Archbishop Ryan students like the ones in Sr. Alice Hess’ math class will be eligible for college credits as part of a partnership with Holy Family University. Photo/Bill Achuff

The Archdiocese of Philadelphia’s Office of Catholic Education announced Wednesday a partnership between Holy Family University and Archbishop Ryan High School.

Ryan students who graduate with a GPA of at least 2.5 will be eligible for admission into Holy Family with application fees waived. While in high school, Ryan students will be able to take dual-credit classes at Holy Family that meet their graduation requirements and count toward university credit. continue reading »

The City of Philadelphia will hold a property tax meeting March 14 at Archbishop Ryan High School. Image/Google Maps

Northeast Philadelphia residents are invited to Archbishop Ryan High School Thursday night to get answers about their property assessments and taxes.

The meeting is one of several organized by the City of Philadelphia to help residents understand Actual Value Initiative. continue reading »

Archbishop Ryan High School students use Skype to video conference with former MLB player Jim Abbott for the One Book, One School program. Photo: Steven Mitchell

Students and faculty at Archbishop Ryan High School had the opportunity last week to video conference with former major league baseball pitcher and author Jim Abbott, who was born without a right hand.

The video conference was about Abbott’s new book, Imperfect: An Improbable Life, written by Abbott and Tim Brown. The book was selected for the school’s reading program, One Book, One School. continue reading »

Flickr photo/Kombizz

The holiday season brings many collections — from food to toys to pajamas and winter coats, organizations and businesses across the city use the holidays as a way to pitch in a little more and provide for those who need it most.

This year, Archbishop Ryan High School has decided to help an even more underserved community. continue reading »

Students competing in Archbishop Ryan's container design project, led by Sister Alice Hess. Photo/Michelle Alton

The following was submitted by Archbishop High School student Andrew Byun about the school’s beloved Sr. Alice Hess and her container design challenge. Included are photos by NEast Philly photographer Bill Achuff.

“Excellence is not a skill. It is an attitude.” The quote of Ralph Marston  cannot describe Archbishop Ryan’s Varsity Mathletes more perfectly than it does.

Led by Sister Alice, the Mathletes enter every season with the attitude to win, achieving excellence through their constant hard work and dedication. This year, the team won yet another championship, adding to their dynasty in the past two decades. The team outmatched strong powerhouses and consistent rivals such as LaSalle and Holy Ghost to add another trophy to their already colorful collection. This year, captains Joe Detrich and Rebecca Jones carried the team throughout the season, inspiring others to also achieve the best. continue reading »

The doors of St. Hubert's and the other 16 Archdiocese of Philadelphia high schools will be open this week for prospective students. File photo/Shannon McDonald

High schools around the Archdiocese of Philadelphia are opening their doors this week and inviting prospective students to “see our schools.”

Part of the Faith in the Future Foundation’s marketing effort, the open houses will give future high school students and their families a chance to tour schools and speak with students and faculty.

Events began last night at Pope John Paul  II High School, and will continue through Sunday at all 17 high schools.

• St. Hubert’s High School: Thursday, March 22, 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
• Archbishop Ryan High School: Saturday, March 24, 2 p.m to 4 p.m.
• Father Judge High School, Sunday, March 25, 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Team Ryan after the St. Baldrick's shave. Photo courtesy of Archbishop Ryan High School

A group of faculty and students at Archbishop Ryan High School might be feeling a chill these days after opting to shave their heads for St. Baldrick’s Day.

The broke out the razors for the St. Baldrick’s Foundation, which funds childhood cancer research projects.

“Team Ryan” faculty has raised more than $50,000 for the foundation over the last three years, and this year, four students joined the action.

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For four years of our lives – definitely some of the most formative years of our lives – high schools become our second homes. In addition to classes, we might spend additional time there for extracurricular activities. Then when we go home, we do additional work for school that essentially permeates into the rest of our lives. With so much time dedicated to school, we doubtless have an endless amount of stories and other memories, many of which are hopefully positive.

If we are ever forced to part ways with our childhood homes – whether due to moving, foreclosure or something more negative – we would feel like a part of us has been destroyed. We feel as if our identities are being stripped away, identities that soon exist as nothing more than memories.

I believe the case is the same in terms of how we view our school years. Now I am lucky enough to have gone to a high school, Archbishop Ryan, that will hopefully be immune to closure for a long time due to it being co-ed and its accessible location with the Archdiocese of Philadelphia – right on the edge of Northeast Philadelphia and almost right down the street from the suburbs.

Not everybody is so lucky. Take my parents, for instance. My father graduated from Northeast Catholic, which closed in June 2010. And the Archdiocese suggested at the beginning of the month that my mom’s alma mater, St. Hubert’s, be one of nearly 50 schools to close at the end of the school year. The future will be certain once the Archdiocese announces its official decision in mid-February. continue reading »

Dave Kralle at the November 2011 Parkwood Civic Association meeting. Photo/Shannon McDonald

If you go to your neighborhood civic association meeting, chances are you know Dave Kralle. Holme Circle, Bustleton, Parkwood – the residents there know the aide to Councilman Denny O’Brien by name. Before O’Brien’s election to Council, Kralle worked for him at the state level when O’Brien served the 169th Legislative District.

The rest of the city got to meet Kralle earlier this year during O’Brien’s campaign for Council-at-large. Average height, on the thin side and always in a suit and tie, Kralle is as recognizable to district constituents as O’Brien is. That’s likely to work to his advantage if Kralle enters a bid for the now-vacant 169th District seat.

“Denny wants me to run for his old seat in the House of Representatives,” Kralle announced at last night’s Holme Circle Civic Association. continue reading »

Archbishop Ryan Director of Admissions Pam McPeak discussds the school's shadow program with students Christopher Gatton (L) and freshman Julio Polanco (center) as the school prepared to take on displaced North and Dougherty students in 2010. Photo/Morgan Zalot.

UPDATE: It’s being widely reported that St. Hubert’s is among five archdiocesan high schools recommended for closure. The others are West Catholic, Archbishop Prendergast, Monsignor Bonner and Conwell-Egan.

The Archdiocese of Philadelphia will hold a news conference this afternoon to discuss the future of Catholic education in and around Philadelphia. For many, it could mean saying goodbye to their schools.

At 4 p.m., the diocese will livestream the event, which is billed as an announcement of the findings of the Blue Ribbon Commission. continue reading »