Baldwin High School (Milledgeville, Georgia)

Infobox School2
name = Baldwin High School


motto = "Educating Everyone Takes Everyone"
address = 155 Highway 49 West
established = 1957
school district = Baldwin County Schools
type = Public high school
head_name = Principal
head = Lyn Chandler
grades = 9-12
city = Milledgeville, Georgia
state = Georgia
country = USA
enrollment = Approx. 1300
mascot = Braves
colors = Red, Black, and White
website = http://baldwin-county-schools.com/bhs/

Baldwin High School (often called "BHS") is located at 155 Highway 49 West in Milledgeville, Georgia. The building, made of brown bricks on the exterior and an outdated brown trim on the interior, opened in 1988 as a combination of Milledgeville's two former high schools, Boddie High School and the original Baldwin High School. Baldwin is the only public high school in Baldwin County, and the largest of the three total high schools. The other two are private schools John Milledge Academy and Georgia Military College.

Early Days

During the days of segregation, Boddie was the black school and Baldwin was the white school. To integrate the schools in 1975, many years after "Brown vs. Board of Education", Baldwin became the high school, containing grades 10-12. Boddie became the junior high school, containing grades 8-9, with one of the buildings at Boddie called Sallie Davis Middle School, containing the grade 7. In 1988, Baldwin County built the current Baldwin High School, merging Boddie and Baldwin into one. The old Baldwin High School became Baldwin Middle School, and Boddie became Boddie Middle School. Around the year 2000, Baldwin Middle and Boddie Middle were closed, and were merged into Oak Hill Middle School, a short distance from Baldwin High. A new condo development is planned to be built at the old Baldwin Middle site, and an apartment complex known as Baldwin Heights now stands where the stadium used to be.

The "New" School

Though Baldwin High is outdated compared to Baldwin County's middle school and four elementary schools, new areas have been added, such as a new 900 hallway and a new JROTC building. A major renovation to the main building is rumored to begin soon, and there are plans in the making for a new Fine Arts Academy building, which will include a new auditorium, band room, and chorus room. A new football stadium was completed just in time for the 2006 season. For all of the 2005 football season, the stadium had only one side of stands constructed. The stadium, called Braves Field after the football team, replaced the field at the old Baldwin High School. B.H.S. has a football team, a basketball team, a track team, a cross country team, a softball team, a soccer team, a swim team, and numerous others. Its marching band is the Band of the Braves, also called the Baldwin High School Marching Pride.

Football Team

The sports teams at Baldwin High School are known as the Braves, with the football team being the most widely followed. Years and years ago, the Baldwin Braves were nothing for many other teams to worry about. But when the current coach, Jesse Hicks, arrived at the school, the team began to improve. During Hicks's first year as coach, the Braves went to the first round of the playoffs. The Braves have reached the playoffs every year since then. The Braves also hold a preseason scrimmage game against Wilkinson County High School. Every year since 2005 or earlier, the Braves have defeated Wilkinson County. The Braves won the Region Championship in 1963, 1983, 1986. Former Braves football stars include Earnest Byner (East Carolina (80-83) and NFL (84-97)), Nick Harper (American football) (Fort Valley State and NFL (01-present)), and Leroy Hill (Clemson and NFL (05-present)).

2005

The Braves won all of their home games and two of their away games ending the season with a 10-4 record. They also made it to the semifinals of the AAAA state playoffs, where they lost against Northside High School from Warner Robins. There is now somewhat of a rivalry between the Braves and the Northside Eagles. In 2005 the football team played Jones County High School, Northeast High School (Macon),Statesboro High School, Warner Robins High School, Lakeside-Evans High School, Greenbriar High School, Evans High School, Effingham County High School, Wayne County High School, Ware County High School, Upson-Lee High School, Mary Persons High School, and Marist High School.

2006

In 2006, the Braves' record was 10-2, a much better record than the one from 2005, but the team only made it to the second round of the playoffs, losing to Starr's Mill High School from Fayette County. The other loss was a second loss against Northside. This year the Braves played Jones County, Upson-Lee, Starr's Mill, Washington County High School, Jefferson County High School, Laney High School (Augusta), Stockbridge High School, Dutchtown High School, Westside High School (Macon), Northside High School, North Clayton High School, and Americus-Sumter High School.

2007

The Braves went 8-2, not playing one of its games due to its cancellation. Again,their only regular-season loss was to Northside. However, they unexpectedly lost their first playoff game against Fayette County High School. In 2007, the Braves played all the teams they had played in 2006, excluding Starr's Mill and Americus-Sumter, and also played Fayette County.

2008

At the end of the 2007 season, the Baldwin Braves were moved down to Class AAA due to the GHSA reclassification. The Braves defeated the Glenn Hills Spartans in the season opener at Braves Field 21-0 on August 29, and defeated the Troup County Tigers at Callaway Stadium 9-7 on September 7. On September 12, the Braves defeated the Peach County Trojans in Fort Valley 13-3, despite a lackluster first half. On September 19, the Braves played Carver-Columbus, which was the #2-ranked team in AAA and the 2008 AAA state champions. Many predicted that the game would be intense and that Baldwin might lose. However, Baldwin not only won, but shut out Carver with a score of 22-0. After the game, Baldwin became a favorite for those predicting the 2008 AAA state champions. On September 26, the Braves shut out West Laurens High School in Dublin 34-0. On October 3, the Braves defeated Burke County 17-7. It was the Braves' Homecoming.

(NJROTC) Naval Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps

Baldwin High School has a NJROTC unit that was estblished in 2000. It has a drill team, an academic team, a rifle team, and an orienteering team. The drill team is composed of two divisions: the Warrior Guard (males) and the Lady Bees (females). Baldwin High School Warrior Guards and Lady Bees have competed in many drill meets.

Basketball Teams

The Braves have a long history of success in both boys' and girls' basketball.

The boys won the AAAA State Championship in 1981.

The girls won the AAAA State Championship in 1986, 1987, 1988.

Former Braves basketball stars include Donald Hartry, Georgia (82-86) and Audra Smith, Virginia (88-92)Tasha Butts, Valerie Freeman, Lisa Webb College: Tennessee.

Other Sports

Former Braves Track and Field stars include Celena Mondie (also 86 class president), Illinois (86-90), who won a gold medal at the 1995 World Championships in Athletics in the 4x100 relay.

Band of the Braves

The Baldwin High School Marching Pride, also called the Band of the Braves, is the school's award-winning marching band. The band has participated in the Toronto Santa Claus Parade, the Philadelphia Thanksgiving Day Parade, the Atlanta Christmas Parade, the Hollywood Christmas Parade, the Chicago St. Patrick's Day Parade, and the Rose Bowl Parade. The band always marches in the Milledgeville Christmas Parade and the Mayoral Motorcade Parade at Central State Hospital. The director is Clint Raburn and the assistant directors are Courtney Pilgrim and Christie Woods. The band is the most populous organization in the school, with more members than any sports team, cheerleading team, or other group. Some believe that the band is the only reason that some spectators attend the football games, and indeed, there are countless band parents at every football game. The band is supported by a Band Booster group that is headed by and made up of band members' parents.

2005

In 2005, the halftime show was called "Spies Like Us", and included selections from "007", "", and "Austin Powers". The show was well-received by band members and viewers alike. The band attended two competitions that year, the Heart of Georgia in Warner Robins and the Sandy Creek Invitational Tournament of Bands near Peachtree City. At the Heart of Georgia, the band placed 4th overall, but fared worse at Sandy Creek. This year, the band marched in the Boscov's Thanksgiving Day Parade in Philadelphia. On that trip, the band visited numerous sights such as The Gallery at Market East, Independence Hall, the Liberty Bell, the National Constitution Center, and New York City. The band also enjoyed Thanksgiving dinner on the yacht "Royal Princess" as it cruised New York Harbor. The band later marched in the Atlanta Christmas Parade in Atlanta, Georgia. The drum majors that year were Jon Carr and Whitney Stanley.

2006

In 2006, the show was called "Caliente", and was modeled after several DCI shows. It included Spanish themes "El Toro Caliente", "Concierto de Aranjuez", and "Malagueña". The band's first competition was at Georgia Marble Marching Festival at Pickens County High School in Jasper, Georgia in the month of October. The Marching Pride finsished 3rd in their class. The drum majors placed third in their class and the spirit line went on to finish second in their class. The band also returned to the Heart of Georgia Competition in Warner Robins, Georgia a week later. The band placed 3rd in their class in all of the categories and went on to place 4th overall in the competition, except for the drum majors. Drum Majors, Ashley Cummings and Hannah Stickland finished 2nd in their class. The band did not march in any widely-broadcasted parades that year because the Jazz Band was slated to visit the Bahamas in the coming March, but they did march in the local Milledgeville Christmas Parade.

2007

The 2007 show was called "Funkadelic", and included selections from several 'funkadelic' songs from the 1960s and 70s, like "Shaft", "Give Up the Funk", "Superstition", "Papa Was a Rollin' Stone", "Jungle Boogie", and three others. The audience reaction to this show was greater than to any other recent show the band has performed, including "Spies Like Us" mostly due to recognition of many of the songs performed. On September 29, the band performed at the Lake Lanier Tournament of Bands at Chestatee High School in Gainesville, Georgia. The band scored third in all categories in its class (except scoring second in Drum Major) and, out of the twenty bands present, placed sixth overall. The band performed next at a competition in Tallapoosa, GA on October 20, earning third in all categories except Drum Major. The Drum Majors received a score of 99, winning first place in their class and the competition. The band returned to the Heart of Georgia on October 27, and performed their highest scoring show yet. The band placed in the top three in all categories not only in their class but in the entire competition. The drum majors won Grand Champion in their category and the band won first place overall for music performance. The band was also 1st runner up Grand Champion, something the band had never achieved before. The band was slated to return to Hollywood for the 2007 Christmas parade until it was cancelled on March 21, 2007. (Ironically, the parade was later revived, but consisted only of high school marching bands from California.) The band marched in the Santa Claus Parade in Toronto, Canada on November 18, 2007. It was the marching band's first appearance outside the U.S. The band visited sights such as the CN Tower, Niagara Falls, Casa Loma, Eaton Centre, and the Playdium. The drum majors this year were Hannah Strickland, David Bray, and Morgan Henry.

2008

The 2008 marching season will be the last full season in which the band uses the existing band room. Sometime in 2009, the band will move to the new Performing Arts Center. To celebrate the opening of the Performing Arts Center, the band will hold an Alumni Concert, giving current seniors, and possibly those who have already graduated, a chance to rehearse and perform in the new band room and new auditorium.

On March 11, 2008, Band Director Clint Raburn announced to the Symphonic Band class (and to the Concert Band classes the next day) that the 2008 halftime show would be called "Songs I've Heard". Weeks before, a survey had been conducted asking band members what songs they associated with their childhood. Michael Jackson's "Thriller" and the theme song to "Fresh Prince of Bel-Air" were two of the top songs mentioned in the survey. Raburn would collaborate with Oak Hill Middle School band director Terry Bragg, who arranges the band's music every year, to create a blend of the top songs gathered from the survey. But on April 9, Raburn announced that the show had changed. It was now entitled "Dancing Generation". "Thriller" is still the closer, but the show now chronicles the different dance genres of twentieth century music, including swing, jazz, and disco, among others. Raburn and Bragg collaborated to arrange the music. The opener was read by the band classes shortly before the end of school on May 21, and is a medley of "Sing Sing Sing" and "Sway". The ballad is a medley of "Tennessee Waltz" and "Born to Hand Jive" from the movie "Grease". The drum break is "Ice Ice Baby" and the closer is "Thriller" and a combination of "That's the Way (I Like It)" and " (Shake, Shake, Shake) Shake Your Booty".

The Drum Majors for the 2008 season are Morgan Henry, Chelsey Scoggins, and Precious Lango. The complete staff list was posted on the band's website on April 25, and band camp lasted from July 14 to July 25.

On September 27, the Marching Pride attended the Bowdon Invitational Tournament of Bands at Bowdon High School in Bowdon, Georgia, a short distance south of Tallapoosa. The band earned the Norman Padgett Award for Music, which is essentially the same as 1st place in the music category, and won 1st runner up to Grand Champion, missing 1st place by .8. The band scored straight ones in every category and was the only band in open class.

On October 3, Drum Major Chelsey Scoggins was named Baldwin High School's 2008 Homecoming Queen.

The band traveled to Carrollton, GA on October 4 to participate in the Super Bowl of Sound. The band got straight superiors but did not place in any top three ranking.

Cheerleading

They have a varsity football cheerleading team, a competition cheerleading team, a junior varsity basketball team, and a varsity basketball cheerleading squad. The squad dances to upbeat music and often takes popular songs and turns them into cheers. They have been known to rival with cheerleading teams from Wilkinson County High School, Westside High School, and Greenbriar High School.

Upcoming Renovation

On September 18, 2007, voters in Baldwin County approved an action that will continue the SPLOST (Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax). The SPLOST, a penny tax, has already funded several operations within the Board of Education, and will cover the complete, extensive upgrade of Baldwin High School. Among the upgrades are a new cafeteria, conversion of the current cafeteria into classrooms, replacement of one or both of the courtyards with classrooms, connecting the main building with the vocational building via a hallway of approximately ten classrooms, and several smaller renovations like new paint, ceilings, etc. But the largest and most important of the upgrades is a new Fine Arts Academy, which will include a state-of-the-art band room, chorus room, art rooms, theater/auditorium with hydraulic orchestra pit, and numerous other amenities. Band director Clint Raburn and drama director Mark Weaver met with the architects to say what they and other fine arts teachers at the school think should go into the building. The Fine Arts Academy will be the first upgrade started on. Groundbreaking was slated for December 2007, but the initial blueprints did not meet Raburn and Weaver's specifications. The blueprints were approved at the May 13 meeting of the Board of Education, but those blueprints were missing vital internet and other electrical wires. The architect quickly redesigned the plans, adding those components. Soil testing was performed in late September, and construction is slated to begin in October or November 2008 and take 8 to 14 months.

References

External links

* [http://www.baldwin-county-schools.com/ Baldwin County Schools]
* [http://www.baldwin-county-schools.com/bhs Baldwin High School]
* [http://www.baldwinband.com Band of the Braves]