Chalmette High School
| Chalmette High School | |
|---|---|
| Location | |
 | |
| , | |
| Information | |
| Type | Public |
| Established | 1954 |
| Principal | Wayne Warner (1973-) |
| Mascot | Owls |
| Website | Chalmette High |
Chalmette High School opened in 1954 at the current site of Chalmette Middle School. In 1961, the school moved to the current location on the corner of Palmisano Avenue and Judge Perez Drive.
The history of Chalmette High School began in 1928, when a freshman class was admitted to Meraux Elementary School. In 1931, the school moved "up the road" to the site where Arabi Elementary would later occupy. At this time, it would be renamed Maumus High School. Somewhere in that time period, the school acquired the nickname "Owls", which it still has to this present day. It stayed Maumus High School until 1947, when it became Arabi High School. Arabi High School lasted for 7 years, until the school moved to the site on East Chalmette Circle.
The school started admitting boys only in 1966, and stayed that way for 22 years until 1988. Girls at the time attended Andrew Jackson High School, which later served as a coed magnet high school before changing to an elementary school after Hurricane Katrina.
The Chalmette Charmers dance team is a consistent winner of state and national titles, their most notable being in 1999. Most recently the cheerleading team won their state competition.
The athletic programs have experienced moderate success, but none have ever won a state championship on the LHSAA level. The Owls have bounced between districts in their 54 year history, with their longest stay in one district being from 1970-1988, in the famed New Orleans Catholic League.
Following the closure of St. Bernard and Andrew Jackson high schools, and the relocations of Archbishop Hannan and Holy Cross, Chalmette became the only high school in St. Bernard Parish, and thus moved to class 5A of the LHSAA for the first time ever. The school was assigned to join district 10-5A, otherwise known as the Catholic League, for the first time in 19 years.
Probably the most famous Owl was Norris Weese, who led Chalmette to the 1968 state semifinals in football and later quarterbacked the Denver Broncos in Super Bowl XII. Ronnie Lamarque is a locally famous automobile dealer, and Walter Boasso is a successful businessman and candidate for governor of Louisiana. Five alumni, more than any other high school, are current members of the Saintsations, the dance team for the NFL's New Orleans Saints
On August 29, 2005, Hurricane Katrina flooded the school, which was being used as an emergency shelter, along with the rest of St. Bernard Parish. Chalmette High hosted the St. Bernard Unified School, before reopening as Chalmette High School in 2006 for the 2006-2007 school year. A $200,000 donation was made to CHS by the American Public School Endowments to rebuild the band program, comprising a $20,000 cash donation with a $180,000 FEMA match.
As of November 29th, 2007, enrollment was at 1,449 students in grades 9-12, a total that is projected to rise as families rebuild in St. Bernard Parish.
Fight Song
We're gonna rise and fight for Chalmette High
We're gonna win for maroon and white
We're gonna make our motto victory
And rain or shine foes will feel our might
We'll give a left and a right for Chalmette High
When Owls vie, the feathers fly
So cheer for the Owls the high flying Owls
Chalmette High
Alma Mater
Afar down thy halls
We glimpse the golden future.
The sweet years of youth
Are swiftly passing by.
Though far away we wander
Though far our footsteps stray,
Sweet memories will linger
Over every passing day.
To thee, dear Alma Mater,
We pledge our strength, our love,
To cherish and honor
Our proud school
Chalmette High.
Bobby Nuss Stadium
Bobby Nuss Stadium is Chalmette High School's football, soccer, and track and field stadium.
Bobby Nuss Stadium became officially named on November 1, 1991 in a pre-game ceremony. The stadium was named after Bobby Nuss, a celebrated former Chalmette football head coach who died of a heart attack the previous year.
The stadium's former name was Noel Suarez Stadium, but that name was applied to the Owls' baseball field next door.
Many of the most memorable moments in Chalmette athletic history have happened there. In 2001, the New Orleans area single game rushing record was broken twice in a three week span, both times at Bobby Nuss. The Owls completed a 10-0 regular season in 2003.
The stadium was flooded in Hurricane Katrina, but was repaired in time for the 2006 football season, and its reopening was compared to the New Orleans Saints reopening the Louisiana Superdome
Noel Saurez Stadium
Noel Saurez Stadium is the name of the baseball Stadium at Chalmette High School.