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.

Choctawhatchee High School
Location
Fort Walton Beach, Florida, USA
Information
Head teacher Cindy Massarelli, Principal
Students 1911
Type Public
Campus suburban
Motto Go Big Green!
Color(s) Kelly Green and White
Established September 22, 1952
Homepage http://www.choctawindians.net/info/info.cfm

Contents

[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, Florida. Choctawhatchee is also the name of a major local river and bay.

[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.[1] Several sports consistently do well in districts and beyond, including cross country, track and field, tennis, male soccer and basketball, weightlifting, and wrestling. The school's marching band, known as the Stylemarchers, were back-to-back 5A Florida State Champions in 2004-2005, 2005-2006, and were runners-up for 2006-2007. The Stylemarchers came back on top for another 5A Florida State Championship for 2007-2008 winning captions in Visual, General Effect, and Color Guard[2]. The choral and band departments annually send students to All-State and make superiors at their respective district festivals.[3] Choctaw is especially known for its drumline and percussion. The drumline at Choctaw has been best in the state of Florida, next to Chamberlain High School (with a score of 98 in 2006 and 97.5 in 2007), in 2004, 2005, and 2006.[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[4], in 2005, 8th[5], in 2006, 6th[6], and in 2007 they placed 4th[7] in the Scholastic World Division. The Winter Color Guard has also been a finalist for many years at the WGI National Championships, including 2007,[8] 2006,[9] 2004,[10] and 2003[11]. 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. The Smoke Signals paper also won a top award from the Florida Scholastic Press Association in 1998.[citation needed] The Tomahawk Yearbook has won numerous state and national awards.[citation needed]

[edit] Extracurricular Groups

[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.[12]

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.[13]

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.


[edit] Notable Graduates

  • Shane Gibson "Mr. Stork" Class of 1997- Guitarist
  • D. J. Hall Class of 2004 - Former Alabama football player now New York Giant
  • Mike Tarterella- Class of 2001- Professional Bum.

[edit] References

  1. ^ Florida High School Athletic Association, Football Championship Records, page 3; [1]
  2. ^ Florida Marching Band Tournament website, [2]results page.
  3. ^ Stylemarchers.org
  4. ^ WGI • Scores
  5. ^ WGI • Scores
  6. ^ WGI • Scores
  7. ^ WGI • Scores
  8. ^ WGI • Scores
  9. ^ WGI • Scores
  10. ^ WGI • Scores
  11. ^ WGI • Scores
  12. ^ Choctaw Traditions
  13. ^ Choctaw Traditions

Class of 1991 Brian Marshall. Bass player for multi-platinum rock band CREED and currently Alter Bridge!