West Roxbury High School
1976 – 2019
In the spring of 1973, Boston Mayor Kevin White announced plans to build a new high school in West Roxbury. The location on a 14 acre site along VFW Parkway between a drive-in theatre and St. Joseph Cemetery and at a cost of $20 million was announced in early July. At the time, other new high school projects for the city were in the planning stage. A groundbreaking ceremony followed on Monday, January 7, 1974 in the afternoon with the Mayor and city officials attending. The school was designed by architects Antonio DeCastro and Samuel Glaser and partners. The chief planner was Peter Scarpignato, of the BPS Facilities Department. The Jackson Construction Company of Dedham built the school
Original plans called for the school to be ready in September, 1975 and to be a magnet school drawing students from all over the city and ecology a major feature of the curriculum. Construction took longer than planned. The status of the school was also changed from being a magnet school to being the District 3 high school for the Roslindale and West Roxbury area due to the planned closing of Roslindale High School for renovations. Roslindale High graduated its last class on June 4, 1976. Over the summer, teachers and staff worked speedily on the transition from the old to the new high school. The new West Roxbury High School opened on Monday, September 13, 1976. First headmaster was Donald G. Burgess, continuing in this position as headmaster at Roslindale High School since September, 1974.
A semi-formal dedication ceremony took place on Thursday evening, May 19, 1977. Among city officials attending was Miss Kathleen Sullivan, president of the Boston School Committee, Marian Fahey, superintendent and Robert E. Donahue, District 3 superintendent. Music was provided by the Civic Symphony Orchestra. The first class graduated on Tuesday, June 14, 1977 at the Hynes Auditorium. Diplomas were presented to 230 graduates.
At the start of the school year in September, 1978, Mr. Burgess moved onto new responsibilities with the school system. Donald Pellegrini succeeded as acting headmaster for the school year and eventually was made headmaster, remaining in this position to June, 2005.
In 1982, cracks appeared and bricks began falling of sections of the school. An investigation revealed an additive substance called sarabond in the mortar used when the school was built was defective and causing the problem. A suit was filed against Dow Chemical Company, manufacturer of the masonry additive and the architect and general contractor. The city won a 5.5. million settlement in July, 1987. Most of the money was used to repair the damage which changed the appearance of the school with a two brick-color exterior by 1989.
In the fall of 2004, the Boston School Committee approved a new plan to redesign West Roxbury High School into four small high schools with the name West Roxbury Education Complex. Funding was being provided by grants from the Gates Foundation and the Carnegie Foundation. The last graduation for the original West Roxbury High School took place on Friday, June 3, 2005 at the Matthews Arena at Northeastern University. Diplomas were presented to 190 graduates.
On Thursday, September 8, 2005, four new high schools opened: Parkway Academy of Technology & Health led by Dr. Barbara Ferrer; Urban Science Academy, led by Rasheed Meadows; Brook Farm Business and Service Academy, led by Edmund Donnelly; and Media and Communications Academy, led by Sung-Joon Pai. This approach of small schools under one roof was also implemented at Dorchester High School, South Boston High School and Hyde Park High School. Mr. Pellegrini remained on staff to oversee the operation of the complex. He retired in 2011.
The cost of running four schools at West Roxbury proved very costly. In September, 2011, the four schools merged into two schools. Brook Farm and Media & Communications became West Roxbury Academy, led by Rudy Weeks. Parkway Academy and Urban Science merged into Urban Science Academy, led by Nicole Gittens.
In the summer of 2014, work got underway to rebuild the athletic fields outside the school. The work included new artificial turf for the football, baseball and softball fields, seating area for the football field and lighting system. Three tennis courts and basketball courts were also refurbished. A ribbon cutting ceremony with Mayor Marty Walsh and city officials attending took place on Saturday, September 18, 2015. In appreciation for his many years of teaching and coaching the football team, the football field was named after Coach Leo Sybertz.
During the school year 2014-2015, interim school superintendent John McDonough proposed closing West Roxbury Academy (and four other schools) due to declining enrollment and poor academic performance. The decision was rescinded in March, 2015 but speculation remained as to the future of West Roxbury High School.
In December, 2018, the Boston School Committee voted to close the two schools at the West Roxbury Education Complex. A major factor in the decision was the deterioration of the building making it unsafe for use. Already at the start of the school year, the top floor of one section was closed off due to water leaks. The last senior prom took place at Venezia on Friday, May 17, 2019. The last Sports Awards night took place at the school on Monday, June 3, 2019. The final graduation for Urban Science Academy took place at Boston Latin School at Friday, June 7, 2019. West Roxbury Academy held graduation on the same date, nearby at Madison Park.
As of this writing, plans call for the building to be demolished. It remains to be seen if another West Roxbury High School will arise on the same spot.
Class of 1977
Tuesday, June 14, 1977, Hynes Auditorium
President: Diane Palombi
Vice-president: Billy Finn
Secretary: Clare Catarius
Treasurer: Una Farren
Valedictorian: Mark Apazidis
230 Graduates
Class of 1978
Thursday, June 8, 1978, Hynes Auditorium
President: Philip J. Kearney
Vice-president: Bernadette (Manning) Giles
Secretary: Nuncy Deleo
Treasurer: Angela McDole
Valedictorian: Anastasia Apazidis
256 graduates
Class of 1979
Thursday, June 7, 1979, Hynes Auditorium
President: James Larkin
Vice-president: Georgia Tgsiakalis
Secretary: Cheryl Fisher
Treasurer: Traci Overton
Valedictorian: Traci Overton
212 graduates
Class of 1980
Friday, June 6, 1980, Hynes Auditorium
President: Jean T. O’Leary
Vice-president: Manuel D. Thomas
Secretary: Barbara E. Reilly
Treasurer: Shirley L. Swain
Valedictorian: Althea Marshall
230 graduates
Class of 1981
Friday, June 5, 1981, Hynes Auditorium
President: Collette Jackson
Vice-president: Gilman Brown
Secretary: Joan Smith
Treasurer: Steven Treon
Valedictorian: Steven Treon
257 Graduates
Class of 1982
Thursday, June 10, 1982
President
Vice-president
Secretary:
Treasurer
Valedictorian
211 graduates
Class of 1983
June, 1983
President
Vice-president
Secretary:
Treasurer:
Valedictorian:
Graduates
Class of 1984
Friday, June 8, 1984
President: Sheila L. Wood
Vice-president: Velma Keyton
Secretary: Valencia L. Reid
Treasurer: Kimberly K. Perry
Valedictorian:
Graduates
Class of 1985
Friday, June 7, 1985, at Northeastern
President: Debbie McCarty
Vice-president: Jackie White
Secretary: Laura Berrigan
Treasurer: Brian Echols
Valedictorian: Lynette Cheeseborough
239 graduates
Class of 1986
Friday, June 13, 1986, at Northeastern
President: Vikii-Lynn Moses
Vice-president: Kim McElroy
Secretary: Denise Bruce
Treasurer: Kim Gore
Valedictorian: Danielle Natale
192 Graduates
Class of 1987
Thursday, June 11, 1987, at Northeastern
President: Michael D. McClary
Vice-president: Marco Cenafilis
Secretary: Donna A. Bakas
Treasurer: Georgia Thuidis
Valedictorian:
200 graduates
Class of 1988
June, 1988, at Northeastern
President: Larry Buttner
Vice-president: Diane Schmidt
Secretary: Michele Ligeros
Treasurer: Ingrid Martonova
Valedictorian:
Graduates
Class of 1989
June, 1989
President
Vice-president
Secretary:
Treasurer:
Valedictorian:
Graduates
Class of 1990
Friday, June 15, 1990, Northeastern
President: Elaine Rigas
Vice-president
Secretary:
Treasurer
Valedictorian: Luong Nguyen
190 Graduates
Class of 1991
June, 1991
President:
Vice-president:
Secretary:
Treasurer:
Valedictorian:
Graduates
Class of 1992
Friday, June 12, 1992 at Northeastern
President: Lira Landry
Vice-president: Darrone Jackson
Secretary: Shawna D. Howard
Treasurer: Ban Ali
Valedictorian: Elena Kipriotakis
225 graduates
Class of 1993
Friday, June 11, 1993 at Northeastern
President: La-Vie Bonde
Vice-president: Nicole Davis
Secretary: Vladimir Manigat
Treasurer: Kerrean Campbell
Valedictorian: Anita Nichols
216 graduates
Class of 1994
Friday, June 10, 1994 at Northeastern
President: Tiffanie Ellis
Vice-president: Jennifer T. Etienne
Secretary: Saffietu Deen
Treasurer: Melissa S. Sims
Valedictorian: Kike Smith
228 graduates
Class of 1995
Friday, June 9, 1995 at Brown Arena at BU
President:
Vice-president: Lola Fernandez-Rog
Secretary: Rosaira Perez
Treasurer: Jay Hairston
Valedictorian:
Graduates: 189
Class of 1996
Friday, June 7, 1996 at Northeastern
President: Steeve Mordan
Vice-president: April Smith
Secretary: Jowane Theodat
Treasurer: Sandra Rodrigues
Valedictorian: Donald Cyrille
185 graduates
Class of 1997
Friday, June 13, 1997 at Northeastern
President: Dionne C. Gilmore
Vice-president: Jermaul Williams
Secretary: Iyesha C. O’Neal
Treasurer: Lumena Mathurin
Valedictorians: Eleni Betoglou and Olga Barboutis
207 graduates
Class of 1998
Friday, June 12, 1998 at Northeastern
President:
Vice-president
Secretary:
Treasurer:
Valedictorian
Graduates
Class of 1999
Friday, June 11, 1999 at Northeastern
President: Aneika Astacio
Vice-president: Chyonne Smith
Secretary: Marlene Collazos
Treasurer: Griselda Blanco
Valedictorian:
230 Graduates
Class of 2000
Friday, June 9, 2000 at Northeastern
President: Jose Camacho
Vice-president: Woodly Alphonse
Secretary: Joliane Charlotin
Treasurer: Marisol Figueroa
Valedictorian:
Graduates
Class of 2001
Friday, June 8, 2001
President: Yashira Borrero (or Karane Williams)
Vice-president: Ly Tieu
Secretary: Hoang Nguyen
Treasurer: Kevonia Polanco
Valedictorian:
230 graduates
Class of 2002
Friday, June 7, 2002 at Northeastern
President: Wilford Dorlus
Vice-president: Lunhide Amazan
Secretary: Chrisna Joseph
Treasurer:
Valedictorian:
Graduates
Class of 2003
Friday, June 6, 2003, Matthews Arena at NU
President: Omar Ruiz
Vice-president: Sarah Flint
Secretary: Arlene Blake
Treasurer: Jessica Vasquez
Valedictorian: Lucie Noriscat
209 Graduates
Class of 2004
Friday, June 4, 2004, Matthews Arena at NU
President: Ashley Lorquet
Vice-president: Aliesha Wisdom
Secretary: Alba Bego
Treasurer: Daniel Cheverria
Valedictorian: Alba Bego
164 Graduates
Class of 2005
Friday, June 3, 2005, Matthews Arena at NU
President: Gardy Jean-Laurent
Vice-president: Merita Bako
Secretary: Rogers Diaz
Treasurer: Sharon Reid
Valedictorian: Rogers Dias
190 Graduates
Class of 2006
Friday, June 9, 2006, Matthews Arena at NU
254 graduates
Brook Farm Business Academy; 60 graduates
Valedictorian, Albiona Celaj
Media and Communications Technology; 87 graduates
Valedictorian, Loris Bano
Parkway Academy of Technology and Health; 64 graduates
Valedictorian, Yukensi Miranda
Urban Science Academy; 43 graduates
Valedictorian, Samenta Abraham
Class of 2007
June, 2007
220 graduates
Brook Farm Business Academy
Thursday, June 7, 2007 at WR; 52 graduates
Valedictorian, Greta Cuko
Media and Communications Technology
Monday, June 11, 2007; 74 graduates
Valedictorian, Maria Martinez
Parkway Academy of Technology and Health
Friday, June 8, 2007 at Wheelock College; 49 graduates
Valedictorian, Julisa Paulino
Urban Science Academy
Wednesday, June 6, 2007 at Faneuil Hall; 45 graduates
Valedictorian, Theodhor Dyshniku
Class of 2008
June, 2008
Brook Farm Business Academy
Media and Communications Technology
Friday, June 6, 2008 at Lantana in Randolph; 80 graduates
Valedictorian: Efrain Vazquez
Parkway Academy of Technology and Health
Friday, June 13 2008 at Wheelock College; 57 graduates
Valedictorian: Jacqueline Roumanos
Urban Science Academy
Wednesday, June 11, 2008 at Faneuil Hall; 52 graduates
Valedictorians: Woodger G. Faugas and Anne Elie Antoine
Class of 2009
June, 2009
207 graduates
Brook Farm Business Academy
Thursday, June 11, 2009 at WR High; 48 graduates
Valedictorians: Brian Judge and Kristie Simono
Media and Communications Technology
Friday, June 12, 2009 at Lantana in Randolph; 65 graduates
Valedictorian: Jasmine Hall
Parkway Academy of Technology and Health
Friday, June 12, 2009 at Northeastern; 40 graduates
Valedictorian: Audrey Guerrero
Urban Science Academy
Wednesday, June 10, 2009 at Faneuil Hall; 54 graduates
Valedictorian: Tristan Campbell
Class of 2010
June, 2010
Brook Farm Business Academy
Media and Communications Technology
Thursday, June 10, 2010 at Roxbury Community College; 80 graduates
Valedictorian: Christelle Pierre-Louis
Parkway Academy of Technology and Health
Urban Science Academy
Wednesday, June 9, 2010 at Faneuil Hall; 56 graduates
Valedictorian: Linda Okafor
Class of 2011
Brook Farm Business Academy
Media and Communications Technology
Parkway Academy of Technology and Health
Tuesday, June 14, 2011 at Roxbury Community College; 54 graduates
Valedictorian: Simona Babasikas
Urban Science Academy
Wednesday, June 8, 2011 at Faneuil Hall; 60 graduates
Valedictorian: Nai Ru Guan
Class of 2012
Urban Science Academy
Wednesday, June 6, 2012 at UMass/Boston; 92 graduates
Valedictorians: Yohanny Medina Herrera and Hang Nguyen
West Roxbury Academy
Thursday, June 7, 2012 at UMass/Boston; 146 graduates
Valedictorians: Francesca Gonzalez and Lena Yee
Class of 2013
Urban Science Academy
Wednesday, June 12, 2013 at Faneuil Hall; 122 graduates
Valedictorian: Nakia Ellies
West Roxbury Academy
Monday, June 10, 2013 at Northeastern University; 141 graduates
Valedictorian: Marissa Serrette
Class of 2014
Urban Science Academy
Wednesday, June 11, 2014 at Hancock Hall; 105 graduates
Valedictorian: Cassandra Jean
West Roxbury Academy
Wednesday, June 11, 2014 at Northeastern University; 143 graduates
Valedictorian: Roberte Francois
Class of 2015
Urban Science Academy
Thursday, June 11, 2015 at Hancock Hall; 80 graduates
Valedictorian: Francheska Castro
West Roxbury Academy
Tuesday, June 9, 2015 at Northeastern; 118 graduates
Valedictorian: Esther Kayode
Class of 2016
Urban Science Academy
Thursday, June 9, 2016 at WR; 80 graduates
Valedictorian: Michael Brown
West Roxbury Academy
Wednesday, June 8, 2016 at UMass/Boston; 112 graduates
Valedictorian: Gesar Naksi
June, 2017
Urban Science Academy
Thursday, June 8 at UMass/Boston; 68 graduates
Valedictorian: Lantharra Langlois
West Roxbury Academy
Wednesday, June 7, 2017 at UMass/Boston; 94 graduates
Valedictorian: Jakelin Bonilla
June, 2018
Urban Science Academy
Thursday, June 7, 2018 at Boston Latin School; 68 graduates
Valedictorian: Steeven Cajuste
West Roxbury Academy
Friday, June 8, 2018 at UMass/Boston; 95 graduates
Valedictorian: Pamela Shehu
Friday, June 7, 2019
Urban Science Academy
Friday, June 7, 2019 at Boston Latin School; 71 graduates
Valedictorian: Yonalis Rosario
West Roxbury Academy
Friday, June 7, 2019 at Madison Park; 118 graduates
Valedictorian: Winda Durand