Bergen Catholic High School

Infobox School
background = #ffffff
border = #FF2400
name = Bergen Catholic High School

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motto = "Deus Vult" - "God Wills It"
established = 1955
type = Private
religion = Roman Catholic
city = Oradell
state = NJ
country = USA
enrollment = 816 (as of 2005-06)
faculty = 48.9 (on FTE basis)
ratio = 16.7
Average SAT = 2230
teamname = Crusaders
athletics = 14 varsity sports
colors = Scarlet and Gold color box|#FF2400 color box|#FFB340 [http://www.bergencatholic.org/about/ About] , Bergen Catholic High School. Accessed June 5, 2007. "The students selected Crusaders to be the school symbol and that scarlet and gold should be the school colors."]
conference = Northern New Jersey Interscholastic League
homepage = [http://www.bergencatholic.org/ School website]

Bergen Catholic High School is an all-male Roman Catholic high school in Oradell, Bergen County, New Jersey, United States, serving students in ninth through twelfth grade. [ [http://www.bergencatholic.org/about/ About Bergen Catholic High School. Accessed March 10, 2008.]

Located in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Newark, Bergen Catholic currently has enrollment of approximately 850 pupils. Bergen Catholic's reputation draws students from a wide geographic area that includes North Jersey, Rockland County in New York and Pennsylvania. People of many ethnicities and creeds come to Bergen Catholic for its academic and athletic programs. Bergen Catholic has a long-standing rivalry with fellow Catholic school, Don Bosco Preparatory High School in Ramsey. [Stapleton, Art. [http://www.northjersey.com/page.php?qstr=eXJpcnk3ZjczN2Y3dnFlZUVFeXkxNTAmZmdiZWw3Zjd2cWVlRUV5eTcwODEwMzMmeXJpcnk3ZjcxN2Y3dnFlZUVFeXk2 "Bosco, Bergen face off in Bergen Jamboree"] , "The Record (Bergen County)", February 21, 2007. "When Bergen Catholic and Don Bosco get together, no matter the playing field, nothing matches the enormity of the event that unfolds. It will be that way again tonight when the rivals meet for the 51st Bergen Jamboree boys basketball championship inside the Rothman Center in Hackensack."]

As of the 2005-06 school year, the school had an enrollment of 816 students and 48.9 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student-teacher ratio of 16.7. [http://nces.ed.gov/ccd/schoolsearch/school_detail.asp?Search=1&DistrictID=3404710&ID=340471000380 Bergen Catholic High School] , National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed June 5, 2008.]

History

Bergen Catholic High School was founded by the Congregation of Christian Brothers and opened on September 11, 1955 with an enrollment of 114 freshmen. Classes were originally held at Our Lady of Visitation School in Paramus, New Jersey while construction was being completed on the school. Brother Eugene D. McKenna was appointed the first principal. The students chose Crusaders as the school symbol and scarlet and gold as the school colors. In keeping with the Crusaders symbol, the school motto "Deus Vult" ("God Wills It") was chosen.

The campus now occupies twelve acres of land on the corner of Oradell and Forest Avenues in Oradell, New Jersey. An additional academic wing was built onto the school in the early 1960s, and a new and larger library was added in 1984. In 1989, a special weight training facility was erected. The school building also houses a student chapel, science laboratories, cafeteria, computer science laboratory, and gymnasium. A parking area is on the property. In 1998, the football field underwent a revitalization when one of the first FieldTurf fields in the nation was installed. [Lu, Adrienns. [http://www.northjersey.com/page.php?qstr=eXJpcnk3ZjcxN2Y3dnFlZUVFeXkyJmZnYmVsN2Y3dnFlZUVFeXk2Njk3NTM5 "Artificial turf takes root"] , "The Record (Bergen County)", May 23, 2005, accessed April 28, 2007. "Before we put it in, it used to be a quagmire around here," said John Puzio, athletic director at Bergen Catholic High School in Oradell, one of the first schools in the state to install the newest generation of artificial turf eight years ago."] In 2003, the Nicholas G. Saingas Weight Training Center and Wrestling Room was added. Over the 2008 summer the school has planned for a renovation of the football field including new FieldTurf and the possibility of a baseball field. Although the baseball field is planned there is still speculation whether or not it will be included in the final renovations.

The library is currently under construction to relocate the current faculty room which will become a smaller classroom primarily used for AP classes.

Mission statement

"Bergen Catholic High School is a Catholic community of men and women which deepens religious faith, develops academic excellence, and strengthens social consciousness and responsibility in young men." [ [http://www.bergencatholic.org/about/ms.html Mission Statement] , Bergen Catholic High School. Accessed June 10, 2007.]

Technology program

Bergen Catholic High School is noted for its laptop program, in which the students buy a ThinkPad through the school as their own laptop for completing work that requires internet access and for taking notes. Other notable parts of the computer include the use of an interactive whiteboard and Edline. The program was phased in starting with the class of 2007. Every student now carries a laptop.

Edline is a website utilized so that Bergen students can communicate with their teachers, and stay up to date with their homework assignments and standing in the class. Aside from Edline, Bergen Catholic has recently introduced TurnItIn, a website that boasts an extensive plagiarism prevention tool utilized by most of the faculty. Its GradeMark and Peer Review features have proven to be very useful in the second full year of its integration.

Awards and recognition

Bergen Catholic High School won the 1991 National High School Mock Trial Championship, held in New Orleans. [http://www.nationalmocktrial.org/history.cfm Participant History & Past National Winners] , National High School Mock Trial Championship. Accessed July 1, 2007.]

Activities

Activities within the school include CCA (Crusaders for Catholic Action, a Catholic activist group), the Student Government, "The Herald" school newspaper, "The Crusader" yearbook, a chorus group (which plays at all school liturgies), a jazz ensemble which performs both in and out of school, a dramatics club, ski club, chess club and team, math club and team, guidance club, stock market club, an award-winning mock trial team and a quiz bowl team.

Bergen Catholic also offers a program of intramural sports for students not on the schools interscholastic teams: golf, basketball, tennis, bowling, volleyball, and street hockey. A program of weight training is available.

BCTV is the school's own television crew. BCTV presents a TV show every day in the morning of first period which shows the cafeteria menu for the day and the current news for the day. BCTV is headed by Mr. Charles Flynn.

Bergen Catholic has one of the most successful Mock trial teams in the State, with many state and county championships and one National Championship. The club is headed by the students, and moderated by Mr. Coleman and Mrs. Sainclivier, J.D.. In 1991, Bergen Catholic High School won the National High School Mock Trial Championships held in New Orleans, Louisiana. In the 2005-06 season they made it to the County Semi-Finals before losing to Immaculate Heart Academy, a Catholic, all-girls school in Washington Township.

Athletics

Bergen Catholic Offers fourteen sports at the varsity level:

*Fall Sports: American football, Soccer, Cross Country
*Winter Sports: Wrestling, Basketball, Swimming, Winter Track, Bowling, Ice Hockey
*Spring Sports: Baseball, Lacrosse, Golf, Tennis, Outdoor Track, Volleyball

Football

Bergen Catholic is known for being a state powerhouse in football. [ [http://www.giants.com/news/off_the_field/story.asp?story_id=1559 NY GIANTS NAME RIDGEWOOD’S JOHNSON HIGH SCHOOL COACH OF THE WEEK FOR WEEK] , New York Giants. Accessed July 23, 2007. "The victory was the first for Ridgewood against perennial powerhouse Bergen Catholic since 1987."] . The Crusaders are 16-time state champions (1963, 1965, 1966, 1979, 1980, 1982, 1986, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1995, 1996, 1998, 1999, 2001 and 2004), while holding an all-time record of 365-130-12. In 1998, they won the Parochial Group IV championship by defeating rival St. Joseph Regional 35-9 in the final at Giants Stadium, along with the Star Ledger Trophy and a #9 national ranking in USA Today's final "Super 25" poll. [Glickson, Grant. [http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C0CE7DD163AF935A35751C1A96E958260&sec=&spon=&pagewanted=all "HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL; Second Straight Title for Morristown"] , "The New York Times", December 6, 1998. Accessed June 25, 2008.] In 2004, the team went to Giants Stadium to play archrival Don Bosco Preparatory High School and won the state championship with a 13-10 victory. [ [http://www.bracketmaker.com/tmenu.cfm?tid=84343&tclass=Non-Public%204 2004 Football Tournament - Non-Public 4] , NJSIAA, accessed May 13, 2007.]

Wrestling

The Crusader wrestling program has been the most successful in Bergen County over the past two decades. Bergen Catholic has won the Bergen County Championship 15 times (1990, 1991, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006 and 2007), most in county history. They also hold the record for most consecutive titles by winning 8 straight from 2000-2007. The Crusaders have excelled at the state level, as well. They have won the North Parochial "A" state sectional title 12 times (1990, 1991, 1992, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006 and 2008) and in 5 of those seasons they have gone on to win the overall Parochial "A" state championship (1991, 1994, 1995, 2002 and 2003). The most memorable of those state championship wins coming in Trenton in 2003 where the Crusaders upset heavily favored Camden Catholic 40-30. In addition to state and county titles, BC has won the District 7 crown in 19 consecutive seasons.

BC has also seen 4 of its wrestlers win individual state championships: Jason Hernandez (1994, 130 lbs.), Jim Finn (1995, 185 lbs.), Joe Trause (2x - 2006, 119 lbs. and 2007, 125 lbs.) and Frank Cagnina (2007, 103 lbs.)

Administration

*President: Br. Lawrence T. Murphy
*Principal: Timothy J. McElhinney
*Vice Principal: Francesca Tambone-Puzio
*Vice Principal of Technology and Student Affairs: Joseph Haemmerle

Notable alumni

*Sean Banks (born 1985), professional basketball player. [Glier, Ray. [http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9900E1DB1131F933A15750C0A9629C8B63 "COLLEGE BASKETBALL; Carney Answers Call for Memphis"] , "The New York Times", March 20, 2004. Accessed November 7, 2007. "While the rest of the Memphis Tigers were finishing practice here Thursday, the day before their N.C.A.A. tournament opener against South Carolina, their coach, John Calipari, was handing his cellphone to Sean Banks, the freshman forward from Bergen Catholic High School."]
*Carl Barisich (born 1951), former defensive tackle for nine seasons between 1973 and 1981 for four different NFL teams. [ [http://www.databasefootball.com/players/playerpage.htm?ilkid=BARISCAR01 Carl Barisich] , database Football. Accessed August 28, 2007.]
*Chris Barnes (actor) "The Bad News Bears"
*Kieran Burke (former Six Flags CEO)
*Jim Burt, Jr. (born 1981), Brooklyn Cyclones 1st Baseman; son of former New York Giant Jim Burt. [Popper, Steve. [http://www.northjersey.com/page.php?qstr=eXJpcnk3ZjczN2Y3dnFlZUVFeXkxMTQmZmdiZWw3Zjd2cWVlRUV5eTY5MDA3ODEmeXJpcnk3ZjcxN2Y3dnFlZUVFeXk2 "Pedro a step closer to opening day"] , "The Record (Bergen County)", March 20 2006, accesed April 17 2007. "But it wasn't the strikeouts or even the home run hit by former Bergen Catholic star Jim Burt Jr. - the son of former Giants lineman Jim Burt who gained fame riding on the shoulders of his dad after the Giants' 1987 Super Bowl win."]
*Charlie Casserly, Houston Texans former General Manager
*Brian Cushing (born 1987), current USC Trojans linebacker. [ [http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P1-116934667.html "Brian Cushing's Rose Bowl diary"] , "The Record (New Jersey)", January 3, 2006. Accessed June 10 2007. "Southern California freshman linebacker Brian Cushing, a Bergen Catholic graduate and Park Ridge native, is preparing for the Rose Bowl with the top-ranked Trojans."]
*Alvaro de Molina (born 1957), Bank of America, Chief Financial Officer
*Mark DeRosa (born 1975), Chicago Cubs 2nd Baseman. [Caldera, Pete. [http://www.northjersey.com/page.php?qstr=eXJpcnk3ZjczN2Y3dnFlZUVFeXk1MCZmZ2JlbDdmN3ZxZWVFRXl5Njk2NjY1OCZ5cmlyeTdmNzE3Zjd2cWVlRUV5eTM= "DeRosa re-invents himself with Rangers"] , "The Record (Bergen County)", July 26 2006, accessed April 29 2007. "'They gave me a chance to play again, and it's been a nice situation. It's been fun,' said DeRosa, a 1993 Bergen Catholic graduate from Carlstadt who has become an important fixture in Showalter's everyday lineup."]
*Alecko Eskandarian (born 1982), MLS First Pick in the 2003 MLS SuperDraft. [ [http://ussoccerplayers.com/players/alecko_eskandarian/ Alecko Eskandarian profile] , US National Soccer Team Players Association, accessed April 17 2007. "Selected as the 2000 Gatorade National Player of the Year at Bergen Catholic.]
*Jim Finn (born 1976), New York Giants Fullback [ [http://www.nflplayers.com/players/player.aspx?id=27238 Jim Finn at NFLPlayers.com] , accessed November 29 2006.]
*Ray Hopkins, YES Network Chief Operating Officer. [Handler, Eric. [http://web.yesnetwork.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20060725&content_id=1405793&vkey=2 "YES Interactive only on DIRECTV"] , YES Network, July 25, 2006. Accessed September 30, 2007. "YES Interactive only on DIRECTV puts Yankees fans in the director's chair," said Ray Hopkins, COO of the YES Network."] Fact|date=September 2007
*Wil Horneff (born 1979), actor, "The Sandlot", "Born to Be Wild", "The Shining"
*Matt LoVecchio (born 1982), starting quarterback for the University of Notre Dame football team in 2000-01, and for Indiana University in 2003-04. [ [http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9500E5D81E38F930A15756C0A9649C8B63 "PLUS: COLLEGE FOOTBALL; LoVecchio Leaves Notre Dame"] , "The New York Times", May 23, 2002. Accessed January 1, 2008.] At Bergen Catholic he earned four letters as a football quarterback, throwing for 3,400 passing yards and 48 touchdowns, and was named an Honorable Mention pick on "USA Today""s All-American Prep Team. [Popper, Steve. [http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9907E5DD113CF93AA2575AC0A96F958260 " HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL; Even Struggling, Bergen Catholic Wins Easily"] , "The New York Times", September 19, 1999. Accessed January 1, 2008.]
*Edward Ludwig, Becton Dickinson Chairman, President, CEO
*Bill Madden, Sports Columnist in the "New York Daily News"
*Jim McGovern (born 1965), professional golfer. [Brown, Clifton. [http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9800EFDE1330F93BA25751C1A96F958260 "GOLF; A Former Rising Star Hopes to Rise Again"] , "The New York Times", December 18, 1999. Accessed November 7, 2007. "When Jim McGovern was an all-state tight end at Bergen Catholic High School, few people would have predicted that he would become a professional golfer. He didn't start playing golf seriously until 11th grade. And don't most golfers come from warm-weather states like California or Florida, instead of places like Oradell, N.J.?"]
*Pierre McGuire, "Sports Illustrated" Columnist. [Gulitti, Tom. [http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P1-25697545.html " MCGUIRE OPEN TO RANGERS"] , "The Record (Bergen County)", April 5 2000, accessed April 17 2007. "Alpine native Pierre McGuire among those who will be keeping a close eye on the reconstruction of the Rangers' management. The former Hartford Whalers head coach and Bergen Catholic graduate would like to get back into coaching after spending the last three seasons as a color commentator for an English-language radio station ..."]
*Dennis McNerney, County Executive of Bergen County [ [http://www.co.bergen.nj.us/bcresources/Mcnerney.htm County Executive Dennis McNerney] , accessed November 29, 2006.]
*Miles Orman, Miles Robinson on "Sesame Street", Son of Roscoe Orman, Gordon, on Sesame Street. [McIntyre, Jason. [http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P1-51480256.html "`BIG BIRD' THE CENTER OF ATTENTION"] , "The Record (Bergen County)", March 16 2002, accessed April 17 2007. "He appeared with his father - the famously bald Gordon - on "Sesame Street" practically since birth, but at 8 years old Miles Orman outgrew his part when he had become tall enough to post up Big Bird.... Even now, when he's on the basketball court playing center for state champion Bergen Catholic..."]
*Bob Papa (born 1964), New York Giants Play-by-play sportscaster. [ [http://www.hbo.com/boxing/bios/bob_papa.html Bob Papa profile] , HBO Boxing, accessed April 17 2007. "Bob Papa was born in the Bronx before moving to New Jersey as a child. After graduating from Bergen Catholic High School in 1982, Papa received a business degree from Fordham University in 1986."]
*Rich Scanlon (born 1980), Kansas City Chiefs Linebacker. [ [http://www.nflplayers.com/players/player.aspx?id=36275 Rich Scanlon at NFLPlayers.com] , accessed November 29 2006.]
*Msgr. Robert Sheeran, Seton Hall University President. [ [http://www.shu.edu/offices/president/sheeran-biography.cfm Biography of Monsignor Robert Sheeran] , Seton Hall University, accessed April 17 2007. "Born in Troy, New York, Robert Sheeran graduated from Bergen Catholic High School in Oradel sic before enrolling in 1963 as an undergraduate at Seton Hall."]

References

External links

* [http://www.bergencatholic.org/ Bergen Catholic High School Website]
* [http://www.bergencatholicsoccer.com/ Bergen Catholic High School Soccer]
* [http://www.bergencatholicwrestling.org/ Bergen Catholic High School Wrestling]
* [http://nces.ed.gov/surveys/pss/privateschoolsearch/school_detail.asp?Search=1&SchoolID=00861718&ID=00861718 Data for Bergen Catholic High School] , National Center for Education Statistics