Francis Howell High School

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Francis Howell High School
Established 1881
Type Public Secondary
Principal Chris Greiner
Faculty Approximately 100
Students 1760
Grades 9–12
Location St. Charles, Missouri, USA
Campus Suburban/Rural
Colors Blue, Gold
Mascot Viking
Yearbook 'Howelltonian'
Newspaper 'The Spotlight'
Website [1]

Francis Howell High School is a four year public high school located in Weldon Spring, Missouri. Approximately 1800 students from Defiance, Foristell, New Melle, O'Fallon, Saint Peters, Saint Charles, Weldon Spring, and Wentzville attend school at Howell.

Contents

[edit] History

Founded by Francis Howell in 1881, Francis Howell High School opened under the name of Howell Institute in Howell's Prairie. Originally, Francis Howell was a school where children could come to learn the basics of education and move up into high school.

After building up the school district, the district finally became Francis Howell School Consolidated District Number 2. On September 28, 1915, the Consolidated District Number 2 school board voted to name the new high school building "Francis Howell High School." On February 15, 1916, the new Francis Howell High School was dedicated.

The current Francis Howell High School is located between Highway 94 South and Highway D. The property was originally purchased in 1949 from the United States America under the jurisdiction of the War Assets Administration. Army barracks buildings, which were located on the property, were used by the high school for several years following until they were later demolished in 1991. There are still army barracks buildings being used at the Francis Howell School District Administrative Annex, which adjoins Francis Howell High School to the west.

Today, Francis Howell High School is a large suburban high school due to large population growth in southern St. Charles County. The original Francis Howell mascot was the "Dragoons" a horse riding soldier. Since at least the late 1960s, they have been known as the "Vikings".

Construction on a new academic building began in the summer of 2009. The new building features a new cafeteria, media center and classrooms. Portions of current buildings "A" and "C" will be the only buildings remaining after construction is completed in 2011.

[edit] Clubs and activities

[edit] Choir

Francis Howell High currently has 7 choirs, under the instruction of Karey Fitzpatrick: The Mixed Choir, Treble Choir (Auditioned Women's Choir), Concert Choir (Auditioned Mixed Ensemble), Offbeatz (Auditioned Mixed A Capella Group), Guytunes (Auditioned Men's A Capella Group), Treblemakers (Auditioned Women's A Capella Group), and Chamber Choir(Auditioned Mixed Ensemble).

[edit] Football

The Football Team has a storied past in Saint Charles county and are enjoying a resurgence under head coach Bryan Koch. Their long record of success in Football includes:

  • Conference Championships in 1971, 1978, 1984, 1986, 1987, 1989, 1990, 1993, 1995, 1996, 1998, 2000, 2002, 2009, 2010
  • District Championships in 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2010
  • Sectional Championships in 1996, 1998, 1999, 2010

[edit] Limelight Theater

Francis Howell's drama club, currently known as Limelight Theater, has been producing plays since 1971, when it was founded by English and Drama teacher Ed Stockwell[1] with the purpose "to establish a form of communication for any student and enable entertainment oriented individuals a chance to specialize." Since then, they have performed two or three plays a year. Currently under the direction of Charles Mueller

[edit] Marching band

Francis Howell High School, founded in 1881, has the oldest high school band program west of the Mississippi. The current marching band has 95 participants. The Marching band performs at every varsity home football game, as well as at competitions around the midwest.

[edit] Indoor Percussion

The Winter Drumline is one of the top Indoor Percussion Ensembles in the State of Missouri. The award winning Drumline captured second place in the Midwest in 2010 (2010 MCCGA Percussion Finals [3]).

[edit] Wrestling

The Francis Howell Wrestling Team has been one of the more accomplished wrestling programs in Missouri in the past 25 years. The Vikings have been consistent contenders for the large school championships in that era. Their alumni include Freestyle World Champion Sam Henson. The wrestling team is the most award-winning extracurricular group at Francis Howell High School.

[edit] Fight song

Are you from Howell? Yeah!
Are you from Howell? Yeah!
Does your team look good wherever you go
Are you from Howell? Yeah!
Are you from Howell? Yeah!
We're the fighting team and so
We'd like to tell you about the way we're scoring
Right on time
Always trying never dying we're so fine
Are you from Howell? Yeah!
Are you from Howell? Yeah!
We're the fighting Viking team! Fight! Fight!

-based on "Are You From Dixie" a song made popular by Grand Ol Opry singer Grandpa Jones

[edit] Notable alumni

[edit] External links

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ The Howelltonian '73, page 121
High schools in Greater St. Louis
Missouri public high schools
Illinois public high schools
Catholic Archdiocesan
high schools
Catholic private
high schools
Other private
high schools

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