Anchor Bay High School

Infobox Secondary school
name = Anchor Bay High School
current site built = 2003
city = Fair Haven
state = Michigan
country = United States
campus = Suburban
type = Public High School
principal = Judith Stefanac
students = 2,000+
faculty = 138
grades = 9-12
address = 6319 County Line Road
district= Anchor Bay School District
accreditation = North Central Association
mascot = Tars
colors= Red & White
yearbook= The Anchor
website=http://www.anchorbay.misd.net/schools/highschool

Anchor Bay High School is a four-year secondary school located in Fair Haven, Michigan (St. Clair County), and it is part of the Anchor Bay School District. Anchor Bay graduates approximately 500 students each year, and there are over 2,000 enrolled. As of 2006, the school principal is Judy Stefanac.

History

The school was once located in New Baltimore, Michigan on Sugarbush Road, but has since moved to Fair Haven. The school was moved after school district voters passed a $114-million bond in 1999 to build a new high school and make other upgrades to area schools. [Detroit News. [http://www.detnews.com/2003/macomb/0308/12/b05-239268.htm "Land Grab by Anchor Bay schools riles homeowners"] 2003-08-08. Retrieved 2003-08-08.] Construction began on the new school in April 2001. The relocated school, now on County Line Road, opened August 26, 2003. When opened it was the largest high school in Michigan, [School Designs.com. [http://www.schooldesigns.com/ResultsDetail.asp?id=2014 Project Data: Anchor Bay High School, New Baltimore, Michigan] ] now second behind Saline High School located in Saline, Michigan. and the fourth largest in the nation at over 486,000 sq.ft. Recent additions to the school have made it even larger.

Instrumental Music Program

Anchor Bay's music program includes a Concert Band, Symphonic Band, Wind Ensemble, Jazz Ensemble, and Marching Band. In 2006, Anchor Bay was listed in "Best 100 Communities for Music Education" Roster. [American Music Conference. [http://www.amc-music.org/news/articles/survey/final2006.htm The 2006 "Best 100 Communities for Music Education" Roster] ]

*The Concert Band is a full-year course designed to help young musicians develop the basic technical aspects of the instrument while improving their overall musicianship. The band is composed of woodwinds, brass, and percussion, and will rehearse and perform a wide variety of music and styles.

*The Symphonic Band is a full-year intermediate ensemble composed of woodwinds, brass and percussion. The band's members will be selected through an audition process or teacher recommendation. This class performs a wide variety of music and styles. Obligations to this class include after-school performances and rehearsals.

*The Wind Ensemble is a full-year advanced ensemble composed of woodwinds, brass, and percussion. The Wind Ensemble's members are selected through a successful audition, and rehearse and perform various styles of music such as classical, pop, marches, jazz, and contemporary, among others. The music that is rehearsed and performed is at a greater difficulty level, and thus, requires that its members be more dedicated while displaying a high level of technical ability.

*The Jazz Ensemble is an advanced jazz music ensemble that selects its members through an audition process, and meets for the entire year. This ensemble is made up of trumpets, trombones, saxophones, and a rhythm section (guitar, piano, bass, drum-set). The band focuses on rehearsing and performing various styles of jazz, R&B, swing, rock, and fusion, among myriad others. Time is also spent on the development and implementation of improvisation skills, along with the basic knowledge of music theory. The Jazz Ensemble performs in the community as well as at the Central Michigan University Jazz Weekend, at MSBOA Jazz Festival, and at Winter and Spring concerts.

*The Marching Band is a musical marching unit that meets during the first semester. The ensemble consists of woodwinds, brass, percussion, and a color guard. The Marching Band provides entertainment at local parades, home football games, Pre-Festival Invitationals, and participation at District 16 MSBOA Band Festival. Students are also obligated to attend summer marching camp. The ensemble rehearses mid-August through mid-October. The prizewinning "Marching Tars" boast are one of the largest high school marching bands metro Detroit. They are considered "The Pride of Anchor Bay High School," and were featured live on Fox 2 News during a powder puff pep rally on September 21st 2007. The Tars were voted number one out of ten high schools in the Metro Detroit area to be showcased on Fox 2's Pep Rally Fridays Morning broadcast.Past Marching Band Halftime Shows include: [Anchor Bay Bands Marching Tars. [http://www.anchorbaybands.org/marchingtarshistory.htm "History"] .]
*2008 - Jimi Hendrix
*2007 - 80's Hair Bands
*2006 - Journey
*2005 - The Beatles
*2004 - Dave Matthews Band
*2003 - Queen
*2002 - Billy Joel
*2001 - Music from "Gladiator" and "Ben Hur"
*2000 - Music from "The Wizard of Oz" and "The Wiz"
*1999 - Star Wars
*1998 - James Bond
*1997 - "Les Misérables"
*1996 - Movie Blockbusters
*1995 - Beethoven

Theatre Program

The Theatre program is headed up by Dawn Battice. Performing both stage musicals and plays, productions are rehearsed after school and the students spend roughly 15 hours a week on productions. The theatre program has had many notable alumni including Broadway performer, Tommy Antico. The program puts on two to three productions a year.

Past Anchor Bay Theatre shows include:
*2008 - "Li'l Abner"
*2007 - "The Crucible"
*2007 - "South Pacific"
*2006 - "15 Reasons Not to be in a Play"
*2006 - "Murder's in the Heir"
*2006 - "The Wizard of Oz"
*2005 - "War at Home"
*2005 - "Harvey"
*2004 - "Check, Please"
*2004 - "Into the Woods"
*2004 - "Arsenic and Old Lace"
*2003 - "David and Lisa"
*2003 - "Bye Bye Birdie"
*2003 - "A Midsummer Night's Dream"
*2002 - "Peril at Pumpernickel Pass"
*2002 - ""
*2001 - "Ten Little Indians"
*2001 - "Little Shop of Horrors (Musical)"
*2000 - "Fiddler on the Roof"
*2000 - "The Crucible (one act competition)"
*1999 - "West Side Story"

Athletic Programs

Anchor Bay's sport program includes: [Anchor Bay High School Athletics. [http://www.anchorbay.misd.net/athletics/sport-schedules.htm "Individual Sports Schedules."] ]
*Boys Baseball - Varsity, JV, and 9th grade
*Boys Basketball - Varsity, JV, and 9th grade
*Girls Basketball - Varsity, JV, and 9th grade
*Bowling - Varsity, JV Bowling, boys and girls
*Girls Competitive Cheer - Varsity, JV, and 9th grade
*Cross Country track - boys and girls
*Football - Varsity, JV, and 9th grade
*Boys Golf - Varsity
*Boys Hockey - Varsity and JV
*Boys Soccer - Varsity and JV
*Girls Soccer - Varsity and JV
*Girls Softball - Varsity, JV, and 9th grade
*Girls swim - Varsity
*Boys swim - Varsity
*Boys Tennis - Varsity
*Girls Tennis - Varsity
*Track and field - boys and girls
*Girls Volleyball - Varsity, JV, and 9th grade
*Boys Wrestling - Varsity and JV

Notable alumni

* Butch Hartman, cartoon animator, known for creating and producing the "The Fairly OddParents" and "Danny Phantom" television series.
* Ken Pavés, celebrity hair stylist known for his work with Jessica Simpson and a variety of other high profile clients.
* Duffy Ross, vice president for communications, Lehigh University, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania.

References

External links

* [http://www.anchorbay.misd.net/schools/highschool/ Anchor Bay High School Official website]
* [http://www.anchorbaybands.org/ Anchor Bay Band Program's Official website]
* [http://www.greatschools.net/modperl/browse_school/mi/355 Greatschools.net's profile of Anchor Bay High School profile]
* [http://michigan.schooltree.org/public/Anchor-Bay-High-041581.html Schooltree.org's profile of Anchor Bay High School]