Archbishop Spalding High School

Archbishop Spalding High School is a private, Catholic co-educational high school located in Severn, Maryland. It is located in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Baltimore. Most of its students live in Annapolis, Crownsville, Arnold, Pasadena, Severna Park or Glen Burnie in Anne Arundel County. However some also travel from southern Baltimore County, east Prince George's County and parts of Howard County. This school has many clubs, some of the clubs are Academic Bowl, Mock Trial, Strategic Gaming, and HOPE (Help Our Planet Earth). Along, with its multitude of clubs, Spalding has many competitive sports teams like soccer, basketball, softball and cross country. These athletic teams compete in the MIAA and the IAAM. The school also sponsors a highly competitive music program, in which students compete in interstate competitions once a year. Archbishop Spalding's mascot is the Cavaliers.

Background

Archbishop Spalding was established in 1963 as an all-girls high school called Holy Trinity High School. The school moved to its present location in 1966 as Martin Spalding High School. It became coeducational in 1973.

In May 2003, the school acquired the adjacent Upton farm property, enlarging the school's campus to a 52 acre site. The additional property insures the school's future and its ability to accommodate the academic, athletic, and extra-curricular needs of its current and future students.

The current building houses 47 academic classrooms, including four science labs that were recently renovated with state-of-the-art case work and new equipment. The school's Library Media Center houses approximately 14,000 volumes, and offers students access to 22 desktop computers for research. With a focus on integrating technology within the academic program, the main classroom wing is networked as a wireless environment, allowing faculty and students to have immediate access to the world wide web of information. All classrooms are equipped with closed circuit systems and access to video and computer projection units that allow for enhanced visual presentations.

The Archbishop Spalding auditorium, with seating capacity for 1,200, is home to the school's well-known theater and music productions. The auditorium serves as the central location for school-wide assemblies and liturgies. The school also has a chapel, which students, parents and faculty utilize for quiet reflection, personal meditation, prayer services and group liturgies. One area of the campus that is recognized as a privileged tradition is the Senior Garden, an outdoor area where only Senior students may go during their lunch.

Archbishop Spalding presently has five playing fields. Plans are now underway to build additional playing fields and parking. A new Academic and Athletic Center that will house eight new classrooms and a new gymnasium with seating capacity for 1,100 was completed in 2005. This new facility also has a state-of-the-art weight training center, new locker rooms and a concession area with indoor and outdoor access. The old gymnasium remains as a secondary athletic facility.

With the presence of a school Chaplain and a Director of Campus Ministry, students are given the time and attention to discuss their personal faith, address social issues, receive spiritual counseling and embrace their future life goals.

Each year students participate in a retreat program designed specifically for their grade level. New Students are welcomed into the Spalding community at the beginning of their Freshman year with a day-long retreat and class social activities during their orientation. The retreat program for the Sophomore class involves a day of service, and Junior students take part in a one-day off-campus retreat. A Spalding tradition, the Senior retreat experience is held as a three-day and two-night stay at the Monsignor O'Dwyer Retreat House in Sparks, Maryland.

Community service and outreach are commitments fulfilled by every student who graduates from Archbishop Spalding. Each graduating Senior at Spalding is required to complete 45 hours of volunteer community service. The community service requirement is intended to reinforce the Christian call to a life service to others.

Sports

*Cross-Country
*Football
*Cheerleading
*Soccer
*Dance Team
*Field Hockey
*Ice Hockey
*Indoor Track
*Wrestling
*Basketball
*Swimming
*Lacrosse
*Rugby
*Outdoor Track
*Baseball
*Softball
*Tennis

Clubs

*Gaming Club
*Mock Trial
*Strategic Gaming
*Academic Bowl
*Astronomy Club
*Dance Dance Revolution
*HOPE (Help Our Planet Earth)
*Key Club
*Math League
*NHS (National Honors Society)
*Asian Awareness Club
*Tri-M (Music Honors Society)
*Renaissance Club
*Equestrian Team
*Guitar Club
*Drama Production (Fall and Spring)
*Guitar Hero Club
*Litergical Musical Ensemble
*Campus Ministry (Eucharistic Ministers)
*Model UN
*S.G.A (Student Government Association)
*S.A.D.D. (Students Against Destructive Decisions)
*Newspaper
*Art Club
*Yearbook
*SPT (Spalding Production Team)
*Auditorium Tech Team

Performance Groups

Archbishop Spalding features a number of performance groups, including Instrumental and vocal ensembles. Instrumental groups include Guitar Ensemble, String Ensemble, Jazz Band, Concert Band, Symphonic Band, and Wind Ensemble. Vocal groups include Girls Chorale, Chorus, Chromosome Y, and Vocal Ensemble. Music Theory is also offered as an elective class in the Spalding curriculum. Shawn Hemming is the current guitar instructor, Beth Hough is the vocal director, and Stephanie Huesgen is the current Band Director and Music Department Chair. Stephanie Huesgen has been teaching for 19 years at the Archbishop Spalding community. A student of Huesgen was selected as a finalist for the 2005 Hershey's All-USA High School Band. Also in 2005, she was selected as one of SBO's national list of "50 Directors Who Make a Difference". In 2007 at the national Musicfest in Orlando, Florida, Archbishop Spalding was awarded "Grand Band Champion", and thus the overall national winner for that weeks competition.

Several Instrumental and Vocal Scholarships are available to incoming students upon audition.

Notable Alumni

* Rudy Gay - NBA basketball player
* Aleksandar Pavlovic - NBA basketball player
*Jimmi Haha - Jimmies Chicken Shack

External links

* [http://www.archbishopspalding.org Archbishop Spalding High School website]
* [http://www.wvschools.com/lhsband/alumni/sbo.htm.com SBO's "50 Directors Who Make a Difference"]
* [http://www.musicfestorlando.com/2007winners.htm Archbishop Spalding's Band Wins National Competition]
* [http://www.insideannapolis.com/archive/2007/issue4/spalding.html Annapolis Review]
* [http://www.iaamsports.com/info/about/ IAAM Website]
* [http://sp.ashsteachers.org/bboosters/default.aspx.com Archbishop Spalding's Band Website]