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Lafayette High School (Williamsburg, Virginia)
Encyclopedia
Lafayette High School is a public secondary school in James City County, Virginia
, just outside the city limits of Williamsburg, Virginia
. It is part of Williamsburg-James City County Public Schools
and is located at 4460 Longhill Road.
and Williamsburg City
. The school itself is located in James City County though it has a Williamsburg mailing address.
In 1997, half of its student body with the exception of rising seniors were moved to Jamestown High School
which opened to alleviate overcrowding at Lafayette. The Williamsburg area began to develop rapidly in the late 1990s and 2000s, which prompted the opening of Warhill High School
in 2007. Students were forced to redistrict.
Lafayette High School has a long tradition of a challenging theater program. The current director is Susan McCorry who was previously employed at Toano Middle School. Past musical productions at Lafayette include The Music Man, Bells are Ringing, My Fair Lady, Pippin, The Pajama Game, Applause, Lend me a Tenor, Tommy, 1940's Radio Hour, Jesus Christ Superstar, Zombie Prom, The Mystery of Edwin Drood and Footloose. Jack Poland was the drama teacher who turned a mediocre drama program into an exceptional one back in the 1970s. It was under his direction that the school produced it's best productions.
Lafayette High School has a major track and football program that has produced several professional athletes (see below). One is a track star and several became NFL football players famous for their running ability. Alumni Lawrence Taylor
is in the NFL Hall of Fame. He started like Clark Kent at Lafayette and New York Giants teammates nicknamed him Superman
. He is often called "the greatest defensive player of all time."
The Lafayette Band program was quite successful, winning grand championships at several band festivals since the school opened in the early 70’s under the direction of D. Keith Miller. During the period of the early 80's "Corp" style marching programs was introduced by Director John Ford and carried on by Director David Smith. The fledgling marching program was making great strides with the new competitive program. With the introduction of a solid marching program that further inspired the students to raise Lafayette's band program to a higher level, viewed as one of the top concert and jazz band programs in the state. The latter 80's brought a controversial change when Director Alan Wright took over and dismantled the highly popular marching band, changing it back to concert format band. This angered many alumnae students, parents and administrators who had built up the Marching Ram Band at great cost and effort, as it was highly popular with the local public. When Director Wright retired in the early 2000s, many alumnae cheered because the new Director T. Jonathan Hargis reestablished the marching program. The successful marching program now under Direction of Mr. Chris Smith has been advancing since his arrival with both a talented marching band as well as a strong concert and jazz program.
The mascot
is a ram and the sports teams currently play in the AA Bay Rivers District
and Region I
. Before Jamestown's opening, the Rams were in the AAA Peninsula District
. The Rams have won thirteen AA state titles. They have five girls swimming titles from 2004–2008; one in field hockey in 2003; three titles in boys swimming in 1999, 2000, and 2009; one in boys indoor track in 2005; one in boys outdoor track in 2005; one in AA Division 4 football in 2001; and two consecutive individual girls tennis singles titles from 2007-2008.
Art Club
Art Honor Society
ASL (American Sign Language) Club
Band
Chamber Choir
Dance Team
Debate Team
DECA
FBLA
Flag Squad
Forensics Team
French Club
French Honor Society
German Club
German Honor Society
Gay-Straight Alliance
Harmonics
Interact
Jazz Ensemble
Key Club
Latin Club
Latin Honor Society
The Lafayette Ledger
LESA
Literary Magazine
Logos
Model UN
Mu Alpha Theta (Math Honor Society)
National Honor Society
Operation Smile
Orchestra
Peer Partners
Project Reach-out
Quill and Scroll
Rams and Lambs
SCA
SGA
Scholastic Bowl
Show Choir
Spanish Honor Society
Student to Student
Student Athletic Trainers
TCE Skills USA
Thespian Society
Video Gaming Club
Yearbook
Past shows performed at Lafayette Include:
Grease,
Noises Off,
Pillow Talk
Footloose
,
The Mystery of Edwin Drood,
A Christmas Carol
,
Zombie Prom
,
The Who's Tommy,
Jesus Christ Superstar
,
Blood Wedding
, and
Scenes from The Grapes of Wrath
.
Past Directors Include:
Jack Poland,
Bill Snyder,
Gail Albert,
Rosemarie Allmann,
Phil Raybourn
James City County, Virginia
James City County is a county located on the Virginia Peninsula in the Hampton Roads metropolitan area of the Commonwealth of Virginia, a state of the United States. Its population was 67,009 , and it is often associated with Williamsburg, an independent city, and Jamestown which is within the...
, just outside the city limits of Williamsburg, Virginia
Williamsburg, Virginia
Williamsburg is an independent city located on the Virginia Peninsula in the Hampton Roads metropolitan area of Virginia, USA. As of the 2010 Census, the city had an estimated population of 14,068. It is bordered by James City County and York County, and is an independent city...
. It is part of Williamsburg-James City County Public Schools
Williamsburg-James City County Public Schools
The Williamsburg-James City County Public Schools is a combined public school division which serves the independent city of Williamsburg and James City County in the Virginia Peninsula area of the Hampton Roads region in southeastern Virginia.The system consists approximately 10,000 students in 14...
and is located at 4460 Longhill Road.
History
Lafayette High School opened in 1973 and served as the sole high school for James City CountyJames City County, Virginia
James City County is a county located on the Virginia Peninsula in the Hampton Roads metropolitan area of the Commonwealth of Virginia, a state of the United States. Its population was 67,009 , and it is often associated with Williamsburg, an independent city, and Jamestown which is within the...
and Williamsburg City
Williamsburg, Virginia
Williamsburg is an independent city located on the Virginia Peninsula in the Hampton Roads metropolitan area of Virginia, USA. As of the 2010 Census, the city had an estimated population of 14,068. It is bordered by James City County and York County, and is an independent city...
. The school itself is located in James City County though it has a Williamsburg mailing address.
In 1997, half of its student body with the exception of rising seniors were moved to Jamestown High School
Jamestown High School (Williamsburg, Virginia)
Jamestown High School is a public secondary school located in James City County, Virginia, just outside Williamsburg, Virginia. The school was opened in 1997, becoming the second of three high schools in the county. It is part of Williamsburg-James City County Public Schools and is located on...
which opened to alleviate overcrowding at Lafayette. The Williamsburg area began to develop rapidly in the late 1990s and 2000s, which prompted the opening of Warhill High School
Warhill High School
Warhill High School is a public high school operated by the Williamsburg-James City County Public Schools . Serving the joint school division of the independent city of Williamsburg and James City County, Virginia, the school is located at 4615 Opportunity Way, in the Lightfoot area of the...
in 2007. Students were forced to redistrict.
Lafayette High School has a long tradition of a challenging theater program. The current director is Susan McCorry who was previously employed at Toano Middle School. Past musical productions at Lafayette include The Music Man, Bells are Ringing, My Fair Lady, Pippin, The Pajama Game, Applause, Lend me a Tenor, Tommy, 1940's Radio Hour, Jesus Christ Superstar, Zombie Prom, The Mystery of Edwin Drood and Footloose. Jack Poland was the drama teacher who turned a mediocre drama program into an exceptional one back in the 1970s. It was under his direction that the school produced it's best productions.
Lafayette High School has a major track and football program that has produced several professional athletes (see below). One is a track star and several became NFL football players famous for their running ability. Alumni Lawrence Taylor
Lawrence Taylor
Lawrence Julius Taylor , nicknamed "L.T.", is a Hall of Fame former American football player. Taylor played his entire professional career as a linebacker for the New York Giants in the National Football League...
is in the NFL Hall of Fame. He started like Clark Kent at Lafayette and New York Giants teammates nicknamed him Superman
Superman
Superman is a fictional comic book superhero appearing in publications by DC Comics, widely considered to be an American cultural icon. Created by American writer Jerry Siegel and Canadian-born American artist Joe Shuster in 1932 while both were living in Cleveland, Ohio, and sold to Detective...
. He is often called "the greatest defensive player of all time."
The Lafayette Band program was quite successful, winning grand championships at several band festivals since the school opened in the early 70’s under the direction of D. Keith Miller. During the period of the early 80's "Corp" style marching programs was introduced by Director John Ford and carried on by Director David Smith. The fledgling marching program was making great strides with the new competitive program. With the introduction of a solid marching program that further inspired the students to raise Lafayette's band program to a higher level, viewed as one of the top concert and jazz band programs in the state. The latter 80's brought a controversial change when Director Alan Wright took over and dismantled the highly popular marching band, changing it back to concert format band. This angered many alumnae students, parents and administrators who had built up the Marching Ram Band at great cost and effort, as it was highly popular with the local public. When Director Wright retired in the early 2000s, many alumnae cheered because the new Director T. Jonathan Hargis reestablished the marching program. The successful marching program now under Direction of Mr. Chris Smith has been advancing since his arrival with both a talented marching band as well as a strong concert and jazz program.
Campus
The main office is located right at the main entrance of the school. The wide hallway opens up into the "upper commons". The cafeteria is located in this area. There are three lines for purchasing food. The auditorium is located to the left. Three large hallways branch out from the "upper commons." A smaller hallway leads to the girls locker room and the weight room used for athletic training. The first hallway across from the main office leads to the marketing classes, the gymnasium, the boys locker room, and the trailers, which will no longer be in use after the 2007-2008 school year. There are two hallways which parallel the sides the auditorium. The first is known as the ramp. Another hallway at the top of the ramp leads to the fine arts classrooms. The other hallway leads to "the stairs. Another hallway branches off here as well. It leads to the mathematics and art classrooms. At the end of "the ramp" and "the stairs" is the "lower commons." The lower commons is a smaller gathering area that is busy when classes are changing. The Media Center is located at the back of the "lower commons." A loop goes around the media center. On one side is the semicircular world language and science hallway. On the outside of the semicircle is a pair of well equipped computer labs. On the other side is the social studies and technology hallway. At the back of the loop surrounding the Media Center is the entrance/exit to the bus loop. Two hallways bramch off from the "lower commons." One leads to the small lecture hall and the fine arts hallway. The other leads to math hallway and the social studies hallway.Demographics
Lafayette High School's student body is 74% White; 21% Black; 3% Hispanic; and 2% Asian.Enrollment History
| School Year | Number of Students |
|---|---|
| 1995–1996 | 1,949 |
| 1996–1997 | 1,980 |
| 1997–1998 | 1,314 |
| 1998–1999 | 1,219 |
| 1999–2000 | 1,292 |
| 2000–2001 | 1,351 |
| 2001–2002 | 1,391 |
| 2002–2003 | 1,418 |
| 2003–2004 | 1,478 |
| 2004–2005 | 1,536 |
| 2005–2006 | 1,624 |
| 2007–2008 | 1,320 |
Culture
Lafayette High School has several activities throughout the year. The first big occasion is the typical Spirit Week and Homecoming Dance. Lafayette is known in the school district for having a parade in Colonial Williamsburg that features each class making a float to accompany their class princes/princesses/kings/queens. A number of clubs also participate as well. During the past several years, the Operation Smile club has hosted a Sadie Hawkens Dance as a fundraiser. The sophomore class occasionally holds their Ring Dance at the school. Prom and After Prom have also been held at the school in past years. The school also has pep rallies for every sports season (Fall, Winter, and Spring).Athletics
Mascot
The term mascot – defined as a term for any person, animal, or object thought to bring luck – colloquially includes anything used to represent a group with a common public identity, such as a school, professional sports team, society, military unit, or brand name...
is a ram and the sports teams currently play in the AA Bay Rivers District
AA Bay Rivers District
The AA Bay Rivers District is one of the four districts of AA Region I of the Virginia High School League which typically holds schools in the Hampton Roads metropolitan area...
and Region I
AA Region I
Region I is one of the four AA regions of the Virginia High School League. It is made up of four districts: the AA Battlefield District, the AA Bay Rivers District, the A/AA Eastern Shore District, and the AA Southside District...
. Before Jamestown's opening, the Rams were in the AAA Peninsula District
AAA Peninsula District
In the USA, the Peninsula District is one of the four districts in the AAA Eastern Region of the Virginia High School League. It consists of the public high schools in the cities of Hampton and Newport News, plus Gloucester High School in Gloucester County....
. The Rams have won thirteen AA state titles. They have five girls swimming titles from 2004–2008; one in field hockey in 2003; three titles in boys swimming in 1999, 2000, and 2009; one in boys indoor track in 2005; one in boys outdoor track in 2005; one in AA Division 4 football in 2001; and two consecutive individual girls tennis singles titles from 2007-2008.
Clubs
Lafayette has a number of clubs that have been around for years. They include:Art Club
Art Honor Society
ASL (American Sign Language) Club
Band
Chamber Choir
Dance Team
Debate Team
DECA
FBLA
Flag Squad
Forensics Team
French Club
French Honor Society
German Club
German Honor Society
Gay-Straight Alliance
Harmonics
Interact
Jazz Ensemble
Key Club
Latin Club
Latin Honor Society
The Lafayette Ledger
LESA
Literary Magazine
Logos
Model UN
Mu Alpha Theta (Math Honor Society)
National Honor Society
Operation Smile
Orchestra
Peer Partners
Project Reach-out
Quill and Scroll
Rams and Lambs
SCA
SGA
Scholastic Bowl
Show Choir
Spanish Honor Society
Student to Student
Student Athletic Trainers
TCE Skills USA
Thespian Society
Video Gaming Club
Yearbook
Theatre
The Lafayette High School Theatre Department has undergone several changes in direction in the past few years. The current teacher is Williamsburg/James City County 2004 Middle School Teacher of the Year, Suzan McCorry.Past shows performed at Lafayette Include:
Grease,
Noises Off,
Pillow Talk
Footloose
Footloose (musical)
Footloose is a 1998 musical based on the 1984 film of the same name. The music is by Tom Snow , the lyrics by Dean Pitchford , and the book by Pitchford and Walter Bobbie.-Act 1:...
,
The Mystery of Edwin Drood,
A Christmas Carol
A Christmas Carol
A Christmas Carol is a novella by English author Charles Dickens first published by Chapman & Hall on 17 December 1843. The story tells of sour and stingy Ebenezer Scrooge's ideological, ethical, and emotional transformation after the supernatural visits of Jacob Marley and the Ghosts of...
,
Zombie Prom
Zombie Prom
Zombie Prom is an Off-Broadway musical, also adapted into a short film. It was first produced at the Red Barn Theatre, Key West, Florida in 1993. It opened off-Broadway in New York City at the Variety Arts Theatre in 1996. It opens November 2009 in London with a UK Premiere at the off-west end...
,
The Who's Tommy,
Jesus Christ Superstar
Jesus Christ Superstar
Jesus Christ Superstar is a rock opera by Andrew Lloyd Webber, with lyrics by Tim Rice. The musical started off as a rock opera concept recording before its first staging on Broadway in 1971...
,
Blood Wedding
Bodas de sangre
Blood Wedding is a tragedy by the Spanish dramatist Federico García Lorca. It was written in 1932 and first performed in Madrid in March 1933 and later that year in Buenos Aires...
, and
Scenes from The Grapes of Wrath
The Grapes of Wrath (play)
The Grapes of Wrath is a 1988 play adapted by Frank Galati from the classic John Steinbeck novel of the same name, with incidental music by Michael Smith. The play debuted at the Steppenwolf Theatre in Chicago, followed by a May 1989 production at the La Jolla Playhouse in San Diego and a June 1989...
.
Past Directors Include:
Jack Poland,
Bill Snyder,
Gail Albert,
Rosemarie Allmann,
Phil Raybourn
Notable alumni
- Lawrence TaylorLawrence TaylorLawrence Julius Taylor , nicknamed "L.T.", is a Hall of Fame former American football player. Taylor played his entire professional career as a linebacker for the New York Giants in the National Football League...
, retired Hall of Fame American football player who played his entire career as a linebacker for the NFL's 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...
. Also holds the Giants career sack record with 142. - Ron SpringsRon SpringsRonald Edward "Ron" Springs was a professional American football running back, who played eight seasons in the NFL, for the Dallas Cowboys from 1979–1984, followed by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 1985-1986. He is the father of NFL cornerback Shawn Springs...
, former running back for the NFL's Dallas CowboysDallas CowboysThe Dallas Cowboys are a professional American football franchise which plays in the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League . They are headquartered in Valley Ranch in Irving, Texas, a suburb of Dallas...
and Tampa Bay BuccaneersTampa Bay BuccaneersThe Tampa Bay Buccaneers are a professional American football franchise based in Tampa, Florida, U.S. They are currently members of the Southern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League – they are the only team in the division not to come from the old NFC West...
. - Mel Gray, former kick returner for the NFL's New Orleans SaintsNew Orleans SaintsThe New Orleans Saints are a professional American football team based in New Orleans, Louisiana. They are members of the South Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League ....
, Detroit LionsDetroit LionsThe Detroit Lions are a professional American football team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League , and play their home games at Ford Field in Downtown Detroit.Originally based in Portsmouth, Ohio and...
, Houston Oilers and the Philadelphia EaglesPhiladelphia EaglesThe Philadelphia Eagles are a professional American football team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
. - Seneca LassiterSeneca LassiterSeneca Lassiter is an American former middle distance runner who specialized in the 1500 meters.-High school career:Lassiter ran for Lafayette High School in Williamsburg, Virginia. As a junior in 1994, he won both the National Scholastic indoor and outdoor mile run championships...
,1997, 2002 U.S. Outdoor 1,500m champ; 2001 U.S. Indoor mile champ; 1997, 98 NCAA 1500 champ; 1999 & 2001 USA 1,500m runner-up. - Mark MortonMark MortonMark Morton may refer to:* Mark Morton , New South Wales politician* Mark Morton * Mark Morton , co-founder of Morton Salt* Mark Morton , guitarist with Lamb of God...
, guitar player for the heavy metal band Lamb of GodLamb of God (band)Lamb of God is an American heavy metal band from Richmond, Virginia. Formed in 1994, the group consists of vocalist Randy Blythe, guitarists Mark Morton and Willie Adler, bassist John Campbell, and drummer Chris Adler... - Michael Derks, Balsac, the Jaws of Death, guitars for the heavy metal band GWARGWARGwar is a satirical heavy metal band formed in Richmond, Virginia, United States, in 1984. The band is best known for its elaborate science fiction/horror film inspired costumes, obscene lyrics and graphic stage performances, which feature humorous enactments of politically and morally taboo...
- Mark CarnevaleMark CarnevaleMark Kevin Carnevale is an American professional golfer.Carnevale was born in Annapolis, Maryland, where his father, Ben, was the head basketball coach at the United States Naval Academy. He attended Lafayette High School in Williamsburg, Virginia, and later was a standout golfer at James Madison...
, professional golfer, winner of 1992 Chattanooga Classic and 1992 PGA Tour Rookie of the Year. - Although Bruce HornsbyBruce HornsbyBruce Randall Hornsby is an American singer, pianist, accordion player, and songwriter. Known for the spontaneity and creativity of his live performances, Hornsby draws frequently from classical, jazz, bluegrass, folk, Motown, rock, blues, and jam band musical traditions with his songwriting and...
, three time Grammy AwardGrammy AwardA Grammy Award — or Grammy — is an accolade by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences of the United States to recognize outstanding achievement in the music industry...
winning pianist and singer, has been listed as an alumnus of Lafayette High School, he actually was in the last graduating class of James Blair High School, Williamsburg, Virginia, in June 1973. - Maj. Anthony Mulhare, current Advance Pilot/Narrator for the United States Air Force Thunderbirds. Currently flies the number 8 jet on the team.