- Northern Lehigh High School
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Northern Lehigh High School 
Location One Bulldog Lane, Slatington, Pennsylvania 18080
Information Type Public High School Established 1981 Grades 9-12 Enrollment between 625 - 650 Athletics conference Colonial League Newspaper The Slate Yearbook Reflections Mascot Bulldog Colors Navy Blue and White School District Northern Lehigh School District Principal Mr. Robert Vlasity Assistant Principal Mr. Scott Pyne Website Northern Lehigh High School Northern Lehigh High School is a public high school located in Slatington, Pennsylvania, in the United States of America. It is the only high school in the Northern Lehigh School District.
Students in grades 9 through 12 from Slatington, Walnutport, and Washington Township in the Lehigh Valley region of the state attend the high school.
Northern Lehigh competes in the District XI athletic division of the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association and is a member of the Colonial League.
Contents
History
The current high school building was completed in 1981, with an addition built in 2000 for a new library and art room. Prior buildings which housed the school include:
- Lincoln Building (1890-1915) (Chestnut Alley & Kuntz Street)
- "Old High School at Main Street" (1916-1958) (2nd & Main Streets)[1]
- (Currently) Northern Lehigh Middle School (1958-1981) (Top of Kuehner Hill; Bulldog Lane)
- (Currently) Northern Lehigh High School (1982-present) (Bulldog Lane & Snyder Avenue)
The high school had been known as Slatington High School until the name was changed to Northern Lehigh High School in 1980, with the first class graduating in 1981.[2]
Academics
Northern Lehigh High School operates on a semester system. The school year has two semesters, each with four 86 minute class periods. Students are also offered the opportunity to take vocational training at Lehigh Career and Technical Institute and can take college courses offered through Lehigh Carbon Community College.
Athletics
See also: Colonial LeagueMain rivals
Northern Lehigh's main sports rivalries are closely aligned with geographic proximity. Northern Lehigh and Palmerton High School have had a strong rivalry for decades. From 1946-74, both school's football teams met for a Thanksgiving Day game[3], and the teams still end their regular seasons each year by playing one another. A natural rivalry has also developed with Northwestern Lehigh High School, which was once a part of Northern Lehigh School District until the 1950s.
Teams Supported
Northern Lehigh fields teams for interscholastic competition in a number of sports including: baseball, boys & girls cross country, boys & girls soccer, boys & girls track and field, field hockey, football, boys & girls Basketball, wrestling, and softball. All sports compete at the AA level of PIAA competition, with the exception of boys basketball which is in the AAA classification.
PIAA state champions
- Wrestling: 1985, 2005
- Softball: 1988, 96
PIAA state qualifiers
- Boys Cross Country: 1974, 78, 79, 80, 87, 89, 92, 94, 95, 97, 98, 99, 2001, 09
- Girls Cross Country: 1975, 85, 86, 2007
- Football: 1999, 2003, 10
- Wrestling: 1985, 99, 2000, 05, 06, 08
- Boys Basketball: 1982, 2007, 08
- Girls Basketball: 1992, 93, 2010, 11
- Softball:1988, 96, 98, 2000, 01
Eastern Conference champions
- Football: 2003
- Wrestling: 1999, 2000, 05, 06
- Boys Basketball: 1981
- Softball:1988, 96, 98
District XI champions
- Boys Basketball: 1954, 2008
- Baseball: 1954
- Boys Cross Country: 1980, 92, 95, 97, 99
- Girls Cross Country: 1975, 85
- Wrestling: 1986 ,97, 98, 99, 2000, 05, 06, 09
- Softball: 1993, 94, 96, 98, 00, 01
- Football: 1998, 2003, 10
Colonial League champions
- Boys Cross Country: 1994, 95, 97, 99
- Baseball: 2010
- Boys Basketball: 2007, 08, 10
- Football: 1998, 2002, 03, 05, 10
- Softball: 1994, 2010
- Boys Track: 1999, 2004
- Wrestling: 1997, 98, 99, 04, 05, 06
(NOTE: Northern Lehigh High School joined the Colonial League in 1994)
Centennial League champions
- Boys Cross Country: 1977, 78, 79, 80, 81, 86, 87, 88, 89, 92, 93
- Girls Cross Country: 1985, 86, 87
- Boys Basketball: 1978, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 88
- Girls Basketball: 1984
- Boys Track: 1978, 79, 81
- Football: 1981
- Wrestling: 1982, 83, 90
- Baseball: 1984, 85, 86
- Softball:1988, 89, 92, 93, 94, 95
(NOTE: Northern Lehigh High School joined the Centennial League in 1975)
Lehigh Valley champions
- Boys Basketball: 1926, 27, 53, 54
- Baseball: 1939, 51, 53, 54
- Boys Track: 1966
- Girls Track: 1975
- Football: 1968, 69, 74
Ring of Honor
Beginning in 2007, each year six individuals who have made a significant impact on athletics at either Northern Lehigh High School or Slatington High School. The honor has included former athletes, coaches, and members of the community who have made contributions to promote high school athletics.[4]
Arts
Marching Band
- Tournament of Bands Chapter II Champions (Group 1): 1999, 2006, 07, 09
- Tournament of Bands Atlantic Coast Championships Finalists: 1997, 98, 99, 2000, 03, 04, 05, 06, 07, 08, 09, 10, 11
- Tournament of Bands Top 5 Finish at Atlantic Coast Championships: 2011- 4th of 30
- Tournament of Bands Chapter II High Percussion (Group 1): 1999, 2005, 2007, 2009
Freddy Awards
- Outstanding Performance by an Orchestra: 2011, "Once On This Island"
- Outstanding Use of Scenery: 2011, "Once On This Island"
NLHS Alma Mater
The lyrics to the song were written by Charles Schoffstall, a commercial teacher between 1917-1920.[5] It is played to the tune of Annie Lisle.
Lyrics:
Just above the winding Lehigh
Midst the mountains grand
Stands our dear old Alma Mater
Famed throughout the land.Far and wide through we may sojourn,
Still our hearts are true,
To our dear old Alma Mater,
Dear old blue and whiteChorus:
High school, high school, our own high school
Dear N.L.H.S.
When afar from the we wander,
Thy dear name we bless.Former school mascots
- Early 1930s- Blue and White Warriors
- 1939-1941- Blue and White Raiders
- 1941-1968- Slatington Slaters[6] (changed due to confusion with Bangor Area High School, whose mascot is also the slater)
- 1968-1981- Slatington Bulldogs
Notable alumni
- George Hennessey, former professional baseball player, Chicago Cubs, St. Louis Browns and Philadelphia Phillies.
- Charles Johnson, former professional baseball player, Philadelphia Phillies.
- Thomas R. Morgan, former Assistant Commandant of the United States Marine Corps[7].
References
- ^ Northern Lehigh Century of Excellence 1911-1920
- ^ Northern Lehigh School District History
- ^ http://articles.mcall.com/1995-11-24/sports/3061803_1_blue-bombers-thanksgiving-afternoon-thanksgiving-day
- ^ http://schools.nlsd.org/srhsnlsd/athletics.php?sub=ringofhonor Northern Lehigh Ring of Honor
- ^ Northern Lehigh Century of Excellence 1911-1920
- ^ Northern Lehigh Century of Excellence 1931-1940
- ^ https://slsp.manpower.usmc.mil/GOSA/Biographies/rptBiography.asp?PERSON_ID=241&PERSON_TYPE=General
External links
- Northern Lehigh High School Official Web Site.
- Northern Lehigh High School athletics schedule and scores at HighSchoolSports.net.
Categories:- Educational institutions established in 1981
- High schools in Pennsylvania
- Schools in Lehigh County, Pennsylvania
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