DeLand High School

DeLand High School
"Through the individual commitment of all, our students will graduate with the knowledge, skills, and values necessary to be successful contributors to our democratic society."
Location
800 North Hill Ave. DeLand, Florida, 32724-3726 USA
Information
Type	Public High School
Established	1922
School district	Volusia County School District
Principal	Mitch Moyer
Faculty	188
Number of students	2,700
Color(s)	Green and Gold
Mascot	Bulldog
Website	Deland High School

DeLand High School is a public high school in DeLand, Florida established in 1922, with an enrollment of 3,616 students, a student/teacher ratio of 16.5, and a graduation rate above 90%.^[1]

DeLand High on television

Controversies

In May 2002, 12 students super-glued stolen beehives within the school and also glued a large number of classroom and building doors shut. The school prank resulted in the release of a swarm of 80,000 bees. The students were suspended and later sentenced to perform community service. This prank was also the first to air on MTV's show "High School Stories: Scandals, Pranks & Controversies" receiving an hour-long special.^[2][3]

On May 2, 1997, Neil Garrison III, 40, a DeLand High School teacher and 18-year track coach, while teaching a class, pulled out a modified .22-caliber starter pistol and pointed it at the head of a 15-year-old student after the boy talked back to him and was placed on leave and charged with aggravated assault. The State Attorney's Office decided not to file charges against Neil Garrison saying that the modified pistol doesn't fit the state's legal definition of a firearm. Garrison was cleared to return to teaching a year after the incident.^[4][5][6]

In the summer of 2011, DeLand High School began renting their auditorium to an after school church. In addition to renting their building out, they also sold student information to the church. This case is currently under investigation by the ACLU.^{[citation needed]}

Special programs

International Baccalaureate

DeLand High School has been an International Baccalaureate high school since the 1990s. The program is a rigorous academic program that prepares its students for college with the development of an international outlook.

Engineering Academy

DeLand High School hosts an Engineering Program where students take specific classes to train them in the engineering field. This academy includes a physics course, as well as a manufacturing-based engineering course.

Construction Academy

DeLand High School built a brand new facility for the Construction Academy that opened for the 2007 school year. Students will be able to learn the concepts of construction so they can go into the work field. The academy also provides an after school club open to all students who want to learn more about construction. This club, FCCMA (Future Carpenter and Cabinet Makers of America), strives to teach students the importance of teamwork and community service as well as carpentry, construction and proper safety precautions.

Athletics

Weightlifting

In 2005 the Bulldogs won a state championship in weightlifting for the 10th time. Brandon Partin won back to back state championships for the Bulldogs in 2007 and 2008, in two different weight classes, and was a featured student athlete in Sports Illustrated. In 2008 Christina Baranet was the first female from DeLand High School to win the state championship and also broke the state record for the 119 lb. weight class.

Baseball

In 1951 the Bulldogs baseball team attended the state championship. The Bulldogs became state champions in 1961. In 2006 and 2007 the team made it into the state's final four championship. In 2007 they were state runners-up and beat two-time state champion Flanagan/Pembroke Pines along with the North Park Bulls. The baseball team is also home to Michael Main, who was once featured in Sports Illustrated and drafted by the Texas Rangers in the first round of the 2007 MLB draft.^[7]

Bowling

The girls bowling team won the State Championship in 2005 and have been undefeated since.

Golf

The girls golf team had a 30–0 regular season in 2007. The boys golf team were district champions in 2009 for the first time in school history.

Varsity Soccer

In 2001 the girls Varsity has reached the Florida State 4A Championship Final in which they lost to Bloomingdale in PK's 1-2. In 2005 they have gone to the the top 16, loosing to Lake Mary 0-1. In 2009 they have gone to regionals losing to Fletcher in first round but year later have gone on winning their district and getting to top 16(regional Finals)but loosing to their own district rival Flagler Palm Coast.

The boys have gone to regionals for the first time in 2009 loosing in the first round to Jacksonville Mandarin. The most memorable moment was in 2006 when Deland High School Boys dominated their district rival Pine Ridge High School (that years top 16) 2 - 0 at Pine Ridge.

Girls Volleyball

The DeLand High School girls volleyball team won the district championship in 2009 after a 24-3 season. 2010 - With winning the OVA High School Showcase, beating last year's state champs TFA, the Lady Bulldog team hopes to go all the way this year. The Deland Bulldogs beat Spruce Creek to win back-to-back District Championships, 2009 & 2010. They have a record of 25-2 coming off the District win, and are advancing into regional play. The volleyball team had a great season, but lost in the regional finals to Boone High School in four games. They ended their season with a record of 27-3, one of the best seasons in the history of DeLand High School. It was one of Deland High School's best records until an ineligible player forced the team to forfeit all 27-3 records. So the Bulldogs season went from 27 wins an 3 losses to zero wins and 30 losses.

Varsity Basketball

In 1984 the Lady Bulldogs basketball team won the state championship. The varsity basketball team has a good track record and in the 2006-2007 school year they beat many skilled opponents such as Deltona, Mainland, Lake Mary, and West Orange and they also won a mid Florida title in 2006. The Bulldogs went to the playoffs for the class 6-A in Florida for 2008.

Varsity Football

After a dismal season in 2007 where the Bulldogs went 0-10, the team hired a new head coach, Kevin Pettis, who helped the team bounce back to a multi-win season in 2008. In addition to the team's first win in over 13 games, the Bulldogs managed to force a playoff tie-breaker in which they defeated Flagler Palm Coast for the chance to play eventual class 6-A state champions Sanford Seminole High School. In the 2009 season, The Bulldogs posted a 13-2 and advanced to the State Championship game where the Bulldogs lost 42-20 to Miramar High School.

Four varsity football players will be attending Division I colleges to play football: Mark Joyce: USF; Deante Saunders: University of Florida; Shontrelle Johnson: Iowa State; and Dramon Grady: University of Memphis. Other players have offers from smaller schools.

Academic Team

In 2007, the academic team triumphed over Spruce Creek's honored academic team and became district champions. They regularly compete in regional competitions.

Chorus

DeLand's chorus program, led by Melinda O'Neil, is an exceptional program that has gained recognition throughout Florida. Recent performances include Disney's Candlelight, Winter Concerts, luncheons throughout Volusia County, regional and state Music Performance Assessments (MPAs), and in-school performances. In the 2009-2010 year, the choral program at DeLand High School sent 11 musicians to the statewide All-State competition, which is extremely rigorous. The choral program at DeLand High School includes the General Chorus, Men's Ensemble, Quintessentials, DHSingers, the Woman's Chorale, and the Concert Choir.

Band

DeLand's band, The Marching Bulldogs, has gained recognition over the last five years, visiting the Georgia Peach Bowl and the Florida Bandmasters Association State Concert Festival three times, where they received the highest possible ratings twice. In the 2007-08 school year, the band returned to the State Concert Festival, receiving superior ratings from all judges. In the 2007-2008 season the band was invited to the annual College Band Directors National Association convention in Georgia. Ted Shistle, former Director of Bands is now taking the same position at the newly opening University High School in Orange City, FL. Daniel Cook has recently been selected to fill the position as Director of Bands at DeLand.

Air Force Junior ROTC

DeLand High's ROTC corp has been a Distinguished Unit 4 years in a row. During the 2008-2009 school year, the corps earned a Distinguished Unit Award with Merit. DeLand's ROTC is led by Col. James Pugh and Chief Master Sergeant Gary Cornwall. Established in 1967, DeLand's unit designation (FL-023) signifies that they were the 23rd AFJROTC unit in Florida. 1967 was the first year for AFJROTC units in the country. Each year ROTC participates in many events including parades, Haunted House, Adopt A Road, and canned food and toy drives. ROTC offers many extracurricular activities including Model Rocket Club, Drill Team, Color Guard and Kitty Hawk Air Society.

Notable alumni

• Nancy Benoit, former professional wrestling valet and wife of Chris Benoit. (Class of 1982)
• Bridgette Gordon, member of the 1988 US Olympic gold medal women's basketball team. (class of 1985)^[8]
• Terence Trent D'Arby, singer–songwriter, now known as Sananda Maitreya. Was member of the chores. (class of 1979)
• Tra Thomas, former professional football player, Offensive Tackle for the Philadelphia Eagles. (Class of 1993)
• Vincent Martella, teen actor and singer. (Class of 2011)
• Luke Scott, Major League Baseball outfielder and designated hitter, who currently plays for the Baltimore Orioles. (Class of 1997)
• J. "Grymm" Hampshire, an American Author, slam poet, and political activist. Featured on Def Jam poetry. A frequent performer at the Bowery Poetry Club. Previously a collegiate professor of creative writing. A member of the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America. (Class of 2008)

References

1. ^ Volusia County Schools Fact Sheet: 2006-2007
2. ^ Prank Closes School As 80,000 Bees Swarm Local 6.com, May 14, 2002
3. ^ DeLand High Pranksters Won't Face Felony Charges The 12 Seniors Who Brought 80,000 Bees Into The School Must Perform Community Service. The Orlando Sentinel, June 8, 2002
4. ^ "Teacher on leave for pointing starter's pistol at student" Deseret News Published: Wednesday, May 7, 1997 12:00 a.m. MDT
5. ^ "Starter-pistol Decision: No Charges" The Orlando Sentinel Published: Wednesday, May 15, 1997
6. ^ "Starter Gun Put To Boy's Head" The Orlando Sentinel Published: Wednesday, May 07, 1997
7. ^ Whose fastball's fastest?, The Daytona Beach News-Journal, February 28, 2007
8. ^ Local Olympians - OrlandoSentinel.com

• DeLand High Bulging At The Seams Stop-Gap Measures Help While Awaiting New School, The Orlando Sentinel, February 9, 1986
• Longtime coach, mentor gets nod, The Daytona Beach News-Journal, February 21, 2007
• School Board of Volusia County Meeting, February 14, 2006, The School Board of Volusia County, February 14, 2006

External links

• Official website
• Public School Review profile
• Marching Band website
• Florida Department of Education School Grades