Choctawhatchee Senior High School

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Choctawhatchee Senior High School is a high school in Fort Walton Beach, Florida. It is the only school in Okaloosa County to offer the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme. It also offers the Advanced Placement Program, AVID ("Advancement Via Individual Determination"), and honors classes; AFJROTC, an aviation program, and pre-engineering classes from two major universities. It has received Florida's highest rating of A+ for many years. The school mascot is the Big Green Indian and the school colors are kelly green and white.

Contents 1 History 2 Extracurriculars 2.1 Extracurricular Groups 2.1.1 Athletics 2.1.2 Performing Groups 2.1.3 Honor Clubs 2.1.4 Service Clubs 2.1.5 Special Interest Clubs 3 Traditions

[edit] History

Choctawhatchee originally opened its doors in Shalimar, Florida, on September 22, 1952. It was filled over its capacity of 500 students, enrolling 625 students in grades 7 through 12. The local news held a contest to name the school, and thus Choctawhatchee, or "coming together," was picked. Later it was relocated to its current location in Fort Walton Beach. Choctawhatchee is also the name of a major local river and bay. The Principal of Niceville Senior High school, Janie K. Varner, attended Choctawhatchee Senior High School in the late 1960's.^{[citation needed]}

[edit] Extracurriculars

Choctawhatchee, or Choctaw for short, has a history of successful extracurricular activities. The cheerleaders were back-to-back National Champions for 2004-2005 and 2005-2006, as well as being Florida's 7-Time Defending State Champion.^{[citation needed]} In 1990, the football team was the 5A State Champion.^{[citation needed]} Several sports consistently do well in districts and beyond, including cross country, track and field, tennis, male soccer and basketball, weightlifting, and wrestling. The Stylemarchers are currently back-to-back Florida State Champions, for 2004-2005 and 2005-2006.^{[citation needed]} The choral and band departments annually send students to All-State and make superiors at their respective district festivals.^{[citation needed]} Choctaw is especially known for its drumline and percussion. The drumline at Choctaw has been best in the state of Florida back to back 2004 and 2005.^{[citation needed]} The winter percussion ensemble has placed in the top 12 at the WGI World Championships since the event has been started. In 2004, they placed 12th. In 2005, they placed 8th, and in 2006, they placed 6th in the world.^{[citation needed]} The World Guard places in the top 10 every year at the WGI National Championships.^{[citation needed]} The academic team won the Cox Cable's Gulf Coast Academic Tournament 2006.^{[citation needed]} Both Smoke Signals (monthly newspaper) and WBGI (in-school television productions) receive local awards.^{[citation needed]} The Tomahawk Yearbook has won numerous state and national awards.^{[citation needed]}

[edit] Extracurricular Groups

[edit] Athletics

Football - State Champions 1990.all boys, but there is presently one girl on the team, she is a senior and in the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme^{[citation needed]}Volleyball - all girls

Basketball - a boys team and a girls team

Swimming - a mixed team

Golf - a mixed team

Soccer - a boys team and a girls team

Baseball - all boys

Softball - all girls

Track - mixed

Cross Country - mixed

Cheerleading-mixed. National Champions 2004 & 2005. 8-time State Champions. 2004 Grand Champions. 3-time Partner Stunt State Champions. 03(Robbie Knowles & Hailey Buchanan.),04(Michael Looney, Hailey Buchanan.),05( Phil Henry, Chelsea McDonald.)

[edit] Performing Groups

Stylemarchers (marching band), Indianettes (dance team), Drama, World Guard, Step Team, and Chorus, AFJROTC (drill team, sabre team, rifle team, and color guard)

[edit] Honor Clubs

Spanish, French, German, Music, Art, and Science Honor, as well as National Honor Society, Beta Club, Thespians, Mu Alpha Theta, and Academic Team.

[edit] Service Clubs

Key Club, Wheelettes, Interact, Optimiss, and Octagon.

[edit] Special Interest Clubs

Future Educators of America, War Chiefs, SADD, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Wordsmiths, Minority Council, Political Theory, Pie Club, Book Club, Bowling Club, SOUL, Aviation Club, Anime Club

[edit] Traditions

At the beginning of each home football game, the school Indian, or student mascot, rides a horse across the field and throws a spear midfield. Although many think that the idea was borrowed from Florida State University, in fact it is opposite that, as accounted for by the former football coach and athletic director, Wyman Townsel. Ann Bowden, wife of Florida State University football coach, Bobby Bowden, attended a Choctaw football game in the 1970s, saw the horse run, and told her husband that it would be a good idea for FSU.^{[citation needed]}

In front of the school stands a totem pole, although originally there were three. It is a symbol of school pride and represents various aspects of student life. It has withstood hurricanes, attacks by rivals, and continues to serve as an emblem of the Choctaw High School family.^{[citation needed]}

Also in front of the school are engraved bricks, purchased by students and then engraved so that they may forever be a part of the school.

The Stylemarchers are easily recognized by their ornate headdresses. Each headdress is uniform but personally styled for uniqueness. Each consists of 30 large feathers, horsehair, and over 1000 "fluffs" of green, white, and black feathers. Originally, red feathers framed the face, but it was changed in the fall of 2003 to black. The feathers and horsehair are the same on each headress. What makes each headress unique is the band that goes right over the forehead. Each headress has a different design on it, chosen by the stylemarcher that makes that headress. The drum major's headdress is even more elaborate and flows the entire length of the student to the ground. Each headdress, even the drum major's, is made by hand by the stylemarcher in the summer before the football season.^{[citation needed]}

The Alma Mater was written during the school's first year by the band director, Jim Leonard. The tune is a World War I song, "Long, Long Trail Awinding." In 1956, Bryan Lindsey came to Choctaw as choral director, and began writing words to "Big Green Indian." Lindsey collaborated with Leonard to compose the song. It became the school's fight song.^{[citation needed]}

Choctaw is home to many school-spirited students, none more so than the Teepee Crew and the Warchiefs. The Teepee Crew consists of upperclassmen males who send smoke through the teepee, which is located just past the endzone, whenever the football team makes a touchdown. The Warchiefs is a group of highly motivated, spirited students who attend all of the football and basketball games and cheer along with the cheerleaders.

Choctaw is also home to the AFJROTC group FL-22. This is one of the oldest AFJROTC units in the state of Florida. They participate in community events, like the service clubs. They have posted the colors at every single home game and at the homecoming game they also provide a sabre team to arc for the homecoming court.