Garces Memorial High School
Encyclopedia
Garces Memorial High School, commonly shortened to Garces High School, is a Catholic high school
in Bakersfield, California
.
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.
Seeing as Garces Memorial High School is a private institution, fund-raising is important for funding current and future activities; the Garces Formal and Casual Galas make up a major part of its efforts. With help from the students, parents, alumni and the Garces community, numerous items are donated and auctioned off at these events.
The Garces curriculum 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 Computer Programming, Art, Theatre, Journalism, Year Book, Psychology, and others.
The Garces sports teams, nicknamed the Rams, compete in CIF Central Section Division III
. Coached by David Fanucchi, the Garces Rams football team recently won the Valley Championship (2006). Garces also holds the Valley Championship in girl's volleyball (2007) and both girls and boys basketball teams (2008). Also, in boys and girls swimming (2007). The school has 106 valley championships, ranking it fourth all-time in the Central Section CIF.
Clubs and activities include speech and debate, mock trial, the theater company, Key Club
, and others.
Garces Memorial High School celebrated its 60th anniversary in 2007.
On June 14, 2008, Principal Robert Garcia died from pneumonia at age 58, three years into his tenure.
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....
in Bakersfield, California
Bakersfield, California
Bakersfield is a city near the southern end of the San Joaquin Valley in Kern County, California. It is roughly equidistant between Fresno and Los Angeles, to the north and south respectively....
.
Founded in 1947, the school is named after Father Francisco Garcés
Francisco Garcés
Francisco Hermenegildo Tomás Garcés was a Spanish Franciscan missionary who explored much of the southwestern part of North America, including what are now Arizona, southern California, and northeastern Baja California. Garcés was born April 12, 1738, in Morata de Jalón , Zaragoza province,...
, a Spanish Franciscan
Franciscan
Most Franciscans are members of Roman Catholic religious orders founded by Saint Francis of Assisi. Besides Roman Catholic communities, there are also Old Catholic, Anglican, Lutheran, ecumenical and Non-denominational Franciscan communities....
friar and missionary who explored much of the southwestern part of North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
, 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
Kern River
The Kern River is a river in the U.S. state of California, approximately long. It drains an area of the southern Sierra Nevada mountains northeast of Bakersfield. Fed by snowmelt near Mount Whitney, the river passes through scenic canyons in the mountains and is a popular destination for...
. This site overlooks central Bakersfield atop a bluff that was once the delta of the Kern River.
In the early years, the Dominican
Dominican Order
The Order of Preachers , after the 15th century more commonly known as the Dominican Order or Dominicans, is a Catholic religious order founded by Saint Dominic and approved by Pope Honorius III on 22 December 1216 in France...
Sisters' Congregation of St. Thomas Aquinas taught the girls and handled the school's administration and the Brothers of the Christian Schools
Institute of the Brothers of the Christian Schools
The Institute of the Brothers of the Christian Schools is a Roman Catholic religious teaching congregation, founded in France by Saint Jean-Baptiste de la Salle and now based in Rome...
(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
Roman Catholic Diocese of Fresno
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Fresno is a particular church of the Latin Rite of the Roman Catholic Church in the western region of the United States, in the State of California. It is a suffragan diocese of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles...
, who also oversees Garces' main rival, San Joaquin Memorial High School
San Joaquin Memorial High School
San Joaquin Memorial High School is a private Catholic high school located in Fresno, California. Founded in 1945, it is the only Catholic high school located in the greater Fresno area. It is located in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Fresno with a current enrollment of about 620 students...
of Fresno.
Seeing as Garces Memorial High School is a private institution, fund-raising is important for funding current and future activities; the Garces Formal and Casual Galas make up a major part of its efforts. With help from the students, parents, alumni and the Garces community, numerous items are donated and auctioned off at these events.
The Garces curriculum offers college prep, honors
Honors course
Honors course is a distinction applied in the United States to certain classes to distinguish them from standard course offerings. The difference between a regular class and the honors class is not necessarily the amount of work, but the type of work required and the pace of studying...
, and Advanced Placement
Advanced Placement Program
The Advanced Placement program is a curriculum in the United States and Canada sponsored by the College Board which offers standardized courses to high school students that are generally recognized to be equivalent to undergraduate courses in college...
(AP) courses in many subjects. As a Catholic institution, the high school requires theology classes for all four years. Electives include Computer Programming, Art, Theatre, Journalism, Year Book, Psychology, and others.
The Garces sports teams, nicknamed the Rams, compete in CIF Central Section Division III
California Interscholastic Federation
The California Interscholastic Federation is the governing body for high school sports in the state of California. It mirrors similar governing bodies in other states; however, it differs from some of the others in that it covers most high schools in the state of California, both public and...
. Coached by David Fanucchi, the Garces Rams football team recently won the Valley Championship (2006). Garces also holds the Valley Championship in girl's volleyball (2007) and both girls and boys basketball teams (2008). Also, in boys and girls swimming (2007). The school has 106 valley championships, ranking it fourth all-time in the Central Section CIF.
Clubs and activities include speech and debate, mock trial, the theater company, Key Club
Key Club
Key Club International is the oldest and largest service program for high school students. It is a student-led organization whose goal is to teach leadership through serving others. Key Club International is a part of the Kiwanis International family of service-leadership programs...
, and others.
Garces Memorial High School celebrated its 60th anniversary in 2007.
On June 14, 2008, Principal Robert Garcia died from pneumonia at age 58, three years into his tenure.
Notable alumni
- Mike ArieyMike ArieyMike Ariey is a former offensive tackle in the National Football League.-Biography:Ariey was born Michael August Ariey on March 12, 1964 in Bakersfield, California. He currently owns a catering company.-Playing career:...
, former Green Bay PackersGreen Bay PackersThe Green Bay Packers are an American football team based in Green Bay, Wisconsin. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Packers are the current NFL champions...
' lineman - Gerald HaslamGerald HaslamGerald William Haslam is the author credited with having created an awareness of "the other California" , the state's untrendy small town and rural reaches...
, author - Bob McCaffreyBob McCaffreyRobert Alan McCaffrey is a retired National Football League center who had a notable career while a student athlete on the University of Southern California Trojans football team.-Professional career:...
, former Green Bay Packers' centerCenter (American football)Center is a position in American football and Canadian football . The center is the innermost lineman of the offensive line on a football team's offense... - Greg RobinsonGreg Robinson-External links:**-References:...
, defensive coordinator, MichiganUniversity of MichiganThe University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...
; former head coach, Syracuse; former two-time Super Bowl-winning defensive coordinator of Denver BroncosDenver BroncosThe Denver Broncos are a professional American football team based in Denver, Colorado. They are currently members of the West Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League... - Ken RuettgersKen RuettgersKenneth Ruettgers is a former National Football League offensive lineman who played for the Green Bay Packers from 1985 to 1996.-High school career:...
, former Green Bay Packers' lineman - Robert SwiftRobert SwiftRobert Swift is an American professional basketball player, currently playing for Tokyo Apache...
, former centerCenter (basketball)The center, colloquially known as the five or the post, is one of the standard positions in a regulation basketball game. The center is normally the tallest player on the team, and often has a great deal of strength and body mass as well...
for the Oklahoma City ThunderOklahoma City ThunderThe Oklahoma City Thunder are a professional basketball franchise based in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. They play in the Northwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association ; their home court is at Chesapeake Energy Arena....
, first gained the attention of NBA scouts at Garces before transferring before his Junior year. During his time the Rams the men's basketball team broke into the USA TodayUSA TodayUSA Today is a national American daily newspaper published by the Gannett Company. It was founded by Al Neuharth. The newspaper vies with The Wall Street Journal for the position of having the widest circulation of any newspaper in the United States, something it previously held since 2003...
top-25 high school basketball team rankings for the first time.