Arlington High School (Massachusetts)
| Arlington High School | |
|---|---|
| File:Ahs ma logo.png | |
| Address | |
 | |
869 Massachusetts Avenue , , 02476 | |
| Information | |
| School type | Public |
| Established | 1915 |
| Principal | Mary Villano |
| Grades | 9-12 |
| Number of students | 1150 (2006-2007) |
| Color(s) | Maroon/Red, Gray, and White |
| Mascot | The Indian |
| Team name | Spy Ponders |
| Accreditation | New England Association of Schools and Colleges |
| Newspaper | The Ponder Report |
| Yearbook | Spy Ponder |
| Website | www.arlington.k12.ma.us/ahs |
Arlington High School is a secondary school located in Arlington, Massachusetts. As of 2010, the school enrolls approximately 1,300 students annually. The current school principal is Mary Villano.
History
The current Arlington High School, designed by Howard B.S. Prescott, was opened in 1915 for grades 10-12. What is now known as "Fusco building" was the only original building. Boys and girls were required to enter the building through two separate entrances. Two additions were later added on, the "Collomb building," as it is now known, in 1937 and then the "Downs building."
Peirce field, a field for football, soccer, track, baseball and softball, was created by filling in "Cutter's Pond" which had been previously used for milling. Mill Brook still runs underneath the High School to this day. The field was renovated in 2004 due to toxin levels in the soil, which stemmed from a company located where the Department of Public Works is currently situated. A settlement was reached with the company to pay for the entire cleaning, capping, and renovation.
Since the mid-1990s several news documentary shows have been to Arlington High School, including Chronicle, Nightline, and MTV Made. It has also been the topic of many news stories covered by Fox News, Fox 25, Channel 7, among many other TV channels and radio stations.
An HBO show chronicling actor/comedian Dane Cook's Tourgasm tour featured a segment where Cook returned to Arlington High School, which he attended, and spoke to the students and faculty.
Notable alumni
- Dave "Chico" Ryan, Sha Na Na, Bill Haley & His Comets, Grease
- Michael Bowman, actor, Me, Myself and Irene[citation needed]
- Dane Cook, actor and comedian
- Jim Driscoll, Former MLB player (Oakland Athletics, Texas Rangers)
- Olympia Dukakis, Oscar Winning Actress
- Alan Hovhaness, Composer
- Andy Powers, professional hockey player and All American High School Athlete[2]
- John A. Kelley, 2-Time Boston Marathon Winner
- Alan "Blind Owl" Wilson, guitarist/songwriter of Canned Heat
- Chris Leary, actor, Once Around, Celtic Pride, Edge of Darkness, The Fighter
- Peter Berdovsky, VJ, artist
- Louis W. Ross, architect
- Carl Sumner, Former MLB player (Boston Red Sox)
- John Messuri, Princeton University Hockey All-Time leading Scorer, High School hockey coach
- Sean Garballey, Massachusetts State Representative of the 23rd Middlesex District.
- Sean Harrington, A former Arlington High School Student who gained attention for his efforts to reinstate the Pledge of Allegiance back into Arlington High School's morning routine. [3]
- Liam Ezekiel, former NFL and UFL player
- Paul Boudreau, NFL Offensive Line Coach[4]
Pledge of Allegiance Controversy
In 2010, a petition was presented to the School Committee by A.H.S. student Sean Harrington, asking that students be allocated time each day to recite the Pledge of Allegiance at Arlington High over the intercom. At first, voting on the resolution resulted in a tie and therefore it did not pass. There was no definite reason given as to why the vote came out as it did. However, then School Committee Vice Chair Leba Heigham did however state she wasn't sure if (the school system) could find teachers willing to say the Pledge.[citation needed] The efforts gained national attention especially on Fox News and the Glenn Beck Show as did Sean Harrington, who had created and advocated the petition. Principal Skidmore then decided to allow the recitation over the loudspeaker,[5] going beyond his initial compromise of a voluntary recitation in the lobby, after the school committee voted unanimously to establish a policy stating schools must offer the Pledge every day.[6] As of September 2010, after more than 40 years, the Pledge of Allegiance is said over the loudspeaker each morning.
References
- ^ http://profiles.doe.mass.edu/state_report/sat_perf.aspx
- ^ http://www.bostonjuniorbruins.com/andypowers.html
- ^ Parker, Brock. "Teen resolute in fight to have pledge said in classrooms". boston.com. Retrieved 3 May 2011.
{{cite news}}: Unknown parameter|deadurl=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help) [dead link] - ^ http://reocities.com/Heartland/Meadows/3543/67_71.html
- ^ "Massachusetts School Offers to Allow Pledge of Allegiance -- but Not in Class". Fox News. 29 June 2010.
- ^ http://wbztv.com/local/arlington.pledge.flag.2.1902098.html