St. Hubert High School. Photo/Shannon McDonald

Arletta Pardoe Bateman thought she’d never see her St. Hubert High School class ring again.

A member of the school’s first graduating class, Bateman gave the ring to a boyfriend while living in Baltimore shortly after graduating. She returned to Philadelphia, but the ring didn’t.

Until earlier this week, as the Inquirer reported Wednesday morning. continue reading »

As soon as word came the the Blue Ribbon Commission has recommended St. Hubert High School for closure, the community began an effort to fight back.

The commission, which made recommendations Friday that the Archdiocese of Philadelphia close or consolidate 48 schools, tapped the Torresdale Avenue all-girls high school for closure at the end of the school year. Students and administration were given the news at noon Friday ahead of the commission’s afternoon news conference. continue reading »

The concept design for the Philadelphia Sports Zone planned for Upper Holmesburg. Image courtesy of Philadelphia Sports Zone.

Months of talks culminated Friday with an event to debut plans for the Philadelphia Sports Zone.

With entertainment from the Masquerade Band, architects of the proposed facility, Craig Schmitt and Scott Nixon, of Ewing Cole, unveiled the plans.

The proposed sports complex for youth teams was brought about by Father Judge High School soccer coaches Jose Ibarra , John Dunlop and Tony Parson, as well as Maggie Fulmer, a Northeast native and graduate of St. Hubert’s.

Fulmer said the idea has been a few years in the making. “Jose and I sat down and figured out what we wanted to do for the Northeast,” she said. “We talked about different facilities we could bring in and what we needed. We did a lot of research – a few years of research. We brought people together, and here we are.” continue reading »

Photo by Christopher Wink.

For the second year in a row, Northeast residents came together to reflect on history, celebrate progress and embrace the future.

The second annual Northeast Philadelphia Hall of Fame honored five new members yesterday at an induction ceremony at Holy Family University.

“It’s always a pleasure to reflect on individuals or groups — living or dead — who ebody the spirit of Northeast Philadelphia,” said Sr. Francesca Onley, president of Holy Family. continue reading »

Ryan Director of Admissions Pam McPeak discusses the school's shadow program with students, junior Christopher Gatton (left) and freshman Julio Polanco (center).

Patrick Boylan and Tom McGowan, both juniors at Northeast Catholic High School, would have ruled the school as seniors next year – McGowan as a National Honor Society member ranked fifth in his class and Boylan as a legacy student, following his father, grandfather, uncles and older brothers by attending the school.

Now, both Boylan and McGowan will find themselves adapting to new schools for senior year, after the Archdiocese of Philadelphia announced plans to close Northeast Catholic, opened in 1926 on the border of Frankford and Kensington, and Cardinal Dougherty High School, opened in 1956 in Olney, at the end of the academic year due to waning enrollment.

“When I first heard North was closing, I was really mad,” McGowan, who is enrolled at Father Judge High School for next year, said. “I was mad that this announcement came out of nowhere and I was even more upset that North was closing a year before my senior year. I was confused because I didn’t know where I was going to go next year and what was going to happen with my scholarship.” continue reading »

The Archdiocese of Philadelphia has announced the closing of two local high schools. Both Cardinal Dougherty and Northeast Catholic will be closed at the end of the 2009-2010 school year.

“It is with a heavy heart that I make this announcement,” Cardinal Justin Rigali said. “We must make difficult decisions in the prayerful hope for a bright future.”

According to Rigali, the closings come as a result of a comprehensive study of all Archdiocesan schools. The study ended in early September. Today, notices were sent to parents from both schools, and letters have been mailed to every family. continue reading »