Lebanon High School (Oregon)

Infobox Secondary school
name = Lebanon High School
picture =
principal = Mark Finch
city = Lebanon
state = Oregon
country = USA
established = 1909,1957
campus = Suburban
type = Public Secondary
students = approximately 1350
grades = 9–12
free_label_2 = System Administrators
free_2 = Information Systems: LeAnne Raze
Living Systems: Mark Finch
Physical Systems: Mike Crauder
Social Systems: Dick Behn
district = Lebanon Community School District
mascot = The Warrior
colors = Red and Blue
newspaper = "The Warrior Spirit"
yearbook = "The Warrior"
website = http://lebanon.or.schoolwebpages.com/lhs

Lebanon High School (LHS), formerly Lebanon Union High School, is a high school located in Lebanon, Oregon, United States and is a part of the Lebanon Community School District (LCSD).

History

The original high school

Lebanon High School was originally built in the spring of 1909 across the street from the old Santiam Academy (established 1851), for the cost of $40,000 by Mr. McChesney of Albany, Oregon, contractor, and P.C. Brown of Portland, Oregon, architect. At the time, the building was the pride of Lebanon and "was modern in every way, complete with a brick structure, concrete foundation, and several large grade rooms, four classrooms, a large assembly room along with a library, office, halls, and a basement". [cite web|url=http://www.lebanon.k12.or.us/history/history_lms.htm| title=History of Lebanon Middle School|accessdate=2006-08-09] These modern features extended to include electricity, running water, and central heating.

The building opened September 9, 1909 as a K-12 institution serving the population of Lebanon. Over the next few decades, the population of Lebanon grew and the attendance at the institution swelled to such a degree that it eventually became a high school solely serving grades 9-12.

South and North Wings were added to the building in 1947 and 1948 respectively, as well as a gym in 1950 and an outdoor pool in 1951. When the high school students moved to their new site in 1957, it became the new Lebanon Middle School (LMS).

The new site

In 1957, Lebanon Union High School was built at the 41-acre, Fifth Street and Airport Road site where it is currently located. This new school was an improvement over the previous facilities, being designed to hold 1200 students. The school has gone through various renovations in 1958, 1964, 1966, 1967, 1969, 1971, 1978, and from 2003 to 2005.

In 1997, toward the end of the school year (approximately May), the name of Lebanon Union High School changed to Lebanon High School.

The most recent round of renovation was by far the most extensive since the initial construction of Lebanon High School. Intended to deal with issues of insufficient quality facilities, asbestos, and the planned changes to the school's structure, this involved the demolition of several buildings, including the literature (which was rebuilt as the short-lived "Freshman Hall") and art wings, as well as the construction of a new gym, parking lot, and tennis courts. In addition to this, and most notably for students attending at the time, nearly every part of the main building was renovated, creating what some students would describe as a changing rat maze of hallways and barriers.

mall Learning Communities (SLC's)

Starting with the 2004-2005 school year, Lebanon High School subdivided into four Small Learning Communities, also called Small Schools, each with a specialized focus. This was designed, as a part of the Oregon Small Schools Initiative (OSSI), to raise student interest in the educational process, lower dropout rates, and to provide its students with more specific education to better serve their needs.

Information Systems

Information Systems specializes in "design and communication through technology". [cite web|url=http://highschool.lebanon.k12.or.us/Content/slc/Info0607CGb.pdf| title=Information Systems Curriculum Handbook|accessdate=2006-08-09] The system has three programs of study that students choose from.

*Interactive
**Computer Programming
**Web Design

*Media
**Print Publications
**Multimedia

*Visual
**Fashion Design
**Interior Design
**Apparel Construction

Living Systems

Living Systems aims to prepare each student to be "a hardworking producer/provider, informed consumer and educated citizen who understands the complexities of our living world". [cite web|url=http://highschool.lebanon.k12.or.us/Content/slc/Living0607CG.pdf| title=Living Systems Curriculum Handbook|accessdate=2006-08-09] It has two programs of study that students may choose from:

*Natural Resources

*Health

*Agriculture

Physical Systems

Physical Systems "focuses on criminology, design, construction, electronics, and metals along with the math and science behind these areas." [cite web|url=http://highschool.lebanon.k12.or.us/Content/slc/Physical0607CG.pdf| title=Physical Systems Curriculum Handbook|accessdate=2006-08-09] It has two programs of study that students may choose from:

*Criminology and Law

*Pre-Engineering
**Electronics
**Civil Engineering and Architecture
**Biochemical Engineering

ocial Systems

Social Systems "is an arts and humanities-based Renaissance school with areas of emphasis in both the Applied and Fine or Performing Arts." [cite web|url=http://highschool.lebanon.k12.or.us/Content/slc/Social0607CG.pdf| title=Social Systems Curriculum Handbook|accessdate=2006-08-09] It has two programs of study that students may choose from:

*Applied Arts
**Business
**Family and Consumer Science (FACS)
***Food Occupations

*Fine/Performing Arts
**Visual Arts
**Theater Arts
**Vocal Music

Administration and leadership

LHS administration

LHS has recently changed its administrative structure to replace the position of principal with a group of four administrators, each in charge of one of the four Small Schools. Each of the these are maintained as independent schools, operating within the same building, by their individual administrator. The areas are: Information Systems, Physical Systems, Social Systems.

Lebanon Education Association (LEA)

The LEA is the Lebanon chapter of the Oregon Education Association (OEA), a state department of the National Education Association (NEA). Its members are educators in the Lebanon Community School District who have opted to join and constitutes the teacher's union. The LEA is headed by Kimberly Fandiño, who teaches basic through advanced-level Spanish language at the high school.

chool board and the superintendent

The Lebanon Community School District is overseen by the five members of the School Board, or Board of Directors, under Superintendent Jim Robinson. The Board's members are elected from each of the LCSD's five zones to a four-year term, with either zones 1 and 4 or 2, 3, and 5 being elected every two years. Among the members of the Board, one person is selected to Chair the Board, as well as one person who serves as Vice Chair.

The Board, typically with the Superintendent present, holds a public business meeting once a month, as well as various public and private meetings, to conduct the budget and policy of the LCSD.

Associated Student Body (ASB) and the Student Senate

Toward the end of each school year, the non-graduating classes of the student body elect the Student Council that will serve as their advocates to the school's administration, as well as coordinating events throughout the year. There are six positions:

*President
*Vice President
*Public Relations Officer
*Secretary
*Treasurer
*Spirit Coordinator

A few weeks following the election of the Student Council, four representatives from each class to the Student Senate are elected. The Senate debates and votes on issues of school policy, as well as representing their class as a whole in organizing events such as the Prom and, in the case of Senior-class Senators, Graduation.

Performing arts & Music

Drama Club

Drama Club Board 2007-2008

Choir

Choir Council 2007-2008

Treble Choir

Mixed Chorus

Concert Choir

Chamber Choir

LHS Choir Website: http://lebanonvocal.googlepages.com/

Bands

Concert Band

Wind Ensemble

Marching Band

Jazz Band

Beginning Jazz

Percussion Ensemble

LHS Band Website: http://lebanonwarriorband.googlepages.com/home

Other clubs

*Students for World Awareness (SWA)
*LIPS
*DECA
*Generation LIFE
*FFA
*Robotics

Trivia

* For the 151 years, from 1851 when Santiam Academy was established to 2002 when LMS was demolished, the site of the original LHS stands as the longest continuously operating public education facility in Oregon state history.
* LHS achieved its highest attendance of 1650 students in 1973.

References

External links

* [http://highschool.lebanon.k12.or.us/ Lebanon High School]
* [http://www.lebanon.k12.or.us/schools/lhs/lhs.htm Lebanon Community School District]
* [http://lebanonvocal.googlepages.com Lebanon High School Choirs]

* [http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2006/08/30/ap/national/mainD8JQT5M80.shtml CBS News "Backlash Builds Against Small Schools"]