Archbishop Alter High School

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**Archbishop Alter High School**

Principal	Sister Katie Hoelscher, S.C.
School type	Private, co-ed
Religious affiliation	Roman Catholic
Location	Kettering, Ohio, United States
Mascot	Knight
School newspaper	The Knightly News
School annual publication
School motto	"The charity of Christ urges me"
School colors	Brown and Gold

Archbishop Alter High School (aka Alter High School) is a Roman Catholic High School in Kettering, Ohio. It is one of several schools operated by the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, and is named after Archbishop Karl Joseph Alter.

1 History
2 Faculty
3 Academics
4 Sports
5 Notable Alumni
6 External links
7 Notes and references

[edit] History

In October of 1958, Catholics of the Dayton area pledged $4,953,050 to help pay the costs of building Catholic high schools in the area. Among the schools built with this money were Archbishop Alter High School and its mirror image, Archbishop Carroll High School, built the previous year (often abbreviated Carroll High School). Development of Alter High School was led by Reverend Paul F. Leibold, and, at the request of the people, the school was named after Archbishop Karl Alter.

The school saw its first students on September 5, 1962 with an incoming class of 250 freshmen. In each of the next three years a new freshman class would be added, so, by the year 1965, the school offered grades 9 through 12, with the first class graduating in 1966.

Alter High's first principal was Reverend Edward F. Haskamp, serving from 1962 to 1970. In 2005, Alter High named Fr. James Manning, former pastor of St. Albert the Great Parish in Kettering, as its first President.

The school is currently composed of 750 students, 63 faculty, and over 130 courses.

[edit] Faculty

Alter High School's faculty is composed of diocesan priests of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, Sisters of Charity of Mount St. Joseph, and lay teachers.

[edit] Academics

A student's school day begins at 8:00 AM and ends at 3:05 PM, and includes seven 50-minute class periods and a 25-minute lunch period, with four minutes between each period to change classes.

The school provides AP classes, which offer the prospect of college credit as well as a weighted grade. Academics at Alter High School are competitive, with the top of the class carrying high GPA. Alter graduates commonly attend the University of Dayton, Miami University (Ohio), and Ohio State University.

[edit] Sports

Archbishop Alter High School's team nickname is the Knights; their colors are brown and gold. In general, the boys' teams belong to the GCL (Greater Catholic League) and the girls' teams belong to the GGCL (Girls Greater Catholic League).

Home basketball and volleyball games are played in the school gym. The school also owns a soccer field encircled by a track, where the soccer team plays its home games and the track and field team practices. The school's property includes a baseball field for practice. However, it is not used for games because of its poor condition. Alter High School does not own a football field, so home football games are typically held at other local high schools such as Fairmont High School or Centerville High School.

[edit] Ohio High School Athletic Association State Championships

Boys' Basketball - 1978, 1999, 2001 ^[1]
Boys' Cross Country - 1996
Boys' Golf - 1992, 1993, 1998, 1999
Boys' Soccer - 1987, 1988, 1996, 1998
Girls' Volleyball - 2002, 2003, 2006

^[2]

[edit] Other athletic accomplishments

Boys' Tennis - team state champs 1976*
Girls' Tennis - team state champs 2001*

*Note - The OHSAA does not hold team state championship tournaments for tennis. Rather, they are administered by the Ohio Coaches' Association.

[edit] Boys' sports

A full listing of the boys' sports offered at Alter High School:

[edit] Girls' sports

A full listing of the girls' sports offered at Alter High School:

[edit] Rivalries

Alter High has a number of sports rivals. The school's biggest football game each year is against Fairmont High School. This game is held on the Friday following Alter High's first week of classes. The school's other significant football rival is fellow GCL member Chaminade-Julienne (CJ).

Basketball rivalry games are very similar, including games against Fairmont High School, CJ, and Carroll High School. Alter High School's boys' soccer team has two significant rivals: Carroll High School and Centerville High School. The girls' soccer team names Hamilton's Stephen T. Badin High School as their biggest nemesis.

The volleyball team's recent rise to prominence has spurred rivalries of its own. After capturing the state championship in 2006 and back-to-back championships in 2002 and 2003, Alter is known as the team to beat. Within the GGCL, Roger Bacon is the biggest rival (they captured the volleyball state championship in 2004 and 2005). Additionally, Chaminade-Julienne and Cincinnati Archbishop McNicholas prove to be perennial challengers.

[edit] Spirit

Alter High School is marked by the school spirit of its students. Every Friday is a Spirit Day, on which students are allowed to wear a spirit shirt of the school colors along with the standard uniform pants. Sporting events, especially football and basketball games, are well-attended by students. Pep rallies are common on the days of rivalry games.

[edit] Alma Mater

The Alma Mater is played by the school band at the end of every pep rally and on various other occasions. While it is played, students extend their arms over the shoulders and neck of those to their left and right and sway together with the music. When the lyrics reach "High in Hope and Spirit," the student unjoin and proceed to raise and lower their right arms, index finger extended as if pointing, holding the position at the end of each line until the song ends. The lyrics to the Alma Mater are as follows:

Facing life with valor like the Knights of old,

We promise always great ideals to hold,

With our eyes on Heaven, sword of Faith in hand,

The future face and with grace

Take our stand.

Hear our pledge of fealty to You

As we ask Your strength to see us through.

High in Hope and Spirit

We will "Do or Die"

For our King and Alter High.

[edit] Fight Song

Although not as common as the Alma Mater, Alter High School also has a fight song. This may be sung on occasions such as a bus ride after a victory, but is most commonly sung after a football victory. After the game, the team will go over to the student section and sing the fight song. The lyrics to the fight song are as follows:

Watch the Knights ride into the fray

Shouting, cheering, we're on our way;

Banners flying, bravely and bold

We're rooting for the Brown and Gold.

Strong in purpose, hearts all aglow

Alter High will conquer the foe

Overcome all odds against us

Take up every challenge!

"Loyalty to Brown and Gold" is our battle cry.

Strike the shield, roar VICTORY!

For dear old Alter High.

[edit] Notable Alumni

John Paxson (NBA, player and GM)
Jim Paxson (NBA, player and GM)
Jeff Graham (NFL)
Jeff Reboulet (MLB)
Missy Gregg (WUSA)
Renee Laravie Kelly (Olympic swimmer)
Nick Mangold (NFL)
Amy Ferguson (actress)
Nicole Martinez (graphic designer/ artist)

[edit] External links

[edit] Notes and references

^ Yappi. Yappi Sports Basketball. Retrieved on February 12, 2007.
^ OHSAA. Ohio High School Athletic Association Web site. Retrieved on December 31, 2006.

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