Blue Valley West High School

Infobox school | name = Blue Valley West High School


established=2001
type=High School
address= 16200 Antioch
location = Overland Park, Kansas
enrollment = 1,611
free_label = Mascot
free_text = Jaguar
information = 913-239-3499
Fax= 913-681-7035
website = http://www.bv229.k12.ks.us/BVW/

Blue Valley West High School is a high school located in Overland Park, Kansas. It is part of the Blue Valley Unified School District. The school opened in August of 2001, and currently has a capacity for 1600 students. The principal is Tony Lake, the associate principal is Scott Roberts, and the assistant principals are Linda Kapfer and Cindy Roach. [http://www.bluevalleyk12.org/schools/high/bvwhs/]

Mission Statement

"Blue Valley West High School will prepare students for a changing world by providing the highest quality of educational opportunities in a caring and innovative environment."

History

Academics

Athletics

Blue Valley West has become a dominant force in Kansas High School Athletics. In the 2006-2007 school year the school won 2 state championships, was runner up for another, and had 4 other teams qualify for the state tournament.

In the 2007 calendar year, BV West won the state baseball, boys basketball, and state football titles. This three-peat was the first of its kind in the history of KSHSAA play. [cite web | title = KSHSAA Baseball | url =http://www.kshsaa.org/BASEBALL/bsbchmp.html | format =English | accessdate =2008-07-25] [cite web | title = KSHSAA Basketball | url =http://www.kshsaa.org/BASKETBALL/bskchmp.html | format =English | accessdate =2008-07-25] [cite web | title = KSHSAA Football | url =http://www.kshsaa.org/FOOTBALL/fbchmp.html | format =English | accessdate =2008-07-25]

Golf

Blue Valley West has established itself as being one of the top golf programs in the state. Overall, the Jaguars have won two state titles and three individual titles.

In 2008, Curtis Yonke captured the individual state title held at Shadow Glen Golf Club in Olathe. Blue Valley West had another great season in 2007, finishing runner-up in the state tournament with the help of Kansas State golfer Kyle Smell and Korbin Kuehne, falling to Olathe South by a single stroke. Led by Mike Greene, the Jaguars captured the individual and team state titles in 2006 held at Salina Municipal Golf Course. In 2004, current Kansas golfer Zach Pederson won the individual state title held at Topeka Country Club. The Jaguars won their first state title in 2002 at Sunflower Hills Golf Course in Bonner Springs. Amazingly, this was accomplished during the school's first academic year of existence. [cite web | title = KSHSAA Golf | url =http://www.kshsaa.org/BOY-GOLF/boyglfchmp.html | format =English | accessdate =2008-07-25]

Baseball

The baseball team has been coached by Bill McDonald since the school's opening in 2001.

The school has won the Eastern Kansas League (EKL) title every year from the school's opening in 2001 to 2006, and did not lose a single game in conference until 2006. They carry a 92-22 overall record, 4 Regional Titles, and a 2nd place finish at state in 2006. In 2007, the team did not win the EKL title, but were the first to bring the coveted state championship back to Overland Park. [cite web | title = KSHSAA Baseball | url =http://www.kshsaa.org/BASEBALL/bsbchmp.html | format =English | accessdate =2008-07-25]

The program has sent numerous players to colleges all over the country.

Boys' Basketball

The boys basketball team has been coached by Donnie Campbell since the school's opening in 2001.

The program has made four straight trips to the state tournament and won their first state title during the 2006-2007 school year. The team is known for their teamwork, and outstanding defensive play. In 'O7 the Jaguars finished in a three-way tie for the EKL title and beat Shawnee Mission East for the sub-state championship. In 2008, they lost in the first round of state competition. [cite web | title = KSHSAA Basketball | url =http://www.kshsaa.org/BASKETBALL/bskchmp.html | format =English | accessdate =2008-07-25]

During their state championship run, West beat Lawrence Free State in the semifinals and avenged an earlier loss to Leavenworth in the finals for the 6A championship.

Bishop Miege and Saint Thomas Aquinas are the basketball team's two primary rivals with all three teams having great postseason success in recent years. Rival Bishop Miege is known for a great home court advantage, although West has won for three consecutive years at Bishop Miege from 2005-2007, sparking a new rivalry between the schools.

Recent Results:2005: 5A 4th Place2006: 5A 5th Place2007: 6A State Champions 2008: 6A 5th Place [cite web | title = KSHSAA Basketball | url =http://www.kshsaa.org/BASKETBALL/bskchmp.html | format =English | accessdate =2008-07-25]

Several former West players compete for college teams across the country. Most play in Division III. BV West and Coach Campbell place a high priority on academics as well as athletics, and the success of many student athletes at the D-III level verifies their efforts. Matt Kleinmann, the first BVW alumni to win an NCAA basketball national championship, currently plays D-I basketball at the University of Kansas. James Franklin also played D-I basketball at Kansas State and Robert Lewandowski is signed to begin playing at Texas Tech in 2009.

Jaguar Football

The Blue Valley West Jaguar football team has become a contender in Kansas 5A Football. After reaching the state playoffs in only their second year, head coach Scott Wright and his teams have piled up a 4-year record of 24-18 since their 3-6 start in the 2000-2001 season. They have reached the state playoffs in 3 out of 7 years in the school's history. They qualified for the 2006 postseason as well. [cite web | title = KSHSAA Football | url =http://www.kshsaa.org/FOOTBALL/fbchmp.html | format =English | accessdate =2008-07-25]

In all 3 years they have made the playoffs, they have been defeated in the second round, except for the 2004 season, when they lost a hard-fought contest in the state semifinal game. [cite web | title = KSHSAA Football | url =http://www.kshsaa.org/FOOTBALL/fbchmp.html | format =English | accessdate =2008-07-25]

The team's main rivals are Blue Valley High School and Saint Thomas Aquinas High School. Aquinas and West have met multiple times in the postseason, with Aquinas winning all but the most recent game in 2007. West and Blue Valley have met in the final game of the season for the district championship nearly every year since West opened in 2001. [cite web | title = KSHSAA Football | url =http://www.kshsaa.org/FOOTBALL/fbchmp.html | format =English | accessdate =2008-07-25]

BVW won the 2007 Eastern Kansas League Title and went on to win the Kansas 5A State Championship on November 24 2007, with an undefeated 13-0 season. [cite web | title = KSHSAA Football | url =http://www.kshsaa.org/FOOTBALL/fbchmp.html | format =English | accessdate =2008-07-25]

Lacrosse

The Jaguar lacrosse team is among the best in the state. They are coached by former collegians Eric Olsen (Missouri State), Jason Michael Ford and Matt Ruemker (both Kansas State). The Jags fielded four Kansas all-state first team players in the 2007 season. [cite web | title = Blue Valley West wins Kansas High School Lacrosse Championships | url =http://www.aroundtownkc.com/kcondemand/Article.aspx?Id=10077&CatID=66 | format =English | accessdate =2008-07-25]

Performing Arts

Red and Silver Brigade

The Red and Silver Brigade is the award-winning marching ensemble at Blue Valley West High School. Its numerous awards include 3 time grand champions of the "Echoes Off the River" marching festival in Alton, Illinois, many local awards, and multiple Division 1 ratings and class awards at BOA super-regional championships. The Brigade swept their class and made finals at the 2006 BOA Super Regional in St.Louis. They were named Grand Champions of the 2007 Blue Springs Marching Invitational in Blue Springs, Missouri. In 2007 the brigade attended BOA festivals in St. Louis, MO and Indianapolis, IN as well as BOA Grand National Championships in Indianapolis, IN. The Brigade has established itself as one of the premier high school marching bands in the region.

After just seven years of existence, the band is already the highest scoring Kansas band ever at a BOA competition. [cite web | title = Blue Valley West High School | url =http://www.publicschoolreview.com/school_ov/school_id/31874 | format =English | accessdate =2008-07-25] Former director, Dr. Craig R. Miller built the band from its founding in 2000 through the spring of 2008. Under his baton, the ensemble has travelled to San Antonio, TX; Indianapolis, IN; Atlanta, GA; Tulsa, OK; St. Louis, MO; and Carnegie Hall in New York City. In the fall of 2008, the Blue Valley West Band will welcome Mr. Mark Nichols to the podium as the new Director of Bands. The band also receives assistance from Carolyn Knapp, Matt Arnet, Paul Bessetti, Lennon Bone, Alex Vallar, John Wickersham and Calvin Dugan. The band performs at all home football games, basketball games, and pep assemblies. The symphonic band, concert band, and jazz bands have all received accolades at festivals all over the country. Blue Valley West band alumni can be found in music schools and conservatories across the nation. This year's Jazz Ensemble released an album featuring well known jazz artists Conrad Herwig and Kim Park.

For the 2008 season, the Brigade will be led by Drum Majors Troy Armstrong, Ethan Levine, Matt Primovic, and Matt Morefield.

Theater

The Blue Valley West theater department took their rep show "The Voice of The Prairie" to the Kansas State Thespian Conference and the International Thespian Festival in June 2007.

The Blue Valley West repertory theater took their one-act "Cut" to the Kansas State Thespian Conference and will be taken to the International Thespian Festival in June 2008.

List of Mainstage Shows

*2001-2002: The Crucible, The King and I, The Musical Comedy Murders of 1940
*2002-2003: Heaven Can Wait, Fiddler on the Roof, Midsummers Nights Dream
*2003-2004: Much Ado About Nothing, Oklahoma!, Jelly Bean Conspiracy
*2004-2005: To Kill a Mocking Bird, South Pacific, A Few Good Men
*2005-2006: Fools, Children of Eden, The Diary of Anna Frank
*2006-2007: Our Town, Once Upon a Mattress, Comedy of Errors
*2007-2008: Student Directed One-Acts, Quilters, Sound of Music, The Lark
*2008-2009: The Crucible, Guys and Dolls, The Man Who Came to Dinner

Rep Shows

*2005-2006: The Boys Next Door (Went to State), Steel Magnolias, Gods Favorite, Theater Olympics
*2006-2007: The Voice of the Prairie (Went to Internationals), Ruthless, The Bad Seed, Theater Olympics
*2007-2008: The Female Odd Couple, Dearly Departed, Cut, The Nerd, Theater Olympics
*2008-2009: Advanced Rep: Secret Life of Girls, Lone Star, The Complete Works of Shakespeare abridged, Theater Olympics; Rep: Lost in Yonkers, Revenge of the Space Pandas, Theater Olympics

Next year West will have 2 rep classes; Advanced Rep, a class of about 12 students. It is a selective class and requires an audition. There will also be a Regular Rep class which isn't selective, but still requires an audition.

West will also be dropping Theater Olympics which has been performed since 2004.

Vocal Music

Blue Valley West has 4 choirs:
*Concert Choir - SATB freshmen; no audition necessary.
*Choraliers - SSA; selective freshmen and sophomores; must audition.
*Chorale - SATB; selective sophomores, juniors, and seniors; must audition.
*Chamber - SATB; highly selective sophomores, juniors, and seniors; must also be in Chorale; must audition.

Contest

"The ratings are from 1 to 5, 1 being the best. Those who receive a 1 at the Regional Contest are accepted to compete at the State Contest two weeks later."

In 2007, Choraliers and Chamber both received a 1 at Regionals and State, along with the Large Women's Choir (a combination of the women in all four choirs). The Large Women's Choir only conjugates for Contest each year.

The Choraliers 06-07 class was accepted to perform at the Kansas Music Educators Association, a high honor.

In 2008, Choralier and Chamber both received a 1 at Regionals and State, and the Large Women's Choir received a 2 at Regionals.

Awards and Distinctions

*2008, BVW went to National Science Bowl in Washington D.C.

Feeder Schools

*Middle Schools
**Pleasant Ridge Middle School
**Lakewood Middle School
*Elementary Schools
**Liberty View Elementary School
**Cedar Hills Elementary School
**Morse Elementary School
**Sunset Ridge Elementary School
**Lakewood Elementary School

Other Blue Valley High Schools

*Blue Valley High School
*Blue Valley North High School
*Blue Valley Northwest High School
*Blue Valley Southwest High School

External links

* [http://www.bv229.k12.ks.us/bvw Blue Valley West High School official site]
* [http://www.bvwestband.com Blue Valley West High School Band official site]
* [http://www.bv229.k12.ks.us Blue Valley School District official site]

References