Fitch Senior High School

Robert E. Fitch Senior High School is a public high school located in Groton, Connecticut.

Fitch Senior High School
Motto	Achieve More, Care More
Established	1936
Type	Public high school
Principal	Joseph Arcarese
Students	1392
Grades	9-12
Location	101 Groton Long Point Road, Groton, Connecticut, United States
Coordinates	41.340°N 72.013°W / 41.340; -72.013
District	Groton Public Schools
Colors	Grey, Black, and Scarlet
Mascot	Falcon
Newspaper	The Scarlet Tanager
Website	http://www.groton.k12.ct.us/fhs

The school has offered the International Baccalaureate Diploma Program since the 2004-2005 school year. By the 2006-2007 school year, 75 percent of students eligible for the diploma received it. The school also offers numerous Advanced Placement courses. The class of 2007 received $2 million in scholarships.

In the 2006-2007 school year, 17.1 percent of the students were eligible for free or reduced-priced school lunches, up from 14.1 percent in 2002-2003. Statewide the average percentage is 22.9. The student body is 72.3 percent White, 12.5 percent Black, 7.4 percent Hispanic, 6.7 percent Asian-American, and 1.2 percent American Indian. A total of 4 percent of students speak languages other than English at home. Groton is the home of a U.S. Navy submarine base, and a relatively large number of students move in and out of the school district each year due to military transfers.

Renovations

In 2006, the high was a large addition of classrooms and office was added to the high school the majority of the old school was torn down. However, the main area of the old building was saved and renovated. In February 2008, students returned from February vacation and began using the addition for the first time.

[1] Fitch High School, prior to the 2006-2008

[2] Robert E. Fitch High School as it presently stands.

Programs

• Fitch is known for its variety of sports, especially in Football, Baseball, Track, and Softball.
• This school is one of two in Connecticut to offer the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme.
• The school started a Peer Mediation program in the 2004-2005 school year.
• The Mentor/Mentee Program, also started in the 2004-2005 school year, has certified teachers meeting with 15 students every 21 school days.
• The school is home to FIRST Robotics Team #2168 - The Aluminum Falcons .
• The school offers a three-day Freshman Academic seminar to orient incoming freshmen.
• The Student-to-Student group helps guide new students for the first few days of school, introducing them to available extra-curricular activities and checking in with them throughout the school year.
• One of the more popular programs at the school is the Mr. Falcon Pageant, in which men from the school compete and are judged in the categories of Talent, Question-Answer, Spirit Video(short video on why the contestant should be Mr. Falcon), and a variety of dances they perform. This program has generated some controversy from some of the female students, arguing that it should be open to all genders and not just men, but this idea was quickly shot down.

Clubs

Clubs at the school include:

• Fencing
• Debate
• National History Day
• Drama
• FIRST Robotics

• Multicultural Club
• Future Business Leaders of America
• Philosophy Club
• Interact Club
• Ski and Snowboard Club

• The Scarlet Tanager (newspaper)
• Environmental Club
• Key Club
• Keyettes
• Crew Club

• Math Team
• United Nations Club
• Gay Straight Alliance
• Bicycle Club
• Ultimate (Frisebee Ultimate (sport) )

• Amphora (Literary art magazine)
• Anime Arts Club
• Guitar Club
• Yearbook
• Poets Anonymous
• Students Against Destructive Decisions
• Outdoor Club

Notable alumni and faculty

• Amby Burfoot, 1968 Boston Marathon winner
• Dave Campo, Dallas Cowboys Secondary Coach
• Jason Filardi, Screenwriter: 17 Again; Bringing Down The House
• John J. Kelley (1930–2011), winner of the 1957 Boston Marathon, member of two U.S. Olympic Marathon teams and a coach at the school
• Fran Mainella, National Park Service Director, 2001–2006
• Paul Menhart, Former Toronto Blue Jays Pitcher
• Thomas O'Keefe, Musician
• Matt Harvey, 7th overall pick in 2010 MLB draft to New York Mets

External links

• Fitch Senior High School website
• State Department of Education Strategic School Profile 2006-2007 for the school