G. A. R. Memorial Junior Senior High School

Infobox School
name = G.A.R. Memorial Junior Senior High School


imagesize =
caption =
motto = "Sons of the Blue and Gray"
established = ~1930
type = Junior-Senior High School
affiliation =
district = Wilkes-Barre Area School District
grades = 7-12
president =
principal = Dino Gallela
vice principal = Patrick Patte
dean = Colleen Robatin
faculty =
staff = 65
students = 919
enrollment =
athletics =
conference =
colors = Blue and Gray
mascot = Grenadiers
campus type =
campus size =
free_label =
free_text =
free_label2 =
free_text2 =
free_label3 =
free_text3 =
location = 250 South Grant Street, Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania
country = United States of America
coordinates =
website = http://www.wbasd.k12.pa.us/gar.html

G.A.R. Memorial Junior/Senior High School (commonly known throughout the area simply as 'G.A.R.') is located on 250 South Grant Street, in Wilkes-Barre, located in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, United States with a ZIP code of 18702.

G.A.R. is both a junior and senior public high school, offering education to a little under 1000 students in grades 7-12. Part of the Wilkes-Barre Area School District, G.A.R. has three full time administrators, and 65 full time educators. The student to teacher ratio is approximately 15 students per teacher. About 87% of G.A.R. graduates go on to further their education at a post-secondary institution. It was named for the Grand Army of the Republic.

History

G.A.R. Memorial was established in the 1930s. It is one of three high schools in the Wilkes-Barre Area School District. It was renovated in 1979. G.A.R. is located near the Susquehanna River and during severe flooding it has been used as a shelter for many families from the surrounding area.

Awards

In December 2007, G.A.R. received a 'bronze' placing in the U.S. News & World Report’s 2008 “Best High Schools” list, which is given to schools that exceed expectations for less-advantaged students.

Academic Courses

G.A.R. offers the following courses:

ciences

*Biology I (9+)
*Biology II (11+)
*Chemistry I (10+)
*Chemistry II (11+)
*Earth and Space Sciences (9+)
*General Science (7&8)
*Physics I (11+)
*Physics II† (12+)

(†)Available Only through Distance Learning

Mathematics

*Algebra I (8+)
*Algebra II (10+)
*Calculus (12)
*Geometry (9+)
*Pre-Algebra (7+)
*Trigonometry (11+)

English

Each grade level has an English course, however it is available in General, College Prep, and Advanced. Selection for these classes relies on either previous grades, teacher recommendations, or both. If you take an AP English course you can receive college credits if you complete the standardized test.

ocial Studies

*General History I (7+)
*General History II (8+)
*Law (11+)
*Psychology (11+)
*U.S. Cultures I (9+)
*U.S. Cultures II (10+)Social Studies also offers AP classes in which you can receive college credits if you complete the standardized test and receive a score acceptable to the university that you wish to attend.

Languages

*French (9+)
*German (9+)
*Spanish (9+)

Computer Literacy

*Computer Applications (10+)
*Computer Science (10+)

Photography/Art

*Art (11+)
*Photo and Film (12+)

Athletics

Sports are available to the entire student body, and there are no cuts on any teams.

Boys' Sports

Fall

*Football
*Golf
*Soccer

Winter

*Basketball
*Wrestling

pring

*Baseball
*Tennis
*Track & Field

Girls' Sports

Fall

*Field Hockey
*Tennis
*Volleyball

Winter

*Basketball

pring

*Soccer(Girls Soccer won the first district championship in school history with an undefeated season in the spring of 2005)
*Softball
*Track & Field

Other Teams

* Cheerleading

Musical Groups

* Band
* Orchestra
* GARChoir (Chorus)
* Small Group (Chorus)

Extra Curricular Activities/Clubs

*Computer Science Club
*German Club
*National Honor Society
*SADD (Students Against Drunk Driving)
*Ski Club
*Year Book Club
*FBLA
*Key Club
*Science Olympiad
*Student Council
*Stage Crew
*Drama Club
*Watershed Forum
*School Newspaper
*Poetry Club

Notable alumni

* Larry Koretz- Former Overseas Basketball Player
* Greg Skrepenak- Former NFL player, currently Luzerne County Commissioner
* Bob Sura- NBA player who last played for the Houston Rockets

References

[http://www.publicschoolreview.com/school_ov/school_id/71372] Public School Review

[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bob_Sura] Bob Sura - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?dept_id=455154&newsid=19081482] Magazine names GAR, Meyers in ‘Best High Schools’ list - The Citizen's Voice