Buhach Colony High School

Buhach Colony High School
Location
1800 Buhach Rd. Atwater, California, 95301 United States
Information
Type	Public
Motto	Teaching and Reaching All Students
Established	2001
School district	Merced Union High School District
Principal	Jennifer Euker
Staff	85.63 (FTE)
Grades	9 to 12
Enrollment	1,917 (2018-19)
Student to teacher ratio	22.39 (FTE)
Color(s)
Athletics conference	Central California Conference
Mascot	Thor, God of Thunder
Team name	Buhach Colony Thunder
Website	BCHS homepage

Buhach Colony High School is a public high school in Atwater, California, United States. Opened in 2001, the school is part of the Merced Union High School District. The school colors are black and gold, and the mascot is Thor.

Curriculum

Buhach Colony High School has changed its period schedule as of this year. It now runs a 7 period schedule. Classes begin at 8:00 AM and conclude at 2:45 PM. The school offers a variety of courses: English, math, band, science, and history. Other classes include Spanish, Engineering, Business and Programming, and Art and Computer Graphics. Many Pre-AP and Advanced Placement courses are offered at Buhach Colony. Regional Occupation Program (ROP) classes are also offered at Buhach. Buhach switched from a block schedule to a traditional schedule in the 2011-2012 school year.

Advanced Placement courses

The following AP courses are offered at Buhach Colony High School:

• Marine Biology
• AP Biology
• AP Calculus AB & BC
• AP Chemistry
• AP English Language and Composition
• AP English Literature and Composition
• AP Physics
• AP Spanish Language
• AP Spanish Literature
• AP Statistics
• AP Studio Art
• AP United States History
• AP United States Government and Politics

Extracurricular activities

Buhach Colony Thunder has a variety of activity and student groups, including ACME (Advanced Concepts in Mathematics and Engineering), Asian Club, Forensic science club, California Scholarship Federation, National FFA Organization, Key Club, National Arts Honors Society (Art Club), K-Pop Dance Club, National Thespian Society (Drama Club, FHA, Drama Club, Art Club, HYLC (Hispanic Youth Leadership Council), athletic programs, BCLMC(Buhach Colony Live Music Club), cheerleading, and band.

Music

Buhach Colony hosts a music program currently directed by Chad J. Humpal, who received his Bachelors's and Master's degree in Music from the University of Southern California. In the fall the music program participates in the NCBA(Northern California Band Association) marching competitions across the state with its Marching Band, Fall Drumline and Color Guard. In the Winter and Spring, they change into a concert band who competes in the Bay Section CMEA(California Music Educator Association). The color guard and drumline also compete in the NCBA winter competitions. The school also hosts a choir who performs in CMEA competition as well. The Buhach Colony Music Program also hosts the Merced Union High School District Orchestra after school.

Speech & Debate

The Buhach chapter of CHSSA (California High School Speech Association) and the National Speech and Debate Association is managed by Kris Freitas nicknamed "Freit Train" by his students. The team competes in the Yosmite Forensics League on the state level, and in the Big Valley on the National Level. The team has competed at the State and National Level for 4 consecutive years.

Alyssa Conroy fills the assistant coaching role, as a Political Science major at UC Merced, as well as the founding member of the team. She coaches mainly the Public Forum teams, and under her tutelage, Buhach students have qualified for nationals 2 years in a row, as well as competed past preliminary rounds at several invitationals under the moniker of Buhach Colony HM.

Considering their small size, and low funding, they tend to compete quite highly in the league, and on a circuit level.

They are considered to be the most annoying team in their league, as unofficially polled by their peers.

Academic Decathlon

Coached by Joshua Newton (also teaches AP US History), as a program they are quite successful but haven’t yet won the country competition, only taking 2nd place 3 years in a row, losing the Merced High School team.

Perhaps best known for making their teacher win Emperor of the school, after a vigorous campaign.

Theater arts

Theater classes are instructed by C. Alan Bettis. Crystal Langley is the Buhach Colony and Golden Valley High School's theater manager. Buhach has one of the newest and largest theaters in Merced County. The Buhach theater arts department invites the community to view its performances throughout the year. Atwater High School's theater arts teacher, Mrs. Agular, teams up with Buhach Colony High School's theater arts instructor, C. Alan Bettis, every year for a large production (known as ABC productions).

Athletics

Buhach Colony participates in the competitive Central California Conference. Sports include football, volleyball, cross country, water polo, swimming, soccer, basketball, wrestling, track and field, baseball, softball, golf, and tennis. In late 2009, the school began construction of a pool, to be used for its home water polo matches. Construction was completed in 2010 before the 2010-2011 academic year. Its cross-town rivalry against Atwater High School's Falcons has existed since Buhach Colony's opening in 2001.

FFA

In 2006, five Buhach Colony High School students participated in the 80th National FFA Convention in Indianapolis, after winning state in creed reading and dairy judging competitions. The school placed eighth overall and one of its students, Alison King, placed first in creed reading.

Notable alumni

• Dylan Floro - MLB player for the Los Angeles Dodgers
• Daulton Jefferies - MLB player for the Oakland Athletics
• Aziz Shittu - Defensive tackle for the Philadelphia Eagles

External links

• Official website