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Winston Churchill High School (Maryland)

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Coordinates: 39°02′38″N 77°10′21″W / 39.0438°N 77.1725°W / 39.0438; -77.1725
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Winston Churchill High School
Location
Map
Potomac
,
Maryland

United States
Information
TypePublic Secondary
MottoSchool of Excellence
Where Excellence Soars
Established1964
School districtMontgomery County Public Schools
PrincipalDr. Joan C. Benz
Grades9–12
Number of students2087 (2009–2010)
9th Grade: 501
10th Grade: 531
11th Grade: 510
12th Grade: 545
CampusSuburban
Color(s)   
MascotBulldog
RivalThomas S. Wootton High School, Walt Whitman High School
NewspaperThe Churchill Observer
WebsiteWinston Churchill Home Page

Winston Churchill High School, often referred to as WCHS or Churchill, is a high school in Potomac, an unincorporated section of Montgomery County, Maryland.

The school is named after Sir Winston Churchill, British statesman and politician who was Prime Minister of the United Kingdom during World War II. Founded in 1964 as Potomac High School and was changed to Winston Churchill three years later (citation needed). Churchill is part of the Montgomery County Public Schools system. The majority of the students come from Herbert Hoover Middle School (75%) and Cabin John Middle School (25%). The principal, as of the 2013–2014 school year, is Dr. Joan C. Benz.[1]

School awards and recognition

Churchill has been in the top 100 High Schools in the United States for years, climbing to as high as 42 in 2007.[2] Churchill earned the 2007 Maryland Blue Ribbon Award,[3] and it was selected by the U.S. Department of Education as a 2007 National No Child Left Behind Blue Ribbon School.[4] In 2012 Churchill was rated the best High School in Maryland, according to U.S. News & World Report [5]

Departments and programs

Churchill has nine academic departments: Art, Computer Science, English, Foreign Language, Mathematics, Performing Arts, Physical Education, Science and Social Studies.

Signature Program

The school also has a Signature Program, which allows students the opportunity to follow one of several course paths to specialize in a particular career field. The Signature Program comprises three academies: The Academy of Math, Science, & Technology; The Academy of International Studies; and The Academy of Creative and Performing Arts.[6]

Bridge Program

The Bridge Program provides a program for adolescents and young adults with learning/emotional disabilities. The program's intention is on fostering academic skill development and altering behaviors that interfere with academic learning.[7] It is supervised by an interdisciplinary team intended to meet the needs of socially vulnerable Middle and High School students who may be challenged by problem-solving abstract thinking, organizing and planning, interpreting social cues, establishing relationships with peers, coping with anxiety, changes in routine, and transitioning.

Performing arts

Churchill is well known for its outstanding performing arts programs. Many theater productions are put on regularly, including several nights of one-act plays in which many students are able to participate. Theater classes at three levels and a television production class are taught.

Churchill also has an outstanding show choir program. Simply Irresistible is the all-female group, and Showstoppers is the mixed-gender group. Both groups regularly compete within Montgomery County, as well as regional and national competitions. Churchill also hosts its own show choir competition annually, The Mid-Atlantic Show Choir Showcase.

In 2007, Churchill's fall production of Singin' in the Rain was nominated for 6 Cappies High School Theater Awards,[8] winning Best Orchestra (for the third consecutive year), Best Cameo Actor, and Best Cameo Actress. Only one other school received more awards.[9][10]

In 2009, Churchill's fall production of Rent: School Edition was nominated for 4 Cappies High School Theater Awards: Best Male Vocalist, Best Female Vocalist, Best Orchestra, and Best Song. Churchill won awards for Best Female Vocalist as well as Best Orchestra.[11]

Past spring musical performances include: 2013 – Peter Pan 2012 – Legally Blonde

Past fall musical performances include: 2010 – Anything Goes 2009 – Chicago 2008 – Rent (School Edition) 2007 – Kiss Me Kate 2006 – Singin' in the Rain 2005 – West Side Story 2004 – Big the Musical 2003 – Guys and Dolls 2002 – The Music Man 2001 – Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat 2000 – The Pajama Game

Churchill is well known for its annual Blast from the Past production, in which more than 200 student singers, dancers and musicians perform a variety of popular songs. These songs range from the 1920s to modern day, and they all relate to a selected theme for each school year.

Kristofer Sanz conducts Churchill's bands and orchestras. Former conductor of the Maryland Classic Youth Orchestras (MCYO) Philharmonic Orchestra, David Levin, widely considered one of the best music educators in the Washington area, held the position until his departure in 2012.

Many students form their own bands, typically of a rock variety, and the school occasionally facilitates this by sponsoring a battle of the bands or band performance. Sometimes, the school has sponsored day-long concerts to take place on school grounds. For example, The Merritthon, a fundraising event for Leukemia research, occurred annually from 2002 to 2004.[12]

In 2009, the instrumental music program won four awards at the Windy City Classic, including Best Symphonic Band, Best Orchestra, Best Classical Soloist and Best Overall Program. The jazz band received second place in that category. All three groups received a gold rating.[citation needed]

Publications

Churchill produces three publications, all of which have won awards: its newspaper, The Churchill Observer; its yearbook, Finest Hours, and its literary magazine, Erehwon.[13][14][15] Each publication is accompanied by three levels of instruction in the related publishing topics.

Misconduct

In January 2010, a criminal investigation exposed a grade changing scandal at Churchill.[16] Law enforcement, prosecutors, and school officials examined the actions of many students who used a USB key logger to compromise teachers' passwords and alter the grades of hundreds of students. Three of the eight students identified as agents withdrew from the school, others were expelled. Many of the students who left the school eventually returned. Most of them going on to College at Maryland.

Athletics

Churchill High School offers the following sports:

State Championships

State Championships
Season Sport Number of Championships Year
Fall[17] Cross Country, Boys 4 1968, 1975, 1977, 1978
Cross Country, Girls 2 1979, 1991
Football 2 1976, 1977
Field Hockey 2 1978, 1983
Golf 12 1976, 1987, 1988, 1995, 1998, 2002–2006, 2008, 2010, 2014
Soccer, Boys 7 1980, 1985, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1999, 2002
Winter[18] Basketball, Girls 2 2002, 2003
Basketball, Boys 1 1978
Ice Hockey[19] 3 2006, 2011, 2013
Indoor Track, Boys 2 1976, 2011
Swimming and Diving, Girls[20] 2 2009, 2012
Spring[21] Outdoor Track, Boys 1 1976
Wiffleball 5 1969, 1978, 1980, 2011, 2012
Ultimate Frisbee 1 2013
Total 46

Notable alumni

References

  1. ^ "Parent And Student Handbook 2012–2013" (PDF). Retrieved January 26, 2011. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  2. ^ Gold Medal Schools, November 29, 2007
  3. ^ Jacobson, Erica (December 13, 2006), "Two local schools awarded Md. Blue Ribbon designation", Washington Examiner
  4. ^ Winston Churchill HS Named National Blue Ribbon School, October 2, 2007, retrieved May 15, 2010
  5. ^ Best High Schools, May 8, 2012
  6. ^ Donaghue, Erin (November 4, 2009). "Signature Program faces more hurdles at Churchill". Potomac Gazette.
  7. ^ Silverman, Speri (March 20, 2010), School Based Services
  8. ^ Mack, Jean (May 17, 2007). "And the Nominees Are..." Washington Post. Retrieved February 5, 2009.
  9. ^ Vaughn, Peggy (June 13, 2007). "Wootton, Churchill students bring home some Cappies". Potomac Gazette.
  10. ^ [1][dead link]
  11. ^ "2009 National Capital Area Nominees".
  12. ^ Cetron, Ari (June 18, 2003). "Rock for the Cure". Potomac Almanac. Retrieved May 23, 2010
  13. ^ "MSPA 2003 Publications Contest Results". Maryland-District of Colombia Scholastic Press Association. University of Maryland. 2003. Retrieved February 5, 2009. [dead link]
  14. ^ "Publication Awards Recognize Best in Area". Maryland-District of Colombia Scholastic Press Association. University of Maryland. Winter 2002. Retrieved February 5, 2009. [dead link]
  15. ^ "MSPA 2002 Publications Contest Results". Maryland-District of Colombia Scholastic Press Association. University of Maryland. 2002. Retrieved February 5, 2009. [dead link]
  16. ^ Birnbaum, Michael; Morse, Dan; Johnson, Jenna (March 4, 2010), "Criminal investigation opened in grade-changing scandal at Churchill High", Washington Post, pp. A01, retrieved May 16, 2010
  17. ^ "Fall Record Book" (PDF). Retrieved May 15, 2010.
  18. ^ "Winter Record Book" (PDF). Retrieved May 15, 2010.
  19. ^ "Maryland Scholastic Hockey League Past Champions". Mshl.org. Retrieved March 13, 2013.
  20. ^ http://www.pvswim.org/0809hs/2009Metros_ts.htm
  21. ^ "Spring Record Book" (PDF). Retrieved May 15, 2010.

External links

39°02′38″N 77°10′21″W / 39.0438°N 77.1725°W / 39.0438; -77.1725

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