Bishop Watterson High School (Columbus, Ohio)
Encyclopedia
Bishop Watterson High School is a parochial, college preparatory high school located in Columbus, Ohio
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, the second Bishop of Columbus who served until April 17, 1899.
(NJCL).
Columbus, Ohio
Columbus is the capital of and the largest city in the U.S. state of Ohio. The broader metropolitan area encompasses several counties and is the third largest in Ohio behind those of Cleveland and Cincinnati. Columbus is the third largest city in the American Midwest, and the fifteenth largest city...
.
History
Bishop Watterson High School, founded in 1954 under the auspices of the Diocese of Columbus, is a co-educational college preparatory institution serving the Central Ohio area. Bishop Watterson’s tradition of excellence was acknowledged when the United States Department of Education recognized the institution as an exemplary school. Bishop Watterson High School was the first co-educational diocesan high school in Franklin County. It opened its doors in the fall of 1954 in honor of Bishop John Ambrose WattersonJohn Ambrose Watterson
John Ambrose Watterson was an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as Bishop of Columbus from 1880 until his death in 1899.-Biography:...
, the second Bishop of Columbus who served until April 17, 1899.
Academics
Bishop Watterson has established a tradition of excellence. The tradition begins with a comprehensive curriculum taught by qualified educators in a supportive environment. From rigorous college preparatory courses to summer study abroad experiences, students at Bishop Watterson receive the individualized attention that allows them to thrive academically. In addition to elective courses, students at Bishop Watterson must complete a minimum of four English courses, four science courses, four mathematics courses, four theology courses, three social studies courses, two foreign language courses, two wellness courses, and two visual arts courses. Bishop Watterson's reputation is strengthened by the college choices of many of its graduates. Each year, some Bishop Watterson alumni attend the University Notre Dame, and other elite universities. While many students choose to attend out of state universities, The Ohio State University is the most popular choice among graduates. Bishop Watterson maintains an almost 100% graduation rate.Clubs and activities
The school's Latin Club functions as a local chapter of both the Ohio Junior Classical League (OJCL) and 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).
Athletics
Athletics are very important at Watterson. In the past, Bishop Watterson has had many teams compete for state championship titles. Sports that are offered include baseball, basketball, bowling, cross country, diving, field hockey, football, golf, soccer, softball, swimming, tennis, track and field, volleyball and wrestling. In addition to two gymnasiums and a weight room, Watterson's campus includes four tennis courts, a football practice field, soccer field, and a track. Watterson does not have their own football stadium because of lack of space. Instead Watterson rents use of the football stadium at old North High School from Columbus City Schools for their home games.Study Abroad Experiences
Bishop Watterson High School is well known in Central Ohio for its study abroad experiences and foreign exchange programs. The school's foreign language department employs the American Council for International Studies to take students abroad over spring break holidays or the summer. Among many nations, students most frequently elect to travel to Spain, France, England, Wales, Ireland, Italy, Sicily, Switzerland, and Greece to learn about and experience European culture. Foreign exchanges, also sponsored by the foreign language department, are offered annually with Bishop Watterson's sister school in northern France. The French institution, Saint Joe, is located in Le Havre, France on the English Channel. Future programs will include exchanges with high schools in Italy and Spain or Mexico.Capital Campaign
Bishop Watterson High School continues to enhance its facilities for students and faculty. A $12 million addition has been in progress at the school since 2005. When completed in early 2010, the two phase addition will include a new science and chemistry lab department, several multi-purpose rooms, a second gymnasium, a new guidance wing and career center, health center, sound proof instrumental and vocal rooms, and new computer labs and conference rooms. Additionally, most existing classrooms have been updated to include smart boards, projector systems, flat panel televisions, and additional outlets for laptop chargers. Two anonymous alumni have donated more than $1 million each to the capital campaign.Dress Codes
Watterson students must abide by strict dress codes. Girls must wear knee socks and maroon jumpers, while boys' hair must be off the collar, ears, and eyebrows. Boys must wear a white oxford dress shirt and a tie with black pants embroidered with the schools initials. Boys and girls may wear polo shirts only in September and May and must wear button dress shirts in all other months. Students must pay to dress casually, and only on occasion.Ohio High School Athletic Association State Championships
- 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....
– 1972, 1973, 1974, 1976, 2004 - 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...
- 1988, 1991, 1997 - Girls' Field HockeyField hockeyField Hockey, or Hockey, is a team sport in which a team of players attempts to score goals by hitting, pushing or flicking a ball into an opposing team's goal using sticks...
– 1995, 2005, 2009 - 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...
– 2002, 2010
Famous Alumni
- Zach Mauric
- Tyler Liston
- Christine Wilson (1984-2003) http://www.christinewilsonfoundation.org/