Damascus High School
Encyclopedia
Damascus High School is a high school located at 25921 Ridge Road in Damascus
, an unincorporated community in Montgomery County, Maryland
.
The school principal is Mr. Robert Domergue and assistant principals are Ms. Karen Rose, Dr. Andrei Ghelman, and Dr. Gregory Pleasant.
Its feeder schools are John T. Baker Middle School
and Rocky Hill Middle School.
Damascus High School was built in 1950 (26,600 square feet) with major additions added in 1951 (11,790 square feet), 1958 (21,339 square feet), 1963 (33,852 square feet), 1964 (30,297 square feet), 1971 (2,126 square feet), 1975 (40,017 square feet), 1977 (35,700 square feet) 1993 (32,892 square feet) and 2004 (1,373 square feet addition and 2025 square feet (188.1 m²) of renovation of the original 1950 building). The building now totals 235986 square feet (21,923.8 m²).
Every year in early or mid-August before the school year begins, members of the DHS senior class will gather for the annual Press Box Painting. The senior class constructs some form of slogan or saying which will rhyme with the senior class's year of graduation.
Past sayings have been "Proud to Bee 2003", "Forever More, 2004", "Outta the Hive, 2005", "The Best Class to Hit D-Mass, 2006", "Ready N Revin, 2007", "Dominate, 2008", "We Define 2009", and "Perfect10n".
During the 2005-2006 school year, the school added a second story to its Press Box, and the DHS class of 2007 was the first class to paint the new Press Box addition.
Currently the message on the Press Box reads "It Feels So Nice To Bee Number 1 Twice".
On-Site Graduation
Every year for several decades now, Damascus graduations have been held on campus either on the football field (weather permitting) or indoors in the auditorium or gym. This is a time honored tradition that has proven itself overwhelmingly popular with students and families, and was favored by over an 80% majority of families in the Class of 2011. The tradition keeps the ceremony at a location with great sentimental meaning to many students, and keeps travel time low for their families.
, the junior class would select blue
, the sophomore class assigned white
and the freshman class wears purple
.
On the night of the Homecoming football
game, about an hour before the game begins, there is a parade starting from the end of Bethesda Church Road, and ending in the DHS parking lot. The parade consists of the Damascus High School Hornet Marching Band, the cheerleading and pom squad, members of the DHS Homecoming Court, and each grade level's Homecoming float.
During halftime of the football game, the winning grade levels of Homecoming Week are announced, and the Homecoming Court is also announced, with the members walking across the middle of the football field between the members of the DHS Marching Band.
Since 1990, Damascus teams have won a total of 19 state championships, more than almost any other school in the state.
Rivalries
Damascus High School's most heated rivalries (stemming primarily from football) are with Seneca Valley High School of Germantown, Quince Orchard High School of Gaithersburg, Sherwood High School of Sandy Spring, and Clarksburg High School of Clarksburg. Other rivals in years past were Northwest High School of Germantown and Linganore High School of Bartonsville.
Damascus, Maryland
Damascus is a census-designated place and an unincorporated area in Montgomery County, Maryland, United States.In the early part of the 20th century, there was an incorporated municipality there for about a quarter century, but it no longer exists...
, an unincorporated community in Montgomery County, Maryland
Montgomery County, Maryland
Montgomery County is a county in the U.S. state of Maryland, situated just to the north of Washington, D.C., and southwest of the city of Baltimore. It is one of the most affluent counties in the United States, and has the highest percentage of residents over 25 years of age who hold post-graduate...
.
The school principal is Mr. Robert Domergue and assistant principals are Ms. Karen Rose, Dr. Andrei Ghelman, and Dr. Gregory Pleasant.
Its feeder schools are John T. Baker Middle School
John T. Baker Middle School
John T. Baker Middle School, or Baker Middle School, is a public school for students in grades 6, 7 and 8 located in Damascus, Maryland. Baker opened in 1971 as a junior high school for students in grades 7 and 8. It was later converted into a middle school....
and Rocky Hill Middle School.
Damascus High School was built in 1950 (26,600 square feet) with major additions added in 1951 (11,790 square feet), 1958 (21,339 square feet), 1963 (33,852 square feet), 1964 (30,297 square feet), 1971 (2,126 square feet), 1975 (40,017 square feet), 1977 (35,700 square feet) 1993 (32,892 square feet) and 2004 (1,373 square feet addition and 2025 square feet (188.1 m²) of renovation of the original 1950 building). The building now totals 235986 square feet (21,923.8 m²).
Traditions
Press BoxEvery year in early or mid-August before the school year begins, members of the DHS senior class will gather for the annual Press Box Painting. The senior class constructs some form of slogan or saying which will rhyme with the senior class's year of graduation.
Past sayings have been "Proud to Bee 2003", "Forever More, 2004", "Outta the Hive, 2005", "The Best Class to Hit D-Mass, 2006", "Ready N Revin, 2007", "Dominate, 2008", "We Define 2009", and "Perfect10n".
During the 2005-2006 school year, the school added a second story to its Press Box, and the DHS class of 2007 was the first class to paint the new Press Box addition.
Currently the message on the Press Box reads "It Feels So Nice To Bee Number 1 Twice".
On-Site Graduation
Every year for several decades now, Damascus graduations have been held on campus either on the football field (weather permitting) or indoors in the auditorium or gym. This is a time honored tradition that has proven itself overwhelmingly popular with students and families, and was favored by over an 80% majority of families in the Class of 2011. The tradition keeps the ceremony at a location with great sentimental meaning to many students, and keeps travel time low for their families.
Homecoming
Damascus High School is very school spirited during Homecoming Week. Every day of Homecoming Week consists of a different theme, in which each grade level is assigned a different topic under that theme. For example, on color day, the senior class usually picks redRed
Red is any of a number of similar colors evoked by light consisting predominantly of the longest wavelengths of light discernible by the human eye, in the wavelength range of roughly 630–740 nm. Longer wavelengths than this are called infrared , and cannot be seen by the naked eye...
, the junior class would select blue
Blue
Blue is a colour, the perception of which is evoked by light having a spectrum dominated by energy with a wavelength of roughly 440–490 nm. It is considered one of the additive primary colours. On the HSV Colour Wheel, the complement of blue is yellow; that is, a colour corresponding to an equal...
, the sophomore class assigned white
White
White is a color, the perception of which is evoked by light that stimulates all three types of color sensitive cone cells in the human eye in nearly equal amounts and with high brightness compared to the surroundings. A white visual stimulation will be void of hue and grayness.White light can be...
and the freshman class wears purple
Purple
Purple is a range of hues of color occurring between red and blue, and is classified as a secondary color as the colors are required to create the shade....
.
On the night of the Homecoming football
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
game, about an hour before the game begins, there is a parade starting from the end of Bethesda Church Road, and ending in the DHS parking lot. The parade consists of the Damascus High School Hornet Marching Band, the cheerleading and pom squad, members of the DHS Homecoming Court, and each grade level's Homecoming float.
During halftime of the football game, the winning grade levels of Homecoming Week are announced, and the Homecoming Court is also announced, with the members walking across the middle of the football field between the members of the DHS Marching Band.
Athletics
Damascus High School has a strong history in athletics, and is regarded as having one of the top athletic programs in the D.C. Metro area. Some notable achievements include:- Football- 7 state championships (1981, 1992, 1993, 1996, 2003, 2005, 2007), 3 finalists (1989, 1990, 2004)
- Maryland Poms State Champions (2003)
- Boys Cross Country- 3 state championships (1961, 1965, 2009), 3 second place finishes (1960, 1995, 1996)
- Girls Cross Country- 1 state championship (1994), 1 second place finish (1995)
- Golf- 1 state championship (1993), 2 second place finishes (1990, 1991)
- Volleyball- 2 finalists (1978, 2006)
- Wrestling (Tournament)- 3 state championships (1994, 1996, 1999), 2 second place finishes (1995, 2000)
- Wrestling (Dual)- 2 state championships (1995, 1999), 3 finalists (1994, 2006, 2007)
- Boys Basketball- 1 state championship (1949)
- Boys Indoor Track- 1 second place finish (1990)and Wil Zahorodny ran the fastest 500 m in the U.S in 2008(boys regional champs 2009), state champions 2009
- Girls Indoor Track- 1 state championship (1997)(girls regional champs 2009), 2nd place state championship by 1 point
- Baseball- 2 state championships (1998, 2000), 1 finalists (1978)
- Softball- 3 state championships (1987, 1992, 1994), 6 finalists (1982, 1991, 1993, 2000, 2005, 2007)
- Boys Track and Field- 1 finalist (1959)
- Girls Track and Field - 2 finalists (1979, 1997)
Since 1990, Damascus teams have won a total of 19 state championships, more than almost any other school in the state.
Rivalries
Damascus High School's most heated rivalries (stemming primarily from football) are with Seneca Valley High School of Germantown, Quince Orchard High School of Gaithersburg, Sherwood High School of Sandy Spring, and Clarksburg High School of Clarksburg. Other rivals in years past were Northwest High School of Germantown and Linganore High School of Bartonsville.
Notable alumni
- Christian M. M. BradyChristian M. M. BradyChristian M. M. Brady is an American targumist, Jewish studies scholar and academic. He is Dean of the Schreyer Honors College, Penn State University and is an Associate Professor of Classics and Ancient Mediterranean Studies and Jewish Studies...
, Class of 1986, Dean of the Schreyer Honors CollegeSchreyer Honors CollegeThe Schreyer Honors College is the honors program of the Pennsylvania State University. Founded in 1980 as the University Scholars Program, it was expanded and renamed in 1997 in response to a $30 million gift by William and Joan Schreyer...
, Penn State University. - Brian StelterBrian StelterBrian Stelter is a media reporter for the New York Times and the former editor of the news-related blog TVNewser.com.-Biography:...
, Class of 2003, media reporter for the New York Times.
- Kevin ThompsonKevin ThompsonKevin Thompson may refer to:*Kevin Thompson , Major League Baseball player*Kevin Thompson , professional basketball player*Kevin Thompson , pastor from San Leandro, California convicted of shark smuggling...
(football), played in the NFL for Cleveland BrownsCleveland BrownsThe Cleveland Browns are a professional football team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are currently members of the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
, Buffalo BillsBuffalo BillsThe Buffalo Bills are a professional football team based in Buffalo, New York. They are currently members of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
, and New York GiantsNew York GiantsThe New York Giants are a professional American football team based in East Rutherford, New Jersey, representing the New York City metropolitan area. The Giants are currently members of the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
, played in college for Penn State University.
- Casandra Tressler, Class of 2003, Miss Maryland USAMiss Maryland USAThe Miss Maryland USA competition is the pageant that selects the representative for the state Maryland in the Miss USA pageant. The pageant is directed by D&D Investments....
2008.