Wahlert High School

Wahlert Catholic High School
Address
2005 Kane Street Dubuque, Iowa, (Dubuque County), 52001-0538  United States
Coordinates	42°31′8″N 90°42′17″W / 42.51889°N 90.70472°W / 42.51889; -90.70472Coordinates: 42°31′8″N 90°42′17″W / 42.51889°N 90.70472°W / 42.51889; -90.70472
Information
Type	Private, Coeducational
Religious affiliation(s)	Roman Catholic
Established	1959
School district	Holy Family Catholic Schools
Oversight	Archdiocese of Dubuque
Principal	Ronald Meyers
Asst. Principal	Cynthia Wagner
Grades	9–12
Enrollment	526[1]  (2007-2008)
Campus	Suburban
Color(s)	Royal Blue, Gold and White
Slogan	Preparing Children for Life's Journey
Athletics conference	Mississippi Valley Conference
Team name	Golden Eagles
Newspaper	"The Gleaner"
Yearbook	'Harvest'
Athletic Director	Tom English
Website	http://www.holyfamilydbq.org

Wahlert Catholic High School is a private, co-educational, Roman Catholic high school in the city of Dubuque, Iowa. It is one of four high schools in Dubuque, the others being Central Alternative High School, Hempstead High School and Dubuque Senior High School. Wahlert is the central Catholic high school for the city of Dubuque and the surrounding area. It is the second largest Catholic high school in the Archdiocese of Dubuque after Cedar Rapids Xavier High School.

Currently the school houses grades 9 through 12 in the original Wahlert building, plus grades 6-8 in the newly constructed Mazzuchelli Middle School (named after the pioneer priest Samuel Charles Mazzuchelli), which is located in a separate building just west of Wahlert. Both schools are part of the Holy Family School System.

History

During a meeting on June 17, 1955, Archbishop Leo Binz and the pastors of the Dubuque Catholic parishes came to the conclusion that new high school facilities were needed to replace the existing buildings. These facilities were deteriorating, and also would not meet the demands of the post-World War II baby boom. As a result, it was decided to build a new central high school. In July, another meeting was held to determine a location for the new school. Harry Wahlert, who owned the Dubuque Packing Company, donated $250,000 towards the construction of the school. Area parishes were also asked to contribute to the funding. The total cost of construction was approximately $3,250,000.

A parcel across from the intersection of Kane and Chaney Streets near the west end of Dubuque was selected as the site for the school. When construction was finished, it measured over 222,000 square feet (20,600 m²). In February 1959, the Archdiocese announced that the new school would be named in honor of Harry Wahlert. In August the school was officially opened, and the first classes began in September.

In 2005, construction commenced on the Mazzuchelli expansion, which utilized the west wing of Wahlert and a new addition next to the school. This facility opened in 2006, and now serves as the central middle school for all Dubuque residents in the Holy Family Catholic Schools.

Wahlert was the center of some controversy in 2007 when it was announced that all students must sign a waiver allowing them to be breathalysed in order to attend school dances. Nevertheless, this policy still continues.^[2]

Campus

Wahlert High School is located at 2005 Kane Street on the East Side of Dubuque, Iowa. The campus is 50 acres (200,000 m²) in size, with its main entrance near the corner of Kane Street and Chaney Road. The three-story building and its grounds accommodate a chapel, running track, tennis courts, soccer field, and baseball field. The Wahlert portion of the campus occupies the eastern wings of the main building, while Mazzuchelli Middle School occupies the far western wing.

Students

In the 2006-2007 school year, Wahlert enrolled 600 students. Of those, 571 (95.2%) were White, (.5%) were Black, 19 (3.2%) were Asian, and 1 (.2%) was American Indian. 6 (1.0%) students were Hispanic, and may be of any race. Additionally, 312 (52.0%) were male, and 288 (48%) were female.^[3]

Athletics

Wahlert High School offers opportunities for participation in 19 interscholastic athletic activities. Many of these sports include freshman, sophomore, and junior varsity levels of competition. Sports currently offered to boys include football, cross country, basketball, wrestling, bowling, golf, tennis, track, soccer, baseball, and swimming (co-op with Dubuque Community Schools). Sports offered to girls include crosscountry, swimming, volleyball, basketball, bowling, golf, tennis, soccer, and softball. Wahlert's varsity athletic teams compete in the Mississippi Valley Conference.

Wahlert is noted for its strong athletic programs. The girls' volleyball team has won 14 state championships and has been the runner-up several times. Many of Wahlert's state titles were won in consecutive years. The school also boasts a recently-strong basketball program. Wahlert has produced many strong running teams in both men's and women's Track and Cross Country. The women's cross country program, under Cynthia Wagner, won the 3A state title in 2009, 2010 and 2011; the men also won the 3A state title under Tom Horton in 2003, 2004 and 2010. Men’s and Women’s soccer teams are annually ranked in the state, with the women earning four state titles and the men winning in 2008. Men's tennis teams have won the longest run of titles in state history (6): 2004 through 2009. In 2010, Men's bowling won the first-ever state title for 1A.

Notable alumni

• Kevin Kunnert - NBA
• Gary Suter - NHL Rookie of the Year
• Sara Taylor - Former Director of Political Affairs in the George W. Bush White House
• Dr. Kenneth M. Quinn - Former U.S. Ambassador to the Kingdom of Cambodia.
• Kate Mulgrew - Actress

See also

• Holy Family Catholic Schools
• Dubuque, Iowa
• List of high schools in Iowa

References

1. ^ "Iowa Nonpublic School Enrollments 2007-2008". http://www.iowa.gov/educate/index2.php?option=com_docman&task=doc_view&gid=4511&Itemid=774. Retrieved January 24, 2008. 
2. ^ "Wahlert Students to Take Sobriety Test". http://www.kcrg.com/news/local/7107541.html. Retrieved June 30, 2008. 
3. ^ "Iowa Nonpublic School Enrollments 2006-2007". Archived from the original on September 28, 2007. http://web.archive.org/web/20070928014249/http://www.iowa.gov/educate/component/option,com_docman/task,doc_view/gid,3297/Itemid,55/. Retrieved April 15, 2007. 

External links

• Holy Family Catholic Schools Website