Westmont High School (Campbell, California)

Westmont High School is located in Campbell, California, United States and is part of the Campbell Union High School District. First opened in the fall of 1964, Westmont drew students initially from both Blackford and Campbell High Schools, both of which are now closed. The school retains many academic achievements including the 1996 California Distinguished School and 1997 National Blue Ribbon School. The student body is approximately 1600 students. As of 2006, the school principal is Owen Hege. (Westmont's first principal was C. Warren Conrad.)

The school sits at the Northwest corner of the 1839 Alta California land grant, Rancho Rinconada de Los Gatos. San Tomas Aquino Creek wraps around the northern edge of the school and formed the land grant's boundary.

Notable alumni

Notable alumni at Westmont High School include:

* Douglas Edmund Capilla, a Major League Baseball player
* Lars Frederiksen, guitarist/vocalist for the Punk bands Rancid and Lars Frederiksen and the Bastards (Dropout)
* Kevin Croall, CEO of Toadstool Comics and former guitarist for The Shattered
* Dan Gladden, former Major League Baseball player
* Joey Rabier, Joey the Intern on Tech TV's Unscrewed with Martin Sargent. Now also currently camera man for the podcast Diggnation
* Joe Sib, singer for Wax (rock band), writers of hit song "California" (whose video was an early Spike Jonze offering)

Note that Frederiksen never graduated from Westmont (From the song "To Have and Have Not" (which was originally written by guitarist Billy Bragg), "Dropped out of high school in Campbell, California/Got a guitar and I never looked back.")

Marching Band

Westmont High School's marching band has consistently done well in Northern California Band Association (NCBA) and Western Band Association (WBA) competitions. Past shows with a short list of notable awards are as follows:

* 1996: The Hunt For Red October
* 1997: The Mask
* 1998: Music For A Darkened Stadium
* 1999: Cirque Du Soleil
* 2000: The Wall
* 2001: Gangster's Suite
* 2002: Adventures on Earth
* 2003: El Tigre: 1st Place at Vintage Reserve Field Show Competition (Class C)
* 2004: Africa - Sight, Sound, and Movement: 1st Place at Cupertino Band Review (Class 3), 1st Place at Independence Field Show (Class C), Percussion Caption at Gilroy Show (Class A)
* 2005: The Outsider: Music from A Perfect Circle: 2nd place (Class C) at Independence Field Show
* 2006: Chess: The Musical: 2nd Place at Cupertino Band Review (Class III), 2nd Place at Independence Field Show (Class C), 2nd Place at Foothill Band Review (Class D), 2nd Place Auxiliary Caption at Foothill Band Review (Class D)]
* 2007: Feels So Good: The Music of Chuck Mangione:1st place at Independence Field Show (Class C), 2nd Place at Foothill Band Review (Class C), 2nd Place Brass Caption at Independence Field Show

Each year, Westmont High School's marching band also participates in the Los Gatos Christmas Parade. In 2004,2005, and 2006 Westmont took 1st place in the parade for the small band competition.

The band is currently taught by Mr. Dan Naylor.

peech and Debate

The "Warriors of Words" at Westmont High School have a history of past success at various levels. Most recently, successes include a 10th Place Congress finisher at the National Tournament (in 2003), a State Champion in Oratorical Interpretation (in 2004), and Westmont's first invitational 1st place win ever at the Dempsey-Cronin Invitational in Novice Public Forum at Santa Clara University by a pair of freshmen(in 2006). Westmont also hosts the State Qualifier tournament each year for Speech and Debate.

This year, Westmont's had numerous levels of success. At the Dempsey-Cronin Invitational, A pair of Juniors took 3rd place in Varsity Public Forum. The President and Vice President of the team both made it to semifinals in Oratorical Interpretation at the MLK Invitational at Logan High School. That same Vice President later took 2nd place in Oratorical Interpretation at the league tournament at Gunn High School. The fundraising Chair took an unprecedented 13th place in Congress at the Berkley Invitational. Finally the same Vice President, President, and Fundraising Chair qualified to the State Championships in OI, Lincoln Douglas Debate, and Student Congress respectively.

Publications

* The Myriad: The school's yearly literary magazine. It is published once a year and filled with artwork, prose, and poetry submitted by the students at Westmont High School.
* The Shaft: One of the poorest excuses for high school journalism.
* Yearbook: Published yearly. Was originally called "The Poniard," a reference to the sword carried by the Warrior school mascot.

Westmont's Fight Song

Fight on, Fight on you Warriors; Get that ball and take it right on down the field. We will ramble through every mighty foe Give us the ball and Watch us go Fight on, Fight on you Warriors; We will never let you down. We'll win this game and then We'll claim our fame 'Cause we're the Warriors of WESTMONT HIGH!

* The music for the fight song is a variation of the melody line from the theme to the 1956 film "Around the World in Eighty Days". The original arrangement was scored by Westmont's first Band Director, Mr. Gary Kenyon, during the summer of 1964.

Warriors Hymn

Wondrous deeds they tell of the Warriors, Glorious memories fill our hearts with pride. Gallant conquests, radiant triumphs, Tales of challenge, obstacles defied. Through the years as we travel forward, Loyal Warriors, ever proud. Through the years our thoughts turn homeward, Home to where the Warrior banners fly - To alma mater, Westmont High.

* The original musical arrangement was scored by Westmont's first Band Director, Mr. Gary Kenyon, during the summer of 1964, before the school opened.

References

* [http://www.campbell.net/history/index.shtml History of Campbell High Schools]
* [http://www.worldofpageantry.com/scores/fall04-scores.php#10-09 World of Pageantry - Fall 2004 Scores for Field Show Competitions]
* [http://www.worldofpageantry.com/scores/fall03-scores.php#10-25 World of Pageantry - Fall 2003 Scores for Field Show Competitions]

ee also

*Santa Clara County high schools

External links

* [http://www.westmont.cuhsd.org/ Westmont Website]
* [http://www.westmontmusic.org/ Westmont Music Department]
* [http://www.mrpinza.com/SpeechDebate.html Westmont Speech and Debate]
* [http://www.westmontenglish.com/ Westmont English dept]
* [http://tyang-web.cuhsd.org/ Westmont Science dept]
* [http://www.angelfire.com/ego/westmontdrama/ Westmont Drama dept]
* [http://www.whscsf.org/ Westmont CSF/Honor Roll]
* [http://www.whskeyclub.org/ Westmont Key Club]
* [http://westmontathletics.olinesports.com/ Westmont Athletics]
* [http://www.greatschools.net/modperl/browse_school/ca/5427/ Westmont stats on greatschools]
* [http://www.worldofpageantry.com/ World of Pageantry - Scores for Field Show Competitions]
* [http://www.westmont1968.myevent.com/ Westmont Class of 1968 40-year Reunion, August 19, 2008]