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For other schools with the same name, see Seminole High School .
- Seminole High School is a public high school located in Sanford, Florida operated by the Seminole County School District. February 2007 Mike Gaudreau, a Seminole High School alumnus, became principal.
- In 2006, 2007 and 2008, Seminole High School was one of the schools in Seminole County on Newsweek's List Of Top 1,200 Schools in the United States. Seminole High is also known for being the only high school in Seminole County to offer the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme. Seminole High also offers the Academy for Health Careers which offers students a curriculum based on a future career in health care. Students take a Health class and health material is integrated into the curriculum of all other subjects. Seminole High also offers Advanced Placement courses in a range of subjects.
- School rankings
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In the 2007-2008 school year, the Florida Department of Education gave Seminole an "A" ranking. This was an improvement from 2006-2007's "C."
- History
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Sanford High School was built in 1902. In 1911 the student population necessitated the building of a new Sanford High School on Sanford Avenue. In 1927 a much larger building opened on French Avenue, and the school was renamed Seminole High School. By 1961 a new sprawling campus was opened at the present location on Ridgewood Avenue, and the old building on French Avenue became Sanford Junior High School (later renamed Sanford Middle School). Seminole High School has grown not only in the size of the campus, but also in student population - from the 4 female graduates in the Senior Class of 1907 to 555 graduates in 2007. The original building on 7th Street is now used as the Student Museum to represent the rich history of education in Seminole County.
- Renovation
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In 2004 Seminole High's Thespians were the first to use the center, producing The Pink Panther Strikes Again that month, starring Cory Hutson as Jacques Clouseau. Following this production was the Seminole High Band's Prism Showcase (5/8/08), and shortly after came the Seminole High Chorus's Spring Revue (5/22/08). All construction is scheduled for completion by the summer of 2008.
- Construction on a new building in the center of the campus was begun in Spring 2008 and is expected for completion in Spring 2009. The current name of it is building 10, but will be changed once the new name, which has been voted on, is chosen. It will be open temporarily until the end of the year for teachers of other classroom buildings that will be receiving renovations to move into until the end of the 2009 school year. It will open officially for the 2009-10 school year.
- Renovations on the cafeteria began in early 2009 and are expected to be finished for the 2009-10 school year. The current amount of renovations completed, and to be built, total about $50 million.
- Scholarships
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With the sudden death of beloved Coach Mickey Yasko, they students of Leadership Class 2004-2005 and the weightlifters whom he sponsored, a scholarship was created in his name for weightlifters in Seminole County High Schools for their college education.
- International Baccalaureate
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Seminole High offers both the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme and the last two years of the IB Middle Years Programme. Many Seminole High IB students begin the Middle Years Programme at one of two Seminole County middle schools which offer the program. Any student who has completed eighth grade and resides in Seminole County is eligible for the progam. Some see the IB Program as private school education at a public school cost. Most, if not all, Seminole High IB Diploma candidates are in the Middle Years Programme in their freshman and sophomore years. IB students at Seminole High must complete four years of English, history, mathematics, and Spanish or French and at least three years of experimental science. Upon entry to the Diploma Programme, Seminole High IB students currently can choose to pursue two of any of the following subjects: psychology, chemistry, biology, music theory, physics, and economics. At Seminole High, only the first four are offered for two years as "higher level" courses, while the others are only offered as one year "standard level courses". Seminole High IB students take their required Theory of Knowledge course in senior year.
- Alumni of Seminole High's IB Diploma Programme are currently represented at universities throughout the United States, including Harvard University, Duke University, Stanford University, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, the Georgia Institute of Technology, University of North Carolina, Yale University, University of Pennsylvania, Dartmouth College, Agnes Scott College, American University, Oglethorpe University, Georgetown University, Brandeis University, Carnegie Mellon University, Howard College, Vanderbilt University, Johns Hopkins University, Wellesley College, Kenyon College, and The University of Colorado, among others. Seminole High IB alumni also attend the United States Military Academy at West Point, the United States Coast Guard Academy, and United States Naval Academy.
- Extracurricular activities
- Performing arts
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Seminole High School students are active in all fields of performing arts, including music, dance, and drama.
- The Seminole High Chorus Department is under the direction of Bob Maguire, who has served at Seminole since the 1970s. In the field of vocal music, Seminole High offers the "Pizazz" all-girl show choir, Gospel Choir, "Destiny" Show Choir, "Fantasy" Show Choir, and "First Take" vocal ensemble. The SHS Gospel Choir, headed by Chorus Assistant Director Sarah Jones, is approximately 60 voices strong, with a band that includes a keyboard, synthesizer, drum set, bass guitar, and auxiliary percussion. "Fantasy" Show Choir is considered the training group of Seminole's chorus department and is assigned a student, one who is gifted in the art of dance, to choreograph the group. "First Take" Jazz Ensemble is a mixed vocal group made up of 12 voices (SATB). "Destiny" Show Choir and "Pizazz" Show Choir are Seminole's premier choirs and are two of the only functioning, competing show choirs in the state of Florida, and are accompanied by Seminole High's Show Band, consisting of a keyboard, synthesizer, drum set, bass guitar, auxiliary percussion, and two guitarists. "Destiny" and "Pizazz" are under the assistant direction of Maureen Maguire, Bob's wife. Destiny is choreographed by Shannon Maguire, their eldest daughter, and Pizazz is choreographed by Megan Maguire, the younger of the two Maguire children. Seminole's choirs have sung for the Candlelight Processional at Epcot as an honor choir for 20 years straight and participated in the opening of Animal Kingdom. Destiny Show Choir was featured in the ABC television program which covered the induction of Dick Clark into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Destiny Show Choir has claimed numerous national and state titles.
- Seminole also operates a full orchestra and band. The "Pride of the Tribe", a combination of the Seminole High School Marching Band and the "Dazzler" Dance Team, in 2008 were awarded superiors at the Florida Marching Festival for another year running.
- In dance, Seminole High School has the Dazzler Dance/Drill team. The Dazzler dance team, in its 23rd year of existence and 100 members growing, holds many national titles including: 1997, 2004, 2007 and 2008 national high kick titles at the National Dance Team Championship held at Walt Disney World. In 1999, 2001, 2005, and 2008 they received the title of National Champions at the MA National Championship in Texas. They also compete in state competitions in which they have been named Overall State Champion in Kick and Jazz for 5 straight years. The City of Sanford has awarded the Dazzlers 5 resolutions in their existence. The Dazzlers support Dancing for Diabetes, a student-run organization that raises money to support diabetes research. This show is in the fall and includes fine arts performances from students throughout Seminole County.
- Seminole High also has a step team (meets after school) which competes and has won titles in the Orlando Area.
- Seminole High School also hosts Troupe 3266 of the International Thespian Society.
- Athletics
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Seminole High School offers a multitude of interscholastic sports teams, including baseball, basketball, bowling, cheerleading, dance, track and cross country running, football, golf, lacrosse, soccer, softball, swimming and diving, tennis, volleyball, water polo, weightlifting, and wrestling.
- The Seminole High School Varsity football team attended the Florida State Finals on December 20, 2008. The team beat Miami Northwestern High School in the last 33 seconds of the game, with a 40-yard touchdown pass from All-American Aravious Armstrong to fellow All-American Andre Debose. Also, the swim team won the state championships the same year.
- Air Force Junior ROTC
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The School's Air Force JROTC unit FL-872 Color Guard has won numerous first place awards. The AFJROTC unit was named an "Distinguished Unit" for the 2005-2006 school year. Seminole High School is currently ranked as a five star school.
- Academic teams, honor societies, and similar activities
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Seminole High School students also participate in academic competitions and honor societies, such as Mu Alpha Theta, Model United Nations, Academic Tournament, Odyssey of the Mind, French Honor Society, German Honor Society, and Spanish Honor Society. In the spring of 2008, Seminole High's Model United Nations team, representing South Africa was one of two in the state named an Outstanding Delegation, equivalent to first place, at FHSMUN (Florida High Schools Model United Nations). Seminole High's Academic Tournament team is named Illuminati. The team also has achieved much success in local and regional competitions. Seminole's Odyssey of the Mind teams have as well. In 2006, one of Seminole High's teams made it to the Odyssey of the Mind world competition hosted in Kansas. Also, in 2008, Seminole swept the competition at regionals with all four teams receiving first place at the regional division at Markham Woods Middle School. However, only one of the teams, consisting of Andrew Cashe, Galin Dragiev, Daniel Kozin, Neil Patel, Omair Usmani, Zak Seed, and Thomas Zhang, won first place at the state division held at the University of Central Florida and will be going to the world competition at the University of Maryland.
- Seminole High School also hosts a chapter of National Honor Society, which notably assists in seasonal events hosted by the city of Sanford and in the American Cancer Society fundraising event Relay for Life.
- Other extracurricular activities
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Seminole High School students also participate in a variety of other organizations. The school has active clubs for Young Democrats and Young Republicans, volunteering organizations such as Key Club, Salvation for a Nation, a group that raises awareness of the Darfur Conflict, a Gay-Straight Alliance, and groups for enthusiasts of anime, American Sign Language, ballroom dance, ping pong, wildlife, business and economics and Ultimate Frisbee, among others.
- Notable alumni
- John F. Bolt - recipient of the Navy Cross and only Marine to achieve the title of ace in both World War II and the Korean War.
- Tim Raines - retired MLB player and current Chicago White Sox coach
- Jeff Blake - NFL quarterback for the Chicago Bears
- David Eckstein - MLB shortstop for the 2006 National Champion St. Louis Cardinals also voted MVP
- Hardy Rawls - actor on TV sitcom The Adventures of Pete & Pete
- Kevin Harris - Running back for the Wake Forest Demon Deacons
- Doug Marlette - Pulitzer Prize winning cartoonist and author
- Jeff Faine - NFL center for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Reggie Branch - Former running back for the Washington Redskins
- Walter Millis - Actor on variety show Having a Beer with Mike. Also known as Walter the Outlaw Clogger from morning radio show The Monsters in the Morning on WTKS 104.1
- D'Qwell Jackson - NFL linebacker for the Cleveland Browns. Led NFL in tackles in 2008.
- External links
- Seminole High School
- Home of Seminole High School Football
- Seminole High School Band
- Dazzler Dance Team
- The International Baccalaureate Program at Seminole High
- Source: Wikipedia; it is used under the GNU Free Documentation License. You may redistribute it, verbatim or modified, providing that you comply with the terms of the GFDL.
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