Williamsville East High School

For schools of a similar name, see East High School (disambiguation).

Williamsville East High School
Location
232 Paradise Road East Amherst, New York, United States
Information
Established	1975
School district	Williamsville Central School District
Principal	Mr Scott Taylor
Grades	9 - 12
Number of students	1,000
Color(s)	Red and Gold
Mascot	The Flames
Newspaper	'The East Side'
Yearbook	'All Spark'
Website	Williamsville East school profile

Williamsville East High School is one of the three Williamsville high schools located in the Williamsville Central School District in Williamsville, New York. The other two high schools in the district are Williamsville North High School and Williamsville South High School. Of the three, Williamsville East is unique for having open classrooms, being constructed without any interior walls on the upper two floors of the three-story building. For the 2004-2005 school year, there was an enrollment of 1,048 students.

Education

Williamsville East has a wide range of Advanced Placement courses in many areas of study. All students are required to take the New York State Regents exams as required by the state for graduation. Williamsville East offers two different New York State certified diplomas: the Regents diploma and the Advanced Regents Diploma. The Advanced Regents diploma has more requirements in the math and sciences than the Regents diploma. Williamsville East does have a Foreign Language requirement, and every student must fulfill it by passing the regents exam in that language, usually in the end of the sophomore or junior years.

English/Language Arts

The English Department offers four levels of full-year English courses, as well as half-year courses (called "Fifth Credit Courses") such as Creative Writing, Journalism, Theatre, Media Literacy, Speech and Communication, LGBT literature, and Film Study. Most students—including accelerated 9th graders and 10th, 11th, and 12th graders—are enrolled in English (10-12), which has a set curriculum. There is a standard summer reading assignment where students are allowed to choose from a list of books and then must take notes and write responses. When the school year begins, all students are allowed to choose themed courses taught by specific teachers. These first two marking periods are spent reading at least one work of fiction. Towards the end of the first semester, a large midterm research project is assigned with a theme and final project. Past themes have included historical fiction (required a short fictional account of a period in history), biography (required a creative project included hypothetical letters and memoirs written by a specific person), and debate (required research on a controversy and a final in-class presentation). For the second semester, each student is given the option to choose a new teacher. The third marking period is a more creative project, where each student must keep a writer's notebook and write a few entries a week. The fourth and last marking period is a Shakespeare unit where every class reads a specific Shakespeare play and then is given a portion of the play to perform.

The Advanced Placement courses that Williamsville East offers include English Language and English Literature. The first is a course separate from the regular 10-12 english class and is taken in junior year. The curriculum engages students to carefully read and critically analyze works of literature. The latter is a separate course taught only in senior year. The curriculum changes from year to year and is in preparation for the final AP exam in May.

Juniors are also required for extra in-class sessions to prepare for the New York State Regents Examinations at the end of the school year.

Mathematics

The highly-regarded Math Department includes both Regents and Honors level courses, Statistics, and Advanced Placement Calculus at both the AB and BC levels. There is also a non-AP level of Calculus which offers a more simplified curriculum than that of the Advanced Placement courses. This course is adequate preparation for college-level calculus courses, as it covers many of the same material, but at not the same depth as the AP Calculus AB and BC courses.

The Math department offers various course tracks. Most students take Math 1R in freshman year, Math 2R in the sophomore year (and the Math A Regents exam), Math 3R in the junior year, and Math 4R in the senior year (with the Math B Regents exam). There is also a class in the fundamentals of algebra offered as a preparation for Math 1R for students that require it. For students who have taken accelerated math courses in middle school (Math 1R or 1A), in the freshman year they place into Math 2R or Math 2A (which takes the Math A Regents exam in lieu of a midterm), Math 3R of 3A (which takes the Math B exam in lieu of a final) as a sophomore, Math 4R or 4A as a junior, and then AP Calculus AB/BC or Math/Calculus 5, the non AP-calculus class.

A select group of students also take math outside the school through the Gifted Math Program at State University of New York at Buffalo (SUNY Buffalo, or UB for short)

Social Studies

The graduation requirement includes four years of Social Studies. The typical track for students is to take Global Studies I in the freshman year and Global Studies II in the sophomore year, ending with the New York State Regents exam at the end of the sophomore year. In the junior year, most students take either Regents-level or AP United States History. In the senior year, most students take one semester of Government and one semester of Economics. However, as an alternative students may take the AP Government and Politics and AP Macroeconomics on alternating days for both semesters, culminating in the AP exam in early May. The Social Studies department also offers AP European History for interested students, as well as a Regents level and AP Psychology.

The Government courses at Williamsville East have a final project which requires a minimum of 20 hours of civic service, as well as attending school board and town board meetings, to be performed over the course of the semester for Regents-level or the year for AP-level. Students must write a final paper in the end explaining the role that they played in their community through their volunteer hours.

Sciences

The typical track for sciences at Williamsville East is as follows: Regents-level Earth Science in the freshman year, Biology (either Advanced (Honors) or Regents-level) in the sophomore year, Chemistry (either Advanced (Honors) or Regents-level) in the junior year, and Regents Physics or Environmental Studies in the senior year. As well, the science departments offer courses in AP Biology, AP Living Environment, AP Chemistry, and AP Physics which have as prerequisites the associated regents courses. Many accelerated students who have taken Regents Earth Science in high school opt to take one or two of the AP sciences in their fourth years (resulting in either summer regents courses in order to fulfill prerequisites or taking two sciences courses in one year). For advanced students, the track of science courses usually is, with some deviation: Advanced Biology in the freshman year, Advanced Chemistry and/or AP Biology in the Sophomore year, AP Chemistry, AP Biology or Regents Physics in the Junior Year, and AP Physics, Regents Physics or Environmental Studies in the Senior year. It is important to note that there is no specified order that the regents-level earth science, biology, chemistry, physics and environmental studies courses must be taken, but they are usually taken in this order out of tradition and ease.

Foreign Language

East offers three foreign languages for study; French, Spanish, and Latin. Typically students continue the language they began in middle school (French or Spanish), or switch and start anew with the Latin Program. The National Latin Exam is administered every year to select students. For all languages, the regents exam in that language is usually taken at the end of the junior year, unless in the accelerated track, where the language regents exam is taken at the end of the sophomore year. East offers four years of study in all three languages, as well as an AP course in French Language, Spanish Language, and Latin: Virgil. Study in the other foreign language APs can be achieved through the "independent study" program, where a teacher is chosen as an adviser who guides the student's work in learning the material. Students may also attend German classes by taking a bus to Williamsville North High School

"Independent studies" can be done through any department, and in any field, as long as there is a teacher who consents to advise the student. An alternative to independent studies is to take a class at the State University of New York at Buffalo (SUNY UB, or UB for short). This is usually done when the school no longer has a class at the level of study of the student.

Music

Over half of the students in the school are involved in the music program.^{[citation needed]}

Williamsville East currently has the following ensembles: a Symphonic Orchestra (audition required for entry), a Philharmonic Orchestra (under the direction of Mr. Wayne Moose), a Wind Ensemble (audition required for entry), a Concert Band, a Jazz Ensemble (audition required for entry), a Chorale (audition required for entry), a Mixed Chorus and a Women's Chorus. There is also a Jazz Band (under the direction of Mr. Carl Mazzio) and a Vocal Jazz group that practice after school on a weekly basis. The band groups are under the direction of Dr. Stephen Shewan, and the choral groups are under the direction of Ms. Maureen Reilly. The Jazz Ensemble is under the co-direction of Mr. Moose and Dr. Shewan. Dr. Shewan's claim to fame is co-writing the hit song "Tubthumping" by Chumbawamba, and his award-winning protege, Zack DiMarco. The young DiMarco leads his alternative rock band, "Briarhurst", across the country in tours with Fall Out Boy.

The music department also offers courses in Music Theory, AP Music Theory (taught by Ms. Reilly), and Jazz Improvisation (co-taught by Dr. Shewan and Mr. Moose).

The Bands/Chorale and Orchestra alternate yearly trips in the Spring in order to tour and compete nationally, and have won multiple awards for their performances. Most notably, the Williamsville East Jazz Ensemble was a finalist in the Jazz at Lincoln Center Essentially Ellington Competition in 2007. Many music students go on after graduation to top music schools such as the Eastman School of Music, Manhattan School of Music, and Berklee College of Music.

Winterfest, the winter concert of the Music Department, is known for the diversity of musical talents presented as it includes all the major ensembles plus small ensembles created by East students. The concert is run in the prism-concert style of the Eastman School, where there is no time for applause between performances by groups but rather the spotlight highlights another group in another part of the auditorium that begins playing as soon as the previous group has finished. Winterfest is a two-day event held on a Tuesday and Wednesday night the week before the winter holiday vacation.

Most recently, the Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors donated a $70,000 grant to assist the Williamsville Poetry Music Dance Celebration, begun at Williamsville East in 2000 by band director Dr. Stephen Shewan and English teacher Mr. John Kryder

In 2010, the symphonic orchestra was awarded the opportunity to play at the New York State School Music Association (NYSSMA) Winter Conference. They performed Gustav Mahler's Adagietto from his fifth symphony and Leonard Bernstein's Symphonic Dances from West Side Story.

Drama Club Musical

Since the production of Guys and Dolls in 2005 with American Idol finalist John Stevens as Sky Masterson, the annual Spring Musical of the Williamsville East Drama Club has been gaining popularity. The musical is performed over a weekend in early February, including four separate shows on Thursday, Friday, Saturday matinée, and Saturday evening.

Other musicals that the Drama club has recently presented are: Oliver (2004), Oklahoma! (2006), The Wiz (2007), Beauty and the Beast (2008), Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (2009), Anything Goes (2010), and Annie Get Your Gun (2011).

Athletics

Williamsville East has a locally known athletic department.

Traditionally, East has excelled in men's and women's tennis, women's swimming, men's and women's soccer, ice hockey, men's and women's basketball, baseball and softball.

Men's Soccer team in 2008 went to the sectional finals and lost.

The Men's Ice Hockey team in 2003 won the school's only State Championship to date against Salmon River. The game was won with an overtime goal at the Utica Auditorium in Utica, NY.

The baseball coach, Jerry Gasz has over 600 career wins and is one of the most accomplished coaches in New York State.

Established in 1990, East's hockey team went on to win their first state championship in 2004 as part of the New York State Public High School Athletic Association League for hockey.

During the 2006 season, the Girls Varsity Soccer Team won the Section VI Class A title, and were ranked as high as 6th nationally.^{[citation needed]} They have won 3 sectional championships and one Far West Regional Championship. The undefeated 2009 team was upset in the Regional playoff game.

The Williamsville East Men's Gymnastics team under the Coaching of Alwin Day, was the top ranked high school gymnastics team in New York State from 1977-1987. On November 6, 1985 the men's gymnastics team set the New York State Public High School Athletic Association Men's Gymnastics Team competition record, scoring 158.4 points. That record stands unbroken today. In 1985 the Williamsville East Men's Gymnastics also set another record, 99 wins and 0 losses. The team at the time was captained by junior Craig O. Johnson, senior Ronald Farkash, and senior Robert Lurz.

During the 2008-2009 High School Wrestling season, the Williamsville East Flames won the league title as the only undefeated wrestling team in NYS Section Six. This was their first league title since 1978 and was significant because the Flames defeated the six-year undefeated champions, Cheektowaga.^{[citation needed]}

The Men's Tennis team has also been very strong, winning the division for the last five years in a row. They went 11-1 during the 2009 season.

The Women's Swim Team has been undefeated and Division II Champions for 8 years in a row.

In the 2010-2011 Season, the Williamsville East Flames Varsity Hockey team was the first team in school history to win the Federation League championship at HSBC Arena, beating Kenmore East 2-1. They went on to win a state regional game against Webster Thomas High school, and continued on to the state final four where they advanced to the State championship by beating Pelham in overtime, but lost 6-2 in the State Championship to Cazenovia.

The first ever Williamsville Women's Varsity Ice Hockey team won the 2010-2011 Inaugural Western New York Women's Ice Hockey Federation Championship over OP/Frontier, 6-0 with the freshman goalie in net due to an injured Molnar. The team included several players from East; Senior Captain Shauna Clair, Senior Assistant Captain Jami Cohen, Senior Defensemen Sara DiBernardo, Senior Goalie Alyssa Molnar, Sophmore Forward Becca Searns, Sophmore Defensemen Caroline Soh, Freshman Forward Teagan Faran, and Freshman Goalie Theresa Meosky. In the future, the East girls hope to have a team of their own.

The Flames are known for their goal horn and song "Chelsea Dagger" by the Fratellis. Fans chant the song after each goal scored.

The School has an official fan section nicknamed "The 12th Man" and "The Sea of Red"

Clubs

Williamsville East has a variety of clubs and teams open to students after school. These include traditional things such as newspaper club, Science Olympiad, drama club and yearbook, but Williamsville East also offers a few unorthodox clubs. One such example is "Shakespeariment," a club dedicated to performing the works of William Shakespeare.

Williamsville East competed on "It's Academic," a high school quiz show televised locally on WIVB (previously WBEN) Channel 4. The 1985 team won the Western New York championship.

Williamsville East also has a locally known Masterminds (also known as Quiz Bowl) team. The Masterminds team has placed very well in the Buffalo area region, and recently won the 2008 State Championships, playing against Fairport High School from Rochester and Guilderland High School from Albany.

Famous alumni

Author and professor Siva Vaidhyanathan , graduated from Williamsville East in 1984. He has appeared in a segment of The Daily Show with Jon Stewart concerning social network service.

Alum John Stevens IV appeared as a finalist on American Idol in Season 3. The high school appeared as part of a short video taped by Fox to include on an episode of the show.

Todd Marchant, NHL hockey player currently with the Anaheim Ducks, graduated from Williamsville East in 1990 before being drafted by the Rangers in the 1993 NHL Entry Draft in the seventh round, 164th overall. He was inducted into the Williamsville East Wall of Fame in 2005.

Author and consultant Seth Godin graduated from Williamsville East in 1978.

Anaheim Ducks postgame radio host Josh Brewster has produced "Duck Calls" on AM830 KLAA since 2006. He graduated Williamsville East in 1984.

References

www.williamsvillek12.org/east_high.cfm

External Links

• WITS