Howard W. Blake High School

Infobox School|
name=Howard_W._Blake_High_School
type=Public/Magnet
location=1701 North Boulevard, Tampa, Fla.
information=
established=1956
grades=9-12
enrollment=1733
principal=Jacqueline Haynes
nickname=Yellow Jackets
mascot=Yellow Jacket
colors=Black and Gold
district=Hillsborough County
website= [http://blake.mysdhc.org/ School Website]

Howard W. Blake High School (opened originally in 1956 in Tampa, Florida). Is a public high school in located in Tampa, Florida. In 1997, the school moved to its current location.

chool history

The school is named in honor of Howard W. Blake, a Tampa native who attended Florida A&M University, Claflin University, and Atlanta University. Blake's entire life was geared toward guiding young people to their optimal education and vocational potential.

Blake was originally open to only African-American students in the Tampa area as one of the two black schools during segregation in Tampa, the other being its current rival school Middleton High School.

After Tampa integrated the schools, Blake was known as Blake Junior High and was a seventh grade center, until 1997.

Magnet school

Upon re-opening in 1997, the school added a magnet school for the visual, communication and performing arts. The magnet program has continued to make headlines and win countless awards within each of its departments over the years.

The 2007-2008 school year marked Blake's 10th Anniversary as a magnet school. Celebration of 10 years was shown through the valiant efforts of Teresa Winston, Blake High School's dedicated Magnet Arts Coordinator. Her event for the anniversary ("10th Anniversary Event") featured a variety of Blake alumni from the ten years, coordinating a gallery full of pieces by talented artists such as Ari Richter and performances in a variety of fields, such as Chicago's star of Wicked, Danielle Williamson, and jazz musicians Dayve Stewart and Eric Darius.

The entire school attempted to highlight the occasion, even in such instances as performances ("Too Much Light Makes the Baby Go Blind") where the program was headlined "Blake High School's 10th Anniversary Magnet Department proudly presents..." as well as the Choir and Symphony Orchestra performing the acclaimed and timeless Requiem by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.

Accelerated Education

Blake also boasts a strong academic curriculum, featuring over 15 Advanced Placement programs in which nearly all of the classes score higher on their AP tests than the national average. fact|date=January 2008

"Blake Accelerated Curriculum Program" is an online high school magnet program in the School District of Hillsborough County. It is one out of seven of franchises of Florida Virtual School. Its online program has certified teachers that are innovative and motivated to teach in an online formatFact|date=February 2008)). This program allows students to complete about 99% of their coursework onlineFact|date=July 2007. Students only report to campus for FCAT Testing, and extra curricular activities (optional). Students can actually customize their education to become accelerated or to just accommodate their needs. Some students accelerate their high school career by 1-2 years early.Fact|date=July 2007

Magnet Programs

Performing Arts

The performing arts program provides a structured opportunity for the study of music, drama, musical theatre and technical theatre as primary divisions of art and literature, the performance and production of plays, and the personal growth and development of the individual. The theater department has a troupe part of the International Thespian Society and competes in their Florida district.Fact|date=July 2007

Music

Blake High School offers a wide music curriculum consisting of orchestra(conducted by Jason Jerald A.K.A. Jason Baby), choir, band, guitar, piano, harp, jazz ensembles and marching band in addition to theory and history courses. The faculty of the music department comprises eight highly skilled instructors in their respective fields. There are many opportunities for music students to perform in the community in All-State, All-County, Music Performance Assessment, and Solo and Ensemble festivals.Fact|date=July 2007

Dance department

The dance department has been through many changes but has never had so much success as of late. Currently is headed by two teachers who teach ballet, and different modern techniques. Throughout the year there are master classes and the department is host to guest faculties. The dance department hosts many classes from Dance Repertory, Ballet, Modern, (Jazz, Pilate) Master Classes, Choreography I&II, Dance Honors and Senior Projects. With these the department hosts five shows a year, two faculty shows, two student choreographies and one Senior Showcase. Some students may participate in Youth American International Grand Prix. Decided by the teachersFact|date=July 2007.

Creative Writing

As in all the other majors at Blake High School, creative writing majors are selected by the department teachers through an audition process. Students wishing to be in the program must first prepare a portfolio of their writings, and submit an application to be seen. On the day of their appointment, they must bring said portfolio and meet with the two teachers. Together, the student and teachers will go through the portfolio and the student will be asked to read a sample of their writings allowed. The writings are allowed to be Poetry, Prose or a mix of the two.After acceptance the students are put through a rigorous course that helps them not only produce new works but also teaches them how to perform various works, submit their pieces professionally, how to publish a magazine and how to edit their own work. At the end of their four years the students will be able to publish chapbooks. A chapbook is a typically short book of one's best writings.

Journalism

The Blake High School journalism department was one a shining example of literary excellence in deadline. It's previous advior taught the students how to work with deadline, and its pressing faces, rather than against it. During the 2007-2008 school year, its monthly production dwindled to bi-annual of almost the same standard and length monthly issues once held.Auditioning for the program is a process of merely bringing in writings, stories, editorials, newsletters...anything that exemplifies writing as a whole.

Visual Arts

Visual Arts students are selected for enrollment by bringing in their sketchbook and flipping through the pages while the art teacher carefully reviews them. Visual Arts students will be required to take at least one class with each of the four visual arts teachers, in areas such as drawing and painting, photography, glass and jewelry, and ceramics. When they have completed one class in each of the four areas, they will be able to specialize in one or two areas, for which they may receive master certification for at the end of their four years at Blake.

Athletics

Men's

Men's sports include swimming, basketball, baseball, cross country, football, golf, soccer, track and field, tennis, and wrestling.

Women's

Women's sports include swimming, basketball, softball, cheerleading, football, golf, soccer, track and field, tennis, volleyball and wrestling.

Club sports

The club sport of rowing began in 2004 for both men and women, by several students and under the sponsorship of the Stewards Foundation. The women recently won bronze in a Women's Novice Four in the Cities Regatta. The club sport of lacrosse began in 2007 for both men and women by several students with the desire to play lacrosse without any outside help from sponsorship. Though the original club comprised roughly a dozen students, the 2007-2008 club was made up of approximately 20-25 students and efforts are being made to have lacrosse become recognized as a varsity sport throughout the school.

External links

* [http://blake.mysdhc.org/ School website]