Westhill Senior High School
Encyclopedia
Westhill Senior High School is an American
public high school
located in the western suburbs of, and immediately adjacent to, the City of Syracuse
, New York
. It serves grades 9 through 12, primarily from the neighborhood of Westvale (located in the Town of Geddes
), as well as portions of the Onondaga Hill
area (located in the Town of Onondaga
). Westhill Senior High School is part of the Westhill Central School District
.
Westhill's athletic program mascot is the "Warrior". Recently the mascot was changed from a Native American
to a Spartan
-like character.
Diploma. In June, 2006 Regents Examinations
, with approximately 1450 exams administered, Westhill students had an overall pass rate of 97%.
In the second year of the higher standards culminating in the Regents
Diploma with Advanced Designation, 70% of Westhill’s graduates in June 2006 reached such a level of achievement, and an additional 24% were awarded a Regents Diploma.
" in the fall of 2007. In the spring of 2008, Westhill had its very first student-run production in which the musical "Godspell
" was directed, produced, choreographed, music directed, pit conducted, costumed and featured sets, all by Westhill High School students. The production performed for two extremely successful nights in late May 2008. Both of these shows were presented in the school's newly renovated auditorium. In the spring of 2009 the drama club put on one of the first showings of High School Musical 2 in the country; this ended up being incredibly successful.
The high school
newspaper
, The Glass Corridors, earned high honors from several organizations including a first place evaluation award from the American Scholastic Press Association. The high school literary magazine
received a second place evaluation award.
The Symphonic Band, Wind Ensemble, Jazz Ensemble & Percussion Ensemble have performed at the Heritage Music Festival in Chicago
. The Symphonic Band received a Silver Medal and the Wind Ensemble and Percussion Ensemble both received first place with Gold ratings. The Jazz Ensemble finished in third place with a Silver rating. More recent than that the same groups performed in Walt Disney World at Festival Disney. It was a very successful trip also.
The Choral Department traveled to Annapolis, Maryland in April, 2009. They competed with five groups (Concert Choir, Westhill Singers, Women's Ensemble, Men's Ensemble, and Westhill Swingers), all of which were awarded gold, while the whole department was awarded "best choral department". A few years before, the Concert Choir auditioned and was invited to sing the National Anthem
at Shea Stadium
in New York City
for the New York Mets
versus the Atlanta Braves
game in front of 35,000 people.
The Groovy's Film Festival and Award Show was started in 2008 by students Sean Selbach and Mike Epifani as a method to raise funds each year for Junior Prom. The first year's massive success has encouraged the school to keep the festival as a new Westhill tradition. The show is made up of short student films. The awards given away are meant as comical breaks in between films. Past awards have included Most Likely to Meet Their Spouse on Facebook, etc.
Fifteen out of twenty varsity teams won New York State Public High School Athletic Association Academic Awards for maintaining the required number of students on the roster and having composite GPA’s of 90% or higher. Fifteen Westhill seniors participated in all three varsity sport seasons, while collectively maintaining an overall GPA of more than 90%.
The Westhill Atletic Department has also laid claim to several State Championships, including:
Note: Westhill competed in Class C until 1995, and has been Class B since then.
The plans for the school were purchased from an architect who originally designed the building to be built in California
, however were adapted by the district.(source?) The unique design of the building presents some interesting drawbacks due to the region. While the building is earthquake proof, the concave ceiling of the cafeteria leaks due to heavy snowfall each year. The glass corridors, combined with the many single-door entries make for very costly heating bills in the cold climate of Syracuse, NY. Also, the open courtyard was originally intended to be a swimming pool if built in California. Extensive renovations have recently taken place, modernizing the facilities and updating or changing many of the original features.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
public high school
Secondary education
Secondary education is the stage of education following primary education. Secondary education includes the final stage of compulsory education and in many countries it is entirely compulsory. The next stage of education is usually college or university...
located in the western suburbs of, and immediately adjacent to, the City of Syracuse
Syracuse, New York
Syracuse is a city in and the county seat of Onondaga County, New York, United States, the largest U.S. city with the name "Syracuse", and the fifth most populous city in the state. At the 2010 census, the city population was 145,170, and its metropolitan area had a population of 742,603...
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
. It serves grades 9 through 12, primarily from the neighborhood of Westvale (located in the Town of Geddes
Geddes, New York
Geddes is a town in Onondaga County, New York, United States. The population was 17,740 at the 2000 census.The Town of Geddes is west of the neighborhood of Far Westside of Syracuse. The town is a western suburb of Syracuse.- History :...
), as well as portions of the Onondaga Hill
Onondaga Hill, New York
Onondaga Hill is a hamlet in the Town of Onondaga in Onondaga County, New York, southwest of the city of Syracuse. It is located on the Seneca Turnpike at the intersection of New York State Route 173 and New York State Route 175....
area (located in the Town of Onondaga
Onondaga, New York
Onondaga is a town located in Onondaga County, New York, United States. As of the 2000 U.S. Census, the town had a population of 21,063. The town is named after the native Onondaga tribe, part of the Iroquois Confederacy....
). Westhill Senior High School is part of the Westhill Central School District
Westhill Central Schools
Westhill Central Schools is a public school district immediately adjacent to the city of Syracuse, New York, USA, serving students primarily in the Town of Geddes and Town of Onondaga....
.
Overview
Established in 1963 as Westhill Junior-Senior High School serving grades 7-12 at the time, Westhill High School maintains a local reputation in the Syracuse area for having a high graduation rate, a large percentage of graduates attending college, and a successful athletic program.Westhill's athletic program mascot is the "Warrior". Recently the mascot was changed from a Native American
Native Americans in the United States
Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as...
to a Spartan
Spartan Army
The Spartan army was the military force of Sparta, one of the leading city-states of ancient Greece. The army stood at the centre of the Spartan state, whose citizens' primary obligation was to be good soldiers. Subject to military drill from infancy, the Spartans were one of the most feared...
-like character.
Educational achievement
More than 90% of Westhill graduates go on to college. According to the school's website, 97% of June 2006 Westhill graduates earned a RegentsRegents Examinations
Regents High School examinations, sometimes shortened to the Regents, are mandatory in New York State through the New York State Education Department, designed and administered under the authority of the Board of Regents of the University of the State of New York...
Diploma. In June, 2006 Regents Examinations
Regents Examinations
Regents High School examinations, sometimes shortened to the Regents, are mandatory in New York State through the New York State Education Department, designed and administered under the authority of the Board of Regents of the University of the State of New York...
, with approximately 1450 exams administered, Westhill students had an overall pass rate of 97%.
In the second year of the higher standards culminating in the Regents
Regents Examinations
Regents High School examinations, sometimes shortened to the Regents, are mandatory in New York State through the New York State Education Department, designed and administered under the authority of the Board of Regents of the University of the State of New York...
Diploma with Advanced Designation, 70% of Westhill’s graduates in June 2006 reached such a level of achievement, and an additional 24% were awarded a Regents Diploma.
Co-curricular programs
Westhill High School offers an extensive co-curricular program, including over 25 different clubs and activities. The Drama Club presented "A Christmas CarolA 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...
" in the fall of 2007. In the spring of 2008, Westhill had its very first student-run production in which the musical "Godspell
Godspell
Godspell is a musical by Stephen Schwartz and John-Michael Tebelak. It opened off Broadway on May 17, 1971, and has played in various touring companies and revivals many times since, including a 2011 revival now playing on Broadway...
" was directed, produced, choreographed, music directed, pit conducted, costumed and featured sets, all by Westhill High School students. The production performed for two extremely successful nights in late May 2008. Both of these shows were presented in the school's newly renovated auditorium. In the spring of 2009 the drama club put on one of the first showings of High School Musical 2 in the country; this ended up being incredibly successful.
The high school
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....
newspaper
Newspaper
A newspaper is a scheduled publication containing news of current events, informative articles, diverse features and advertising. It usually is printed on relatively inexpensive, low-grade paper such as newsprint. By 2007, there were 6580 daily newspapers in the world selling 395 million copies a...
, The Glass Corridors, earned high honors from several organizations including a first place evaluation award from the American Scholastic Press Association. The high school literary magazine
Magazine
Magazines, periodicals, glossies or serials are publications, generally published on a regular schedule, containing a variety of articles. They are generally financed by advertising, by a purchase price, by pre-paid magazine subscriptions, or all three...
received a second place evaluation award.
The Symphonic Band, Wind Ensemble, Jazz Ensemble & Percussion Ensemble have performed at the Heritage Music Festival in Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
. The Symphonic Band received a Silver Medal and the Wind Ensemble and Percussion Ensemble both received first place with Gold ratings. The Jazz Ensemble finished in third place with a Silver rating. More recent than that the same groups performed in Walt Disney World at Festival Disney. It was a very successful trip also.
The Choral Department traveled to Annapolis, Maryland in April, 2009. They competed with five groups (Concert Choir, Westhill Singers, Women's Ensemble, Men's Ensemble, and Westhill Swingers), all of which were awarded gold, while the whole department was awarded "best choral department". A few years before, the Concert Choir auditioned and was invited to sing the National Anthem
National anthem
A national anthem is a generally patriotic musical composition that evokes and eulogizes the history, traditions and struggles of its people, recognized either by a nation's government as the official national song, or by convention through use by the people.- History :Anthems rose to prominence...
at Shea Stadium
Shea Stadium
William A. Shea Municipal Stadium, usually shortened to Shea Stadium or just Shea , was a stadium in the New York City borough of Queens, in Flushing Meadows–Corona Park. It was the home baseball park of Major League Baseball's New York Mets from 1964 to 2008...
in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
for the New York Mets
New York Mets
The New York Mets are a professional baseball team based in the borough of Queens in New York City, New York. They belong to Major League Baseball's National League East Division. One of baseball's first expansion teams, the Mets were founded in 1962 to replace New York's departed National League...
versus the Atlanta Braves
Atlanta Braves
The 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....
game in front of 35,000 people.
The Groovy's Film Festival and Award Show was started in 2008 by students Sean Selbach and Mike Epifani as a method to raise funds each year for Junior Prom. The first year's massive success has encouraged the school to keep the festival as a new Westhill tradition. The show is made up of short student films. The awards given away are meant as comical breaks in between films. Past awards have included Most Likely to Meet Their Spouse on Facebook, etc.
Athletic programs
Westhill's interscholastic sports program offers 35 teams at various levels serving 24 varsity sports. With nearly 56% of Westhill high school students participating in interscholastic athletics, and with an overall varsity winning percentage of nearly 80%, Westhill teams won 2005-06 league championships in Boys Cross Country, Girls Tennis, Girl's Indoor Track, Boys' Basketball, Girl's Basketball, Girls Outdoor Track, and Baseball. Section III Class B Championships were won by the Girl's Tennis, Boy's Cross Country, Boys Basketball, and Girls Indoor Track teams.Fifteen out of twenty varsity teams won New York State Public High School Athletic Association Academic Awards for maintaining the required number of students on the roster and having composite GPA’s of 90% or higher. Fifteen Westhill seniors participated in all three varsity sport seasons, while collectively maintaining an overall GPA of more than 90%.
The Westhill Atletic Department has also laid claim to several State Championships, including:
- Girls Soccer 1993, 1995, 1996, 1999
- Boys Soccer 1992
- Girls Basketball 1989, 1996
- Boys Basketball 1997, 2010
- Baseball 2009, 2010
Note: Westhill competed in Class C until 1995, and has been Class B since then.
Architecture
The school’s architecture exhibits standard features of late 1950s style Death row prison block. The academic wing is rectangular and stands approximately two-and-one-half stories; it also contains the school’s library. The academic wing is connected to the other wings with unique twin “glass corridors,” also the name of the school's newspaper. The corridor contains a small courtyard, in which a family of ducks have made their home. The main office, counseling offices, school nurse, auditorium, gymnasium, cafeteria, cultural classrooms, and trade classrooms are located in the connecting wing. The roof of the cafeteria is a concave section walled with skylights, while the roof of the gymnasium and auditorium is arched. It is considered by some to resemble an airplane hangar, and was meant to evoke a "Hill and Vale" motif, with the "hill" of the gym representing Onondaga Hill and the "vale" of the cafeteria representing the valley of Westvale.The plans for the school were purchased from an architect who originally designed the building to be built in California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, however were adapted by the district.(source?) The unique design of the building presents some interesting drawbacks due to the region. While the building is earthquake proof, the concave ceiling of the cafeteria leaks due to heavy snowfall each year. The glass corridors, combined with the many single-door entries make for very costly heating bills in the cold climate of Syracuse, NY. Also, the open courtyard was originally intended to be a swimming pool if built in California. Extensive renovations have recently taken place, modernizing the facilities and updating or changing many of the original features.