Warhill High School

Infobox School
name= Warhill High School


imagesize= 150px
streetaddress= 4615 Opportunity Way
city= Williamsburg
state= Virginia
zipcode= 23188
country= USA
url= [http://www.wjcc.k12.va.us/whs/ Official Site]
district= Williamsburg-James City County Public Schools
superintendent=
principal= Karen Kolet
assistant_principals= Dan Fields
Sharmaine Grove
staff=
type= Public
schooltype= high school
grades= 9–12
language= English
communities=
feeders=
campus= Suburban
mascot= Lions
colors= Carolina Blue, Black and Silver
founded= 2007
enrollment=
enrollment_as_of= 2006-07
villains= Jamestown High School
Lafayette High School
conference= Virginia High School League
Bay Rivers District
Region I

Warhill High School is a public high school operated by the Williamsburg-James City County Public Schools (WJCC). Serving the joint school division of the independent city of Williamsburg and James City County, Virginia, the school is located at 4615 Opportunity Way, in the Lightfoot area of the county.

Historic site

The entire Historic Triangle area of the Virginia Peninsula is steeped in history dating back to the era of the British Colony of Virginia (1607-1776) and later. West of the colonial capital (now Colonial Williamsburg), the old stage coach road to New Kent County and Richmond (which became U.S. Route 60 in the 1920s), as well as Centerville and Longhill roads, all date to the pre-Revolutionary War period. The area where Lightfoot is now was known as the location of Six Mile Ordinary. (An "ordinary" was a colonial-era tavern with food and lodging for travelers and their horses).

By tradition, the land at War Hill (or as it came to be called, Warhill) is named for a American Revolutionary War battle which took place there on June 26, 1781 between British troops under Lord Cornwallis and Allied forces under the Marquis Lafayette. Nearly 150 men were killed or wounded in the conflict, which occurred during the campaign that led to the victory at Yorktown, establishing independence for Virginia and the United States.

By the late 20th century, the convert|588|acre|km2|sing=on Warhill tract was one of the largest undeveloped parcels of land in the area. In 1996, it was purchased for public use. Located on Centerville Road near the interchange of U.S. Route 60 and State Route 199, the land was envisioned as multi-purpose in James City County's "Master Plan." [ [http://www.timmons.com/news-and-events/VTC_0107.asp Public-private infrastructure act cleared way for new high school ] ] In 1999, the Warhill Sports Complex opened adjacent to the site of the new high school. [ [http://www.james-city.va.us/recreation/parks-trails/warhill-stadium.html Parks and Recreation: Warhill Stadium ] ] In 2005, construction began on the new Warhill High School.

chool history

Warhill High School is Williamsburg-James City County's third high school, the newest since Jamestown High School's completion in 1997. The construction of Warhill was in response to the overcrowding issue at both Jamestown and Lafayette High School. Serious talks about building a third high school began in 2001. In April 2007, Jamestown was reported to be about 350 students over the effective capacity, and Lafayette even more.

Warhill High School opened to the public on August 28, 2007 and opened for the first day of school on September 4, 2007. 707 students were enrolled at Warhill High School; the number is expected to rise considerably into the early 1,000s as the first senior class forms next during the 2008-2009 school year.

Career and Technicial Education Center

When it opened in 2007, the convert|243000|sqft|m2|sing=on facility at Warhill High School included a new state-of-the-art technology specialty center, offering Career and Technical Education (CTE) in the following career clusters:
*Health, Human and Public Services
*Electronics, Engineering and Scientific Technology
*Information Technology and Communication

Students from all three WJCC high schools are eligible to attend the new Career and Technical Education (CTE) courses at Warhill, which are offered in partnership with Sentara Health System, which opened the modern Sentara Williamsburg Regional Medical Center nearby in Lightfoot in August 2006, and Thomas Nelson Community College. [ [http://www.wjcc.k12.va.us/content/schools/warhill/index.shtml Welcome to Warhill High School ] ]

Theatre

Warhill High School follows a WJCC district tradition by performing a fall play, a competition piece, and a spring musical. The inaugural play "Cut!" was performed November 16 and 17, 2007. "Cut!" is a glimpse into the often surreal life of the actor; each actor portraying up to 7 characters throughout the play. The premiere musical was "Disney's Beauty and the Beast" performed March 13 - 16, 2008. Both shows were directed by Robert Cannon.The Warhill High School Theatre Guild webpage is [http://www.wjcc.k12.va.us/whs/curriculum/theatre/Warhill%20High%20School/WHSTG.htm]

Directors

Robert Cannon

Mr. Cannon brings 23 years of theatre experience to Warhill. His background spans 4 states, more than 50 shows, and 14 different venues. Highlights of his career include Actors Equity Stage Manager for Arizona Theatre Company and Northern Arizona University Summer Theatre, Production Coordinator for the UPN television series 'Legend' [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0112045/] , summers at Utah Shakespearean Festival and Colorado Shakespeare Festival. Other roles Mr. Cannon has performed in the theatre include assistant director, technical director, actor, and tour manager. He holds a B.F.A. in Stage Management/Production from the University of Arizona in Tucson and an M.Ed. from Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff.Previously, he was the director at James Blair Middle School where he created the theatre program and introduced the 'Shakespeare in the Spring' series. The Series included "Taming of the Shrew, Hamlet, A Midsummer Night's Dream, and Julius Caesar." Other shows produced at James Blair include "Little Shop of Horrors, School House Rock Live Jr., The Outsiders," and "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow."

Beth Wigley

Beth Wigley will be the new and second director of Warhill's theatre department starting on the 2008-2009 school year. Wigley, the director of Jamestown High School's theatre department which will be taken over by Marcia DiMattia of Berkeley Middle School.

Athletics

The school's athletic teams compete in the AA Bay Rivers District in Region I.

References