G. A. R. Memorial Junior/Senior High School

G.A.R. Memorial Junior Senior High School
Address
250 South Grant Street Wilkes-Barre , Pennsylvania 18702 United States
Coordinates	41°14′02″N75°52′59″W / 41.234°N 75.883°W / 41.234; -75.883
Information
Type	Junior-Senior High School
Motto	"Sons of the Blue and Gray"
Established	1925
Closed	2021
School district	Wilkes-Barre Area School District
Principal	Sean McLaughlin
Staff	59.56 (FTE) [1]
Grades	7-12
Number of students	976 (2018-19) [1]
Student to teacher ratio	16.39 [1]
Color(s)	Blue and Gray
Mascot	Grenadiers
Website	School website

G.A.R. Memorial Junior/Senior High School (commonly known throughout the area simply as 'G.A.R.') was a high school located on 250 South Grant Street, in Wilkes-Barre, located in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, United States.

G.A.R. was both a junior and senior public high school, offering education to students in grades 7–12. It was named for the Grand Army of the Republic. ^[2] In 2021, it was consolidated with other high schools in the area to form Wilkes-Barre Area High School. The school continues to operate, now as a middle school for grades 6th-8th.

History

The school was built in 1925 after construction started in 1921, four years earlier. In 1978, the school district decided to make extensions to the school; this construction was completed in October 1979. The extension included a new cafeteria, gym, chorus room, and band room. The original shop building was demolished and turned into the faculty parking, the Girls Gym was changed into the Library and Girls Gym changing room was remodeled into the Home Ec rooms, the Boys Gym was remodeled into the Tech Ed room, the Boys Gym changing room was changed into the Woodshop room, and the chorus and band rooms were bricked off.

In 2005, a weight room was added. In 2013, the school installed a new turf field in front of the building, replacing the old turf which was worn and damaged after years of use.

The school was consolidated into Wilkes-Barre Area High School prior to the 2021–2022 school year. It is being renovated to be used as a middle school. ^[3]

Notable alumni

• David Bohm - Quantum physicist who was involved in the Manhattan Project.^{[ citation needed ]}
• Mark James Klepaski- Bass player for the rock band Breaking Benjamin.^{[ citation needed ]}
• Greg Skrepenak- Former NFL player and former Luzerne County Commissioner. ^[4]
• Sam Savitt - Author and illustrator, official artist of the U.S. Equestrian Team. ^[5]
• Bob Sura- NBA player who last played for the Houston Rockets
• Robert Williams - Quarterback for Notre Dame, 1956–1958
• Maurice Peoples - Olympic sprinter, 1972
• Mark Glowinski - NFL player for the New York Giants.
• Lillian Cahn - Co-founder of Coach Leather ^[6]

References

1. "G A R Memorial JSHS". National Center for Education Statistics. Archived from the original on April 1, 2019. Retrieved October 5, 2020.
2. "GAR Memorial Junior Senior High School". publicschoolreview.com. Archived from the original on May 24, 2011. Retrieved April 25, 2011.
3. Guydish, Mark (July 30, 2021). "WB Area sets ribbon cutting for new school". Times Leader. Archived from the original on July 30, 2021. Retrieved August 30, 2021.
4. Michael Sisak (August 6, 2010). "Skrepenak sentenced to 24 months in prison, fine". The Times-Tribune. thetimes-tribune.com. Archived from the original on October 28, 2010. Retrieved August 9, 2010.
5. Barbara Loftus (August 15, 1985). "For Famous Artist Sam Savitt, GAR school days were his 'golden' ones" (PDF). Citizens' Voice. Archived (PDF) from the original on October 21, 2018. Retrieved October 21, 2018.
6. Leader, Times (June 26, 2015). "Late Coach founder got start here". Times Leader. Retrieved December 31, 2023.