Archbishop Curley High School

Archbishop Curley High School
Quis et Deus Who is like unto God?
Address
3701 Sinclair Lane Baltimore, Maryland, (Baltimore City), 21213-2079 United States
Coordinates	39°18′47″N 76°33′54″W
Information
Type	Private, All boys
Religious affiliation(s)	Roman Catholic
Patron saint(s)	St. Francis of Assisi
Established	1961
School board	President - Mr. Gary Michael '71
School district	Archdiocese of Baltimore
Oversight	Order of Friars Minor, Conventual
Superintendent	Dr. Barbara Edmondson
CEEB Code	210032
President	Fr. Joseph Benicewicz '78, OFM Conv
Principal	Mr. Philip D. Piercy
Grades	9–12
Enrollment	500+
Average class size	23
Student to teacher ratio	13:1
Campus size	33 acres (130,000 m2)
Color(s)	Black and White
Athletics	MIAA
Athletics conference	A and B
Mascot	The Friars
Accreditation(s)	Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools
Tuition	$10,300
Alumni	over 8,000
Website	www.archbishopcurley.org

Archbishop Curley High School, is a Roman Catholic men's high school located in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Baltimore in the USA. It is affiliated with the Franciscan religious order and is named in honor of Archbishop Michael J. Curley (1879–1947), who served as the tenth Archbishop of Baltimore from 1921 to 1947. It was the first Archdiocesan high school in Baltimore established exclusively for the education of young men. It is also the brother school to the neighboring all-girl school, The Catholic High School of Baltimore.

Early History

The school was founded in 1960 under the leadership and direction of the late Archbishop Francis Patrick Keough. It opened in September 1961 with a class of 420 freshmen, and was dedicated on April 17, 1962, by Cardinal Lawrence Shehan, Keough's successor.

The school was designed by local architect Edward H. Glidden and is located on a 33-acre (130,000 m²) campus on the northeast edge of the City of Baltimore. Built by Cogswell Construction, the main three-story building contains classrooms, labs, administrative, guidance, alumni and development offices, two computer centers, a closed-circuit TV station, and the guidance resource center. Attached to the central structure are eight wings that house the chapel, auditorium, gymnasium, student dining room, the Fitness Center, the Fine Arts Center, the library multi-media center and Advancement Offices, and the Friary, which is the residence of the Franciscan Friars at Archbishop Curley.

The first Head of School was Fr. Aloysius Balcerak, OFM Conv., who welcomed the first students to Curley as their Principal. The school's first graduating class matriculated in 1965.

In December 1969, under second principal Fr. Robert Grzybowski, the Lawrence Cardinal Shehan Library and Multi-Media Instructional Center was dedicated. It was the first building in the Archdiocese of Baltimore to be named after Cardinal Shehan who had been a long time friend and supporter of the school.

Growth and Development

Archbishop Curley High School celebrated its 25th Anniversary during the 1985-1986 school year under principal Fr. Gregory Hartmayer (currently Bishop of Savannah). During that year, a smaller wing was added onto the building to house the instrumental music department facilities, including a concert practice room. Additional athletic facilities were added in an adjacent wing, including the weight room and wrestling room.

Capital Campaign efforts have improved the campus of the school

In 1994, the school welcomed its first Head of School to also be an alumnus. Fr. Donald Grzymski, OFM Conv. graduated from Curley in 1970 and returned now to serve as principal. Fr. Grzymski's tenure as principal is most notable for transitioning the school to a president-principal model, where he would continue on as Head of School in the role of the Curley's first president. Under the leadership of Fr. Grzymski, the school undertook its first capital campaign, "Endowing Our Tradition," with the funds benefiting Curley's endowment. By 1996, Fr. Michael Martin, OFM Conv. '79 had joined Grzymski in the Administration as the school's principal.

By the year 2000, a shift had begun to take place among the faculty and staff. Three notable educators who had served since 1962 all retired after over 30 years each. As Mr. E. Patrick Maloney, Mr. Richard "Coach" Patry, and eventually Mr. Albert E. Frank all departed the school, a new trend was beginning to emerge. Alumni were increasingly returning to teach and work at their alma mater. By the dawn of the 21st Century, the school boasted over a dozen men who had come home to serve Curley again, both in leadership offices and in the classroom.

21st Century Expansion

Barry Brownlee, Curley's first lay Principal.

At turn of the century, with the endowment secured, the campus grounds were revamped with new fencing, a concession stand, and a new bowl stadium with terraced seating. After the completion of the Bowl project, Grzymski stepped down as president and Martin was appointed to succeed him. Martin would in turn be replaced as principal by Mr. Barry Brownlee. Brownlee had previously served as assistant principal under Martin, and was the first lay principal in school history.

At the end of the 2004-2005 school year, the first phase of a major facilities renaissance was begun. The Friary was reconstructed to better reflect the number of religious living on the grounds and the balance of the space provided room for the relocation of the Lawrence Cardinal Shehan Library to the second floor, adjacent to the academic wing of the building. The space previously occupied by the Library was renovated to house a new Fitness Center, with expanded weight training and wrestling room space. A center for the full-time athletic trainer was also added.

A grant provided funds for a rehabilitation of the Auditorium seating and in the summer of 2005, further renovations funded by a capital campaign provided a new faculty dining room, a relocated bookstore, conference rooms and offices for the development director, athletic director and alumni association. The science labs, school roof, tennis courts, and student lockers were also rehabilitated.

Capital Campaign Improvements

The new entrance to the school.

Under the theme "In Giving We Receive," an aggressive capital campaign was launched in 2008 to generate funds for improvements to the campus in advance of the school's 50th anniversary in 2011.

In the summer of 2008, a second parking lot was added and the interior roads were renovated, reestablishing the Auditorium lobby as the main entrance of the school. An elevator, making the academic wing ADA accessible, was completed in the spring of 2009. The Auditorium was also temperature-controlled for air-conditioning and heat. Additional renovations have included the Gymnasium, Main Office, Auditorium Lobby, and the Guidance Office.

Groundbreaking on the Holthaus Center for the Arts

In May 2009, ground was broken on a $4 million complex, the Holthaus Center for the Fine Arts. The center is named for Gerard E. Holthaus '67, then-CEO of Algeco Scotsman International, who made a $1 million leadership gift to the building campaign. The new facility, completed in May 2010, houses choral and instrumental music practice rooms, as well as storage for Blackfriars' Theatre and space for the Visual Arts Department. Offices for student media and student activities round out the state-of-the-art complex.

Curley celebrated its Fiftieth Anniversary during the 2010-2011 school year in honor of its founding in 1960 and its opening in 1961. The theme was "A Year of Jubilee." The capital campaign concluded, with future plans still including a new baseball field (made possible from a land swap with the City), artificial turf for all of the athletic fields, a Field House practice facility, and a second Gymnasium.

Leadership Transitions

After nine years as President, Fr. Michael Martin announced in November 2009 that he was stepping down at the conclusion of the 2009-2010 school year. His successor, nominated by the School Board and the Friars and confirmed by Archbishop Edwin O'Brien, is Fr. Joseph Benicewicz '78, OFM Conv.

After assisting Fr. Joe with the transition to the President's Office, Barry Brownlee announced his retirement as Principal. His successor was named as Mr. Philip Piercy. Concurrent to this announcement, Joseph DellaMonica, Vice-President of Finance and Curley's longest-tenured employee (43 years), also announced his retirement. With additional changes in both Assistant Principal offices and Campus Ministry, 2011-2012 marks the largest leadership transition in the school's history.

Academic Programs

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Franciscan Program

Coordinator - Ms. Cheryl Jose

The Franciscan Program is an interdisciplinary program available to students for their entire four year high school career. Students in the Franciscan Program participate in honors level courses, which emphasize effective speaking and writing skills. Course work includes intense student participation, regular classroom discussion, active listening, innovative and critical thought, and in-depth treatment of material. Students in the Franciscan Program must be prepared to grow as independent learners. At the end of their freshman year, students in the Franciscan Program may be eligible to participate in the Franciscan Scholars, a separate program of high academic rigor that offers students the opportunity to graduate with cum laude recognition on their Maryland state high school diploma. Additionally, Curley offers courses that prepare students for the Advanced Placement Exam offered by the College Board in the following areas: English Literature/Composition, English Language/Composition, Spanish, French, Biology, Environmental Science, Physics, American History, and Calculus AB. Advanced electives, including Latin and Philosophy, are also available.

Cupertino Program

Coordinator - Mr. John D'Adamo '98

The Cupertino Program is a college preparatory academic program for students working at or near grade-level ability. A student’s placement within the program is evaluated on a regular basis to ensure a challenging and appropriate curriculum. The Cupertino Program, as with the entire academic program at Curley, provides a unique level of flexibility in a student’s course work when compared to other private schools. Students are encouraged to enroll in Honors courses for the subject areas in which they excel while remaining in the Cupertino Program for their other courses. Finally, there are specific programs and events planned throughout the year for Cupertino students directed towards fostering their academic and social development. With these options, students optimize their potential in each subject area and prepare themselves for college and life beyond high school.

Anthony Program

Coordinators - Ms. Kathleen Maskell and Mr. Frank Romeo

A regionally-recognized adapted learning education program, recently reviewed by Johns Hopkins University, the Anthony Program is a multifaceted college preparatory program that addresses the needs of young men of diverse backgrounds who are at risk for academic difficulties due to a learning difference, lower self-esteem, and/or socio-emotional issues. The goals of the Anthony Program are to individualize learning, to assess progress, to build self-esteem and self-confidence, and to strengthen moral values. Maximum learning potential is achieved through the implementation of cross-curricular behavioral strategies, individualized assessments to measure academic performance, and most importantly, an integrated team-teaching approach.

Academic Departments

Department	Chairperson	Faculty (Full-Time)	Instructors (Part-Time)
Religious Studies	Jamie Long '98	Br. Daniel Lutolf, OFM Conv. Edward Kratzen	Jamey Becker '97 Kathleen Maskell Michael Gaffney Phil Piercy Joe Jancuk Fr. Matthew Foley, OFM Conv. Fr. Joseph Benicewicz '78, OFM Conv.
English	Friar Douglas McMillan, OFM Conv.	John D'Adamo '98 Gregg Kessler Bobby Picarello Mary Skipper	Kathleen Maskell
Social Studies	Christopher Ogle	Nicholas Brownlee '96 Frank Romeo Matt Nietubicz '00 Brian Davies	John Tucker '79 John Kogler
Science	Michael DeMarco	Tim Trotta Lynette Trotta Travis Williams Linda Clarke-Tucker	-
Mathematics	John Dohler	JoAnne Cole Mary Louise Kolb Edward Lawrence Phil Forte	Dan Popera Gene Hoffman '69
Foreign Language	Cheryl Jose	Miriam Recinos Catherine Miserendino	Franca Gorraz
Business & Technology	Dan Popera	Michael Ziegler	-
Physical Education	Marty McGinty	Bill Dawson Gene Hoffman '69 Sean Murphy	-
Fine Arts	Michael Gaffney	David Stauffer Mark Halcott '97	Edward Lawrence Greg Malanowski '70

Campus Life

Campus Activities

Coordinator - Mr. John D'Adamo '98

The school boasts a large number of clubs and co-curricular activities (over 30) for students to participate in beyond the classroom. Intramural sports provide students an opportunity for informal recreation and competitive play throughout the school year. A comprehensive summer program for both recreation and academic enrichment is also offered annually.

Campus Ministry

Director - Fr. Matthew Foley, OFM Conv.

Curley's Franciscan Youth Ministry program offers students opportunities for prayer, liturgy and fellowship; as well as a commitment to service, social justice, and community outreach.

Athletics

Director - Mr. William Dawson

• Asst. Director - Mr. Sean Murphy
• Athletic Trainer - Mr. Marty McGinty
• Team Physician - Dr. David Lumsden '79

Archbishop Curley High School was a founding member of the Maryland Interscholastic Athletic Association (MIAA). After the disbanding of the Maryland Scholastic Association (MSA) in 1994, it was Fr. Robert Twele, then Curley's principal, who led the Committee to draft the new organization's constitution and its by-laws. Consequently, championships from 1961 to 1994 are from the MSA and championships from 1995 to the present are from the MIAA.

Sport	Season	Head Coach	Varsity Conference	JV Conference	Frosh Conference	Varsity Championships
Soccer	Fall	Barry Stitz '87	A	A	A	1968, 1979, 1994, 1995, 1999, 2006
Football	Fall	Sean Murphy	B	B	-	2000, 2001, 2003, 2004
Cross Country	Fall	Gene Hoffman '69	A	A	-	1975, 1981, 1982, 1984, 1987, 1990, 2002
Volleyball	Fall	Joe D'Adamo '70	B	A	-
Wrestling	Winter	Gregg Kessler	A	A	-	1981, 1998, 1999, 2001, 2002
Basketball	Winter	Andy Bauer	B	B	B	1996, 2001
Indoor Track	Winter	Gene Hoffman '69	A	A	-	1997, 2003, 2005
Swimming	Winter	sport inactive	-	-	-	1987, 1988
Ice Hockey	Winter	sport inactive	-	-	-	2000, 2001
Lacrosse	Spring	John Tucker '79	B	B	-	1969, 1971, 1976, 1977, 1986, 2007, 2008
Track & Field	Spring	Gene Hoffman '69	A	A	-	1982, 1983, 1988, 1989, 1990, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008
Baseball	Spring	Tim Norris '78	A	A	-	1969, 1970, 1978, 1983, 1999, 2001
Tennis	Spring	Bobby Picarello	B	-	-	1989, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000
Golf	Spring	Dave Ball	B	-	-

Fine Arts & Student Media

Program	Medium	Director/Moderator	Frequency of Appearance
Concert Band	Instrumental Music	David Stauffer	two annual school concerts, special events, annual interscholastic competition
Jazz Ensemble	Instrumental Music	David Stauffer	two annual school concerts, special events, annual interscholastic competition
Jazz Combo	Instrumental Music	David Stauffer	special events
Alumni Jazz	Instrumental Music	David Stauffer	"All That Curley Jazz" annually
Drumline	Instrumental Music	Rick Reely	three annual school pep rallies, special events, annual interscholastic competition
School Choir	Choral Music	Michael Gaffney	two annual school concerts, special events, school liturgies
Luminare Choir	Choral Music	Michael Gaffney	special events
Schola	Choral Music	Michael Gaffney	special events
Handbell Chorus	Choral Music	Michael Gaffney	Christmas Concert annually
MasterClass	Choral Music	Michael Gaffney	special arrangement annually
Blackfriars' Theatre	Drama	Edward Lawrence	one fall stage play and one spring musical annually
Art Club	Visual Arts	Mark Halcott '97	annual spring art show
Visions	Literary Magazine	Mary Skipper	One to Two Issue(s) Annually
The Cord	School Yearbook	Cheryl Jose	One Issue Annually
The Curley Chronicle	School News Service	Greg Malanowski '70	Monthly Issue

Additional information

Connection with Franciscan Order

Curley is managed and staffed by the Order of Friars Minor, Conventual (St. Anthony of Padua Province)

The School Board established by the Archbishop of Baltimore is responsible for the general operation and management of Archbishop Curley High School. The School Board has continued to entrust the administration of the school to the Franciscan Friars (Order of Friars Minor Conventual) of St. Anthony of Padua Province, who have staffed the school since its inception. There are currently four Franciscan friars on the full-time staff, with one other in-residence. In addition to the Franciscan Friars, the faculty also includes lay teachers.

Other Affiliations and Recognitions

The school is accredited by the Maryland State Department of Education and, through 2014, by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools. Beginning in 2010, all Archdiocese of Baltimore schools became accredited through the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. This new accreditation will replace the MSA process.

The School Board received the Outstanding Board Award in 2007 from the National Catholic Educational Association.

Head of School

From 1961 until 1995, the Principal served as Head of School. Beginning in 1995 with its inception, and still today, the position of President serves as Head of School. The Principal still functions in the role of daily school management and as Chief Academic Officer, reporting to the President. A gallery of formal portraits featuring all the past Heads of School is on display in the Auditorium Lobby.

Head of School	Title	Years in Office	Principal(s)
Fr. Aloysius Balcerak	Principal	1961–1967
Fr. Robert Grzybowski	Principal	1967–1971
Fr. David Stopyra	Principal	1971–1976
Fr. Leon Krop	Principal	1976–1979
Fr. Linus DeSantis	Principal	1979–1981
Fr. Mark Curesky	Principal	1981–1982
Fr. Xavier Nawrocki	Principal	1982–1985
Fr. Gregory Hartmayer	Principal	1985–1988
Fr. Robert Twele	Principal	1988–1994
Fr. Donald Grzymski '70	Principal	1994–1995
	President	1995–2001	Fr. Paul Reinhardt (1995–96) Fr. Michael Martin '79 (1996–2001)
Fr. Michael Martin '79	President	2001–2010	Barry Brownlee (2001–2011)
Fr. Joseph Benicewicz '78	President	2010–present	Barry Brownlee (2001–2011) Philip Piercy (2011–present)

Current Administration

• President - Fr. Joseph Benicewicz, OFM Conv. '78
  • VP: Institutional Advancement - Mr. Barry Stitz '87
  • VP: Operations & Finance - Mr. John Kogler

• Principal - Mr. Philip Piercy
  • AP: Academics - Mr. Brian Kohler
  • AP: Students - Mr. Jamey Becker '97

Notable alumni

Gage Cowger

Name Class year Notability References Nicholas D'Adamo, Jr. 1976 serves on the Baltimore City Council, representing District 2. City Council William J. Frank 1978 serves in the Maryland House of Delegates, representing District 42. House of Delegates Vincent J. Gardina 1973 serves on the Baltimore County Council, representing District 5. County Council William Goodwin 1973 is the former Baltimore City Fire Chief. Peter Hammen 1984 serves in the Maryland House of Delegates, representing District 46. House of Delegates Michael Ranneberger 1967 is the current United States Ambassador to Kenya. US State Dept Gerard E. Holthaus 1967 is the CEO of Algeco Scotsman International. Giuliano Celenza 1997 is member of the Baltimore Blast. Baltimore Blast Butch Jansen 1979 holds international, national, and regional titles for Greco-Roman, and Freestyle Wrestling, Sambo, and Judo. Gene Hoffman 1969 is a former 110m High Hurdle National Champion and All-American. Currently he is Curley's Cross Country, Indoor Track, and Track & Field coach, as well as a Phys. Ed. teacher. Barry Stitz 1987 is a former player and captain of the Baltimore Blast. Currently he is Curley's Soccer coach and the Vice-President of Institutional Advancement. John Tucker 1979 is a 2010 inductee into the National Lacrosse Hall of Fame and a 2003 inductee into the Greater Baltimore Chapter of the Lacrosse Hall of Fame; he was a midfielder for Johns Hopkins University's 1984 Division I NCAA National Championship lacrosse team; was named to the U.S. Men's National Lacrosse team in 1986 and served as its Captain in 1990 and 1994. He played professionally for the Philadelphia Wings, winning two National Lacrosse League championships and a league MVP. For several seasons he was the coach of Major League Lacrosse's Washington Bayhawks; his second coaching stint in the MLL after the Los Angeles Riptide. He also served as the head coach of the West in the 2007 Major League Lacrosse All-Star Game during his tenure with the Riptide. Currently he is Curley's Lacrosse coach and the Director of Admissions. Washington Bayhawks Christopher Marr 1986 is a featured co-star of A&E Network's popular reality TV series Airline. A&E Network Byron Pitts 1978 is a national correspondent for the CBS Evening News, and author of Step Out on Nothing: How Faith and Family Helped Me Conquer Life's Challenges. CBS News

Notable Former Students

• Mickey Cucchiella, comedian and radio personality, is a morning disc jockey on 98 Rock in Baltimore. He attended Curley for his freshman year.
• Santino Quaranta, professional soccer player in Major League Soccer, attended the school his freshman and sophomore years as a starter on Varsity Soccer.

External links

• School website
• Archbishop Curley High School on Google Street View