Dubuque Senior High School
Encyclopedia
Dubuque Senior High School (commonly Senior or DSHS) is a four-year public high school located in Dubuque, Iowa
. It is one of three high schools in the Dubuque Community School District
, and enrolls 1,447 students in grades 9-12. Senior was founded in 1858, and is the oldest secondary school in Dubuque. The school's mascot is the Ram
; it competes at the state level in class 4A (which contains the state's largest schools) and is a member of the Mississippi Valley Athletic Conference.
, was opened in 1858 on the third floor of a building on the southwest corner of Central Avenue and 12th Street (currently the site of the old Prescott Elementary School playground). The school enrolled 110 students and had a staff of two teachers and one principal. The institution was moved to a building at 17th and Iowa Streets in 1859 and then closed until 1866. Reasons given for the closure included the start of the Civil War, economic depression, and a feeling among the residents of Dubuque that an elementary education was sufficient.
In 1866 the high school was reopened. The district's administrative office was moved to the high school in 1872.
A complete high school course in the early years was three years in length. The first graduating class in 1870 had only two students, Sarah M. Belden and Mary O. Dorgan. Only 25 students graduated from the program between 1870 and 1876. The original teaching staff included the principal and up to three teachers.
By 1877 most courses were extended to four years. A four-year Latin program, scientific and classical programs, and a two-year business course were offered. From 1877 to 1885 the number of graduates soared to 219. In 1895, the two-year business program was discontinued and the high school became strictly a four-year program.
In 1893 the proposal to issue bonds in the amount of $75,000 to purchase a site and erect a new high school on the corner of 15th and Locust Streets was approved by Dubuque voters by a margin of 956 to 235. Central High School, as it was called then, was dedicated in 1895. Central High School was constructed of coarse-cut Wisconsin red sandstone with massive arches and a soaring clock tower. The interior of the building featured maple and oak woodwork.
At a special election held in 1920, voters approved the construction of a new high school to be located at the corner of Seminary Street (Clarke Drive) and West Locust, the present site of Dubuque Senior High School. The land, purchased from the Sisters of Charity, B.V.M., cost $45,335. Dubuque Senior High School was built at a cost of $766,179 and was formally dedicated on February 9, 1923. Enrollment the first year reached 733 students. Much of the stone used to build the current building was quarried from the site.
With the help of funding from the Works Progress Administration (WPA), a girls' gymnasium, lockers, dressing rooms, shower room, football practice field, and band room were added to the school between 1923 and 1940.
A technical building and a gymnasium were dedicated on November 12, 1954. In 1964 Dalzell Field was dedicated to Coach Wilbur Dalzell, who later in 1968 joined the Iowa Coaches Hall of Fame. Additional classrooms and a library were added in 1965-1966 due to increasing enrollment. This three-story addition to the existing building created the enclosed courtyard.
The ever-increasing enrollment of the late 1960s brought the need for Dubuque's second high school. However, because of construction delays, the Stephen Hempstead Senior High School was not ready for classes on September 2, 1969. As a temporary solution to this dilemma, all Dubuque Senior High classes were shortened, with Senior students attending classes in the morning and Hempstead taking over in the afternoon. By January 1970, Hempstead opened its doors for the second semester and everyone's class schedule returned to normal.
The James J. Nora Gymnasium was dedicated on December 3, 1988, recognition of James J. Nora's many years of loyal service as a teacher, coach, employee, community leader, humanitarian, and exemplary role model for the youth of the community.
In 1990, a $5.3-million building addition to Senior High added departmental learning centers, a cafeteria/commons area, a new library, computer labs, and additional classrooms. Today, the Dubuque Senior High School facility comprises 288580 square feet (26,810 m²) of space to support greater educational opportunities.
In 2006 renovations began on the Lamb-Hedeman Auditorium with a new lighting system that is to be completed in early 2007. Further renovations are scheduled to begin in the summer of 2007, projects are expected to include the reopening of the balcony, new seating, a new stage floor, a new sound system and refurbishment of the house. Additional projects such as new rigging, and new curtains are also part of the plan for the auditorium.
, 99 (6.8%) were Black
, 17 (1.2%) were Asian
, and 5 (.3%) were American Indian
. 20 (1.4%) students were Hispanic, and may be of any race. Additionally, 721 (49.8%) were male
, and 726 (50.2%) were female
.
Jay Berwanger, first Hesimann trophy winner while at the University of Chicago, played his prep football at Dubuque Senior. While at Senior, he was named to the Iowa all-state team and was a varsity letter winner.
Amy Herrig- Named First Team All Big Ten (1998–99)…Led the Big Ten in rebounds (11.3 rpg) and double-doubles (16) in 1998-99…Named an Associated Press Honorable Mention All-America (1998–99)…Kodak District VI All-America (1998–99)…Earned a gold medal during the summer of 1997 while playing as a member of the U.S. World University Games Team.
Dubuque, Iowa
Dubuque is a city in and the county seat of Dubuque County, Iowa, United States, located along the Mississippi River. In 2010 its population was 57,637, making it the ninth-largest city in the state and the county's population was 93,653....
. It is one of three high schools in the Dubuque Community School District
Dubuque Community School District
The Dubuque Community School District is a school district based in Dubuque, Iowa . The DCSD, which operates schools in eastern Dubuque County, is the seventh largest school district in Iowa...
, and enrolls 1,447 students in grades 9-12. Senior was founded in 1858, and is the oldest secondary school in Dubuque. The school's mascot is the Ram
Domestic sheep
Sheep are quadrupedal, ruminant mammals typically kept as livestock. Like all ruminants, sheep are members of the order Artiodactyla, the even-toed ungulates. Although the name "sheep" applies to many species in the genus Ovis, in everyday usage it almost always refers to Ovis aries...
; it competes at the state level in class 4A (which contains the state's largest schools) and is a member of the Mississippi Valley Athletic Conference.
History
Dubuque High School, the first high school in Dubuque, IowaDubuque, Iowa
Dubuque is a city in and the county seat of Dubuque County, Iowa, United States, located along the Mississippi River. In 2010 its population was 57,637, making it the ninth-largest city in the state and the county's population was 93,653....
, was opened in 1858 on the third floor of a building on the southwest corner of Central Avenue and 12th Street (currently the site of the old Prescott Elementary School playground). The school enrolled 110 students and had a staff of two teachers and one principal. The institution was moved to a building at 17th and Iowa Streets in 1859 and then closed until 1866. Reasons given for the closure included the start of the Civil War, economic depression, and a feeling among the residents of Dubuque that an elementary education was sufficient.
In 1866 the high school was reopened. The district's administrative office was moved to the high school in 1872.
A complete high school course in the early years was three years in length. The first graduating class in 1870 had only two students, Sarah M. Belden and Mary O. Dorgan. Only 25 students graduated from the program between 1870 and 1876. The original teaching staff included the principal and up to three teachers.
By 1877 most courses were extended to four years. A four-year Latin program, scientific and classical programs, and a two-year business course were offered. From 1877 to 1885 the number of graduates soared to 219. In 1895, the two-year business program was discontinued and the high school became strictly a four-year program.
In 1893 the proposal to issue bonds in the amount of $75,000 to purchase a site and erect a new high school on the corner of 15th and Locust Streets was approved by Dubuque voters by a margin of 956 to 235. Central High School, as it was called then, was dedicated in 1895. Central High School was constructed of coarse-cut Wisconsin red sandstone with massive arches and a soaring clock tower. The interior of the building featured maple and oak woodwork.
At a special election held in 1920, voters approved the construction of a new high school to be located at the corner of Seminary Street (Clarke Drive) and West Locust, the present site of Dubuque Senior High School. The land, purchased from the Sisters of Charity, B.V.M., cost $45,335. Dubuque Senior High School was built at a cost of $766,179 and was formally dedicated on February 9, 1923. Enrollment the first year reached 733 students. Much of the stone used to build the current building was quarried from the site.
With the help of funding from the Works Progress Administration (WPA), a girls' gymnasium, lockers, dressing rooms, shower room, football practice field, and band room were added to the school between 1923 and 1940.
A technical building and a gymnasium were dedicated on November 12, 1954. In 1964 Dalzell Field was dedicated to Coach Wilbur Dalzell, who later in 1968 joined the Iowa Coaches Hall of Fame. Additional classrooms and a library were added in 1965-1966 due to increasing enrollment. This three-story addition to the existing building created the enclosed courtyard.
The ever-increasing enrollment of the late 1960s brought the need for Dubuque's second high school. However, because of construction delays, the Stephen Hempstead Senior High School was not ready for classes on September 2, 1969. As a temporary solution to this dilemma, all Dubuque Senior High classes were shortened, with Senior students attending classes in the morning and Hempstead taking over in the afternoon. By January 1970, Hempstead opened its doors for the second semester and everyone's class schedule returned to normal.
The James J. Nora Gymnasium was dedicated on December 3, 1988, recognition of James J. Nora's many years of loyal service as a teacher, coach, employee, community leader, humanitarian, and exemplary role model for the youth of the community.
In 1990, a $5.3-million building addition to Senior High added departmental learning centers, a cafeteria/commons area, a new library, computer labs, and additional classrooms. Today, the Dubuque Senior High School facility comprises 288580 square feet (26,810 m²) of space to support greater educational opportunities.
In 2006 renovations began on the Lamb-Hedeman Auditorium with a new lighting system that is to be completed in early 2007. Further renovations are scheduled to begin in the summer of 2007, projects are expected to include the reopening of the balcony, new seating, a new stage floor, a new sound system and refurbishment of the house. Additional projects such as new rigging, and new curtains are also part of the plan for the auditorium.
Students
In the 2007-2008 school year, DSHS enrolled 1,447 students. Of those, 1,306 (90.3%) were WhiteWhite American
White Americans are people of the United States who are considered or consider themselves White. The United States Census Bureau defines White people as those "having origins in any of the original peoples of Europe, the Middle East, or North Africa...
, 99 (6.8%) were Black
African American
African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
, 17 (1.2%) were Asian
Asian American
Asian Americans are Americans of Asian descent. The U.S. Census Bureau definition of Asians as "Asian” refers to a person having origins in any of the original peoples of the Far East, Southeast Asia, or the Indian subcontinent, including, for example, Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Japan,...
, and 5 (.3%) were American Indian
Native Americans in the United States
Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as...
. 20 (1.4%) students were Hispanic, and may be of any race. Additionally, 721 (49.8%) were male
Male
Male refers to the biological sex of an organism, or part of an organism, which produces small mobile gametes, called spermatozoa. Each spermatozoon can fuse with a larger female gamete or ovum, in the process of fertilization...
, and 726 (50.2%) were female
Female
Female is the sex of an organism, or a part of an organism, which produces non-mobile ova .- Defining characteristics :The ova are defined as the larger gametes in a heterogamous reproduction system, while the smaller, usually motile gamete, the spermatozoon, is produced by the male...
.
Curriculum
In addition to the variety of standard high school/college prep. classes, Senior also offers a variety of Advanced Placement courses as well. The AP subjects taught are World History, US History, Language and Composition, Statistics, Literature and Composition, Biology, Chemistry, Government, Economics, and Calculus. The Advanced Placement students that took the AP tests in 2006 earned Senior the 8th place in the state of Iowa for their scores.Notable alumni
- Jay BerwangerJay BerwangerJohn Jacob "Jay" Berwanger was an American football halfback born in Dubuque, Iowa. He was the first winner of the Downtown Athletic Club Trophy in 1935 ; the trophy is awarded annually to the nation's most outstanding college football player...
, first winner of the Heisman TrophyHeisman TrophyThe Heisman Memorial Trophy Award , is awarded annually to the player deemed the most outstanding player in collegiate football. It was created in 1935 as the Downtown Athletic Club trophy and renamed in 1936 following the death of the Club's athletic director, John Heisman The Heisman Memorial... - Amy Herrig, WNBA player for San Antonio Silver StarsSan Antonio Silver StarsThe San Antonio Silver Stars are a professional basketball team based in San Antonio, Texas, playing in the Western Conference in the Women's National Basketball Association . The team was founded in Salt Lake City, Utah before the league's inaugural 1997 season began; the team moved to San Antonio...
- Johnny OrrJohnny OrrJohn M. "Johnny" Orr is a retired American basketball player and coach, best known as the head coach of men's basketball at the University of Michigan and at Iowa State University.-Life as a player:...
, Dubuque Senior men's basketball coach - 1950s, University of MichiganUniversity of MichiganThe University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...
men's head basketball coach 1968-1980, and Iowa State UniversityIowa State UniversityIowa State University of Science and Technology, more commonly known as Iowa State University , is a public land-grant and space-grant research university located in Ames, Iowa, United States. Iowa State has produced astronauts, scientists, and Nobel and Pulitzer Prize winners, along with a host of...
men's head basketball coach 1981-1994 - Landon WilsonLandon WilsonLandon Wilson is a former American professional ice hockey right winger who last played for the Texas Stars of the AHL, where he served as team captain. He is the son of former NHL forward Rick Wilson.-Playing career:...
, NHL player for the Colorado AvalancheColorado AvalancheThe Colorado Avalanche are a professional ice hockey team based in Denver, Colorado, United States. They are members of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . The Avalanche have won the Stanley Cup twice, in 1995–96 and 2000–01. The franchise...
, Boston BruinsBoston BruinsThe Boston Bruins are a professional ice hockey team based in Boston, Massachusetts, USA. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . The team has been in existence since 1924, and is the league's third-oldest team and its oldest in the...
, Phoenix CoyotesPhoenix CoyotesThe Phoenix Coyotes are a professional ice hockey team based in Glendale, Arizona. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . They play their home games at Jobing.com Arena....
and Dallas StarsDallas StarsThe Dallas Stars are a professional ice hockey team based in Dallas, Texas. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . The team was founded during the 1967 NHL expansion as the Minnesota North Stars, based in Bloomington, Minnesota. The...
.
Principals
- Mr. J.M. Brainard 1866-1867
- Mr. W.H. Beach 1868-1875
- Mr. J.D. Wells 1876-1877
- Mr. Hiram L. Peet 1878-1885
- Mr. Frederick L. Parker 1886-1889
- Mr. David Compton 1890-1895
- Mr. E.D. Walker 1896-1899
- Mr. F.L. Smart 1900-1900
- Mr. G.S. Gochenauer 1901-1902
- Mr. F.L. Smart 1903-1906
- Mr. F.A. Anderson 1907-1914
- Mr. S.W. Ehrman 1915-1917
- Mr. Fred G. Stevenson 1918-1924
- Mr. M.S. Hallman 1925-1926
- Mr. Ralph W Johnson 1927-1944
- Mr. T. Eldon Jackson 1945-1947
- Mr. George W. Lee 1948-1965
- Dr. Roger A. Kampschroer 1966-1968
- Mr. David C. Darsee 1969-1971
- Mr. Donald H Kolsrud 1972-1986
- Mr. G. Larry Mitchell 1986-2005
- Ms. Kim Swift, 2005 - 2011
- Mr. Rick Colpitts 2011 - Present
DSHS Athletics
Dubuque Senior competes in the state's Class 4A, and is a member of the Mississippi Valley Conference, one of the state's oldest and most successful conferences. Senior has had a great deal of success at the conference and state levels over the years, and has been known in the state for its strong women's teams. Senior has won state championships in several sports, most recently winning the 2009 men's swimming state championship, the school's (and the city's) first swimming team title.Jay Berwanger, first Hesimann trophy winner while at the University of Chicago, played his prep football at Dubuque Senior. While at Senior, he was named to the Iowa all-state team and was a varsity letter winner.
Amy Herrig- Named First Team All Big Ten (1998–99)…Led the Big Ten in rebounds (11.3 rpg) and double-doubles (16) in 1998-99…Named an Associated Press Honorable Mention All-America (1998–99)…Kodak District VI All-America (1998–99)…Earned a gold medal during the summer of 1997 while playing as a member of the U.S. World University Games Team.
DSHS Theatre
The Dubuque Senior Theatre Department has been very successful over its history. The past two retired theatre directors (Ms. Sybil Lamb and Ms. Francis Hedeman) have both been inducted into the Iowa Thespian Hall of Fame. In the past 7 years, the DSHS Speech team has won 7 banners at the IHSSA All-State Contest (1 solo mime, 4 ensemble acting, 1 readers theatre, 1 One Act Play). During the 2008-2009, Senior production of "Almost, Maine" was 1 of 7 main-stage shows around the world selected to perform at the International Thespian conference. At the 2010 Iowa State Thespian conference, Senior performed "Rabbit Hole" on the Main Stage, as well as winning awards for 1st and 2nd place in duet acting, and 2nd place in solo mime. Their performance of "Rabbit Hole" also was selected to perform on the main-stage at the International Thespian conference in 2011.See also
- Dubuque Community School DistrictDubuque Community School DistrictThe Dubuque Community School District is a school district based in Dubuque, Iowa . The DCSD, which operates schools in eastern Dubuque County, is the seventh largest school district in Iowa...
- Dubuque, IowaDubuque, IowaDubuque is a city in and the county seat of Dubuque County, Iowa, United States, located along the Mississippi River. In 2010 its population was 57,637, making it the ninth-largest city in the state and the county's population was 93,653....
- List of high schools in Iowa