Walton High School was a
secondary schoolSecondary school is a term used to describe an educational institution where the final stage of compulsory schooling, known as secondary education, takes place. It follows on from elementary or primary education....
located in the
Kingsbridge neighborhoodKingsbridge is a working class residential neighborhood geographically located in the northwest Bronx, New York. The neighborhood is part of Bronx Community Board 8. Its boundaries are Van Cortlandt Park to the north, the Major Deegan Expressway to the east, West 230th Street to the south, and...
of the Bronx borough in.
New YorkNew York is the most populous city in the United States, and the center of the New York metropolitan area, which is among the most populous urban areas in the world. A leading global city, New York exerts a powerful influence over worldwide commerce, finance, culture, fashion and entertainment...
.
Walton's colors were sky blue and white. Its motto
Semper FidelisSemper Fidelis is Latin for "Always Faithful". Well known in the United States of America as the motto of the United States Marine Corps , Semper fidelis has served as a slogan for many families and entities, in many countries, dating at least as far back as the 14th century...
means "always faithful". The school seal is an open book supported by the torch of learning, and the school crest contains the head of
AthenaIn Greek mythology, Athena is the goddess of wisdom, peace, warfare, strategy, handicrafts and reason, shrewd companion of heroes and the goddess of heroic endeavour...
,
GreekGreek mythology is the body of myths and legends belonging to the ancient Greeks concerning their gods and heroes, the nature of the world, and the origins and significance of their own cult and ritual practices. They were a part of religion in ancient Greece...
goddess of wisdom. The wildcat is the mascot used by the Walton's sports teams.
The building is in the same neighborhood as the
Bronx High School of ScienceThe Bronx High School of Science is a specialized New York City public high school. Founded in 1938, it is located in the Bedford Park section of the Bronx. Admission is by an exam open to all grade-eligible students in New York City, reportedly taken by more than 20,000 students annually...
and
DeWitt Clinton High SchoolDeWitt Clinton High School is an American high school located in the New York City borough of the Bronx.-History:Clinton opened in 1897 at 60 West 13th Street at the northern end of Greenwich Village under the name of Boys High School, although this Boys High School was not related to the one in...
. From the mid-1980s to its closing in 2008 it was one of the lower-performing high schools in the city. Walton was operated by the
New York City Department of EducationThe New York City Department of Education is the branch of municipal government in New York City that manages the city's public school system. These schools form the largest school system in the United States, with over 1.1 million students taught in more than 1,600 separate schools...
. The building now houses a host of mini-schools for academic support.
History
Walton High School is named after
Mary WaltonMary Walton was an American independent inventor who worked in the late 1800s. In 1879, Walton created a method for reducing the environmental hazards of the smoke emitted from factory smokestacks...
, a wife of General
Lewis MorrisLewis Morris was an American slaver and developer from Morrisania, New York. He was born at the house of Morrisania. He signed the U.S...
, who was a member of the continental congress and a signer of the
Declaration of IndependenceA declaration of independence is an assertion of the independence of an aspiring state or states. Such places are usually declared from part or all of the territory of another nation or failed nation, or are breakaway territories from within the larger state...
and the U.S. Constitution, as well as one of the first members of New York State's Board of Regents, Mary Walton was the mother of ten children, four of whom fought in the
American RevolutionThe American Revolution is the political upheaval during the last half of the 18th century in which thirteen of Britain's colonies in North America at first rejected the governance of the Parliament of Great Britain, and later the British monarchy itself, to become the sovereign United States of...
. The Walton and the Morris families owned land in the west Bronx from the 1600s until the 1800s. Mary Walton was not just a wife and mother but also ran a "
dame schoolA Dame School was an early form of a private elementary school in English-speaking countries. They were usually taught by women and were often located in the home of the teacher....
", educating little girls of the
colonialColonialism is the building and maintaining of colonies in one territory by people from another territory. Sovereignty over the colony is claimed by the metropole...
period how to read, write, do basic
mathematicsMathematics is the science and study of quantity, structure, space, and change. Mathematicians seek out patterns, formulate new conjectures, and establish truth by rigorous deduction from appropriately chosen axioms and definitions....
, and keep a house. Mary Walton was buried next to Saint Ann's Church in the
South BronxThe South Bronx is an area of the New York City borough of The Bronx. It strictly refers to the southwestern portion of the borough, and should not be confused with the southern Bronx. The true South Bronx, which was a legal designation through the 1960s, was a very small area which extended from...
.
Mary A. ConlonMary A. Conlon was an American elementary school principal who founded Walton High School as one of the first all-girl schools in New York City.Conlon was principal of the elementary school Public School 30 in the South Bronx....
, an elementary school principal of P.S. 30 (located next to Mary Walton's burial place), founded Walton as one of the first all-girl schools in New York City. The
New York City Board of EducationThe New York City Board of Education is the governing body of the New York City Department of Education. The members of the board are appointed by the mayor and by the five borough presidents.-Rise and fall of Mayoral Control:...
accredited Walton as an all-girl
high schoolHigh school is the name used in some parts of the world, particularly in Scotland, Northern America and Oceania, to describe an institution that provides all or part of secondary education...
on April 19, 1923. The first graduation took place in January 1926 with 126 girls.
In 1930 the current building on
Jerome AvenueJerome Avenue is one of the longest thoroughfares in the New York City borough of the Bronx, New York, United States. The road is 5.6 miles long and stretches from Highbridge general area to Woodlawn. Both of these termini are with the Major Deegan Expressway which runs parallel to the west. The...
and West 195th Street was constructed as Walton's new home, using the same structural design as Abraham Lincoln High School and
Samuel J. Tilden High SchoolSamuel J. Tilden High School, is a New York City public high school in Flatbush, Brooklyn. It is named for Samuel J. Tilden.The movie Above The Rim was shot at Samuel J. Tilden.Exterior scenes for the movie Lords of Flatbush were shot at Tilden....
, both in
BrooklynBrooklyn is one of the five boroughs of New York City, located southwest of Queens on the western tip of Long Island. An independent city until its consolidation with New York in 1898, Brooklyn is New York City's most populous borough, with 2.5 million residents, and second largest in area...
. The school moved to its new home in1932. Conlon continued as principal until her death in 1936, when Marion Cahil Heffernan took over.
Walton was a prestigious all-girl institution throughout much of its history, with a high graduation rate. Its students were often inducted into the
Arista honor society. Many of Walton's graduates went on to
Ivy LeagueThe Ivy League is an athletic conference comprising eight private institutions of higher education in the Northeastern United States. The term is most commonly used to refer to those eight schools considered as a group...
colleges and universities. For many years the school's
yearbookA yearbook, also known as an annual, is a book to record, highlight, and commemorate the past year of a school or a book published annually. Virtually all American, Australian and Canadian high schools, most colleges and many elementary and middle schools publish yearbooks...
was named the
PeriwinklePeriwinkle may refer to:In fauna:* Periwinkle, a common name for a number of gastropod molluscs in the family Littorinidae** Common periwinkle ** Blue periwinkle...
, a small blue flower.
In 1966 the school appointed its first male principal, Daniel Feins, and continued as an all-girl school until 1977 when boys were first admitted.
In 1980 Marjorie Kipp was appointed as the new principal. In 1983 the school's pool was closed due to leaks in the sewer system. In 1984 Phyllis Opochinsky founded the "Pre-Teaching Academy" (students work with other peers with classwork and homework, assist teachers in classrooms, write term papers on their experience in pre-teaching, and earn college credit through Lehman College). In 1986, Angel D. Orengo, became the first male to have the school's valedictorian honor.
In 1990, Kipp retired and a new principal, Mrs. Nicola Genco was appointed. During her tenure she addressed security issues, employed more than twenty school safety officers and helped gain funds for the school to be renovated. In 1994 the school's $54 million modernization was officially launched and completed in 1998. Genco also oversaw faculty turnover by terminating some teachers and hiring others she deemed more qualified. Programs such as the
Pre-Teaching Academy and
HumanitiesThe humanities are academic disciplines which study the human condition, using methods that are primarily analytic, critical, or speculative, as distinguished from the mainly empirical approaches of the natural and social sciences....
aided Walton's a good reputation. Principal Genco and her administration implemented the
Walton Plan to target lateness and loitering around campus, and to encourage the faculty to show interest in every student's progress.
In 1998 the
School Construction Authority had declared the completion of Walton's renovation. Principal Genco was concerned that not all of the building's modernization were complete. She and the SCA held a meeting and the agency threatened to close the school down. Genco consulted the news media, such as
WABC-TVWABC-TV, channel 7, is the flagship station of the Walt Disney Company-owned American Broadcasting Company, located in New York City. WABC-TV is best known in broadcasting circles for its highly successful version of the Eyewitness News format and for its morning show Live with Regis and Kelly,...
, WNBC-TV, the
New York Daily NewsThe Daily News of New York City is the fifth most-widely circulated daily newspaper in the United States with a daily circulation of 632,595, as of June 13, 2009. The first U.S. daily printed in tabloid form, it was founded in 1919, and as of 2007 is owned and run by Mortimer Zuckerman...
, etc. She addressed issues like the peeling paint around the building, lack of heat, poor architecture, and the mismanagement of the pool. In 1999, the SCA agreed with Genco shortly before her retirement to repair the school's roof. In 2002 Principal Vallade persuaded the agency to modernize the exterior of the building which was completed in 2005. However, the swimming pool, with mini-columns and beautifully tiled, was never repaired despite of the SCA contract. Today the pool is used as a dumping ground for broken or outdated computer monitors and hard drives.
On April 19, 1998 Walton celebrated its 75th anniversary by throwing a birthday party inside the lunchroom and holding a luncheon at Maestro's Restaurant for all the graduating classes throughout the school's history. The
Periwinkle (yearbook) also acknowledged the anniversary.
In 1999, Valerie Vallade, an alumna of Walton, was appointed as the sixth principal and increased the graduation rate. She retired in 2002, when Patricia Friedman (former Assistant Principal of English) was appointed as Interim Acting Principal. However, truancy and unlawful activity increased. Allegedly, some faculty members berated Friedman for this and called for her resignation. A new principal, John Tornifolio, took over in 2004. In that year, NYC Mayor
Michael BloombergMichael Rubens Bloomberg is the current Mayor of New York City. He was listed as the eighth-richest American, with a net worth of US $16 billion, in the Forbes 400 on September 17, 2008, making him the richest resident of New York City, ahead of David H. Koch...
and the Department of Education labeled Walton as an "Impact School." More than twenty
School Safety Officers were assigned and
surveillanceSurveillance is the monitoring of the behavior, activities, or other changing information, usually of people and often in a surreptitious manner...
cameras around campus.
Walton High School faced a phase-out in 2005 because of overcrowding and criminal activity. Numerous advocates, such as the
Walton High School Alumni Association, have failed to persuade the New York City Department of Education to keep the school running. The school graduated its' final class in June 2008.
Organizational houses
For many years Walton was divided into eight theme houses.
- Apollo House
- Hercules House
- Jupiter House
- Mercury House
- Orion House (Special Education)
- Pre-Teaching House
- Ulysses House
- Welcome House (for incoming freshmen)
Demographics
When Walton opened in 1923 the school was 100%
WhiteWhite people is a term which usually refers to human beings characterized, at least in part, by the light pigmentation of their skin...
. When
Mary A. ConlonMary A. Conlon was an American elementary school principal who founded Walton High School as one of the first all-girl schools in New York City.Conlon was principal of the elementary school Public School 30 in the South Bronx....
died in 1936 the school was 80% White and 20%
BlackThe term black people usually refers to a racial group of humans with skin colors that range from light brown to nearly black. It also has been used to categorize a number of diverse populations into a common group. Some definitions of the term include only people of relatively recent Sub Saharan...
. In the mid-1960s Hispanics started to enroll in sizable numbers, and by the end of the 1960s Walton's ethnic makeup was 40% White, 40% Black and 20%
HispanicHispanic is a term that historically denoted a relationship to the ancient Hispania . During the modern era, it took on a more limited meaning, relating to the contemporary nation of Spain....
. Perhaps the demographics best tell the story of the decline of this once proud school; "Walton was once a prestigious all-girl institution throughout much of its history, with a high graduation rate. Its students were often inducted into the Arista honor society. Many of Walton's graduates went on to Ivy League colleges and universities", prior to the dramatic demographic changes. The same tragic story throughout our country.
The school had large
DominicanThe Dominican Republic is a nation on the island of Hispaniola, part of the Greater Antilles archipelago in the Caribbean region. The western third of the island is occupied by the nation of Haiti, making Hispaniola one of two Caribbean islands that are occupied by two countries...
, Puerto Rican and
African AmericanAfrican Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have origins in any of the black populations of Africa. In the United States, the terms are generally used for Americans with at least partial Sub-Saharan African ancestry...
populations. In recent years there have been ethnic tensions between Puerto Ricans and Dominicans. Its ethnic makeup at closing was
AsianAsian people or Asiatic people is a demonym for people from Asia. However, the use of the term varies by country and person, often referring to people from a particular region or subregion of Asia...
- 3%, Black - 20%, Hispanic - 78%, and White - 2%.
Programs for students
- Pre-Teaching Academy - Founded in 1984 by Phyllis Opochinsky, students work with other peers with classwork and homework, assist teachers in classrooms, write term papers on their experience in Pre-teaching, and earn college credit through Lehman College
Lehman College is one of the constituent colleges of the City University of New York, USA. Founded in 1931 as the Bronx campus of Hunter College, the school became an independent college within the City University in 1968. The college is named after Herbert Lehman, a former New York governor,...
. All students must earn a grade of 80 (B) and above.
- Humanities - Students study in interdisciplinary studies in the arts, history and participate in cultural trips.
- Business - Computer training, accounting, resume preparation, pre co-op Program, etc.
- Cooperative Education - Students work one week and attend school the next. It is often a paid internship, and students earn college credit.
Extracurricular activities
- Yearbook (Periwinkle) - Founded in 1926 when the first graduating class graduated from the school, the Periwinkle is one of the most unusual and distinct yearbooks in the United States.
- Performing Arts - Only available to students assigned to Walton. It includes drama, vocal and instrumental music, and art.
- Cheerleading - Many students (male and female) are in the cheerleading squad. It has won six awards for six consecutive years.
- Football - Reinstated in 2001, it is not a major city PSAL sport like the other sports in Walton.
- Step-Team
- Cross Country - running track
- Tennis - One of the popular PSAL sport in Walton throughout history.
- Basketball - Many male and female students participate in this PSAL sport and has won many championships.
- Baseball - One of the most astounding baseball teams in New York City.
- Softball - The most outstanding softball team in the United States.
Student support services
- SPARK - A citywide drug-sex prevention program open to students from all grade levels.
- PIUS XII/Good Shepherd Student Services - A community-based program designed for drop-out intervention. The program is conducted by Antonia Campopiano-Ferrara and has been active in Walton since 1991.
- College Advisory - Provides resources for students who plan to enroll in a college
College is a term most often used today to denote degree awarding tertiary educational institution. More broadly, it can be the name of any group of colleagues, for example, an electoral college, a College of Arms or the College of Cardinals...
or universityA university is an institution of higher education and research, which grants academic degrees in a variety of subjects. A university provides both undergraduate education and postgraduate education...
.
- SBST (School-Based Support Team) - Provides personal and academic support to regular and special education students.
Walton, Alma Mater
Walton, Alma Mater dear
Thy sons and daughters rise to bless thee
Voices ringing far and near
The best of mothers fair confess thee
We will ever love thy name
To thee our grateful praise we render
Help us to increase thy fame
Oh Walton, Alma mater dear.
Original version
Walton, Alma Mater dear
Thy loyal daughters rise to bless thee
Voices ringing far and near
The best of mothers fair confess thee
We will ever love thy name
To thee our grateful praise we render
Keep us spotless as thy fame
Oh Walton, Alma mater dear.
The Loyal Pledge
With gratitude to my parents and school; with interest in my city and with concern for my country, I pledge:
As a graduate, to build on my education at Walton High School; as a citizen, to work both alone and with many to improve my city and country; and as an
American, to respect my country's hopes and ideals and to support, defend and improve its' constitution.
Mini-schools inside the Walton Campus
- High School for Teaching and the Professions - Founded in 2002 from the Pre-Teaching Academy program of Walton, provides a smaller and friendlier environment to pupils. Students must wear uniform to school.
Official Website
- Discovery High School - Founded in 2003
Inside Schools Profile
- The Celia Cruz Bronx High School of Music - Founded in 2003 inside DeWitt Clinton High School
DeWitt Clinton High School is an American high school located in the New York City borough of the Bronx.-History:Clinton opened in 1897 at 60 West 13th Street at the northern end of Greenwich Village under the name of Boys High School, although this Boys High School was not related to the one in...
, is the official school for music and the arts of the Bronx. CCBxHSM was relocated to the Walton Campus, its current location, in 2004
Inside Schools profile
- The Kingsbridge International High School - Founded in September 2005 with only four classrooms in Walton
-A:* Adam Walton , British radio DJ* Alan Walton , British-born businessman* Alfred Walton , British radical politician* Alice Walton , American heiress, daughter of Wal-Mart founder Sam Walton...
, is the sister school of the successful International School in QueensQueens is the largest in area, the second-largest in population, and the easternmost of the Five Boroughs which form New York City. The Borough of Queens' boundaries are identical to those of the County of Queens , a subdivision of the State of New York in the Northeastern United States.Located on...
. Like its other sister schools, Manhattan International and Bronx International, Kingsbridge was implemented to help new immigrants in New York learn English through various projects. Most of the students are new to this country and many have had their educational opportunity derailed due to poverty and lack of resources.
Principals
- Mary A. Conlon (1923-1936)
- Marion Cahil Heffernan (1936-1966)
- Daniel M. Feins (1966-1980)
- Marjorie J. Kipp (1980-1990)
- Nicola Provenzano-Genco (1990-1999)
- Valerie J. Vallade (1999-2002)
- Patricia Friedman (2002-2004)
- John Tornifolio (2004-2008)
Notable alumni
- Leanne "Lelee" Lyons (of SWV
Sisters with Voices, better known as SWV, is an American Grammy Award-nominated female R&B/pop trio from New York. Formed in 1990 as a gospel group, SWV had a series of hits, including "Weak", "Right Here/Human Nature", "I'm So Into You". The group disbanded in 1999 to pursue solo projects, and...
fame) (Class of 1991)
- Cheryl "Coko" Gamble-Clemons (of SWV
Sisters with Voices, better known as SWV, is an American Grammy Award-nominated female R&B/pop trio from New York. Formed in 1990 as a gospel group, SWV had a series of hits, including "Weak", "Right Here/Human Nature", "I'm So Into You". The group disbanded in 1999 to pursue solo projects, and...
fame) (Class of 1991)
- Penny Marshall
Penny Marshall is an American actress, producer and director.After playing several small roles for television, she was cast as Laverne DeFazio in the sitcom Laverne and Shirley...
(Class of 1960) Actress, "Laverne" of Laverne and Shirley; director, A League of Their Own
- Gertrude Elion Nobel Prize Recipient 1998 (Class of 1933)
- Rosalyn Sussman Yalow
Rosalyn Sussman Yalow is an American medical physicist, and a co-winner of the 1977 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for her development of the radioimmunoassay technique.-Biography:...
Nobel Prize Recipient 1977
- Bella Abzug
Bella Savitsky Abzug was an American lawyer, Congresswoman, social activist and a leader of the Women's Movement. In 1971 Abzug joined other leading feminists such as Gloria Steinem and Betty Friedan to found the National Women's Political Caucus...
(Savitsky) (Class of 1938)
- Shari Lewis
Shari Lewis was an American ventriloquist, puppeteer, and children's television show host, most popular during the 1960s and 1990s...
- Andrea Thomashttp://www.tullyrunners.com/RecNysGirlClass.htm, Class of 1987. Sprinter set national record in indoor 200 meters as sophomore that stood for more than 20 years.
- Isabel Bigley
Isabel Bigley was an American actress, perhaps best remembered for originating the part of Sarah Brown in Frank Loesser's Guys and Dolls.-Biography:...
(married name Barnett) won 1950 Tony for as Sarah Brown in Guys and Dolls
Karen Kaufman Clarke, Class of 1959: President and CEO of Thayers Natural Remedies (www.thayers.com) established 1847. The 2nd oldest manufacturing company in the US.
- John Morton Jr. (Class of 85) NBA Basketball player, Cleveland 89 - 91, Mia 92. Seton Hall star in college. Play overseas in Spain and was dubbed the Michael Jordan of Spain.
External links