The Bishop's School (La Jolla, California)
Encyclopedia
The Bishop's School is an independent college preparatory Episcopalian day school located at 7607 La Jolla Boulevard in La Jolla, a community of San Diego. Bishop's offers courses for students in the sixth through twelfth grades and is well respected for its 8:1 student-teacher ratio.
of the Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles
, with gifts of land and money by notable La Jolla, California philanthropists Ellen Browning Scripps
and Virginia Scripps, her half-sister. Originally it was a boarding school for girls only. The earliest parts of the campus were designed by architect Irving Gill
, responsible for a multitude of buildings in downtown La Jolla. The current tower building was designed by Carleton Winslow
as a replacement for the original Gill tower.
The school has been designated a historical landmark by the city of San Diego. Bentham Hall (designed by Irving Gill) was listed as historic in 1994 and the remainder of the campus in 1998. Designated elements include Scripps Hall (Irving Gill, 1910–11), Gilman Hall (Irving Gill and Louis Gill, 1916), St. Mary's Chapel (Carleton Winslow, 1916), The Tower (Carleton Winslow, 1930), Wheeler J. Bailey Library (Carleton Winslow, 1935), and gardens.
The school was led from 1921 to 1953 by Headmistress Caroline Cummins, who has an academic hall named after her on the campus. Upon the arrival of Headmaster Michael Teitelman in 1983, the School's reputation in academics, arts and athletics grew.
Bishop's became co-educational after merging with the San Miguel School of San Diego, California in 1971. In June 1983, the boarding department was closed. The school expanded to include sixth grade in the fall of 2009.
and a master's from Columbia University
. She is the eleventh head of school in Bishop's 100-year history.
The College Board
Advanced Placement Program ranked the AP Biology program the strongest in the nation for two consecutive years (2004 & 2005), as Bishop's achieved the highest rate of achievement for medium sized schools (300-799 students).
and in Chicago's Symphony Hall, as well as on The Today Show
. The group won its 17th consecutive superior rating at the California Music Educators local choir
festival in March 2011.
Bishop's is known throughout Southern California as a water polo
power, winning the California Interscholastic Federation
(C.I.F.) title in boys water polo in its district in 2002-2006, 2008, and 2010. The girls water polo team won in 2000-2007 and 2011.
The 1997 football team, led by future college All American and NFL safety Shane Walton, won the C.I.F. State Championship.
The 2010 football team earned the school's second State Championship after finishing the season 14-0 under second year coach Joel Allen. The Knights defeated Brookside Christian (Stockton) 40-14 in the C.I.F. State Championship Division IV Bowl Game. The team was also crowned "Coastal League" Champions and C.I.F. San Diego Section - Division IV Champions.
The equestrian team - one of only a few in San Diego County - finished its third season in 2010.
The 2011 Men's Cross Country team were Coastal League and CIF champions led by seniors Hoagie Hoagland and Will Wilde Botta.
The 2011 JV Cross Country team led by Senior Bobak Pousti were Conference Champions.
History
Bishop's was founded in 1909 by the Right Reverend Joseph Horsfall Johnson, at that time BishopBishop
A bishop is an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight. Within the Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox Churches, in the Assyrian Church of the East, in the Independent Catholic Churches, and in the...
of the Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
, with gifts of land and money by notable La Jolla, California philanthropists Ellen Browning Scripps
Ellen Browning Scripps
Ellen Browning Scripps was an American philanthropist who was the founding donor of several major institutions in Southern California.-Biography:...
and Virginia Scripps, her half-sister. Originally it was a boarding school for girls only. The earliest parts of the campus were designed by architect Irving Gill
Irving Gill
Irving John Gill , American architect, is considered a pioneer of the modern movement in architecture. He designed several buildings considered examples of San Diego's best architecture.-Biography:...
, responsible for a multitude of buildings in downtown La Jolla. The current tower building was designed by Carleton Winslow
Carleton Winslow
Carleton Monroe Winslow , also known as Carleton Winslow Sr., was an American architect, and key proponent of Spanish Colonial Revival architecture in Southern California in the early 20th Century....
as a replacement for the original Gill tower.
The school has been designated a historical landmark by the city of San Diego. Bentham Hall (designed by Irving Gill) was listed as historic in 1994 and the remainder of the campus in 1998. Designated elements include Scripps Hall (Irving Gill, 1910–11), Gilman Hall (Irving Gill and Louis Gill, 1916), St. Mary's Chapel (Carleton Winslow, 1916), The Tower (Carleton Winslow, 1930), Wheeler J. Bailey Library (Carleton Winslow, 1935), and gardens.
The school was led from 1921 to 1953 by Headmistress Caroline Cummins, who has an academic hall named after her on the campus. Upon the arrival of Headmaster Michael Teitelman in 1983, the School's reputation in academics, arts and athletics grew.
Bishop's became co-educational after merging with the San Miguel School of San Diego, California in 1971. In June 1983, the boarding department was closed. The school expanded to include sixth grade in the fall of 2009.
Leadership
Aimeclaire Lambert Roche is the head of school. A graduate of Phillips Exeter Academy, she earned an undergraduate degree from Harvard UniversityHarvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
and a master's from Columbia University
Columbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
. She is the eleventh head of school in Bishop's 100-year history.
Rankings
In 2007, The Wall Street Journal recognized Bishop's for its high matriculation rate to eight selective American colleges.The College Board
College Board
The College Board is a membership association in the United States that was formed in 1900 as the College Entrance Examination Board . It is composed of more than 5,900 schools, colleges, universities and other educational organizations. It sells standardized tests used by academically oriented...
Advanced Placement Program ranked the AP Biology program the strongest in the nation for two consecutive years (2004 & 2005), as Bishop's achieved the highest rate of achievement for medium sized schools (300-799 students).
Arts
The Bishop's Singers have performed in New York's Carnegie HallCarnegie Hall
Carnegie Hall is a concert venue in Midtown Manhattan in New York City, United States, located at 881 Seventh Avenue, occupying the east stretch of Seventh Avenue between West 56th Street and West 57th Street, two blocks south of Central Park....
and in Chicago's Symphony Hall, as well as on The Today Show
The Today Show
Today is an iconic American morning news and talk show airing every morning on NBC. Debuting on January 14, 1952, it was the first of its genre on American television and in the world. The show is also the fourth-longest running American television series...
. The group won its 17th consecutive superior rating at the California Music Educators local choir
festival in March 2011.
Athletics
The school (known in competition as the "Knights") currently offers 40 varsity and junior varsity teams. 70 percent of the Upper School student body competes in one or more sport.Bishop's is known throughout Southern California as a water polo
Water polo
Water polo is a team water sport. The playing team consists of six field players and one goalkeeper. The winner of the game is the team that scores more goals. Game play involves swimming, treading water , players passing the ball while being defended by opponents, and scoring by throwing into a...
power, winning the California Interscholastic Federation
California Interscholastic Federation
The California Interscholastic Federation is the governing body for high school sports in the state of California. It mirrors similar governing bodies in other states; however, it differs from some of the others in that it covers most high schools in the state of California, both public and...
(C.I.F.) title in boys water polo in its district in 2002-2006, 2008, and 2010. The girls water polo team won in 2000-2007 and 2011.
The 1997 football team, led by future college All American and NFL safety Shane Walton, won the C.I.F. State Championship.
The 2010 football team earned the school's second State Championship after finishing the season 14-0 under second year coach Joel Allen. The Knights defeated Brookside Christian (Stockton) 40-14 in the C.I.F. State Championship Division IV Bowl Game. The team was also crowned "Coastal League" Champions and C.I.F. San Diego Section - Division IV Champions.
The equestrian team - one of only a few in San Diego County - finished its third season in 2010.
The 2011 Men's Cross Country team were Coastal League and CIF champions led by seniors Hoagie Hoagland and Will Wilde Botta.
The 2011 JV Cross Country team led by Senior Bobak Pousti were Conference Champions.
Publications
Bishop's has several student publications. Noteworthy publications include:- Reflections, the Upper School Literary Magazine, is an annual publication that accepts prose, poetry, and art of all kinds. In 2007, Reflections was one of four magazines to receive a Superior rating by the National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE) program to Recognize Excellence in Student Literary Magazines.
- The Daily Urinal, a daily newspaper which was founded in 2004 and is posted in boys' and girls' restrooms. Although originally intended to be solely a humorous publication, the "DU" has tackled both important and controversial issues at Bishop's. It was at one point published online as well.
- The Tower, the Upper School student newspaper published monthly
- Dragonwings, the Middle School Literary Magazine
Spirit Team
The Dungeon (Bishop's worthy replacement for cheerleaders) is a co-educational spirit team that cheers at various "Knights" athletic events.Notable Alumni
- Andrew CampbellAndrew Campbell (yachtsman)Andrew Campbell is an American yachtsman best known for his outstanding performances at the national collegiate level.-Sailing career:...
— 2002, yachtsman, four time All-American and 2008 SummerSailing at the 2008 Summer OlympicsSailing at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing was held from August 9 to 21. The competition took place in Qingdao, at Qingdao International Marina....
OlympicsOlympic GamesThe Olympic Games is a major international event featuring summer and winter sports, in which thousands of athletes participate in a variety of competitions. The Olympic Games have come to be regarded as the world’s foremost sports competition where more than 200 nations participate...
competitor - Andrew CunananAndrew CunananAndrew Phillip Cunanan was an American serial killer who murdered at least five people, including fashion designer Gianni Versace, during a three-month period in 1997, ending with Cunanan's suicide, at age 27...
— 1987, serial killerSerial killerA serial killer, as typically defined, is an individual who has murdered three or more people over a period of more than a month, with down time between the murders, and whose motivation for killing is usually based on psychological gratification...
, 449th member of FBI’s Ten Most Wanted FugitivesFBI Ten Most Wanted FugitivesThe FBI Ten Most Wanted Fugitives list arose from a conversation held in late 1949 between J. Edgar Hoover, Director of the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation, and William Kinsey Hutchinson, International News Service Editor-in-Chief, who were discussing ways to promote capture of the... - M.F.K. Fisher — epicureanEpicurean (disambiguation)Epicurean, in its original meaning, refers to the philosophy of Epicureanism, founded and developed by the Greek philosopher Epicurus, c. 300 BC...
, culinary historian, and memorist, of whom W. H. AudenW. H. AudenWystan Hugh Auden , who published as W. H. Auden, was an Anglo-American poet,The first definition of "Anglo-American" in the OED is: "Of, belonging to, or involving both England and America." See also the definition "English in origin or birth, American by settlement or citizenship" in See also...
once said "I do not know of anyone in the United States who writes better prose." - J. J. Isler — 1981, yachtswoman, 1992 Summer OlympicsSailing at the 1992 Summer OlympicsSailing/Yachting is a Olympic sport starting from the Games of the 1st Olympiad . With the exception of 1904 and possible 1916 sailing was always a part of the Olympic program....
medalist and America's CupAmerica's CupThe America’s Cup is a trophy awarded to the winner of the America's Cup match races between two yachts. One yacht, known as the defender, represents the yacht club that currently holds the America's Cup and the second yacht, known as the challenger, represents the yacht club that is challenging...
competitor - Lee Jenkins — 1995, senior writer, Sports IllustratedSports IllustratedSports Illustrated is an American sports media company owned by media conglomerate Time Warner. Its self titled magazine has over 3.5 million subscribers and is read by 23 million adults each week, including over 18 million men. It was the first magazine with circulation over one million to win the...
- Gary JulesGary JulesGary Jules is an American singer-songwriter, best known for his cover of Tears for Fears' third single "Mad World", which he recorded together with friend Michael Andrews for the film Donnie Darko. It became the UK Christmas Number One single of 2003...
— 1987, singer-songwriter - Eric LaxEric LaxEric Lax is an American biographer and author of On Being Funny: Woody Allen and Comedy as well as several other books and articles.He graduated from Hobart College in 1966 with a major in English. Upon graduating he joined the Peace Corps serving in Chuuk and the Caroline Islands in the western...
— 1962, editor, writer and author - Chris O'Riordan — 1998, minor league baseball player, Stanford University, Texas Rangers and San Diego Padres
- Bonnie St. JohnBonnie St. JohnBonnie St. John is the first African-American to win medals in Winter Paralympic competition as a ski racer. In the 1984 Winter Paralympics in Innsbruck, Austria, St...
— the first African-American woman to win a silver medal at the Paralympics - Kevin StadlerKevin StadlerKevin Stadler is an American professional golfer.Stadler was born in Reno, Nevada, and is the son of former Masters champion and 13-time winner on the PGA Tour, Craig Stadler. He moved with his family to Denver, Colorado, where he attended Kent Denver School, excelling on the school's golf team...
— 1998, professional golfer - Colin Walsh — 2007, baseball player, Stanford University, St. Louis Cardinals Organization
- Shane WaltonShane Walton-External links:* *...
— 1998, NFL defensive back - Brett White — 1978, CEO of CB Richard EllisCB Richard EllisCBRE Group, Inc. , a Fortune 500 and S&P 500 company headquartered in Los Angeles, is the world’s largest commercial real estate services firm . The Company has approximately 31,000 employees , and serves real estate owners, investors and occupiers through more than 300 offices worldwide...
- Melissa WinterMelissa WinterMelissa Winter was named by Barack Obama's office of presidential transition on November 24, 2008, as Deputy Chief of Staff to the First Lady....
— 1985, Deputy Chief of Staff for First Lady Michelle ObamaMichelle ObamaMichelle LaVaughn Robinson Obama is the wife of the 44th and incumbent President of the United States, Barack Obama, and is the first African-American First Lady of the United States...
.
See also
- San Diego Historical Landmarks in La Jolla, California
- Primary and secondary schools in San Diego, CaliforniaPrimary and secondary schools in San Diego, CaliforniaThis is a list of primary and secondary schools in San Diego, California, organized by school district.The San Diego Unified School District, also known as San Diego City Schools, is the school district that serves the majority of the city, it includes 113 elementary schools, 23 middle schools, 4...
External links
- The Bishop's School (official)
- The Bishop's Alumni Blog