Wikipedia

Calvert Hall College High School

Calvert Hall College High School (also known as "Calvert Hall" or "CHC") is a Catholic college preparatory high school for boys, located in Towson, Maryland, United States. The school was established in 1845 by the Institute of the Brothers of the Christian Schools as a Catholic college preparatory high school for boys. It is the oldest Christian Brothers school in the United States.

Calvert Hall College High School
Address
Map
8102 La Salle Road

Towson
,
Maryland
21286

United States
Coordinates39°23′29″N 76°34′52″W / 39.3915°N 76.581°W / 39.3915; -76.581
Information
TypeParochial
Motto"Vitae via virtus" (Latin)
(("Virtue is the way of life"))
Religious affiliation(s)Roman Catholic
(Lasallian)
Patron saint(s)Saint John Baptiste de La Salle
Established1845; 179 years ago (1845)
FounderFrancis McMullen
PresidentBr. John Kane, FSC
PrincipalDr. Andrew Moore
Faculty110
Grades9–12
GenderBoys
Enrollment1200
Campus size33 acres (0.13 km2)
Color(s)Cardinal and Gold   
Athletics conferenceMIAA
NicknameCardinals
RivalLoyola Blakefield
AccreditationMiddle States Association of Colleges and Schools
PublicationThe Odyssey (Literary Magazine)
NewspaperThe Hall
YearbookCardinal & Gold
Tuition$18,925 (2023-24)
AffiliationThe Brothers of the Christian Schools District of Eastern North America
Websitewww.calverthall.com
[1][2]
George Young Hall

Among its academic offerings is the McMullen Scholars Program, a four-year advanced-level curriculum requiring extra coursework in humanities, rhetoric and logic, and a senior independent project. Additionally, a program for assisting students with learning differences exists (the La Salle program).

History

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At the request of Archbishop Samuel Eccleston, who wished to provide a Catholic school for boys in the Archdiocese of Baltimore, the Brothers of the Christian Schools in Canada provided training for English-speaking candidates to become members of their order.

Once they had taken their vows, the new Brothers, led by Baltimore native Brother Francis McMullen, FSC, returned to the Archdiocese and attended the first Mass on September 15, 1845 with 100 students to commemorate the opening of what would become known as Calvert Hall College High School, the first school founded by the Institute of the Brothers of the Christian Schools in the United States.[3]

Initially, the school was located in the parish hall of the former St. Peter's Pro-Cathedral but a rise in enrollment led to the purchase of property at Cathedral and Mulberry Streets, which was dedicated by Cardinal James Gibbons in 1891.[4]

Calvert Hall moved again in September 1960, under the direction of Brother Gabriel Cannon, FSC, to its current Towson location. Throughout the next five decades, Calvert Hall continued to expand, adding additional buildings which provide space for academics, technology, and extracurricular activities, as well as renovating old spaces to maintain high quality facilities.[3]

Academics

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Students at Calvert Hall experience a college preparatory curriculum, operating on a cascading six-day schedule. The schedule is fit with individual learning opportunities, during which students can choose to eat lunch, study, or meet with an available teacher. The free periods provide flexibility and allow students to develop effective time management skills. In addition, Calvert Hall uses a team teaching philosophy and a lecture-seminar format to mimic a university lecture system. Lectures are held in lecture halls that are equipped with multimedia presentation capabilities while seminars take place in classrooms centered on student learning.[5]

Students are required to take four years of English, Social Studies, and Religion; three years of Mathematics and a Laboratory Science; and two years of Foreign Language and Physical Education/Health. Freshmen must take a year of Computer Applications while Sophomores are required to take a Fine Art. Electives, which include Introduction to Engineering, Forensic Science, and Personal Finance among others, are offered in all departments.[6] A total of four elective units are a graduation requirement.

The school offers honors courses in most subjects and over twenty Advanced Placement classes. Students who score well on their entrance test and display an outstanding application are invited to interview for the McMullen Scholars Program, which " focuses on an appreciation of the Humanities as a basis for a Christian humanist education" and is headed by its own director.[7]

Scholars are required to complete an independent project their senior year as well as participate in various activities within the program that demonstrate an appreciation for the Arts. Likewise, students with identified language learning disabilities can apply for the La Salle Program which has its own director and five learning specialists who meet with students everyday to address development of skills and "increase each student's understanding of his learning strengths".[8]

Students who maintain a certain GPA and have been involved in service to the school for two years are invited to apply to the school's chapter of the National Honor Society. If they are admitted to the program, they are required to help at Orientation, Back to School Night, and Open House, as well as serve as tutors in the school's Academic Resource Center, which is staffed by a teacher during every class period.

Besides the Academic Resource Center, the school offers the George Young Library, complete with numerous on-line resources and 22,000 volumes, a Mathematics Resource Center staffed with a math teacher each period for one-on-one help, in addition to a Counseling Center where each student is assigned one of five guidance counselors and one of three college counselors. The campus also features the John G. Noppinger, Jr. '64 Commons, a large space in which students can work on assignments, as well as collaborate with students on group assignments, projects, etc. The Commons was constructed in June, 2015, and it opened for students in September, 2015.

Athletics

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Calvert Hall's football stadium

Calvert Hall hosts 40 athletic teams among cross country, football, soccer, volleyball, water polo, basketball, hockey, track and field, squash, swimming, wrestling, baseball, golf, lacrosse, rugby, tennis, and the competitive marching band.[9] CHC participates in the Maryland Interscholastic Athletic Association 'A' conference in all its sports, along with the Baltimore Catholic League for basketball.

Rivalries

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Calvert Hall’s unequivocal main rival in all sports is Loyola Blakefield High School. The two Catholic schools are separated by three miles and are both located in Towson. The Cardinals compete with the Dons in the MIAA conference in virtually all sports and compete in the Baltimore Catholic league in basketball as well. The largest event in the rivalry is the Turkey Bowl football game. The Turkey Bowl is a 104 year old rivalry game that is played every year on thanksgiving day at Johnny Unitas Stadium on the campus of Towson University.

Other conference rivalries include: Archbishop Spalding High School, most notably in Football and Baseball; Archbishop Curley High School, most notably in Soccer and Baseball; McDonogh School, most notably in Football, Soccer, and Lacrosse; and Mount Saint Joseph High School, in multiple sports.

Football

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The Calvert Hall varsity football team has won a combined twelve MSA & MIAA “A” conference championships, including their most recent in 2021. The team has also won five Baltimore Catholic League Championships in its history.

In one of the oldest Catholic school football rivalries in the country, dating back to 1920, Calvert Hall faces its arch-rival, Loyola Blakefield, on Thanksgiving Day morning in the annual Turkey Bowl game played at Johnny Unitas Stadium on the campus of Towson University. Prior to playing in Towson, the game was held at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore.[2] Before M&T Bank Stadium was opened, the game was played at Memorial Stadium.

Soccer

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The Calvert Hall Soccer team has won a combined thirty-four MSA and MIAA “A” conference championships, including back-to-back championships in 2021 and 2022. In 2022, the team finished as Co-National Champions following a 24-0-1 season. The 2022 team was ranked #2 in high school soccer rankings for the season.

Baseball

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The Calvert Hall baseball team has won twenty-eight MIAA “A” conference championships including a 4–2 victory over Gilman in 2013. On March 18, 2008 moved up to the #1 team ranking by USA Today in high school baseball.

On April 7, 2008, the school's Carlo Crispino Baseball Stadium was dedicated. Named after an alumnus who donated $1 million for the state-of-the-art facility, the stadium has a covered grandstand and FieldTurf, designed by Cal Ripken.[10][11] Other former Baltimore Orioles attending the ceremonies were Bill Ripken and Billy Hunter.[citation needed]

 
Carlo Crispino Baseball Stadium
 
Baseball Stadium grandstand

Lacrosse

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The Calvert Hall lacrosse team has won five MIAA “A” conference championships, most recently in 2019. The team has also won five MSA championships. The 2019 team finished as National Champions following a 17-1 record that season.

The team was ranked #2 nationwide by Lax Power at the end of the 2011-12 after winning the MIAA championship against Loyola 17–3. They were ranked #3 before the 2012–2013 season and fell 12–10 to then #1 Boy's Latin in the semi-finals of the MIAA playoffs. The Calvert Hall hockey team won the MIAA championship between 2008 and 2010, in addition to winning the MAPHL Maryland State Championship in 2009.[citation needed]

Track and field

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The Calvert Hall outdoor and indoor track and field teams have won a combined ten MIAA “A” conference championships, most recently in 2024. The 2022 team was ranked as the #1 team in the state during both indoor and outdoor seasons.

Basketball

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The Calvert Hall basketball team ended the 1981–82 season as National Champions. The team was ranked #1 after defeating Dunbar High School in a triple overtime thriller the previous season.[citation needed]

Band

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The Calvert Hall band performs numerous times during the year including local parades, home football games, and the Turkey Bowl. The Band is overseen by the Director of Bands, in addition to an Associate and Assistant Director.[12]

The Calvert Hall Instrumental Music Department features 3 Jazz Bands, a Jazz Combo, 3 Concert Bands, and 2 Marching Bands. The CHC competitive marching band was named the 2004 & 2005 Tournament of Bands Group IV, Chapter V Champions,[13][14] the 2016, 2021, 2022, and 2024 USBands Group II Open National Champions,[15] as well as the 2017, 2018, and 2019 Group III Open National Champions.[16][17]

On January 7, 2009, the band was named the Bowl Games of America's Band Championship Series National Champions.[18]

Presidents

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  • Br. G. Leonard FSC, 1924-1927
  • Br. Felician John FSC, 1927-1930
  • Br. Eliseus Vincent Hurley FSC, 1930-1933
  • Br. Edewald James Conaghan FSC, 1940-1944
  • Br. Daniel Henry Barry FSC, 1946-1950
  • Br. Kevin Strong FSC, 1990-2000
  • Br. Kevin Stanton FSC, 2000-2005
  • Br. Benedict Oliver FSC, 2005-2009
  • Br. Thomas Zoppo FSC, 2009-2013
  • Mr. Frank Bramble, 2013–2014 (Interim) [19]
  • Br. John Kane, FSC, 2014–present

Notable alumni

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Keelty Hall is the main building
 
George Young Hall

See also

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References

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  1. ^ MSA-CSS. "MSA-Commission on Secondary Schools". Archived from the original on September 17, 2009. Retrieved 2009-07-31.
  2. ^ a b "93rd Annual Turkey Bowl". WMAR-TV. Scripps TV Station Group. Archived from the original on 2013-02-08. Retrieved 2013-05-22.
  3. ^ a b "History". Calverthall.com. Retrieved January 19, 2016.
  4. ^ "Part One: A portrait of Baltimore's black Catholic history". Archdiocese of Baltimore. 2012-01-19. Retrieved 2021-07-06.
  5. ^ "Calvert Hall Academic Overview". www.calverthall.com. Archived from the original on March 5, 2013.
  6. ^ "Calvert Hall Academic Overview". www.calverthall.com. Retrieved 2023-02-08.
  7. ^ "Calvert Hall ~ McMullen Scholars Program". www.calverthall.com. Archived from the original on November 4, 2012.
  8. ^ "Calvert Hall La Salle Program". www.calverthall.com. Retrieved 2023-02-08.
  9. ^ "Home Calvert Hall College Athletics". gocardinals.calverthall.com. Retrieved 2023-02-08.
  10. ^ "City/County Digest". The Baltimore Sun. 2006-01-13. p. 3B. Archived from the original on November 4, 2012. Retrieved September 30, 2008.
  11. ^ Nelson Coffin (April 9, 2008). "No diamond in the rough: Stadium is a jewel". The Towson Times. Archived from the original on June 11, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2008.
  12. ^ "TOB/TIA Historical Archive : Welcome to the official historical archive of Tournament of Bands and Tournament Indoor Association". Tob-info.net. Retrieved January 19, 2016.
  13. ^ "11-06-2004: Chapter 5 Championships - Century HS, Sykesville, MD". Tob-info.net. Retrieved January 19, 2016.
  14. ^ "11-05-2005: Chapter 5 Championships - Century HS, Eldersburg, MD". Tob-info.net. Retrieved March 8, 2016.
  15. ^ "USBands Open Class National Championships (Group II Open)". Retrieved November 13, 2016.
  16. ^ "USBands Weekend Recap: Open Class National Championships". Archived from the original on 2018-11-17. Retrieved 2018-11-17.
  17. ^ https://yea.org/programs/usbands/fall/scores
  18. ^ "Calvert Hall marching band at the BCS Championship game". Weblogs.baltimoresun.com. January 8, 2009. Retrieved March 8, 2016.
  19. ^ "Calvert Hall Football Coaches". Calverthallfootball.com. Retrieved January 19, 2016.
  20. ^ Jacques Kelly (June 13, 2012). "Dave Boswell, major league pitcher". Articles.baltimoresun.com. Retrieved January 19, 2016.
  21. ^ "Dr. Louis Hamman, of Hopkins, Dies". The Baltimore Sun. 1946-04-29. p. 24. Retrieved 2022-12-10 – via Newspapers.com. 
  22. ^ "Joseph V. Lutz". Maryland State Archives. 2001-02-27. Retrieved 2022-04-03.
  23. ^ Robert A. Erlandson and Joe Nawrozki, "Priest at once defended, excoriated", The Baltimore Sun, August 3, 1984.
  24. ^ "James N. Mathias, Jr., Maryland State Senator". Msa.maryland.gov. Retrieved January 19, 2016.
  25. ^ "President Donald J. Trump Announces Intent to Nominate Heath P. Tarbert to the Department of the Treasury". whitehouse.gov – via National Archives.
  26. ^ O'Brien, Henry (26 October 2023). "Sean Tucker, Marlowe Wax battled it out on the gridiron in high school". The Daily Orange. Retrieved 26 October 2023.
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