Moore Catholic High School
Encyclopedia
Moore Catholic High School is a private, religious school on Staten Island, New York. It was founded by the archdiocese and the Presentation Sisters
of Staten Island in September 1962, under the name Countess Moore High School. It was named for Mary Young Moore, a beneficiary to the Archdiocese of New York, and was originally an all-girl school, one of several all girl Catholic schools on Staten Island
at the time, but the first archdiocese high school for girls on Staten Island. It opened up to co-ed admission in September 1969. From 1973 to 1982, Thomas J. Bergin was the principal of the school. In October 1978, the name was changed to Moore Catholic High School.
Currently, the school has about 1000 students enrolled. Over 1000 applications are received each year, of which about 300 are accepted. The school has a partnership with St. John's University
, a local Catholic
college. Students from St. John's tutor many of the students at Moore through the Liberty Partnership Program.
The school is also home to an accredited Driver Ed program. Moore also offers the DMV approved 8 hour National Safety Council
Defensive Driving Class to all in the community.
In 2005, the school instituted a program called Presentation Scholars Academy, which is a specialized class for specially gifted students. The students are taught in a non-traditional setting, and are challenged on an accelerated level. The name Presentation Honors Academy's name has just recently been changed to the Presentation Scholars Academy during the summer of 2006.
The Institute offers four fields of study: Band, Dance, Drama and Voice. These courses are incorporated into the student's schedule and meet on a daily basis. Each concentration is designed to immerse the students in all aspects of their field of study.
Upon acceptance to Moore Catholic High School, all students are eligible to audition for the Performing Arts Program. Students with a varied theatrical background need only to audition in the area of greatest strength; however, students can audition for more than one major.
Moore Catholic High school has an amazing and intense dance program. Performing Arts is definitely a successful and wonderful part of Moore Catholic.
Another annual event at Moore Catholic is Senior Costume Day. Every Halloween (or the Friday before if the holiday falls on a weekend) the school's senior class gets to wear costumes. Many of the teachers also get into the spirit of things by wearing costumes themselves. Every September of a new school year, the school holds its Freshman Field Day. The school hires a DJ and several rides for the freshman as well as buying them pizza and soda.
Moore Catholic has many sports and recreation options open to students. As of 2010, Moore offers basketball, football, baseball, softball, girls' soccer, indoor soccer, cheerleading, bowling, golf, and track and field.
Moore Catholic's faculty consists of a very intelligent, friendly, and diverse group of teachers. These teachers guide and support the students through their four years at Moore.
Presentation Sisters
The Presentation Sisters, also known as the Sisters of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary are an order of Roman Catholic women founded in Cork, Ireland by Nano Nagle in 1775....
of Staten Island in September 1962, under the name Countess Moore High School. It was named for Mary Young Moore, a beneficiary to the Archdiocese of New York, and was originally an all-girl school, one of several all girl Catholic schools on Staten Island
Staten Island
Staten Island is a borough of New York City, New York, United States, located in the southwest part of the city. Staten Island is separated from New Jersey by the Arthur Kill and the Kill Van Kull, and from the rest of New York by New York Bay...
at the time, but the first archdiocese high school for girls on Staten Island. It opened up to co-ed admission in September 1969. From 1973 to 1982, Thomas J. Bergin was the principal of the school. In October 1978, the name was changed to Moore Catholic High School.
Currently, the school has about 1000 students enrolled. Over 1000 applications are received each year, of which about 300 are accepted. The school has a partnership with St. John's University
St. John's University (New York City)
St. John's University is a private, Roman Catholic, coeducational university located in New York City, United States. Founded by the Congregation of the Mission in 1870, the school was originally located in the borough of Brooklyn in the neighborhood of Bedford–Stuyvesant...
, a local Catholic
Catholic
The word catholic comes from the Greek phrase , meaning "on the whole," "according to the whole" or "in general", and is a combination of the Greek words meaning "about" and meaning "whole"...
college. Students from St. John's tutor many of the students at Moore through the Liberty Partnership Program.
The school is also home to an accredited Driver Ed program. Moore also offers the DMV approved 8 hour National Safety Council
Defensive Driving Class to all in the community.
Enrollment
The first class contained only 127 girls, but the school now holds around 500 to 600 students Roughly 60% of the student body is female. The student body is split into regular students and SIP (Scholars Incentive Program) students. SIP students take accelerated and more comprehensive classes, and have to maintain a strict GPA.In 2005, the school instituted a program called Presentation Scholars Academy, which is a specialized class for specially gifted students. The students are taught in a non-traditional setting, and are challenged on an accelerated level. The name Presentation Honors Academy's name has just recently been changed to the Presentation Scholars Academy during the summer of 2006.
Performing arts
Since its inception in 1997, the Institute of Performing Arts continues to be an innovative, in-class, artistic program. Its vision for the future is to expand, enrich and consistently flourish in co-curricular as well as extracurricular offerings. The Institute remains proud of the fact that it is the first Catholic High School in the area to offer such a program.The Institute offers four fields of study: Band, Dance, Drama and Voice. These courses are incorporated into the student's schedule and meet on a daily basis. Each concentration is designed to immerse the students in all aspects of their field of study.
Upon acceptance to Moore Catholic High School, all students are eligible to audition for the Performing Arts Program. Students with a varied theatrical background need only to audition in the area of greatest strength; however, students can audition for more than one major.
Moore Catholic High school has an amazing and intense dance program. Performing Arts is definitely a successful and wonderful part of Moore Catholic.
Clubs
The school has many clubs open to students. As of 2006 the school's clubs include The Megadance Committee, The Language Club, National Honor Society, After School Dance, Chorus, Chamber Ensemble, Hip-hop Dance Team, Student Council, The Chess Team, Teaching the Christian Message, The Respect Life Club, Yearbook, Video Yearbook, Interact Club, and The Art ClubElectives
Senior Electives: C++ computer programming, Web page design, Wars of the 20th century, Sociology, Psychology, Audio and Recording Technologies. Several college level math courses, AP Calculus, AP English, AP US History, Honors Anatomy & AP BiologyEvents
The school also has several yearly events. In November 2005, the school held a Battle of the Bands contest to raise money for victims of Hurricane Katrina. Battle of the Bands was put together by students who graduated in June 2006. Due to its success the school said it will become an annual event.Another annual event at Moore Catholic is Senior Costume Day. Every Halloween (or the Friday before if the holiday falls on a weekend) the school's senior class gets to wear costumes. Many of the teachers also get into the spirit of things by wearing costumes themselves. Every September of a new school year, the school holds its Freshman Field Day. The school hires a DJ and several rides for the freshman as well as buying them pizza and soda.
Athletics
The school has received much attention for its sports programs. The varsity football program has become very successful since its beginning, winning several championships and awards. Despite recent struggles, the program is now in the stages of "rebuilding".Moore Catholic has many sports and recreation options open to students. As of 2010, Moore offers basketball, football, baseball, softball, girls' soccer, indoor soccer, cheerleading, bowling, golf, and track and field.
Faculty
The school originally contained a convent on the grounds. The sisters and nuns who lived there also worked at the school as teachers and administrators. Over the years, fewer religious personnel were assigned to the school, and the administrators began hiring lay teachers.Moore Catholic's faculty consists of a very intelligent, friendly, and diverse group of teachers. These teachers guide and support the students through their four years at Moore.
Notable alumni
- Yancey AriasYancey AriasYancey Arias is an American actor, perhaps most noted for his work on television crime dramas, particularly his roles as Miguel Cadena in the NBC series Kingpin and as Gabriel Williams in the FX series Thief.-Life and career:...
, actor - Kathy BrierKathy BrierKathy Brier is an American actress and singer.-Early life:Brier grew up on Staten Island, where she attended Moore Catholic High School before studying theatre and business at Wagner College, qualifying for a Bachelor of Science in arts administration.-Career:Brier played the role of Marcie Walsh...
, actress - '90 Jennifer EspositoJennifer EspositoJennifer Esposito is an American actress, dancer and model, known for her appearances in films such as I Still Know What You Did Last Summer, Summer of Sam and Crash and in television series such as Spin City, The Looney Tunes Show and Samantha Who?.-Early life:Esposito, an Italian-American, was...
, actress, dancer - Vidal HazeltonVidal HazeltonVidal Hazelton is an American Football wide receiver who is currently a free agent. He was signed by the San Diego Chargers as an undrafted free agent in 2011. He played college football at Cincinnati...
, football wide receiver - Kyle McAlarney, Notre Dame basketball guard