Westfield High School (Fairfax County, Virginia)

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Westfield High School

Established	2000
School type	Public school
Principal	Tim Thomas

Staff	Approximately 300
Address	4700 Stonecroft Boulevard Chantilly, Virginia 20151
Enrollment	3,232
Athletic Conferences	Concorde District Northern Region
Athletics	17 varsity, 2 club sports
Colors	Black, Gold
Mascot	Bulldog
Homepage	Official Site

Westfield High School is a public secondary school in Chantilly, Virginia. It is a part of Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS), serving students from the communities including Chantilly and Centreville as well as areas with Herndon addresses in grades 9-12. Opened in 2000, it is the head of the Westfield High School Pyramid in Cluster VIII. At 3,232 students, it is the largest 4-year high school in the Commonwealth of Virginia.

Westfield also has the second highest grade average in the county, and nearly half of all students at Westfield are on the honor roll. In 2002, the school was listed in the Newsweek magazine as the 46th best high school in America due to its high percentage of students enrolled in Advanced Placement (AP) classes.^[1] Westfield shares a business partnership with Northrop Grumman's Intelligence Group that entails sharing of buildings, as well as financial donations and gifts of supplies.

1 Buildings and lands
- 1.1 Additions
2 Academics
3 Extracurricular activities
4 Demographics
5 Other
6 External links
7 References

[edit] Buildings and lands

Finished in 2000 after a $54-million construction, Westfield is located on some 159 acres and is composed of the main building (the "school"), the sports complex including all fields, and the parking lots. The main building currently is comprised of two levels, with seven main hallways for the classrooms on each level. There are also 34 trailers located around the school. The hallways are listed alphabetically from A-R. The heart of the school is the library and media center which currently holds over 21,000 books with room for an additional 4,000. There are over 40 computer stations for student use in the library.

There are four computer labs in Westfield, two on each level, making it among the most technologically advanced of any FCPS high school at the time it was built. There are 1,545 computers at Westfield as of June 2006, and all departments will have their own mobile laptop labs by the 2006-2007 school year.

Beyond the main building, there is the sprawling Westfield Sports Complex, including the football stadium, a baseball field, a softball field, four tennis courts, a track which encircles a field for track and field, soccer, and lacrosse, and multiple practice fields. Adjacent to the complex is the Cub Run RECenter, home to Westfield's swim and dive team, although it is not part of the school.

Progress of the new wing construction during the winter.

[edit] Additions

The building design for Westfield provided for a capacity of 2,500 students, a number that was reached in its third year of opening. By the 2005-2006 academic year, 34 trailers filled the parking lot originally designated for faculty and staff along with additional ground space surrounding the school's main building.

In April 2003, FCPS proposed a bond referendum for the construction of a 24-room addition to Westfield's main building to alleviate the rapid growth of the student population. The bond referendum provided for the construction of the new addition at a cost of $8.7 million.^[2] The bond was approved in November of the same year, and construction for the massive new wing began in summer of 2005. It has two levels and a basement and houses most of the award-winning aerospace program. Due to Westfield's overpopulation, however, 18 trailers will remain.

[edit] Academics

Westfield's faculty is divided into 9 departments: English, Fine and Performing Arts, Foreign Language, Health and Physical Education, Mathematics, Professional and Technical Studies, Science, Social Studies, and Special Education.

As one of 16 Fairfax County high schools that offer the Advanced Placement (AP) Program, Westfield will offer 22 of the 32 AP courses that are offered by the College Board as of the 2006-2007 school year. (The other 8 high schools are designated for the International Baccalaureate Program). In addition, the curriculum also offers Honors courses to prepare students for the rigorous workload associated with AP courses.

Fairfax County's academy system also allows Westfield students to take alternate classes at Chantilly, Edison, Fairfax, Marshall, and West Potomac high schools with transportation provided.

When the school opened, Westfield possessed the newest computer labs and electronic equipment in the county. Westfield's Aerospace Science class is the only one of its kind in FCPS, and its Television Production Lab is the most advanced of any FCPS school. Westfield also offers among the highest number of business-related, technology, and computer classes for any FCPS school, including its notable Cooperative Education program offered by the Professional and Technical Studies department. The photography and computer graphics labs are among the most complete and advanced in FCPS and provide an extensive array of equipments available for student use. The music technology lab in the music hallway is designed for music theory, and has special software for composing music.

The Foreign Language department offers six languages for students to study: American Sign Language, French, German, Japanese, Latin, and Spanish. Human Anatomy and Physiology is a unique course offered for Westfield science students who are interested in pursuing a career in the medical field and would like a more in-depth coverage on human systems than AP Biology.

Westfield's English department provides a number of unique elective courses such as forensics and debate, film study, and a course on William Shakespeare. The Fine and Performing Arts department includes the news show Westfield Live, which daily broadcoasts information and upcoming events at or involving Westfield on the school's televisions.

[edit] Extracurricular activities

"Brutus" the bulldog, Westfield High School's mascot.

Westfield is known throughout the Washington D.C. metropolitan area for its sports and fine and performing arts programs, made more notable by the fact that the school is so new.

[edit] Athletics

Westfield has athletic teams in 19 different sports: baseball, basketball, cheerleading, crew (club), cross country/track and field, dance team, field hockey, football, golf, gymnastics, ice hockey (club), lacrosse, soccer, softball, swim and dive, tennis, and volleyball.

The school's athletic program is one of the most successful in the area, having earned numerous titles and championship berths in a wide range of varsity sports for the AAA Concorde District and AAA Northern Region since 2000. Westfield won its first Virginia AAA Football Championship in 2003, the first school to do so within its fourth year since opening. The boys' indoor track and field team earned its first Virginia AAA State Championship in 2004. One of the most successful athletics programs at Westfield is the wrestling team, having won three consecutive Concorde District Championships from 2004-2006 and placing as one of the top teams in the Northern Region.

[edit] Theatre

Westfield also boasts a theater department that has won many National Capital Area Cappies Awards with Godspell (2002) and Fiddler on the Roof (2005) for Best Musical and Rosencrantz & Guildenstern Are Dead (2004) for Best Play. The Westfield Theater has also been invited to perform its own renditions of Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet in 2005 and The Tempest in 2006 at the Folger Shakespeare Library, the largest and most renowned Shakespeare research facility and stage in the world.

[edit] Music

Westfield High School has also been known for its music program, which includes band, chorus, guitar, and orchestra.

The band program is currently headed by Stephen Panoff, previously headed by Laura McBride. The band program has four bands and ensembles: Concert Band, Symphonic Band, Wind Symphony, Jazz Band. Marching Band occurs in the summer and fall only, and is not an official class.

From 2003 to 2006, Westfield's band was named a Virginia Honor Band because both its marching band and highest concert band earned Superior ratings. The Westfield Percussion Ensemble is considered to be among the finest high school percussion-only performance groups in the country and is headed by Juilliard graduate and National Symphony Orchestra (NSO) percussionist John Kilkenny. There is also a color guard and a winter guard that perform with the marching band and in regional tournaments. The WHS Marching Band itself was noted by local TV station WUSA 9 for its exemplary talent.^[3] In 2005, both Jazz Black Gold and Combo received an Excellent rating, and Jazz 1 received a Superior rating at the Chantilly Jazz Festival. Most recently, Westfield traveled to Chicago for the Heritage Music Festival, where each band that Westfield brought came in first place in their category. Additionally, the top three scores awarded to wind bands belonged to Westfield Jazz I, Wind Symphony, and Symphonic Band.

Westfield's winter guard (affiliated with band) has won several awards with their show, No Grown-ups Allowed, showcasing their talent accompanied by Leonard Bernstein's Overture to Candide. Additionally, the winter guard took third place at finals in Raleigh, NC, in their competition.

The chorus program under director Jessica Lardin (B.S. in Music Education, Indiana University of Pennsylvania; Master of Music Education, Shenandoah University) is noted for their full scale productions of Carmina Burana, and Handel's Messiah in conjunction with the WHS Chamber Orchestra. They have also performed Vivaldi's Gloria. The Chamber Singers represented Westfield High School and Fairfax County Public Schools in November 2004 when they were invited to perform at the Virginia Music Educators Association State Conference for an audience of over 600 Virginia music educators. Spotlight Show Choir performed in October 2005 for Virginia Governor Mark Warner. The choirs at Westfield consistently receive Superior ratings at District Festival in all areas, including sight-singing, and are developing an impressive collection of first place and Grand Champion trophies from various competitions. In the spring, the choral program presents "Disney Dazzle," a singing and dancing revue of popular and well-known Disney songs. The choral program at Westfield High School has quickly developed a superior reputation and is a point of pride within the community it serves. Ms. Lardin is also a professional singer who frequently freelances as a soprano soloist in the metropolitan Washington, D.C. area. She recently recorded a CD with the choir of the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception at Rome's Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore. She also has been featured as a soloist at the National Shrine on television broadcasts.

Westfield Guitar is also an award winning program. Its Combo received straight ratings of Superior ("1"s) at the 2005 Chantilly Jazz Festival.

The orchestra is headed by Gregory Rupert, who attended Juilliard School for his graduate degree in viola performance and is the principal viola of the Fairfax Symphony Orchestra. The program includes beginning, freshman, concert, chamber, and symphony orchestras (which includes band members). Since Westfield began, every orchestra that has ever gone to Festival has received a final rating of one (a "superior" rating), the highest score possible.

[edit] Literary publications

Westfield's English department is home to three award-winning publications:

Calliope does not only accept submissions for its literary and art magazine, but it also hosts two Coffee Houses in the fall and spring, where student bands, guitarists, and poets perform live. Each year, it also hosts a film festival for videos made by Westfield students.

The Guardian yearbook in particular has been awarded numerous awards, including the Yearbook Pacemaker Award ^[4] by the National Scholastic Press Association and the Silver Crown ^[5] from the Columbia Scholastic Press Association.

The Watchdog newspaper has received a Superior rating from the Southern Interscholastic Press Association, and a Gold Medal Certificate in 2004 from Columbia Scholastic Press Association. It also has one of the largest circulations for a high school newspaper in the western Fairfax County area because the newspaper is mailed home to families of students free of charge.

[edit] Clubs and organizations

Honor societies at Westfield include: National Honor Society, National Art Honor Society, English Honor Society, Spanish National Honor Society, French National Honor Society, German National Honor Society (Delta Epsilon Phi), Japanese Honor Society, National Latin Honor Society, History Honor Society, Mathematics Honor Society (Mu Alpha Theta), Science Honor Society, Tri-M (Modern Music Masters), International Thespian Society, and the Quill & Scroll Society.

Both Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA-PBL) and Distributive Education Clubs of America (DECA) have their own chapters for business and marketing students. FBLA-PBL members compete in regional, state, and national competitions in business-related categories. The DECA chapter, along with chapters at South County Secondary and Woodson High School, have begun a pilot G.O.A.L. (Gaining Occupational Awareness and Learning) Zone internship program between FCPS schools and D.C. United.^[6]

There are several academic teams competing in regional tournaments as part of the Virginia High School League (VHSL). Westfield's It's Academic team annually competes in tournaments hosted by the VHSL and NBC 4 (WRC-TV) as well as tournaments hosted by other area schools. The team won its first television match on NBC 4 in the show's 44th season after only its third appearance. Fielding one of the largest student participation in the county, the Junior Varsity and Varsity Mathematics League teams regularly compete in the Virginia Mathematics League (VAML) and Fairfax County Mathematics League (FCML). The Science Club holds after-school experiments that all students can participate in, and Science Olympiad team annually competes in the Division C state tournament and has won several medals. The Fellowship of Christian Athletes annually sponsors See You at the Pole for students and faculty to gather in the morning for a public prayer.

The Westfield Debate Team has previously won first place in the Washington-Arlington Catholic Forensic League Congress Metrofinals and earned distinctions in district and regional competitions. In 2006, it won 2nd Place in the State Student Congress Finals.

Westfield also has had an Odyssey of the Mind team in the 2003-2004 school year as well as the 2004-2005 school year. Both years, the Westfield team won the regional competition, placed in the state competition and went on to compete in the World Finals.

Northern Virginia's New Life Christian Church holds one of its Sunday ministries at Westfield.

[edit] Demographics

Of 3,195 students (2005-2006), Westfield's demographics is 63% White, 16% Asian, 9% Hispanic, 8% Black, 3% mulitracial, and 1% other.

[edit] Other

Portrait of the WHS Bulldog

[edit] School songs

Westfield currently has two school songs: the fight song Hail Westfield and the school alma mater Black and Gold, written by Choral Director Jessica Lardin.

Hail Westfield

Hail, the very best of Westfield,

The mighty Bulldogs have arrived.

We have the will and the might

for leading the pack,

You'll feel the bite of the Gold and Black.

Hail the very best of Westfield,

We never hide our Bulldog Pride.

Every Dog has its day, and

We're here to stay

You've got the Bull (Go!) Dogs (Go!) On (Go!) Your (Go!) Side!

Black and Gold

Westfield High, we pledge that we will always true and faithful be.

Vision and purpose abide for all, made manifest in hallowed halls.

Friendships, challenges, dreams and goals change our lives and better our souls.

Highest standards we uphold. Now we honor Black and Gold.

Days go by and still we see that excellence remains the key.

New traditions blossom here, and they flourish year by year.

As we grow and learn we find, we are Westfield--heart and mind.

As our future paths unfold, we'll remember Black and Gold.

[edit] State champions

Virginia State Championships (Teams)
Year	Sport/Competition
2003-2004	AAA Football Division VI
2003-2004	AAA Boys Track
2003-2004	Theatre One Act Play Festival

Virginia State Champions (Individuals)
Name	Year	Sport/Competition	Event
Laura Ullrich	2001	Swim	Butterfly
Richard Eddy	2001	Swim	Breaststroke
Yeng Lan Beller	2003	Swim	Backstroke
Yeng Lan Beller	2004	Swim	Butterfly
Kathryn Pettine	2003	Indoor Track and Field	Pole Vault
David Groff	2004	Indoor Track and Field	1000 Meter Run
Scott Seymour	2004	Forensics	Domestic Extemporaneous Speaking
Scott Seymour	2004	Debate	Student Congress
Louis Corum	2004	Track and Field	300 Meter Hurdles
Betsy Alter	2005	Track and Field	Pole Vault
Lauren Burt	2005	Debate	Student Congress

[edit] Criticisms

An ongoing criticism with Westfield is that is grossly over-populated. The building was designed for approximately 2500 students, yet by its second year was overcrowded. Many people were dismayed to learn that when Westfield had its grand opening in 2000, the towns of Centreville and Chantilly had grown so large, that another high school should have been built do deal with the number of students. Currently there are over 3150 students, and 34 trailers to house the 650 excess students. Even after the new wing is finished, roughly 14 trailers will stay. In a few years, some communities of Westfield will be re-zoned to the South Lakes High School district in Reston, Virginia, and to Oakton High School, in Vienna, Virginia.

In 2004, Westfield complied with the FCPS tightened dress code with its administration giving out citations and detentions to violators. Many students criticized this as a restriction of students' free speech. Immediately following the implementation of this policy all students and teachers began what became a long-standing tradition of ignoring it.

Due to a 2004 incident, students on trips are not allowed to bring their own drinks on to the buses. The main reason behind this was that the school administrators thought that the students might bring dangerous chemicals, or as was the case in 2004, alcohol. This practice has been criticized as those involved with the original incident were in the minority, were duly punished, and have since graduated from Westfield. Many students feel as such there is no need to continue this practice, and that it promotes dehydration.

In spring of 2005, Westfield High School won a contest from local radio station DC101 for the band Taking Back Sunday to perform free in the school gym. When FCPS ruled that the concert in question would not be permissible due to paperwork, there was a student outcry. Among the many arguments included one pertaining to the number of school pep rallies per year, which in turn, FCPS investigated, and subsequently limited the number during school hours. In a further response there was an online student petition for more pep rallies during school hours, and the infamous "Taking Back Tuesday" unofficial student protest and skip day, which led to a number of suspensions.

Starting with early 2006, Westfield High School administration has increased its tardy regulations, including random, unannounced "lockdowns" of doors to prevent entry to classrooms, so that tardy students must go report to administration, automatic detention, and possible suspension. Many students have deemed these as too harsh, and in response petitions were circulated against the new tardy regulations.

In 2006, Westfield High School's administrative staff was under much scrutiny; and received severe criticism from many families in the Westfield community for their negative attitudes toward minorities. Racism was a key topic that was brought up in one meeting of families.

The Parent Teacher Student Association (or PTSA) has come under criticism for focusing and emphasizing certain programs at the expense of others; notably the All Night After Prom Party.

[edit] Notable alumni

Riddhi Dasgupta '03 - Author of Changing Face of the Law: A Global Perspective^[7], attending Columbia University.

Sean Glennon '04 - Quarterback for Virginia Tech football.^[8]

Michael Kennedy '05 - Shot and killed two police officers and wounded another before turning on himself outside the Sully district Fairfax County police station in Chantilly, Virginia. Kennedy suffered from mental illness.^[9]

Jummy Olabanji '02 - News Reporter at WCAV CBS 19 and WVAW-LP ABC 16 in Charlottesville, VA.^[10]

Nathan Rosborough '03 - Recording engineer in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, NY, graduate of Berklee College of Music.

Eddie Royal '04 - Flanker for Virginia Tech football.^[11]

Evan Royster '06 - Running back for Penn State football.^[12]

Brandon Snyder '05 - 13th best prospect for MLB's 2005 amateur draft and drafted into the minor league by the Bluefield Orioles.^[13]

Rick Williams '04 - Percussionist for NeoCollage, attending Eastman School of Music.

Jason Yuckenberg '02 - Democratic Leader of the first Annual Model House of Representatives in Washington, D.C.^[14]

Jessica Zhang '05 - Member of the US National Wushu Team, featured by the Chinese-language SINA news agency.^[15]

[edit] Trivia

Westfield High School is located within Fairfax County, which has the second-highest median household income in the US.

Westfield is also a member of the largest public-school bus system in the nation, recently overcoming New York City and Los Angeles, in the US with currently over 55 buses servicing the school daily.

Westfield High School shares a tough rivalry with neighboring Centreville, Chantilly, and Oakton high schools in terms of sports, especially football, and music programs.

On November 16, 2002, a tremendous downpour postponed a Westfield Varsity Football game against rival Centreville for the Concorde District championships. Coach Tom Verbanic, desperate to keep the game on time, had the field covered with tarps, and then hired a helicopter in an attempt to dry the field. Several thousand dollars later, the game was still postponed, until November 18 with Westfield losing. The use of the helicopter for drying grass was later criticized heavily.^[16]