CHRISTIAN BROTHERS ACADEMY (ALBANY, NEW YORK)

'Christian Brothers Academy' is Catholic college preparatory junior and senior high school for boys founded in 1859 by the De La Salle Christian Brothers (see Institute of the Brothers of the Christian Schools). Llocated within the Roman Catholic Diocese of Albany, CBA is located in the town of Colonie near the Albany International Airport on a 126-acre campus built in 1998. Christian Brothers Academy is recognized to compete with its rival school, a fellow Christian Brothers' school with a JROTC program, LaSalle Institute (Troy, New York). The most prominent fields of competition are the schools' football, basketball, and drill team programs.
The De La Salle Christian Brothers constitute the largest order of men in the Catholic Church devoted exclusively to education. Their roots date back to 17th century France where their founder, Saint John Baptist de La Salle, lived with and ministered to the children of the poor.

Contents

The History of CBA

Academics and Athletics

Accreditation

External links

The History of CBA

In 1854, the Christian Brothers were invited to Albany by Bishop McCloskey, to open an orphan asylum for boys on Western Avenue. To help support the asylum, the Brothers began a pay school in 1859, in which eighty boys enrolled. This was the beginning of the present Christian Brothers Academy. Stagecoaches carried the boys from downtown to the school’s rural location. After a few years, a separate building on Madison Avenue was secured for CBA. In 1869, CBA was chartered by the University of the State of New York and a brass band was incorporated at the school. Over the next twenty years, the school outgrew its facilities several times. Each time, it relocated to a larger site. In 1882, the school moved to Lydius Street and in 1886, the Brothers purchased the former Normal College at 43 Lodge Street from the State Education Department. Classes were conducted in this building for the next fifty-one years.
The year 1892 saw military training introduced to Christian Brothers Academy, and the Civil War Zouave uniform was adopted for the cadets. Enrollment at Lodge Street followed a pattern of ups and downs. Since the lack of a suitable campus did not help attract students, the building itself became a liability.

In 1935, the Brothers realized that the dilapidated structure, nearly a century old, could no longer support the school's necessary new programs. They began a movement to secure property and funds to erect a new and modern building. Through the interest of influential friends and alumni, city and county officials in 1937 made available to the Brothers a plot of land. Popular response to the fund drive was immediate and generous. Bishop Gibbons and Mayor John Boyd Thatcher II urged all citizens of Albany to contribute to the cause. Also in 1937, CBA was accredited as a military academy by the United States government.
The De La Salle campus, featuring the Georgian Colonial school building, was opened in September, 1939 in time for CBA's eightieth year. The gymnasium building was added in 1942, and the Brothers' Residence in 1951. The old "alm's house" building on the new University Heights campus, popularly called "the Armory", initially housed the Rifle Range in its basement and the upper floors served as an arms room and military classroom. In later years, a Biology laboratory was added to the lower floor. One unique feature of the lab was the inclusion of live animals, which were cared for by the students. Also a mainstay to this building was “the cage”, which served as the locker room for the football and track programs.
Eventually, the De La Salle site was in need of updating and refurbishing. The University Heights Consortium made an attractive offer for the property and plans were made to move CBA to the Town of Colonie. The new campus on Airline Drive has incorporated current technological advancements into its design and structure. Four science labs, a technology center, as well as a Lecture Hall equipped with all the latest media tools, are available to faculty and students. Playing fields located on the 126 acres offer the student body ample opportunity to engage in a wide variety of activities.
Today's CBA offers a college preparatory program for young men in grades 6 through 12 and slightly less than one-half of the boys come from the city of Albany.

Academics and Athletics

In the junior high school, students complete a curriculum centered on the core courses in English, social studies, math and science, as well as religion, foreign language, computer technology and physical education. The focus of the program is to provide students with the skills and inspiration necessary to pursue the college preparatory program of the high school.
The first assumption of the Guidance Department at CBA is that individuals need help in getting timely information about personal characteristics, educational/occupational opportunities and adjusting to social requirements. This also assumes that the individual has an inner urge to better himself. The individual should progress in self-understanding and self-direction, becoming less dependent on professional aid.
In both the high school and junior high school, there is an Honors course of study available to qualified students. In the junior high, honors students in the eighth grade will be permitted to study math and earth science, which are course offerings at the ninth grade level. The high school program allows students to take Honors level courses in all of the core disciplines (math, science, social studies, English and foreign language) through a combination of Advanced Placement offerings and regularly scheduled courses.
The College Board offers the Advanced Placement program to high schools as an opportunity for students to pursue advanced credit in specific disciplines. CBA normally offers Advanced Placement courses in United States History, European History, English, Biology, and Calculus. Students who wish to enroll in AP courses must meet all prerequisites for the Honors Program. Additionally, students enrolled in an AP course are required to sit for the AP exams scheduled in May, and to pay all necessary fees for the course.
Christian Brothers Academy believes that participation in athletics, both as a player and as a spectator, is an important part of the student's educational experience. Athletics teaches students the ability to think and function as a member of a team, in addition to sportsmanship, competition, the benefits of fitness, self-discipline, emotional maturity and a respect for others. Through athletics, the CBA student will develop physically, emotionally and mentally. Students will be motivated to win, but the principles of good sportsmanship will always prevail and enhance the educational value of the endeavor. Christian Bothers Academy participates in the Big Ten Athletic Conference under the guidelines of Section II and the New York State Public High School Athletic Association. CBA is classified by Section II as an "Class AA" school.
CBA is known around New York state for their excellent basketball team. The Brothers have recently won the Section II, Class AA title in 2004, 2005, and 2006, while finishing as runners-up for the title in 2003 and 2007
Besides its recognition for a fine band and good athletics program, Christian Brothers Academy is accredited with having an examplamentary drill team. The Wansboro Rifles, named after the first Christian Brothers Academy alumnus to die in battle, is a drill team enrolled in the New England league. However, recently a time of change in Christian Brothers Academy's staff has caused the drill team to fall in prominence and leave its league for competition.

Accreditation

CBA is accredited by the New York State Board of Regents, the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools, and the high school JROTC program, and as an "Honor Unit With Distinction" by the United States Department of the Army.

External links

★ Christian Brothers Academy