Thorp School District
| Thorp High School | |
|---|---|
| Address | |
 | |
10831 N. Thorp Highway P.O. Box 150 , 98946 | |
| Coordinates | 47°4′5″N 120°40′22″W / 47.06806°N 120.67278°WInvalid arguments have been passed to the {{#coordinates:}} function (47.068006, -120.672687).Template:Geographic reference |
| Information | |
| Type | Public |
| Established | 1895 |
| School district | Thorp School District No. 400 |
| Principal | Linda Martin |
| Grades | 9-12 |
| Enrollment | 51 |
| Average class size | 11.8 |
| Student to teacher ratio | 8.7 |
| Campus | Rural |
| Color(s) | Red Black |
| Fight song | Fight, Fight, Fight for Old Thorp High! |
| Athletics | WIAA 1B |
| Mascot | Tigers |
| Yearbook | Hialitza |
| County rank | 1 out of 5 |
| State rank | 57 out of 322 |
| Website | Thorp School District No. 400 |
Thorp High School is a secondary school in Thorp, Kittitas County, Washington. It is a part of the Thorp School District.
Long a point of pride and center of community life in the town, it was established in 1895. The school provides fully accredited academic, athletic and award-winning extracurricular programs for grades 9-12.
Mission statement
To provide a safe, equitable, and creative learning environment devoted to excellence in which students grow into self-directed, life-long learners prepared to become productive members of society.
Academics
Thorp High School students generally perform at or above state and national academic testing averages. The school has an 8.7 student-to-teacher ratio.[1]
Thorp High School places in the top 18% out of 322 high schools in Washington's state high school rankings. The rankings are calculated by taking the standardized tests for Math, Reading, Science and Writing used by Washington to determine the proficiency level across varying grades and subjects for high schools in the state. This places Thorp as the highest rated high school in Kittitas County, well ahead of all neighboring districts in the area none of which are even ranked in the top 100.[2]
Presidential Award for Excellence
On April 28, 2011, the White House announced that President Barack Obama had selected Thorp High School science teacher Dawn Sparks as a recipient of the prestigious Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching. Sparks was one of only 85 math and science teachers from across the nation to be selected, and one of only two from the state of Washington. Winners of this Presidential honor receive a $10,000 award from the National Science Foundation and an expense-paid trip to Washington, D.C., for an awards ceremony and several days of educational and celebratory events, including visits with members of Congress.[3][4]
Extracurricular activities
Student clubs and activities at Thorp High School include Associated Student Body (student government), Model United Nations, KYVE-TV's Apple Bowl (knowledge bowl), Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA), Family Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA), Band and Honor Society. In the past, the Spanish Club has taken chaperoned trips to Mexico to immerse the students in Spanish-speaking culture and language.
Long-standing traditions at the school include Homecoming, Spirit Week, Prom, Baccalaureate and the Senior Trip (a special excursion by the Senior class upon graduating, often to places like Disneyland or Canada). Each year prior to graduation, it is the practice of the Junior class to produce the Junior-Senior Banquet at which graduating students offer "Wills" to bequeath a certain item or comedic anecdote for each member of the Junior class, and Juniors offer "Prophesies" of the future for each member of the Senior class. Another yearly event at the school is the annual Harvest Carnival.
Athletics
As a member of the North Central Washington 1B conference, Thorp High School offers various interscholastic sports throughout the year.
| Boys | Girls | |
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Football (combined with Easton) |
Volleyball |
| Winter | Basketball | Basketball Cheerleading |
| Spring | Track & Field Baseball Golf |
Track & Field Softball Golf |
Fight song
The Thorp High School fight song is Fight, Fight, Fight for Old Thorp High!
It is set to the tune of On, Wisconsin!
| Verse 1 | Verse 2 |
|---|---|
| Stand up Thorp High School, Fight for your team! They're really sharp, boys, They're on the beam! So three cheers for old Thorp High! (Uh! Rah! Rah!) We'll win this game, boys, Do or die! |
Shoot for that basket, Raise up the score! Let's see some teamwork, Burn up the floor! Get that ball, boys, You know our aim! (Fight! Fight! Fight!) Get out and win this game! |
Students
In 2001, Thorp High School seniors made national news when they donated their entire class fund which they had saved for years, meant to be used for their Senior Trip, to the American Red Cross to help victims of the terrorist attacks of September 11th. Washington Superintendent of Public Instruction Terry Burgeson met with the 15 students of the class and said of them, "This is quite a class [...] I think they're cool."[5]
In the past, Thorp High School students have also received national honors for competitive projects related to National History Day, a national academic competition focusing on history. Thorp students have constructed numerous entries as an individual or in a group in various categories including Documentary, Exhibit, Paper and Performance. No less than a dozen times, Thorp High School has been named the state champion at the Washington state competition, and represented the state at the national level in Washington, D.C..
Thorp High School students have also had great success in academic competitions. For example, Thorp competitors have a long list of achievement at the Regional and State Leadership conferences for Future Business Leaders of America (Future Business Leaders of America). They have a myriad of high honors and state championships in a broad range of business and career-related areas, competing against much larger schools in events testing their business knowledge and skills. Top state winners from Thorp have attended the National Leadership Conference.
Thorp PTSA
The Thorp Parent-Teacher-Student Association (PTSA) serves the students and parents of Thorp schools, including Thorp High School. Through volunteerism, the group aims to prodvide resources, help in classrooms, sponsor field trips, and assist all students in the district to reach their potential. The goal of the organization is to foster and enhance an outstanding school system.
Teaching American History Grant
The "Teaching American History Grant” was designed to increase teacher knowledge of U. S. History content and historical inquiry. This professional development led to increased student achievement in both areas.
Thorp School District was the lead school of 17 school districts in Central Washington state. This collaboration of districts partnered with local and state libraries, local and state museums, historical societies, and nine Pacific Northwest universities, for content expertise, assistance on CBAs, and as repositories for oral histories. These districts also partnered with the Washington State Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction for teacher training in Classroom Based Assessments, an integral part of Washington teacher professional development, and with the National Oral History Association for training in conducting oral histories.
The grant was awarded by the U.S. Department of Education to Thorp teacher Tom Christian and the Thorp School District for three separate projects. This included the "America's Past Rekindles Our Future" grant (2003-06), the "Teaching Our Past for the Future" grant (2005-08), and the "To Preserve and Protect Our Future" grant (2008-11).[6]
Regional Emmy Awards
Thorp’s Teaching American History Grant, To Preserve and Protect Our Future, in partnership with Central Washington University's media production department, received two Regional Emmy Awards. The first award, given in 2008, was for the production of the DVD "Moments in American History". The second Emmy Award was bestowed on June 5, 2010, in recognition of Thorp's TAHG production of the website Moments in American History. The website became the second most popular destination on iTunes.[6]
History
Established in 1895, Thorp's first school was housed in a small structure that was razed in 1912 and replaced by a two-story school house erected by John Newman and Glen Mason.[7] During the early years there were eight grades and three years of high school, but only two years were accredited. The first day of school in this building was September 12, 1912, with 15 pupils. The first principal was Amos Foster.[8] It housed all district pupils until a new elementary school was erected, after which it served as the town's high school.
In 1936, the new elementary school was built for $41,000 during the depths of the Great Depression using WPA funds. The finely crafted brick Colonial Revival structure was designed by noted architect John W. Maloney, and has served the school district continuously since its construction. It was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2009 as a significant example of American rural education.[9][10] The building currently provides additional classroom space for Thorp High School.
The old high school was demolished in 1958, and replaced with a modern structure in the same location.[7]
Voters in the district approved a multi-million dollar bond measure for school construction in February, 1989, by a margin of nearly 80%. The bonds were used to renovate and expand the 1958 school building with the addition of three new classroom wings, a gymnasium, a large commons area and administrative offices. Inagurated in 1990, the building now houses Thorp High School and Thorp Junior High in one wing, with elementary pupils occupying an adjacent classroom wing.[11]
Thorp High School's mascot was originally the Red Devil, a now controversial slang term relating to Native Americans, however a vote of the student body in 1921 changed the mascot to the Tiger, while the school colors remained red and black.[citation needed] Thorp High School competes as a 1B member of the North Central Washington "B" League.[12]
The high school yearbook, the Hialitza, was first produced in 1922,[13] and, although it has experienced some recent interruptions, has been published annually by the town's high school students to chronicle the events of each school term.[citation needed] The name of the publication is attributed to the Chinook language:
When an Indian traveling through a mountainous country reaches the top of a mountain he unconsciously stretches forth his hand and says Hialitza which when translated means a panoramic view or great sight. The name stands for the great outdoors and that which lies beyond in the distance. So this record is symbolic of the Seniors who now look back over their four years in High School as in a panoramic view and into the future years they see only a haze in the distance. Thus upon reading this publication one looks upon a panoramic view of the Students and Student Activities of Thorp High School.[13]
Notable alumni
- Barton Porter - Author of Listen to the Millrace (Seattle: M. J. Stone Co., 1978, ISBN: 0960188800, ISBN 9780960188802), a story about Porter's childhood years in turn-of-the-century Thorp and the fascinating people who lived there. The book contains seven pages of color illustrations from paintings by the artist Mike Casad. Porter's family owned the F. C. Porter Dry Goods store in Thorp. The building still stands at the corner of Thorp Highway and Second Street and houses a printing business.
- State Rep. Margaret Leonard - In 1969,[14] Margaret (née Johnson) Leonard became the first woman ever elected to the Spokane City Council, a position she held for ten years which included serving as Spokane's first female mayor pro tempore. She subsequently served as representative of the 3rd Legislative District in the Washington State Legislature from 1981 to 1983. Her political career began in 1961, when she organized a successful citizen campaign to defeat an unpopular city housing ordinance in Spokane. As a tax consultant, she hosted her own radio program, and also served as a staff writer for the Spokane Falls newspaper.[15]
- State Rep. James B. Brain - James B. Brain was elected in 1950, to represent the 13th Legislative District in the Washington State Legislature. He died of a heart attack at his residence in Thorp on December 18, 1950, just three weeks before he was slated to assume office. Long a prominent member of the local Democratic Party, Brain served two terms as Kittitas county clerk and two terms as county commissioner from District 3. He retired from the county board of commissioners as its chairman.[16][17]
- Dr. William "Gene" Brain - Recipient of the Central Washington University Distinguished Alumni Award for the College of the Sciences, he received the Distinguished Service Award from the Pacific Coast Society of Orthodontists in 1990, as well as the Distinguished Alumni Award for the University of Washington School of Dentistry in 1993. In 1994, the Seattle-King County Dental Society honored Dr. Brain with the Award of Special Merit, and that same year he also received the Award of Merit from the Pacific Coast Society of Orthodontists. He served as president of several organizations, including the American Association of Orthodontists, the University of Washington Dental Alumni Association, the Pacific Coast Society of Orthodontists and the Washington State Society of Orthodontists. In addition, he was a member of the Central Washington University Board of Trustees, and the Board of Visitors.[18]
- 2nd Lt. Leon W. Ellsworth - 2nd Lt. Leon W. Ellsworth, United States Marine Corps, 5th Division, was a member of Marine Observation Squadron Five (VMO-5) at the Battle of Iwo Jima. He was shot down and killed behind enemy lines at Iwo Jima on March 21, 1945,[19] after risking his life to take photos and gather details of enemy emplacements on the island. Operating from his exposed cockpit to complete 26 low-altitude sorties over enemy positions despite intense anti-aircraft fire, he relayed critical intelligence data to the American invasion force. For his exceptional heroism and valor, 2nd Lt. Leon W. Ellsworth was posthumously awarded the Air Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters, the Purple Heart, and the Distinguished Flying Cross.[20]
- Hazel B. Dunnington and Geraldine B. Siks - Sisters and nationally acclaimed co-authors of numerous award-winning books on children's literature and drama, both had long and distinguished careers in their own right. Hazel Brain Dunnington served as Professor of English Literature at Central Washington University, and Geraldine Brain Siks served as Professor of Drama at the University of Washington at Seattle.[18]
- Lt. Col. Claude Thorp - In January, 1942, Gen. Douglas MacArthur authorized Lt. Col. Claude Thorp, former Provost Marshall of Fort Stotsenburg, to infiltrate the Japanese lines on Luzon Island in the Philippines, and establish a spy post in the mountains. After the American surrenders at Bataan and Corregidor, Lt. Col. Thorp organized the illustrious Luzon Guerilla Force (LGF), and established the "Bamboo Telegraph" which consisted of tubes of bamboo being struck with Morse-code-like beats and relayed throughout the countryside. Lt. Col. Thorp was captured by the Japanese on October 29, 1942, and held as a prisoner of war until his execution on November 1, 1943. However, his men fought on until the American invasion in January, 1945, which in part owed its successs to the sabotage operations they conducted against the enemy.[21][22][23]
- George B. Brain, Ph.D. - Dr. George B. Brain, who influenced public education and policy nationwide, served as the Dean of the School of Education at Washington State University from 1960 to 1983. He received his M.A. in Education from Central Washington State College in 1950, his Ph.D. from Columbia University in 1957, and became the state’s youngest ever school superintendent in 1953 when he was hired by the Bellevue School District. Washington State University's Brain Library at Cleveland Hall is named in his honor, as is a WSU scholarship for students seeking advanced education degrees.[24]
References
- ^ Local School Directory, Thorp High School Retrieved 2011-10-01.
- ^ Local School Directory, Top Rated High Schools Retrieved 2011-10-01.
- ^ "President honors outstanding math and science teachers," White House Press Release, 2011-04-28.
- ^ The Seattle Times, "President Obama honors two Washington teachers," 2011-04-28, pp. 4.
- ^ Daily Record (Ellensburg, Washington), "Seniors at Thorp are quite a class," 13 December 2001, pp. 1.
- ^ a b Teaching American History Grant, To Preserve and Protect Our Future Retrieved 2011-10-02. Cite error: The named reference "historygrant" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
- ^ a b Daily Record, 1989-08-18.
- ^ Washington State Library, Washington Rural Heritage, Source BBS430.. Retrieved 2011-09-20.
- ^ Washington State Department of Archeology & Historic Preservation.. Retrieved 2011-09-21.
- ^ National Register of Historic Places.
- ^ Daily Record (Ellensburg, Washington), "Thorp building coming," 1989-08-18, pp. 11-B.
- ^ North Central Washington Activities Association, District VI.. Retrieved 2011-09-19.
- ^ a b Hialitza, Vol. 1 (Thorp, Washington: Thorp High School, 1922) pp. 1. Cite error: The named reference "hialitza" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
- ^ Spokesman-Review (Spokane, Washington), "New councilwoman Mrs. Leonard works hard at job," 1970-01-18, pp. 17.
- ^ Washington State Historical Society, Olympia: Washington State Archives (1983), "Margaret Johnson, Oral Interview," Accession No. WWSLOHPH1-14kh, Women in Washington Legislative Oral History Project, Kathryn Hinsch (interviewer).
- ^ Daily Record (Ellensburg, Washington), “James B. Brain taken by death,” 1950-12-19, pp. 1.
- ^ Daily Record (Ellensburg, Washington), "Boards of two counties name new legislator," 1950-12-19, pp. 1.
- ^ a b "Brain named CWU Distinguished Alumni of the Sciences," Central Washington University Press Release, 2004-10-18.
- ^ Genealogy.com, Leon W. Ellsworth 1945. Retrieved 2011-10-12.
- ^ C. James Quann, WSU Military Veterans: Heroes and Legends, Tornado Creek Publications (2005), pp. 39.
- ^ Bataan Diary, United States Philippine Island Forces (USPIFs). Retrieved 2011-10-12.
- ^ Daily Record (Ellensburg, Washington), "Colonel Thorp leads guerilla band in Luzon," 1944-01-25, pp. 1.
- ^ Daily Record (Ellensburg, Washington), "Col. Claude Thorp listed as killed," 1945-11-28, pp. 1.
- ^ Julie Titone, "We lost a legend: Longtime WSU dean, educator George Brain dies," Washington State University Press Release, 2011-07-18.