Archbishop Alter High School
Encyclopedia
Archbishop Alter High School, also known as Alter High School, is a Catholic high school
in Kettering, Ohio
, United States
. It is operated by the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Cincinnati
and is named after Archbishop Karl Joseph Alter.
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. Archbishop Karl Alter was born on August 18, 1885 and died on August 23, 1977.
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 670 students, 71 faculty, and over 425 courses.
of Mount St. Joseph, and lay teachers.
The school provides AP classes
, which offer the prospect of college credit as well as a weighted grade. Alter students have already proven to consistently exceed state and national test averages due, in part, to the supplemental course offerings they can take. Alter graduates commonly attend the University of Cincinnati
, University of Dayton
, Wright State University
, Miami University
(Ohio), Ohio State University
, and Ohio University
.
The Taylor Lab is a new feature at Alter. Provided by a generous donation and operated by Sinclair College, it offers students a way to take classes for college credit and remain on Alter's campus. Students may use this facility to take practice exams for ACT, SAT and other academic tests. They may also work on college résumés in the lab.
The Marching Knights are the musical ambassadors for Archbishop Alter High School. In addition to their musical support and performances at football games, the band also appears at festivals and in parades in the community. The Marching Knights compete on the Mid States Band Association (MSBA) circuit which includes bands from Ohio, Indiana, Kentucky and Michigan. The band also competed for the first time at the Bands of America Grand Nationals Competition in Indianapolis, Indiana in November 2009, and placed 17th in Class A. The Marching Knights returned the following year and placed 10th in Class A. The program was refreshed in 2007 under the leadership of the new Director of Bands, Todd Tucker.
Recent shows include:
Also, recently, plans have been officially released to build a new wing of the school that will house new facilities for the performing arts. Proposed plans include a 500 seat auditorium, workshop space to build sets, and a classroom for the use of teaching theatre classes.
(NJCL).
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. Although they have a four lane track, 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
. The head football coach is Ed Domsitz and he has led the alter knights to 3 consecutive final four state championship appearances, and 3 straight regional championships.
is also a big rival. The game is the last one of the season every year and always brings a sellout crowd. Rival Carroll High School
is becoming a bigger rivalry game each year, as it is becoming more important in the outcome of the GCL.
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 and local Centerville 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.
are common on the days of rivalry games.
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.
. This may be sung on occasions such as a bus ride after a victory, but is most commonly sung on the bus after a football victory. After the game, the team will go over to the student section and sing the fight song.
Catholic school
Catholic schools are maintained parochial schools or education ministries of the Catholic Church. the Church operates the world's largest non-governmental school system...
in Kettering, Ohio
Kettering, Ohio
As of the census of 2000, there were 57,502 people, 25,657 households, and 15,727 families residing in the city. The population density was 3,077.4 people per square mile . There were 26,936 housing units at an average density of 1,441.6 per square mile...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. It is operated by the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Cincinnati
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Cincinnati
The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Cincinnati covers the southwest region of the U.S. state of Ohio, including the greater Cincinnati and Dayton metropolitan areas. The Archbishop of Cincinnati is Most Rev...
and is named after Archbishop Karl Joseph Alter.
History
In October of 1958, Catholics of the DaytonDayton, Ohio
Dayton is the 6th largest city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Montgomery County, the fifth most populous county in the state. The population was 141,527 at the 2010 census. The Dayton Metropolitan Statistical Area had a population of 841,502 in the 2010 census...
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. Archbishop Karl Alter was born on August 18, 1885 and died on August 23, 1977.
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
Pastor
The word pastor usually refers to an ordained leader of a Christian congregation. When used as an ecclesiastical styling or title, this role may be abbreviated to "Pr." or often "Ps"....
of St. Albert the Great Parish in Kettering, as its first President.
The school is currently composed of 670 students, 71 faculty, and over 425 courses.
Faculty
Alter High School's faculty is composed of diocesan priests of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, Sisters of CharitySisters of Charity
Many religious communities have the term Sisters of Charity as part of their name. The rule of Saint Vincent for the Daughters of Charity has been adopted and adapted by at least sixty founders of religious orders around the world in the subsequent centuries....
of Mount St. Joseph, and lay teachers.
Academics
A student's school day begins at 8:00 AM and ends at 3:05 PM and the schedule was changed for the 2009-2010 school year to include eight 46-minute class periods and a 25-minute lunch period, with three minutes between each period to change classes. This change has allowed the students more flexibility with choosing electives or study halls within their schedules.The school provides AP classes
Advanced Placement Program
The Advanced Placement program is a curriculum in the United States and Canada sponsored by the College Board which offers standardized courses to high school students that are generally recognized to be equivalent to undergraduate courses in college...
, which offer the prospect of college credit as well as a weighted grade. Alter students have already proven to consistently exceed state and national test averages due, in part, to the supplemental course offerings they can take. Alter graduates commonly attend the University of Cincinnati
University of Cincinnati
The University of Cincinnati is a comprehensive public research university in Cincinnati, Ohio, and a part of the University System of Ohio....
, University of Dayton
University of Dayton
The University of Dayton is a private Roman Catholic university operated by the Society of Mary located in Dayton, Ohio...
, Wright State University
Wright State University
Wright State University is a comprehensive public university with strong doctoral, research, and undergraduate programs, rated among the 260 Best National Universities listed in the annual "America's Best Colleges" rankings by U.S. News and World Report. Wright State is located in Fairborn, Ohio,...
, Miami University
Miami University
Miami University is a coeducational public research university located in Oxford, Ohio, United States. Founded in 1809, it is the 10th oldest public university in the United States and the second oldest university in Ohio, founded four years after Ohio University. In its 2012 edition, U.S...
(Ohio), Ohio State University
Ohio State University
The Ohio State University, commonly referred to as Ohio State, is a public research university located in Columbus, Ohio. It was originally founded in 1870 as a land-grant university and is currently the third largest university campus in the United States...
, and Ohio University
Ohio University
Ohio University is a public university located in the Midwestern United States in Athens, Ohio, situated on an campus...
.
The Taylor Lab is a new feature at Alter. Provided by a generous donation and operated by Sinclair College, it offers students a way to take classes for college credit and remain on Alter's campus. Students may use this facility to take practice exams for ACT, SAT and other academic tests. They may also work on college résumés in the lab.
Performing Arts at Alter
Alter prides itself that the opportunities it provides to its students are not exclusively academic and athletic - the school offers a number of avenues through which students can express their creative muse. The performing arts not only exist at Alter, they thrive.Bands
Though it may not be comparable in size to many of the other high school programs in the area, the Alter High School music department has seen growth in recent years. Alter students can choose to participate in multiple ensembles during the year: the Marching Knights, Jazz Band, Pep Band, Wind Ensemble, String Ensemble, Woodwind and Brass Ensembles, Winter Guard and Winter Drumline.The Marching Knights are the musical ambassadors for Archbishop Alter High School. In addition to their musical support and performances at football games, the band also appears at festivals and in parades in the community. The Marching Knights compete on the Mid States Band Association (MSBA) circuit which includes bands from Ohio, Indiana, Kentucky and Michigan. The band also competed for the first time at the Bands of America Grand Nationals Competition in Indianapolis, Indiana in November 2009, and placed 17th in Class A. The Marching Knights returned the following year and placed 10th in Class A. The program was refreshed in 2007 under the leadership of the new Director of Bands, Todd Tucker.
Recent shows include:
- 2005 Killer Queen (The Music of Queen)
- 2006 The Music of Styx
- 2007 Cirque Du Soleil
- 2008 Salvation
- 2009 In the Dark of [K]night
- 2010 The Gift
- 2011 New Orleans Sketches
Theatre
In recent years, Alter has gained acclaim within the Miami Valley for excellence in arts education. The Castle Players, the school's theatre department, have expanded their repertoire over the past few years to include a number of well-done shows (see archive list below). Each year, a fall play and spring musical featuring student (and sometimes adult) actors, are presented for the community to enjoy. Another unique facet of the program is Alter's Thespian Troupe (#5802), a chapter of an international organization dedicated to the celebration of achievement in theatre arts education. Alter proudly takes place in many thespian-related activities.Also, recently, plans have been officially released to build a new wing of the school that will house new facilities for the performing arts. Proposed plans include a 500 seat auditorium, workshop space to build sets, and a classroom for the use of teaching theatre classes.
Past Productions
- 2011-12 - Willy Wonka & the Chocolate FactoryWilly Wonka & the Chocolate FactoryWilly Wonka & the Chocolate Factory is a 1971 musical film adaptation of the 1964 novel Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl, directed by Mel Stuart, and starring Gene Wilder as Willy Wonka. The film tells the story of Charlie Bucket as he receives a golden ticket and visits Willy...
, Bye Bye Birdie - 2010-11 - The Snow QueenThe Snow QueenThe Snow Queen is a fairy tale by author Hans Christian Andersen . The tale was first published in 1845, and centers on the struggle between good and evil as experienced by a little boy and girl, Kai and Gerda....
, Oklahoma!Oklahoma!Oklahoma! is the first musical written by composer Richard Rodgers and librettist Oscar Hammerstein II. The musical is based on Lynn Riggs' 1931 play, Green Grow the Lilacs. Set in Oklahoma Territory outside the town of Claremore in 1906, it tells the story of cowboy Curly McLain and his romance... - 2009-10 - Once Upon a Pandora's Box, CinderellaCinderella"Cinderella; or, The Little Glass Slipper" is a folk tale embodying a myth-element of unjust oppression/triumphant reward. Thousands of variants are known throughout the world. The title character is a young woman living in unfortunate circumstances that are suddenly changed to remarkable fortune...
- 2008-09 - Miss Nelson is Missing!Miss Nelson is Missing!"Miss Viola Swamp" is styled as "the meanest substitute teacher in the whole world", in three children's picture books by Harry Allard and James Marshall, entitled Miss Nelson is Missing!, Miss Nelson is Back, and Miss Nelson Has a Field Day....
, GreaseGrease (musical)Grease is a 1971 musical by Jim Jacobs and Warren Casey. The musical is named for the 1950s United States working-class youth subculture known as the greasers. The musical, set in 1959 at fictional Rydell High School , follows ten working-class teenagers as they navigate the complexities of love,... - 2007-08 - Inspecting CarolInspecting CarolInspecting Carol is a comedic play by Daniel J. Sullivan, written in 1991 and produced by the Seattle Repertory Theatre. It is a variation on the play The Inspector General by Nikolai Gogol....
, Thoroughly Modern MillieThoroughly Modern Millie (musical)Thoroughly Modern Millie is a musical with music by Jeanine Tesori, lyrics by Dick Scanlan, and a book by Richard Morris and Scanlan. Based on the 1967 film of the same name, Thoroughly Modern Millie tells the story of a small-town girl, Millie Dillmount, who comes to New York City to marry for... - 2006-07 - Romeo and JulietRomeo and JulietRomeo and Juliet is a tragedy written early in the career of playwright William Shakespeare about two young star-crossed lovers whose deaths ultimately unite their feuding families. It was among Shakespeare's most popular archetypal stories of young, teenage lovers.Romeo and Juliet belongs to a...
, Little Shop of HorrorsLittle Shop of Horrors (musical)Little Shop of Horrors is a rock musical, by composer Alan Menken and writer Howard Ashman, about a hapless florist shop worker who raises a plant that feeds on human blood. The musical is based on the low-budget 1960 black comedy film The Little Shop of Horrors, directed by Roger Corman... - 2005-06 - Arsenic and Old LaceArsenic and Old Lace (play)Arsenic and Old Lace is a play by American playwright Joseph Kesselring, written in 1939. It has become best known through the film adaptation starring Cary Grant and directed by Frank Capra. The play was directed by Bretaigne Windust, and opened on January 10, 1941. On September 25, 1943, the...
, SeussicalSeussicalis a musical by Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty based on the books of Dr. Seuss that debuted on Broadway in 2000. The play's story is a rather complex amalgamation of many of Seuss's most famous books. After a Broadway run, the production spawned two US national tours and a UK tour... - 2004-05 - Epic ProportionsEpic ProportionsEpic Proportions is a play by Larry Coen and David Crane.Set in the 1930s, it tells the story of brothers Benny and Phil, who go to the Arizona desert to work as extras in the Biblical epic film Exeunt Omnes, directed by the mysteriously reclusive D.W. DeWitt. All 3400 extras are supervised by...
, GodspellGodspellGodspell is a musical by Stephen Schwartz and John-Michael Tebelak. It opened off Broadway on May 17, 1971, and has played in various touring companies and revivals many times since, including a 2011 revival now playing on Broadway... - 2003-04 - The Odd CoupleThe Odd CoupleThe Odd Couple is a 1965 Broadway play by Neil Simon, followed by a successful film and television series, as well as other derivative works and spin offs, many featuring one or more of the same actors. The plot concerns two mismatched roommates, one neat and uptight, the other more easygoing and...
, How to Succeed in Business Without Really TryingHow to Succeed in Business Without Really TryingHow to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying is a musical with music and lyrics by Frank Loesser and book by Abe Burrows, Jack Weinstock, and Willie Gilbert, based on Shepherd Mead's 1952 book of the same name.... - 2002-03 - The Teahouse of the August MoonThe Teahouse of the August Moon (play)The Teahouse of the August Moon is a 1953 play written by John Patrick adapted from the 1951 novel by Vern Sneider. It was later adapted for film in 1956, and the 1970 Broadway musical, Lovely Ladies, Kind Gentlemen.-Plot summary:...
, 42nd Street42nd Street (musical)42nd Street is a musical with a book by Michael Stewart and Mark Bramble, lyrics by Al Dubin, and music by Harry Warren. The 1980 Broadway production, directed by an ailing Gower Champion and orchestrated by Philip J. Lang, won the Tony Award for Best Musical and became a long-running hit... - 2001-02 - The Witching Hour, Anything GoesAnything GoesAnything Goes is a musical with music and lyrics by Cole Porter. The original book was a collaborative effort by Guy Bolton and P.G. Wodehouse, heavily revised by the team of Howard Lindsay and Russel Crouse. The story concerns madcap antics aboard an ocean liner bound from New York to London...
- 2000-01 - The RivalsThe RivalsThe Rivals, a play by Richard Brinsley Sheridan, is a comedy of manners in five acts. It was first performed on 17 January 1775.- Production :...
, Into the WoodsInto the WoodsInto the Woods is a musical with music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and book by James Lapine. It debuted in San Diego at the Old Globe Theatre in 1986, and premiered on Broadway in 1987. Bernadette Peters' performance as the Witch and Joanna Gleason's portrayal of the Baker's Wife brought acclaim... - 1999-2000 - The VisitThe VisitThe Visit is a 1956 tragicomic play by Swiss dramatist Friedrich Dürrenmatt.-Plot summary:...
, Will Rogers FolliesWill Rogers FolliesThe Will Rogers Follies is a musical with a book by Peter Stone, lyrics by Betty Comden and Adolph Green, and music by Cy Coleman.It focuses on the life and career of famed humorist and performer Will Rogers, using as a backdrop the Ziegfeld Follies, which he often headlined, and describes every... - 1998-99 - Don't Drink the WaterDon't Drink the Water (play)Don't Drink the Water is a play written by Woody Allen that premiered on Broadway on November 17, 1966 and played for 598 performances at three different Broadway theaters. The farce takes place inside an American Embassy behind the Iron Curtain...
, Guys and Dolls - 1997-98 - The Musical Comedy Murders of 1940The Musical Comedy Murders of 1940The Musical Comedy Murders of 1940 is a short comedy by John Bishop. The play was first performed at the Circle Repertory Company in their theatre at 99 Seventh Avenue South in New York City, later moving to Broadway, opening on April 6, 1987, in The Longacre Theatre. The both productions were...
, Little Shop of HorrorsLittle Shop of Horrors (musical)Little Shop of Horrors is a rock musical, by composer Alan Menken and writer Howard Ashman, about a hapless florist shop worker who raises a plant that feeds on human blood. The musical is based on the low-budget 1960 black comedy film The Little Shop of Horrors, directed by Roger Corman...
Clubs and activities
The school's Latin Club functions as a local chapter of both the Ohio Junior Classical League (OJCL) and the National Junior Classical LeagueNational Junior Classical League
The National Junior Classical League is a youth organization of secondary school students sponsored by the American Classical League...
(NJCL).
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 Cincinnati League).Home basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
and volleyball
Volleyball
Volleyball is a team sport in which two teams of six players are separated by a net. Each team tries to score points by grounding a ball on the other team's court under organized rules.The complete rules are extensive...
games are played in the school gym
Gym
The word γυμνάσιον was used in Ancient Greece, that mean a locality for both physical and intellectual education of young men...
. The school also owns a soccer field encircled by a track, where the soccer team plays its home games and the track and field
Track and field
Track and field is a sport comprising various competitive athletic contests based around the activities of running, jumping and throwing. The name of the sport derives from the venue for the competitions: a stadium which features an oval running track surrounding a grassy area...
team practices. Although they have a four lane track, 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
Fairmont High School (Ohio)
Kettering Fairmont High School is located in Kettering, Ohio, United States. It is the only public high school in the Kettering City School District and is home to approximately 2,500 students, making it the 9th largest high school in Ohio.-History:...
or Centerville High School
Centerville High School (Centerville, Ohio)
Centerville High School is a public school of secondary education for grades 9–12 located in Centerville, Ohio, situated ten miles south of Dayton...
. The head football coach is Ed Domsitz and he has led the alter knights to 3 consecutive final four state championship appearances, and 3 straight regional championships.
Ohio High School Athletic Association State Championships
- Boys' FootballAmerican footballAmerican football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
- 2008, 2009 - Boys' BasketballBasketballBasketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
- 1978, 1999, 2001 - Boys' Cross CountryCross country runningCross country running is a sport in which people run a race on open-air courses over natural terrain. The course, typically long, may include surfaces of grass and earth, pass through woodlands and open country, and include hills, flat ground and sometimes gravel road...
- 1996 - Boys' GolfGolfGolf is a precision club and ball sport, in which competing players use many types of clubs to hit balls into a series of holes on a golf course using the fewest number of strokes....
- 1992, 1993, 1998, 1999 - Boys' Soccer - 1987, 1988, 1996, 1998
- Boys' VolleyballVolleyballVolleyball is a team sport in which two teams of six players are separated by a net. Each team tries to score points by grounding a ball on the other team's court under organized rules.The complete rules are extensive...
- 2010 - Girls' VolleyballVolleyballVolleyball is a team sport in which two teams of six players are separated by a net. Each team tries to score points by grounding a ball on the other team's court under organized rules.The complete rules are extensive...
- 2002, 2003, 2006 - Girls' BasketballBasketballBasketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
- 2008 - Girls' Cross CountryCross country runningCross country running is a sport in which people run a race on open-air courses over natural terrain. The course, typically long, may include surfaces of grass and earth, pass through woodlands and open country, and include hills, flat ground and sometimes gravel road...
- 2007
Other Athletic Accomplishments
- Boys' TennisTennisTennis is a sport usually played between two players or between two teams of two players each . Each player uses a racket that is strung to strike a hollow rubber ball covered with felt over a net into the opponent's court. Tennis is an Olympic sport and is played at all levels of society at all...
- team state champs 1976* - Girls' TennisTennisTennis is a sport usually played between two players or between two teams of two players each . Each player uses a racket that is strung to strike a hollow rubber ball covered with felt over a net into the opponent's court. Tennis is an Olympic sport and is played at all levels of society at all...
- team state champs 2001* - Boys VolleyballVolleyballVolleyball is a team sport in which two teams of six players are separated by a net. Each team tries to score points by grounding a ball on the other team's court under organized rules.The complete rules are extensive...
- team state champs 2011*
- *Note - The OHSAA does not hold team state championship tournaments for tennis or boys volleyball. Rather, they are administered by the state coaches' association of their respective sports.
Boys' Sports
A full listing of the boys' sports offered at Alter High School:- GolfGolfGolf is a precision club and ball sport, in which competing players use many types of clubs to hit balls into a series of holes on a golf course using the fewest number of strokes....
- Soccer
- FootballAmerican footballAmerican football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
- Cross CountryCross country runningCross country running is a sport in which people run a race on open-air courses over natural terrain. The course, typically long, may include surfaces of grass and earth, pass through woodlands and open country, and include hills, flat ground and sometimes gravel road...
- BasketballBasketballBasketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
- BowlingBowlingBowling Bowling Bowling (1375–1425; late Middle English bowle, variant of boule Bowling (1375–1425; late Middle English bowle, variant of boule...
- Swimming & DivingSwimming (sport)Swimming is a sport governed by the Fédération Internationale de Natation .-History: Competitive swimming in Europe began around 1800 BCE, mostly in the form of the freestyle. In 1873 Steve Bowyer introduced the trudgen to Western swimming competitions, after copying the front crawl used by Native...
- WrestlingScholastic wrestlingScholastic wrestling, sometimes known in the United States as Folkstyle wrestling, is a style of amateur wrestling practised at the high school and middle school levels in the United States. This wrestling style is essentially Collegiate wrestling with some slight modifications. It is currently...
- Ice HockeyIce hockeyIce hockey, often referred to as hockey, is a team sport played on ice, in which skaters use wooden or composite sticks to shoot a hard rubber puck into their opponent's net. The game is played between two teams of six players each. Five members of each team skate up and down the ice trying to take...
- LacrosseLacrosseLacrosse is a team sport of Native American origin played using a small rubber ball and a long-handled stick called a crosse or lacrosse stick, mainly played in the United States and Canada. It is a contact sport which requires padding. The head of the lacrosse stick is strung with loose mesh...
- BaseballBaseballBaseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
- Track & Field
- VolleyballVolleyballVolleyball is a team sport in which two teams of six players are separated by a net. Each team tries to score points by grounding a ball on the other team's court under organized rules.The complete rules are extensive...
- QuidditchQuidditchQuidditch is a fictional sport developed by British author J. K. Rowling for the Harry Potter series of novels. It is described as an extremely rough, but very popular, semi-contact sport, played by wizards and witches around the world...
Girls' Sports
A full listing of the girls' sports offered at Alter High School:- CheerleadingCheerleadingCheerleading is a physical activity, sometimes a competitive sport, based on organized routines, usually ranging from one to three minutes, which contain the components of tumbling, dance, jumps, cheers, and stunting to direct spectators of events to cheer on sports teams at games or to participate...
- Soccer
- Cross CountryCross country runningCross country running is a sport in which people run a race on open-air courses over natural terrain. The course, typically long, may include surfaces of grass and earth, pass through woodlands and open country, and include hills, flat ground and sometimes gravel road...
- GolfGolfGolf is a precision club and ball sport, in which competing players use many types of clubs to hit balls into a series of holes on a golf course using the fewest number of strokes....
- VolleyballVolleyballVolleyball is a team sport in which two teams of six players are separated by a net. Each team tries to score points by grounding a ball on the other team's court under organized rules.The complete rules are extensive...
- TennisTennisTennis is a sport usually played between two players or between two teams of two players each . Each player uses a racket that is strung to strike a hollow rubber ball covered with felt over a net into the opponent's court. Tennis is an Olympic sport and is played at all levels of society at all...
- BasketballBasketballBasketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
- BowlingBowlingBowling Bowling Bowling (1375–1425; late Middle English bowle, variant of boule Bowling (1375–1425; late Middle English bowle, variant of boule...
- GymnasticsGymnasticsGymnastics is a sport involving performance of exercises requiring physical strength, flexibility, agility, coordination, and balance. Internationally, all of the gymnastic sports are governed by the Fédération Internationale de Gymnastique with each country having its own national governing body...
- Swimming & DivingSwimming (sport)Swimming is a sport governed by the Fédération Internationale de Natation .-History: Competitive swimming in Europe began around 1800 BCE, mostly in the form of the freestyle. In 1873 Steve Bowyer introduced the trudgen to Western swimming competitions, after copying the front crawl used by Native...
- SoftballSoftballSoftball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of 10 to 14 players. It is a direct descendant of baseball although there are some key differences: softballs are larger than baseballs, and the pitches are thrown underhand rather than overhand...
- Track & Field
- Powderpuff Football
- QuidditchQuidditchQuidditch is a fictional sport developed by British author J. K. Rowling for the Harry Potter series of novels. It is described as an extremely rough, but very popular, semi-contact sport, played by wizards and witches around the world...
Rivalries
Alter High has a number of sports rivals. The school's biggest football game each year is against arch rival Kettering Fairmont High School (Ohio). This game is held on the Friday following Alter High School's first week of classes. Chaminade-Julienne High SchoolChaminade-Julienne High School
Chaminade Julienne Catholic High School is a private, co-educational, center-city, Catholic high school located in downtown Dayton, Ohio, operated by the Society of Mary and the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur. It is named after Blessed William Joseph Chaminade and St...
is also a big rival. The game is the last one of the season every year and always brings a sellout crowd. Rival Carroll High School
Carroll High School (Dayton, Ohio)
Carroll High School is a private, coeducational high school located in Dayton, Ohio. It is run by the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Cincinnati...
is becoming a bigger rivalry game each year, as it is becoming more important in the outcome of the GCL.
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 and local Centerville 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.
Spirit
Alter High School is marked by the school spirit of its students. Every Friday is 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. A tradition of dress up "themes" for each of the home football games has developed as a fun display of school spirit. Past themes include "Knight Night" and "Alter Teacher Night". The theme of the homecoming game is always "Toga Night" Pep ralliesPep rally
Pep rallies are events that occur primarily in the United States and Canada. A pep rally is a gathering of people, typically students of middle school, high school and college age, before a sports event. The purpose of such a gathering is to encourage school spirit and to support members of the...
are common on the days of rivalry games.
Alma Mater
The Alma MaterAlma mater
Alma mater , pronounced ), was used in ancient Rome as a title for various mother goddesses, especially Ceres or Cybele, and in Christianity for the Virgin Mary.-General term:...
is played by the school band
Band (music)
In music, a musical ensemble or band is a group of musicians that works together to perform music. The following articles concern types of musical bands:* All-female band* Big band* Boy band* Christian band* Church band* Concert band* Cover 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
Index finger
The index finger, , is the first finger and the second digit of a human hand. It is located between the first and third digits, between the thumb and the middle finger...
extended as if pointing, holding the position at the end of each line until the song ends.
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.
Fight Song
Although not as common as the Alma Mater, Alter High School also has a fight songFight song
A fight song is primarily an American and Canadian sports term, referring to a song associated with a team. In both professional and amateur sports, fight songs are a popular way for fans to cheer for their team...
. This may be sung on occasions such as a bus ride after a victory, but is most commonly sung on the bus after a football victory. After the game, the team will go over to the student section and sing the fight song.
Watch the knights ride into the fray,
Shouting, cheering, we're on our way.
Banners flying, bravely 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.
Notable alumni
- John PaxsonJohn PaxsonJohn MacBeth Paxson is a retired American basketball player. He is currently the VP of Basketball Operations of the National Basketball Association's Chicago Bulls.-High school career:...
(NBA, player and GM) - Jim PaxsonJim PaxsonJames Joseph "Jim" Paxson is an American retired professional basketball player. A first round selection of the Portland Trail Blazers in the 1979 NBA Draft, Paxson played for the Portland and the Boston Celtics of the NBA from 1979-1990 and was twice an All-Star...
(NBA, player and GM) - Jeff GrahamJeff GrahamJeffery Todd Graham is a former professional American football player who was drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the second round of the 1991 NFL Draft. A 6'2", 206-lb...
(NFL) - Jeff RebouletJeff RebouletJeffrey Allen Reboulet was a Major League Baseball infielder. He is an alumnus of Louisiana State University....
(MLB) - Nick MangoldNick Mangold-New York Jets:Replacing Kevin Mawae at center, Mangold had a good rookie season, allowing only 0.5 sacks, committed only 3 penalties and made all the line calls. Mangold was considered to be the best prospect at center in the last 15 years according to NFL draft expert Mike Mayock...
(NFL) - Amy FergusonAmy FergusonAmy Ferguson is an actress who appeared briefly as a character called Dana in a scene from the 2004 movie Garden State. The movie was written, directed and starred by Zach Braff, it also featured Natalie Portman. Ferguson is currently working on other projects. She was in the 2007 film Weapons and...
(actress) - Timothy Keating (Admiral, USN (ret))