Tucson High
History
Tucson High is the oldest operating public high school in Arizona. On April 10, 1906, the Arizona Board of Regents resolved that as of September 1, 1906, students from all Arizona cities, having a population of more than 5,000, must have completed the 9th grade before enrolling in the University of Arizona Preparatory Department. Then the voters of Tucson School District No. 1 approved the formation of a high school district on August 8, 1906.
The first day of class in the newly established Tucson High School was on September 10, 1906, with 45 students who began classes in the Plaza School at 13th Street and 4th Avenue. After a few weeks, the high school students were relocated to a two-room building located at 1010 E. 10th Street, the current location of Tucson Unified School District headquarters.
In 1908, they moved to the newly constructed Tucson High School building at 501 E. 6th Street, which is currently Roskruge Elementary and Bilingual Magnet Middle School, and remained at that location until they completed their high school years. By 1910, only ten students from that original class remained as students.
Construction on the current Tucson High School Main Building began in 1923 and was completed in 1924, in time for the fall classes. Tucson High's Main Building was designed by Henry Jaastad and cost $750,000. The grand building with its ornate details, such as Corinthian columns, stood as an architectural masterpiece then and remains the same today. A magnificent icon, the 14 towering columns of the Main Building welcomed classes ranging in size from 175 in 1924 to the largest class of 3,500+ in 2016. In the 1956, a second high school, Pueblo High School (3500 S. 12th Ave.) opened its doors in the southern part of Tucson and, in 1957, Catalina High School (3645 E. Pima) opened in the northeast part of the town to accommodate the increasing number of students in the fast-growing city of Tucson. Although Amphitheater High School had been operating at this time, it was a separate school district that served just a few students living in what was then far northwest area of Tucson. Amphi opened in 1939 as the second high school in Tucson.
The 1987 film, Can't Buy Me Love, starring Patrick Dempsey and Amanda Peterson, was shot on location at the school when it was known as Tucson High School.
Achievements
First-place photography awards in AGFA national competition and other national recognition programs; five gold keys in Scholastic Art competitions; winners in the District graphic design competitions; band, choral, and drama groups have rated “superior” in local and state competitions, orchestras receiving "superior" ratings and "superior with distinction" (the highest possible rating) in the Fall of the 2015–2016 school year, and several music groups attending competitions in California every year, some receiving Silver (second highest award group) rankings and gold (highest award group) rankings to be given the chance to compete to perform in Carnegie Hall in New York; Academic Decathlon honors and high placement in the Southern Arizona Mock Trial competition; District recognition for “Outstanding Young Scientist;” students in the Math, Engineering, Science Achievement (MESA) program have placed high in state competition; several Regional Science Fair student awards; two National Merit Scholar Finalists.
The School's Yearbook Publication, The Tucsonian, is a nationally recognized and awarded publication that often receives First Class ratings from the National Scholastic Press Association, and a nomination for a Pacemaker Award, the highest national honor in the field of student journalism, for the 2010 volume of the book.
In 2013, Tucson High's theater teacher, Art Almquist, was named one of People Magazine's Teachers of the Year.
Programs
Noteworthy programs at THMS include performing and visual arts; technological education providing comprehensive curriculum to all students with the most current technology available in these areas; an integrated program in humanities, arts, math, science, computers, bilingual and block English/social studies classes; the unique location enables students to take advantage of programs at the University of Arizona, Pima Community College, and the Downtown Arts District; award-winning marching band and jazz ensembles; vocal music; orchestra; mariachi; guitar; musical theater; folklorico; piano lab; film acting; studio photography; commercial arts; steel drums; environmental biology; integrated technology; robotics; and desktop publishing; and advanced placement classes are available in ten academic areas. One of the schools most significant and controversial programs focuses on Mexican American Studies (MAS). This program's curriculum is specifically designed to give Chicano/Latino students a more inclusive and culturally aware approach to education.
Marching Band
Tucson High Marching 100 | |
---|---|
Director | Morani Sanders, Evan Norwood |
Members | 64 |
Motto | "The Pride and Pulse of Tucson High" |
Website | tucsonhighband.org |
The Tucson High Marching 100 is the oldest marching band in Tucson, Arizona and is an award-winning marching band. Started in 1919 as instrumental music by Arthur Sewell the program has grown immensely in its 100+ year time.
The Tucson High Marching 100 performs a field show annually at home football games and at competitions such as: University of Arizona Band Day, Ironwood Ridge March the Ridge, Flowing Wells Show of Shows, TUSD Marching Band Exhibition, and Arizona State Marching Band Championships.
Year | Show Title | Musical Selections | Director(s) | Members |
---|---|---|---|---|
2005 | Paridise Lost, Paridise Found | Time to Waste, Mockingbird, Gangsta's Paradise | Robert Sanchez | |
2008 | Wicked | No One Mourns the Wicked, Dancing Through Life/Defying Gravity, For Good/No Good Deed/No One Mourns the Wicked | Christopher Constantine | |
2009 | The Music of Michael Mcdonald | Takin it to The Streets, What a Cool Belief, Minute by minute, This is it | Christopher Constantine | |
2010 | Think Fast: The Music of Stevie Dans | Ribbon of the Year, Ricky don't lose that number, Josie | Christopher Constantine | |
2011 | The Multiples of One | Call of the Mountain, Adelina Damya, River of Tears | Christopher Constantine | |
2012 | A Night in the Tucson Mountains | Night Watch - Movement I, Night Watch - Movement II, Night on Bald Mountain | Christopher Constantine | |
2013 | THMS M100 World Tours | Riverdance, El Cumbachero, April in Paris(dise), Pictures At An Exhibition/Great Gate Of Kia | Christopher Constantine | 97 |
2014 | Alive and Amplified | The Pretender, All Along the Watchtower, Creep, Thriller | Christopher Constantine | 104 |
2015 | Lucy Huestis, Dean Moore | 105 | ||
2016 | Keeping it Classic | Lucy Huestis, Dean Moore | 91 | |
2017 | Expressions in Red | Lucy Huestis, Dean Moore | 122 | |
2018 | West Side Story | Dean Moore | 105 | |
2019 | One Small Step | Sea, Air, Space | Dean Moore, Morani Sanders | 107 |
2021 | Elemental | Dark Skies, Cyclonic Destruction, Falling Snow, Rains and Parting Clouds | Dean Moore, Morani Sanders | 60 |
2022 | The Happiness Project | Can't Stop the Feeling, Adelie Land, Sing, Always Look on the Bright Side of Life | Dean Moore, Morani Sanders | 60 |
2023 | Decades of Adventure | Jurassic Park, Crossing Paths (The Wind Rises), Pirates of the Caribbean | Dean Moore, Morani Sanders | 69 |
2024 | Babylonia | The Tower, Hanging Gardens, Destruction | Morani Sanders, Evan Norwood | 64 |
Every Year the Tucson High Marching 100 participates in many local parades such as the Downtown Parade of Lights, The Pima Pet Parade, and the Tucson Rodeo Parade.
Jovert (Steel Drums)
The Jovert Steel Drums Band started as Arizona's first high school steel drum ensemble in 1991 under band director Laszlo Veres. In 1999 the program was handed off to jazz pianist, Khris Dodge who was the first to call the program Jovert in 2000. As of 2010 the program services 110 students at Tucson High and has published four CDs in the past two decades. The program was handed off to a former student, Reuben Woodruff in 2021 before being taken over by band director Morani Sanders that same year. In 2024 the steel drum band changed direction again with Carlos Solis.
Jovert plays pop songs in the steel drum style around various venues in the Tucson region. The performances by the jovert put audiences in energetic mood.
Badger Foundation
The Tucson High Badger Foundation was founded in early 1982 to enable alumni, parents, community members, and business leaders to support the continued excellence of the education provided to students at Tucson High (now known as Tucson High Magnet School). The foundation began as a group raising funds for a Jazz Band trip. By 1984, it became a 501(c)(3) organization. As of 2008, the group aims to provide financial assistance to Tucson High students, student groups, faculty and staff, which allows participation in special activities when funding is insufficient.
The Badger Foundation Board of Directors is made up of members who are alumni, teachers, and administrators. Jerry Strutz is the current chairman.
Magnet program
Obtaining magnet status in 1982, Tucson High boasts four areas of specialized study: Visual and Performing Arts, Science, Mathematics and Technology. The magnet program involves 1,182 students.
Magnet programs in the Tucson Unified School District were established in compliance with a desegregation lawsuit. In order to escape the de facto racial segregation caused by neighborhoods feeding certain schools being predominantly of one minority, special funds were allotted to certain schools to develop special programs in areas such as the aforementioned, as well as ROTC, aviation and others. Students interested in studying these fields can opt to be bused to schools that are not their home schools, thus bringing a heterogeneous array of students to predominantly homogeneous schools. However, this has historically had questionable success.
School facilities
Main Building
Tucson High's Main Building was constructed in 1924 and was designed by famous architect Henry O. Jaastad. It cost $750,000. It has been placed on the National Register of Historic Places in Washington, D.C. Second Avenue once ran North and South in front of the Main Building on the West side, and 7th Street once ran East and West along the South side of the Main Building before the campus expanded and eliminated these through streets, an area now known as “The Mall”. Located in the Main Building: Attendance Office, Registrar, Counseling Offices, college and Career Center, Activities and Athletics Offices, Administrative Offices, Auditorium, Library, Gallery, and what is known as the "Little Theatre", one of two theaters at Tucson High.
East Wing
1965: music rooms become the east part (E-Wing) of the Main Building. The East wing is composed of music rooms, such as an orchestra room, a choir room, a band room, and other rooms used for music theory and smaller music programs. The E-Wing also has a tunnel that connects it directly to the back of the auditorium, allowing music students to quickly get on stage for performances.
Vocational Building
1950s: Vocational Building (V-Building) is built in a modern architectural style, containing 48 classrooms and 13 shops. This building also contains the security office. The back wing is used to hold technical classes (i.e. Welding, Machinery, Auto Shop, and Computer Management). The basement of the Vocational Building contains a recording studio that is no longer in use. In 2023 Tucson High's Administration announced a plan to renovate the Vocational Buildings upper wings that had sat abandoned and decaying for many years
Technology Building
The Technological Sciences & Fine Arts Building (T-Building or Tech) was designed to mimic the facade of the historic Main Building with a more modern feel to it, and was completed in 1996, it is the largest building on the campus today. The Majority of the schools Visual and Performing Arts Classes are held in the western end of the Tech Building as well as the Tucsonian Yearbook and Cactus Chronicle Publication workrooms. The majority of the schools Math and Science classes are located in the Tech Building's eastern end. Constructed along with the Building was a 2 floor Bridge which connects the upper floors of the Tech Building to the Main Building.
Gymnasium
1939: Designed by Roy Place,The Physical Education Annex, including a gymnasium, is built to replace the existing gym on the third floor of the main building. In the gymnasium sports as well as school wide events are held. The gym holds two full-sized basketball courts, practice rooms for sports teams, and three fully equipped machine rooms.
The Reconstruction of the Building was completed in January 2011. The renovation included the building of a second gymnasium called the East Gym. This construction was designed by the architectural firm Poster Mirto McDonald costing $6.6 million dollars. Between the East Gym and the Main Gym is the Hall of Champions, an area celebrating the dozens of state championships won by Tucson High School teams. Tucson High School's first state championship was in baseball in 1912 and its latest state championship was in boys soccer in 2014. In 1999, Tucson High was recognized as the first high school in the nation to achieve 500 wins in football, 1000 wins in basketball, and 1000 wins in baseball.
Cafeteria
The original cafeteria was built in the 3rd floor of the main building, this space has now been converted into classrooms
1945: The Physical Education Building (West Gym) is remodeled and a cafeteria is built inside this building. The cafeteria in was converted into a sports medical facility.
The building currently used as a cafeteria was built in ≈1960 and contains a kitchen and staff lounges in the back. Also the school financial office is in this building
Cherry Field
The school's Badgers softball and baseball teams have a complex with four fields (two softball and two baseball) at East 13th Street and South Kino Parkway. The current facility was built in 2008 replacing original ball park from 1947 and added flood control basin. In 2018 the Tucson Saguaros played here.
Notable alumni
This article's list of alumni may not follow Wikipedia's verifiability policy. (October 2021) |
- Abdi Abdirahman, Olympic long-distance runner.
- Selwa Al-Hazzaa, ophthalmologist.
- Tavo Álvarez, former Major League Baseball (MLB) player (Montreal Expos).
- Dave Baldwin, Major League Baseball pitcher.
- Frank Borman, NASA astronaut and engineer, Commander of Apollo 8.
- Jim Crawford, former MLB pitcher (Houston Astros, Detroit Tigers).
- Frank L. Culin Jr., U.S. Army major general
- Mike Dawson, St. Louis Cardinals (Pro Football).
- Fred DuVal, Clinton White House Deputy Director of Intergovernmental Affairs, and Arizona Gubernatorial candidate.
- Karl Eller, businessman and namesake of the Eller College of Management, University of Arizona.
- John Heaphy Fellowes, Captain, U.S. Navy, A-6 Intruder pilot, Vietnam War POW 1966–1973.
- Alan Fudge, actor.
- Jim Grabb, tennis player.
- Judith Rich Harris, psychologist and author.
- Ron Hassey, Major League Baseball catcher.
- Richard Hunziker, U.S. Air Force Major General.
- Curtis Kamman, U.S. ambassador and career diplomat.
- Ulysses Kay, American composer.
- Eddie Leon, Major League Baseball infielder.
- Osia Lewis, American football player.
- Tony Malaby, American Jazz Saxophonist.
- Willie Morales, former MLB player (Baltimore Orioles).
- Bob Nolan, western songwriter.
- Dennis F. Parker, musician, recording engineer.
- Alfred Quiroz, visual artist.
- Steve Rabinowitz, publicist.
- Chris Sáenz, former MLB player (Milwaukee Brewers).
- Delaney Schnell, Olympic diver.
- Shakir Smith, basketball player
- Levi Wallace, national champion defensive back at Alabama and current Pittsburgh Steelers player.
- Peggy Webber, actress, writer, director, producer.
- Tom Wilhelmsen, Major League Baseball pitcher.
References
- ^ "TUSD Schools". Archived from the original on October 10, 2009. Retrieved November 6, 2009.
- ^ Tucson High FAQs Archived September 28, 2011, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "Search for Public Schools - School Detail for Tucson Magnet High School".
- ^ "Which high school holds title of state's oldest." Arizona Republic September 25, 2011: B3.
- ^ Tucson High Centennial Website
- ^ "Search for Public Schools - School Detail for Tucson Magnet High School". nces.ed.gov. Retrieved January 12, 2024.
- ^ "History".
- ^ "About Us".
- ^ "School History".
- ^ "Can't Buy Me Love (1987) - Filming & production - IMDb". IMDb.
- ^ Sánchez, George (June 27, 2007). "4 at Tucson High win top national MESA engineering honors". Arizona Daily Star.
- ^ "High school science fair winners". Arizona Daily Star. April 3, 2006.
- ^ "2006 SARSEF Award Winners". Archived from the original on September 29, 2007.
- ^ "NSPA - Contest Winners". Archived from the original on February 20, 2011. Retrieved February 18, 2011.
- ^ "Meet People's 2013 Teachers of the Year". People. Retrieved February 27, 2019.
- ^ 2008 Course Offerings Archived November 16, 2007, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Acosta, Curtis; Mir, Asiya (Summer 2012). "Empowering Young People to Be Critical Thinkers: The Mexican American Studies Program in Tucson" (PDF). Voices in Urban Education. 34: 15–16 – via EdLib.
- ^ "Prof. W. Arthur Sewell | THS Badger Foundation". Retrieved November 22, 2024.
- ^ Tucson Unified School District's marching bands show off its talents. November 2, 2023. Retrieved November 22, 2024 – via www.kold.com.
- ^ meilychan2 (October 5, 2009). Tucson High Marching 100 Show 2008 - Wicked. Retrieved December 16, 2024 – via YouTube.
{{cite AV media}}
: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ Priscila Feddor (September 18, 2013). Takin It To The Streets 2009. Retrieved November 22, 2024 – via YouTube.
- ^ Tucson High Band 040. October 23, 2010. Retrieved November 22, 2024 – via YouTube.
- ^ Tucson High Bands (December 23, 2012). THMS 10 27 12 Flowing Wells Show of Shows. Retrieved December 16, 2024 – via YouTube.
- ^ Tucson High Marching 100. October 18, 2014. Retrieved November 22, 2024 – via YouTube.
- ^ TUSDMedia (December 5, 2018). TUSD1 - Tucson Magnet High School Badger Band at the Marching Band Exhibition. Retrieved December 16, 2024 – via YouTube.
- ^ UofA 66th Annual Band Day Program (PDF), The University of Arizona, October 26, 2019, p. 24
- ^ Christopher Madrigal (October 26, 2022). M100 2022 Expo Performance. Retrieved December 16, 2024 – via YouTube.
- ^ TUSD1 - Marching Band Exhibition - Tucson High Marching 100. December 18, 2023. Retrieved November 22, 2024 – via YouTube.
- ^ Tucson High M100: Babylonia | UofA Band Day 2024. November 4, 2024. Retrieved November 22, 2024 – via YouTube.
- ^ Bol, Sarah. "TUSD Marching Band Exhibition". The Paper Cut. Retrieved November 22, 2024.
- ^ Knott, Gloria (December 12, 2023). "A holiday light parade will wind its way through downtown Tucson this weekend". Arizona Daily Star. Retrieved November 22, 2024.
- ^ "Ready for the Tucson Rodeo Parade". KGUN 9 Tucson News. February 24, 2016. Retrieved November 22, 2024.
- ^ "Band History". December 8, 2004. Archived from the original on December 8, 2004. Retrieved December 3, 2024.
- ^ "Our Staff". Tucson Jazz Festival. Retrieved December 2, 2024.
- ^ "Steel drum band Jovert performs this Friday night at La Encantada". Tucson Local Media. September 14, 2010. Retrieved December 2, 2024.
- ^ Jovert Tucson High Steel Band - New Beginnings, 2002, retrieved December 2, 2024
- ^ "Jovert Steel Band starring Tucson Magnet High School – QuailCreekCrossing.com". July 13, 2017. Retrieved December 2, 2024.
- ^ "Badger Foundation". Retrieved March 4, 2015.
- ^ "Officers & Board | THS Badger Foundation". Retrieved November 22, 2024.
- ^ Khmara, Danyelle (April 20, 2021). "TUSD's decades-old desegregation case drawing to a close with judge's approval". Arizona Daily Star. Retrieved November 22, 2024.
- ^ "History of Tucson High | THS Badger Foundation". Retrieved December 16, 2024.
- ^ "History of Tucson High School". Archived from the original on March 1, 2012.
- ^ Votipka, Jessica (September 9, 2023). "TUSD to upgrade historical Tucson High if voters approve bonds". Arizona Daily Star. Retrieved January 12, 2024.
- ^ "Tucson High Proposed Projects". bond2023.tusd1.org. Retrieved December 16, 2024.
- ^ "THMS HISTORIC GYM". POSTER MIRTO McDONALD. Retrieved December 16, 2024.
- ^ "THMS HALL OF CHAMPIONS". POSTER MIRTO McDONALD. Retrieved December 16, 2024.
- ^ "What almost was: Tucson High playing football in a 20,000-seat stadium". allsportstucson.com. August 31, 2020.
- ^ Star, Danielle Sottosanti Arizona daily (November 9, 2008). "Cherry Field Basin serves dual purpose". Arizona Daily Star. Retrieved December 16, 2024.
- ^ Ferguson, Joe (November 1, 2014). "DuVal, Ducey make stops in Tucson". Arizona Daily Star. Retrieved December 16, 2024.
- ^ "Business magnate Karl Eller got his start as a Tucson High star, UA waterboy". Arizona Daily Star. March 16, 2019. Retrieved December 16, 2024.
- ^ "Alan Fudge". Arizona Daily Star. August 15, 1968. p. 13. Retrieved March 3, 2022.
- ^ Hansen, Greg (July 21, 2017). "2. Jim Grabb, Tucson High". Arizona Daily Star.
- ^ "Judith Rich Harris, 80, Dies; Author Played Down the Role of Parents (Published 2019)". January 1, 2019. Archived from the original on October 7, 2024. Retrieved December 16, 2024.
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- ^ Star, Johanna Eubank Arizona Daily (August 4, 2015). "Notable Tucsonan: Ulysses Kay was a renowned composer". Arizona Daily Star. Retrieved December 16, 2024.
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- ^ "Alfred J. Quiroz | THS Badger Foundation". Retrieved August 29, 2024.
External links
- Tucson High School Class of 1969 Web Site
- Tucson High School Class of 1967: https://www.tucsonbadgers1967.us