Cullman High School

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Cullman High School Gymnasiaeut Cullmanaeis
The Breva Cullmanaeis, the Coat of Arms of Cullman High School Learning Today, Leading Tomorrow
Location
510 Thirteenth Street NE Cullman, Alabama, 35055 USA
Information
School district	Cullman City Schools
Affiliation(s)	Southern Association of Colleges and Schools
Principal	Mrs. Sheila Phillips
Asst. Principal	Mr. Jay Page
Enrollment	1,070 (as of 2008)[1]
Faculty	69 (as of 2008)[2] Business and Career Tech Department
Student:teacher ratio	15.6[3]
Type	Public high school
Grades	9-12
Athletics	Football, marching band, basketball, baseball, softball, soccer, tennis, golf, cross country, track, cheerleading, indoor drumline
Athletics conference	AHSAA Class 5A
Nickname	Bearcats
Color(s)	Black, Gold, White
Yearbook	The Southerner
Newspaper	The Hilight
Established	1909
Alma Mater	By Old Cullman's Northern Border
Homepage	Webpage

Cullman High School is the largest public high school in the city of Cullman, Alabama as well as Cullman County, Alabama. The school is classified as a 5A school.

As of the 2007-2008 school year, the school had an enrollment of 1,070 students and 69 teachers,in grades 9-12, with and FTE ratio of 15.6.^[4]

Campus layout proposed by the City of Cullman. This layout was used when construction began in 1907.

[edit] History

Cullman High School was founded in 1909 as a public high school in Cullman by the newly-formed Cullman City Schools System. The opening ceremony was conducted by then Mayor Edmond Ray and Dr. Marcus Shelton, a former land developer and UAB professor who became the first superintendent of the Cullman City Schools System. During the 1909-1910 school year, the school's first year, 797 students were enrolled at the school. Prior to the founding of Cullman City Schools, all children in Cullman attended the Johann G. Cullmann School, which was a 1-12 school founded in 1882 by Colonel Cullmann to serve the children of the German immigrants who moved to the area. The school soon became overcrowded, and so the Cullman City Schools System was established and three new schools were built: Cullman Elementary School (would come to be renamed East Elementary School), Cullman Middle School, and Cullman High School.

[edit] Mission Statement

In keeping with Cullman High School's tradition of excellence, our mission is to ensure that students realize their potential through a system characterized by an exemplary staff, an involved community, an optimal utilization of resources and a willingness to effect change.

[edit] Athletics and Academics

The baseball program won its first state championship in 2002 and has been to the championship series of the playoffs every year from 2003 to 2006. The baseball program won the state championship yet again in 2007 and also set a new state record for wins in a season with a 48-7 record. The baseball program has recently won its third state championship and second championship in a row in 2008.^[5] The soccer program also won a state championship in 2002. Cullman's cheerleader's won the 5A state championship for 2006-2007. The math teams also won a state championship in all divisions (Geometry, Algebra II, and Analysis) in 2007, a record that was continued in 2008 by the Geometry and Algebra II teams. The football program broke the school record for most wins in a single season in 2007 with a record of 13 wins and only 1 loss. It was the first time in school history for a Cullman football team to make it to the fourth round of the state playoffs.

Principal Sheila Phillips

[edit] Administration

March 1, 2008, the interim principal was named to be Mr. Douglas Styles after Principal Lane Hill transferred to the principal position at Cullman Middle School. Hill replaced Principal Jayne Barnett, an educator of more than 20 years, after she retired from the position. Hill had been principal for the past five years.^[6] The assistant principal is Mr. Jay Page. A second assistant principal is currently begin sought, after Sheila Phillips, former assistant principal, was on April 28 officially announced to be the replacement for Lane Hill, and began her duties as principal beginning April 29, 2008.^[7]

[edit] Band

The Cullman High School Bearcat Band is one of the most recognized and most accomplished bands in the state. The head band director is Christopher Smith, and the assistant director is Jody Bryant. The Marching Band performs at every school football game throughout the year, as well as marching in the annual fair parade, performing at the Cullman County Band Exhibition, and participating in two contests per year, one of which is the Hoover Marching Invitational. The band normally competes 3A, and has received all superior ratings in every competition in recent years, including taking home all "Best in Class" awards at the 2005 Hoover Invitational.

Cullman High School Bearcat Marching Band 2007

The concert and symphonic bands also attain much success, performing at annual Christmas and spring concerts, and participating in both district and state contests. Cullman High School also has a German Band, performing throughout Oktoberfest, a jazz band, performing at both Christmas and spring concerts, as well as the annual Big Band Dance, and a pep band, which is considered to be the largest pep band in the state.^[8]

[edit] CCTV55

CCTV55 is the Cullman public education grant, or PEG, television station. The station is broadcast out of Cullman High School, and is run by Coach John Drake and his students. The station is home to advertisements for all of Cullman County, as well as other programs, such as daily news and local sporting events. The CCTV55 website includes daily podcasts featuring announcements for CHS.

Front view of Cullman High School

[edit] Clubs

Many different clubs are available to join at Cullman High School. Some are open to all, and others have an application process. Among those offered are Art Club, Common Ground Outreach (formerly Cats for Christ), DNA Science Club, Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA), French Club, Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA), Future Farmers of America (FFA), German Club, Key Club, LEO Club, and Spanish Club.

[edit] 1:1 Laptop Initiative

The 1:1 laptop initiative is a project started by Jan Harris that gives each student a laptop to keep for homework, school work, and research. The laptop program is one of only 2 current projects in the United States. The initiative started in Cullman Middle School giving seventh and eighth graders laptops, adding the ninth grade in 2007. This trend will continue by adding a new grade each year until all students in grades 7-12 have and use laptops.^[9]

[edit] Advanced Placement (AP) Courses

Cullman High School offers eight Advanced Placement Program courses: AP Calculus AB, AP Chemistry, AP Macroeconomics, AP English Language and Composition, AP English Literature and Composition, AP United States Government, AP United States Politics, and AP United States History. In 2007, 40 CHS students took the AP exams for these courses. Of those who took the exams, 10% scored a 5, 15% scored a 4, 32.5% scored a 3, 20% scored a 2, and 22.5% scored a 1.^[10]

[edit] Departments

Cullman High School has several departments. They are:

• English Department
• Mathematics Department
• Science Department
• Social Sciences Department
• Foreign Language Department
• Instrumental Music Department
• Choral Music Department
• Drama Department
• Athletics Department
• Computer Science, Television Production, and Communications Department
• Horticulture and Animal Science Department
• Carpentry Department
• Health Department
• Family and Consumer Sciences Department
• Visual Arts Department
• Vocational Department
• Administration Department
• Guidance Department
• Curriculum Coordination Department
• Attendance Department
• Special Education Department

[edit] Classes Offered

Cullman High School offers an extensive amount of courses. They are:

• English 9
• Honors English 9
• English 10
• Honors English 10
• English 11
• AP English Language and Composition
• College Preparatory English (English 12)
• AP English Literature and Composition
• Dual-Enrollment English 12
• Speech
• Creative Writing
• Literary Magazine Production
• English as a Learned Language (ELL)
• Hilight (School Newspaper)
• Southerner (Yearbook Staff)
• Algebra I
• Algebra IA
• Algebra IB
• Geometry
• Honors Geometry
• Geometry A
• Geometry B
• Algebraic Connections
• Algebra II without Trigonometry
• Algebra II with Trigonometry
• Honors Algebra II with Trigonometry
• Algebra III with Statistics
• Precalculus
• Honors Precalculus
• Calculus
• AP Calculus AB
• Physical Science
• Biology
• Honors Biology
• Chemistry I, II
• Honors Chemistry
• AP Chemistry
• Environmental Science
• Forensic Science
• Earth and Space Science
• Anatomy and Physiology
• Physics
• Modern World History
• Early United States History
• Modern United States History
• AP United States History
• Economics
• Government
• AP Macroeconomics
• AP Government
• Psychology
• Current Events
• Health
• Driver's Education
• Lifetime Sports
• Physical Education
• French I, II, III, IV
• German I, II, III, IV
• Spanish I, II, III, IV
• Visual Art
• Advanced Visual Art
• Digital Art
• Advanced Digital Art
• Three-Dimensional Design
• Marching Band
  

  

  A trumpet duet performed by members of the Cullman High School marching band.
• Symphonic Winds
• Concert Winds
• Percussion Studies/Indoor Drumline
• Jazz Band
• Instrumental Technique
• Guitar
• Concert Choir
• Show Choir
• Musical Theater
• Beginning Drama
• Advanced Drama
• Technical Theater
• Food and Fitness
• Creative Foods
• Culinary Arts
• Fashion Decisions
• Fashion Design
• Independent Living
• Parenting
• Child Development
• Introduction to Cabinet Making
• Introduction to Carpentry
• Residential Finishing
• Basic Carpentry
• Agriscience
• Landscape Design and Management
• AgriConstruction
• AgriMetal Fabrication
• Fish & Wildlife Management
• Animal Science
• Introduction to Drafting Design
• Intermediate Mechanical Design
• Introduction to Architectural Design
• Architectural Design II
• Business Technology Essentials
• Entrepreneurship and Management
• Administrative Principles
• Personal and Business Finance
• Accounting Principles
• Law in Society
• Marketing Dynamics
• Coordinated Studies
• Java Programming I, II, III
• TV Production I, II
• Early Dismissal
• The Bible and Its Influence
• Alabama High School Graduation Exam Practice
• Alabama High School Graduation Exam Remediation
• PSAT Preparation
• ACT Preparation
• Aide (Teacher Aide, Office Aide, Library Aide)^[11]

• Note, this list does not include special education courses.

In the 2008 - 2009 school year, Cullman High School will offer more courses than any other school in Alabama^[12]

[edit] ACT Scores

Cullman High School has long held a reputation for excellent ACT scores. In 2007, 145 CHS students took the ACT.

^[13]

[edit] Notable alumni

• Wesley Britt (1981-), former University of Alabama football player, now playing for the New England Patriots.^[14]
• Kurt Heinecke, composer for Big Idea Productions who has created or co-created much of the popular music associated with VeggieTales.
• Brett Hestla (1973-), lead singer for Dark New Day; Former touring bassist for Creed
• Zeb Little -- Majority Leader of the Alabama Senate

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Cullman High School Official Site
• Cullman City Schools Site
• Cullman Band Homepage
• CCTV55 Daily Podcast
• Cullman High School Baseball Homepage