Kirkwood High School - AbsoluteAstronomy.com

Kirkwood High School is a [[secondary school]] in [[Kirkwood, Missouri]]. It is located at 801 W Essex Ave, Kirkwood, MO. The school is part of the [[Kirkwood R-7 School District]]. The current principal is Dr. Mike Havener who replaced Dr. David Holley after he retired at the end of the 2010-2011 school year.

History

Kirkwood High School as an academic institution has a history that dates back to 1865, when the Kirkwood School District was founded. A temporary building opened in the fall of 1866 and high school and elementary students attended school together. Jefferson Avenue School was the district's first formal school and was built in 1869. The Booker T. Washington School, which opened in 1869 on Adams near Geyer Rd was built for African-American students to attend. In 1888, the district built the Adams Avenue School next to the Jefferson School, which offered a two-year high school program for students completing elementary grades. In 1896, Kirkwood offered the first four-year high school program in St. Louis County; 10 students were members of the first graduating class in the spring of 1897. In 1922, a new, four-year high school was built on Kirkwood Road, where Nipher Middle School is currently located. The current campus of Kirkwood High School was opened in 1955 on a 47 acres (190,202.4 m²) campus and was designed with 7 buildings set on a college-like campus. Both Caucasian and African-American students were allowed to attend. New facilities from a 1993 tax/bond issue (Proposition I) included the Thomas N. Keating Performance Center, a fine arts complex that features an 821-seat theater, band, art and vocal music classrooms. The privately funded Walker Commons enclosed the theater lobby area connecting the Center to the main campus. Due to community support of Proposition I in April 2005, the new science building opened in August 2007. The science facility was designed to reflect current research and best practices in science education. The two-story structure measures 51000 square feet (4,738.1 m²) and features 15 combined science classrooms/laboratories, five each for chemistry, biology and physics. Each classroom/laboratory averages about 1500 square feet (139.4 m²) and is designed to facilitate the movement of students from discussion to hands-on activities. The district was also pleased to have the support of the Kirkwood School District Foundation, which volunteered to raise $1.6 million dollars in private funds to ensure students had immediate access to the science equipment and technology needed to mirror the recommendations in the National Science Foundation report to Congress. Also part of Prop I, construction of a new regulation-size gymnasium and renovation of the existing physical education facility began in the summer of 2007. The new facility was scheduled for completion in 2008 and was completed in March of that year. Prop I also funded a variety of infrastructure improvements at KHS including installation of a new fire alarm and sprinkler system as well as a decentralized heating and cooling system. In 2010, the Kirkwood High School Symphonic Orchestra traveled (in March) to New York to play at [[Carnegie Hall]]. During most of the year construction was made for an new football field and track. With the football finished in October and the track finished in early 2011. On May 28, 2011, the Class of 2011 graduated with almost 400 students at [[Chaifetz Arena]] .

Mission system

"The mission of the Kirkwood School District R-7, in a cooperative effort with parents and community, is to provide a world-class education to empower all learners to make wise choices throughout their lives and become assets to society." (Approved on February 3, 1993 by the Kirkwood R-7 School Board of Education)

Pep Club

The Kirkwood Pep Club is one of the school’s largest clubs. Pep Club promotes KHS traditions and encourages school spirit throughout every grade. During the Turkey Day season Pep Club is noticeably involved through hall decorations and a pep rally before the big Turkey Day game. Pioneer Pete is the spokesperson for Pep Club. He has been the mascot of KHS for many years.[[Image:|Alt:Kirkwood football fans cheering at a game.|Kirkwood Pep Club.]] Any Kirkwood High School student can be an active member in Pep Club if they have memorized all words to the Alma Mater.

Pioneer Pete

In the 2005-2006 school year, Kirkwood High raised enough money to add a mascot to the school. It was a pioneer costume, and the first mascot was Peter Broder. Since people around the school called him Pete, they named the mascot Pioneer Pete. To decide who is the new Pioneer Pete every year the Pep club votes on someone new every year.

Football

Kirkwood High School has a long-running [[American Football|football]] tradition that dates back over a hundred years. The rivalry between Kirkwood and the nearby high school, [[Webster Groves High School]], culminates every year on [[Thanksgiving]], at their "Turkey Day" game. In early 2010 construction began to make field. After the project was delay because of a removal of water pipes deep in the ground, the first home game on the new [[Field Turf]] was on October 1. http://www.thekirkwoodcall.com/news/2010/08/13/a-river-runs-through-it/. The head coach of the Kirkwood [[Varsity Team]] is Matt Irvin.

School profile

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Grades 9-12
Total enrollment: 1,884(2009-2010 School year)
First graduating class: 1897, 10 students
Senior class of 2010: 405
Senior class of 2011: 396
Student/teacher ratio: 18:1
Rate of attendance: 97.3%
Graduation rate: 99.5%
Average composite ACT score: 24
2011 National Merit Finalists: 7
2011 National Merit Semifinalists: 7
2011 National Merit Commended students: 9

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Notable alumni

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[[Scott Bakula]], class of 1973, actor
[[Brent Barcus]], class of 1989, Lead guitar for [[Shania Twain]], and formerly [[Stephen Curtis Chapman]]
[[Michael Gibbons]], class of 1977, Missouri State Senator
[[Kyle Hawkins]], class of 1989, former [[University of Missouri]] Men's lacrosse coach and gay rights pioneer
[[Edward J. Heising]], Valedictorian class of 1948, Electrical Engineer (Washington University 1952), U.S. Navy Electrical Officer of Special weapons Unit; worked with Jet Propulsion Laboratory, deep space exploration, designing communications systems for satellites that traveled to the outer planets.
[[Kent Layman]], class of 1994, 1998 All-American wide receiver for the [[University of Missouri]]
[[Jay Leeuwenberg]], Class of 1987, 1991 All-American Center for the [[Colorado Buffaloes|University of Colorado]], as well as NFL teams [[Kansas City Chiefs]], [[Chicago Bears]], [[Indianapolis Colts]], [[Cincinnati Bengals]], and [[Washington Redskins]]
[[Jeremy Maclin]], class of 2006, 2007 & 2008 All-American wide receiver for the [[University of Missouri]], NFL player for the Philadelphia Eagles
[[Art Miller]], Class of 1968, former NFL player for the [[Houston Oilers]] and [[Denver Broncos]]
[[Rick Stream]], Class of 1967, Missouri House of Representatives
[[Jim Talent]], Class of 1973, Missouri politician
[[Greg Warren (comedian)|Greg Warren]], Class of 1986, Stand up Comedian, All-American Wrestler University of Missouri
[[Lyle Waggoner]], class of 1954, actor
[[Chris Walker]], class of 1989, former US Ambassador to Malawi
[[Alvin Miller]], class of 1983, football player with University of [[University of Notre Dame|Notre Dame]], free agent with [[Buffalo Bills]]

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External links

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[http://www.kirkwoodschools.org/khs/ Kirkwood High School official website]

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