Whittier High School

Infobox Secondary school
name = Whittier High School

motto =
established = 1900
type = Public secondary
principal = Lori Eshilian
faculty =
students = 2,338
mascot = Cardinals
colors = Red and White
district = Whittier Union High School District
city = Whittier
state = California
country = USA
website = [http://www.wuhsd.k12.ca.us/whittierhs/site/default.asp www.wuhsd.k12.ca.us]
grades = 9–12
address = 12417 East Philadelphia St.
newspaper =
yearbook =
nickname = Whittier

Whittier High School (WHS) is a high school located in Whittier, California, United States and belongs to the Whittier Union High School District.

History

Whittier High School was established in 1900 when the few classes were in the upper floor of the old Jonathan Bailey School. At that time, there were 47 students in attendance. The classrooms included a study hall, a library, a recitation room, a science laboratory, and the principal's office. The library contained one stack of books. For a heating unit, there was an old-fashioned wood stove. A few pictures and a statue of Julius Caesar ornamented the building.

Following the addition of the East Whittier, Ranchito, Rivera, Los Nietos, Pico, and Mill Districts, the school became known as Whittier Union High School. In 1905 a new building was opened at the corner of Philadelphia and Lindley, which is the current site of Whittier High School today.

A rapid influx of students necessitated the constructions of a girls' gym, an administration building and an auditorium in 1923. Soon after, the shops on Pierce Avenue were built.

In 1933, an earthquake rendered most of the buildings unsafe. Classes were held in crowded storerooms, basements, and bungalows until condemned buildings could be reconstructed. The Science Building was rebuilt in 1934; a Boys' Gym in 1935; dressing rooms and Cafeteria in 1936. The Auditorium stood idle for almost 20 years and then was renovated into the present Library.

In 1938, the District approved bonds for a new Girls' Gym and an Auditorium. Both were completed in 1940.

Following World War II, the Whittier area began to grow rapidly. In 1952, the student enrollment was over 3,500. It was at this time that the District opened a new high school called El Rancho. Growth continued and in 1953, California High School opened, followed by Santa Fe in 1955, Sierra in 1957, Pioneer in 1959, La Serna in 1961, and Monte Vista in 1964. By 1966, the District had almost 16,000 students in seven schools.

Because of declining enrollment, two of the schools closed in 1979. Many students from the Sierra High School area came to Whittier. Since that time, Whittier High School's enrollment has slowly increased each year.

From government sources (including FEMA) and bond financing, monies have been obtained for district-wide structural repairs. The seismic repairs and remodeling are still under way.

In 1999 the Boys Gym was destroyed by fire. The "new" Perry Gym opened in 2002. The Holloway-Poucher Aquatic Center was completed in 2001. Other buildings and areas on campus are named after alumni and members of the Cardinal Community: The O.C. Albertson field after the first principal, the Myron Claxton ('36) Science Building, the Vic Lopez ('46) Auditorium, the Bob Chandler ('67) Sports Complex and the Marion Wilson Hodges fountain, also a former principal.

History Of The Whittier Cardinal

In 1930, the Cardinal was chosen as the Whittier High mascot because it is a native of Mill Creek (the area just north of Rio Hondo College). The bird was chosen because of its scarlet coat, which corresponded with the school colors. It was also felt that this bird possessed the same spirit and determination that has always been representative of Whittier High School.

In 1935, the Cardinal insignia was designed as a result of a contest, which lasted four months. The event was culminated by a special student body election to choose what has become the Cardinal insignia. Since then, the insignia has been used on class rings, pins, the Cardinal Key, and a victory flag.

Students

Ethnicity Breakdown (2005-2006 Year)

African-American	1%
Asian-American/Pacific Islander	1%
Latino/Hispanic	84%
White/European-American/Other	13%

Average Class Size (2005-2008 Year)

60 Students

Alma Mater

All hail to you, Alma Mater, true

We are proud to fight

To uphold the Red and White;

All hail to you, Alma Mater, true

For our Whittier High

We'll do or die

And always, always, love you, Whittier High.

- - - Maxine Milner Rich, Class of 1927

Athletics

Fall

*Boys' Water Polo
*Cross-Country
*Football
*Girls' Tennis
*Girls' Volleyball
*Marching band

Winter

*Basketball
*Girls' Water Polo
*Soccer
*Wrestling

Spring

*Baseball
*Boys' Tennis
*Boys' Volleyball
*Track And Field

Clubs

*Anime Unleashed
*Annual Staff
*Aphasia
*ASB
*Astronomy
*AVID thier president andrew licks my dick
*Ballet/Folklorico Club
*Cardinals For Christ
*CCA (Cardinal Computer Academy)
*Chess Club
*Chicano Leadership/MEChA
*Comedy Sportz
*CSF (California Scholarship Federation)
*Dance Production
*Ecology Club
*Exploring Club
*FADAIM (Forum for Academic Debate & the Advancement of Its Members)
*FBLA (Future Business Leaders of America)
*French Club
*Freshman Class Council
*Friendship Club
*Girls' Issues Club
*Girls' League
*Junior Class Council
*Leo Club
*Literary Club
*New Horizons
*Newstaff
*Pepsters
*Photography
*Puente
*Recycling Club
*Red Ribbon/SADD
*Senators
*Senior Class Council
*Sign Language Club
*Skating Club
*Sophomore Class Council
*Spanish Club
*Urban Art Club
*Video Production
*Virtual Enterprise

Trivia

*Several areas of the Whittier High School campus were featured in the 1985 movie "Back to the Future" and its 1989 sequel "Back to the Future Part II".

*A bootleg recording of Buffalo Springfield's 1967 performance at Whittier High School is in circulation.

Notable Alumni

*President Richard Nixon '30
*Charles Bradley Hoover '60, former chief of the Whittier Police Department
*George Buehler '65, professional football player for the Raiders
*Bob Chandler '67, professional football player for the Raiders
*John Lasseter '75, writer, director, producer, founder of Pixar Animation Studios

External links

* [http://www.wuhsd.k12.ca.us/whittierhs/site/default.asp Whittier High School Official Website]
* [http://members.dslextreme.com/users/craigwillford/whs67/ Whittier High School Class of 1967 Reunion Committee Website]
* [http://www.footnote.com/topicpage.php?tp=130&title=Whittier-Union-High's- Whittier Union High School Class of 1927 Yearbook]