Osseo Senior High School
| Osseo Senior High School | |
|---|---|
| Location | |
 | |
| , | |
| Information | |
| Type | Public |
| Established | 1924 |
| Principal | Dr. Robert Perdaems |
| Number of students | approx. 1575 |
| Athletics conference | Northwest Suburban Conference |
| Mascot | Orioles |
| Colors | Orange and Black |
| Website | http://www.district279.org/sec/osh/ |
Osseo Senior High school is a three year public high school located in Osseo, Minnesota on 317 2nd Ave. NW. The principal is Bob Perdaems and the assistant principals are Diana Bledsoe and Ronnie King.
Overview
Osseo Senior High School is a part of the Osseo Area School District 279 and is one of three, three-year high schools in the district. The school has a population of 1694 of which 1% are Native American, 3% are Hispanic, 11% are Asian, 18% are black and 67% are white. The team mascot is the Oriole, and Osseo Senior High School sports teams are known as the Orioles. Osseo Senior High was the first school to open in District 279. The original school building opened in 1924. The school was designated a high school in 1952. An auditorium/gym was added in 1935. Additional classrooms and a lunch room were added to the building in 1948. A high school addition was made to the building in 1952, and another section of the building was added in 1957. In 1959, a new gymnasium was added to the building, and in 1961, the school received a major expansion. Another wing was added to the new building in 1964, and Tech Ed. rooms were added in 1966. In 1975, voters approved a gymnasium and auditorium expansion to the building. The original 1924 building, with its 1935 and 1948 additions, was demolished to make way for the new gymnasium. The school received a library addition in 1988. In 2002, a new gym was added, the 1959 gym converted into a cafeteria, and new offices were built. From 2002-2005, the exterior of the school was renovated and air conditioning was added to the building. The current layout of Osseo Senior High is notorious for being confusing, since there are two upstairs wings not accessible to one another via the 2nd/3rd floor. The 1st floor's layout resembles a ladder, with a front and back hallway, with smaller hallways connecting the two. The cafeteria was recently renovated and features the "Oriole Cafe," where students have a wide selection of school meals as well as several ala cart options, while enjoying the 1950's architecture surrounding them.
Academic Assessment
Osseo Senior High School did not make the AYP for the 2005-2006 school year. The school is ranked 311th out of 453 public high schools in Minnesota and is ranked higher than Park Center Senior High School a notable high school in the Osseo Area School District 279.
Music and Fine Arts
Osseo Senior High School has a long history of terrific bands, choirs and orchestras. The Osseo Marching Band has historically been successful, winning many 1st place awards in parades and marching band festivals.
Starting in 2007, Osseo High School Marching Band hosted the first annual Osseo Marching Band Festival. The Marching Band Festival is a street-marching competition between high school bands. Competition is judged for trophies and prize money within each class. Trophies are also given to overall best color guard, best winds, best drumline and grand champion. The Osseo Marching Band Festival is held at noon on Saturday of the last full weekend in June, the day before the Vikingland Band Festival in Alexandria, MN. Future dates of the Osseo Marching Band Festival are: June 28, 2008; June 27, 2009; June 26, 2010 and June 25, 2011.
Osseo Senior High also has a renown high school musical which is presented in the fall, a one-act play which often goes to state, and used to also perform a spring play. The 2008 fall musical was "Footloose," starring Alex Campea and Andrea Nelson.
Sports and Rivalries
Osseo Senior High School's main rival is Maple Grove Senior High School and the rivalry begins at the junior high level between Osseo Junior High School and Maple Grove Junior High School. While Maple Grove football usually has the upper hand, the Orioles won their 2007 homecoming game for the first time in 13 years. Another notable rival of Osseo Senior High School is Park Center Senior High School and the two high schools' football teams compete for the Osspar trophy a local unofficial competition which began in 1990. Osseo does not consider Park Center a substantial rival although Park Center considers Osseo their only rival. Osseo really only cares about Maple Grove. The most likely reason for the Maple Grove Senior High School rivalry being fiercer is because of the junior high rivalry between Osseo Junior High School and Maple Grove Junior High School. Another reason is that the current student population of Maple Grove and Osseo Senior High Schools all attended Osseo Senior High, up until the opening of Maple Grove Senior High in the 1996-1997 school year. Osseo has a rich history in athletics, most notably their state championships in football (1970) and boys basketball (2001). The girls basketball team won the state championship in 2000. The Cross Country team is also very strong, with both the girls and boys teams advancing to state in 2006. In March 2007, the Girls basketball team advanced to the state tournament, but lost a close game to second seeded Minneapolis South. The Boys basketball team lost the section finals to Robbinsdale Armstrong Senior on March 16th 2007. In 2008, the boy's soccer team won their first ever state title, led by Star Tribune Metro Player of the Year Whitney Browne. Also, the Osseo Football Cheerleading Squad won state, defeating rivals Minnetonka.
| State Championships | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Sport | Number of Championships | Year |
| Fall | Soccer, Boys | 1 | 2008 |
| Soccer, Girls | |||
| Cross Country Running, Girls | |||
| Football | 1 | 1970 | |
| Swimming and Diving, Girls | [1] | ||
| Winter | Alpine Skiing, Boys | ||
| Basketball, Boys | 1 | 2001 | |
| Basketball, Girls | 2 | 1989, 2000 | |
| Dance Team, Girls | |||
| Gymnastics, Girls | |||
| Swimming and Diving, Boys | |||
| Spring | Baseball, Boys | ||
| NAQT Quiz Bowl | |||
| Golf, Boys | |||
| Softball, Girls | |||
| Lacrosse, Girls | |||
| Total | 5 | ||
Osseo and the community
Osseo Senior High well represents the city of Osseo, and with its combined athletic and academic success, Osseo Senior High is seeing increasing enrollment. The Orioles have been quite successful by winning state championships and well represents its community and students.
Notable Alumni
- Trent Klatt - former NHL player who played for the Philadelphia Flyers, Minnesota North Stars, Dallas Stars, Vancouver Canucks and Los Angeles Kings.
- Kevin Kling - commentator for National Public Radio and acclaimed storyteller and Playwright
- Caleb Truax - Professional Boxer, Super Middleweight 6-0
- James Martinez - Olympic Greco-Roman Wrestling Bronze Medalist, Lightweight
- Ashwin Madia - American attorney and veteran who ran unsuccessfully for the United States Congress in Minnesota's 3rd congressional district in 2008.