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Saint Francis High School (Athol Springs, New York)

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Coordinates: 42°46′12″N 78°51′50″W / 42.77000°N 78.86389°W / 42.77000; -78.86389
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St. Francis High School
Location
Map
4129 Lake Shore Road Athol Springs

Hamburg
,
New York
14010

United States
Coordinates42°46′12″N 78°51′50″W / 42.77000°N 78.86389°W / 42.77000; -78.86389
Information
TypePrivate, Boys
MottoLatin:Pax et Bonum;
Deus Scientarium Dominus
English: Peace and All Good;
God is the Master of Knowledge
Religious affiliation(s)Roman Catholic
(Conventual Franciscan)
Established1927; 97 years ago (1927)
FounderJustin Figas
OversightOrder of Friars Minor Conventual
CEEB code330230
PresidentFriar Matt Foley
PrincipalJohn Zygaj
Faculty49
Grades9-12
Enrollment557 (2017)
Student to teacher ratio12:1
CampusOverlooks Lake Erie
Campus size48.5 acres (196,000 m2)
Color(s) Red  and  White 
SloganSuccess Begins at Saint Francis
Song"In My Own Lifetime"
Athletics15 sports. Freshman, JV, and Varsity team.
Athletics conferenceMonsignor Martin Athletic Association
MascotReggie The Raider
NicknameRed Raiders
Rivals
AccreditationMiddle States Association of Colleges and Schools
PublicationThe Odyssey (Literary Magazine)
NewspaperBanner
YearbookCrusader
Tuition$12,870
Websitewww.stfrancishigh.org
[1]

Saint Francis High School is a Catholic, private college preparatory high school for young men that operates under the administration of Our Lady of the Angels Province of the Order of Friars Minor Conventual in Athol Springs, New York within the Diocese of Buffalo. The school was founded in 1927 by Fr. Justin Figas, OFM Conv. The school is accredited by the New York State Board of Regents and the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools.

Founding and development

The Quad addition. In the foreground is Friar's Hall. One of the copper gnomes of the chapel can be seen. In the upper left the original Justin Hall can be seen, and to the right is the most recent addition.

The school's founder, Fr. Justin Figas, OFM Conv., wished to establish a secondary school for young men of the Polish-American immigrant community in the Niagara Frontier area in Western New York. The Conventual Franciscans of the Saint Anthony of Padua Province already owned a 32-acre (130,000 m2) parcel of land on the shore of Lake Erie in Athol Springs just outside Buffalo. The site was purchased in 1916 by Father Hyacinth Fudzinski. The land had previously been the estate of one "Dr. Pierce," who developed pharmaceuticals around the start of the 20th century. In December 1924 Father Justin assembled a group of Polish-American businessmen and professionals from Buffalo, New York to help raise funds and support for the construction of the school. This group became known as the "Father Justin Drivers," or the "Justin Drivers." The group was successful and in 1925 ground was broken for the new school in a ceremony held on 12 July 1925. Construction took sixteen months and Saint Francis High School was dedicated on 25 November 1926. In 1927 the first class was enrolled. The original structure built on campus is now called Friar's Hall.

In May 1937 the school was found to meet all requirements of the Board of Regents of the State of New York. In the fall 1943 the school became affiliated with the Catholic University of America in Washington, DC.

In the 1940s there was a great increase in student enrollment, and Father Justin again saw the need to build. This time he planned to build a dormitory/gymnasium building with a tunnel linking to the original building. In 1946 Father Justin again assembled a group of "drivers" and four years later, in 1950, ground was broken on the new complex. The gymnasium was completed first on 2 September 1951, but the dormitories were not completed for another six years. The building is now known as Justin Hall.

Renovations were done to the chapel, science labs, student dining room, residence facilities, offices, and gymnasium in the 1960s and 70s. The school was able to offer a full college preparatory curriculum for students who lived on campus, and for students who commuted daily. Enrollment again increased and increased classroom space was needed. Classrooms were made in Justin Hall where resident living was once planned. At the same time, in the late 1970s and continuing into the 1980s, the number of resident students steadily decreased. By the late 1980s, only the top floor of Justin Hall was used for residence life. At the end of the 1988 school year, the Board of Directors terminated the residency program.

In 1985 fundraising began for the construction an auditorium complex. In May 1987 ground was broken and on 29 October 1988 the John Ormsby Alumni Auditorium opened. The building was constructed adjacent to Justin Hall and includes a thrust stage with an orchestra pit in an 800-seat auditorium, a campus book store, a fitness center, and a boardroom. In 1995 the complex was completed with the construction of a band room, practice rooms, dressing rooms, offices, and storage space.

The John Ormsby Alumni Hall

In 1999, a 16.5-acre (0.067 km2) parcel of land behind the school's football field on Big Tree Road was acquired. Practice fields and additional playing fields were constructed in that space.[2] The science labs in Friar's Hall were overhauled and modernized in 2003. In November 2004 an expansion of Justin Hall and the gymnasium began. In late 2005 construction was completed and the new facility included additional classrooms; separate locker-rooms for gym classes, home teams, opposing teams, and referees; an additional gym floor, and an athletic trainer's room. At the time of construction the campus traffic pattern was also changed. Previously traffic blowed[clarification needed] between the two major complexes on campus, essentially forming a sea of parking and traffic. The update saw the addition of a 52-space parking lot on the Lake Erie side of Friar's Hall and the creation of a traditional grass quadrangle with walkways between Friar's and Justin Halls. In 2007, construction began on the new Mary Schneider Visual Arts Center located in the lower floor of Friar's Hall. It features 4,695 sq ft (436.2 m2) of floor space and includes space for art classes and storage. Also included are a new classroom and a teachers' dining room.[2]

2010 saw an update of the school's athletic facilities with the addition of new bleachers as well as a new press box on the football field.

In 2010-2011 construction took place for new resident rooms. There are dorms for 26 residents along with an activities rooms. The dormatories opened in the 2011–2012 school year.

From 2015 to 2017, the outdoor athletic facilities were expanded and renovated. In 2015 a multi-sport synthetic turf playing surface (Polian Family Field) was installed along with a new eight lane track. 2016 saw the Gacioch Family Athletic Center completed featuring on-site home an away locker rooms, an athletic training room, an officials room, a coaches room, a viewing suite overlooking Polian Family Failed, a filming tower, a permanent home for the Fr. Rufinus Niedzwiecki OFM Conv. Sports Hall of Fame, and a concessions stand. On March 18, 2017, the varsity baseball field was dedicated as Jeff Sgroi Memorial Field in memory of long time assistant coach Jeffrey Michael Sgroi. Improvements include the addition of dugouts, a new playing surface, fencing, bullpens, storage and a scoreboard.

Notable alumni

References

  1. ^ MSA-CSS. "MSA-Commission on Secondary Schools". Retrieved March 10, 2018.
  2. ^ a b History of Saint Francis High School Retrieved March 10, 2018.
  3. ^ Elliot Jacobson: Drummer, Elliot Jacobson, Retrieved March 10, 2018.
  4. ^ "Elliot Jacobson of Ingrid Michaelson". Modern Drummer. July 2014. Retrieved March 10, 2018.
  5. ^ Skurski, Jay (January 14, 2019). "Kyle Smith, son of former Bills exec, goes from St. Francis to NFL scouting director". BuffaloNews.com. Retrieved 14 January 2020.
  6. ^ "Leafs look to capitalize tonight". National Hockey League. January 15, 2010. Retrieved March 10, 2018.
  7. ^ "Leafs continue road trip against Flames". National Hockey League. October 30, 2013. Retrieved March 10, 2018.
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