Kickapoo High School (Springfield, Missouri)

Infobox Secondary school
name = Kickapoo High School
principal = David Schmitz
type = US Public Secondary
grades = 9–12
established = 1971
city = Springfield
state = Missouri
country = USA
enrollment = 1,774
campus = Suburban
mascot = Chiefs
colors = Brown and Gold
website = [http://sps.k12.mo.us/khs/ http://sps.k12.mo.us/khs/]

Kickapoo High School is a high school in Springfield, Missouri. In 2002 it had 1,774 students and 96 teachers. Kickapoo officially opened its doors in October 1971, the fifth of Springfield's five public high schools. The school building was not completed during the summer of 1971 due to labor stoppage. At the start of classes the students of the new high school split shifts at cross-town rival Glendale for about six weeks, with Glendale's students going to classes from 6 a.m. until noon, and Kickapoo's using the Glendale campus from 1 p.m. until 7 p.m. It is named "Kickapoo" after its location in a part of Springfield known as the "Kickapoo Prairie" and after the Native American Tribe. The School's mascot is the "Chief".

Academics

The school's characteristics include: Honors, Dual Enrollment and Advanced Placement courses, an Orthopedically Handicapped Program, a Learning Resource and a Japanese language program.

Mandatory ID Badges

The school makes use of mandatory identification badges for all students and staff to prevent unauthorized entry into the school. This policy is heralded as an important part of building security by some, and also a needless frivolity by others. The 'ID badges' as well as school-wide video surveillance were introduced following a series of nationwide school shootings in the late 1990s.

Freshman Mentor Program

At the end of each year, Sophomores and Juniors have the opportunity to apply for the Freshman Mentor program. These students are charged with assimilating small groups of freshmen into the school culture. They also assign rudimentary study skill and research tasks to all freshmen. This program takes place during Chief Time.

Privilege System

All students are assigned a rank. The lowest rank, "Brave," is automatically given to Freshmen, Sophomores, and first-semester Juniors. Students with this rank must remain in their assigned Chief Time classes and work silently. The next rank, "Warrior," is automatically given to second-semester Juniors with no referrals and a 2.5 GPA, as well as all Seniors. Students with this rank are allowed to leave their Chief Time classes and go to the cafeteria for early lunch or to the gym for free activity time. The highest rank is "Chief," given to all Freshman Mentors. Chiefs are allowed to leave several minutes early from school, leave early for lunch, and walk freely around the school without a written hall pass. Historically, Chiefs have been given preferential parking near the front door of the school; however, this will not be the case during the 2007-2008 school year due to construction.

chool Schedule

Block System

The school schedule is a four block system: Each day, students have four classes around 90 minutes each in length. The semester is 18 weeks long. In one school year, students have completed the equivalent of eight year-long classes.

Chief Time

The 2004-2005 school year saw the introduction of a program called 'Chief Time.' This modified the school schedule, extending the school day from 7:50 A.M. to 2:58 P.M. on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday. Students are allowed to do different things during this block, depending on their status in the ranked system.

Students with extreme academic issues can be assigned to a Chief Time class where they receive tutoring for the duration of Chief Time. Students in these rooms are, in practical terms, the only group lower than Braves in terms of freedoms during Chief Time.

Late Start

On Wednesdays, school starts at 8:35, rather than 7:50. Class continues with a similar schedule to Tuesday and Thursday but without Chief Time. This adds time for detention on Wednesday mornings as well as time to make up tests.

Camp Barnabas Fundraising

During the 2006-2007 school year, there were two fundraisers for an organization called Camp Barnabas [ [http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2005/09/13/earlyshow/main838253.shtml 'Stop The Bop' To Raise Katrina $$] "cbsnews.com". URL Accessed May 17 2007.] . Between the two, about $4,000 was raised. An unidentified corporate donor matched that amount for a total donation of around $8,000.

top the Bop

Kickapoo adopted the Stop The Bop [ [http://www.campbarnabas.org/ Camp Barnabas Home Page] "campbarnabas.org". URL Accessed May 17 2007.] fundraiser from a Pennsylvania school. The Hanson song MMMBop was played between classes until the student body donated $2,000.

pirit Shirts

Kickapoo's name has led to the making of a number of creative spirit shirts sold to the students. The most widely known of these being the famous "Fear the 'Poo" shirts in both brown and gold. The 2007-2008 shirt reads "Top of the Totem Pole," which depicts Kickapoo at the top of a totem pole, followed by Hillcrest, Parkview, Central, and at the bottom, Glendale: Kickapoo's biggest rival.

Notable Alumni

* Jeremy Mhire, singing artist in Christian band, Plus One, 1998.
* Brad Pitt (b. 1963), actor, voted "best dressed" in the school, 1982.
* Sterling Robert Macer Jr., actor, 1982. [ [http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0532160/ Sterling Macer Jr ] ]
* Lucas Grabeel, actor from the Disney Channel Original Movies, High School Musical and High School Musical 2
* Jay Kenneth Johnson, actor in the television series "Days of Our Lives" and "North Shore."
* Jack Jewsbury, midfielder for Major League Soccer's Kansas City Wizards.
* Adrienne Wilkinson, actress
* Two of the Springfield Three, 1992.

References

External links

* [http://www.kickapootheater.arts.new.net Kickapoo Theater]