HOW MUCH DO YOU KNOW ABOUT YOUR SCHOOL?

Questions:

1) Who named Bishop Ryan High School?
2) What was the address of the original site of BR?
3) Which principals had the longest and the shortest terms at BR?
4) In what year and where did Bishop Ryan High School start out?
5) What BR sports team has won 34 city championships in its 38 year history?
6) What important event in BR's history took place on April 21, 1958?
7) Who was BR's first principal?
8) Who was BR's first football coach?: (a) Mr. Warren MacDonald (b) Mr. Gerry Ward (c) Mr. Deris Giavedoni (d) Father Boucher.
9) Name the former BR wrestling brothers who have both participated in the Olympics.
10) What is the name of BR's award-winning choir?
11) At least 3 BR grads have been elected Members of Parliament. Can you name them?
12) Which two principals of BR also served as vice-principals?
13) What is CKBR?
14) In what league did BR's sports teams participate in the 1950's and 60's?
15) What is the name of the housing development that was built on the site of the original Bishop Ryan High School on Queenston Rd.?
16) BR's present site at 50 Albright Rd. has housed two other schools. Name them.
17) Where did Joe Sardo and Ed Szpytma, two former BR football players end up playing football?
18) What position did Mr. John Collins hold at BR from 1964-1979?
19) In the original school at 166 Question Rd., what part of the floor were students forbidden to walk on?
20) Translate BR's Latin motto "virtus et scientia".
21) What restaurant was directly across from the site on Queenston Rd.?
22) Before BR moved to 50 Albright Rd., the Separate School Board was negotiating with the Hamilton Public Board to take over one of their East end schools. Which one?
23) What is the large brick monument in the front foyer at the Albright site?
24) What statue stood outside the Main Office at the Queenston Rd. site?
25) What BR wrestler who graduated in 2003 won a total of 21 championships and medals, including 3 Canadian championships?
26) Three eating establishments stood on the corner of Queenston Rd. and Walter Ave., next to and across from the old BR. Name them.
27) What was the name of the walk-a-thons held in 1974,75,and 76 to raise money for the Catholic high schools of Hamilton?
28) Rachael Vanderwal and Nikki Eckebrecht, two Celtic athletes went on to attend and play for American universities. In what sports did they participate?
29) Rick and Rosemary Ferroni, both graduates of BR set a record at the school in 1974. What was it?
30) What jobs did Mrs. Reilander and Mrs. Restivo have in the old school?
31) In what capacity did Mrs Anna Pocrnic work at BR for 30 years?
32) Who was Student Council President when the famous "We are BR" slogan was adopted?
33) What former BR teacher is now Director of Education for the HWCD School Board?
34) Which principal is the only one to have graduated from BR?
35) What job did Mrs Blunt, Mrs Warren, Mrs Reid and Mrs Comeau hold at BR?
36) What graduate of BR is now the Chairman of the Hamilton-Wentworth Catholic District School Board?
37) Where did Rosie and Mrs. Ditrapani work at BR?
38) What Celtic team did the following ladies play for and what first did they achieve: Pat Zakrewski, Cathy Downy, Maureen Lessard, Mary Dubiel, Geri Quinn, Marie Doucette, Pat McKechnie, Sheila Copps, Carol Vachon, Linda Grant?
39)Where did Mr. Martin Galvin and Mr. Peter Rogers work in the old site?
40) What grad class is this? Can you identify any of the graduates? View Picture
41) Where was CKBR first located when the School moved to the site on Abright Rd.?
42) What former BR teacher and coach writes a column in the Sports Section of The Spectator?
43) What present BR staff member and graduate is adviser for the Youth Heritage Action Council?
44) What musical are the BR players, under the direction of Mrs Re, performing on May 8,9.10 in the School auditorium? (7:00pm; $8.00)
45) Where was this picture taken? (Be precise) Why are the halls bare and the lockers empty?
BONUS: Identify the two BR graduates! View picture
46) 1960's: Name the league and zone in which Celtic sports teams participated until 1968.
47) 1970's: Only two principals served at BR in this decade. Name them.
48) 1980's: What BR team dominated this decade with 10 City championships, 4 OFSSA championships and 4 GHAC team titles?
49) 1990's: What event took place in this decade that would change the look of BR until the present?
50) 2000's: Name the three principals that have served at BR in this decade.

Answers:

1) The Board of Governors named BR in honour of Bishop Joseph F. Ryan (Bishop of the Hamilton Diocese 1937-1973) for his dedication to and promotion of Catholic Education.
2) BR's address was 166 Queenstion Rd. - Bonus if you got the postal code: L8K 1G6.
3) The longest serving principal was Father R.J. Cote - 13 years (1962-75); the shortest - Mr. Peter Narduzzi - one year (1984-85).
4) Bishop Ryan started classes at St. Eugene's Elementary School in September, 1958. The new school was not ready for occupation until April 17, 1959.
5) The BR wrestling team has won every city team championship since 1973 to the present (34), except in 1977.
6) The official sod turning ceremony for the new school took place on April 21, 1958 on the 15 acre site beside St Eugene's. This event will be commemorated 50 years later, this April 21, 2008 when a plaque will be placed at the original site of BR at 166 Queenston Rd. See you there if you can make it!
7) BR's first principal was Sister Joan Boyer, from the School Sisters of Notre Dame.
8) Mr. Gerry Ward coached the first football team of Grade 9's in 1958-59 to a record of 2-3.
9) BR wrestler Chris Woodcroft competed in the 1988 and 1992 Olympics and his brother Greg in the 1992 games.
10) The BR Xpression, under the direction of Mr. Dave Tabone has been entertaining BR and the Hamilton community since 1998.
11) Sheila Copps, Liberal MP for Hamilton East and Deputy Prime Minister; Sean O'Sullivan, Conservative MP for Lincoln Riding and the youngest elected member of Parliament; Tony Valeri, Liberal MP for East Hamilton/Stoney Creek and House Leader.
12) Mr. Jack Curtis and Mr. Ray Griffiths.
13) CKBR is the live radio show that has been entertaining BR staff and students every morning since its inception in 1984.
14) SOSSA Zone 2 (1958-1968)
15) "Ryan's Walk"
16) Sir Wilfrid Laurier Grade 13 School and Elizabeth Bagshaw Elementary School.
17) Both played in the CFL: Joe Sardo in Toronto and Ottawa; Ed Szpytma in Montreal and Hamilton.
18) Mr. John Collins was custodian at BR from 1964 until his retirement in 1979.
19) Students were not allowed to step on the crest imprinted in the floor outside the Main Office.
20) "Virtus et Scientia" means virtue and knowledge.
21) Oodles of Noodles ( now a travel agency)
22) Sir Winston Churchill
23) The cornerstone from the original site on Queenston Rd., containing the names of the Board of Governors and a time capsule inside.
24) The Statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary
25) Sheldon Francis
26) the Red Barn (now the Ranch House), the Derby (still there) and Tim Hortons (now a Pizza Pizza)
27) Crusade 74, 75, 76
28) Rachael Vanderwal - basketball at Boston University; Nikki Eckebrecht - hockey at Minnesota's Bemidji State University.
29) Rick and Rosemary Ferroni were married by Father Cote in the BR chapel in 1974.
30) The first cafeteria ladies hired in 1968.
31) Mrs. Anna Pocrnic was a cleaning lady at BR for 30 years. She retired in 2003!
32) Mr. John Pusztay (later a teacher at BR)
33) Mr. Marcel Castura
34) Mr. Lou Friscolanti
35) They were all secretaries in the Main Office at the old site.
36) Mr. Patrick Daly
37) In the BR cafateria where they worked for years.
38) The Junior Girls Basketball team of 68-69 was the first BR B-ball team to win a city championship in the new H.I.A.C. league.
39) In the library. They were both librarians at BR.
40) This is a picture of the first graduating class at BR - 1962. (see attachment for names)
41) In the cloakroom for the theatre auditorium.
42) Ms. Cecelia Carter-Smith
43) Mr. Pat Palmieri
44) "The Sound of Music"
45) In the Main Hallway of the Queenston Rd. site looking west. The date (1/31/91) tells you that this is the last day at the old school after the exams; hence no students, empty lockers. Bonus: Marianne and Andrew Smith.
46) SOSSA, Zone 2.
47) Father Cote (1962-1975) and Mr. Jack Curtis (1975-1984)
48) The BR wrestling team.
49) BR moved.The BR community bid farewell to the site at 166 Queenston Rd. with the writing of the last exam on Jan. 28, 1991. On Feb. 4, 1991 classes were held for the first time at the new site at 50 Albright Rd.
50) Ms. Theresa Mazza (1997-2001), Mr. Lou Friscolanti (2001-2007) and Mr. Hermon Mayers (2007-)