FJ Reitz High School

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FJ Reitz High School
"Where it's a pleasure to learn!"
Established	1918
School type	Public high school
Principal	Christine Settle
Location	Evansville, Indiana, USA
Students	1,352
Faculty	87
Athletics	SIAC
Colors	blue and grey
Mascot	Mighty Panthers
Website	www.evscschools.com/reitz

Francis Joseph Reitz High School is a historic public high school on the west side of Evansville, Indiana. It was founded in 1918, and is the second oldest high school still in use today in the city. It is a member of the Evansville Vanderburgh School Corporation.

1 Student body
2 Faculty
3 History
4 History on Reitz Home Museum
5 School song
6 School colors
7 The Reitz Bowl
8 Famous alumni and faculty
9 External links

[edit] Student body

In 2005-06 enrollment numbered 1,352. 78% of the class of 2005 attended college. This may be a result of the large local post-secondary education facilities. F.J. Reitz High School has a predominantly white student population.

[edit] Faculty

Reitz had roughly 87 full time teachers on hand during the 2005-06 school year. The average age for a teacher was 40.3, with an average experience of 12.1 years. The average salary was $43,231 with an average supplemental salary of $2,207. There were, on average, 15.6 students per teacher. Though with a large faculty base, F. J. Reitz High School did not make the AYP (Adequate Yearly Progress) associated with George W. Bush's No Child Left Behind policy for the 2002-2003 and 2003-2004 school years in special education needs. The 2004-2005 school year concluded with a "passing" AYP grade in all categories.

"Indiana Department of Education" IDOE AYP (passing or failing) for public schools for the years 2001 through present

[edit] History

The idea for a school on the west side of Evansville came from the Centennial Club, led by Mrs. C.F. Werner, who fought a genteel, but determined battle with the reluctant school board. The ladies said the Evansville High School (old Central) was too far away to be financially practical for many west side families. After four years of crusading, the Centennial Club won.

The school board had planned to call the school West Side High School. That was before the board discovered a lack of funds and Francis Joseph Reitz agreed to finance the building of the school. A grateful school board immediately voted that this new hall of learning (which incidentally cost $223,844.00) should be named after Mr. Reitz. Thus Francis Joseph Reitz High School became the first high school on the west side and the second in Evansville.

At first Reitz was intended to be a Junior High School, including only seventh, eighth, and ninth grades, but as the student body grew older, the curriculum was geared to fit the needs of older students. Reitz graduated its first seniors in 1921.

In September 1918 a two-story and basement building of brick and stone classic design was open. In 1921, the first year in which Reitz High School was fully accredited by North Central Association, the 10,000-seat Reitz Bowl was completed. In 1926, a four-story classroom building was added to the west end of the building. In 1956, an addition of a new office wing, nurse's suite, counselors' offices, home economics kitchen, dining rooms, sewing rooms, print shop, band and choir rooms, library, and study hall was added. In 1957, a five-story classroom wing, a second gym, seating more than 3,000, department offices, teachers' lounges, industrial shops, a new auditorium, a new cafeteria, and new restrooms were added. In 1973, a new greenhouse was completed. In 1977, a driving range on Barker Avenue was added to accommodate the Driver's Education Department. The Evansville-Vanderburgh School Corporation owns the land on which the range is located.

The school evolved into a hodgepodge of corridors, floors, and rooms from additions over the years, yet Reitz was still the smallest high school in the area and had the smallest cafeteria. Finally the school board opted for renovation and after more than $26 million, Reitz celebrated its 80th anniversary in 1998 with a whole new look that makes it the largest and most advanced high school structure in Evansville.

[edit] History on Reitz Home Museum

Francis Joseph Reitz was the eldest son of John Augustus Reitz, who had already made his fortune in lumber by the mid 1850's. After the death of FJ Reitz, the Catholic Diocese of Evansville was the owner of the home. It was the home of the first Bishop of Evansville. After discovering that the home was for sale the Reitz Home Preservation Society was formed and struck an agreement with the Catholic Diocese to take possession of the home in order to preserve its historical value. It was restored to its original state when owned by the Reitz family and turned into the Reitz Home Museum.

[edit] School song

Sung to the tune of On Wisconsin, Edna Mae Shaw (Class of '31) composed the now-famous lyrics to RHS Boys. They are as follows:

RHS Boys, RHS Boys
Fight on for her fame
Take the ball right down the field,
And win for her this game.
Rah! Rah! Rah!
RHS Boys, RHS Boys
To this name be true
Fight Fellows, fight, fight, fight
We're backing you.
R-R-R-E-I, I-I-I-T-Z
Reitz, Reitz, Victory!

The song is now followed by the song Mighty Panthers.

[edit] School colors

Reitz's original school colors were orange and purple, but those were given to Lincoln High School during the first half of the century. After they gave away their colors they picked blue and gray, as Reitz sits on the Mason-Dixon Line, and blue and gray were the colors of the North and South during the Civil War.

(The above paragraph is not true, just Reitz legend. In actuality, Reitz football jersies came in one season with the wrong colors--Blue and Gray. The school decided to change its colors rather than play with wrong colored uniforms. If you do not believe this, check the Reitz Mirror, the official school newspaper from the period!)

[edit] The Reitz Bowl

The Reitz Bowl was born by accident. It was originally planned as a retaining wall for the new F. J. Reitz High School. Foresight by a school member noted that with some small changes a football stadium could be made too. In 1921, the first year in which Reitz High School was fully accredited by North Central Association, the 10,000-seat Reitz Stadium was completed. The first two years was a reserve schedule and then in 1921 Reitz began varsity play.

In 1931, Reitz played its first night game. Also in 1931, Reitz played Bosse an extra game for charity on December 4th. This was during the great depression. 1959 was the last Thanksgiving Day game in the State of Indiana, Reitz against Bosse. 1973 saw the new all transistor scoreboard go into effect. It was, as all past Reitz scoreboards, a gift of the West Side Nut Club. In 1974 Prescription Athletic Turf (PAT) was introduced to the Reitz Bowl. PAT is a method of draining and irrigation from pipes laid beneath the playing surface. What occurs during this process is the drainage of any excess water by a vacuum system when the field is flooded by rain, and irrigating water to the surface of the field when it is too dry.

Along with PAT came the renovation of the bowl seating, walkways, and stairs. A new all weather track was added too. In 1976 all metal permanent type bleachers become a reality. Play Clocks were introduced to the Bowl in 1995, and 2003 saw a brand new sound system that rivals those in the Big Ten Conference.

In addition to being the home site for Panthers football games, home site for nearby Catholic High School Mater Dei Wildcats football games, the Bowl also hosts the annual Drums on the Ohio drum & bugle corps competition.