York Times among other publications.-Life and career:...
attended Spellman but did not graduate from there.