Orchard Park High School is a secondary school in Orchard Park, New York

Orchard Park (town), New York

Orchard Park is a town in Erie County, New York, a suburb southeast of Buffalo, New York. According to the 2010 census, the population is 29,054. This represents an increase of 5.13% from the 2000 census figure. The town contains a village also named Orchard Park. Orchard Park is one of the...

. The school has approximately 1725 children in grades 9-12. The students are divided among three houses with a principal for each house and a principal who oversees the entire school.

History and description of Campus

The main portion of the current high school building was completed in the late 1940s, and served from then until 1976 as the junior high school. In 1976, a large addition and renovation process doubled the size of the building and it became the high school. (The old junior high gym became the pool and added the gym adjacent to it. Also added is the three-story classroom addition and an auditorium adjacent to the original building.) (The former high school became a Middle School, which currently houses grades 6-8.)A common complaint regarding building design is that the narrowest staircase (capable of fitting only two people abreast) is in a central location; heavy between-period traffic often becomes congested in a bottleneck. The building had undergone only minimal refurbishment and changes since the late 1970s until the summer of 2008.

2008-2010 Renovations

In 2008 renovations began in the science wing, the auditorium, the locker rooms, and turned the stage in the cafeteria into the new weight room. The old weight room is now a technology room. The Freeman entrance was also renovated, adding a larger hallway to the exit as well as a handicap ramp. All the renovations were complete by September 2010.

Extracurricular activities

Student groups and activities include Cancer Awareness Club, History Club, Math Club, Science Olympiad Team, Philosophy Club, Masterminds, Model Congress, Mock Trial, Book Club, Student-Run Literacy Magazine (Still Life), Ecology Club, Model UN, Destination Imagination, Future Business Leaders of America, Future Teachers of America, SOIL club and Rock Climbing Club. The school also has an interactive student, teacher, parent, and administrator government program known as STAP-Comm.

Athletics

Athletic opportunities include Football(2008 and 2011 Class AA State Champions)Cross-country, indoor track and field, outdoor track and field, wrestling, baseball (1988 New York State Class A Champions) basketball, archery, swimming and diving (1999-2000 New York State Champions), rifle, bowling, tennis, lacrosse, field hockey, gymnastics, color guard, winter guard, golf (2008 ECIC Team Champions), club hockey (winner of the last eight "Super Thursdays" for the Southtowns Club Hockey League), and volleyball (2008 New York State Champions).

Performing arts

Orchard Park is home to the Quaker Marching Band (2007 New York State Field Band Conference

New York State Field Band Conference

The New York State Field Band Conference or NYSFBC is a local circuit for marching band competitions, based in New York. Championships are held at the Carrier Dome in Syracuse, New York each year in the last week of October or first week of November...

 Champions), and several additional ensembles including Wind Ensemble, Symphonic Band, Checkmates, Jazz Ensemble, String Orchestra, Full Orchestra, Swing Chorus, Choraliers, Mixed Chorus and Girls' Chorus. Students at Orchard Park High School can also participate in a strong theatrical program well known for their musicals and dramas.

School Spirit and Traditions

The school mascot is Opie the Quaker. Orchard Park has its share of traditions. Freshmen asking for directions are often pointed towards the nonexistent "fourth floor" of the three-story building, even being tricked into climbing a restricted ladder that leads to the roof. The school colors are Maroon and White.

Homecoming Week

Like most schools, O.P.H.S. has a school spirit week on the week before homecoming, with themes such as neon day and school color day. On Friday of spirit week they have a pep rally

Pep rally

Pep rallies are events that occur primarily in the United States and Canada. A pep rally is a gathering of people, typically students of middle school, high school and college age, before a sports event. The purpose of such a gathering is to encourage school spirit and to support members of the...

 and a Powder Puff game which features the junior girls versus the senior girls. On Saturday of that week there is a parade in the morning, the varsity football game in the afternoon, and the dance later that night.

Notable alumni

• Jim Burt (American football), NFL player
• Jon Corto
  Jon Corto
  Jon Corto is an American football linebacker for the Buffalo Bills. He was originally signed by the Bills as an undrafted free agent in 2007. He played college football at Sacred Heart.-External links:**...
  
  , NFL Special teams, Buffalo Bills
• Brian Dux
  Brian Dux
  Brian Dux Brian Dux Brian Dux (born April 7, 1981 in Orchard Park, New York, is an American professional basketball player, and currently plays for the Guildford Heat in the British Basketball League.- College career :...
  
  , BLL MVP
• Dave Hollins
  Dave Hollins
  David Michael Hollins is a former third baseman in Major League Baseball. He played baseball at Orchard Park High School, where he graduated in 1984. He attended the University of South Carolina. He was selected by the San Diego Padres in the 6th round of the 1987 amateur draft...
  
  , Former MLB third baseman, now Baltimore Orioles scout
• Larry Pfohl (Lex Luger
  Lex Luger
  Lawrence Wendell "Larry" Pfohl , better known by his ring name Lex Luger, is an American former professional wrestler and football player currently working with WWE on their wellness policy...
  
  ), professional wrestler
• Ron Pitts
  Ron Pitts
  Ronald Dwayne Pitts is a former professional American football player. He played defensive back for the Buffalo Bills and the Green Bay Packers of the National Football League . He played college football for the University of California, Los Angeles Bruins.Pitts was drafted by the Bills in the...
  
  , former NFL player, Now NFL on FOX Sports broadcaster
• Todd Schlopy
  Todd Schlopy
  Ross Todd Schlopy is a motion picture cameraman former American football placekicker. A native of Bradford, Pennsylvania, Schlopy attended Orchard Park High School in Orchard Park, New York. He played college football for the Michigan Wolverines football team from 1981 to 1984...
  
  , former NFL player, Buffalo Bills
• Josh Thomas
  Josh Thomas
  Joshua Lloyd Thomas is an American football defensive end who is currently a free agent. He was signed by the Indianapolis Colts as an undrafted free agent in 2004. He played college football at Syracuse....
  
  , Indianapolis Colts defensive end
• Craig Wolfley
  Craig Wolfley
  Craig Wolfley is a former American football player and current sideline reporter for the Pittsburgh Steelers. Along with former teammate Tunch Ilkin, he hosts a show on ESPN Radio 970.-College career:...
  
  ,former NFL Player
• Ron Wolfley
  Ron Wolfley
  Ronald Paul Wolfley was an American football fullback who played for the St. Louis/Phoenix Cardinals from 1985 to 1991. He was selected four times to the Pro Bowl as a special teams captain. Wolfley played collegiately for the West Virginia Mountaineers...
  
  , former NFL player, brother of Craig Wolfley.
• William Sadler
  William Sadler
  William Sadler may refer to:*William Sadler , Irish landscape painter*William Sadler , American sailor and Medal of Honor recipient*William Sadler , American film and television actor...
  
  , Actor