Arundel High School

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Arundel High School
Address
1001 Annapolis Road
Gambrills, Maryland
United States
Coordinates Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
Information
Type Public secondary
Motto mihi curui futuri
Established 1854
Principal Gina Davenport[1]
Grades 9–12
Enrollment 2,021 (September 2014)[2]
Hours in school day 7:17am – 2:05pm[3]
Campus type Suburban
Color(s) Kelly Green and White
         
Mascot Wildcats
Rival South River High School Seahawks
Newspaper Spectrum
Yearbook Panorama
Website
ArundelHighSchool.jpeg

Arundel High School is a public high school located in the Annapolis suburb of Gambrills in Anne Arundel County, Maryland.[4]

The school is part of the Anne Arundel County Public School system, and is the primary high school for Gambrills and portions of the Odenton and Crofton areas.[5] Originally, the school was the Anne Arundel Academy, a prestigious one-room private school founded in 1854.[6][7] That institution became Arundel High School in 1926.[8] It is one of the oldest public high schools in the country, and the oldest mainstream public school in the state of Maryland.[9] The current school building was built in 1949 and first occupied in 1950, with additions in 1966, 1985, and 2008. Due to high scores in academics, and their good athletics (most notably the football team), Arundel High School has a great reputation in the state of Maryland, and is known as one of the best high schools in Anne Arundel County and the state of Maryland. In 2013, Arundel was ranked as one of the top 20 high schools in Maryland and one of the top 1,000 in the Country by Newsweek.[10] Arundel High School's rival school is South River High School.[11][12]

History

Anne Arundel Academy Times and Legend of Arundel High School

Arundel High School was originally founded in 1854 as "Anne Arundel Academy," a one room private school which was located in Millersville, on the site of the old Millersville Elementary School. Students had to pass rigorous entrance exams in order to be eligible to attend. Its aim was "To create a love for labor honesty, and a high moral life." The founder and first principal was Phil Moore Leakin, whom there is a legend about. When Leakin was a teacher, he looked outside a window and foreshadowed a school that would surpass the capabilities of the tiny one room building Anne Arundel Academy was housed in.[13]

Civil War era

The academy drastically changed during the Civil War era. Attendance and funding for the Academy began to drop, and Principal Leakin resigned. As a result, several new teachers and principals came and left, until Leakin returned to his position in 1873. During this time period, the school purchased an additional 10 acres of land, and added more buildings to serve as dormitories. A fire also damaged the main building during this time period, causing changes in the schools growth. This sparked community leaders to donate money for an annex to be built, a nearby farm was also purchased, and the boys and girls dormitories housed students who secure scholarships. 10 years later, Principal Leakin died.[13]

End of Civil War and expansion of the Academy

In the beginning of the 1900s, the school expanded its property to more than 70 acres. New buildings were also purchased and renovated, and the school added football and baseball fields, a track, tennis court, and other athletic facilities. Later throughout this period of time, another war broke out, and as a result, the school lost funding. Fires destroyed classrooms, and administrators had to raise tuition in order to rebuild and renovate the damaged facilities. As an alternative to raising tuition, the school was adopted by the Board of Education of Anne Arundel County in 1922, whom became responsible for providing tuition for students. Since the school became under control of the county, it became eligible for government aid. The Board purchased land for a new high school institution for the Academy, and by 1925, the Academy was converted to public Arundel High School, and graduated its first class as a public school.[13]

Beginning of Public School era

Anne Arundel Academy officially became a public school in the 1924-1925 school year. The students voted on the new school name to be "Arundel High School." It gathered students from Millersville, Annapolis, Gambrills, Crownsville, Odenton, and other surrounding areas. (Crofton was not a town until 1967.) The first principal of Arundel High School as a public school was Sidney H. Fadely, who was the principal during Arundel's "glory years," (the first four years of Arundel being a public school). Arundel began many clubs including a Drama Club, a Glee Club (singing/choir), Home Economics, and Debate. Arundel also started a newspaper club and was getting ready to publish its first newspaper which was called The Arundel Tattler at the time.[13]

Depression and World War II era

Arundel, like many other American high schools, went through some hardships shortly after the 1929 Stock Market Crash. Many activities were discontinued county and statewide, and gas rationing during this period of time caused the county and statewide competitions to be canceled. As an alternative, the school began competitions between classes in the school. The school also began a "pre-induction" course for future members of the military. The school also began a new physical fitness program, which was connected with victory activities. Members of vocational agricultural activities planted victory gardens in order to "supplement the needs of the cafeteria." Despite hardships during the depression, three Arundel students received first place awards in the State Traffic Slogan Contest, the 4-H Rural Electrification County Contest, and the Victory Leadership State Contest.[13]

Post World War II era

When the war was nearing an end, Arundel brought back many of the activities that the school had prior to the depression and war along with some new activities as well. All the school's sports such as volleyball, soccer, baseball, and field ball continued, and students created ping-pong and basketball teams during this time. The school also hosted several dances for Holidays such as Halloween, or dances with certain themes such as "Hillbilly" and "Cowboy" dances and the formal Senior Prom. The Home Economics program and Future Farmers Association were the schools most active clubs at the time, and a lot of the members were winners of local, state, and national fairs and 4-H competitions. Arundel also began offering a drivers educational course in 1948. During this time, the Arundel High School community was preparing to move to a newly built and larger facility (which is the start of its current facility) in Gambrills, and would open its doors in 1949.[13]

Fifties and Sixties

As the forties ended and the fifties began, Arundel High School students and staff moved into their newly built facility in Gambrills. The new building had three floors (including a basement), several modern classrooms, and an auditorium. (This structure is just one of the wings of the schools current facility and is now known as "F-Hall.") Mrs. Mabel H. Parker was the first principal of the school after moving into its new structure. At the time, the school was located in a very rural small town surrounded by Annapolis, the Chesapeake Bay, and its tributaries. This caused the school to have a strong importance in agriculture, and the largest club was the Future Farmers of America. The school also owned its own livestock. However, the school was preparing to get used to a more suburban setting as the suburbs of Annapolis began to grow outward, and as a result, Principal Parker adjusted the curriculum, which slowly eliminated the agricultural courses as time went on. In the late 1950s, Arundel was beginning to experience overcrowding due to the large suburban developments in the area, and as a result, Anne Arundel County Public Schools opened nearby Severna Park High School in 1959 to split the population of Arundel and ease overcrowding. In the 1960s, Arundel chose their mascot as the "Wildcats." Also during this period of time, the lower grades were relocated the newly built "Arundel Junior High" (now known as "Arundel Middle School") and only grades 10-12 were held at Arundel High School. From 1964-1965, the schools 10th grades were temporarily housed at Arundel Junior High. In 1966, a large new addition was added to the school, and the 10th graders returned to the high school, and five 9th grade classes were also held at the high school.[13]

Seventies and Eighties

During this period in time, Arundel began to experience major overcrowding. In order to alleviate crowding, the school tried many different programs to solve the issue of over crowding. The first program was having "staggered starts." The program had juniors and seniors go to school earlier than the sophomores. Eventually, the population grew too large for that program to efficiently solve overcrowding. Alternatively, the school started "split sessions." This program had students in all grades attend school at the same time. However, one shift attended school from the morning-noon, and the other shift attended from noon-5 pm. The split session program continued until around 1976, when some students were moved to the newly built Old Mill, South River, and Meade High Schools, allowing Arundel to return to a normal day schedule. Arundel was also used as a Teacher Education Center by the University of Maryland, College Park to help college students complete their training to become teachers. By the time the 80s started, Arundel's population was more than 2,100 students. School officials tried many small measurements to help solve overcrowding, but those measurements were not helpful enough. As a result, Arundel High School parents and community members formed a committee in 1982 called "Committee to Renovate Arundel Senior High," (a.k.a. "CRASH"). By the fall of 1984, CRASH raised $7.8 million for the schools renovation project, and construction on the school building began. The construction project included the revitalization of the auditorium, redesigning of classrooms, lowered ceilings, the removing of some windows and replacement of others, and a newly built gymnasium. During the construction period, some of the classes were held at Arundel Junior High and others were held at the high school, and the school allowed 8 minutes for students and teachers to travel from one facility to the other in between class changes. At the start of the 1987-1988 school year, the construction/renovation project was completed, and all classes were moved back up to the high school.[13]

The Nineties and Two-Thousands

Beginning in 1991 with the class of 1995, the 9th graders returned to Arundel High School. A new baseball field was added to the school during this time period as well. With many of the schools upgrades in athletics, the school became a Maryland Demonstration School. The Drama club also placed first almost every year in the countywide and statewide competitions, and the Forensics Team was awarded several trophies in debate and oral interpretation. The Spectrum, the school's newspaper also won several International First Place awards from Quill and Scroll and Medalist awards from Columbia Scholastic Press Association, and it was named the Best High School Paper in the State of Maryland in 1991. In the late 1990s, Arundel was beginning to experience heavy overcrowding, and the school sent half of its Crofton area students to rival South River High School. By the 2000s, Arundel was the only high school in Anne Arundel County without air conditioning, and a long due science wing and cafeteria expansion was waiting to be added to the school building. In 2005, the football field was upgraded, and in 2006, the school finally received air conditioning. By the fall of 2008, the new science wing and cafeteria expansion was complete and the gymnasium was renovated.[13]

Students

Attendance

Arundel High School's September enrollments, 2004 – present:

Year Students
2014 2,021[2]
2013 1,963[14]
2012 1,949[15]
2011 1,972[16]
2010 1,887[17]
2009 1,910[18]
2008 1,942[19]
2007 1,993[20]
2006 2,090[21]
2005 2,060[21]
2004 1,973[21]

Arundel High School gathers students from two middle schools in mid-western Anne Arundel County: Arundel Middle, and Crofton Middle (partial).[22] All students who live in the district for Arundel Middle go on to Arundel High. However, students who live in the district for Crofton Middle may or may not attend Arundel High, depending on their elementary school district. Students in the districts of Crofton Elementary School, portions of Crofton Meadows Elementary School,[23] and Nantucket Elementary School attend Crofton Middle School and then Arundel High School, but students in the districts of Crofton Woods Elementary and Crofton Meadows Elementary attend Crofton Middle School and then South River High School. This reassignment of Crofton Woods and Crofton Meadows from Arundel High to South River High – causing the middle school population to split after 8th grade – was approved by the AACPS Board of Education on March 18, 1998.

Best Buddies

Students at Arundel High School can join a program called "Best Buddies." Best Buddies is a program where general education students get involved with students with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Arundel's Best Buddies chapter raised the most money in the 2010–2011 school year. Arundel High School was also named Maryland's Best Buddies high school of the year for the 2013–2014 school year.[24]

PRIDE Period

At Arundel the lunch break, known as "PRIDE Period," consists of two 35-minute blocks during which students must remain in supervised locations to eat, study, visit teachers, etc. Students must plan their week's lunch block locations on Monday morning. Most of the school's club gatherings are during this time as well. This is a 2015 modification of the original "Wildcat Hour," started in 2008, which was later adopted and personalized by many other schools in the county, such as Old Mill High School and South River High School.[25]

School building

The current Arundel High School building is divided into seven different long hallways. Those hallways are: A,B,C,D,E,F, and G hall. When the current school building was first built in 1949, it was only F-hall, the longest hall in school. F-hall includes the school auditorium, gym, cafeteria, nurse office, a basement and tech. ed labs, Math, English, and Social Studies classrooms. In 1966, A-hall, B-hall, C-hall, D-hall, and E-hall were built. A-hall is the school's administration hall, and is the entrance to the school. It consists of the school's main office, administrative offices, guidance office, one of the special education classrooms, and attendance window. C-hall used to consist of the school's science classrooms until G-hall was built in 2008. It now mainly consists of the schools math classes and child development class on the lower level, and math and world and classical languages classrooms on the upper level. B-hall consists of the school's musical classes. D-hall is a little hallway that connects C-hall to F-hall, where the cafeteria is. E-hall was built in between C, and F-hall. E-hall consists of the school's media center, theater classroom, some social studies classrooms. the other special education classroom, some of the tech ed classrooms, and art classrooms on the lower level. E Halls upper level mainly consists of the schools world and classical languages classrooms, some social studies classrooms, and Family And Consumer Sciences classrooms, When E-hall was built, the school received two different courtyards. In 1982, Arundel High School received a new gymnasium, and the school went through a complete modernization, and F-hall, along with the auditorium were completely revitalized. In 2008, Arundel High School received a huge renovation. A new science hallway (G-hall) was added to the school, the cafeteria underwent a huge expansion, and the gym received new bleachers. Arundel High School's building is one of the biggest high school buildings in Anne Arundel County, and the state of Maryland.

Clubs

  • Best Buddies
  • Arundel Improv. (S.W.A.T)
  • Arundel Theatre/Drama Company
  • National Honor Society
  • La Sociéte Honoraire de Français (National French Honors Society) - Arundel Chapter
  • Seeking Smiles
  • D.I.Y. Club
  • Latino Club
  • Invisible Children
  • Key Club
  • Gay Straight Alliance (G.S.A)
  • Green Team (Environmental Club)
  • Diversity Club
  • Student Government Association (S.G.A)
  • Step Up
  • Interact
  • Anime Club
  • Chess Club
  • Dissection Club
  • Newspaper Club
  • Ultimate Frisbee
  • Men's Choir
  • Women's Choir
  • Band
  • Chamber Choir
  • Concert Choir
  • Barbershop Quartet
  • Guitar Ensemble
  • Tri-M Music Honor Society

Source[26]

Role In Popular Culture

On October 6, 2011, former Governor Martin O'Malley and first lady joined Cartoon Network's President and COO Stuart Snyder, Ali Sepasyar and Jackson Rogow, hosts of Cartoon Network's "Dude, What Would Happen," Facebook's Joel Kaplan, and Maryland education leaders and parents at an assembly at Arundel High School to discuss and take the pledge to end bullying with Arundel freshman students, and promoting Cartoon Network's "Speak Up" campaign. The assembly at Arundel was also featured in a television program Cartoon Network aired in 2012 about people's bullying stories and the "Speak Up" campaign.[27]

On April 13, 2012, Tina Meier, mother of Meghan Meier, a 13-year-old who committed suicide in 2006 over cyber bullying came to Arundel for an assembly held discussing her daughter's story, and raise awareness of bullying to students.[28]

During March of 2015, Arundel High School's Signature Program viewed a historical film called "Selma," which spurred an article concerning multiple opinions from Arundel students on the idea that racism is still prevalent in today's youth.

Notable graduates

Athletics

Championships

Men's Baseball – National: 1993; State: 2006, 2001, 1998, 1995, 1993, 1991, 1987, 1981, 1977, 1976; Regional: 2012, 2006, 2005, 2001, 1998, 1996, 1995, 1994, 1993, 1992, 1991, 1987, 1981, 1979, 1977, 1976; County: 2007, 2006, 2001, 1999, 1996, 1994, 1993, 1992, 1991, 1987, 1986, 1984, 1983, 1981, 1979, 1978, 1977, 1976, 1969

Men's Lacrosse – State: 1995; District: 1995; Regional: 1995, 1980, 1981; County: 1999, 2013

Girls Basketball – State: 2010, 2004, 2000, 1996; Regional: 2008, 2006, 2004, 2003, 2001, 2000, 1998, 1996, 1995; County: 2008, 2007, 2006, 2005, 2004, 2003, 2001, 2000, 1999, 1998, 1996, 1995, 1959

Boys Basketball – State: 1965; County: 1995,2012; District: 2012

Football – State: 1975; District: 1975; Regional: 2008, 2007, 1995, 1983; County: 2008, 2007, 2006, 1985, 1983, 1979, 1978, 1977, 1975, 1974, 1973, 1971

Football

2010 Regular Season

On September 11, 2010, Arundel was ranked #315 in the nation and #1 in Maryland's 4A division by maxpreps.com.[43]

Date Time Opponent Class W/L Score Location Record
September 3, 2010 6:30 p.m. Old Mill High School 4A W 30–7 Gambrills, MD 1–0
September 10, 2010 6:30 p.m. Severna Park High School 4A W 52–6 Gambrills, MD 2–0
September 16, 2010 6:30 p.m. Broadneck High School 4A N/A 10–6 Arnold, MD 3–0
September 24, 2010 6:30 p.m. Chesapeake High School 4A N/A 56–0 Gambrills, MD 4–0
October 1, 2010 6:30 p.m. Annapolis High School 4A N/A 56–13 Annapolis, MD 5–0
October 8, 2010 6:30 p.m. Glen Burnie High School 4A N/A 69–6 Glen Burnie, MD 6–0
October 15, 2010 6:30 p.m. South River High School 4A N/A 37–29 Gambrills, MD 7–0
October 22, 2010 6:30 p.m. Northeast High School 3A N/A 0–0 Pasadena, MD 0–0
October 29, 2010 6:30 p.m. Meade Senior High School 4A N/A 0–0 Gambrills, MD 0–0
November 5, 2010 6:30 p.m. Southern High School 2A N/A 0–0 Harwood, MD 0–0

Source[44]

2009 Regular Season

The 2009 regular season ended in vain in a play-off game, but the Wildcats did finish the season 10–0, undefeated.

Date Time Opponent Class W/L Score Location Record
September 4, 2009 6:30 p.m. Old Mill High School 4A W 34–27 Millersville, MD 1–0
September 11, 2009 6:30 p.m. Severna Park High School 4A W 37–9 Severna Park, MD 2–0
September 17, 2009 6:30 p.m. Broadneck High School 4A W 28–6 Gambrills, MD 3–0
September 25, 2009 6:30 p.m. Chesapeake High School 4A W 54–0 Pasadena, MD 4–0
October 2, 2009 6:30 p.m. Annapolis High School 4A W 38–7 Gambrills, MD 5–0
October 9, 2009 6:30 p.m. Glen Burnie High School 4A W 75–19 Gambrills, MD 6–0
October 15, 2009 6:30 p.m. South River High School 4A W 35–6 Annapolis, MD 7–0
October 23, 2009 6:30 p.m. Northeast High School 3A W 60–0 Gambrills, MD 8–0
October 31, 2009 6:30 pm Meade Senior High School 4A W 62–21 Fort Meade, MD 9–0
November 6, 2009 6:30 pm Southern High School 2A W 69–28 Gambrills, MD 10–0

2009 Playoffs

Date Opponent Class W/L Score Location Record
November 13, 2009 Annapolis High School 4A W 18–6 Gambrills, MD 11–0
November 20, 2009 Old Mill High School 4A L 56–55 Gambrills, MD 11–1
November 27, 2009 Sherwood High School 4A Gambrills, MD
December 4, 2009 State Championship Game 4A Baltimore, MD

Source[45]

2008 Regular Season

In 2008 Arundel finished the season 11–2, falling in the State Semi-finals to Linganore High School.

Date Time Opponent Class W/L Score Location Record
September 5, 2008 6:30 p.m. Broadneck High School 4A W 28–13 Arnold, MD 1–0
September 12, 2008 6:30 p.m. Old Mill High School 4A L 19–34 Millersville, MD 1–1
September 19, 2008 6:30 p.m. North County High School 4A W 50–34 Gambrills, MD 2–1
September 26, 2008 6:30 p.m. South River High School 4A W 34–7 Edgewater, MD 3–1
October 3, 2008 6:30 p.m. Meade High School 3A W 46–25 Fort Meade, MD 4–1
October 10, 2008 6:30 p.m. Annapolis High School 3A W 20–19 Gambrills, MD 5–1
October 17, 2008 6:30 p.m. Severna Park High School 4A W 47–28 Gambrills, MD 6–1
October 24, 2008 6:30 p.m. Chesapeake High School 4A W 42–12 Gambrills, MD 7–1
October 31, 2008 6:30 pm Glen Burnie High School 4A W 59–25 Gambrills, MD 8–1
November 7, 2008 6:30 pm Southern High School 2A W 51–7 Harwood, MD 9–1

Source[46]

2008 Playoffs

Date Opponent Class W/L Score Location Record
November 14, 2008 North County High School 4A W 49–15 Gambrills, MD 10–1
November 21, 2008 Severna Park High School 4A W 42–20 Gambrills, MD 11–1
November 28, 2008 Linganore High School 4A L 34–59 Linganore, MD 11–2

Source[45]

2007 Playoffs

In 2007 the Wildcats went 13–1, losing only to Quince Orchard High School in the Division 4A state finals.

Date Opponent Class W/L Score Location Record
November 16, 2007 North County High School 4A W 34–29 Gambrills, MD 11–0
November 23, 2007 Broadneck High School 4A W 49–20 Gambrills, MD 12–0
December 1, 2007 Suitland High School 4A W 14–13 Forestville, MD 13–0
December 7, 2007 Quince Orchard High School 4A L 30–36 Baltimore, MD 13–1

Source[45]

References

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  4. Annapolis, Maryland
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  17. http://www.aacps.org/html/schol/2010actual.pdf
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  42. Wanda Sykes Biography – Funny Girl, Became Writer and Comedian, Turned to Movies, Selected works
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  45. 45.0 45.1 45.2 MaxPreps Arundel High School Boys Football Fall 07-08 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name "maxpreps.com" defined multiple times with different content
  46. Arundel High School (13–1) – High School Football News Story – WRC | Washington

External links