Santa Monica High School Explained

Santa Monica High School
Type:Public
Established:[1]
Principal:Mrs. Marae Cruce
Location:601 Pico Boulevard
City:Santa Monica
State:California
Country:USA
Zipcode:90405
Motto:Sincerity, Maturity, Honor and Service
Enrollment:2,678 (2022–23)
Ratio:19.43
Staff:137.80
Mascot:Viking
Colors: Blue & Gold

Santa Monica High School, officially abbreviated to Samohi, is a public high school in Santa Monica, California. Founded in 1891, it changed location several times in its early years before settling into its present campus at 601 Pico Boulevard. It is a part of the Santa Monica–Malibu Unified School District.

As of the 2021-22 school year, the school had 2,806 students and 131.11 teachers of a full-time employee basis for a teacher-student ratio of 21.08, according to data by the National Center for Education Statistics.

History

19th century

In 1891, the Union High School Law was passed in Santa Monica, thereby establishing a four-year high school for the city. The first graduating class graduated in 1894.

20th century

The new campus opened in 1912 with one building, the current History Building, with an enrollment of 50 students. The school sits on the hilltop between 4th and 7th streets and Pico and Olympic Blvds., from which one can see the Pacific Ocean. Ten years later the campus was expanded with construction of the English building.

In 1921, the Open Air Memorial Theater, now called the Greek Amphitheatre, was built to honor the Santa Monicans who served in World War I. One of the best examples of the classical Greek style in Southern California, the amphitheater was built after Santa Monica passed a $30,000 bond measure to fund its construction.[2] Barnum Hall Theater, originally called the Auditorium, was built in 1937 by the Works Progress Administration (WPA) to be the Civic Auditorium of Santa Monica and host school events. The campus added six buildings during this period: the Language, English, Business, History, Administration, and Music Buildings.

In 1952, Santa Monica High School was finally expanded to what it is now, 33acres, and two new buildings were built, the Science and Technology D.M. Buildings. As the school aged, renovations took place in Barnum Hall and the Music Building was completely rebuilt.

21st century

As of February 2015, a new Science and Technology Building, known as the Innovation Building, has been constructed along with an outdoor gathering space called Centennial Plaza.[3]

On September 10, 2015, during "Back to School Night" the Innovation Building was unveiled to the public.[4]

Houses

In 2003, Samohi adopted a house system, similar to college house systems; each student is part of a house.[5] There are five houses: S, M, O, H and I, with each house assigned a building or a floor of a building. S House is stationed in the Language Building, M and O house are both stationed in the new Discovery Building, H house is stationed in the English Building, and I house is stationed in the Innovation Building. The "A" house was cut due to the California budget cuts to public schools. A principal oversees each of the houses, along with two counselors. Teachers with classrooms in a house building/floor are automatically deemed one of the house teachers with some slight exceptions. Upon enrollment in Santa Monica High School, students are randomly assigned to a house unless the student has already had a sibling in Samohi. In that case, the student has the option to join the house their sibling is in, or to join a new one.

Academics

The school also has an academic team which won the 2008 National Science Bowl competition[6] as well as the 2017 National Ocean Sciences Bowl.[7] Additionally, the quiz bowl team remains competitive in the Southern California circuit.[8]

Music department

Orchestral program

In 2005, Symphony Orchestra was labeled the best high school-level orchestra in the nation by the American String Teachers Association (ASTA) at the National Orchestra Festival in Reno, Nevada.[9] The orchestra program is made up of many different ensembles, ranging from the smaller Beginning Strings / String Orchestra to the large Symphony Orchestra. Many of the orchestras from Santa Monica High School have had the chance to travel around the nation and the world. In February 2006, Symphony Orchestra became the first public high school orchestra to perform in the Walt Disney Concert Hall in Downtown Los Angeles.[10]

Marching band

The Santa Monica High School Viking Marching Band is one of the oldest high school marching bands in the state of California. The marching band performs for home football games and for many school and community events. The band enjoys a long history of competing in parades and field shows, most notably participating in shows sponsored by the SCSBOA (Southern California Student Band and Orchestra Association). In 2006, the marching band qualified for the first time in the SCSBOA 5A division championship.[11]

Samohi currently offers five concert bands, with the Wind Ensemble recognized as one of the most exceptionally talented high school bands in California. The Wind Ensemble performed at Carnegie Hall in 2007 and 2015, as well as Chicago Symphony Hall in 2013.[12] In 2016, the Wind Ensemble was selected to perform at the California All-State Music Educator's Conference (CASMEC) in San Jose. All ensembles regularly perform in festivals, conferences, and invitational concerts. The program enrolls over 300 students.[13]

Athletics

Basketball

Girls Varsity team won the 2010 CIF Southern Division 1 championship, defeating Summit High, 69–63. It was the first girls basketball title for SAMOHI; they went on to the Fourth Round of State and lost by two.

Boys Varsity won the 2013 CIF Division 1A Southern Section Championship against El Toro High School 66–56 at the Anaheim Convention Center. They entered the Division 1 State Championship as a #1 seed, losing in the championship game, 73–57, to Pleasant Grove.[14] [15] They also made it to the finals of the 2010 CIF Southern Division 1 Championship, but they were defeated at the Honda Center against Luezinger, and they went on to lose in second round of state.

Cross country

The cross country team informally known as the "XC team" is composed of freshmen, sophomores, juniors and seniors. As of 2019, the Cross-country team competes in division 1 of CIF.[16]

Wrestling

The wrestling team won the CIF State Championship in 1986. Also won the CIF State Championship in 152lb weight class in 2007. For the past 7 years, the team has qualified individuals for the Southern Section CIF Masters and CIF State Championships.[17]

Softball

The lady Vikings have been undefeated in league games since 2004. In 2010 and 2014 the lady Vikings won CIF division IV southern section.[18]

Color guard

Samohi's color guard and winter guard team performs in shows sponsored by Winter Guard International and Winter Guard Association of Southern California (WGASC). Originally a joint drill team with Santa Monica College named the "Coronettes", the team utilizes both wooden guns and flags in their routines that are featured during halftime of every home football game. Additionally, after three years of membership, each participant receives a varsity letter. The team won gold medals in the WGASC championships in 2014, 2015, and 2016.[19]

Notable alumni

See main article: category.

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: The History of Samohi. 2017. 2019-01-15. Samohi Alumni Association.
  2. Book: Cleland, Donald. A History of the Santa Monica Schools, 1876-1951. 1952. Santa Monica Unified School District. Santa Monica, CA.
  3. Web site: SMMUSD Facilities Improvement Projects. 2015-02-05.
  4. Web site: New $55 Million "Innovation" Building to be Publicly Unveiled at Santa Monica High School.
  5. https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/02/22/AR2006022202449.html Schools Chief Pick Sees Enemy in 'Anonymity'
  6. Web site: Past High School National Science Bowl Winners (1991 - 2014) | U.S. DOE Office of Science (SC). https://web.archive.org/web/20170102123800/http://science.energy.gov/wdts/nsb/about/historical-information/past-national-science-bowl-winners/past-hs-winners/. dead. January 2, 2017. January 2, 2017.
  7. Web site: Santa Monica High School Wins 20th Annual National Ocean Sciences Bowl. 24 April 2017.
  8. Web site: NAQT - Santa Monica High School - Results. www.naqt.com.
  9. Web site: Santa Monica High School Symphony Orchestra - LA Phil.
  10. http://www.laphil.com/press/press_release/index.cfm?id=1656 Santa Monica High School Symphony Makes Its Walt Disney Concert Hall Debut...
  11. Web site: 2006 SCSBOA Championship Score Grid. https://web.archive.org/web/20070710001458/http://www.scsboa.org/pdf/FldCscor.pdf. 2007-07-10. 10 July 2007.
  12. Web site: Santa Monica High School Wind Ensemble Receives Grant For Chicago Music Festival. 29 January 2013. SM Mirror.
  13. Web site: Directors . Samohiband.org . 2013-06-02.
  14. News: Morante. Roger. Samohi Comes Together To Win CIF Championship Game Over El Toro 66-56. 5 March 2013. Santa Monica Mirror. 3 March 2013.
  15. Web site: Basketball: Samohi falls in state final. 2013-03-23. 2015-02-05.
  16. Web site: Santa Monica Mirror . Smmirror.com . 2013-06-02.
  17. Web site: CIF List of Winners.
  18. Web site: Samohi Softball Team Takes Home CIF Championship. 14 June 2014. SM Mirror.
  19. Web site: Santa monica high color guard. Santa monica high color guard. 2017-04-18.
  20. Web site: Santa Monica High School . 2023-12-31 . www.seeing-stars.com.
  21. Web site: Skinner. Keven. 2015-11-15. Lee Arenberg Talks About Grumpy in Once Upon a Time Season 5, Pirates of The Caribbean & More [Interview]]. 2022-02-20. Fox Force Five News. en-CA.
  22. Santa Monica High School Yearbook, 1925
  23. Web site: Hall of Fame . 2023-12-30 . Samohi Alumni Association . en.
  24. Web site: Randolph J. Bresnik (Colonel, USMC). NASA. 2008. National Aeronautics and Space Administration. National Aeronautics and Space Administration.
  25. Web site: 'Superman' Dean Cain Mulls Run for Congress . Roll Call . May 5, 2014 . Livingston, Abby.
  26. Web site: Active Football Players from Santa Monica . Santa Monica Mirror . March 22, 2022.
  27. News: Pasquini . Maria . Rob Lowe Cozies Up to 'Old Friend' Robert Downey Jr. at Gwyneth Paltrow's Wedding: 'I Luv Ya' . September 11, 2020 . People magazine . September 30, 2018 . EN.
  28. News: Roberts . Steven V. . Ehrlichman Focus Of a Coast Dispute . March 16, 2021 . The New York Times . May 21, 1973.
  29. Web site: Emilio Estevez. 2022-02-20. IMDb.
  30. Book: Stuart. Gloria. Thompson. Sylvia. Gloria Stuart. Gloria Stuart: I Just Kept Hoping. Little, Brown, and Company. 1999. Boston. 0-316-81571-3. registration. 13.
  31. News: Lee. Luaine. Teen years in Hollywood were an advantage for Rhenzy Feliz. November 10, 2020. The Seattle Times. November 16, 2017. EN.
  32. News: Baum . Gary . Santa Monica High School Cancels Scientology Anti-Drug Program After Uproar (Exclusive) Hollywood Reporter . September 11, 2020 . Hollywood Reporter . May 12, 2017.
  33. Web site: R/Indieheads - Comment by u/Christianleehutson on "I'm Christian Lee Hutson and I just released my new album 'Quitters' - AMA!" . 6 April 2022 .
  34. http://archive.org/details/ucladailybruin28losa UCLA Daily Bruin
  35. Web site: Tonnessen. Heather. 2017-06-05. Astronaut Jonny Kim. 2020-10-12. NASA.
  36. News: Former Dodger Pitcher, Santa Monica Star Looks Back At 1988 Triumph . March 16, 2021 . Santa Monica Mirror . October 16, 2015.
  37. Web site: "Rob Lowe Biography". Bio. Archived from the original on September 1, 2012. Retrieved May 8, 2021.. https://web.archive.org/web/20120901213448/http://www.thebiographychannel.co.uk/biographies/rob-lowe.html. 2012-09-01. live.
  38. Web site: Costea . Bogdan . 2011-01-13 . Eric Pop, de la Jules Verne la Barack Obama . 2024-04-05 . Ziarul Timpul . ro-RO.
  39. News: Lance Pugmire . Ronda Rousey's maverick ways lead to landmark UFC bout . Los Angeles Times. 2013-02-21 . 2013-06-02.
  40. News: McCullough. Susie. Corsair Basketball Star Terry Schofield Proves Hard Work Is Key To Success. March 1, 1967. The Corsair. 4. https://www.webcitation.org/6YsDARshj?url=http://cdnc.ucr.edu/cgi-bin/imageserver/imageserver.pl?oid=CRS19670301&key=&getpdf=true. May 28, 2015. live.
  41. Web site: Kevin Baxter. Angels go after power in the draft. Los Angeles Times. 10 June 2009. 28 March 2014.
  42. News: Cecil Smith dies at 92; Times TV critic advocated literate, high-quality shows. Dennis Mclellan. July 14, 2009. Los Angeles Times.
  43. Book: Stuart. Gloria. Thompson. Sylvia. Gloria Stuart. Gloria Stuart: I Just Kept Hoping. Little, Brown, and Company. 1999. Boston. 0-316-81571-3. registration. 13.
  44. Web site: Finn . Mike . Rhodes Scholar Tung builds off her wrestling drive . WIN Magazine: Wrestling News . WIN Magazine . 18 June 2019 . 28 May 2019.

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