Crestmoor High School
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Crestmoor High School opened in San Bruno, California in September 1962 to relieve congestion at Capuchino High School and Mills High School. It was the seventh high school to be built by the San Mateo Union High School District, based in San Mateo, California. Construction began in 1960 on a graded plateau in the Crestmoor district of San Bruno and took about two years to complete.[1]
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[edit] History
During the 1961-62 academic year, high school freshman who lived north of San Bruno Avenue or west of Junipero Serra Boulevard in San Bruno attended Mills High School. These students then transferred to Crestmoor the following year. In addition, incoming freshmen in the 1962-63 academic year who lived in the same area also attended the new school. Students who were juniors and seniors that year, who lived in the Crestmoor attendance area, continued at Capuchino High School. Another freshmen class was added for the 1963-64 academic year. Thus, some families had students attending two different high schools in San Bruno until the fall of 1964. In the 1964-65 academic year Crestmoor finally was a four-year high school.[2]
The high school was officially dedicated in the boys' gym during Sunday afternoon ceremonies in early October 1962. The school's first music teacher, Randolph Hunt, who had taught at Capuchino from 1950 to 1960, led the school band and a girl's vocal ensemble, including the first performance of the school hymn, Hail to Crestmoor, which Dr. Hunt had composed.[3]
David Studebaker, who had served as dean of boys at Capuchino, was Crestmoor's first principal. Stewart Dimon was the first dean of boys and Florence Gorman was the first dean of girls.
Crestmoor became part of the new Mid-Peninsula League, which included all seven of the schools in the San Mateo Union High School District. The school had a limited athletic program during its first year, then added a varsity basketball team, coached by John Christgau in the 1963-64 academic year. (Christgau, who taught English at Crestmoor, later became a published author.)[4] The first varsity football team, coached by Chuck Kent, debuted in the fall of 1964, only winning one game (against Oceana High School). However, the Mid-Peninsula League officially commended the team for its efforts.[5] Kent also coached the first varsity wrestling team.
The school's student newspaper was The Crest, initially published every two weeks by the Millbrae Sun. First faculty advisor was June Aldritt, who was followed by Sam Goldman in the fall of 1964. Under Goldman, The Crest began publishing every week. The student yearbook was Wingspread.
Crestmoor's school mascot was the Falcon. The official colors were blue and gold. The school hymn was regularly sung at the end of varsity football and varsity basketball games, as well as at the graduation ceremonies.[6]
Dr. Hunt did not return to Crestmoor for the 1963-64 academic year (he went to Merritt College in Oakland)[7]; instead, Robert Davis took over the school's band and choral groups. Under Davis the school established its first mixed chorus; by the 1964-65 academic year there was a beginning choir and an advanced choir. Davis greatly improved the band, but he did not form a marching band.
Arthur Fischer directed the school's first dramatic productions, including Junior Miss, Arsenic and Old Lace, and Death of a Salesman. During Fischer's sabbatical (to earn a doctorate), Elizabeth Barton continued the high standards in Crestmoor's plays and established a working relationship with actors and staff from San Francisco's American Conservatory Theatre; some of the plays produced at that time were The Miracle Worker and Blithe Spirit. Crestmoor's first musical comedy production was Bye Bye Birdie. Crestmoor's last productions, including its final performances of the Gilbert & Sullivan operetta H.M.S. Pinafore (in June 1980), were directed by Robert Meadows, who transferred to Capuchino and was the first director of the Capuchino Community Theatre.[8]
The first graduation ceremonies took place in the boys' gym in June 1965. Among the first graduates were the first student body president, Gus Lopez, and the first senior class president, Mike Wise. Bob Davis led the band for the final time; he joined the faculty of Santa Barbara City College in the 1965-66 academic year.[9]
[edit] Closing
Declining student enrollment in the San Mateo Union High School District prompted the school board to vote in the summer of 1980 to close Crestmoor. The buildings were later used for a continuation high school and a municipal courthouse.[10]
[edit] Footnotes
- ^ San Bruno Herald
- ^ San Bruno Herald
- ^ Eyewitness account by Robert E. Nylund, Crestmoor Class of 1965
- ^ John Christgau website
- ^ Wingspread 1965 edition
- ^ Wingspread 1964 and 1965
- ^ Interview with Dr. Hunt, 1964
- ^ San Bruno Herald
- ^ Eyewitness account by Robert E. Nylund
- ^ San Bruno Herald
[edit] External links
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| High schools | Aragon | Burlingame | Capuchino | Hillsdale | Mills | San Mateo |
| Continuation schools | Peninsula |
| Alternative schools | San Mateo Middle College High School |
| Closed schools | Crestmoor |
