Central Valley High School, or CV, is a high school located in Spokane Valley, Washington. Central Valley is one of the three high schools in Central Valley School District #356.

History

Central Valley High School opened in January 1927, and was popular because it offered free transportation to and from the school. It grew fast with the support of the surrounding community, and hosted its first track meet the following spring. Over the next years, the school had gained a gymnasium, art rooms, a furnace, and a library. The school experienced several remodelings over the years. In 2002, the school was rebuilt after passing a bond issue, including a larger gymnasium for 2,200 seats, a state-of-the-art performing arts center, an advanced technological media center, a new commons area, and an overall expansion of the school.

Location and structure

The school is located at 821 S. Sullivan Rd. in Spokane Valley, WA. The building is built in a fairly rectangular design, with equal lengthed hallways on both sides of the central commons, and two smaller hallways in the back of the school for the technology and music wings. The track and football field are located north of the building, and the gyms are on the northeastern side of the school. A wide campus with two soccer fields and two baseball fields are located east and behind the school, and three parking lots and one soccer field are located west and in front of the building.

Band

Central Valley's band program comprises three in class bands: Symphonic Winds, Concert Winds, and the premier Wind Ensemble. Concert Winds and Wind Ensemble are audition-only groups, and Wind Ensemble is only open to students grades 10-12. CV also boasts 2 jazz bands, I and II, a marching band/colorguard, and basketball "pep band". The marching band is one of the most visible student groups on campus, and practices, much like other fall school-sponsored sports, from August to late October. Most recently, they won the first place in the NWAPA marching circuit with a score of a 93.9 for their show "Machine." The bands are directed by Eric Parker, a CVHS graduate (class of 1996) who received his B.A. in Arts from Eastern Washington University in 2002. Parker received his Masters in Conducting from Sam Houston State University in 2010. He assumed full responsibilities as director of bands in 2006. Since, he was selected by School Band and Orchestra Magazine as one of the "50 Teachers Who Make a Difference" for Washington state.

Choir

The Central Valley choir program, under director Mike Elliott, consists of an A Cappella Choir, a Women's Chorus, a Freshman Chorale, and a jazz choir known as Rhythm N'Blues. These groups regularly compete in choir competitions in the Pacific Northwest region.

Orchestra

In addition to the band program, the school has two orchestras: the concert orchestra, available to all strings students, and the chamber orchestra, which is composed of 16 auditioned members. The Central Valley Chamber Orchestra has experienced some success, taking 2nd place at the EWMEA Solo and Ensemble festival in the Large Group Strings division in the 2008/2009 season. Each year it performs at several free venues, and in 2009 made a small tour of the Spokane area. The concert orchestra has performed with the Spokane Symphony, and has annual performances in the Central Valley Performing Arts Center.

Cross country

The CV Cross Country team has experienced success in recent years. In 2006, the Bears placed at state for the first time in over 40 years, and earned a ranking as 24th in the nation on Harrier's Super 25.

Tennis

Central Valley has a boys' and girls' tennis program under the direction of coaches Brian Kreider and Stan Chalich.

Other sports

Central Valley also competes in other GSL league sports: boys' and girls' basketball, football, boys' and girls' golf, gymnastics, boys' and girls' soccer, boys' and girls' track & field, volleyball, wrestling, cheerleading, slow- and fast-pitch softball, and baseball.

Fight Song

Fight,fight,fight for CVHS, Win our Victory!,

For we will win the fight for our blue and white,

Best in the West so we'll all do our best,

So on,on,on,on fight till the end,

With honor and glory we shall win (Go Bears!),

So fight,fight,fight for CVHS and Vic-tor-y GO BEARS!,