Midland High School (Midland, Michigan)

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Midland High School
Chemic Pride...A Very Special Tradition
Address
1301 Eastlawn Drive,
Midland, Michigan, 48642
United States
Coordinates 43°62′05.50″N 84°21′26.50″W / 44.034861, -84.3573611Coordinates: 43°62′05.50″N 84°21′26.50″W / 44.034861, -84.3573611
Information
School district Midland Public Schools
Superintendent Carl R. Ellinger
Principal Dr. Michael Frazee
Vice principal James Samocki
Jeffrey Jaster
Lori Pritchard
Enrollment

1,800 (2005 est.)
Faculty 200
Type Public High School
Grades 9, 10, 11 & 12
Campus Suburban
Campus size 25 acres
Hours in school day 7:40 a.m. - 3:25 p.m.
Rival Herbert Henry Dow High School (Midland, Michigan)
Nickname Chemics
Color(s) Navy & Gold
         
Established 1872
Information +1 989-923-5181
Homepage http://mhs.mps.k12.mi.us/

Midland High School is a public high school located in Midland, Michigan. It is the older of two high schools in the Midland Public School district, and a member of the Saginaw Valley High School Association.

Contents

[edit] History

  • 1872 - Union High School opens its doors. The building was destroyed in a fire in 1907, the result of a boiler explosion.
  • 1908 - $11,000 USD is donated by the Dow Chemical Company to help rebuild the high school. The name changes to Midland High School with the opening of the new building, which was closed and demolished in 1957 after being used as an elementary school and intermediate school. The site of the former building is now known as Grove Park.
  • 1937 - The third building and location of Midland's High School is built (still in use, currently Central Middle School)
  • 1955 - Construction on the current facility is completed.
  • 1956 - Students begin the 1956-57 school year in the new building.
  • 1997 - Ninth grade moves from intermediate schools to high schools.
  • 2005 - Construction is started on two additions to the building - a new gymnasium and music wing.
  • 2006 - Construction on the new gymnasium and music wing is completed.
  • 2007 - Construction begins for a new front entrance on Eastlawn Drive and a new pick-up/drop-off area to improve traffic flow and modernize the building's appearance.
  • 2007 - Midland High School becomes an International Baccalaureate school and offers IB courses.
  • 2007 - Midland High School celebrates its 50th anniversary in their present building.
  • 2007 - Construction on the new front entrance and the new pick-up/drop-off area is completed

[edit] IB Diploma

Both High Schools in Midland participate in the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme, the most widely recognized pre-university educational program. The challenging academic regimen is especially useful for students planning to study abroad and college admissions officers view the IB Diploma very favorably. The first full year of the program was 2007-08.

[edit] Activities

Midland High School provides its students with a wide array of extracurricular activities. Among them:

Midland High School athletic logo

[edit] Athletics

Football: Midland High boasts an excellent football program. The Chemics have posted consecutive winning seasons for the past 32 years (since 1976). Midland High has also earned six consecutive playoff berths, and 20 overall since 1983. The annual Midland High vs. Herbert Henry Dow High School game is considered one of the biggest high school football games in the state of Michigan, generally drawing around 10,000+ spectators. The Chemics have two state championships (1957 and 1968), and have made it to the state championship game three times since then (1990, 1993, 2007).

Midland Community Stadium was renovated in 2004 with AstroTurf XPe and is the home field of the Chemics' football, track & field and soccer teams. The stadium is also shared with Herbert Henry Dow High School as their home field.

 

[edit] Fall sports

  • Football
  • Volleyball
  • Girls Swimming/Diving
  • Boys Cross Country
  • Girls Cross Country
  • Pom-Pon
  • Cheer
  • Boys Soccer
  • Boys Tennis
  • Girls Golf
  

[edit] Winter sports

  • Wrestling
  • Boys Basketball
  • Girls Basketball
  • Boys Swimming/Diving
  • Pom-Pon
  • Competitive Cheer
  • Hockey
  • Gymnastics**
  

[edit] Spring sports

  • Baseball
  • Softball
  • Boys Track & Field
  • Girls Track & Field
  • Boys Golf
  • Girls Tennis
  • Girls Soccer

**Recently cut as a sport due to district budget cuts along with various freshman teams.

2007 Regular Football Season

Opponent Outcome
Mount Pleasant High School L- 23-43
Bay City Central High School W- 19-13
Saginaw Heritage High School W- 32-0
Saginaw High School W- 48-0
Flint Northern High School W- 48-0
Western High School W- 28-7
Flint Central High School W- 44-13
Flint Southwestern Academy L- 19-20
Herbert Henry Dow High School W- 38-14

2007 Playoffs

Round Opponent Outcome
1st Round Arthur Hill High School W- 43-29
2nd Round Bay City Central High School W- 48-6
Quarterfinals Davison High School W- 7-3
Semifinals Lowell High School W- 31-28
State Finals Detroit M. L. King High School L- 21-47

[edit] School Fight Song

Sign in front of main entrance

(Sung to the tune of "The Rangers")

We'll all stick together
Old MCHS* in all kinds of weather;
We're friends, not foes
With luck it goes
We'll fight for the right with all our might;
We'll not show white feather.
Our team has the old pep;
We're marching onward step by step.
The blue and gold will have no fear,
We're always ready to cheer and cheer
For dear old Midland High.

*MCHS was the school's name at one time, Midland Community High School

[edit] Chemic Traditions

  • Spirit Week - Every year the four classes of students (Freshmen, Sophomores, Juniors, Seniors), hold a competition for the Spirit Week Megaphone. The competition is held the week of the Midland versus Herbert Henry Dow High School football game. Activities include: spirit days, float decorating, hall decorating, yell night, and an obstacle course during the annual "Beat Dow High" assembly.
  • Homecoming Ceremony - Prior to Homecoming, a student must be nominated to be put on the ballot. The top students from each grade are then put on a ballot. Two representatives (one male, one female) are chose from each class, along with one overall king and queen. The winning representatives are announced ahead of time, but are officially introduced to the school during the coronation ceremony held in the old gym.
  • Black Out - The newest tradition at Midland High is at the football games the student section will wear all black. This is called the "Black Hole". It started in 2007 Homecoming Game vs. Flint Southwestern.
  • Student/Staff Basketball Game - The game is open to any senior and any teacher of Midland High, and is thought to be "weighted" towards the staff winning the game. There is now a Dunk Contest at half time which any student that can dunk is able to show off their skills.
  • "Hoops for Haiti" - A bracket style basketball tournament where all proceeds will go to the Caribbean nation of Haiti
  • Magazine Drive - This school wide fund raiser is held annually at the beginning of the school year. Through prizes and an assembly, students are encouraged to sell a "quota" of 3 magazines. The money goes towards various school activities, and the top 10 selling students receive prizes such as a gaming station, a mini-fridge, a bike, and gift certificates, while daily classroom winners win doughnuts. The class with the most subscriptions sold at the end of the drive wins another prize.
  • Cinco de Mayo Massacre - A bracket style dodgeball tournament held every year near the 5th of May, starting with 16 eight person teams and ending with one final champion team.
  • Rhapsody Rendezvous - Fall talent show held at the Midland Center for the Arts auditorium. Senior MCs are selected from open auditions as well as various student and staff acts and performances.
  • Viva Variety - Spring Talent Show
  • Chemic Music Fest - Showcase of various rock bands and acoustic acts from Midland High.
  • Classes start at 7:40 a.m. and run to 2:25 for 6th hour, and 3:25 for 7th hr.

[edit] Notable Alumni


[edit] References

[edit] External links