Don Bosco Preparatory High School (Don Bosco Prep) is a private, Roman Catholic high school for young men in ninth through twelfth grades. Founded in 1915 as a boarding school for Polish boys, by the Salesians of Don Bosco, a religious community of priests and brothers, the school is situated on a 35-acre (14 ha) campus in Ramsey, in Bergen County, New Jersey, United States. The school is operated under the suprvision of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Newark.
Located in northern New Jersey, approximately 2 mi (3 km) from the New Jersey/New York border, the school draws students from a wide geographical region, including Bergen, Passaic, Morris, Essex and Sussex counties in New Jersey as well as surrounding counties in New York.
As of the 2013-14 school year, the school had an enrollment of 871 students and 60.9 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student-teacher ratio of 14.3:1. The school's student body was 86.1% White, 5.7% Hispanic, 5.7% Black and 2.4% Asian.
Video Don Bosco Preparatory High School
History
In its early days, from 1915 to 1973, Don Bosco housed resident students who lived on campus, on the upper floors of St. Johns Hall. Freshmen were in the center wing while upperclassmen stayed on the top floor in the north annex. During the 1960s, approximately 75 or 10% of the students were resident/on-campus. Resident students attended Mass each morning and were allowed to go home each weekend starting around 1963. Prior to that, weekend home visits were periodic.
Maps Don Bosco Preparatory High School
Accreditation
The school has been accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools since 1960. Don Bosco Prep is a member of the Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development, the National Catholic Educational Association, the National Association of Secondary School Principals, the National Honor Society and the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association.
Course offerings
Courses available include:
Mathematics
- Algebra I (College Prep, Honors)
- Geometry (College Prep, Honors, Advanced Honors)
- Algebra II/Trigonometry (College Prep, Honors)
- Pre-Calculus (College Prep, Honors)
- Statistics,
- AP Calculus AB and BC
Literature
- Composition and Literature (College Prep, Honors)
- American Literature (College Prep, Honors)
- British Literature (College Prep, Honors)
- AP English Language and Composition
- AP English Literature and Composition
- Creative Writing
World languages
- Latin
- French
- Italian
- German
- Spanish
- Mandarin Chinese
- AP Spanish Language
Social Studies
- World History (College Prep, Honors)
- AP United States History (College Prep, Honors)
- AP European History
- AP United States Government and Politics
- AP Psychology
- Economics
- Criminal Justice
- Intro to Law
- Sociology
Sciences
- Biology (College Prep, Honors)
- Chemistry (College Prep, Honors)
- Physics (College Prep, Honors)
- AP Biology
- AP Chemistry
- AP Physics 1 and 2
- Anatomy and Physiology
Theology
- Catholic Morality
- Theology of the Body
- Hebrew Scripture
- New Testament Scripture
- Catholic Sacraments
- Catholic Social Teachings
- Theology of Marriage
- Philosophy
Fine arts
- AP Studio Art
- Musical Arts
Computer sciences
- Computer Applications
- Web Design
- Visual BASIC
- AP Computer Science
Athletics
The Don Bosco Ironmen compete in the Big North Conference, a super conference of some 40 public and private high schools in northeastern New Jersey that operates under the supervision of the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA). In the 2009-10 school year, the school competed in the North Jersey Tri-County Conference, which was established on an interim basis to facilitate realignment. Until the NJSIAA's 2009 realignment, the school had participated in Division C of the Northern New Jersey Interscholastic League, which was made up of high schools located in Bergen County, Essex County and Passaic County, and was separated into three divisions based on NJSIAA size classification.
The athletic teams are nicknamed the Ironmen and the school colors are maroon and white. In 2008 they were ranked as the number nine sports program in the nation by Sports Illustrated.
The school was the Group A winner of the NJSIAA ShopRite Cup in 2006-07. The award recognized the school for achieving a tie for third in boys' soccer, first in boys' cross country, first in football, second in wrestling, second in boys' indoor track and field relays, a tie for third in baseball, second in boys' golf, a tie for third in boys' lacrosse and second in boys' track and field.
Fall
The Prep fields football, soccer and cross country teams in the fall.
Cross country
The cross country team won its first New Jersey State Meets of Champions in 1992 under the leadership of Coach Tony Monks and Bill Barry. The team returned as Champions in 2007 and 2009 along with Non-Public A Titles in four consecutive years from 2006 to 2009. The Ironmen placed third at the Nike Northeast Regional Race, and placed 10th at Nike Team Nationals in Portland, Oregon in 2007. They ended Christian Brothers Academy's 11-year winning streak at the state group championships with their string of four wins, and in 2005 the freshman cross country team ended the 19-year streak of CBA in the NJCTCs. The squad finished sixth in the country at Nike Cross Nationals in 2008. The Ironmen were the best team not to make nationals in 2009, finishing 23rd in the country. Under the guidance of head coach Kevin Kilduff, the program was named North Jersey's "Program of the Decade" for 2000-2009.
Soccer
The soccer team were state runners-up in 2009 and are a perennial competitor for the state title. In 2009, they defeated Bergen Catholic High School in the Bergen County Tournament final 3-0, behind goals from Dylan Renna, Gio Esposito and Ryan McNamara. The Bergen County Coaches Association named Don Bosco's Ian Joyce and Steve Franchini to its All Decade Team, but selected Ramapo High School in 2010 as its Program of the Decade, despite both teams having won five championships in the ten-year span, citing the fact that Ramapo had beaten Don Bosco three of the four times the teams had played each other in the county championship.
Football
Don Bosco Prep's football program has been a perennial contender for the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association Non-Public Group IV championship. The Ironmen have won 15 state championships, were declared winners in 1968, 1970 and 1973, and won playoff tournaments in 1983-84, 1990, 2002-03, 2006-11 and in 2015, defeating Saint Joseph Regional High School by a score of 21-10 to win the program's first title in four years. In 2009 the Ironmen became the first ever New Jersey team to be selected as the High School Football National Champion, finishing atop the lists of both the USA Today and the National Prep Poll rankings. Don Bosco repeated in 2011 as the National Champion of both the USA Today and the National Prep Poll.
Prior to achieving National Champion status, the Don Bosco football team ended the 2002 season ranked No. 8 in the nation in USA Today's "Super 25" ranking of the best high school football teams in the country, was ranked No. 2 in the nation in the 2003 season and ranked No. 7 in the 2006 season. The team finished first overall in USA Today's regional rankings for the East at the end of those same three seasons.
In 2002, 2003, 2006 and 2010 the football team won the Star Ledger Trophy as the newspaper's top-ranked program in the New Jersey.
On September 27, 2008, the nationally ranked football team traveled to California, where they defeated powerhouse De La Salle High School 23-21 on national television, the winning margin coming with 10 seconds left on a 19-yard field goal. A year later Don Bosco hosted De La Salle, defeating them 30-6 on September 12, 2009. Later that year the Ironmen travelled to Prattville, Alabama to take on another national powerhouse. This game was televised nationwide by ESPN. The Ironmen came out on top, winning 35-24. Don Bosco finished the season with a perfect 12-0 record and, following a number of weeks ranked second in the nation, was chosen 2009 National Champion when 2008 National Champion Saint Thomas Aquinas of Fort Lauderdale, Florida lost in the Florida State semi-finals.
While becoming one of the most notable high school football teams of the past few years, Bosco has sent more than 40 football players to Division I colleges across the country.
Winter
Basketball
The basketball Ironmen won the Non-Public A state championship in 1944 (defeating Camden Catholic High School in the tournament final), 1966 (vs. Christian Brothers Academy), 1968 (vs. Trenton Cathedral), 1970 (vs. Christian Brothers) and 2017 (vs. St. Augustine Preparatory School).
Bowling
The bowling team won the overall state championship in 1991 and 1993.
Ice hockey
The hockey team dates back to the 1960s. The team currently plays in the Gordon Conference. Consistently ranked among the top five teams in the state, the Ironmen have been to two state championships, and won the 2012 Gordon Conference Championship, four Bergen County championships, a Van Cott Cup and numerous other championships. Coach Greg Toskos, the all-time leading scorer at Don Bosco, has led the Ironmen since the 2006-07 season (his first two seasons as co-coach) and has a career 116-79-23 record.
Swimming
The swimming program was introduced in 2005. On January 5, 2008, Don Bosco swim team defeated Bergen Catholic High School, 98-72. It was Bergen Catholic's first dual meet loss in 23 years.
Fencing
The fencing team in the 2011-2012 season got second place in Section 4 district championships and was undefeated, going 13-0.
In the 2012-2013 fencing season, the Ironmen were again undefeated in District 4 dual meets, placed second in the District 4 tournament, and, for the first time in team history, advanced past the first round of the State Tournament to achieve a ranking of sixth in the state.
Indoor track and field
The indoor track team and field team has risen to national prominence in the past few years, as the Ironman quartet of Steven Wexler, Jason Baker, Conor Sullivan and anchor leg Sharif Webb won the National Championship in the 3200m (4 × 800 m) relay at the 2006 National Scholastic Indoor Championships held in New York City. Four years later at the NSIC, the 2010 4x1 mile relay, led by an astonishing anchor from Michael Belgiovine (and also including Rafael Vargas, Howard Rosas and Phelan McCormack) earned second team All-American status for their runner-up finish in that race. In addition, the Ironmen have won County championships indoors for five consecutive years and have won numerous league/conference and invitational titles. The team captured the NJSIAA Non-Public "A" State Title at the Bennett Indoor Complex in Toms River, NJ. The program was named "Program of the Decade" by the Bergen County Coaches Association.
Wrestling
The wrestling team won the 2007 Non-Public North A state sectional championship with a 32-28 win against rival Bergen Catholic High School.
Razohnn Gross became the school's first individual wrestling champion when he won the 2012 title at 195 pounds in overtime vs. Eric McMullen of North Bergen High School. Gross won his second title in 2013 with a victory over Anthony Messner of Franklin High School.
Spring
The school offers seven varsity sports in the spring season including baseball, golf, lacrosse, track & field, tennis, crew and volleyball.
The lacrosse, golf, and volleyball teams are teams on the rise. The golf team finished undefeated in 2009 and was ranked within the top five teams in the state.
Outdoor track and field
The Ironmen are six-time state champions in Spring track with wins in 1955, 1961, and 2006, and three consecutive titles in 2009, 2010, and 2011. The track team has won county championships for several years running, and won many league and conference titles in the now-defunct NNJIL before joining the Big North Conference. In 2007 the Sprint Medley Relay (Jason Kelsey, Matthew Cato, Marvin Whilby and Sharif Webb) captured a national title at the Nike Outdoor Nationals held in Greensboro, North Carolina. In 2009, the 4x1 mile relay team earned All-American status with a fifth-place finish at the Nike Outdoor Nationals. The shuttle hurdle relay team, 4 × 400 m relay team and javelin thrower Tyler Yee medalled at the New Balance Outdoor Nationals in June 2011. Don Bosco Prep has become one of the elite high school track and field programs in the nation, culminating in an eighth-place finish at the Nike Track Nationals, held in Eugene, Oregon in June 2011.
The team was voted as "Program of the Decade" for 2000-2009 by the Record's track reporter, Paul Schwartz. Head Coach Rob DeCarlo Jr. was named "Coach of the Decade" for his efforts in leading the team since 2003, ending a 45-year state title drought in 2006. DeCarlo was honored as New Jersey Boys' Track "Coach of the Year" by The Star-Ledger in June 2011.
Baseball
The baseball team has won the county title nine times since 2000 and the state championship six times; the team won the Non-Public A North title in 1963 and won the State Non-Public A championship in 1979 (vs. Notre Dame High School), 1986 (vs. Red Bank Catholic High School), 1988 (vs. Holy Cross Academy), 1989 (vs. Saint Joseph Regional High School), 1994 (vs. Monsignor Donovan High School) and 2008 (vs. Christian Brothers Academy). The 2008 squad posted a record of 33-0 and won the Non-Public A state championship, and were ranked No. 1 in the nation by ESPNHS50 and No. 2 by USA Today. Former ML pitcher Mike Stanton coached the team in 2010 before stepping down. In 2011 they went 25-1 and were 18th in the nation, according to MaxPreps Xcellent 25. In 2012 Don Bosco was pre-ranked at No. 6 in the nation by MaxPreps; because of a bad start they fell off, but still finished the season 26-4.
Rowing
The rowing team has won two Scholastic Rowing Association of America National championships and two Stotesbury Cup gold medals. They have at one point possessed the title in every men's sculling category. The rowing team has only competed against Bergen Catholic High School once during the spring sprint season, in the Junior Quad head race qualifier at the 2010 Stotesbury Cup Regatta. In 2012 the varsity double (Aaron McAvey and Brian Sullivan) won the SRAA national championships. In 2017 the coxed lightweight four won the SRAA national championships under Coach Scott Menken.
Lacrosse
The boys' lacrosse team won the Non-Public A state championship in 2013, defeating Seton Hall Prep in the tournament final.
Activities and clubs
Don Bosco Prep offers clubs and activities for student involvement, both on and off-campus:
- Academic
- Chess Club
- Computer Club
- Creative Writing Club
- Debate Team
- French Club
- German Culture Club
- Health Occupations Students of America
- Italian Club
- Junior Statesmen of America
- Latin Club
- Math Team
- Mock Trial
- Model UN
- Robotics Team
- Spanish Club
- Arts
- Art Club
- Bagpipe & Drum Corp
- Chapel Concert Series
- Concert Band
- Concert Choir
- Drama Club
- Liturgical Music Group
- Stage Crew
- String Orchestra
- Athletic
- Frisbee Team
- Intramurals
- Outdoors Club
- Ping Pong Club
- Ski and Snowboard Club
- Catholic and service
- Habitat for Humanity (Youth United)
- Mission Club
- Pro-Life Club
- Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD)
- Theology of the Body Club
- Youth Ministry Program
- Honor societies
- English Honor Society
- French Honor Society
- German Honor Society
- Italian Honor Society
- Math Honor Society
- National Honor Society
- Science Honor Society
- Spanish Honor Society
- Publications
- Don Bosco Prep Magazine
- Literary Magazine
- Newspaper - Ironman
- Yearbook - Bosconian
- Special interest
- Amnesty International
- Don Bosco Grilling Society
- Black Student Association
- DBP Ambassadors
- Environmental Awareness
- Irish American Culture Society
- Ironmen Fight Cancer
- LINK - Liberty in North Korea
- MSG Varsity
- Peer Mediation
- Prom Committees
- Spectrum
- SpongeBob Club
- Student Council
- TV Club
- Wilderness Survival Club
Concert series
In order to raise awareness of the arts at Don Bosco Prep, the music department and alumni began a series of concerts. Some feature religious or classical music and are included in the Mary, Help of Christians Chapel Concert Series. Other concerts, organized by the alumni association, present more contemporary music. Billed artists have included:
- Chanticleer, San Francisco all-male a cappella choir
- Liza Minnelli, winner of a Tony, Emmy, Oscar, and Grammy
- John Pizzarelli (who graduated in 1977) and Bucky Pizzarelli, famed jazz artists
- Philip Smith, Principal Trumpeter of the New York Philharmonic
- Gordon Turk, concert organist
- Yale Whiffenpoofs, the oldest U.S. collegiate a cappella group
Administration
Core members of the school's administration are:
- Fr. James Heuser, Director / President
- John Stanczak, Principal
- Fr. Jack Janko, Vice Director and Facilities Director
- Robert Fazio, Acting Principal and Assistant Principal for Academics
- Chris Moore, Assistant Principal for Student Affairs
Notable alumni
- Matthew Bogdanos, New York City Assistant District Attorney and author of Thieves of Baghdad
- John Colaneri (born 1981), television presenter, reality TV show host and home makeover expert.
- Anthony Carrino (born 1978), television presenter, reality TV show host, home makeover expert, photographer
- Jason Patric (born 1966 as Jason Patric Miller), actor, appeared in The Lost Boys and Sleepers
- John Pizzarelli (born 1960), jazz guitarist and singer
- Brigadier General Timothy E. Trainor (class of 1979), 13th Dean of the Academic Board at the United States Military Academy (West Point)
- Don Van Natta Jr. (born 1964), Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist at The New York Times; bestselling author of First Off the Tee
- Alexander M. Zaleski (1906-1975), Bishop of Lansing from 1965 until his death
- Athletes
- Leonte Carroo (born 1994), wide receiver for the Miami Dolphins
- Mike Dietze (born 1989), professional soccer player who currently plays for the Philadelphia Fury of the American Soccer League
- Michael Ray Garvin (born 1986), former wide receiver for the Las Vegas Locomotives
- Ryan Grant (born 1982), former running back for the Green Bay Packers
- Thomas Hennessy (born 1994), long snapper for the New York Jets
- Ian Joyce (born 1985), goalkeeper for the Colorado Rapids who played professionally in England for Southend United
- Thomas McNamara (born 1991), professional soccer player who plays as a midfielder for New York City FC in Major League Soccer
- Al-Quadin Muhammad, defensive end for the New Orleans Saints of the National Football League.
- Patrick Murray (born 1991), placekicker for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- C. J. Nitkowski (born 1973), former MLB pitcher
- Elijah Shumate (born 1994), safety for the Jacksonville Jaguars
- Matt Simms (born 1988), former quarterback at the University of Tennessee; son of former New York Giants' quarterback Phil Simms; signed by the Buffalo Bills
- Mike Teel (born 1986), former record-setting quarterback at Rutgers University; drafted by the Seattle Seahawks; WR coach at Rutgers University
- Brian Toal (born 1985), former linebacker/fullback for the New York Jets of the NFL; linebacker/running back, Boston College; 2004 Big East Rookie of the Year; 2003 Gatorade Player of the Year
- Justin Trattou (born 1988), defensive end on the Minnesota Vikings; former player on the Florida gators football team
- Peter Weber (born 1992), member of the 2016 USA Olympic Track and Field team, where he placed 4th in the Javelin competition
- Corey Wootton (born 1987), former defensive end for the Chicago Bears, Minnesota Vikings and Detroit Lions; former defensive end at Northwestern University; became a 4th round draft pick of the Chicago Bears
References
External links
- Don Bosco Preparatory High School website
- Data for Don Bosco Preparatory High School, National Center for Education Statistics
- Don Bosco Athletics
- Early illustration, Don Bosco Institute Ramsey, NJ
Source of the article : Wikipedia
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