Niagara Falls High School

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Niagara Falls High School
School type	Public
Established	1888
Principal	Mark Laurrie
Faculty	approx. 130
Students	approx. 2500
Colors	Blue and gold
Mascot	Wolverine
Other School Administors	Susan Green, James Spanbauer, Jeff Showers, Patrick Kuciewski
Location	Niagara Falls, NY
Website	[1]

Niagara Falls High School is a co-educational public high school located at 4455 Porter Road in Niagara Falls, New York. The school was founded in 1888.

The school is a part of the Niagara Falls City School District.

[edit] History

Originally called Fifth Street School, the school was renamed to Niagara Falls Union School in 1889. The first class consisted of seven graduates. In 1895, James Trott High School merged with Niagara Falls Union School to form Niagara Falls High School. This newly combined high school moved to 1201 Pine Avenue in 1904. In a fire caused while constructing a new gym and music annex, the building was completely destroyed, save the concrete floors and parts of the walls. It was rebuilt by September of 1924.

The cheerleading squad was first created in 1931. During World War II, students were taught rationing, buying war bonds, and skills like riveting, spot welding, and mixing chemicals. In 1966, the school mascot officially became the "Power Cat." Also during this year, Leah Simmons became the first woman principal at the high school. It wouldn't be until the 1970s that female non-intramural sports were created. Due to the baby boomers, Open Campus began in 1973, where students were allowed to leave during lunch and study halls. The next year, the Black Student Union formed. In 1979, the school was renovated, adding a photography lab and science classrooms on the fourth floor. The first Niagara Falls High School Students Against Drunk Driving (SADD) support group was started in 1986. In the late 1980s, the school underwent extensive asbestos clean-up and a large number of students were forced to share lockers for much of the school year.

In 1993, the age and condition of the building was becoming a concern for the community; five years were spent in looking for a new location for the high school to be built upon. Construction began in its current location at 4455 Porter Road on July 20, 1998. The Sal Maglie Stadium was torn down in 1999 after it stood for 60 years, and was rebuilt, keeping the name. This is where the football and baseball games are held for the high school. After combining with LaSalle Senior High School, the new school opened on September 1, 2000, and each student was given a laptop that they returned at the end of the year in a Coca-Cola sponsored event. The two schools voted on new colors (blue and gold) and a new mascot (Wolverines). Niagara Falls High School also became a community center, where community members could come in during the evening while school was in session to use the gym, weight room, Olympic-sized swimming pool, computer labs, and indoor track.