Seminole High School (Seminole County, Florida)

Infobox_School
name =Seminole High School


mission =""Students who graduate from Seminole High School shall be prepared to begin a career and continue their education at a post-secondary technical school, community college, or university." [ [http://www.seminolehs.scps.k12.fl.us/ Seminole High School - Sanford,Fl ] ]
established =1902
type =Public
district =Seminole County Public Schools
grades =9-12
contact number =407-320-5050
principal =Mike Gaudreau
students =3,031 [ [http://www.publicschoolreview.com/school_ov/school_id/19771 Seminole High School - Sanford, Florida/FL - Public School Profile ] ]
conference =
mascot =Fighting 'Noles [ [http://www.seminolehs.scps.k12.fl.us/ Seminole High School - Sanford,Fl ] ]
colors =Orange and Black
location =Sanford, Seminole County, Florida
country =United States
website = [http://www.seminolehs.scps.k12.fl.us/ Seminole High School] :"For other schools with the same name, see Seminole High School (disambiguation)."

Seminole High School is a public high school located in Sanford, Florida operated by the Seminole County School District. February 2007 Mike Gaudreau, a Seminole High School alumnus, became principal. The students and faculty also hold in high esteem former principal Walt Griffin who helped the school gain the excellent reputation it has today. Griffin is now the Director of Secondary Education for Seminole County Public Schools. [ [http://www.publicschoolreview.com/school_ov/school_id/19771 Seminole High School - Sanford, Florida/FL - Public School Profile ] ]

In 2006, 2007 and 2008, Seminole High School was one of the schools in Seminole County on Newsweek's List Of Top 1,200 Schools in the united States. [ [http://www.cfnews13.com/News/Local/2007/5/22/6_local_high_schools_on_39newsweek39s39_best_list.html 6 Local High Schools On " Newsweek' s" Best List - Central Florida News 13 ] ] Seminole High is also known for being the only high school in Seminole County to offer the rigorous International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme. Seminole High also offers the Academy for Health Careers which offers students a curriculum based on a future career in health care. Students take a Health class and health material is integrated into the curriculum of all other subjects. Seminole High also offers Advanced Placement courses in a range of subjects.

School rankings

In the 2007-2008 school year, the Florida Department of Education gave Seminole an "A" ranking. This was an improvement from 2006-2007's "C." [ [http://www.publicschoolreview.com/school_ov/school_id/19771 Seminole High School - Sanford, Florida/FL - Public School Profile ] ]

Newsweek rated Seminole #303 in their list of the top 1,200 schools in the country in 2006. [ [http://www.publicschoolreview.com/school_ov/school_id/19771 Seminole High School - Sanford, Florida/FL - Public School Profile ] ] Newsweek rated Seminole #150 in their list of the top 1,200 high schools in the country in 2007, making it the highest ranked high school in Seminole County. [ [http://www.cfnews13.com/News/Local/2007/5/22/6_local_high_schools_on_39newsweek39s39_best_list.html 6 Local High Schools On " Newsweek' s" Best List - Central Florida News 13 ] ]

History

Sanford High School was built in 1902. In 1911 the student population necessitated the building of a new Sanford High School on Sanford Avenue. In 1927 a much larger building opened on French Avenue, and the school was renamed Seminole High School. By 1961 a new sprawling campus was opened at the present location on Ridgewood Avenue, and the old building on French Avenue became Sanford Junior High School (later renamed Sanford Middle School). Seminole High School has grown not only in the size of the campus, but also in student population - from the 4 female graduates in the Senior Class of 1907 to 555 graduates in 2007. The original building on 7th Street is now used as the Student Museum to represent the rich history of education in Seminole County. [ [http://www.seminolehs.scps.k12.fl.us/history.htm SHS - History ] ]

Renovation

In 2004 [ [http://www.seminolehs.scps.k12.fl.us/history.htm SHS - History ] ] , the school began renovations costing over $10 million, including the construction of new classroom halls, a new media center, a new gym, and a new auditorium. The renovation will end during the 2009-2010 school year. [ [http://www.publicschoolreview.com/school_ov/school_id/19771 Seminole High School - Sanford, Florida/FL - Public School Profile ] ]

The new media center was put into use in the first quarter of the 2006-07 school year. Tomahawk Hall opened at the beginning of the second quarter of the 2006-07 school year. The brand-new performance gym, to be used exclusively for school sports competitions and pep rallies, was opened at the beginning of the 2007-2008 school year, and the new performing arts center, later to be named in honor of former principal Karen W. Coleman, opened in March 2008. [ [http://www.seminolehs.scps.k12.fl.us/history.htm SHS - History ] ] Seminole High's Thespians were the first to use the center, producing The Pink Panther Strikes Again that month, starring Cory Hutson as Jacques Clouseau. Following this production was the Seminole High Band's Prism Showcase (5/8/08), and shortly after came the Seminole High Chorus's Spring Revue (5/22/08). All construction is scheduled for completion by the summer of 2008.

cholarships

With the sudden death of beloved Coach Mickey Yasko, they students of Leadership Class 2004-2005 and the weightlifters whom he sponsored, a scholarship was created in his name for weightlifters in Seminole County High Schools for their college education.

International Baccalaureate

Seminole High offers both the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme and the last two years of the IB Middle Years Programme. Many Seminole High IB students begin the Middle Years Programme at one of two Seminole County middle schools which offer the program. Any student who has completed eighth grade and resides in Seminole County is eligible for the progam. Some see the IB Program as private school education at a public school cost. Most, if not all, Seminole High IB Diploma candidates are in the Middle Years Programme in their freshman and sophomore years. IB students at Seminole High must complete four years of English, history, mathematics, and Spanish or French and at least three years of experimental science. Upon entry to the Diploma Programme, Seminole High IB students currently can choose to pursue two of any of the following subjects: psychology, chemistry, biology, music theory, physics, and economics. At Seminole High, only the first four are offered for two years as "higher level" courses, while the others are only offered as one year "standard level courses". Seminole High IB students take their required Theory of Knowledge course in senior year.

Alumni of Seminole High's IB Diploma Programme are currently represented at universities throughout the United States, including Harvard University, Duke University, Stanford University, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, the Georgia Institute of Technology, University of North Carolina, Yale University, University of Pennsylvania, Agnes Scott College, American University, Oglethorpe University, Georgetown University, Brandeis University, Carnegie Mellon University, Howard College, Vanderbilt University, Johns Hopkins University, Wellesley College, and Kenyon University, among others. Seminole High IB alumni also attend the United States Military Academy at West Point, the United States Coast Guard Academy, and United States Naval Academy. [ [http://www.seminolehs.scps.k12.fl.us/IB/ibadv.htm SHS - International Baccalaureate Program ] ]

Many Seminole High IB alumni choose to attend public universities in Florida under the Bright Futures Scholarship Program, as Florida IB Diploma Programme graduates are automatically offered the full Florida Academic Scholars Award. Public and private Florida universities currently attended by alumni include the University of Florida, the University of South Florida, the University of Central Florida, the University of Miami, Stetson University, Rollins College, Florida A&M University, and Florida State University. [ [http://www.seminolehs.scps.k12.fl.us/IB/ibadv.htm SHS - International Baccalaureate Program ] ]

Extracurricular activities

Performing arts

Seminole High School students are active in all fields of performing arts, including music, dance, and drama. In the field of music, Seminole High offers the Pizazz all girls show choir, Gospel Choir, Destiny Show Choir, and a full orchestra and band. Seminole's choirs have sung for the Candlelight Processional at Epcot as an honor choir for 20 years straight and participated in the opening of Animal Kingdom. Destiny Show Choir was featured in the ABC television program which covered the induction of Dick Clark into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Destiny Show Choir has claimed numerous national and state titles. The Pride of the Tribe, a combination of the Seminole High School Marching Noles, the Dazzler Dance Team and Expression color guard, in 2008 were awarded straight superiors at the Florida Marching Festival for another year running.

In dance, Seminole High School has the Dazzler Dance/Drill team (link offered below). The Dazzler dance team, in its 23rd year of existence and 100 members growing, holds many national titles including: 1997, 2004, 2007 and 2008 national high kick titles at the National Dance Team Championship held at Walt Disney World. In 1999, 2001, 2005, and 2008 they received the title of National Champions at the MA National Championship in Texas. They also compete in state competitions in which they have been named Overall State Champion in Kick and Jazz for 5 straight years. The City of Sanford has awarded the Dazzlers 5 resolutions in their existence. The Dazzlers support Dancing for Diabetes, a student run organization that raises money to support diabetes research. This show is in the fall and includes fine arts performances from students throughout Seminole County.

Seminole High also has a step team (meets after school) which competes and has won titles in the Orlando Area.

Seminole High School also hosts Troupe 3266 of the International Thespian Society. [ [http://www.seminolehs.scps.k12.fl.us/history.htm SHS - History ] ]

Athletics

Seminole High School offers a multitude of interscholastic sports teams, including baseball, basketball, bowling, cheerleading, dance, track and cross country running, football, golf, lacrosse, soccer, softball, swimming and diving, tennis, volleyball, water polo, weightlifting, and wrestling.

Air Force Junior ROTC

The School's Air Force JROTC unit FL-872 Color Guard has won numerous first place awards and is considered the top Color Guard in the State of Florida. The AFJROTC unit was named an "Distinguished Unit" for the 2005-2006 school year. Seminole High School is currently ranked as a five star school.Its teachers are Colonel Gibson and SMS Sergent Smith

Academic teams, honor societies, and similar activities

Seminole High School students also participate in a variety of academic competitions and honor societies, such as Mu Alpha Theta, Model United Nations, Academic Tournament, Odyssey of the Mind, French Honor Society, German Honor Society, and Spanish Honor Society. In the spring of 2008, Seminole High's Model United Nations team, representing South Africa was one of two in the state named an Outstanding Delegation, equivalent to first place, at FHSMUN (Florida High Schools Model United Nations). Seminole High's Academic Tournament team is named Illuminati. The team also has achieved much success in local and regional competitions. Seminole's Odyssey of the Mind teams have as well. In 2006, one of Seminole High's teams made it to the Odyssey of the Mind world competition hosted in Kansas. Also, in 2008, Seminole swept the competition at regionals with all four teams receiving first place at the regional division at Markham Woods Middle School. However, only one of the teams, consisting of Andrew Cashe, Galin Dragiev, Daniel Kozin, Neil Patel, Omair Usmani, Zak Seed, and Thomas Zhang, won first place at the state division held at UCF and will be going to the world competition at the University of Maryland.

Seminole High School also hosts a chapter of National Honor Society, which notably assists in seasonal events hosted by the city of Sanford and in the American Cancer Society fundraising event Relay for Life.

Other extracurricular activities

Seminole High School students also participate in a variety of other organizations. The school has active clubs for Young Democrats and Young Republicans, volunteering organizations such as Key Club, and groups for enthusiasts of anime, American Sign Language, ballroom dance, ping pong, wildlife, business and economics,Ultimate Frisbee, and Salvation for a Nation, a group that raises awareness of the Darfur Conflict, , among others. [ [http://www.seminolehs.scps.k12.fl.us/clubs.htm SHS - Clubs ] ]

SHS also has a very notable health program.

Notable alumni

* Tim Raines - retired MLB player and current Chicago White Sox coach
* Jeff Blake - NFL quarterback for the Chicago Bears
* David Eckstein - MLB shortstop for the 2006 National Champion St. Louis Cardinals also voted MVP
* Hardy Rawls - actor on TV sitcom The Adventures of Pete & Pete
* Doug (Bud) Thacker - defensive lineman for the Florida State Seminoles
* Kevin Harris - Running back for the Wake Forest Demon Deacons
* Doug Marlette - Pulitzer Prize winning cartoonist and author
* Jeff Faine - NFL center for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
* Reggie Branch - Former Running Back For The Washington Redskins
* Walter Millis - Actor on variety show Having a Beer with Mike. Also known as Walter the Outlaw Clogger from morning radio show the Monsters in the Morning on WTKS 104.1

References

External links

* [http://www.seminolehs.scps.k12.fl.us/ Seminole High School]
* [http://www.shsfb.com/ Home of Seminole High School Football]
* [http://www.scps.k12.fl.us Seminole County Public Schools]
* [http://www.seminolehsband.org/ Seminole High School Band]
* [http://www.seminolehighdazzlers.com/ Dazzler Dance Team]
* [http://www.seminolehs.scps.k12.fl.us/IB/ The International Baccalaureate Program at Seminole High]