Westfield High School (Fairfax County, Virginia)

Infobox Education in the United States
name= Westfield High School


imagesize= 150px
motto= United in Excellence, Committed to Achievement
streetaddress= 4700 Stonecroft Boulevard
city= Chantilly
state= Virginia
zipcode= 20151
url= http://www.fcps.edu/WestfieldHS
district= Fairfax County Public Schools
principal= Tim Thomas
assistant_principals= Dave Jagels
staff= approximately 300
fundingtype= Public
schooltype= high school
grades= 9–12
language= English
communities=
feeders= Ormond Stone Middle School Rachel Carson Middle School
campus= Suburban
mascot= Bulldogs
colors= Black and gold ██
founded= 2000
enrollment= 3,171
enrollment_as_of= 2007
free_label_1= Rival schools
free_1= Centreville High School Chantilly High School Oakton High School
free_label_2= Athletic conferences
free_2= Concorde District Northern Region
bgcolor_section= #BBDDBB
bgcolor_label= #BBDDBB
bgcolor_value= #EEEEEE
bgcolor_address= #EEEEEE
bgcolor_url= #EEEEEE

Westfield High School is a public secondary school in Chantilly, an unincorporated community in Fairfax County, Virginia, United States.

It is a part of Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS), serving students from the communities including Chantilly and Centreville as well as areas with Herndon addresses in grades 9–12. Opened in 2000, it is the head of the Westfield High School Pyramid in Cluster VIII. At 3,260 students, it is one of the largest four-year high schools in the Commonwealth of Virginia.cite news | first = Mike | last = Gruss | title = Super-sized high schools leave little room for competition | url = http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-127635743.html | publisher = Virginian-Pilot | date = 2005-01-18 | accessdate = 2007-05-05]

The school was listed as the 46th best high school in America by "Newsweek" magazine in 2002 [cite news | url = http://www.nbc4.com/family/2230037/detail.html | title = Local Schools Rank Among Country's Best | publisher = NBC 4 | accessdate = 2007-04-19] and 27th in the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area by "The Washington Post" in 2006 [cite web | url = http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/education/challenge/2006/challengeindex_local2006.html | title = The 2006 Local Challenge Index | publisher = Washington Post | accessdate = 2007-04-20] due to a high percentage of students enrolled in Westfield's Advanced Placement (AP) classes. Westfield shares a business partnership with Northrop Grumman's business IT group that entails sharing of buildings, as well as financial donations and gifts of supplies. [cite news | url = http://www.irconnect.com/noc/press/pages/news_releases.html?d=61936 | title = Northrop Grumman Breaks Ground for Building Expansion in Chantilly, Va. | publisher = Northrop Grumman | date = 2004-08-05 | accessdate = 2007-04-21] It also shares an education partnership with Centreville Presbyterian Church to improve student achievement. [cite web | url = http://www.centrevillepres.com/pages/page.asp?page_id=10802 | title = Westfield High School Partnership | publisher = Centreville Presbyterian Church | accessdate = 2007-04-21]

History

Westfield was first conceived to help deal with the extensive overcrowding at adjacent schools, primarily
Centreville and Chantilly High Schools. Westfield's colors and mascot were chosen by the local community in the months before its grand opening in 2000. [cite news | first = Victoria | last = Benning | url = http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/washingtonpost/access/59299528.html?dids=59299528:59299528&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&date=AUG+31%2C+2000&author=Victoria+Benning&pub=The+Washington+Post&desc=Beginnings%3B+Westfield+High+Builds+Staff%2C+Identity+From+Ground+Up | title = Beginnings | publisher = Washington Post | date = 2000-08-31 | accessdate = 2007-04-20] Once the $54 million building was constructed, [cite news| url = http://www.fcps.edu/fs/budget/documents/approved/2001/approved01.pdf | title = School Board's FY 2001 Approved Budget | publisher = Fairfax County Public Schools | page = 154 | date = 2000-07-01 | accessdate = 2007-04-20] Westfield's first academic year began with freshmen, sophomores, and juniors. The following year, the school nearly reached its building capacity when students were enrolled in all four levels.cite news | first = Liz | last = Seymour | url = http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/washingtonpost/access/269277641.html?dids=269277641:269277641&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&date=Dec+19%2C+2002&author=Liz+Seymour&pub=The+Washington+Post&edition=&startpage=B.01&desc=Fairfax+Schools+Target+Crowding | title = Fairfax Schools Target Crowding | publisher = Washington Post | date = 2002-12-19 | accessdate = 2007-04-19 ] By 2005, Westfield had grown so large that it had become one of the largest four-year high schools in Virginia. An additional wing was planned to help deal with the overcrowding,cite news | first = Bonnie | last = Hobbs | url = http://www.connectionnewspapers.com/article.asp?article=69184&paper=62&cat=139 | title = Additions, Relief Underway for Westfield High | publisher = CentreView | date = 2006-07-26 | accessdate = 2007-05-01] and was completed in summer of 2006.

Effects of terrorism

After the September 11, 2001 attacks, restrictions on field trips to Washington, D.C. and New York City, as well as international destinations, were imposed on all Fairfax County public schools. These restrictions were not revisited until 2003. [cite web | url = http://www.fcps.edu/supt/scac/min_032503.htm | title = SCAC Minutes: March 25, 2003 | publisher = Fairfax County Public Schools | date = 2003-03-23 | accessdate = 2007-04-22]

During the 2002 Beltway sniper attacks, FCPS locked down its schools during the day and during after-school activities. [cite news | first = Sarah | last = Kershaw | url = http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=FA0812F63B590C7A8DDDA90994DA404482 | title = The Hunt For a Sniper: The Schools | publisher = New York Times | date = 2002-10-19 | accessdate = 2007-04-22] Westfield's athletics teams, including football, were forced to practice indoors and played at undisclosed locations far from the area of attacks. [cite news | url = http://archives.cnn.com/2002/EDUCATION/10/21/sniper.high.school.ap/ | title = Sniper fears push 'home' games out of town | publisher = CNN | date = 2002-10-21 | accessdate = 2007-04-22]

Regulation 1320.1

Due to Westfield's large enrollment, the school is categorized AAA-class, as defined by the Virginia High School League. It belongs to the Concorde District within Northern Region.

Westfield has athletic teams in 19 different sports: baseball, basketball, cheerleading, crew, cross country/track and field, dance team, field hockey, football, golf, gymnastics, ice hockey (club), lacrosse, soccer, softball, swim and dive, tennis, volleyball and wrestling. [cite web | url = http://www.westfieldathletics.org/ | title = Westfield Athletics | publisher = Westfield Athletic Boosters | accessdate = 2007-04-30] [cite web | url = http://www.westfieldicedogs.com/ | title = Westfield Ice Dogs | publisher = Westfield Ice Hockey | accessdate = 2007-04-30]

The school's athletic program is one of the most successful in the area, having earned numerous titles and championship berths in a wide range of varsity sports since 2000. [cite news | url = http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/washingtonpost/access/581088291.html?did=581088291&FMT=ABS&FMTS=FT&date=Mar+18%2C+2004&author=Jake+Schaller&pub=The+Washington+Post&desc=Westfield+Rises+to+the+Top%3B+Fourth-Year+School+Has+Emerged+Among+Virginia's+Elite | title = Westfield Rises to the Top | publisher = Washington Post | date = 2004-03-18 | accessdate = 2007-04-30] In fact, Westfield won two state championships in its first year of existence, when both a boy and a girl from the Swim and Dive Team captured individual state swimming honors in Westfield's inaugural winter sports season.

Westfield's football program has earned two state titles, both seasons ending with perfect records. [cite news | first = Preston | last = Williams | title = At Westfield, It's One for All and All for One | url = http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/12/08/AR2007120801632.html | publisher = Washington Post | date = 2007-12-09 | accessdate = 2007-12-09] The boys' outdoor track and field team earned its first Virginia AAA state title in 2004.cite news | url = http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/washingtonpost/access/660243971.html?did=660243971&FMT=ABS&FMTS=FT&date=Jul+08%2C+2004&author=Jake+Schaller&pub=The+Washington+Post&desc=Reliving+the+Memories | title = Reliving the Memories | publisher = Washington Post | date = 2004-07-08 | accessdate = 2007-04-30] In 2004, the varsity baseball team reached the state championship final. The boys' soccer team won the district and regional titles in 2005, overall becoming state semifinalists. [cite news | url = http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/washingtonpost/access/854316371.html?dids=854316371:854316371&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&date=JUN+16%2C+2005&author=Rich+Campbell&pub=The+Washington+Post&desc=For+Westfield%2C+Struggles+Made+Success+That+Much+Sweeter&pqatl=google | title = For Westfield, Struggles Made Success That Much Sweeter | publisher = Washington Post | date = 2005-06-16 | accessdate = 2007-04-30]

One of the most successful athletics programs at Westfield is the wrestling team, having won five consecutive district championships from 2004–2008 and placing as one of the top teams in the Northern Region several times and a 5th place finish in the 2007 state tournament. [cite news | url = http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/04/04/AR2007040400879.html | title = Wrestling: Coach of the Year | publisher = Washington Post | date = 2007-04-05 | accessdate = 2007-04-30] Westfield's Track Team also won regionals indoor season of 2007 and outdoor season of 2007.

On October 11, 2002, a tremendous downpour postponed a Westfield varsity football game against rival Centreville for the Concorde District championship. Head coach Tom Verbanic, desperate to keep the game on time, had the field covered with tarps and hired a helicopter in an attempt to dry the field. Several thousand dollars later, the game was still postponed until November 17. The match resulted in a win for Westfield, earning the school's first district championship title. [cite web | url = http://nova.sportscombine.com/scripts/p_tm_sched.asp?t=186954 | title = Games Played & Scheduled | publisher = Digital Sports | accessdate = 2007-04-30] The use of the helicopter for drying grass was later criticized heavily. [cite news | url = http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/washingtonpost/access/235947891.html?dids=235947891:235947891&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&fmac=&date=Nov+12%2C+2002&author=&desc=REPORT | title = No. 11 Westfield Goes to the Air | publisher = Washington Post | date = 2002-11-12 | accessdate = 2007-04-19]

::

tudents

The largest racial group at Westfield is whites (63%), followed by Asians and Pacific Islanders (16%), Hispanics (9%), Blacks (8%), and others (4%). [cite web | url = http://schoolprofiles.fcps.edu/schlprfl/f?p=108:13:14202762457260961426::::P0_CURRENT_SCHOOL_ID:240 | title = Westfield HS - Demographics | publisher = FCPS | accessdate = 2007-04-19]

As a commitment to the diversity of the Westfield community and to incorporate an FCPS mandate on ethics instruction, the school annually hosts an Ethical Decision Making seminar for sophomores. [cite news | first = Jerry | last = Markon | url = http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A16959-2004Nov27.html | title = At High School Forum, Making the Case for Character | publisher = Washington Post | date = 2004-11-28 | accessdate = 2007-04-19] Sponsored by the Herndon-Dulles Chamber of Commerce and hosted by Westfields Marriott, the seminar has been well-received by the community, winning a Blue Ribbon Award for Outstanding Event. [cite news | title = Herndon-Dulles Chamber of Commerce Named FCPS Business Partner of the Year | publisher = FCPS | date = 2006-05-26 | url = http://www.fcps.edu/suptapps/newsreleases/newsrelease.cfm?newsid=402 | accessdate = 2007-04-19] The seminar aims at educating students about the dilemma of making ethical decisions by inviting guest speakers from the local community speak to students on race, sexuality, prejudice, and other issues. [cite news | first = Bonnie | last = Hobbs | url = http://www.connectionnewspapers.com/article.asp?archive=true&article=13060&paper=62 | title = High-School Students Learn about Ethics | publisher = CentreView | date = 2005-12-02 | accessdate = 2007-04-19]

Notable alumni

*Roxie Alsruhe '05 — Goalkeeper for George Mason University lacrosse. [Citation |last= |first= |title=GMU profile for Roxie Alsruhe |url=http://gomason.cstv.com/sports/w-lacros/mtt/alsruhe_roxie00.html |accessdate=2007-10-26]

*Brent Bowden '05 — Punter for Virginia Tech football. [Citation |last= |first= |title=VT profile for Brent Bowden |url=http://www.hokiesports.com/football/players/2006/bowden.html |accessdate=2007-10-26]

*Seung-Hui Cho '03 — Gunman responsible for the Virginia Tech massacre.

*Jeffrey Stanton '07 — plays basketball for University of Georgia.

*Colleen Deegan '07 — plays soccer for University of Maryland.

*Jessie Deegan '05 — plays soccer for University of Alabama.

*Sean Glennon '04 — Current quarterback for Virginia Tech football. [cite web | url = http://www.hokiesports.com/football/players/2006/glennon.html | title = 7 - Sean Glennon | publisher = HokieSports.com | accessdate = 2007-04-19]

*Michael Kennedy '05 — Shot and killed two police officers and wounded another outside the Sully district Fairfax County police station in Chantilly. Kennedy suffered from mental illness.

*Jummy Olabanji '02 — Journalist for CBS 19 and ABC 16 in Charlottesville, Virginia. [cite news | first = Jummy | last = Olabanji | url = http://www.charlottesvillenewsplex.tv/home/headlines/4687816.html | title = Local Churches Give Back in Big Way | publisher = WCAV | accessdate = 2007-04-19"]

*Erin Peterson '06 — Killed in the Virginia Tech massacre.

*Reema Samaha '06 — Killed in the Virginia Tech massacre.

*Eddie Royal '04 — Drafted in the second round (42nd overall) of the 2008 NFL Draft by the Denver Broncos.

*Evan Royster '06 — Running back for Penn State football. [cite web | url = http://www.gopsusports.com/Football/people/Player.cfm?rosterid=3424 | title = #22 Evan Royster | publisher = GoPSUSports.com | accessdate = 2007-04-19]

*Reema Samaha '06 — Killed in the Virginia Tech massacre.

*James Scheiner '04 — cross country and track star at Virginia Tech. [ [http://www.hokiesports.com/cc/players/2007/scheiner.html hokiesports.com :: Cross Country ] ]

*Erin Smith '05 - Current co-ed Cheerleading captain at Elon University. [citeweb|url=http://www.elonphoenix.com/roster.aspx?sid=cd|title=Cheerleading and Dance Roster|publisher=ElonPhoenix.com|accessdate=2008-09-01]

*Brandon Snyder '05 — First baseman for Class A minor league baseball team the Delmarva Shorebirds. Selected in the first round of the 2005 Major League Baseball Draft by the Baltimore Orioles, [cite news | first = Gary | last = Washburn | url = http://mlb.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/news/article.jsp?ymd=20050607&content_id=1079131&vkey=news_bal&fext=.jsp&c_id=bal | title = Orioles select Snyder with first pick | publisher = MLB.com | date = 2005-06-07 | accessdate = 2007-04-19] Snyder has played for three of the Orioles' rookie affiliates: the Bluefield Orioles, the Aberdeen IronBirds, and the Delmarva Shorebirds.

*Jason Yuckenberg '02 — Democratic Leader of the first Annual [http://www.aysf.org/ModelHouseofRepresentatives/index.html?B1=Enter Model House of Representatives] in Washington, D.C. [cite web | url = http://www.dcvote.org/events/event.cfm?eventID=228 | title = Model United States House of Representatives | publisher = DCVote.org | accessdate = 2007-04-19]

*Jessica Zhang '05 — Member of the [http://www.usawkf.org/ US National Wushu Team] . [cite web | url = http://www.uswushuacademy.com/resources/US_Wushu_Team.html | title = US Wushu Team | publisher = US Wushu Academy | accessdate = 2007-04-29]

*Chris Courson — member of the University of North Carolina at Wilmington Conference Champion Track and Field Team

*Chris Black — member of the University of North Carolina at Wilmington Conference Champion Track and Field Team

External links

;Official

* [http://www.fcps.edu/WestfieldHS/ Westfield High School]
* [http://www.fcps.edu/suptapps/schoolprofile/profile.cfm?profile_id=240 FCPS Profile for Westfield High School]

;Parent and student organizations

* [http://ptsa.westfieldhs.org/ Westfield PTSA]
* [http://www.westfieldathletics.org/ Westfield Athletic Boosters]
* [http://www.westfieldband.org/ Westfield Band Boosters]
* [http://www.westfieldhschoral.org/ Westfield Choral Boosters]
* [http://www.westfieldguitar.org/ Westfield Guitar Boosters]
* [http://www.westfieldorchestra.org/ Westfield Orchestra Boosters]
* [http://www.westfieldtheatreboosters.com/ Westfield Theatre Boosters]

;Sports teams

* [http://www.bulldogbaseball.net/ Westfield Baseball]
* [http://www.westfieldicedogs.com/ Westfield Ice Hockey]
* [http://www.westfieldcrew.org/ Westfield Crew Team]
* [http://home.att.net/~bulldogswim/ Westfield Swim and Dive]
* [http://www.vhsl-reference.com/mastergames_byyear_byteam.cfm?ID=10655&GY=2007 Westfield Football @ VHSL-Reference]

References