The school is named for Michael Joseph Curley, the tenth archbishop of Baltimore and the first archbishop of Washington. It opened in September 1961 with a class of 420 freshmen, and was dedicated on 17 April 1962, by Cardinal Lawrence Shehan.
The building was designed by the local architect Edward H. Glidden and is located on a 33-acre (130,000 m2) campus on the northeast edge of the City of Baltimore.
The first head of school was Fr. Aloysius Balcerak, OFM Conv.. The school's first graduating class matriculated in 1965.
Growth and development
Archbishop Curley High School celebrated its 25th anniversary during the 1985–1986 school year under principal Fr. Gregory Hartmayer (later Archbishop of Atlanta). During that year, a smaller wing was added onto the building to house the instrumental music department facilities, including a concert practice room. Additional athletic facilities were added in an adjacent wing, including the weight room and wrestling room.
Capital Campaign efforts have improved the campus of the school
In 1994, the school appointed the first head of school to also be an alumnus. Fr. Donald Grzymski, OFM Conv. graduated from Curley in 1970. Fr. Grzymski's tenure as principal is most notable for transitioning the school to a president-principal model, where he continued as head of school in the role of the Curley's first president. Under his leadership, the school undertook its first capital campaign, !Endowing Our Tradition!, with the funds benefiting Curley's endowment. By 1996, Fr. Michael Martin, OFM Conv. '79 had joined Grzymski in the administration as the school's principal.
By 2000, a shift had begun to take place among the faculty and staff. Three notable educators who had served since 1962 all retired after over 30 years each. As E. Patrick Maloney, Richard "Coach" Patry, and Albert E. Frank left the school, a new trend was beginning to emerge. Alumni were increasingly returning to teach and work at their alma mater. By the start of the 21st century, the school had over a dozen such, both in leadership offices and in the classroom.
21st century expansion
Barry Brownlee, Curley's first lay principal
At the start of the 21st century, with the endowment secured, the campus grounds were revamped with new fencing, a concession stand and a new bowl stadium with terraced seating. After the completion of the Bowl project, Fr. Grzymski stepped down as president and Fr. Martin was appointed to succeed him. Fr. Martin in turn was replaced as principal by Mr. Barry Brownlee, who had previously been an assistant under Fr. Martin, and was the first lay principal in the school.
At the end of the 2004–2005 school year, the first phase of a major facilities renaissance was begun. The friary was reconstructed to better reflect the number of religious living on the grounds and the balance of the space provided room for the relocation of the Lawrence Cardinal Shehan Library to the second floor, adjacent to the academic wing of the building. The space previously occupied by the library was renovated to house a new fitness center, with expanded weight training and wrestling room space. An office for the full-time athletic trainer was also added.
A grant provided funds for a rehabilitation of the auditorium seating and, in summer 2005, further renovations funded by a capital campaign provided a new faculty dining room, a relocated bookstore, conference rooms and offices for the development director, athletic director and alumni association. The science laboratories, school roof, tennis courts and student lockers were also rehabilitated.
Capital campaign improvements
The new entrance to the school.
Under the theme "In Giving We Receive" an aggressive capital campaign was launched in 2008 to generate funds for improvements to the campus in advance of the school's 50th anniversary in 2011.
In summer 2008, a second parking lot was added and the interior roads were renovated, reestablishing the Auditorium lobby as the main entrance of the school. An elevator, making the academic wing ADA accessible, was completed in the spring of 2009. The auditorium was also temperature-controlled for air-conditioning and heat. Additional renovations have included the gymnasium, main office, auditorium lobby and the guidance office.
Groundbreaking on the Holthaus Center for the Arts
In May 2009, ground was broken on a $4 million complex, the Holthaus Center for the Fine Arts. The center is named for Gerard E. Holthaus '67, then-CEO of Algeco Scotsman International, who made a $1 million leadership gift to the building campaign. The new facility, completed in May 2010, houses choral and instrumental music practice rooms, as well as storage for Blackfriars' Theatre and space for the Visual Arts Department. Offices for student media and student activities round out the state-of-the-art complex.
Curley celebrated its fiftieth anniversary during the 2010–2011 school year in honor of its founding in 1960 and its opening in 1961. The theme was "A Year of Jubilee".
A capital campaign was begun in 2018 with the theme "Renewing Our Future." The purpose of this campaign is to air-condition the gymnasium, locker rooms and the academic building classrooms.
Leadership transitions
After nine years as president, Fr. Martin announced in November 2009 that he was stepping down at the conclusion of the 2009–2010 school year. His successor, nominated by the school board and the friars and confirmed by Archbishop Edwin O'Brien, was Fr. Joseph Benicewicz '78, OFM Conv.
After assisting Fr. Benicewicz with the transition to the president's office, Mr. Brownlee announced his retirement as principal. His successor was named as Mr. Philip Piercy. Concurrent to this announcement, Mr. Joseph DellaMonica, vice-president of finance and Curley's longest-tenured employee (43 years), also announced his retirement. With additional changes in both assistant principal offices and campus ministry, 2011–2012 had the largest leadership transition in the school's history.
In July 2014, the archdiocese announced that Fr. Benicewicz and Mr. Piercy would not continue in their roles for the 2014–15 academic year. Fr. Donald Grzymski OFM Conv. agreed to serve again as president. Assistant Principal, Mr. Brian Kohler, was promoted to Principal.
Academics
There are three distinct academic pathways available at school. Mobility and flexibility between pathways is a key value of the curricula.
The Honors Pathway
The Honors Pathway offers a rigorous course of study for intellectually gifted students. St. Bonaventure Scholars is a stand-alone program within the Honors Pathway. These students achieve baccalaureate honors through a Capstone project as well as numerous Advanced Placement courses and electives.
The College Prep Pathway
The college-preparatory curriculum offers development in 21st century skills for students performing at or near grade-level ability. Emphasis is placed on an inquiry-based system of study that engages students across disciplines.
The Anthony Pathway
This adaptive learning curriculum offers support and remediation to student with diagnosed learning differences. Resources are provided to assist students of all ability levels achieve their fullest potential.
Campus life
Campus activities
The school has over 30 clubs and co-curricular activities for students to participate in beyond the classroom. Intramural sports provide students an opportunity for informal recreation and competitive play throughout the school year. A comprehensive summer program for both recreation and academic enrichment is also offered annually.
Campus ministry
Curley's Franciscan Youth Ministry program offers students opportunities for prayer, liturgy and fellowship, as well as a commitment to service, social justice and community outreach.
Sport
Archbishop Curley High School was a founding member of the Maryland Interscholastic Athletic Association (MIAA). After the disbanding of the Maryland Scholastic Association (MSA) in 1994, it was Fr. Robert Twele, then Curley's principal, who led the committee to draft the new organization's constitution and its by-laws.[2] Consequently, championships from 1961 to 1994 are from the MSA and championships since 1995 are from the MIAA.
Two annual school concerts, special events, annual interscholastic competition
Jazz Ensemble
Instrumental music
Christopher Campbell
Two annual school concerts, special events, annual interscholastic competition
Jazz Combo
Instrumental music
Christopher Campbell
Special events
Alumni Jazz
Instrumental music
Christopher Campbell
"All That Curley Jazz" annually
Drumline
Instrumental music
vacant
Athletic events, special events, annual interscholastic competition
School Choir
Choral music
Michael Gaffney
Two annual school concerts, special events, school liturgies
Luminare Choir
Choral music
Michael Gaffney
Special events
Schola
Choral music
Michael Gaffney
Special events
Handbell Chorus
Choral music
Michael Gaffney
Christmas concert annually
MasterClass
Choral music
Michael Gaffney
Special arrangement annually
Blackfriars' Theatre
Drama
Edward Lawrence
One fall stage play and one spring musical annually
Art Club
Visual arts
Mark Halcott '97
Annual spring art show
The Cord
School yearbook
Steve Streckfus '93
One issue annually
The Curley Chronicle
School news service
Peter Moon
Monthly issue
Additional information
Connection with Franciscan Order
Curley is managed and staffed by the Order of Friars Minor, Conventual (Our Lady of the Angels Province)
The School Board established by the Archbishop of Baltimore is responsible for the general operation and management of Archbishop Curley High School. There are currently[when?] four Franciscan friars on the full-time staff, with one other in-residence. In addition to the Franciscan friars, the faculty includes lay teachers.
Other affiliations and recognitions
Archbishop Curley, as a school within the Archdiocese of Baltimore Department of Catholic Schools, is accredited through AdvancED until 30 June 2022.
From 1961 until 1995, the principal was head of school. Since 1995, the president is head of school. The principal still functions in the role of daily school management and as chief academic officer, reporting to the president. A gallery of formal portraits featuring all the past heads of school is on display in the auditorium lobby.
NFL wide receiver and kick returner for the New Orleans Saints. He was named to the Baltimore Sun's First Team All Metro for high school football in 2014 when he led the Friars to their first undefeated season in school history and the Maryland Interscholastic Athletic Association (MIAA) B Conference Championship. That season, Harris had 2,030 yards of total offense, with 25 touchdowns in 10 games, and scored five touchdowns in the MIAA championship game. He played college football at Assumption College where he was named the Northeast-10 Conference Rookie of the Year in 2015, and went on to become a first team All American, breaking several school and NCAA records.
CFL Middle Linebacker In the 2021 season, Williams played in 13 regular season games for the Ottawa Redblacks where he had 89 defensive tackles, two sacks, one forced fumble, and his first career interception.[5] He had his best career game in the opening game of the season where he recorded a franchise record-tying 14 defensive tackles and also one sack on August 7, 2021, in the win over the Edmonton Elks.[5][11] At the end of the season, Williams was once again named the team's Most Outstanding Defensive Player and CFL East All-Star. Williams played college football for the Temple from 2013 to 2016.[1] He became a full time starter at the strong side linebacker spot in his senior year in 2016 and appeared in 14 games, having 66 total tackles, with nine tackles for losses, two sacks, two forced fumbles and two recoveries.[1] Following his productive 2016 season, Williams was named to the All-AAC Second-team.
2010 inductee into the National Lacrosse Hall of Fame and a 2003 inductee into the Greater Baltimore Chapter of the Lacrosse Hall of Fame; he was a midfielder for Johns Hopkins University's 1984 Division I NCAA National Championship lacrosse team; was named to the U.S. Men's National Lacrosse team in 1986 and was its Captain in 1990 and 1994. He played professionally for the Philadelphia Wings, winning two National Lacrosse League championships and a league MVP. For several seasons he was the coach of Major League Lacrosse's Washington Bayhawks; his second coaching stint in the MLL after the Los Angeles Riptide. He was also the head coach of the West in the 2007 Major League Lacrosse All-Star Game during his tenure with the Riptide.
