West Haven High School

West Haven High School is a secondary school located in West Haven, Connecticut, which educates students in grades 9–12.

As of 2006, the school principal is Ronald Stancil. The school enrolls about 1,800 students each year even though it was only designed for 1,500, in contrast to the state average of 524.4. [ [http://connecticut.schooltree.org/public/West-Haven-High-017257.html West Haven High School] . "Schooltree.org". Retrieved on 2008-07-28.] The mascot of West Haven is the Blue Devil.

The current campus opened in the mid-1960s at 1 Circle Street (also known as McDonough Plaza). Its previous location was on Main Street, a building now used as a residential complex. Before that, it was on the corner of Center Street and Union Avenue, a building since used as a grammar school and senior housing.

West Haven High School offers various non-core courses, including automotives, wood shop, metal shop, photography, graphic arts, drafting, video production, academics, art, and music courses. Among its notable programs are the Theater Workshop and, in music, Marching and Concert Bands, Madrigals, and A Cappella Choir. Its chess team has won ten state championships and the school also has a successful mock trial team.

The West Haven High football team won the state championship in 1968 and was ranked fifth in the United States that year.fact|date=July 2008 The school since has won four state titles under the leadership of coach Ed McCarthy (1986, 1987, 1989, 2002). [ [http://www.giants.com/news/press_releases/story.asp?story_id=890 West Haven's McCarthy Named Lou Rettino Coach of the Week for Week 3] . "New York Giants". Retrieved on 2008-07-28.] The school is home to an ice skating rink, turf football stadium, pool, tennis court, baseball field, softball field and a track. The Blue Devil's soccer and lacrosse teams also play at the Ken Strong football field. They are part of the Southern Connecticut Conference for athletics.

They share a co-op Wrestling Team with Platt Regional Vocational Technical School for the past 4 years. They have recently won their first CSC Championship [ [http://www.cttech.org/csc/wrestling/index.htm Wrestling Conference Champions] . "Constitution State Conference". Retrieved on 2008-07-28.] in the history of both the co-op and Platt Tech. Included in this history, is that teammate Rodney Kiefner "Buddy" had his 100th career win.

Notable alumni

*Rob Jackson, NFL Defensive End. Drafted to the Washington Redskins in 2008.

*Melanie Chartoff, actress and inventor; best known for providing the voice of Didi Pickles in the animated series "Rugrats".

*Ken Strong, professional football player, inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1967. [ cite news
first = Greg
last = Garber
url = http://apse.dallasnews.com/contest1999/writing/100-250.hartford16.html
title = NO. 16: KEN STRONG - A football Giant and more
work = The Dallas Morning News / Associated Press Sports Edition
accessdate = 2006-06-02 ]
*Ulish Booker, professional football player, won a World Bowl with the Amsterdam Admirals of NFL Europe in 2005. He was signed by the NFL Pittsburgh Steelers in 2006 but did not play because of injury, [ cite news
url = http://www.admirals.nl/team/2005/biographies/spelers/booker_ulish.html
title = #77 ULISH BOOKER
work = Admirals.nl
publisher = Amsterdam Admirals
accessdate = 2006-06-02 ] then was released in 2007. [ [http://www.sportingnews.com/yourturn/viewtopic.php?t=183019 Steelers cut Joey Porter] Associated Press, March 1, 2007, retrieved March 18, 2007.]

Miscellaneous

* In addition to the computer lab in the library, the school has a second computer lab, called CyberCafe, inside its cafeteria where students can study (no food is allowed in the CyberCafe).
* Each of the school's sporting facilities is named for an alumnus.
* The school's foreign language department offers courses in Spanish, French, and Italian.
* The school's slogan is "Westie Pride is on Our Side!"
* After graduation, the school sponsors an all-night, substance-free celebration for the outgoing Senior class, called "Blue and White...Up All Night!" and "Project Graduation", at the Jewish Community Center in Woodbridge, CT

References

External links

* [http://www.whschools.org/page.cfm?p=11 Official page of West Haven High School]
* [http://connecticut.schooltree.org/public/West-Haven-High-017257.html West Haven High School profile] provided by schooltree.org
* [http://www.bluedevilband.net Official page of West Haven High School Blue Devil Marching Band]
* [http://www.csde.state.ct.us/public/der/ssp/SCH0506/SR133.pdf West Haven High School "Strategic School Profile 2005-2006", Connecticut Department of Education]
* [http://www.greatschools.net/modperl/browse_school/ct/1043 West Haven High School Web page at Great Schools Web site]