Winters Mill High School

Infobox Secondary school
name = Winters Mill High School
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established = 2002
type = Public Secondary
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category = Public School Grade (9-12)
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principal = Mr. Jeffery Alisuckas
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teaching_staff = 71
enrollment = 1243
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address = 560 Gorsuch Road
city = Westminster
state = Maryland
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country = United States
district = Carroll County Public Schools
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colors = Burgandy, Silver, and White
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mascot = Falcons
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yearbook =
newspaper = The Talon & The Guidance Gazette
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website = http://www2.carrollk12.org/wintersmill/index.htm
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Winters Mill High School is the newest high school in Westminster, Maryland, United States, and it opened in August 2002.

Winters Mill High School is in the Carroll County Public Schools system. It is an academy high school designed for a functional capacity of 1,200 students. The mascot is the falcon, and the school colors are burgundy, white, and silver.

chool History

Winters Mill High School is named after a grist mill that stood in the village of Cranberry. Winters Mill operated through most of the 1800s until the site was cleared in the 1920s to make way for the Westminster Water Treatment Plant. The original mill raceway, which brought water to the old mill, is still used to supply water to the plant for the City of Westminster.

Tremendous overcrowding in Westminster High School during the 1990s demanded a new school in Westminster. After the construction of Century High School in Eldersburg, Maryland, Winters Mill was built with a nearly identical architectural design.

Construction of Winters Mill High School began in the summer of 2000, and the school opened in the fall of 2002 with ninth and tenth grade students the first year. Each subsequent year an additional grade was added until the fall of 2004 when the student body became complete. The school's enrollment capacity is 1200, though enrollment has been slightly over the capacity of 1200 since the 2005-2006 school year.

Administration

Winters Mill opened in 2002 with Mrs. Sherri-Le Bream as Principal and Mr. Gordon Love as Vice Principal. Mr. Jim Rodriguez joined as Vice Principal in the 2004-2005 school year and Ms. Ruby Kimbrow was transferred from Westminster High School and added at Winters Mill as a third Vice Principal for the 2005-2006 school year. During the 05-06 school year, Mr. Rodriguez was promoted to Director of Physical Education for Carroll County and history teacher Mr. David Herman replaced him during the second semester. Mr. Herman returned to teaching for the 06-07 school year.

Mrs. Bream was promoted to Director of Carroll County High Schools in 2006, and Mr. Ken Goncz was named principal. Mr. John Baugher from Francis Scott Key High School and Mrs. Rita Dowd, a biology teacher at Winters Mill, were new Vice Principals for the 06-07 school year, as well. After the 07-08 school year, Mr. Goncz returned to Westminster High School as Principal. Mr. Jeffery Alisauckas will be Principal beginning in the 08-09 school year. A history of the administration is detailed below:

Principal
*Mrs. Sherri-Le Bream, 2002-2006
*Mr. Kenneth Goncz, 2006-2008
*Mr. Jeffery Ali, 2008-

Assistant/Vice Principal
*Mr. Gordon Love, 2002-2006
*Mr. Jim Rodriguez, 2002-2005
*Mr. David Herman, 2005-2006
*Ms. Ruby Kimbrow, 2005-
*Mrs. Rita Dowd, 2006-
*Mr. John Baugher, 2006-

Faculty

Winters Mill maintains an excellent faculty of qualified educators. Teachers at the school have been frequently recognized for their talents:

Mr. Ken Fischer, biology teacher at WMHS, was named Carroll County Teacher of the Year for 2006.Mrs. Lynn Earp, a reading specialist at WMHS, was one of 8 finalists selected by the Carroll County Chamber of Commerce for the 2007 Teacher of the Year.

Mission Statement

"The mission of Winters Mill High School, an academy school with diverse learners, is to create a rigorous supportive learning environment where each and every student and member of the staff can develop their individual potential and prepare for their roles as productive citizens, leaders, and life-long learners." [http://www.carrollk12.org/wintersmill/vision-and-mission.htm]

Academy School

Winters Mill High School has four "academies" or focuses of interest where students are grouped based on the fields they expect to enter after graduation. Teachers take an interest survey and are also assigned to academies to serve as advisors. There are four Academy Leaders who serve as department chairs for their respective academies. Mrs. Janice Cheney is the school-wide academy coordinator who oversees advisory lessons and course scheduling. Students are then arranged into advisories within each grade level to facilitate this career focus.

The Academies are:
*Math, Science, and Technology
*Health, Human, and Social Sciences
*Business and Information Management
*Arts, Humanities, and Communications

Academy Achievement Award

The Academy Achievement Award recognizes academic achievement as well as outstanding attendance during students' high school careers. Students who meet the following criteria at the time of graduation qualify for the Academy Achievement Award:

1. Successful completion of a minimum of six academy credits
2. A minimum of 3.0 as a non-weighted cumulative grade point average
3. An overall attendance average of 94% in grades 9–12

Advisory Program

Each student at Winters Mill is assigned an advisor whose advisory they attend during 2nd mod each day for 20 minutes. The program is intended to create a relationship between students and their advisors in order to establish a common point of contact throughout high school with whom the student feels comfortable. Students stay with their advisor for their entire time at Winters Mill. Parents meet with their child's advisor annually and students develop a portfolio through their advisory. Additionally, students are taught daily advisory lessons, which may differ depending on grade level and academy. These advisory lessons often pertain to situations that students may encounter during the course of their life, or discuss values or school procedures such as dress code, academic integrity, and student rights.

chool Services

Guidance Department

The WMHS Guidance Department offers support to all WM students. Each student is assigned a counselor who can be met with by appointment. Peer Facilators are also available to talk to students and peer mediate student conflicts. Additionally, the Guidance Department helps students with transcripts, college applications, and many scholarship opportunities.

Media Center

The Media center is open Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 7:15am-3:00pm and Tuesday and Thursday from 7:15am-3:45pm. It is run by Media Specialist Bonnie Kreamer and Media Assistant Marty Gilbert.

Falcon Learning Lab

The Falcon Learning Lab is open every day from 7:00am–4:00pm and is run by Mrs. Day and Ms. Tang. Students may use the lab to do homework, to make up missed work or tests, for homework help, or for computer work.

Members of the National Honor Society are frequently available as tutors in the Lab throughout the school year.

Athletics

Varsity Athletics

Winters Mill High School competes in the 2A class of the Piedmont Conference. Athletic director is Mr. Stephen Speck and the mascot is Faruco the Falcon.

Fall Sports:
*CheerleadingCoach: Christina Bandula and Jobi Larrick
- 2006 Varsity Carroll County Champions
- 2007 Varsity Carroll County Champions

*Cross CountryCoach: Ken Fischer
- 2004, Girls Cross Country placed second in state

*Field HockeyCoach:Carl Harris
- 2006 County champions- Made a state semi-final appearance in 2006

*FootballCoach: Ken Johnson
- Made state semi-final appearances in 2005, 2006

Class of 2008 Defensive tackle Jeff Braun signed his letter of intent to play for the West Virginia Football Mountaineers. He was the first football player in school history to sign a letter of intent.

*GolfCoach: Kyle Walker

*Soccer - BoysCoach: Timothy Pennell

*Soccer - GirlsCoach: Bryan Shumaker

*VolleyballCoach: Shelly Katzef

Winter Sports:
*Basketball - BoysCoach: David Herman
- 2006 & 2008 2A West Regional Champions
- 2006, 2007 MVAL Piedmont Champions
- 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008 Carroll County Champions
- Made state semi-final appearances in 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008 - 2008 2A Maryland State Champions

*Basketball - GirlsCoach: Bernie Koontz
- Made state semi-final appearances in 2005, 2006

*CheerleadingCoach: Kristie Troutman
- 2003 JV Carroll County Champions- 2005 Carroll County Champions (JV & Varsity)

*Indoor TrackCoach: Paul Burnside

*WrestlingCoach: John Lowe- David Menasche and Luke Benko placed in the Maryland State Wrestling Championships

Spring Sports:
*Baseball - BoysCoach: Jeremy Robinson

*Lacrosse - BoysCoach: Sal Picataggi
- 2007 Boys Lacrosse 1A/2A Maryland State Champions

*Lacrosse - GirlsCoach: Courtney Vaughn- 2008 Girls Lacrosse Carroll County Champions

*Softball - GirlsCoach: Greg Knill

*TennisCoach: Matt Miller

*Track and FieldCoach: Paul Burnside

Club Sports

The WMHS Dance Team is an organization whose primary goal is to increase the school spirit of students, teachers, and sporting spectators at school events and functions. The dance team meets two times a week for practice after school, and membership is achieved through auditioning for the team and attending practices. There must be a commitment on behalf of the participating student to attend all practices and events. During practices, student participants will work on strength/conditioning, dance steps/skills, school spirit activities, and personal character/motivation. The Falcon Fusion Dance Team competes in area dance competitions and performs at football games, basketball games, and school pep rallies. Their advisor is Mrs. Melanie Burrier, who teaches dance at Winters Mill.The dance team is one of the most successfull teams in WMHS.Their most recent achievement is there third place Pom finish at a National Level comp. And a seventh place finish for there Hip-Hop

Entertainment Events

Winters Mill hosts a PowderPuff Football Game each year where the girls play football while the boys cheerlead, with the senior class competing against the junior class. Actual football players and cheerleaders "coach" the teams with faculty members acting as referees and emcees for the event.

Annual Student-Faculty basketball and volleyball games are also played to generate school spirit and raise money for charity.

Performing Arts

Drama

The Winters Mill Drama department produces two productions every year: under former drama teacher Jean Burgess there was a play every fall and a musical in the spring. In the '07-'08 school year, the two productions are a fall musical and spring play due to a change in the drama teacher. The new head of drama is Phyllis Traynor.

*2002 Fall Play: Here We Are & Sorry Wrong Number
*2002 Spring Musical: Broadway Cafe
*2003 Fall Play: Those Crazy Menaechmus Twins
*2003 Spring Play: Ten Little Indians
*2004 Fall Play: The Good Doctor
*2005 Spring Musical: Big River
*2005 Fall Play: I Never Saw Another Butterfly
*2006 Spring Musical: Once Upon A Mattress
*2006 Fall Play: Tales from the Arabian Nights
*2007 Spring Musical: You're a Good Man Charlie Brown
*2007 Fall Musical: Little Shop of Horrors
*2008 Spring Play: One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest
*2008 Fall Musical: Godspell

Instrumental Music

Mrs. Kristen Stoetzer directs the instrumental music department.

Beginning in 2006, a partnership was established with Francis Scott Key High School to perform combined concerts together.

Marching Band

Band Front accompanies the Marching Band. These students learn basic marching and flag techniques. Students are expected to perform with the marching band at football games as well as parades. There is camp at the end of August. Advisor for both groups is Kristen Stoetzer.

Choral Music

Mrs. Caren Bezanson directs Winters Mill's vocal music department. Vocal music consists of 3 choruses: Concert Choir (Chorus I and II), Select Choir (Honors Festival Chorus), and Vocal Ensemble (Honors Vocal Ensemble). When enough singer-dancers are available, a Show Choir is assembled for the Winter Concert, choreographed by Mrs. Melanie Burrier.

In 2006, The Winters Mill High School Select Choir and Vocal Ensemble both received all 1s at the Carroll County Chorus Festival. Both groups then attended the MD State Choral Festival. Select Choir received 3-2s and 1-1 at States.

In 2007, Select and Ensemble again received all 1s at the County adjudication level and an overall rating of 1 for both groups at State Choral Festival on April 26th, 2007 at Morgan State University. (Both groups received 3 1s and a 2). Select and Ensemble also won 1st place in the small and large chorus categories and Best High School Overall in the Music in the Parks competition on May 5th, 2007.

tudent Government Association

The Winters Mill Student Government Association is very active in the school community.

Mascot Adoption Program

The Winters Mill SGA, in the events following Hurricane Katrina which devastated the Gulf Coast in September 2005, officially adopted L.E. Rabouin High School in New Orleans, Louisiana and raised over $6500 for the school during the 05-06 school year. The program brought many community businesses together with the school to raise money to support our sister school L.E. Rabouin.

Fisher House

During the 06-07 school year, the WM History Club, with SGA support, raised money for the Fisher House military charity. Fisher House provides families of wounded American soldiers a place to stay on the military base where their son or daughter is recovering, enabling families to visit their soldiers. The History Club raised over $750 in September and October selling Winters Mill Fan tee shirts and the SGA matched their contribution to donate $1,000 for the Thanksgiving season. The SGA contributed 20% of profits from events with the History Club throughout the school year in especially needy times such as Thanksgiving and Christmas to create a continuous presence at Fisher House. Additionally, a portion of the proceeds from the annual Winters Mill Talent Show went to benefit Fisher House.

tudent Clubs and Organizations

Winters Mill has a multitude of clubs and organizations for students:

*Art Club
*Ballroom Dancing Club
*Best Buddies Club
*Class Organizations (2009, 2010, 2011, 2012)
*Communications Club
*Computer Club
*C.U.R.E. Club
*Drama Club & Stage Technicians
*Dance Team
*Debate Team
*Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA)
*Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA)
*Future Educators of America (FEA)
*Future Farmers of America (FFA)
*History Club
*Inklings Literary Magazine
*Interact Club
*IMPACT Club
*Key Club
*Marching Band and Band Front
*National Art Honor Society (NAHS)
*National Honor Society (NHS)
*Open-Forum Club
*Outdoor Club
*Peer Facilitators
*Photography Club
*Republic Club
*Ski Club
*Step Club
*Strength and Conditioning Club (male and female)
*Student Government Association
*Tri-M. (Music Honors Society)
*Varsity Athletic Club (VAG)

Debate Team

Coach: Mr. Jared Wastler

The [http://www.wmhsdebate.com Winters Mill Debate Team] is a competitive organization and a member of the National Forensic League and the National Catholic Forensic League. Currently the debate team participates in the Public Forum Debate division at the Baltimore Catholic Forensic League (BCFL) as well as in the Carroll County Debate League (CCDL). The Debate Team was formed in the spring of 2007 and has been moderately successful. The Winters Mill team of Cooke and Chamberlain has taken the Carroll County Debate League Championship and the BCFL Championship in Public Forum Debate in 2008. Winters Mill has also placed 2nd in Debate and 2nd Overall at the 2008 BCFL Metro/State Championships. The team also participates in national invitational tournaments such as the Harvard Debate Invitational. WMHS sent three teams in Public Forum Debate to the NCFL National Championship Tournament.

JROTC

The JROTC program was established in 2005 and is lead by Colonel Martin Compton and Sergeant Ronald Ruff. The Army JROTC program awards academic grades, but its true measure of success is the young people it motivates to stay in school and graduate. It is also designed to prepare student for life after high school by providing them essential skills to become successful citizens. Leadership roles are established in the classroom, and students learn respect and teamwork throughout the semester. There are 8 JROTC classes available to take, LET(leadership education and training) I-VIII. There is also an established Falcon Battalion staff, consisting of A Battalion Commander, Battalion Executive Officer, and many specialty positions. Cadets wear their uniforms every Thursday as a way to show "Esprit de Corps" (pride in the battalion).

Parent Involvement

Parents are encouraged to take an active role in their child’s educational experience at Winters Mill. Three parents have been serving on the instructional leadership team and have helped develop the instructional programs. Additionally, three parent organizations are needed to support Winters Mill:

1. The PTSA (parent, teacher, student association) supports and promotes the entire school, led by President Nancy Milliken.

2. The athletic boosters work with the total athletic program, with Mr. Dave Horne as President.

3. The music boosters supports marching band activities and other instrumental and choral groups. Kim Simensky heads the Music Boosters as President.

Parents who would like to be involved in these organizations should contact the school or attend the booster meetings. According to new regulations any volunteer, chaperone, or member of any booster club must be certified annually. The training schedule can be found by contacting the school.

External links

* [http://www2.carrollk12.org/wintersmill/index.htm Winters Mill High School]
* [http://www.carrollk12.org/ Carroll County Public Schools]
* [http://www.leaguelineup.com/falconcheerleading Cheerleading Squad Website]
* [http://carrollk12.org/shiloh/golf/index.htm Golf Team Website]
* [http://www.carrollk12.org/shiloh/basketball/index.htm Men's Basketball Team Website]
* [http://www.wmmusic.org Music Department Website]
* [http://www.wmhsdebate.com/#/welcome/4530755058 Debate Team Website]
* [http://www.wmhsjrotc.us/ JROTC Website]