Winter Haven High School
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| Principal | Gina Williams |
| School type | Public (U.S.) |
| Religious affiliation | None |
| Founded | 1890 |
| Location | Polk County, Florida, Winter Haven, Florida |
| Enrollment | 1761 students [1], |
| Campus surroundings | Urban |
| Contact | 600 Sixth Street, SE Winter Haven, FL 33880 863-291-5330 [2] |
| Mascot | Blue Devils |
| School colors | Blue and Gold [3] |
| Homepage | http://schools.polk-fl.net/whhs/ |
Winter Haven High School is a four-year public high school located in Winter Haven, Florida, a city of 27,855 (2004 census).
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[edit] History
The school opened in 1886 on the second floor of Boyd’s Hall, currently where City Hall stands. In 1890, a frame school building was built at the corner of Central Avenue and First Street.
When the student population reached 200 in 1912, more space was added onto the structure. Three years later a brick building replaced the wood-framed ones to make room for all elementary and high school students in 12 grades.
In 1922, an eight-room structure for the high school was built on Fourth Street, the present annex at Denison Junior High School. In 1925 a large stucco building was built on the adjacent lot for the high school, and the smaller building became a junior high department.
The current structure was built on Sixth Street in 1955 on a 32-acre (130,000 m2) tract of land. The late 1980s and 1990s saw a tremendous expansion of the campus, including a new gymnasium, music building and administrative offices.
The full reconstruction of the school commenced in the fall of 2009. All of the original campus (not including the auditorium, which was the original gymnasium) was demolished and replaced with a total of four new buildings (33, 34, 35, 36). An estimated 24 million dollars was spent on the construction and the new building boast two stories, new laboratories, kitchens, and art rooms.
Most recently, it was announced on January 4th, 2012, that Winter Haven High School became a "B" school. This was a major achievement and showed that school was and still is making progress.
The school held a “Celebrate Blue and Gold” event Sept. 15, 2006 to mark the school’s 120th anniversary.[1]
[edit] Athletics
Winter Haven High School is a member of the Florida High School Athletic Association and is in Class: 4A, District: 12.
The school’s Athletic Director is Mr. David Saliba. The varsity football team is led by Head Coach Charlie Tate. After three consecutive seasons with a 3-7 record, Coach Tate turned the program around by taking them to the 2005 Regional Finals. He followed a great 1st season with Winter Haven by beating Florida powerhouse Armwood the next season. the varsity football team would "tre-peat" the district championships for three years in a row, the 2009, 2010, and 2011 seasons. The team would go on to the second round of the play-offs each of those years, and then would be knocked out.
The girls basketball team won the state championship in 2005 & 2007. USA Today currently ranks then 15th in the nation. Coach LaDawn Gibson has won coach of the year for 11 consecutive years.
The Varsity Baseball team is coached by David Saliba and the Junior Varsity team is coached by George Meyer.
The girls varsity soccer also known as Association football team was led by Coach Scott Short for 12 years until his retiring after the 2009- 2010 season. In the 2008-2009 season he led the blue devils to a district runner up title. In 2009-2010, Coach Scott led the blue devils to a district title.
In the 2010-2011 varsity girls soccer season the blue devils ended the season with 21 wins, 3 losses and 1 tie. They brought home the district title for the second time in a row this season. They were led by Benji Works.
In 2011-2012 they were led by Coach Josh Williams, his second year coaching. First year was for junior varsity and he now coaches the varsity squad.
[edit] Band
The WHHS band program, which dates from 1936, and housed in the Roy Wood music building, is led by band director Juan Tony Mayato, Devilette Instructor Susan Banner and Percussion Instructor John Ostberg. The program consists of the "Pride of Winter Haven" Marching Band, including the Devilette Dance and Flag Ensemble, the Symphonic and Concert Bands, "Messengers" Jazz orchestra,Percussion Ensemble and many student led ensembles.
The Winter Haven High School Marching Band, also known as "The Pride of Winter Haven," performs at football games, marching band competitions, community events and local and national parades. It has performed in many national events, including, the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in the mid-1990s and then later in 1998 St. Patrick's Day Parade in New York City. In 2011 they received their 12th consecutive FBA "Straight Superiors" at the District 12 marching competition.
The Symphonic Band performed at Carnegie Hall in New York City on May 24, 2008 with two other ensembles, The Caltech-Occidental Concert Band from California and Jackson High School Wind Ensemble from Washington.
DIRECTORS OF THE WINTER HAVEN BAND
1936- 1940 Esther Mayhill 1982- 1983 Jim Sheldrake 1940- 1942 Everett Shortt 1983- 1994 David Fultz 1942- 1965 Roy V. Wood 1994- 2000 Mark Lussier 1965- 1979 Jimmy Parker 2000- 2006 Shawn Barat 1979- 1980 Jim Rees 2006- 2011 Sean Luce 1980- 1982 David Christopher 2011- Tony Mayato
[edit] Blue Devil Drama
Blue Devil Drama, the school's drama program, produces two or three shows a year. Every year, it runs a straight play in the fall season and a musical in the spring season. Some years they even throw in a Mystery dinner. The program has performed many shows such as the hits Lady Pirates of Captain Bre, Anything Goes, It's a Wonderful Life, The Crucible, Shakespeare Comes to Calimity Creek, Who Killed Elvis?, and The Goodbye Girl. The fall play for 2008 was The Somewhat True Tales of Robin Hood. The spring musical for 2009 was Pom Pom Zombies [2] The WHHS drama program is currently headed by Mr. Fritz. The school is the only one in Polk County to have a working Improv program.
[edit] Notable students
- Gram Parsons - Legendary singer/songwriter who was later a member of The Byrds, founder of The Flying Burrito Brothers, discoverer of Emmylou Harris and is generally credited as the "Father" of Country Rock. Attended WHHS from 1961-1963.[3]
- Stephen Christian Vocalist for the internationally known rock band Anberlin, signed to major label Universal Republic in 2007 after a successful career on Tooth and Nail/ EMI records. Published his first book "The Orphaned Anythings," in 2008. Currently a resident of Los Angeles, California.
- Otis Birdsong led WHHS to the state basketball championship before going onto a long NBA career and being the first player to sign a contract for $1 million a year.
- Kenneth Brokenburr - A 1987 graduate of Winter Haven High School, he won a gold medal as part of the 4x100 meter relay team at the 2000 Summer Olympics. He currently resides in nearby Auburndale, Florida
- Rowdy Gaines - A 1977 graduate of WHHS, won three gold medals in swimming at the 1984 Olympic Games. He now lives in Birmingham, AL., and works as a swimming analyst for television networks ESPN and NBC including coverage of the Athens 2004 Summer Olympics, his third as a TV commentator. He is a member of the International Swimming Hall of Fame.
- Lawrence Scarpa - A 1977 graduate and internationally known architect. He has won over fifty major design awards and designed projects for such Hollywood notables such as Danny DeVito, Jennifer Lopez, Jerry Bruckheimer, Jessie Dylan, Marshall Herskovitz and Brad Pitt. He has appeared on the Oprah Winfrey Show and in Newsweek. He now lives in Venice, California.
- Ron Scarpa - A 1981 graduate is a legend in the water skiing world. He is the 5-time world overall champion and the 8-time overall USA champion. He holds almost every major record in the sport and is listed in the Guinness Book of World Records Video Clip.
- Sally Wheeler - Actress who portrayed Carrie in the Mary Kate and Ashley Olsen show Two of a Kind. A 1985 graduate of WHHS. (IMDB article)
- Scott Helvenston - Youngest Navy SEAL ever admitted to their training program, at age 17. A football player at WHHS. Later a military consultant for the films G.I. Jane and Face/Off and a contestant on the TV reality show Combat Missions. He was one of four contractors shot and killed in Fallujah, Iraq on March 31, 2004. He was 38. (IMDB article)
- Kevin R. Wright - Tenor singer in the a cappella group Rockapella from 1997 to 2009.
- Andre Berto Boxer. Current WBC Welterweight Champ of the World
- Joey Milligan - Guitarist for the band Anberlin.
- John Covington- Safety for Notre Dame and Indianapolis Colts 1991-1994
- James (Jim) Sweet - Headed Scotty's for 40 years after he took over the reins from his father who started Scotty's in 1924.
- Jordan Schafer 2005 Graduate now playing Center Field for the Atlanta Braves.
- James H. Ammons A 1970 Graduate, Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University President.
[edit] External links
[edit] References
- ^ Haven High School to Mark 120th Anniversary, article in Lakeland Ledger, May 25, 2006.
- ^ WHHS Drama program Website
- ^ Gernert, Bob (9 October 2011). "Gram Parsons: 'Cosmic American' music"News Chief (Winter Haven, FL). http://www.newschief.com/article/20111009/NEWS/110095004. Retrieved 21 October 2011.
Coordinates: 28°00′49″N 81°43′06″W / 28.0136507°N 81.7182482°W
