Holland Hall (Tulsa, Oklahoma)

Holland Hall (or Holland Hall School) is affiliated with the Episcopal Diocese of Oklahoma and the Episcopal Church. Founded in 1922, the school is named after the first Headmistress, Winnifred Shureman, who was of Dutch background.

Since its founding, the school has moved four times. It is currently located on 81st Street in Tulsa, Oklahoma. The campus is 162 acres consisting of athletic buildings, as well as the Walter Arts Center and a number of athletic facilities. Each of the three divisions has its own library. The school currently enrolls over 1,000 students.

The school's professed "A cubed" philosophy values academics, athletics, and the arts.

Mission Statement

Holland Hall provides a challenging, comprehensive educational experience grounded in a rigorous liberal arts, college preparatory curriculum that promotes critical thinking and life-long learning. A PreK-12 Episcopal school, we seek to foster in each student a strong moral foundation and a deep sense of social responsibility.

Academics

Although the school does not offer many Advanced Placement courses, it strives to offer a rigorous college level academic program. The curriculum is enriched by creative electives, outdoor education, competitive athletic opportunities for all students, community service and a multitude of meaningful learning experiences.

Graduation Requirements include: English, 4 credits; Foreign Language, 3 credits; Mathematics, 3 credits; Science, 3 credits; Social Studies, 3 credits; Religious Studies, .5 credit; Fine Arts, 1 credit; Athletics, 3.5 credits; Additional non-departmental requirements include: Wellness (Ninth and Twelfth grades) - one semester class dealing with social and emotional health; Junior Seminar - one semester class dealing with college selection and application process; A 40 hour senior internship/shadowing experience; A minimum of 21 credits is necessary for graduation.

Holland Hall is accredited by the Independent Schools Association of the Southwest; is recognized by the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education, is a member of the National Association of Independent Schools, National Association of Episcopal Schools, National Association for College Admission Counseling, Great Plains Association for College Admission Counseling, College Board, Education Conservancy and since 1968, Cum Laude.

Holland Hall has been recognized by the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education for superior college preparation.

Holland Hall is one of only three Oklahoma educational institutions to belong to the Center for Academic Integrity.Holland Hall is one of four independent schools to participate in the College Work Readiness Assessment (CWRA) project. The scores of Seniors in the Class of 2007 were comparable to the top 25% of college freshmen who took the exam at the end of their first year of college.

Founded in 1922, the school's longstanding reputation for academic excellence is reflected in the accomplishments of the students, outstanding teachers, an innovative curriculum, unparalleled facilities and a student-to-faculty ratio of 9:1, all of which ensures a very personal education for approximately 1,000 students.

Arts

The Walter Arts Center (WAC) at Holland Hall School is a multi-venue facility used by both the school and the community at large. The Newman Branch Theatre is named in honor of a former headmaster and has a proscenium-thrust stage with seating for over 1200, a suspended fly-gallery, and state-of-the-art electronics. The WAC is also home to a large studio theater (the "Black Box"), an art gallery, a black-and-blue photo lab, a digital imaging studio, a ceramics workshop, a dance studio, an orchestra/band rehearsal hall, a choir room, and a painting studio.

Arts are emphasized from an early age at Holland Hall, where children in grade school are no strangers to performance based activities. Beginning in the Middle School, students are given the opportunity to audition for the annual Middle School student/faculty production. While such productions have traditionally consisted of musicals, recent selections have included Shakespeare and other dramas.

In the Upper School, students are required to participate in a number of arts programs to satisfy graduation requirements, though many choose to continue their involvement in the arts long after this has been fulfilled. Several of the more popular disciplines include orchestra, choir, jazz band and modern dance, though the visual arts are also very strong.

Athletics

Holland Hall School belongs to the Independent Schools Association of the Southwest and the National Association of Independent Schools. The athletic teams, known as "The Dutch", compete in the Southwest Preparatory Conference in 12 different sports. Beginning in grade six, the students have a sports requirement rather than a physical education requirement. The Athletic Director of the school is Steve Heldebrand, who came to the school in 2006.

occer

The boys' soccer team won the 2008 SPC Championship with a 5-3 win over St. Mark's. The girls were 2nd place in Division II.

Football

The football program exhibits one of the better football traditions in the SPC. The team is currently led by Holland Hall alumnus Tag Gross and played in the last five SPC Division I Championship games including winning the 2005 championship, 24-10 over St. Marks School of Texas. This was the conclusion of their 10-0 season, including regular season victories over St. Marks, Cascia Hall, and Casady.

The football program was led by Coach Charlie Brown until he retired in 1999 to become Holland Hall's athletic director. Brown was replaced by Steve Heldebrand as athletic director in 2006 and remained on staff as the athletic director emeritus and assistant to the headmaster for special projects. The 2007 coaching staff currently includes four former University of Tulsa football players, including former Buffalo Bills guard, Jerry Ostroski, and Brian Underwood.

Golf

The boys' golf team, led by Coach George "Sparky" Grober, won three consecutive championships in 2003, 2004, and 2005. The girls' team, led by Coach Brian Underwood, won their first title in 2005.

Notable alumni

Notable alumni include actor Tim Blake Nelson, Leslie Berlin, author of "The Man Behind the Microchip: Robert Noyce and the Invention of Silicon Valley", Major League Baseball pitcher Steve Sparks, and actress Heather Langenkamp.

External links

* [http://www.hollandhall.org/ Holland Hall]