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*Running of the halls: During first period of days that THS has a home football game, the students gather in the halls of Troy, and the drill team, flag team, and marching band march through the halls to promote school spirit. (Due to inappropriate actions by students and lack of participation, this tradition has been discontinued in recent years.)
*Running of the halls: During first period of days that THS has a home football game, the students gather in the halls of Troy, and the drill team, flag team, and marching band march through the halls to promote school spirit. (Due to inappropriate actions by students and lack of participation, this tradition has been discontinued in recent years.)


*Marching Band: The Topeka High Marching Trojans have been a major point of pride for years. They travel the country regularly and have been on a national stage on multiple occasions, including the Disney Music Days Parade every other year in [[Orlando, Florida]], as well as the [[Cotton Bowl Classic]] Parade in [[Dallas, Texas]] in [[1988]]. The marching band is currently under the direction of Steve Holloman and Ray McComas.
*Marching Band: The Topeka High Marching Trojans have been a major point of pride for years. They travel the country regularly and have been on a national stage on multiple occasions, including the Disney Music Days Parade every other year in [[Orlando, Florida]], as well as the [[Cotton Bowl Classic]] Parade in [[Dallas, Texas]] in [[1988]]. The marching band is currently under the direction of Steve Holloman and [[Ray McComas]].


== Curriculum ==
== Curriculum ==

Revision as of 04:46, 15 June 2007

Topeka High School
File:100 6317.jpg
Location
Map
Topeka
,
Kansas

United States
Information
Typeschool
MottoTradition, Diversity, and Excellence
Established1871 (since 1931 at current site)
Head teacherDr. Linda Wiley
Faculty140
Number of students1599
Color(s)Black & Gold
Websitehttp://www2.topeka.k12.ks.us

Topeka High School (THS) is located in the city of Topeka in the U.S. State of Kansas. Built in 1931, THS was the first million dollar high school west of the Mississippi River. [1] It is one of four high schools within Topeka Public Schools (TPS).

History

The current structure was designed by architects Thomas Williamson (THS 1907) and Ted Greist.

In 2005, the 20-yard swimming pool located underneath the gym was converted into Laney Gym, named after former swim coach Chet Laney, for P.E. classes and wrestling. An additional gym was constructed on the soccer field located on the northwest side of the school. Varsity basketball continues to be played in the "Dungeon", the largest high school gymnasium in the state of Kansas, with capacity to accommodate over 5,000 people. The school celebrated its 75th Anniversary at its current site on September 17, 2006.

Campus

The tall bell tower is the most visible aspect of Topeka High School's architecture. Other notable details include:

  • Hoehner auditorium, site of at least one inauguration of a Kansas Governor.
  • USS Constitution mainmast on the east lawn
  • The oldest tree on campus, an elm, was blown over in the storms on August 25, 2006.
  • The Library, which was modeled after King Henry IIX's palace. Much of the wood shelving in the library is hand-carved, and about half of the ceiling is hand-painted. The original chairs, which are now 75 years old, still remain in the library and efforts are being made to refinish them.

Students[2]

Topeka High has an average Student Population of around 2,000. However...more than 1,700 students attended Topeka High in the 2006-2007 school year. Students arrive from Robinson, Jardine and Landon Middle Schools, as well as from Eisenhower and Chase Middle Schools. Six percent transfer into THS from outside the Topeka Public Schools district. The senior class of 2007 has 337 students.

More than 80% of THS graduates enroll in some kind of post secondary education. More than $1.2 million in scholarships were awarded to Topeka High seniors in 2005. Scholarships were awarded from such prestigious schools as Stanford, Vassar College, Vanderbilt, Georgetown and Brandeis.

THS National Merit Scholars (1999-2005)

The National Merit Scholarship Program is a college scholarship competition that includes taking the PSAT/NMSQT.

  • 19 Semi-finalists
  • 35 Commended Scholars
  • 7 National Achievement Scholars
  • 3 Corporate Sponsor Merit Scholars
  • 3 Hispanic Scholars

Foreign Exchange Programs

Ten to fifteen students per year attend THS from countries such as Germany, Thailand, Brazil, Mexico and Switzerland. Students are sponsored by the following exchange programs: AFS, AIFS, ASSE, CHI, AYUSA, ERDT, and Share.

Faculty

There are around 140 teachers and administrators at Topeka High. Notable administrators include Principal Dr. Linda Wiley, Associate Principal Steve Grammer, and Division Principals Sheila Heine-Walker, Don Barth, Rodney Johnson, and Linda Peterson. Notable teachers include science teachers Anton Ahrens and Kerry "Zimm" Zimmerman, English teacher Nancy Vega (THS '70), art teacher Marty "Mo" Moreno, music teachers Steve Holloman (THS '70), Steve Eubank, Ray McComas, and debate and forensics instructor Pam McComas. Salvador Cruz is a graduate of Topeka High and the current coach of the Trojan Drumline, which is known by THS faithful as the "Cruz Line." Duane Pomeroy, a government and social studies teacher, is a former deputy and former acting mayor of Topeka, Kansas. Curtis "Gunner" Kelley is the Senior Marine Instructor of the MCJROTC and Head Swim Coach. The previous principal was Clardy Vinson, and he was succeeded by Dr. Linda Wiley, who became principal at the beginning of the 2006-2007 school year.

Traditions

  • Running of the halls: During first period of days that THS has a home football game, the students gather in the halls of Troy, and the drill team, flag team, and marching band march through the halls to promote school spirit. (Due to inappropriate actions by students and lack of participation, this tradition has been discontinued in recent years.)
  • Marching Band: The Topeka High Marching Trojans have been a major point of pride for years. They travel the country regularly and have been on a national stage on multiple occasions, including the Disney Music Days Parade every other year in Orlando, Florida, as well as the Cotton Bowl Classic Parade in Dallas, Texas in 1988. The marching band is currently under the direction of Steve Holloman and Ray McComas.

Curriculum

TPS often changes its high school schedules, causing much confusion among the students and their guardians. Many students wish for the return of Seminar, a Study Hall-like class that allowed them to catch up on work, seek teacher help, and just relax on hectic days.[citation needed] On Wednesdays and Thursdays, however, there is "Trojan Time", which is similar to Seminar in that students can catch up on work or seek teacher help. Seminar also allowed teachers extra time to get things done.

Six percent of Topeka High's enrollment come as transfer students. Students outside the attendance zone come to the school for its strong fine arts program - including an excellent music program (orchestra, jazz band, drumline, wind ensembles, and concert choirs), its nationally recognized forensic and debate teams, as well as its foreign language program (offering languages Spanish, German, and French). Also, THS boasts a nationally-acclaimed Marine Corps JROTC drill team (1999-present).

The school newspaper, The World, is a member of the High School National Ad Network.

With the 2006-2007 school year, Topeka High has incorporated a new discipline plan called the "10 Point Discipline Plan." It has had mixed reactions from students and faculty.[citation needed]

Notable alumni

References

  1. ^ https://www2.topeka.k12.ks.us/ths/multimedia/history/architecture.html
  2. ^ brochure:All That's Great About Topeka High, TPS Communications, 2006
  3. ^ [1]Look Smart Web site, reprint of article by Blankenship, Bill, "Young poet to read works at Washburn", The Topeka Capital-Journal, March 9, 2005, accessed October 31, 2006

Bibliography

  • United States Department of the Interior, National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places submission for Topeka High School, Shawnee County, Kansas, (22 April 2005)


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