Nazareth Area High School

Nazareth High School
Location
501 East Center Street Nazareth, Pennsylvania 18064
Information
Type	Public
Principal	Alan Davis
Grades	9 - 12
Enrollment	1,600
Newspaper	The Blue and White Standard
Information	610-759-1730
Mascot	Blue Eagles
Colors	Blue and White
Website	[1]

Nazareth High School is a public high school located in Nazareth, Pennsylvania, in the United States. It is the only high school in the Nazareth Area School District and serves grades 9 through 12. Its mascot is the Blue Eagle and school colors are blue and white. Student enrollment for the 2010-2011 school year was approximately 1,600 students. In a 2006 study conducted by the school district, 43% of households within the district's boundaries reported having one or more children in the high school.^[1] As of the 2009-2010 school year, the high school was fully accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools.^[2][3]

Building history

The current high school was first built in 1954 and dedicated in 1961 to F.A. Marcks. The original construction of the building consisted of two floors of academic classrooms with an auditorium, a gym, and a small cafeteria. In 1971 the school underwent construction of a new wing consisting mainly of classrooms which made the school twice as large as it was originally intended to be. In addition to new classrooms, the addition included a new library (currently the Sharon L. Adams Library and Media Center), expanded the cafeteria to nearly four times its original size, and added onto the current gym, doubling the size while also adding a lower level which housed a fitness room and coach's offices. In 1998 the school experienced a bad mold problem which destroyed most of the old ceilings in the original building while causing the lead paint in the 1971 addition to chip faster than expected. The problem became so bad that it was deemed a health issue and the school was forced to close for emergency renovations. That same year, with the new middle school built, the old junior high school (constructed in 1983) became the school's "North Campus".

Today the school retains these modifications, which assist in facilitating student and faculty population growth. It has also allowed smaller class sizes, as well as adding another gym and housing the Nazareth Area School District offices. In 1999 the new auditorium and music wing were constructed. The new auditorium was twice the size of the old auditorium and housed a complete light and sound power station with two floors of stage equipment storage. The music wing contains an instrument storage facility, practice rooms, offices, and classrooms that can hold 200+ students at a time.

Extracurricular activities

Athletics

See also: Lehigh Valley Conference

Nazareth's main Lehigh Valley Conference athletic rivals are Northampton Area High School and Easton Area High School.

Wrestling program

Nazareth is known nationally for its highly successful wrestling program, which gained prominence under former coach Ray Nunamaker, who amassed a record of 468 wins, 95 losses, and 7 ties over a span of thirty-four seasons.

Currently, Nazareth is coached by 2007 National Coach of the Year Dave Crowell. The school won the team state title for Pennsylvania in 2007, and finished second in the individual Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association (PIAA) Tournament. The team also won the 2006 PIAA individual wrestling tournament. Recent graduates include: two-time PIAA state champion Joe Caramanica ( North Carolina State University) and three-time PIAA state champion Tim Darling ( The Pennsylvania State University). The Nazareth wrestling program has produced one NCAA champion, Rob Rohn (Lehigh University).

Girls Soccer

The Nazareth Lady Blue Eagles Soccer Team won the title of District Champions in 2008 and 2010. The were also State Qualifiers in 2007, 2008, 2010, and 2011, winning their first state playoff game in 2010.

Boys Tennis

Recent graduate Adam Harris anchored the lineup and was a mainstay the past four seasons. He was part of a powerful senior class that led Nazareth to its best season of all time. With Harris (Seton Hall University) graduated, Stephen Fishler is the favorite to lead the squad in 2012.

Music

Blue Eagle Marching Band

The Blue Eagle Marching Band is the high school's band. The seven-time USSBA champion band has received many awards under the direction of Mr. William Boandl, who has just finished his last season as director of the band. His son, Brad Boandl took over the organization in 2009 and is in his second year as director. Recently, the band became the first to be named two-time Grand National Champions in USSBA.

The Arts

Eagle Nest Gallery

The Eagle Nest Gallery, located in the high school, is a professional gallery which hosts artists from the community in monthly shows. The gallery can show both two-dimensional and three-dimensional pieces. Each month a gallery reception is held, where the public can meet and talk with the artists.

Theater

Director Bruce Applegate (retired in June 2008) led the high school theater troupe to many shows, including The Scarlet Pimpernel, Oklahoma!, 42nd Street and The Music Man. He was replaced by Mr. Jim DeNora and Miss Alicia Grossbauer. Mr. Jim DeNora directed his first musical, The Pirates of Penzance, at Nazareth Area High School in the spring of 2009. As of the beginning of the 2011-2012 school year, Mrs. Danielle Scheller (director) and Miss Amy Lantz (assistant director) are currently in control of the theater troupe, after Mr. Jim DeNora resigned two weeks into the 2011-2012 school year.

Notable alumni

• Michael Andretti, professional auto racer, owner of Andretti Green Racing in the IRL IndyCar Series.
• Kate Micucci, actress, comedian, artist, and singer-songwriter.
• Jordan White, rock musician.

Notes

1. ^ http://www.nazarethasd.k12.pa.us/7181072484958640/lib/7181072484958640/NASD_SPF_Community_Summary_Results_Rpts_18_Apr_06.pdf
2. ^ http://hs.nazarethasd.k12.pa.us/AFG/AFG%20Preliminary%20Report%20Overview%20-%20April%202010.pdf
3. ^ http://www.css-msa.org/search.php?MODE=VIEW(PA277)&org=CSS

External links

• Official website
• Nazareth wrestling

Coordinates: 40°44′33″N 75°17′54″W / 40.7425°N 75.2983°W / 40.7425; -75.2983