Bloomington High School North
| Bloomington High School North | |
|---|---|
| File:Northentrance.JPG | |
| Location | |
 | |
| Information | |
| Type | Public high school |
| Motto | It's Great To Be A Cougar! |
| Established | 1972 |
| Principal | Jeff Henderson |
| Grades | 9-12 |
| Number of students | 1565 |
| Color(s) | Maroon & Gold |
| Mascot | Cougars |
| Snapshot | BHSN |
| Website | www.north.mccsc.edu |
Bloomington High School North (often referred to as BHSN or simply North) is a four-year public high school located in the northern part of Bloomington, Indiana and is accredited by the Indiana State Department of Public Instruction and the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools.[citation needed] Preliminary data for the 2006-2007 academic year shows BHSN has an enrollment of 1565 students, which are fed predominantly by Tri-North Middle School as well as Batchelor Middle School, Jackson Creek Middle School, St. Charles School, Harmony School, Lighthouse Christian Academy, and Pinnacle School.
It operates on the Block 8 schedule with students taking four 85-minute courses on 'Maroon Days' and four 85-minute courses on the alternating 'Gold Days'.[citation needed] Students have a 60 minute advisory every Friday morning called Seminar. Seminar is an opportunty to hold school assemblies, grade level convocations, club meetings, tutoring, and Freshmen Orientation activities. The curriculum includes over 140 different course offerings and allows students to design academic programs to meet their individual needs. Graduation requirements are based on work completed in grades nine through twelve. Accelerated programs enable students to complete high school requirements in seven semesters. Features of the curriculum include AP and Accelerated Learning courses, vocational/technical training, work-study programs, interdisciplinary studies, and independent study.
Academics
Bloomington High School North is noted for its academic achievement in several areas. It has consistently ranked in the 95th percentile in ACT, PSAT and SAT scores, well above the Indiana state average. It boasts several students who have been named National Merit Scholars through the years. Its Advanced Placement program is above the state average, with 76% of students earning a score of 3 or above in 2004 and students chosen as Advanced Placement Scholars each year. Many seniors choose to take courses at Indiana University, with some courses taught by BHSN faulty during the day. The average percentage of students who pass the ISTEP English and Math state-mandated assessments for NCLB has been above the Indiana state average since at least 2000.[1]
Beside state universities and colleges of varying size, graduates from BHSN have also been accepted at Amherst, Asbury College, Brown University, Carleton, Carnegie Mellon, Columbia University, Georgetown, Harvard, Macalaster, MIT, Northwestern, Princeton, Smith, Stanford, Swarthmore, UC Berkeley, University of Chicago, Vassar, Wake Forest, Washington University, West Point, Wittenberg, and Yale in recent years.[2]
Many rigorous courses are offered to students who want a challenging academic program including an interdisciplinary course for freshmen that combines critical studies in literary theory and social science theory; Finite Mathematics and other advanced math courses; Ethnic Studies, which covers the history of ethnic minority groups in the United States; a science research course that allows students to conduct research with scientists at Indiana University; a course that explores the history and culture of American sports; and rich electives in the arts such as Film Literature, Digital Photography, Jazz Band, Visual Communications, Stained Glass Arts, Advanced Theatre Production, Fiber Arts, and Music Theory. Its arts curricula are used as models in high schools throughout the nation and has led to many awards for its instrumental music, vocal music, theatre, and visual art programs.
During the 2005-2006 school year, the school's students showcased their talents and abilities throughout the state and nation:
In science: state champion in Science Olympiad for seven out of the past eight years.
In music: Advanced Jazz Ensemble named Honor Band at Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival, Symphonic Band third in state at ISMAA competition. In 2006 the Marching Band placed 5th at the state level, the highest ever for a North Marching Band. Bloomington North's Marching Band continues to be among the best in the state in Class B.
In art: Gold and Silver Keys at Indiana Scholastic Artc ompetition, Scholastic American Vision Award Nominee, and student Exhibitor in the National Society of Arts and Letters Competition.
State winners in Speech and Debate, Japan Quiz Bowl Competitions while the Business Professionals of America finished first in the state
School Life
The school is known for its eclectic student body, composed of students from many nations around the world as well as of children of world-renowned faculty at nearby Indiana University. Students are active with performing arts opportunities in Bloomington including the Rhino's Music Club, the Bloomington Playwrights Project, and more. The school's service learning programs include cadet teaching, community service, and internship opportunities for seniors that create unique links between the school and the greater Bloomington community.
The school has a new black box theatre and a refurbished auditorium. Recent theatrical productions have included My Fair Lady, A Christmas Carol, You Can't Take It With You, West Side Story, The Dining Room, The Fantasticks, Damn Yankees, and a yearly evening of one-act plays and pieces produced by students in the Advanced Theatre Production class (a notable performance of collected scenes by Arthur Miller was staged in 2004). Theatre director Francesca Sobrer's students are also known for performing as Living Statues each fall at the Bloomington Farmers' Market.[3] [4]
The school's many service organizations and student clubs are active fundraisers. In 2005-2006, the North Student Council and National Honor Society raised over $9,545 for Riley Children’s Hospital. The school's award-winning Habitat for Humanity chapter co-sponsored and built its sixth house for Habitat for Humanity, the only high school in the nation to accomplish this undertaking.
Many co-curricular and extra-curricular activities are available to students at BHSN. The athletic opportunities for students at BHSN include:
Baseball, Boys Basketball, Boys Cross Country, Boys Golf, Boys Tennis, Boys Soccer, Boys Track, Boys Swimming, Cheerleading, Football, Girls Basketball, Girls Cross Country, Girls Golf, Girls Tennis, Girls Track, Girls Soccer, Girls Swimming, Softball, Volleyball, Wrestling
In just the 2005-2006 school year alone, BHSN earned several athletic honors, including: Five sectional championships in Boy's Soccer, Girl's Volleyball, Girl’s Tennis, Girl’s Cross Country, Girl’s Track. Three regional championships in Boy’s Soccer, Girl’s Cross Country and Girl’s Track. Two semistate championships in Boy’s Soccer and Girl’s Tennis. One state champion in Girl’s Track.
Bloomington North's chief rival is the crosstown Bloomington South Panthers. Both play in Conference Indiana.
Clubs, organizations, and academic/arts groups at BHSN include:
Academic Decathlon, Academic Super Bowl, Art Club, Book Club, Business Professionals of America, Choral, Cougar Leaders, Digital Arts Society, Drama (Fall Production and Spring Musical), Drumline, Environmental Club, Federation of Christian Athletes, French Club, German Club, Habitat for Humanity, Japan Club, Jazz and Concert Bands, Junior Statesmen of America (JSA), Latin Club, Marching Band, Media Club, National Art Honor Society, National Honor Society, Newspaper and Yearbook, Orchestra, Philbeck's Phriday Phlicks, Ping Pong Club, Poetry Club, Poms (Fall and Winter), Quiz Bowl, Role Playing Club, Science Olympiad, Spanish Club, Speech & Debate Team, Spell Bowl, Student Council, Travel Club, United Students, Video Game Club, Youth Summit
The school strives to assist all of its student population and the guidance counselors and social workers are highly trained to offer the following support services:
Grief Group, HELP (Heritage and Environmental Learning), ISG (Internation Student Group), SAVE (Students Against Violent Acts), TAP (Tobacco Awareness), US (United Students, the school GSA)
Cougar Wall of Fame
In 2006, the BHSN parent organization Cougars for Better Education unveiled the long-anticipated Cougar Wall of Fame, which recognizes and honors alumni of the school who have made significant contributions to respective fields. The first set of honorees inducted included:
- Candi Arnold, BHSN, 1984
- Joshua Bell, BHSN, 1984
- Tiffany Storm Ericson, BHSN, 1988
- Eleanor Fell, University High School, 1962
- Rusty Joe Fishel, BHSN, 1974
- Jennifer Warthan Hollers, BHSN, 1992
- Michael Kinser, BHSN, 1975
- Ricardo Morales, BHSN, 1989
- David Snyder, BHSN, 1978
- Terry Stotts, BHSN, 1976
Other famous North Alums include Pat Knight 1990, Jared Jeffries 2000, and Sean May 2002