Redondo Union High School

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Redondo Union High School
Location
One Seahawk Way
Redondo Beach, CA 90277
Information
Type Public
Established 1905
School district Redondo Beach Unified
Principal Dr. Nicole Wesley
Grades 9-12
Number of students 2,300
Color(s)           Red and White
Mascot Sea Hawks
Information (310) 798-8665
Website http://www.redondounion.org

Redondo Union High School is a public high school in Redondo Beach, California.

Redondo Union High School is a part of the Redondo Beach Unified School District. All residents of Redondo Beach are zoned to Redondo Union. In addition, residents of Hermosa Beach may choose to attend Redondo Union or the Mira Costa High School of the Manhattan Beach Unified School District.[1]

Since opening its doors in 1905, Redondo Union High School has developed into the largest high school campus in the State of California, with an overall area of 56 acres (230,000 m2).

With a large teaching staff, RUHS is a comprehensive high school offering various curriculum for college-bound students, as well as diversified career path and extracurricular programs.

Contents

[edit] History

Redondo Union High School (RUHS) was organized in the summer of 1905. The first classes were held in two upstairs rooms of the Masonic Building in Redondo Beach. In December of that same year, a site known as Old Chautauqua Place was selected as the location for the school.

Today, the spacious campus of more than 50 acres (200,000 m2) extends from Pacific Coast Highway to Prospect Avenue. RUHS is said to be the second largest high school (by area) in the state and the third largest in the country

With 100 years of history, Redondo Union High School is rich with tradition. A few highlights follow:

1905 High school opens with one teacher and 10 pupils

1906 School colors of red and white are chosen

1911 The tradition begins of passing the mantle to the junior with the highest academic ranking

1912 High school accredited

1915 The first Pilot is printed

1916 An open house is held for new buildings and the new auditorium

1920 The first issue of the High Tide is published

1923 The High Tide becomes one of the only high school newspapers in the nation to be published weekly

1929 The Alma Mater is written by Charlotte E. Cheney, ’26

1939 The Science Building is dedicated

1952 The campus is expanded with the addition of many new classroom buildings

1972 The new auditorium is completed

1980 Redondo Union High School celebrates its 75th anniversary with an all-alumni event at the Seaside Lagoon

1983 Redondo Union High School absorbs students from Aviation High School which is closed due to budgetary constraints

1988 RUHS is named a California Distinguished School

1989 RUHS is named a National Exemplary School

1995 The Redondo Union High School Alumni Association is formed

1996 For the second time in a decade RUHS is named a California Distinguished School

1997 The RUHS Alumni Walk is constructed and dedicated

2000 Redondo Union High School celebrates its 95th anniversary with an all-alumni event at the Seaside Lagoon; Girls’ golf team wins CIF Championship

2001 Beach Cities robotics team wins National Championship

2002 RUHS boys’ and girls’ basketball teams both win CIF Division II-A Championships; girls’ team advances to the state finals in Sacramento

2004 RUHS Boy's Tennis win CIF Division IV Tennis Championships

2004 Redondo Union High School begins a year-long celebration of its 100 years of history from 1905 to 2005

2006 Girls volleyball team upsets rival Mira Costa High School in the CIF division 1-AA championahips.

2007 Redondo Union High School's One Hundredth Class Graduates

2009 Academic Decathlon goes to the California State Competition

2010 RUHS Girls' basketball team wins CIF

2011 Redondo Union Girls Cross Country rank 10th in the nation at Nike Cross Nationals

2012 Academic Decathlon goes to the California State Competition and sets new school record.

[edit] Sea Hawk Programs and Highlights

ELD-designed to support students of limited English Proficiency
Special Education- special instruction in a Special Day Class or Resource Specialist Program for students with identified special learning needs.
Academy of Health and Fitness- a school within a school focusing on career paths in Health and Fitness.

[edit] Advanced courses

Redondo offers Advanced Placement classes in:

  • English Language
  • English Literature
  • Biology
  • Chemistry
  • Physics
  • European History
  • United States History
  • Government & Politics: United States
  • Psychology
  • Calculus AB
  • Calculus BC
  • Statistics
  • Studio Art
  • Chinese Language
  • Spanish Language
  • Spanish Literature

[edit] Honors courses

Redondo offers honors courses in Biology, Chemistry, and English.

[edit] Awards

The journalism program is one of the best in the United States, and has been by far the strongest in the area for two decades. The newspaper, High Tide, and the yearbook, The Pilot, have been winning Gold and Silver Crowns from the Columbia Scholastic Press Association (CSPA), and Pacemakers from the National Scholastic Press Association (NSPA).

In Newsweek's The Complete List: 1,200 Top U.S. Schools article in 2006, Redondo was listed as #687. [2] In 2007, Redondo was ranked #465. [3] In 2009, Redondo was ranked #738. [4]. In 2010, Redondo was ranked as #799 [5]/

RUHS is the only school in the South Bay to have a fully functioning Industrial Technology Department where students can enroll in Construction Technology, Computer Aided Drafting and Design, Media Arts, Web Design, and Introduction to Engineering Design (a Project Lead the Way [6] course).

RUHS's Beach Cities Robotics [7] team has won over 40 awards including an international first prize in 2001 against over 1000 other teams.[citation needed]

Redondo's Academic Decathlon Team placed 7th out of 56 schools in the 2008 competition. The team received 18 medals and the gold plaque for most improved. In 1995, the school placed 5th, its highest placement to date.

In 2010 former principal Mary Little was awarded "Grand Master Assmunch" by the student body, shortly before her retirement.

[edit] College and Career Center

The College and Career Center aims to provide students with the most up to date and comprehensive collection of information regarding career, education, financial aid, and scholarship information.

[edit] Scholastic information

Advanced Placement classes and Honors classes are weighted at RUHS. Class ranking reflects the student's total weighted grade point average.

In the second semester of the 2007-2008 school year, RUHS began the switch from the SASI computer grading system to Infinite Campus, an internet-based student tracking system. However, the system will not be fully implemented until the 2008-2009 school year.

[edit] Clubs and organizations

  • ACTOD
  • Academy of Health and Fitness (AHF)
  • Amnesty International
  • Animal Rescue Club
  • Anime Club
  • Associated Student Body (ASB)
  • Astronomy Club
  • Auto Club
  • AVID
  • Best Buddies
  • Beach Cities Robotics http://www.bcrobotics.org [8]
  • Broadcast
  • Community Trash Association
  • California Scholarship Federation
  • Cervantes
  • Chess Club
  • Current Events Club
  • Democratic Issues and Action Club
  • Dodgeball Club
  • Drama Club
  • Ecology Club
  • Engineering and design club
  • Fellowship of Christian Athletes
  • Friendship Circle
  • Photo and Phood Club
  • French Club
  • Freshmen Class Council
  • Glee Club
  • Guitar Club
  • GSA (Gay Straight Alliance)
  • Halo Club
  • HBAE
  • Hung Club
  • Hip-Hop
  • Honors Art Club
  • Improv Club
  • Indian Dance Club
  • Interact Club
  • Junior Class Council
  • Kabataan Pilipino
  • Key Club [9]
  • Korean Culture Club
  • Literary-Arts Club
  • Math Club
  • Marine Corps Junior Reserve Officers Training Corp
  • Monty Python
  • Muslim Students Association
  • New Life Club
  • Otaku No Anime Club (Anime Club)
  • Project Cooldown
  • Radio Free Club
  • RUHS RAN (Redondo Union High School Rainforest Action Network)
  • Salsa Club
  • Semper Comites
  • Senior Class Council
  • Sophomore Class Council
  • Spanish Club
  • Spirit Hawks
  • SADD (Students Against Destructive Decisions)
  • Student Council
  • UNITE
  • Xbox Club
  • Vegetarian Club
  • Set Apart (aka On Campus Christians)
  • WoW Club (aka World of Warcraft Club)

[edit] Sports

[edit] Fall Sports

  • Cross-Country (Co-ed)
  • Football
  • Boys Water Polo
  • Girls Tennis
  • Girls Volleyball
  • Girls Golf
  • Surfing
  • Cheerleading

[edit] Winter Sports

  • Boys Basketball
  • Girls Basketball
  • Wrestling (Co-ed)
  • Girls Water Polo
  • Boys Soccer
  • Girls Soccer
  • Surfing (Co-ed)

[edit] Spring Sports

  • Track (Co-ed)
  • Baseball
  • Boys Golf
  • Boys Lacrosse
  • Girls Lacrosse
  • Softball
  • Swimming (Co-ed)
  • Boys Tennis
  • Boys Volleyball

[edit] Programs and people

[edit] Beach Cities Robotics

The robotics club at Mira Costa High School works with Redondo Union High School and Santa Monica High School as well as other southern California schools to create the Beach Cities Robotics club. The club participates in the organization FIRST [10] (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology), a nationwide organization that fosters the advancement of science and technology through several different programs for all grade levels holding robotic competitions year round internationally. During the main event, FIRST FRC competition, the team has six weeks to design, build, and test a robot according to a challenge that changes each year. Students participating in the robotics club will gain knowledge in engineering, physics, math, programming, public relations, teamwork, and many other skills.

Beach Cities Robotics has won numerous awards since starting in 1997, and won 1st place at the international finals in 2001 against over 1000 other teams. Other awards include Engineering Inspiration Award at the Arizona Regional Competition in 2003, the Regional Chairman's Award at the Southern California Regional Competition in 2004, and the Engineering Inspiration Award at the Southern California Regional Competition in 2005.

[edit] Band program

Every fall the Sea Hawk Marching Band competes in field show competitions with the Dance Guard. In the Spring the RUHS Jazz Ensemble competes in festivals at Royal High School, Mayfair High School and Westlake High School. In 2005 the RUHS Jazz Ensemble placed 2nd at the Royal High School Competition. In 2009, The RUHS Jazz Ensemble A placed 3rd at Westlake High School's Jazz Competition. RUHS Jazz Ensemble B placed 3rd in the same competition. In 2005, RUHS took in a new band called the RUHS Wind Ensemble. They compete alongside the concert band in every festival. The RUHS Concert Band has attended State Music Festivals every year except the 2011 season. This year the RUHS Concert Band will be traveling to the Heritage Festival in San Francisco for Spring Break where they will be performing "Journal For a Soldier" by Brian Balmages and "Rise of the Firebird" by Steven Reineke. In the 2006 Marching Band Season the band had consecutive 1st and 2nd placings in all its competitions. In the 2010 Marching Band season, the band took 1st place in the Southern California Judging Association Championships. The RUHS marching band qualified for the SCSBOA Championships this past 2010 season and received 10th place out of 12 other marching bands despite performing first. The 2010 season was their most successful season ever. This 2011 season, The RUHS Percussion line competed in its first ever DAC competition. In the Stand Still Division, the Percussion line placed 5th out of 7 other percussion lines and placed 5th again out of 14 other percussion lines overall. The theme for this year is called "Variations on a Korean Folk Song" arranged by Mike Lloyd. The original composition is from John Barnes Chance. The band's current director is Mark Aguero.

[edit] Theatre program

Every year at Redondo the Theatre Art Department puts on several productions, including a spring musical. Past productions include: The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged), How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, The Ninth Guest, Anything Goes, 12 Angry Jurors, The Iliad and The Odyssey and All of Greek Mythology in 99 Minutes or Less, Seussical, and Grease (musical).

[edit] Facilities

[edit] Sports

  • Indoor Gyms: Redondo Union High School has a large gym and a small gym.
  • Swimming Pool
  • Football Field a.k.a. Sea Hawk Bowl.
  • Lacrosse Field
  • Wrestling Room
  • Track
  • Weight-Training Facilities
  • Tennis Courts
  • Volleyball Courts
  • Baseball Fields
  • Softball Fields
  • Soccer Fields
  • Golf Practice Course

[edit] Arts

  • Video Production Facilities
  • Ceramics
  • Fine Arts Facilities
  • Dance Room
  • Band Room
  • Choir Room
  • Drama Room

[edit] Other resources

  • Library
  • Computer Lab
  • College/Career Center

[edit] Media Appearances

[edit] Film

The movie The Hot Chick was filmed here.[2]


Kurt Russell wears and RUHS Senior class ring in the 1988 film Tequila Sunrise [3]

[edit] Television

In Season 3, Episode 27 of The Beverly Hillbillies, Alan Reed Jr., as a beatnik, stepped out of a car in the Clampetts' driveway, stared at the front of the mansion and said, "Man! This place looks like Redondo High!" [4]

Episodes from Fox's The OC have been shot here.[citation needed]


The new Disney Channel XD skateboarding show Zeke and Luther is filmed at Redondo High.[citation needed]

[edit] Notable alumni

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ http://hbcsd.org/hschoic.html
  2. ^ http://www.seeing-stars.com/Locations/TheHotChick.shtml
  3. ^ http://www.redondochamber.org/media_/filming_in_rb.aspx
  4. ^ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oomf8zxPNew
  5. ^ http://www.nfl.com/players/profile?id=00-0024392
  6. ^ http://nfldraft.rivals.com/barrier_noentry.asp?ReturnTo=&sid=1164&script=content.asp&cid=286457&fid=&tid=&mid=&rid=
  7. ^ http://ruhsalumni.org/alumni/search_result.php?keywords=ensberg&id=23406&raSid=57c8e6f34b3a0645a57d060f181062ee
  8. ^ http://www.ultimateapocalypse.com/mma_news_at_ultimate_apocalypse_mma/2012/03/carla-esparza-bio-and-wmma-fight-facts/
  9. ^ http://www.academickids.com/encyclopedia/index.php/Lynette_Fromme] [1]
  10. ^ http://nona-gaye.net/TBW.htm
  11. ^ Krikorian, Greg. The Daily Breeze, “Skateboard artists talk safety on whirlwind tour,” May 31, 1976.
  12. ^ "Perry Moore, 'Narnia' series executive producer, dies at 39; Don Peterman, Oscar-nominated cinematographer, dies at 79; Nancy Carr, network TV publicist, dies at 50". Los Angeles Times. 2011-02-22. Retrieved 2011-02-23. 

[edit] External links

Coordinates: 33°50′45″N 118°23′05″W / 33.845839°N 118.384611°W / 33.845839; -118.384611

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