Algonquin Regional High School
Encyclopedia
Algonquin Regional High School is a public high school
located in Northborough
, Massachusetts
. The school serves the students of the Northborough-Southborough Regional School District (NSRSD) comprising both Northborough and neighboring Southborough
. Algonquin Regional's Superintendent is Charles E. Gobron, Ed.D. Gobron has served since April 10, 2007 after the late Superintendent Rosemary Joseph.
The Algonquin Boys' Varsity Soccer team captured two straight MIAA Division I State Titles in 2004 and 2005. In 2006, they returned to the State Final to play rival Saint John's Preparatory of Shrewsbury, but lost 4-1. Algonquin maintains a strong cross-town rivalry with Westborough High School, in which both teams compete in the annual Thanksgiving Day Football Game. In recent years, the Boys' and Girls' tennis teams have dominated Central Massachusetts competition, with the Boys' Varsity team capturing the Central Massachusetts Division Title in 2009 and the Girls' having an undefeated season and eventually winning the state title that same year (the Boys' lost to Longmeadow in the state semi-final). In 2010, the Girls' varsity tennis team received a #1 seeding in the state tournament. Girls' Varsity Gymnastics became State Champions in 2011 after an undefeated season, being named both League and Sectional Champions.
Below is a list of all varsity sports offered at Algonquin.
conference for the last four years. Algonquin's Art & Literary magazine is called Sachem, which publishes student art pieces and literary muses.
, Camerata Singers' group, Concert and Freshman choir, as well as Jazz I, Jazz II, Concert Band
, Symphonic Band, Orchestra
and Wind Ensemble. There are also two student-run a cappella ensembles for students who take music classes- one co-ed (Algonqapella) and one women-only (Ladies First). Extra-curricular activities include Algonquin Acoustic and Musicians Inspiring Change, two music groups that aim to benefit the community through student music performances in which all profits contribute to various charities.
High school
High school is a term used in parts of the English speaking world to describe institutions which provide all or part of secondary education. The term is often incorporated into the name of such institutions....
located in Northborough
Northborough, Massachusetts
Northborough is a town in Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. The official spelling of the town's name is "Northborough", but the shorter spelling "Northboro" is also used...
, Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
. The school serves the students of the Northborough-Southborough Regional School District (NSRSD) comprising both Northborough and neighboring Southborough
Southborough, Massachusetts
Southborough is an affluent town in Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. It incorporates the smaller villages of Cordaville, Fayville, and Southville. Its name is often informally shortened to Southboro, a usage seen on many area signs and maps. Its population was 9,767 at the 2010...
. Algonquin Regional's Superintendent is Charles E. Gobron, Ed.D. Gobron has served since April 10, 2007 after the late Superintendent Rosemary Joseph.
Academics
Algonquin Regional offers its students a multitude of courses within various disciplines such as Mathematics, Science, Applied Arts & Technology, Fine & Performing Arts, Health & Fitness, Foreign Languages (including Spanish, French, and Latin), and Instructional Support. College Preparatory courses are graded on a 4.0 scale, Honors courses are graded on a 5.0 scale, and Advanced Placement courses are graded on a 5.5 scale.Athletics
Algonquin soccer (both Boys' and Girls') has had a long-standing tradition of excellence throughout the years and to this day is one of the strongest sports at Algonquin. The Girls' upset of nationally ranked Acton-Boxborough in the 2010 Massachusett's State Final made local headlines and was even recognized by ESPN.The Algonquin Boys' Varsity Soccer team captured two straight MIAA Division I State Titles in 2004 and 2005. In 2006, they returned to the State Final to play rival Saint John's Preparatory of Shrewsbury, but lost 4-1. Algonquin maintains a strong cross-town rivalry with Westborough High School, in which both teams compete in the annual Thanksgiving Day Football Game. In recent years, the Boys' and Girls' tennis teams have dominated Central Massachusetts competition, with the Boys' Varsity team capturing the Central Massachusetts Division Title in 2009 and the Girls' having an undefeated season and eventually winning the state title that same year (the Boys' lost to Longmeadow in the state semi-final). In 2010, the Girls' varsity tennis team received a #1 seeding in the state tournament. Girls' Varsity Gymnastics became State Champions in 2011 after an undefeated season, being named both League and Sectional Champions.
| Algonquin Regional High School MIAA State Championships | |
|---|---|
| Sport | Years Won |
| Boys' Soccer | 2004, 2005 |
| Girls' Soccer | 2010 |
| Boys' Baseball | 2006 |
| Girls' Gymnastics | 2011 |
| Girls' Tennis | 2009 |
Below is a list of all varsity sports offered at Algonquin.
- Basketball
- Football
- Ice Hockey
- Tennis
- Field Hockey
- Lacrosse
- Swimming
- Cross-Country
- Track & Field
- Rugby
- Soccer
- Wrestling
- Volleyball
- Gymnastics
- Cheerleading
- Baseball
- Softball
- Skiing
- Golf
The Harbinger
The Harbinger is the official student newspaper of Algonquin Regional. It covers campus-wide events and athletic results in addition to some controversial topics within the school (i.e., debates over the school's renovations). The publication has received an Honorable Mention at every New England Scholastic Press AssociationNew England Scholastic Press Association
The New England Scholastic Press Association is an association based in Boston University's College of Communication. Its goal is to promote all forms of student journalism, such as student newspapers, broadcast programs, yearbooks, and magazines...
conference for the last four years. Algonquin's Art & Literary magazine is called Sachem, which publishes student art pieces and literary muses.
Sachem
Sachem is the literary and art magazine of Algonquin. It is published once a year and is entirely student-run. All poems, stories, artwork, and photography are contributed voluntarily by students. In the 2010-2011 it won Gold from Columbia, a prestigious award for literary magazines.Music at Algonquin
Algonquin Regional High School is distinct among public schools in the Northeast in regards to music, providing students with various opportunities to expand their artistic horizons. The Algonquin Music department consists of Chamber choirChamber choir
A chamber choir or group of chamber singers is the choral equivalent of a chamber ensemble, using voices instead of instruments. This prestigious choir will usually consist of 20-40 elite and dedicated singers. Several chamber choir formats exist, ranging from barbershop groups to exclusively...
, Camerata Singers' group, Concert and Freshman choir, as well as Jazz I, Jazz II, Concert Band
Concert band
A concert band, also called wind band, symphonic band, symphonic winds, wind orchestra, wind symphony, wind ensemble, or symphonic wind ensemble, is a performing ensemble consisting of several members of the woodwind instrument family, brass instrument family, and percussion instrument family.A...
, Symphonic Band, Orchestra
Orchestra
An orchestra is a sizable instrumental ensemble that contains sections of string, brass, woodwind, and percussion instruments. The term orchestra derives from the Greek ορχήστρα, the name for the area in front of an ancient Greek stage reserved for the Greek chorus...
and Wind Ensemble. There are also two student-run a cappella ensembles for students who take music classes- one co-ed (Algonqapella) and one women-only (Ladies First). Extra-curricular activities include Algonquin Acoustic and Musicians Inspiring Change, two music groups that aim to benefit the community through student music performances in which all profits contribute to various charities.
Notable alumni
- Mike ShermanMike ShermanMichael Francis "Mike" Sherman is the head coach of the Texas A&M Aggies football team. Prior to coaching the Aggies, he served as the head coach of the Green Bay Packers from the 2000–05 seasons. Sherman led the Packers to five consecutive winning seasons from 2000–04 and three divisional titles...
— former head coach of the Green Bay PackersGreen Bay PackersThe Green Bay Packers are an American football team based in Green Bay, Wisconsin. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Packers are the current NFL champions...
; current head coach of the Texas A&M AggiesTexas A&M Aggies footballThe Texas A&M Aggies football team represents Texas A&M University in college football. The Aggies have competed in the Big 12 Conference since the conference's inception in 1996. They will join the Southeastern Conference in July 2012. Texas A&M football has earned one national title and 18... - Mark "The Bird" FidrychMark FidrychMark Steven Fidrych , nicknamed "The Bird", was a Major League Baseball pitcher. He pitched his entire career for the Detroit Tigers ....
— former MLBMajor League BaseballMajor League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
pitcher - Ryan GallantRyan GallantRyan Gallant, is a professional skateboarder,his stance is goofy footed currently riding for Expedition One Skateboards, theeve Trucks, Bones Swiss Bearings, Gold Wheels, MOB Grip, Circa.- Career :...
— professional skateboarder - Nathaniel RaymondNathaniel RaymondNathaniel Raymond is an American human rights investigator, specializing in the prevention and detection of torture. Raymond is best known for his leadership of the anti-torture campaign at Physicians for Human Rights, and his usage of satellite surveillance in the South Sudan as part of the...
— human rights investigator and anti-torture advocate - Jon RadoffJon RadoffJon Radoff is an American entrepreneur, author and game designer. His work has focused on online communities, Internet media and computer games.Radoff dropped out to found NovaLink, an early internet service provider...
— internet entrepreneur and author. - Megan Braga - Adult film actress
Renovation
Ultimately, a $3 million renovation and expansion plan was approved by the district and renovations began in 2003. Due to failures associated with the general contractor, Eastern Contractors Inc., and need for dismissal of the contractor from the project, some delays in completion of the renovation project occurred. In 2005 the regional district fired the contractor from the project. The renovations and expansion efforts complete as a result of efforts by the school district representatives as of the 2008–2009 school year. The grand opening took place on September 4, 2008.Building
The school's hallways are labeled by letters and numbers (denoting the floor). Currently, letters go from A-H. Building architect, Alicia Conte, designed the only rotunda in the Massachusetts public High School system as the site for the buildings main entrance.Lower School
- A100 is the music wing. The band and chorus rooms, as well as the music library and new auditorium can be found there. The Upper school office is located in the adjacent lobby.
- B100 is a small connector hallway from C100 to E100. It features a few classrooms, mainly used for Health classes.
- E100 is a hallway that reaches towards the CGYM from D100. Cooking, Fashion, and Economics classes are held here. It also features a computer lab for music theory students.
- F100 is an administrative hallway, featuring Guidance and administrative offices. It stretches from the Cafeteria and G100 to the schools Rotunda, a massive circular two story structure located at the main entrance.
- G100 is the History hallway. G100 is either freezing or sauna-like - there is no in between. Inside is an 'alcove', where there are 4 classrooms. There is also a handicap access ramp, coined as "The Ramp", an homage to the original ramp which connected the school in the 1970s, prior to the renovation. The old ramp is historic in the school's history, being the setting of most senior pranks and freshman beatdowns in earlier generations.
C Corridor
- C100 is the first story of C corridor, and is a hallway parallel to 'H'. Marketing and Computer Exploration classes are held there. It is in close proximity to the school's two gymnasiums and was also the first corridor completed during the school's renovation. People with lockers in the C100 hallway have been known to complain that it is an utterly inconvenient, out-of-the-way location. This is an accurate statement.
- C200is the second story of C corridor. All of the Art classrooms and a few Science classrooms are in this hall.
D Corridor
- D100 is the longest hallway at Algonquin, and is the first story of D corridor. It is 130 meters long, and connects both 'C' and 'H' corridors. D100 also connects with G100 and E100 and has heavy traffic due to its convenient location. Few classes are held here - there are a few computer labs, Tiny Tomahawks, French, and the Library. 'Traffic Jams' have been known to occur during busy periods of the day (especially where E100 and D100, or G100 and D100 intersect). At the end of the hallway next to 'H', there is a set of stairs and a ramp.
- D200 is the second floor of D corridor. It features the bulk of Algonquin's science classrooms.
H Corridor
- H100 is a language hallway. The lockers are known to be larger in the 'H' hallways than in the rest of the school. All classrooms are located on one side of the hallway because it is partially underground. The Small Performance theater (known affectionately as the "Black Box" Theater) is located at the end of H, a small theater with a no formal "stage," designed for audiences of under 100 people. At the opposite end is the Cafeteria. 'H' corridor is parallel to 'C' corridor. Prior to the renovation this was called G corridor.
- H200 is the English hallway. The Lower school office is located here, as well as an entrance to the school. It connects to D200. Prior to the renovation this was called H corridor.
- H300 is the Math hallway, and 3rd story of H corridor. This is the highest point in the school - The H corridor is the only hallway with three stories. Prior to the renovation this was called J corridor