Oakland High School (California)

Infobox Secondary school

name = Oakland High School
native_name =
motto = "In Virtue Summum Bonum Ponamus" (In virtue we place the highest good.)
established = 1869
type = Public High School
president =
chairman =
principal = Mary Scott
campus director =
headmaster =
dean =
rector =
founder =
chaplain =
head_label =
head =
faculty =
teaching_staff =
enrollment = 1875
students =
grades = 9-12
address = 1023 MacArthur Boulevard
city = Oakland, California
country = USA
district = Oakland Unified School District
oversight =
accreditation =
campus =
colors = Blue and White
colours =
athletics =
mascot = Willy the Wildcat
emblem =
yearbook = The Oaken Bucket
newspaper = The Aegis
free_label_1 = Phone
free_1 = [phone]
free_label_2 =
free_2 =
free_label_3 =
free_3 =
testname =
testaverage =
National_ranking =
website = http://oaklandhigh.ousd.k12.ca.us/
footnotes =
picture =

Oakland Senior High School (also known as O-High and OHS) is a public high school in California. It is the oldest high school in Oakland and the third oldest high school in the state.

Background

Oakland High was first located at Twelfth and Market, then Twelfth and Jefferson. It has been in its current location at the corner of MacArthur Boulevard and Park Boulevard for nearly 80 years. The building that stood before its current manifestation was known as the "Pink Palace." The stairway leading up from Park Blvd is what remains of the exterior. The lamps in the commons are also original fixtures. What is now the football field and basketball courts was once classrooms and a huge theater.

The building was torn down in 1980 to be rebuilt as a safer structure in the event of a major earthquake. It was only when the wrecking ball had sliced through more than half the structure that it was clear that it would have taken more than an earthquake to knock those walls down.

A new football/soccer/baseball field was inaugurated in the spring of 2006. The football field is officially known as Jackie Jensen field, while the baseball/softball field is dedicated to Margulis, Sr.

The current principal is Mary Scott, former assistant principal at Skyline High School. Assistant principals are Oliver Chambers, Shoshanna Towers, and Lauren Klaffky. Other official positions include: Tiago Robinson (Truancy Reduction), Carlos Padilla (Head Counselor), and Carlos Sutton (Athletic Director).

Beginning in the summer of 2008, renovations and rebuilding will occur in the main building as well in the portables.

Mission Statement

The goal of Oakland High School is to provide an excellent education for all students in a safe environment so that each student has a foundation for pursing personal success, social growth, and high academic achievement.

Students

With nearly 1,900 students, 52% are Asian including students of Chinese, Vietnamese, Cambodian, Thai, Mien, Laotian, and Tongan descent. Another 28% of students are African American, 16% of students are Latino or Hispanic. Only 2% are white while other ethnicities make up less than 2%.

Class Colors

Freshmen: Purple
Sophomores: Orange
Juniors: Green
Seniors: Blue

Student Life

Oakland High School boasts more than 50 student-run clubs and 24 sports offerings, from the Hip Hop Club to the Math Club and soccer to badminton, OHS has everything one can be interested in. Also popular with the students are the two academies: the Environmental Sciences Academy and Visual Arts Magnet Program. O-High is also renown for its excellent Special Education program.

Clubs

* Aegis * Amnesty International * African American Student Union * Archery Club * Block ‘O’ Society * Building with Books * California Scholarship Federation * Cambodian Club * Cantonese Club * Card Collectors Club * Career and College Browser Club * Chess Club

* Citizens of the World Travel Club * Close Up * Computer Club (911 Club) * Drama Club * East Coast College Tour Club * ECO-REC Club * Filipino Student Club * Francophone * Go Club * Gone Fishing Club * Going Against the Flow Bible Club * Hip-Hop Club

* Japanese Club * Junior Statesmen of America * Key Club * Kiwins * Lao Iu-Mien Club * Latinos Unidos * Leo Club * Lion Dance Club * Math Club * National Honor Society * Oak Leaves * Operation Adjustment

* Outdoors Club * Polynesian Club * Ski/Snow Board Club * Sound and Light Crew * Spanish Club * Upward Bound * Vietnamese Student Association * Water Polo * Yearbook * Youth Power Club

Academics

Academically speaking, OHS offers many Advanced Placement(AP) courses, as well as 4 Honors courses, and a wide array of interesting and challenging academic electives. In addition, there are many concurrent enrollment college courses offered from the Peralta Colleges after school.
The AP Test Site Coordinator for the school is Carlos Padilla.

HP Courses * Math Analysis HP * English 3 HP * English 4 HP

AP Courses * English 4 AP * Calculus AB AP * Calculus BC AP * Statistics AP * World History AP

* Biology AP * Chemistry AP * Environmental Science AP * Spanish 4 AP * French 4 AP * US History AP

Academies

Visual Arts Academy Magnet Program (VAAMP)

The VAAMP academy teaches students how to be creative and piques their interests with art. Led by Jackie "Ms. B" Marston and Keith "K-Dub" Williams, VAAMP is thriving with new young artists.

Environmental Science Academy (ESA)

The Environmental Science Academy is run by Kevin Jordan and Katie Noonan. ESA is usually known for high-achieving students and many field trips. Students are also given various tools to prepare for the future such as community service, college courses, School-to-Careers, etc. There are occasionally rafting and camping trips for ESA students. Trips include Catalina Island, Snow Trip (Juniors and Seniors Only), and a Senior Trip to either Costa Rica or Hawaii.

Sophomore ESA students usually have a core class consisting of Biology and Environmental Studies taught by either Jordan or Noonan. This class goes to Lake Merritt on a weekly basis to test the water and learn more about the environment. During their senior year, they are taught AP Environmental Science by their respective sophomore teacher.

Athletics

In the spring of 2007, the badminton team defeated Skyline (the seven year defending champions) to become the OAL champions. They won the league with a record of 6 wins and 0 losses. Along with athletic talent, the Badminton team also maintained a very high average GPA, and were named Oakland High's 2007 Outstanding Spring Sports Team.

The Oakland High Catfish Swim Team is another of the many strong teams at OHS. The Catfish have roughly 40 people on the Varsity and JV teams. At last year's OAL finals, the Catfish defeated Skyline in both men's Varsity and JV, becoming OAL champions.

In the fall of 2007, the bowling team became OAL champions without a single loss.

Extra

This school was featured in the book Picture Bride. It was the high school Marry attended.

External links

• [http://www.geocities.com/bevshul/OHS/ OHS Memorial]
• [http://oaklandhigh.ousd.k12.ca.us/ Oakland High School]
• [http://www.oaklandhighalumni.org/ Wildcat Alumni Association]
• [http://www.vaampo-hi.com/ VAAMP]
• [http://www.teacherweb.com/CA/oaklandhighschool/Noonan/ ESA]