Catalina History...
After years of having only one school, Tucson Unified School District decided it was time to open another
high school to meet the growing need in. In 1953, construction crews broke
ground to begin the building of a new high school to be located at 3645 East
Pima Street. In January 1957, an only partially completed Catalina
received a full student body. The students themselves helped move equipment and
furniture to help make the transition smoother.
Catalina High School, was designed by Scholer, Sakeller & Fuller, Architects, and was built by J. J. Craviolini and L. C. Anderson at a cost of $2,496,619.
Additional classrooms, shower and locker facilities and a science wing were added later , with 10-cent levy funds and federal aid under Public Law 815. The school now has 65 regular classrooms plus the 8-classroom science wing. R. T. Gridley was the first principal of Catalina.
It would not be until 1959 that the original plans for the school were completed. In the sixties, Catalina went through it's golden years. During this time Catalina was known as "The Country Club School" for the upper class students that attended Catalina. During this time, Catalina would watch as many other schools began to develop in the Tucson Area, such as Sahuaro, Palo Verde, Canyon Del Oro, Rincon, and Cholla opened their doors to students.
In 1968 Catalina received a new Principal, a former Tucson High Assistant Principal Derald Hendrickson. Mr. Hendrickson made it a mission to combat the threat of drugs on school campuses. Mr. Hendrickson implemented many policies still used by TUSD today.
Origin of Name: Santa
Catalina Mountains
Opened: January 12, 1957
First Graduating Class: May 1957
Principals:
Mr. R.T.
Gridley 1956- 1968
Mr. Derald
Hendrickson 1968- 1978
Mr. George
McConnell 1978- 1980
Dr. Lamond
Preston
1980- 1985
Dr. Lou Ann Daldrup 1985- 1989
Dr. Joseph
Hines
1989- 1991
Dr. Ingrid
Miller 1991- 1994
Mrs. Linda Schloss
1994- 1999
Mr. Larry
McKee
1999-
2001
Dr. Michael Schwanenberger 2001- 2004
Mr. Dan Bailey
2004- 2007
Ms. Linda Patterson
2007-2009
Mr. Rex Scott
2009-present
Awards
2006 State Girl's Cross Country
Champions, 2006 Boy's Cross Country Runner-Up, State Runner Up in MESA
competition, Winner of the National Scholastics
Hall of Fame for "The Trumpeteer", our newspaper produced by the students of
Catalina High School since opening in 1957.
Programs
Aviation, Health-Related Studies, Traditional Program of Excellence (Back to
Basics), Magnet/Theme Partnerships: Aviation -Pima CC, Cochise, Tucson
International Airport, Ryan Field; Health-Related
Studies: Pima CC, Tucson Medical Center, University Medical Center, Pima Medical, and El Rio Medical
Center. Advanced placement courses: math, science, social studies, language
arts; a three year computerized literacy program; state model programs: gifted and talented education (GATE);
peer mediation; Cooperative Business Education (CBE); Hospitality (FEAST); KCHT News
Team, a closed-circuit daily news broadcast; Air Force Junior ROTC; Family
Resources and Wellness Center. Freshman Transition Coordinator: Nancy Dettman,
232-8400; Aviation Lead Teacher: Mr. Matt Trumball, 232-8400 Health-Related Studies:
TBA, 232-8400 Traditional Magnet: Mary Menager, 232-8400
Click Here to View our Arizona School Report Card for 2003-2004
More to come!!!!
All Information based on history provided
by:
Tucson Unified School District 1, The First
Hundred Years & Numerous editions of Catalina's Yearbook: The Torch, and newspaper
The Trumpeteer.