Bellmont High School
| Bellmont High School | |
|---|---|
| Location | |
 | |
| , | |
| Coordinates | 40°50′08″N 84°54′35″W / 40.83556°N 84.90972°W |
| Information | |
| Type | Public |
| Motto | Profiles of Our Future |
| Established | 1967 |
| School district | North Adams Community Public Schools |
| Principal | Kim Harsh |
| Grades | 9–12 |
| Number of students | 907 (2007) |
| Color(s) | Navy blue, red, and white |
| Mascot | Braves and Squaws |
| Accreditation | North Central Accreditation |
| Newspaper | Brave Talk |
| Website | http://www.nadams.k12.in.us/BellmontHigh.cfm |
Bellmont High School is a public high school located in Decatur, Indiana. The school was founded in 1967. In the 2007-2008 school year the student population was 907.
Bellmont is a member of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools and is rated as a comprehensive high school by the Indiana Department of Education. The school offers many subjects, numerous clubs, and several varsity athletic teams. The boys' athletics teams are known as the Braves, and the girls' teams are called the Squaws.
History
Bellmont High School has been in existence since 1967. Bellmont is a consolidation of Decatur Catholic High School, Monmouth High School, and Decatur High School. It was originally located between 3rd and 4th Streets and Jefferson St. Two years later, the school moved to its current location at 1000 North Adams Drive on the site of the former Bellmont Park. Since that time, the building has been expanded a number of times to include improvements to the expansion of the athletic complexes and the widening curriculum. Bellmont has two gymnasiums as well as facilities for all varsity sports. Bellmont also has a band and arts program. The theatre seats 820.
Academics
Bellmont High School has 60 teachers in 11 departments, 3 guidance counselors, and 3 full-time administrators for the 2007-2008 school year. Each department includes a wide variety of classes. Currently, three foreign languages are offered, German, Spanish, and French, though Latin was taught for over 30 years. The class of 2006 had a graduation rate of 78.1%[1]
Mascots
Since its inception in 1967, the mascot of Bellmont High School has been the Braves and Squaws. One of the few schools in the country to have a mascot for each gender, Bellmont was listed along with more than 300 high schools and colleges as offensive by USA Today in 1992.[citation needed] When the school was originally formed, the Bellmont Bruins was considered as a possible nickname, as well as the North Adams Arachnids or Arabians.
Athletics
Bellmont Offers a variety of competitive sports teams. Some sports teams include baseball, basketball, bowling, cheerleading, cross country, football, golf, soccer, softball, swimming, tennis, track, volleyball, and wrestling. Many sporting events are carried by the local radio affiliate WZBD 92.7 as well as the local newspaper Decatur Daily Democrat.
The school wrestling team won the state team title in 1987 and 1988. In 1994, they won their third state title. Brent Faurote, a coach and alumnus, won a state title himself for Bellmont in 1980 in the 98 pound weight class. The team has also won semi-state (19), regional (28), sectional (35) championships.[2] The wrestling team is currently ranked in the top ten.[3]
The school's teams have won a number of other championships. The boys' basketball team was the state runner-up to rival Mater Dei High School in 2004. Jon Zeser, the captain point guard, received the prestigious Arthur L. Trester mental attitude award. In 2007, the girls volleyball team won the school's first girls' team sport championship. The softball team received 3rd in state in 2006, and regional runner up in 2007.
In 2008, the football team won their first sectional, regional, and semi-state titles. They won their first state championship defeating Reitz Memorial High School 28-14 for the 3A title.
In 2010, the girls volleyball team won their second state title in 4 years. With three seniors from the their freshman state championship team, Bellmont went down to Ball State University and won once again.[4]