Seminole High School (Seminole County, Florida)

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Seminole High School
Location
Sanford, Seminole County, Florida
United States
Information
Type Public
Established 1902
School district Seminole County Public Schools
Principal Mike Gaudreau
Grades 9-12
Number of students 3,572[1]
Color(s) Orange and Black          
Mascot Fighting 'Noles[2]
Website Seminole High School
For other schools with the same name, see Seminole High School (disambiguation).

Seminole High School is a public high school located in Sanford, Florida operated by Seminole County Public Schools. In February 2007 Mike Gaudreau, a Seminole High School alumnus, became principal.

From 2006 - 2011 Seminole High School was one of the schools in Seminole County on Newsweek's List Of Top 1,200 Schools in the United States.[3] Seminole High is also known for being the only high school in Seminole County to offer the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme. Seminole High also offers the Academy for Health Careers which offers students a curriculum based on a future career in health care. Students take a Health class and health material is integrated into the curriculum of all other subjects. Seminole High also offers Advanced Placement courses in a range of subjects.

Contents

[edit] School rankings

In the 2007-2008, 2008–2009, 2009–2010, and 2010-2011 school year, the Florida Department of Education gave Seminole an "A" ranking. This was an improvement from 2006-2007's "C."[1]

Newsweek rated Seminole #303 in their list of the top 1,200 schools in the country in 2006.[1] Newsweek rated Seminole #150 in their list of the top 1,200 high schools in the country in 2007, making it the highest ranked high school in Seminole County.[3]

[edit] History

Sanford High School was built in 1902. In 1911 the student population necessitated the building of a new Sanford High School on Sanford Avenue. In 1927 a much larger building opened on French Avenue, and the school was renamed Seminole High School. By 1961 a new sprawling campus was opened at the present location on Ridgewood Avenue, and the old building on French Avenue became Sanford Junior High School (later renamed Sanford Middle School). Seminole High School has grown not only in the size of the campus, but also in student population - from the 4 female graduates in the Senior Class of 1907 to 555 graduates in 2007. The original building on 7th Street is now used as the Student Museum to represent the rich history of education in Seminole County.[4]

[edit] Renovation

In 2004,[4] the school began renovations costing over $10 million, including the construction of new classroom halls, a new media center, a new gym, and a new auditorium. The renovation was completed in 2010.[1]

The new media center was put into use in the first quarter of the 2006-07 school year. Tomahawk Hall opened at the beginning of the second quarter of the 2006-07 school year. The brand-new performance gym, to be used exclusively for school sports competitions and pep rallies, was opened at the beginning of the 2007-2008 school year, and the new performing arts center, later to be named in honor of former principal Karen W. Coleman, opened in March 2008.[4] Seminole High's Thespians were the first to use the center, producing The Pink Panther Strikes Again that month, starring Cory Hutson as Jacques Clouseau. Following this production was the Seminole High Band's Prism Showcase (5/8/08), and shortly after came the Seminole High Chorus's Spring Revue (5/22/08). All construction is scheduled for completion by the summer of 2008.

Construction on a new building, now called Renegade, in the center of the campus was begun in Spring 2008 and was finished Spring 2009.

Renovations on the cafeteria began in early 2009 and were finished at the beginning of the 2009-10 school year. and the construction on a new building, now called Warrior Hall in the east side of the campus. The current amount of renovations completed, and to be built, total about $55 million.

[edit] Scholarships

With the sudden death of beloved Coach Mickey Yasko, they students of Leadership Class 2004-2005 and the weightlifters whom he sponsored, a scholarship was created in his name for weightlifters in Seminole County High Schools for their college education.

[edit] International Baccalaureate

Seminole High offers both the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme and the last two years of the IB Middle Years Programme. Many Seminole High IB students begin the Middle Years Programme at one of two Seminole County middle schools which offer the program.

Alumni of Seminole High's IB Diploma Programme are currently represented at universities throughout the United States, the United States Military Academy at West Point, the United States Coast Guard Academy, and United States Naval Academy.[5] Many Seminole High IB alumni choose to attend public universities in Florida under the Bright Futures Scholarship Program.[5]

[edit] Instrumental music: Pride of the Tribe, Band, Orchestra, Jazz Chiefs, Percussion

Seminole High School has an award winning instrumental program that consists of Wind Ensemble, Symphonic Band, Concert Band, the Jazz Chiefs, a separate Percussion class and Seminole Strings. The three concert bands come together with the national ranked Dazzler Dance Team to make the Pride of the Tribe marching band who performs during the boys Varsity football team. The Band is under the direction of PL Malcolm. The Orchestra is under the direction of Andrea Newhouse, and is the only high school orchestra in the Seminole County Public School System. The percussion instructor is Marissa Turney. The Pride of the Tribe is under the direction of Band Captain Hannah Carter and Drum Majors Cheyne LaBonte, Nathaniel Smith, and Abigail Inyang.[6]

[edit] Vocal music

The SHS Chorus Department offers a variety of groups of all types and levels. All groups meet during school days. Seminole's choirs have sung for the Candlelight Processional at Epcot as an honor choir for 20 years and also performs at the annual "Arts Alive In Seminole!" program. Along with many other performing groups at Seminole, a number of the chorus groups perform for the annual "Dancing for Diabetes" show, a benefit show in Sanford that helps contribute to diabetes research. The SHS Chorus is under the direction of Bob Maguire.

"Fantasy" (SSA) Show Choir is approximately 60 voices. "Fantasy" competes at various competitions. This is a top notch Show Choir that is filled with many new members getting there feet wet before they move in to another group. This group is under the leadership of President Hanna Conrad.

"First Take" (SATB)Is the premier vocal ensemble in the program, the best singers in the whole program come together here to take a traditional choir set up and make it anything but average.. The group was named so by Disney music representatives; when recording a selection for a Disney event, the group recorded perfectly on the first take. This group is under the leadership of President Charissa Casad.

"Destiny" and "Pizazz" are Seminole's premier show choirs choirs. Pizazz (SSAA) is an all girls group that performs and competes all around Central Florida. They are under the leadership of President Wissy Walker. Destiny (SATB) is a co-ed group that has received countless awards and performed all over the state of Florida. They are under the leadership of President Benjamin Reid Otwell.

"Gospel Choir" is a very well known group in the Central Florida area. They do both traditional and modern gospel pieces and even write their own music sometimes.

The SHS Chorus assistant is Loretta Damattos, she is in charge of student accounts, scheduling, and everything else behind the scenes. All of the technical aspects (sound, lights, visuals, staging) of the SHS Chorus Department is handled by Senior Billy B Williamson.

[edit] Dance

The school 'Dazzler' dance team has around 100 members and holds many national titles including the 1997, 2004, 2007, 2008, 2009, and 2010 national high kick titles at the National Dance Team Championship held at Walt Disney World.[citation needed] In 1999, 2001, 2005, 2008, and 2010 they received the title of National Champions at the MA National Championship in Texas.[citation needed] They are under the direction of Maurene, Shannon, and Megan Maguire. During the fall they come together with the Seminole High School Band to form the Pride of the Tribe.

[edit] Additional extra curricular activities

Seminole High also has a step team and also hosts Troupe 3266 of the International Thespian Society.[4] Under the direction of Tiffany Ortiz. Students may also take part in the theatre department and participate in school plays.

The school newspaper, The Seminole, is an elective course in which students may involve themselves in journalism, publishing, layout/design, photography, and advertising.

[edit] Athletics

Sports practiced at the school include baseball, basketball, cheerleading, dance, track and cross country running, football, golf, lacrosse, soccer, softball, swimming and diving, tennis, volleyball, water polo, weightlifting, wrestling, and bowling.

The Seminole High School Varsity Girls Bowling Team has placed second place in the Seminole County District Tournament two years in a row, and competed in the 2009 and 2010 FHSAA Bowling Finals at Boardwalk Bowl, Orlando.

The Seminole High School Varsity football played in the 6A Florida State Finals on December 20, 2008 winning against Miami Northwestern High School"Florida 6A Championship game". YouTube. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a254pl3V6T0. Retrieved 2009-09-08. </ref> Video of Hail to the Champs Parade sponsored by the City of Sanford. [1] The swimming team won the 2008 state championships the same year.[citation needed]

[edit] Air Force Junior ROTC

The School's Air Force JROTC unit FL-872 Color Guard has won numerous first place awards. The AFJROTC unit was named an "Distinguished Unit" for the 2005-2006 school year. Seminole High School is currently ranked as a five star school.[citation needed]

[edit] Academic teams, honor societies, and similar activities

Students also participate in academic competitions and honor societies, such as Mu Alpha Theta, Model United Nations, Academic Tournament, Odyssey of the Mind, French Honor Society, German Honor Society, and Spanish Honor Society. Seminole High School has recently won 4th Place Overall in the State of Florida Mu Alpha Theta Competition and 5th Place at the Mu Alpha Theta National Convention.[7] In the spring of 2008, Seminole High's Model United Nations team, representing South Africa was one of two in the state named an Outstanding Delegation, equivalent to first place, at FHSMUN (Florida High Schools Model United Nations). Seminole High's Academic Tournament team is named Illuminati.

Seminole High School also hosts a chapter of National Honor Society, which notably assists in seasonal events hosted by the city of Sanford and in the American Cancer Society fundraising event Relay for Life.

[edit] Organizations on campus

The school has active clubs for Young Democrats and Young Republicans, volunteering organizations such as Key Club, Salvation for a Nation, a group that raises awareness of the Darfur Conflict, a Gay-Straight Alliance, and groups for enthusiasts of anime, American Sign Language, bicycling, ballroom dance, ping pong, wildlife, business and economics and Ultimate Frisbee, among others.[8]

[edit] Notable alumni

[edit] Alma Mater

Hail to thee our Alma Mater, memories dear and true. Light of life and comrades loyal, always follow through. Lift your voices, sing your praises, over hill and dale. Hail to thee our Alma Mater, Seminole High all hail.

Video of the Alma Mater [3]

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b c d Seminole High School - Sanford, Florida/FL - Public School Profile
  2. ^ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named Seminole_High_School_-_Sanford.2CFl; see Help:Cite errors/Cite error references no text
  3. ^ a b 6 Local High Schools On " Newsweek' s" Best List - Central Florida News 13
  4. ^ a b c d SHS - History
  5. ^ a b SHS - International Baccalaureate Program
  6. ^ [seminolehsband.org "Seminole High School Band"]. SHS BPA. seminolehsband.org. 
  7. ^ http://floridamao.org/PublicPages/Results.aspx
  8. ^ SHS - Clubs

[edit] External links

Coordinates: 28°46′52″N 81°17′01″W / 28.781179°N 81.28357°W / 28.781179; -81.28357

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