Riverside Polytechnic High School
Encyclopedia
Riverside Polytechnic High School is a four-year public high school
in Riverside, California
, United States, and part of the Riverside Unified School District
. The current facility, located on Victoria Avenue
, was opened in September 1965; the traditions of the school go back to 1887, then known as the Riverside High School, making Riverside Polytechnic the oldest high school in the city.
when the newly formed city of Riverside needed higher education for the community. The first joint elementary and high school's first graduating class in 1890 comprised seven students—four girls and three boys. Eugenie Fuller was its principal. When classes grew too large in 1902, a new co-educational high school building was constructed on Ninth Street between Lemon and Lime Streets, and the original 14th Street building became the Grant School, serving grades 3–8.
In 1910, Riverside High School's enrollment was approximately 500 students, and new facilities were required. In 1911, the genders were separated, creating a Girls High School at the Ninth Street building, and the Polytechnic High School for boys at a newly constructed campus on Tequesquite Avenue. Fuller continued as principal of the Girls High School, and Mr. J.E. McKown was appointed principal of the Riverside Polytechnic High School.
In 1916, the Polytechnic High School began offering postgraduate classes. The Riverside Junior College District was formed in 1920, and the Riverside Junior College
moved out of the high school to an adjacent property.
World War I
brought changes to both high school campuses. The earlier enrollment explosion waned as young men joined the armed forces. In 1924, the school board created a junior high school level and consolidated the senior high schools into one co-educational school. A new Applied Arts Building provided Home Economics and "other facilities for the girls." The old Girls High School now served as a Girls Junior High School, while the Boys Junior High School was located at the old Grant School. 1924–25 saw the Junior College and the Senior High School with growing enrollments, and so provided separate administrations for each. There were 202 seniors in 1924.
During World War II
, many Poly girls worked with a federal government–sponsored group called the High School Victory Corps.
The girls helped make bandages and other needed items, or worked in essential industries after school. All who took part in these activities were volunteers. In 1944, the Victory Corps was discontinued at Poly.
In the 1950s, there was a tradition that each incoming class at the school would be given an unflattering nickname that would remain with the class until their graduation. For example, the class of 1951 was dubbed the "Geeks" and the class of 1953 was the "Orts".
In 1956, double sessions at Poly were needed until a second high school, Ramona High, could be built. As high school enrollment continued to grow, it was evident that a third high school would be needed in Riverside. In 1960, a new high school, Rubidoux, shared the Poly campus until its campus could be completed in 1961. In 1965, Poly separated from the junior college campus and a site on the corner of Central and Victoria Avenues was built, along with a high school on Third Street and Chicago Avenue, named North High. Both high schools opened their doors in September 1965, with the Victoria site keeping the traditional name of Riverside Polytechnic High School. Since that time, Poly High School classes have taken place on the present site.
Riverside Polytechnic High School is home to one of the original, still active Army Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps
(JROTC) units, established in 1916.
There were 51 young men making up the Class of 1916, known as the "Stags of 1916". There were 18 faculty members. This class was the first to complete the four-year course offered in the new building.
known as Kris Koala. In 1940, the koala appeared on the cover of the yearbook. From then on, the yearbook was called The Koala. Over the years, the "Koala" portion of Poly High's koala-bear mascot faded to the point that, today, the mascot is referred to as "The Poly Bears". Poly High colors have always been orange and green.
The first yearbook, The Stag was published in 1912. In 1918, the title was changed to Orange and Green when it became a joint publication for the boys' and girls' schools. In 1940, the title changed again when the mascot was added, to The Koala.
and Color Guard
. The band and Color Guard achieved second place in the 2008 SCSBOA
Championships Field Tournament. The Winter Drumline won the 2007 American Drum-line Association Southern California Championships, making them the first place high-school Drumline in Southern California.
Poly has the only high school orchestra in the Riverside Unified School District. They received a Superior Score in the 2008 SCSBOA Regional.
High school
High school is a term used in parts of the English speaking world to describe institutions which provide all or part of secondary education. The term is often incorporated into the name of such institutions....
in Riverside, California
Riverside, California
Riverside is a city in Riverside County, California, United States, and the county seat of the eponymous county. Named for its location beside the Santa Ana River, it is the largest city in the Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario metropolitan area of Southern California, 4th largest inland California...
, United States, and part of the Riverside Unified School District
Riverside Unified School District
Riverside Unified School District is a school district headquartered in Riverside, California, United States. The district serves a large portion of Riverside as well as unincorporated areas of Highgrove and Woodcrest in Riverside County....
. The current facility, located on Victoria Avenue
Victoria Avenue (Riverside, California)
Victoria Avenue is a divided scenic road in Riverside, California that cuts through an area referred to as the greenbelt. Originally developed in 1892 to connect the Arlington Heights area to downtown Riverside, the road became a popular tourist attraction because of the many trees and exotic...
, was opened in September 1965; the traditions of the school go back to 1887, then known as the Riverside High School, making Riverside Polytechnic the oldest high school in the city.
History
Riverside Polytechnic High School traces its heritage from 1887,when the newly formed city of Riverside needed higher education for the community. The first joint elementary and high school's first graduating class in 1890 comprised seven students—four girls and three boys. Eugenie Fuller was its principal. When classes grew too large in 1902, a new co-educational high school building was constructed on Ninth Street between Lemon and Lime Streets, and the original 14th Street building became the Grant School, serving grades 3–8.
In 1910, Riverside High School's enrollment was approximately 500 students, and new facilities were required. In 1911, the genders were separated, creating a Girls High School at the Ninth Street building, and the Polytechnic High School for boys at a newly constructed campus on Tequesquite Avenue. Fuller continued as principal of the Girls High School, and Mr. J.E. McKown was appointed principal of the Riverside Polytechnic High School.
In 1916, the Polytechnic High School began offering postgraduate classes. The Riverside Junior College District was formed in 1920, and the Riverside Junior College
Riverside Community College
Riverside City College, or RCC, is a community college located in Riverside, California, United States. The college is part of the Riverside Community College District, as well as the larger California Community Colleges System.-History:...
moved out of the high school to an adjacent property.
World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
brought changes to both high school campuses. The earlier enrollment explosion waned as young men joined the armed forces. In 1924, the school board created a junior high school level and consolidated the senior high schools into one co-educational school. A new Applied Arts Building provided Home Economics and "other facilities for the girls." The old Girls High School now served as a Girls Junior High School, while the Boys Junior High School was located at the old Grant School. 1924–25 saw the Junior College and the Senior High School with growing enrollments, and so provided separate administrations for each. There were 202 seniors in 1924.
During World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, many Poly girls worked with a federal government–sponsored group called the High School Victory Corps.
The girls helped make bandages and other needed items, or worked in essential industries after school. All who took part in these activities were volunteers. In 1944, the Victory Corps was discontinued at Poly.
In the 1950s, there was a tradition that each incoming class at the school would be given an unflattering nickname that would remain with the class until their graduation. For example, the class of 1951 was dubbed the "Geeks" and the class of 1953 was the "Orts".
In 1956, double sessions at Poly were needed until a second high school, Ramona High, could be built. As high school enrollment continued to grow, it was evident that a third high school would be needed in Riverside. In 1960, a new high school, Rubidoux, shared the Poly campus until its campus could be completed in 1961. In 1965, Poly separated from the junior college campus and a site on the corner of Central and Victoria Avenues was built, along with a high school on Third Street and Chicago Avenue, named North High. Both high schools opened their doors in September 1965, with the Victoria site keeping the traditional name of Riverside Polytechnic High School. Since that time, Poly High School classes have taken place on the present site.
Riverside Polytechnic High School is home to one of the original, still active Army Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps
Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps
The Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps is a Federal program sponsored by the United States Armed Forces in high schools across the United States...
(JROTC) units, established in 1916.
There were 51 young men making up the Class of 1916, known as the "Stags of 1916". There were 18 faculty members. This class was the first to complete the four-year course offered in the new building.
Mascot, Yearbook and School Colors
Riverside Polytechnic High is a supporter of their mascot, a koalaKoala
The koala is an arboreal herbivorous marsupial native to Australia, and the only extant representative of the family Phascolarctidae....
known as Kris Koala. In 1940, the koala appeared on the cover of the yearbook. From then on, the yearbook was called The Koala. Over the years, the "Koala" portion of Poly High's koala-bear mascot faded to the point that, today, the mascot is referred to as "The Poly Bears". Poly High colors have always been orange and green.
The first yearbook, The Stag was published in 1912. In 1918, the title was changed to Orange and Green when it became a joint publication for the boys' and girls' schools. In 1940, the title changed again when the mascot was added, to The Koala.
Music Department
The school's marching band is named the Proud Heritage BandMarching band
Marching band is a physical activity in which a group of instrumental musicians generally perform outdoors and incorporate some type of marching with their musical performance. Instrumentation typically includes brass, woodwinds, and percussion instruments...
and Color Guard
Color guard
In the military of the United States and other militaries, the color guard carries the National Color and other flags appropriate to its position in the chain of command. Typically these include a unit flag and a departmental flag...
. The band and Color Guard achieved second place in the 2008 SCSBOA
Southern California School Band and Orchestra Association
The Southern California School Band and Orchestra Association provides a number of services for elementary through college level music groups in Southern California, including providing clinics for educators and students and hosting festivals for soloists and ensembles, including marching band...
Championships Field Tournament. The Winter Drumline won the 2007 American Drum-line Association Southern California Championships, making them the first place high-school Drumline in Southern California.
Poly has the only high school orchestra in the Riverside Unified School District. They received a Superior Score in the 2008 SCSBOA Regional.
Notable alumni
| Alumnus | Class | Field | Notability |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hakim Akbar Hakim Akbar Akmal Hakim Akbar is a former American football Linebacker of the National Football League and Canadian Football League. He was originally drafted by the New England Patriots in the fifth round of the 2001 NFL Draft... |
1998 | Sports | American football American football American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by... linebacker Linebacker A linebacker is a position in American football that was invented by football coach Fielding H. Yost of the University of Michigan. Linebackers are members of the defensive team, and line up approximately three to five yards behind the line of scrimmage, behind the defensive linemen... drafted by the New England Patriots New England Patriots The New England Patriots, commonly called the "Pats", are a professional football team based in the Greater Boston area, playing their home games in the town of Foxborough, Massachusetts at Gillette Stadium. The team is part of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National... . |
| Jennifer Banko-Stewart Jennifer Banko-Stewart Jennifer Banko-Stewart is an American actress who has worked in national television and mainstream films since an early age... |
1997 | Film | Has performed in various Hollywood movies and television programs. |
| Bobby Bonds Bobby Bonds Bobby Lee Bonds was an American right fielder in Major League Baseball from to , primarily with the San Francisco Giants... |
Sports | Major League Baseball Major League Baseball Major 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... (MLB) player for the San Francisco Giants San Francisco Giants The San Francisco Giants are a Major League Baseball team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the National League West Division.... . |
|
| Larry Christiansen | 1974 | Sports | Chess Grandmaster, US Chess Champion 1980, 1983, 2002. |
| Marcella Craft Marcella Craft Marcella Craft was an American operatic soprano who performed internationally in the late 19th century and early 20th century.-Personal life:... |
1893 | Music | International operatic soprano. |
| Walter A. Gordon Walter A. Gordon Walter Arthur Gordon was the first African American to receive a doctorate of law from UC Berkeley's Boalt Hall law school. He had an extremely long and varied career where he served as a police officer, lawyer, assistant football coach, member of the California Adult Authority, Governor of the... |
1914 (est) | Government | First All-American 1918 College Football All-America Team The 1918 College Football All-America team consists of American football players selected to the College Football All-America Teams selected by various organizations for the 1918 college football season.-Key:* WC = Walter Camp... at UC Berkeley University of California, Berkeley The University of California, Berkeley , is a teaching and research university established in 1868 and located in Berkeley, California, USA... , first African American 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... graduate of Boalt Hall UC Berkeley School of Law The University of California, Berkeley, School of Law, commonly referred to as Berkeley Law and Boalt Hall, is one of 14 schools and colleges at the University of California, Berkeley. Berkeley Law is consistently regarded as an elite and prestigious law school... , Governor of the U.S. Virgin Islands, Federal District Judge District Judge District Judge may refer to*A member of the Judiciary of England and Wales*A United States federal judgeNormally concerned with the civil law. I.e. Families, bankruptcy, property etc.... . |
| Sharon Jordan Sharon Jordan Sharon Jordan is an American actress. One of her notable roles is Irene the Concierge on The Suite Life of Zack & Cody, a sitcom on the Disney Channel. Jordan also appeared as Irene on the first Disney crossover special with the three shows, The Suite Life of Zack & Cody, Hannah Montana, and... |
1978 | Film and TV | Amongst other roles, recurred on Disney's The Suite Life of Zack & Cody. |
| Ben H. Lewis Ben H. Lewis Ben H. Lewis was the thirteenth mayor of Riverside, California, United States. Prior to the office of mayor, Lewis was the president of the United Title Guaranty Company, later known as the Land Title Company, of Riverside... |
1921 (est) | Government | Mayor of Riverside from 1965 to 1968. |
| Rex Mays Rex Mays Rex Mays is a former AAA Championship Car race driver from Riverside, California. He made his Indianapolis 500 debut in 1934 and won the pole in 1935, 1936, and again in 1940 and finished second, he returned the next year and finished second again. Mays won the AAA National Championship in 1940... |
1931 (est) | Sports | Auto racer, 1940 and 1941 national champion, four-time pole winner at the Indianapolis 500 Indianapolis 500 The Indianapolis 500-Mile Race, also known as the Indianapolis 500, the 500 Miles at Indianapolis, the Indy 500 or The 500, is an American automobile race, held annually, typically on the last weekend in May at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Speedway, Indiana... , member Motorsports Hall of Fame of America, National Sprint Car Hall of Fame, Riverside Sports Hall of Fame. |
| Reggie Miller Reggie Miller Reginald Wayne "Reggie" Miller is a retired American professional basketball player who played his entire 18-year National Basketball Association career with the Indiana Pacers... |
1983 | Sports | National Basketball Association National Basketball Association The National Basketball Association is the pre-eminent men's professional basketball league in North America. It consists of thirty franchised member clubs, of which twenty-nine are located in the United States and one in Canada... player and commentator Sportscaster In sports broadcasting, a commentator gives a running commentary of a game or event in real time, usually during a live broadcast. The comments are normally a voiceover, with the sounds of the action and spectators also heard in the background. In the case of television commentary, the commentator... . |
| Cheryl Miller | 1982 | Sports | NCAA women's basketball Women's basketball Women's basketball is one of the few women's sports that developed in tandem with its men's counterpart. It became popular, spreading from the east coast of the United States to the west coast , in large part via women's colleges... player, Basketball Hall of Fame Basketball Hall of Fame The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, located in Springfield, Massachusetts, United States, honors exceptional basketball players, coaches, referees, executives, and other major contributors to the game of basketball worldwide... inductee, WNBA coach Coach (basketball) Basketball coaching is the act of directing and strategizing the behaviour of a basketball team or individual basketball player. Basketball coaching typically encompasses the improvement of individual and team offensive and defensive skills, as well as overall physical conditioning.Coaching is... , and commentator. |
| Donnie Murphy Donnie Murphy Donald Rex Murphy is a Major League Baseball shortstop and third baseman, who is currently on the Miami Marlins... |
2001 | Sports | MLB infielder for the Florida Marlins Florida Marlins The Miami Marlins are a professional baseball team based in Miami, Florida, United States. Established in 1993 as an expansion franchise called the Florida Marlins, the Marlins are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Marlins played their home games at... . |
| Greg Myers | 1984 | Sports | MLB player for the Toronto Blue Jays Toronto Blue Jays The 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 .... |
| Miné Okubo Miné Okubo Miné Okubo , a pioneering Nisei woman, artist and writer, created approximately 2000 drawings and sketches of her experiences while confined along with approximately 110,000 Japanese Americans in US internment camps following the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor... |
1930 (est) | Arts | Artist and writer. |
| Jo-Jo Reyes Jo-Jo Reyes Joseph Albert "Jo-Jo" Reyes is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Baltimore Orioles of Major League Baseball... |
Sports | MLB pitcher for the Baltimore Orioles Baltimore Orioles The Baltimore Orioles are a professional baseball team based in Baltimore, Maryland in the United States. They are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's American League. One of the American League's eight charter franchises in 1901, it spent its first year as a major league... . |
|
| Herman O. Ruhnau Herman O. Ruhnau Herman O. Ruhnau was a Postmodern architect who founded the firm Ruhnau, Runau, and Clarke. Ruhnau primarily designed buildings in Southern California, particularly the Inland Empire region.-Biography:... |
1928 | Architecture | Postmodern architect. |
| Ray Lyman Wilbur Ray Lyman Wilbur Ray Lyman Wilbur was an American medical doctor who served as the third president of Stanford University and the 31st United States Secretary of the Interior.-Early life:... |
1892 | Government | Medical doctor, Stanford University Stanford University The Leland Stanford Junior University, commonly referred to as Stanford University or Stanford, is a private research university on an campus located near Palo Alto, California. It is situated in the northwestern Santa Clara Valley on the San Francisco Peninsula, approximately northwest of San... president, 31st United States Secretary of the Interior United States Secretary of the Interior The United States Secretary of the Interior is the head of the United States Department of the Interior.The US Department of the Interior should not be confused with the concept of Ministries of the Interior as used in other countries... . |
| Cynthia Woodhead Cynthia Woodhead Cynthia Woodhead is an American swimmer, world champion, olympic medalist and world record holder. She won three gold medals at the 1978 world championships, when she was only fourteen years old... |
1982 | Sports | 1978 world champion swimmer. 1984 Olympic silver metalist in 200m Freestyle. |
| Tyler Clary Tyler Clary Scott Clary is an American swimmer. Clary currently holds the American record in the 400-yard individual medley... |
2007 | Sports | Upcoming swimmer who won a silver medal at the 2009 World Aquatics Championships 2009 World Aquatics Championships The 2009 World Aquatics Championships or the XIII FINA World Championships were celebrated in Rome, Italy in 2009 from July 17 to August 2. The 2009 Championships featured competition in all 5 aquatics disciplines: diving, swimming, open water swimming, synchronized swimming and water polo.Rome won... and three silvers at the 2010 Pan Pacific Swimming Championships 2010 Pan Pacific Swimming Championships The eleventh edition of the Pan Pacific Swimming Championships, also known as the 2010 Mutual of Omaha Pan Pacific Swimming Championships, a long course event, was held in Irvine, California, United States, from August 18–22.... . |
| Morgan Stuart Morgan Stuart Morgan Stuart was a shortstop/third baseman on the University of Washington's Division I softball team. She was a member of the team that won the NCAA 2009 softball national championship in Oklahoma City. Stuart graduated in 2011.... |
2007 | Sports | Washington Huskies - 2009 Women's College World Series Champions |
External links
- Official School website
- Official Poly Bears Football website
- Riverside Poly High history
- Riverside Poly High School information from old school yearbooks.