Reading Memorial High School

Infobox Secondary school
name = Reading Memorial High School
type = Public
city = Reading
state = MA
country = USA
established = 1954
accreditation = New England Association of Schools and Colleges
Massachusetts State Department of Education
principal = Joseph Finigan
grades = High school (9-12)
number of teachers = 86 (2005-06)
enrollment = 1,294 (2005-06)
mascot = Rockets
colors = Red and Black
newspaper = Orbit
website = [http://www.reading.k12.ma.us/rmhs/ reading.k12.ma.us/rmhs/]

Reading Memorial High School (RMHS) is a four year public high school located in Reading, Massachusetts. The school has a student body of over 1,294 (2005-06) drawn from Parker Middle School and Coolidge Middle School. A new building for RMHS has just recently been completed.

General Information

Reading Memorial High School is located at 62 Oakland Road in Reading, Massachusetts. This single public high school serves all of Reading. The school is known for strong academics and athletics. RMHS has many athletic facilities, including a field house (with an indoor track), turf field, an outdoor track, practice fields, and tennis courts. As of 2007, RMHS received extensive renovations to all of its facilities. The $60 milion renovation was completed in the fall of 2007.

Academics

RMHS offers a wide variety of Practical andPerforming Arts, English, Foreign Language, Health, Mathematics, Science, Social Studies, and Special Education courses.

MCAS Scores [MA State Avg] [RMHS]

Math Advanced 42 57 Proficient 27 30 Needs Imp. 22 11 Warning 9 2

English Advanced 22 34 Proficient 49 50 Needs Imp. 24 14 Warning 6 2

Athletics

In 2008, the Reading Memorial High School boys ice hockey team became the first public high school to win the Super 8 tournament since its inception and the first public team to win the Division 1A title since RMHS won in 1978. They did this by defeating Malden Catholic High School 3-0 in the championship game at the TD Banknorth Garden. "Jeff Wyer was a key player in this victory," said Coach Dohrety.The Reading Memorial High School boys basketball team won the Division II North Championship on Saturday March 8,2008. The key players on this team were Matt Crampton, Nick Edson, Josh Gosselin, Ted Notis, Nick O'Brian, Kellen Scarpitto, and Evan Smotrycz. This was the first time the high school has ever won Division II North. RMHS competes in the Middlesex League. Its most notable sport is boys' outdoor track, which, as of 2001, holds the national record for most consecutive seasons without a defeat (29 years unbeaten, 263 dual meets without a loss, and 248 consecutive wins). "See" National High School Sports Record Book; Jeff Sullivan, "Woburn Sends Croft's Reading Track Team to First Loss in 30 Years", Boston Globe, April 25, 2001, at F1.

Extracurricular

RMHS has an award-winning Marching Band, that consists of ~100 students from Band and Color Guard. Both Jazz Bands (Jazz Ensemble and Stage Band) are also award-winning bands, that are highly competitive and often receive gold medals. The Jazz Ensemble has performed at the Hatch Shell in Boston, along with other gold medal-winning bands.

RMHS has an award winning Drama Club which sells out many of its performances. In 1998, the Drama Club won the Massachusetts High School Drama Guild's Drama Festival with "Dogg's Hamlet." Since then, the Drama Club has often earned the recognition of having one of the top 15 plays in state-wide MHSDG final round.

Other Extracurricular activities include:

Amnesty International
Anime Club
Art Club
Badminton Club
Chess Club
Community Service Club
Contemporary Film and Arts Society
Gay Straight Alliance
Ictheo-Botany Socialist Club
Impressions Literary Magazine
International Club
Math Team
National Honor Society
The Orbit Newspaper
The Right Club
SADD (Students Against Drunk Driving)
Science Team
Student Council
Vernal Pool Club
Web Team
Yearbook

Notable Facts

*Jeffrey R. Ryan, Ph.D., of RMHS's History department, was 2003 Massachusetts Teacher of the Year [cite web| url=http://www.doe.mass.edu/eq/recognition/toy/past.html |title= Massachusetts department of education website. |accessdate=2007-04-22]

Notable Alumni

Notable alumni include:
*Brad Whitford (RMHS '70), guitarist for Aerosmith
* LCDR Kevin J. Davis, 1992 Graduate, was an Opposing Soloist with the U.S. Navy's Blue Angels. Died April 21, 2007 in a crash during a demonstration show.
* Mark Erelli, folk musician.
* Fred Giannelli, (RMHS '78), guitarist for Psychic TV, '88-93, record producer, currently an electronic musician most popularly known as "the kooky scientist" and founder of Boston's first electronic dance music label, Telepathic Recordings. http://telepathica.com

References

External links

* [http://www.reading.k12.ma.us/rmhs/ Reading Memorial High School website]
* [http://profiles.doemass.org/home.asp?mode=so&so=1415-6&ot=5&o=1408&view=all Massachusetts Department of Education Profile of Reading Memorial High School]

succession box
title=Super Eight Hockey Tournament Champions
years=2008
before=Boston College High School
after=Reigning Champions