West Seattle High School
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| West Seattle High School | |
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| West Seattle High School | |
| Location | |
| 3000 California Avenue Southwest Seattle, WA 98116 |
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| Information | |
| Type | Public |
| Established | 1917 |
| Principal | Ruth Medsker |
| Enrollment | 1,361[1] |
| Information | (206) 252-8800 |
| Mascot Colors PTSA |
Wild Cat Blue & Gold http://www.wshsptsa.org/ |
| Website | http://www.seattleschools.org/schools/wshs/ |
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| West Seattle High School logo | |
West Seattle High School (known to students as "Westside") is a comprehensive public high school in Seattle's West Seattle neighborhood that serves grades nine through twelve as part of the Seattle School District.
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[edit] History and Facilities
The school opened in 1902 and it was first called West Seattle School. In 1917, the present building was opened and the school was renamed West Seattle High School. The mascot was an Indian Chief, and the athletic teams were known as the Indians. A change in the nickname was considered several times starting in 1989. The mascot was changed to a Wild Cat in 2004.
The current neo-Renaissance building was designed by architect Edgar Blair on 3.5 acres. Various expansions of the site increased the property to its current 8.6 acres. Additions and renovation included the 1924 expansion by School District architect Floyd Naramore, a 1930 annex, a 1954 addition by architects Naramore Bains Brady Johansen, by Theo Damn in 1958, and major interior renovations in 1972. At various times portable classrooms had been installed on the site. The Seattle Landmarks Preservation Board designated the building a Landmark in 1981.[2]
There was a major remodel in 2000-2002 by Bassetti Architects. This involved featuring the historic building while doubling the size of the facility. The addition was arranged to provide a new entrance to the school surrounded by a new gymnasium, theater, and Commons spaces. The main entrance was restored, the central auditorium was converted to the Commons, and a gym was converted as the library. Awards for this renovation included: 2001 Excellence in Masonry, Honorable Mention; 2004 AIA Washington Civic Design Awards, Merit Award; and 2004 Masonry Institute of Washington Merit Award - Rehab/Restoration.[3]
[edit] Athletics
West Seattle is a member of the 3A metro league. The 2006 Senior Varsity Baseball Team was Metro League Champions[citation needed]. The 2004 and 2005 Varsity volleyball team were Metro League Champions[citation needed]. The 2004 Wrestling Team was the Metro League Champions[citation needed]. Most recently the Wild Cats were the champions of the 2008-09 metro sound football season with a record of 9-2, the team made it to the second round of the state playoffs beating Enumclaw and then losing to Ferndale. The team graduated 3 division one players.
[edit] Notable alumni
- Byron "By" Bailey, former NFL and Canadian Football League player; Canadian Football Hall of Fame member[citation needed]
- Dyan Cannon (1954), actress[4]
- Dow Constantine (1980), King County Executive
- Frances Farmer (1931), actress[4]
- Ivar Haglund, founder of Ivar's[4]
- Lou Whittaker (1952,) mountaineer, founded Mt. Rainier guide service[4]
- Jim Whittaker (1952), first American to climb Mt. Everest[4]
- Gregory C. Johnson (1972) NASA Astronaut, STS-125 Atlantis (May 11–24, 2009), the fifth and final Hubble servicing mission[5]
[edit] References
- ^ http://www.k12directoryofschools.com/Schools/WA/Seattle/West-Seattle-High-School.aspx
- ^ History of West Seattle High School
- ^ Bassetti Architects
- ^ a b c d e "Great Graduates from Seattle Public Schools". Seattle Public Schools. http://www.seattleschools.org/area/main/comp.dxml?app=Story&storyId=1888&settings=default&wrapper=0. Retrieved 2009-11-02.
- ^ "Astronaut Bio: Gregory C. Johnson (6/2009)". Johnson Space Center / NASA. http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/Bios/htmlbios/johnson-gc.html. Retrieved 2009-11-02.
[edit] External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to: West Seattle High School |
- WSHS Website
- West Seattle High School PTSA Website
- Great Schools.org
- West Seattle High School 2005 Annual Report
- History of West Seattle High School
- Teacher James Couture's Academic Website
- Ghost photo and detail photos of the symbols that appear on the school
- Seattle Landmarks
- List_of_landmarks_in_Seattle
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