Bishop Foley Catholic High School

Bishop Foley Catholic High School
Address
32000 Campbell Road
Madison Heights, Michigan 48071
United States
Coordinates 42°31′42″N 83°7′29″W / 42.52833°N 83.12472°W / 42.52833; -83.12472Coordinates: 42°31′42″N 83°7′29″W / 42.52833°N 83.12472°W / 42.52833; -83.12472
Information
Type Private, Coeducational
Religious affiliation(s) Roman Catholic
Established 1965
President N/A
Principal Frank Accavitti III
Grades 9–12
Enrollment 321
Campus size 20.54 acres
Color(s) Black and Gold         
Athletics conference Catholic High School League
Nickname Ventures
Accreditation North Central Association of Colleges and Schools [1]
Tuition $9,550 (2017-18)
Feeder schools Guardian Angels Elementary School

Bishop Foley Catholic High School is a co-educational Catholic high school affiliated with the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Detroit. Founded in 1965, it is named after the first American Bishop of Detroit, John Samuel Foley. It is located in Madison Heights, Michigan and has an enrollment of approximately 400 students as of the 2012-2013 school year.[2] It is governed by an advisory elected Board of Education, but the final power rests with the President, who has always been the pastor of one of the school's two founding parishes: (the now defunct) St. Dennis Church in Royal Oak, or Guardian Angels Church in Clawson. Bishop Foley is accredited by North Central (NCA).

Bishop John Foley

From 1888 until 1918, Bishop John Samuel Foley headed the Catholic diocese of Detroit. As Detroit's first American bishop, his 30 years of leadership remains the longest for the Archdiocese of Detroit. Bishop Foley established the first black Catholic parish, St. Peter Claver, in 1911, although chapels and missions for black Catholics had existed since the late 1870s.

History

Bishop Foley Catholic High School opened in 1965 and was founded by Guardian Angels Church in Clawson and St. Dennis Church in Royal Oak. The first class graduated in 1969. The school was initially separated by gender; the effects of this policy can still be seen in the building as all men's restrooms are all on the north side and all women's bathrooms are on the south side.

The school was constructed in the shape of a cross.

Academics

Bishop Foley offers classes in the following departments: Engineering, Business, and Computers; English; Foreign Languages (currently Spanish and American Sign Language); Mathematics; Science, Health, and Physical Education; Social Science; Theology; and Visual & Performing Arts.[3] Every department except Theology offers Advanced Placement courses. Dual enrollment courses through University of Detroit Mercy are available onsite,[4] and DE courses are available offsite at accredited colleges and universities statewide.

All students are required to complete the following to graduate: 4.0 credits of English; 4.0 credits of Math; 4.0 credits of Theology; 3.0 credits of Science; 3.0 credits of History and Social Studies; 2.0 credits of Foreign Languages; 1.0 credit of Fine or Applied Art; and 0.5 credits of Computer Science. Additionally, each student must take Health, Physical Education, Economics, and 3.5 credits of electives.[5] Each semester-long course counts as 0.5 credits, and students can take 7 unique classes each semester.

Each graduating class has one valedictorian and one salutatorian who receive the highest and second-highest cumulative Grade Point Averages, respectively. Other high-achieving students may receive honors of Magna cum Laude, Summa cum Laude, or cum Laude based on their GPAs. Bishop Foley graduates are generally high-achieving, with 100% of grads gaining acceptance into and regularly attending colleges throughout the country. In the most recent published survey, students from the Class of 2015 have also earned more than $4.5 million in college entrance scholarships.[6]

Bishop Foley divides the academic year into two semesters. Starting in the 2012-2013 academic year, the last four days of classes before Christmas break begins are final exams for the first semester; the second semester commences upon students' return in January.

Athletics

Bishop Foley offers athletic teams through the Catholic High School League, in which many other area parochial schools participate. BFC divides teams into Varsity and Junior Varsity, occasionally offering a Freshman level.

  • Bishop Foley's athletic program has participation from over 75% of their students in at least one sport. Varsity, Junior Varsity, and Freshman teams compete year-round, offering opportunities for students at all skill levels.
  • Eleven varsity sports are offered for young men: football, cross country, soccer, ice hockey, basketball, wrestling, track & field, baseball, tennis, lacrosse, and bowling.
  • Eleven varsity sports are offered for young women: swimming, tennis, cheerleading, pom/dance, basketball, volleyball, track & field, softball, cross country, soccer, and bowling.
  • Bishop Foley's Varsity Baseball team won three consecutive Division 3 State Titles,[7] a first in the state's history.

Extracurricular activities

Bishop Foley offers many extracurricular and after-school programs besides athletics. The clubs range from the robotics team to key club to chess club, among others. The Robotics team has been very successful in recent years. In 2007, the team known as "The Foley Freeze", competed in the World Championships in the Georgia Dome in Atlanta and became world divisional champions tying for 3rd in the world. They team has won over 25 awards in the past four years and competes as part of F.I.R.S.T. (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology).

Other popular clubs include Debate team, Pep Band, Choir, Foley Ambassadors, Art Club, Right to Life Club, and chapters of the National Honor Society and Key Club. The Bishop Foley Drama Club produces four stage shows every year: a full-length play in the fall, a shorter play performed for elementary school children in December, a full-length musical in early spring, and a shorter student-directed piece at the end of the academic year.[8]

Special Events

Students attend weekly mass in the chapel at the school. High school students attend monthly mass at Guardian Angels parish in Madison Heights; the school uses their busses to transport students and staff, and classes are shortened to accommodate the change. Once per semester, the sacrament of reconciliation is hosted at the school, made possible by multiple area priests donating a half day to the students. Each grade goes on a yearly retreat, with juniors and seniors staying overnight at an off-campus location. Students participate in a yearly service event called Be the Difference Day, during which they are put into groups to volunteer at venues such as animal shelters, crisis pregnancy centers, local parishes and schools, St. Vincent de Paul Thrift Stores, and food banks.

The school hosts an annual fun day called Venturelympics in the middle of the second semester, during which each grade competes against the other three for various prizes such as a day off or an out-of-uniform day. Activities include events such as cake decorating, truck pulling, partner dancing, lip-syncing, and obstacle courses. Bishop Foley also hosts a schoolwide dodgeball tournament during Catholic Schools Week; students form co-ed teams of 5-7 and compete, bracket-style.

Notable alumni

Many current staff members are also alumni.

Notes and references

  1. ↑ NCA-CASI. "NCA-Council on Accreditation and School Improvement". Archived from the original on April 29, 2009. Retrieved 2009-06-23.
  2. ↑ "Bishop Foley Catholic High School". www.bishopfoley.org. Retrieved 2016-03-08.
  3. ↑ "Academic Departments". bishopfoley.org. Retrieved 11 June 2017.
  4. ↑ "Dual Enrollment". bishopfoley.org. Retrieved 11 June 2017.
  5. ↑ "Graduation Requirements". bishopfoley.org. Retrieved 11 June 2017.
  6. ↑ "Fast Facts". bishopfoley.org. Retrieved 11 June 2017.
  7. ↑ Purcell, Jared. "Bishop Foley baseball is heating up as championship season arrives". mlive.com. MLive. Retrieved 11 June 2017.
  8. ↑ "Performing Arts". bishopfoley.org. Retrieved 12 June 2017.
  9. ↑ Hinds, Julie (2013-02-02). "'Grosse Pointe Blank' writer Tom Jankiewicz found a place in film history". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved 2013-02-04.
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