Moon Valley High School
Encyclopedia
Moon Valley High School is located in Phoenix, Arizona
, USA, and is a part of the Glendale Union High School District
. It is currently home to more than 1677 students and 100 faculty members. Moon Valley is one of Arizona's leading educational establishments and is an excelling school according to the Arizona Department of Education
. Moon Valley High School is located at 3625 W Cactus Rd., Phoenix, Arizona 85029.
As the years went by, the faculty grew from the original 25 instructors to the current number of 100, and the enrollment boundaries are now from Peoria Avenue in the south, with the northern bound at Thunderbird Road between I-17 and 39th Avenue, and from 39th Avenue to 51st Avenue along Sweetwater Road. The major east and west boundaries of Black Canyon Freeway (Interstate 17
) to 51st Avenue, with 39th Avenue as a minor bound between the northernmost bound of Thunderbird Road to 1/2 mile south at Sweetwater Road. Student enrollment in 2010-11 is 1,677.
The new school was named "Moon Valley" because it was indicated on maps that the local area called Moon Valley area was near the new school. Many protest letters were written to the Board of Education stating that the school should be called either Deer Valley High (as the school was actually located in Deer Valley), Northwest High (being at the time the furthest NW school in the district), John F. Kennedy High (in honor of the late President) or Westown High (sharing the name with the local housing development which surrounded the school). The controversy raged for many months with petitions pouring in from the community, both for and against the name. The board, however, stuck with the original name, stating the Glendale Union High School District
schools are neither named after people nor directions, since that was the fashion Phoenix Union High School District
named its schools.
Mr. Don Reed, an engineer at General Electric
, contacted Hughes Aircraft
and was able to have donated an AIM-4 Falcon
air-to-air guided missile shell for use as a mascot. In accordance with this, the student body chose the mascot name, "Rockets." The school colors are scarlet red, royal blue and white.
Because there was no grass that first year, flower beds were planted around the school. Students refused to let janitors take out all the flowers, so the flowers have become a permanent fixture on the grounds.
Mr. Victor E. Lowman was Moon Valley's first principal for three and a half years. Moon Valley's present principal is Mr. Craig Mussi. The Rockets' administration also consists of Kris Willis, assistant principal (AP) for student services; Eddie Lopez, AP of operations and resources; and Nathan Kleve, AP of discipline and attendance.
Moon Valley became a closed campus in the fall of 2002, which means that students stay within campus grounds throughout the day.
During the years of the "mini-skirt" and "sideburns," the dress code was a problem. The girls would roll up their skirts to make them shorter. When they were sent to the office, they would roll them down as if their skirts were never short. This didn't last very long. Things haven't changed so very much, but currently it is girls' short shirts that are getting pulled down, attempting to meet current dress code standards.
In the 1972-73 school year Moon Valley was on double session due to a quickly growing metropolitan area, which placed a strain on many districts in the area. Thunderbird High School
was under construction some two miles east of Moon Valley, but was not yet open. The Moon Valley students came in the morning, while the students who would be attending Thunderbird came for the afternoon session. According to Mr. Williams, the situation caused a great deal of confusion and many problems ensued during this year-long period; but once Thunderbird opened, things got back to normal.
Remodeling took place on the campus in 1976-77. The automotive vocational education facility was expanded to allow for more equipment and technical instruction, and additions were made to the gym.
Moon Valley High has been accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools since its first graduating class in 1967.
SCHOOL AND CURRICULUM: Moon Valley is a comprehensive four-year public high school with a strong college preparatory curriculum, business partnerships and extensive general education programs. Accelerated courses are offered in mathematics, English, social studies, science, and foreign language. Glendale Community College
is located five miles from the campus and provides concurrent enrollment for qualified students in qualifying programs. In addition, Gateway Community College
offers dual enrollment credit for the many AP courses offered.
Moon Valley High School was awarded Healthiest School in Arizona by National Got Milk? Contest in September 2006. One award was granted in each of the 50 states, and was accompanied by a $1,000 USD grant for improving the health awareness of students.
In 2010, MVHS was awarded the State Department of Education Spotlight on Success Award.
33.595217°N 112.137258°W
Phoenix, Arizona
Phoenix is the capital, and largest city, of the U.S. state of Arizona, as well as the sixth most populated city in the United States. Phoenix is home to 1,445,632 people according to the official 2010 U.S. Census Bureau data...
, USA, and is a part of the Glendale Union High School District
Glendale Union High School District
Glendale Union High School District is a school district headquartered in Glendale, Arizona, United States.The union high school district operates nine four-year secondary schools and serves most of Glendale and a portion of Phoenix....
. It is currently home to more than 1677 students and 100 faculty members. Moon Valley is one of Arizona's leading educational establishments and is an excelling school according to the Arizona Department of Education
Arizona Department of Education
Arizona Department of Education is an Arizona state agency overseeing public education. It is headquartered at 1535 West Jefferson Street in Downtown Phoenix, Arizona, United States.-External links:*...
. Moon Valley High School is located at 3625 W Cactus Rd., Phoenix, Arizona 85029.
History
Many of Moon Valley High School's original 565 students and 25 teachers will recall the unfinished buildings, blowing dirt, lack of grass and lack of facilities that caused the high school's delayed opening in September 1965.As the years went by, the faculty grew from the original 25 instructors to the current number of 100, and the enrollment boundaries are now from Peoria Avenue in the south, with the northern bound at Thunderbird Road between I-17 and 39th Avenue, and from 39th Avenue to 51st Avenue along Sweetwater Road. The major east and west boundaries of Black Canyon Freeway (Interstate 17
Interstate 17
Interstate 17 , also known as the Black Canyon Freeway, is an intrastate Interstate Highway located entirely within the state of Arizona, United States. I-17's southern terminus lies within Phoenix, at Interstate 10, and its northern terminus is in Flagstaff, at Interstate 40...
) to 51st Avenue, with 39th Avenue as a minor bound between the northernmost bound of Thunderbird Road to 1/2 mile south at Sweetwater Road. Student enrollment in 2010-11 is 1,677.
The new school was named "Moon Valley" because it was indicated on maps that the local area called Moon Valley area was near the new school. Many protest letters were written to the Board of Education stating that the school should be called either Deer Valley High (as the school was actually located in Deer Valley), Northwest High (being at the time the furthest NW school in the district), John F. Kennedy High (in honor of the late President) or Westown High (sharing the name with the local housing development which surrounded the school). The controversy raged for many months with petitions pouring in from the community, both for and against the name. The board, however, stuck with the original name, stating the Glendale Union High School District
Glendale Union High School District
Glendale Union High School District is a school district headquartered in Glendale, Arizona, United States.The union high school district operates nine four-year secondary schools and serves most of Glendale and a portion of Phoenix....
schools are neither named after people nor directions, since that was the fashion Phoenix Union High School District
Phoenix Union High School District
The Phoenix Union High School District is a school district based in Phoenix, Arizona, United States. It is one of the state's oldest school districts and its largest high school-only district, serving 26,000 students in 17 schools and employing more than 2,800 people...
named its schools.
Mr. Don Reed, an engineer at General Electric
General Electric
General Electric Company , or GE, is an American multinational conglomerate corporation incorporated in Schenectady, New York and headquartered in Fairfield, Connecticut, United States...
, contacted Hughes Aircraft
Hughes Aircraft
Hughes Aircraft Company was a major American aerospace and defense contractor founded in 1932 by Howard Hughes in Culver City, California as a division of Hughes Tool Company...
and was able to have donated an AIM-4 Falcon
AIM-4 Falcon
The Hughes AIM-4 Falcon was the first operational guided air-to-air missile of the United States Air Force.-Development:Development of a guided air-to-air missile began in 1946. Hughes Aircraft was awarded a contract for a subsonic missile under the project designation MX-798, which soon gave way...
air-to-air guided missile shell for use as a mascot. In accordance with this, the student body chose the mascot name, "Rockets." The school colors are scarlet red, royal blue and white.
Because there was no grass that first year, flower beds were planted around the school. Students refused to let janitors take out all the flowers, so the flowers have become a permanent fixture on the grounds.
Mr. Victor E. Lowman was Moon Valley's first principal for three and a half years. Moon Valley's present principal is Mr. Craig Mussi. The Rockets' administration also consists of Kris Willis, assistant principal (AP) for student services; Eddie Lopez, AP of operations and resources; and Nathan Kleve, AP of discipline and attendance.
Moon Valley became a closed campus in the fall of 2002, which means that students stay within campus grounds throughout the day.
During the years of the "mini-skirt" and "sideburns," the dress code was a problem. The girls would roll up their skirts to make them shorter. When they were sent to the office, they would roll them down as if their skirts were never short. This didn't last very long. Things haven't changed so very much, but currently it is girls' short shirts that are getting pulled down, attempting to meet current dress code standards.
In the 1972-73 school year Moon Valley was on double session due to a quickly growing metropolitan area, which placed a strain on many districts in the area. Thunderbird High School
Thunderbird High School
Thunderbird High School is a public high school located in northwestern Phoenix, Arizona. The school is a part of the Glendale Union High School District.-Feeder schools:...
was under construction some two miles east of Moon Valley, but was not yet open. The Moon Valley students came in the morning, while the students who would be attending Thunderbird came for the afternoon session. According to Mr. Williams, the situation caused a great deal of confusion and many problems ensued during this year-long period; but once Thunderbird opened, things got back to normal.
Remodeling took place on the campus in 1976-77. The automotive vocational education facility was expanded to allow for more equipment and technical instruction, and additions were made to the gym.
Moon Valley High has been accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools since its first graduating class in 1967.
About The Students
Moon Valley's student population of approximately 1700 comes mainly from middle class homes drawing from professional, high technology, and general service and construction trades. Students come from feeder middle schools including Cholla Middle School, Desert Foothills Middle School, and Sweetwater.SCHOOL AND CURRICULUM: Moon Valley is a comprehensive four-year public high school with a strong college preparatory curriculum, business partnerships and extensive general education programs. Accelerated courses are offered in mathematics, English, social studies, science, and foreign language. Glendale Community College
Glendale Community College
Glendale Community College can refer to one of two colleges in the United States.* Glendale Community College * Glendale Community College...
is located five miles from the campus and provides concurrent enrollment for qualified students in qualifying programs. In addition, Gateway Community College
Gateway Community College
Gateway Community College is a public community college located in Connecticut. The college maintains two campuses: one in New Haven and one in North Haven. As of February 17, 2010, Gateway had the 1st highest credit enrollment among Connecticut's community colleges, with 6987 students enrolled...
offers dual enrollment credit for the many AP courses offered.
Moon Valley High School was awarded Healthiest School in Arizona by National Got Milk? Contest in September 2006. One award was granted in each of the 50 states, and was accompanied by a $1,000 USD grant for improving the health awareness of students.
In 2010, MVHS was awarded the State Department of Education Spotlight on Success Award.
Notable alumni
- Randy McClanahanRandy McClanahanRandy McClanahan is a former professional American football player who played linebacker for five seasons for the Los Angeles Raiders and Buffalo Bills....
, class of 1972, played for the Oakland RaidersOakland RaidersThe Oakland Raiders are a professional American football team based in Oakland, California. They currently play in the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
and was in Super BowlSuper BowlThe Super Bowl is the championship game of the National Football League , the highest level of professional American football in the United States, culminating a season that begins in the late summer of the previous calendar year. The Super Bowl uses Roman numerals to identify each game, rather...
'82.
- Ozzie Virgil, Jr.Ozzie Virgil, Jr.Osvaldo José Virgil, Jr. is a former Major League Baseball catcher who played with the Philadelphia Phillies, Atlanta Braves, and Toronto Blue Jays from 1980 to 1990. He was elected to the National League All-Star team twice in 1985 and 1987...
, Class of 1976, played Major League BaseballMajor League BaseballMajor League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
for the Atlanta BravesAtlanta BravesThe Atlanta Braves are a professional baseball club based in Atlanta, Georgia. The Braves are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Braves have played in Turner Field since 1997....
, Philadelphia PhilliesPhiladelphia PhilliesThe Philadelphia Phillies are a Major League Baseball team. They are the oldest continuous, one-name, one-city franchise in all of professional American sports, dating to 1883. The Phillies are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
and Toronto Blue JaysToronto Blue JaysThe Toronto Blue Jays are a professional baseball team located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Blue Jays are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball 's American League ....
. He was in the World SeriesWorld SeriesThe World Series is the annual championship series of Major League Baseball, played between the American League and National League champions since 1903. The winner of the World Series championship is determined through a best-of-seven playoff and awarded the Commissioner's Trophy...
in '84. - Mark KerlinMark KerlinMark Kerlin is a retired U.S. soccer forward who spent most of his career in indoor leagues. He also played one season in the Western Soccer League and two in the American Professional Soccer League....
, Class of 1980, played professional soccer for Phoenix Pride and the Dallas SidekicksDallas SidekicksThe Dallas Sidekicks were one of the longest operating professional soccer teams, either indoor or outdoor, in the United States, based in Dallas, Texas, and operating from 1984 until suspending operations following the 2004 season. The team was founded as a member of the original Major Indoor...
.
- Menno Wickey, Class of 1991, played professional baseball and is the Executive Director of Players Baseball Academy. He is also an associate scout for the MLB Washington Nationals.
- Richard JeffersonRichard JeffersonRichard Allen Jefferson is a 6 ft 7 in American professional basketball player currently playing for the San Antonio Spurs of the National Basketball Association...
, Class of 1998, currently a forward for NBA's San Antonio SpursSan Antonio SpursThe San Antonio Spurs are an American professional basketball team based in San Antonio, Texas. They are part of the Southwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association ....
.
- Steve Garrabrants, Class of 2000, currently plays Minor League baseball for the Tennessee SmokiesTennessee SmokiesThe Tennessee Smokies are a Minor League Baseball team based in the Knoxville, Tennessee metropolitan area. The team, which plays in the Southern League, is the Double-A affiliate of the Chicago Cubs of Major League Baseball as of the 2011 season...
which is a Class AA affiliate of the Arizona DiamondbacksArizona DiamondbacksThe Arizona Diamondbacks are a professional baseball team based in Phoenix. They play in the West Division of Major League Baseball's National League. From 1998 to the present, they have played in Chase Field...
.
- David Pruitt, Class of 2000, played Minor League baseball for the Mesa Angels which is a Rookie Class affiliate of the Los Angeles Angels of AnaheimLos Angeles Angels of AnaheimThe Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim are a professional baseball team based in Anaheim, California, United States. The Angels are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The "Angels" name originates from the city in which the team started, Los Angeles...
State championships
Moon Valley High School has won 18 State championships in its various athletic activities. Its most-winning program is the Girls Softball team who has won 6 State Championship titles including two sets of back to back championships in the 1986-1987 and 1992-1993 seasons.External links
33.595217°N 112.137258°W