NationMaster - Encyclopedia: West Aurora High School

West Aurora High School, or WAHS, is a public four-year high school located in Aurora, Illinois, a western suburb of Chicago, Illinois, in the United States. It is part of West Aurora Public School District 129. The school is also referred to as "West Side High School," "West High School," "West High," and "Aurora West". Image File history File links West_Aurora_HS_blue_with_red_logo. ... For other uses, see Motto (disambiguation). ... Year 1867 (MDCCCLXVII) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Sunday of the 12-day slower Julian calendar). ... Year 1953 (MCMLIII) was a common year starting on Thursday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Educational institutions are often categorised along several dimensions. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... The Paramount Theatre under renovation, downtown Aurora. ... Official language(s) English[1] Capital Springfield Largest city Chicago Largest metro area Chicago Metropolitan Area Area Ranked 25th - Total 57,918 sq mi (149,998 kmÂ²) - Width 210 miles (340 km) - Length 390 miles (629 km) - % water 4. ... The UniversitÃ¤tscampus Wien, Austria ( details) Campus (plural: campuses) is derived from the (identical) Latin word for field or open space. English gets the words camp and campus from this origin. ... Illustration of the backyards of a surburban neighbourhood Suburbs are inhabited districts located either on the outer rim of a city or outside the official limits of a city (the term varies from country to country), or the outer elements of a conurbation. ... School colors are the colors chosen by a school to represent it on uniforms and other items of identification. ... Millie, once mascot of the City of Brampton, is now the Brampton Arts Councils representative. ... For other uses of Blackhawk/Black Hawk, see Black Hawk. ... For other uses, see Yearbook (disambiguation). ... A website (alternatively, Web site or web site) is a collection of Web pages, images, videos and other digital assets that is hosted on one or several Web server(s), usually accessible via the Internet, cell phone or a LAN. A Web page is a document, typically written in HTML... Image File history File links Westaurora. ... For other uses, see High school (disambiguation). ... The Paramount Theatre under renovation, downtown Aurora. ... Flag Seal Nickname: The Windy City Motto: Urbs In Horto (Latin: City in a Garden), I Will Location Location in Chicagoland and northern Illinois Coordinates , Government Country State Counties United States Illinois Cook, DuPage Mayor Richard M. Daley (D) Geographical characteristics Area City 606. ... West Aurora Public School District 129 has a tradition in Aurora, Illinois going back to the 1860s. ...

History

High school classes were first offered in 1867 at Stone School (now defunct). The first graduating class of five students had their commencement in 1870.

From 1905 until the 1950s the high school was located in a building (still standing) on Blackhawk Avenue (so named after the school's athletics mascot). This same building was Benjamin Franklin Junior High School until the 1970s, when it was sold to Aurora Christian School, which used it as their school building until 2004. The current WAHS structure was built in the early 1950s, and was dedicated in 1953 as "West Side Senior High." From 1978-1981 the building was briefly known as the "West Aurora South Campus," when two buildings existed on Aurora's west side to house the high school population. The building formerly known as the "West Aurora North Campus" now houses the Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy. The present building has had multiple additions and renovations. Benjamin Franklin (January 17 [O.S. January 6] 1706 â€“ April 17, 1790) was one of the most well known Founding Fathers of the United States. ... The Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy, or IMSA, is a three-year residential public high school located in Aurora, Illinois, with an enrollment of approximately 640 students. ...

The major additions occurred over four phases. The first added classrooms to an existing two-story classroom wing in the early 1960s. The largest addition, to the north and east sides of the building, added the auditorium, classroom space and other amenities in 1966-1967. This addition was responsible for the creation of the building's first two courtyard spaces. The 1997-1998 addition was constructed as a two-story wing on the south end of the building, giving it a new facade, and closing a portion of New York Street. This addition included a new library, a technology center, a new cafeteria, and additional classroom space. The most recent addition was completed in time for the 2004-2005 academic year. This included a new fieldhouse, a new single-story classroom wing on the northwest corner of the building, and a new choral rehearsal space.

The school's fight song, "Roll On, You Blackhawks," dates from the 1940s, and was written by Sten Halfvarson. A plaque commemorating the composition of the song hangs in a hallway just south of the auditorium, where the opening bars of the song have also been placed into the floor tile.

In June of 2007, West Aurora High School garnered national media attention as a result of a massive food fight which resulted in the injuries of one police officer and multiple staff and students. The incident was evidently the result of a senior prank for the 2007 graduating class, for which the food fight occurred on their last day of classes. Felony charges against the instigator and multiple misdemeanor charges against other various individuals were filed by prosecutors. A food fight is a spontaneous form of chaotic collective behavior, in which food is thrown around a room, usually a cafeteria, in the manner of projectiles. ... A school prank is a prank pulled at school by a student, usually on another student. ...

Academics

In 2006, West Aurora had an average composite ACT score of 20.1, up slightly from the previous year's 19.8, and graduated 80.5% of its senior class, down 3 percentage points from 83.7%. The average class size is 19.7, down slightly from the previous year's 21.0. West Aurora has not made Adequate Yearly Progress on the Prairie State Achievements Examination, a state test part of the No Child Left Behind Act. The school is on the State of Illinois Academic Watch List for 2006-2007.^[1]^[2] The ACTÂ® test is a standardized achievement examination for college admissions in the United States produced by ACT, Inc. ... Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) is a term defined by the No Child Left Behind Act. ... President Bush signing the bipartisan No Child Left Behind Act at Hamilton H.S. in Hamilton, Ohio. ...

Athletics

West Aurora competes in the DuPage Valley Conference and Illinois High School Association. Prior to 1997, it competed in the Upstate Eight Conference. Officially, Chief Blackhawk serves as the mascot for the school. The red and blue logo of the chief is painted on the back of the school's football stadium, as of 2006, replacing the school's WA logo. Use of the "Chief" character has been controversial, as it has been for other area schools (e.g. Waubonsie Valley High School, Naperville Central High School) that use or have used a mascot derived from Native Americans. For a time, the school strictly used the WA symbol, which appears in place of the logo of Chief Blackhawk on all official DuPage Valley Conference logos. The school also invented new characters named "WA Man" and "WA Woman" as mascots, but has recently reinstated the Chief as official mascot. Teams continued to compete as "Blackhawks" during this time. Image File history File links WAHS_Staff_Pin_-_Chief_Blackhawk. ... The DuPage Valley Conference (DVC) is an organization of eight high schools in northeastern Illinois, representing seven communities in Chicagos suburbs. ... The Illinois High School Association (IHSA) is one of 521 state high school associations in the United States, designed to regulate competition in interscholastic events at the high school level. ... The Upstate Eight Conference (UEC or U8C) is an organization of eleven high schools in northeastern Illinois, representing eight communities in Chicagos suburbs. ... For other uses of Blackhawk/Black Hawk, see Black Hawk. ... Waubonsie Valley High School, or WVHS, is a public four-year high school located at the corner of Ogden Avenue and Eola Road in Aurora, Illinois, a western suburb of Chicago, Illinois, in the United States. ... Naperville Central High School (Naperville Central) is a public four-year comprehensive school covering grades nine through twelve in Naperville, a suburb southwest of Chicago, Illinois in the United States. ... The DuPage Valley Conference (DVC) is an organization of eight high schools in northeastern Illinois, representing seven communities in Chicagos suburbs. ...

As of 2007, the school's Athletic Director is Andrew Lutzenkirchen, formerly the assistant athletic director.

The 2006 football game with rival East Aurora High School was the 114th played between the two schools, and was won 33-0. The rivalry between these two public high schools is the oldest in the state of Illinois. With the 2005 win in that year's "East-West Game", West Aurora became the third high school in Illinois with a varsity football team to achieve 500 or more wins. East Aurora High School is a public four-year high school located in Aurora, Illinois, a western suburb of Chicago, Illinois, in the United States. ... Official language(s) English[1] Capital Springfield Largest city Chicago Largest metro area Chicago Metropolitan Area Area Ranked 25th - Total 57,918 sq mi (149,998 kmÂ²) - Width 210 miles (340 km) - Length 390 miles (629 km) - % water 4. ...

Fall Athletic Season teams

Winter Athletic Season teams

Spring Athletic Season teams

Multiple Seasons

Activities

The West Aurora band program is a member of district nine in the Illinois Music Educators Association (IMEA). The West Aurora High School band program is known throughout the Chicago area for its accomplished musical ensembles. However, with Melody Balicki's resignation at the end of the 2005-2006 school year (to become the Director of Education for the Chicago Jazz Philharmonic), the Jazz Ensemble will be directed by both Stephen Orland and Patty Sampson. The Jazz Ensemble performed at the Chicago Jazz Festival on 1 September 2006, becoming only the second high school group ever invited to perform at the Festival.^[3] Stephen Orland was the president of the IMEA's ninth district until 2006. The current West Aurora High School band directors are Stephen Orland, Patty Sampson, and John Sierakowski. The band participated in festivities and performed at the 2006 Chick-fil-A Bowl. The Illinois Music Educators Association (IMEA) is a state-funded professional organization aiming to promote and provide leadership for music education in Illinois. ... is the 244th day of the year (245th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The former logo of the Chick-fil-A Bowl, then known as the Peach Bowl. ...

The school's "Madrigal Singers," an a cappella choir under the direction of Meg Papadolias, are also well-respected locally, and have made a few recordings. Choral music and keyboarding classes are taught by Mrs. Papadolias and Jon McLear.

The school's drama troupe is an official member of the International Thespian Society. Its charter lists it as troupe #2013, which has been incorporated into the official name since becoming a member. The "Theatre Troupe 2013" had already established a high local profile and following, particularly with the production of annual musicals such as Carousel and Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat in the late 1990s, and Les Miserables, Jesus Christ Superstar, Beauty and the Beast, and Cats from 2003-2006. The school was only the second high school in Illinois to stage Beauty and the Beast and the third to stage Cats. In May 2007, the school became the first high school in Illinois to perform a fully staged production of Miss Saigon. In August 2007, the school's production of Miss Saigon was named a USA Weekend High School Musical Showstopper runner-up. ^[4] Some productions have been restaged in the same summer at the Paramount Arts Center in downtown Aurora. Drama at WAHS is led by Donna Letzter and Ken Ruffalo. This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Miss Saigon is a musical by Claude-Michel SchÃ¶nberg and Alain Boublil, with lyrics by Boublil and Richard Maltby, Jr. ...

Other activities include the school's "Step Team" dance ensemble, and many clubs, including:

Notable alumni

Kenny Battle (born October 10, 1964 in Aurora, Illinois), is an American former professional basketball player who was selected by the Detroit Pistons in the 1st round (27th overall) of the 1989 NBA Draft. ... This article is about the year. ... Richard Godhard Becker (born 1972-02-01) was a Major League Baseball player during the years 1993-2000. ... Year 1990 (MCMXC) was a common year starting on Monday (link displays the 1990 Gregorian calendar). ... John Drury was a news anchor on both WGN-TV and WLS-TV. External links ABC7Chicago. ... Year 1967 (MCMLXVII) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will display full calendar) of the 1967 Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... A Corner of Main Quad The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC, U of I, or simply Illinois), is the oldest, largest, and most prestigious campus in the University of Illinois system. ... Tom Skilling on WGN News at Noon in 2005. ... Year 1970 (MCMLXX) was a common year starting on Thursday (link shows full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... // The Chicago Tribune is a major daily newspaper based in Chicago, Illinois and owned by the Tribune Company. ... Wikipedia does not have an article with this exact name. ... // Meteorology (from Greek: Î¼ÎµÏ„ÎÏ‰ÏÎ¿Î½, meteoron, high in the sky; and Î»ÏŒÎ³Î¿Ï‚, logos, knowledge) is the interdisciplinary scientific study of the atmosphere that focuses on weather processes and forecasting. ... Jeffrey Keith Jeff Skilling (born November 25, 1953) was the CEO of Enron Corporation in 2001. ... Year 1971 (MCMLXXI) was a common year starting on Friday (link will display full calendar) of the 1971 Gregorian calendar. ... Enron Creditors Recovery Corporation (formerly Enron Corporation) (former NYSE ticker symbol: ENE) was an American energy company based in Houston, Texas. ...

References

External links

Categories: Educational institutions established in 1867 | High schools in Illinois The DuPage Valley Conference (DVC) is an organization of eight high schools in northeastern Illinois, representing seven communities in Chicagos suburbs. ... Glenbard East High School, or GEHS, and locally referred to as East, is a public four-year high school located at the corner of Wilson Road and Main Street in Lombard, Illinois, a western suburb of Chicago, in the United States. ... Glenbard North High School, or GBN, and locally referred to as North, is a public four-year high school located at the corner of Kuhn Road and Lies Road in Carol Stream, Illinois, a western suburb of Chicago, Illinois, in the United States. ... Naperville Central High School (Naperville Central) is a public four-year comprehensive school covering grades nine through twelve in Naperville, a suburb southwest of Chicago, Illinois in the United States. ... Naperville North High School, or NNHS, is a four-year high school located at the corner of Ogden Avenue and Mill Street in the northern-central part of Naperville, Illinois, a western suburb of Chicago, Illinois, in the United States. ... West Chicago Community High School, or simply WEGO, is a public four-year high school located in West Chicago, Illinois, a western suburb of Chicago, Illinois, in the United States. ... Wheaton North High School, or WNHS, and locally referred to as North is a public four-year high school located at the corner of Geneva Road and Gary Avenue in the northwest corner of Wheaton, Illinois, an affluent western suburb of Chicago, Illinois, in the United States. ... Wheaton Warrenville South High School, or WWSHS, and locally referred to as South, is a public four-year high school located at the corner of Butterfield Road and Wiesbrook Road in the southwest corner of affluent Wheaton, Illinois, a western suburb of Chicago, Illinois, in the United States. ...

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