Cardinal Newman High School (West Palm Beach, Florida)

Cardinal Newman High School, also commonly referred to as Cardinal Newman or simply Newman, is a Catholic coeducational secondary school located in West Palm Beach Florida, USA. It is located in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Palm Beach. Founded in September of 1961, and named for the Cardinal John Henry Newman, it is one of two Catholic high schools in Palm Beach County, Florida. In 2005, Cardinal Newman was the first Catholic high school in Florida, and one of only a dozen in America, to offer the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme.

History

Cardinal Newman High School traces its roots to St. Ann's Catholic School of St. Ann's Parish, located in downtown West Palm Beach. St. Ann's School opened its doors in 1925 to serve parishes in central Palm Beach County. This school would serve the educational needs of Catholic high school students until the early 1960s. This changed when Archbishop Coleman F. Carroll announced construction of a new high school due to population growth in an isolated area of West Palm Beach, dubbed the "Westward Expansion."

In September of 1961, a small number of Adrian Dominicans and lay men and women from St. Ann's School moved to the new one-building Cardinal Newman High School. In the next five years a second classroom building was added. In 1973, Archbishop Carroll dedicated a new cafeteria and gymnasium. The John P. Raich Athletic Building was added in 1985, and Crusader Stadium was completed in 1993. Both original classroom buildings underwent extensive renovations between 1998 and 1999. Recent years have seen renovations of existing athletic facilities. Starting in 2003, the lacrosse and softball playing fields were modernized. The summer of 2006 also saw the completion of a new track and field facility, as well as renovations of the gymnasium.

Back in 2005, Cardinal Newman High School begain its first Capital Campaign in many years. Plans were developed to construct a new building on the west side of the existing North and South buildings. The new building will house offices for guidance and campus ministries, as well as a state-of-the-art music center. In addition, the media center will include a computer lab and TV production center. Most importantly, however, will be the establishment of a new Chapel. The new two-story building will have an elevator which will, for the first time in Cardinal Newman’s history, make all buildings accessible for persons with disabilities. The new building will also free up space in the North and South Buildings for additional classrooms.

In the summer of 2007 the first phase of the Capital Campaign started. As part of Phase 1, the lacrosse and soccer fields were expanded and the student parking lot was altered and relined. A new student drop off road was also created (the former one is where the new building will be). In addition, room 101 in the north building was renovated as the new "prototype" classroom for what is planned for every classroom in the North and South buildings during the final phases of the Campaign. The classroom is equipped with the latest innovations in technology, surround sound, new lockers and desks, hurricane windows, central air conditioning, and tiled flooring.

Academics

Cardinal Newman bases its academic program on local school policy, standards of the Florida Board of Education, and accreditation criteria issued by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. Students are required to take 14 semester credits each year during their four years in the following disciplines: Religion, English, Social Studies, a foreign language, Mathematics, Science, Physical Education, life management, and the arts. There is also a community service component requiring students to complete 100 hours serving their community during their time in high school.

Notable Alumni

* John Carney, a professional football placekicker in the NFL. [http://www.nflplayers.com/players/player.aspx?id=15908]
* Mark Foley, a former Republican politician in the U.S. House.
* Theresa LePore, the former Supervisor of Elections for Palm Beach County, Florida who designed the infamous "butterfly ballot", used in the 2000 presidential election. [http://www.newsmax.com/archives/ic/2006/10/7/170133.shtml?s=ic]
* Jackie Manuel, UNC basketball playerAlonzo Jefferson, All-American Running Back who played for University of Notre Dame

External links

* [http://www.cardinalnewman.com Cardinal Newman High School Official Website]
* [http://www.stannwpb.org/ St. Ann Catholic Church]
* [http://www.stannwpb.org/school/ St. Ann Catholic School]