Wakefield High School (Arlington County, Virginia)

Infobox Education in the United States
name= Wakefield High School


imagesize= 150px
motto=
streetaddress= 4901 South Chesterfield Road
city= Arlington
state= Virginia
zipcode= 22206
url= http://www.apsva.us/wakefield
district= Arlington Public Schools
principal= Doris Jackson
assistant_principals=
staff=
fundingtype= Public
schooltype= high school
grades= 9–12
language= English
communities=
feeders=
campus= Suburban
mascot= Warriors
colors= Kelly green and black ██
founded= 1952
enrollment= 1,364
enrollment_as_of= 2008
free_label_1= Rival schools
free_1= Washington-Lee High School Yorktown High School
free_label_2= Athletic conferences
free_2= National District Northern Region
bgcolor_section= #BBDDBB
bgcolor_label= #BBDDBB
bgcolor_value= #EEEEEE
bgcolor_address= #EEEEEE
bgcolor_url= #EEEEEE

Wakefield High School is one of three high schools located in Arlington, Virginia, and is just one block away from Alexandria. There are 140 teachers and 1364 students as of March 2008. It is a fully accredited high school based on Virginia's SOL examinations. There has been a push for students to take AP courses, which has become stronger in recent years since the inception of the AP Network.

Wakefield is the only high school in Arlington requiring all seniors to participate in a Senior Project prior to graduation. Wakefield also offers the Spanish Immersion Program, the only high school in Arlington to do so.

Wakefield encourages students to participate in artistic activities. Instrumental, choral, theatrical, and visual arts are prominent in the school's atmosphere.

Wakefield's athletes are nicknamed the "Warriors" and wear the colors kelly green, white, and black. The school participates in the Virginia High School League. The Warriors are represented by an image of a knight holding a sword, which was preceded by an Indian head until 2003.

History

The school opened for the first time for the 1952–1953 school year. Under its current principal Doris Jackson, it is administered by the Arlington Public Schools and accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. In 2002, Wakefield became a fully accredited school based on the Virginia SOL examinations.

As of 2005–2006 the school has 1488 students and 140 teachers (of which 101 have Master's degrees and five have doctorates), covering grades 9-12.

Alumni Hall of Fame

During the celebration of the school's 50th anniversary in 2003, induction to the school's Hall of Fame began. Additional inductions are made in odd numbered years. [Wakefield Alumni Hall of Fame [http://www.wakefieldalumni.org/hof.html] ]

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Source: GreatSchools.com [http://www.greatschools.net/modperl/achievement/va/132]

Wakefield offers the PSAT free for students in grades 10 and 11. For students wishing to take the SAT, a preparatory course is offered at the school, as well as the actual examination. In 2007, the average SAT score was a 959 (471 in Reading; 488 in Math). However, Wakefield does not offer the ACT.

Wakefield has always committed itself to making the AP exam affordable for its students. Now that the fee is paid by the school system, it takes the burden off of Wakefield's local budget and allows all AP students to test for free.

Electives

Foreign Languages

The Spanish Immersion program allows students to continue taking challenging courses involving the Spanish language. In the past, students have had part of the entire curriculum in Spanish, however, the high school level of Spanish Immersion allows students to develop their ability to both read, speak, and think in courses including Spanish Literature and AP Spanish. Starting in 2006, immersion students are privileged to study abroad in universities of various Spanish speaking countries.

Wakefield also offers French, German, Latin, and Italian.

Visual Arts

Wakefield bases most of its elective education on the visual arts. Ms. Wendy Singer has headed the school's Art Department and introduced various media including easel art, ceramics, sculpture, and photography. Singer encourages students to participate in non-scholastic competitions and some have come back with high honors.

Performing Arts

Wakefield has also spawned a generation of students in the performing arts. In the winter of 2004, Wakefield introduced its newly renovated auditorium, now called the "Center of Performing Arts". This houses all performing arts including instrumental, choral, and theatrical.

*The Marching Warriors compete 3-4 times a season and have received multiple grade III honors, including with VBODA. During their season, they also play in several parades including Arlington's Neighborhood Day Parades and Randolph Elementary School's annual Halloween Parade. In 2002, the Marching Warriors traveled out of state to participate in a competitive parade.

*All the instrumental and choral groups -- including the String Orchestra, Band, and Choir -- compete twice annually amongst other schools both at the District 12 level in the fall and on an out-of-state trip in the spring. Respectively, the groups come home with grade I, grade II, and grade II honors. Other competitive musical groups include Jazz Band and the Madrigals. "Symphonette" and "Blues Band" are non-competitive but are offered to play in community functions.

*Wakefield's Drama Club performs in three different performances per year, including a fall drama production, a competitive One-Act production in the winter, and its more popular spring musical, all of which spawn award-winning performances. The spring musical competes annually amongst DC Metropolitan high schools in a formal ceremony for Cappies, awards similar to the Tonys. They also have a partnership with Arlington's Signature Theater.

Athletics

Wakefield's athletic department competes through the Virginia High School League. It is headed by Ms. Noel Deskins and Mr. Bob Strauss. The teams wear the colors kelly green, white, and black.

List of Teams

Pool and Stadiums

Wakefield High School owns and manages its own swimming pool. During the week, it is used for physical education for the students of Wakefield and for students of neighboring middle and elementary schools. Other times, it is used publicly for the community at large. The community does not have a team to represent the public pool, but is represented by the Warriors' swim and dive team.

Starting in 2002, Arlington County spent well over $700,000 on the implant and maintenance of new Astroturf in various athletic fields and stadiums. In 2004, Wakefield's outdoor stadium was the first of the three Arlington high schools with this change. Washington-Lee High School and Yorktown High School had their fields implanted in 2005 and 2006, respectively. [Arlington and Synthetic Turf Fields [http://www.arlingtonva.us/Departments/ParksRecreation/scripts/fields/ParksRecreationScriptsSyntheticFields.aspx] ]

In 2004, Wakefield completed the construction of the girls' softball field. This was the first time the two sports, softball and baseball, were segregated in the history of Warrior athletics.

Warrior Fight Song

"Wakefield, your Warriors will always be true
for you we'll fight and spread your glory through.
FIGHT! FIGHT! FIGHT!
Come, let us sing out the Wakefield battle cry!
With thunderclubs and tomahawks,
we'll make your name and spread your fame.
Wakefield, we're all for you!"

Trivia

*Early in the school's history, the Wakefield choir released albums of recorded concerts. Just as recordable cds are offered in various colors, these LPs were released in kelly green.
*On a high school tour early in their career, the boy band, Backstreet Boys, once performed in an assembly.
*In 2004, alumnus Brad Beck (class of 2003) signed with the rookie baseball team, the Mesa Angels of Arizona, after pitching with Montgomery College for 1 year. In 2005, he moved up one level to the amateur league and signed with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. [WHS Alum Signs with Anaheim Angels [http://www.arlington.k12.va.us/schools/wakefield/WHS_news/26_aug_2004_beck_baseball_sun-gazette.htm] ]
*The Warriors welcomed the more popular Superfans during the Varsity Football season of 2005. The term Superfans is still used today when referring to a single fan with Warrior Pride or to the slew of fans at any interscholastic activity.
*During the Varsity Boys Basketball season of 2004-2005, an H-B Woodlawn student captured the team's success both on and off the court in a feature length film entitled "Remember the Warriors" (a play on the award winning film "Remember the Titans").
*In the spring of 2006, Wakefield was granted the "Inspiration Award" by the College Board, reflecting the inception of the AP Network and as one of the country's Most Improved High Schools. Only three high schools are granted this honor every year. Along with Wakefield in 2006 was John Tyler High School of Tyler, Texas and Hobbs High School of Hobbs, New Mexico. [The College Board Recognizes America's Most Improved High Schools [http://www.collegeboard.com/press/releases/51560.html] ]
*The 2006 Varsity Football team won the school's homecoming game playing against National District opponent J.E.B. Stuart High School with a final tally of 44-0. [Warriors Raid Stuart in Football, 44-0 [http://www.connectionnewspapers.com/article.asp?article=72692&paper=60&cat=152] ] This was the first homecoming win for the Warriors since 1997 when Wakefield defeated Washington Lee.
*In 2004, the school entered its name into a lottery during a Washington Wizards game. Gilbert Arenas drew the name, and the terms were that Wakefield was to win $100 per point scored by Arenas. He scored 34 points. The school's intent is to use this money to increase the technology and athletic programs.Fact|date=February 2007

References

External links

* [http://www.apsva.us/wakefield/ Wakefield High School Homepage]
* [http://www.careercenter.arlington.k12.va.us/ Arlington Career Center]
* [http://vhsl.sportscombine.com/scripts/p_org_summary.asp?l=6118&a=0 Wakefield High School Athletics]
* [http://www.wakefieldalumni.org/ Wakefield High School Alumni]