North Medford High School
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| Established | 1966 |
|---|---|
| Type | Public Secondary |
| Principal | Patrick Royal |
| Faculty | 144 |
| Students | 1,887 (2008) |
| Grades | 9–12 |
| Location | 1900 North Keene Way Drive, Medford, Oregon, USA |
| Oversight | Medford School District |
| Campus | Open Air Campus |
| Colors | Red and Black |
| Mascot | Black Tornado |
| Website | North Medford High School Web Page |
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North Medford High School is a secondary school that is one of two public high schools in Medford, Oregon, in the United States of America. It is part of school district 549C, and is attended by 2006 students. The school's mascot is the Black Tornado and is often referred to as such. The school colors are red and black.
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[edit] History
Originally the City of Medford's secondary school system was one high school divided into two buildings on opposite sides of the city. The Current Campus of NMHS was formerly known as "Medford Senior High School", with grades 11 and 12 attending while the grades 9 and 10 went to what is now South Medford High School, formerly Medford Mid High School. This was set in place to primarily to allow Medford to compete athletically with larger, 5A school districts such as Portland, OR. At this time the city would have placed in the 4A divisions if the district would have been divided into two secondary schools. During the 1970's Medford commonly put forth many state championship athletic teams in the Oregon 5A division. However, in 1986, Medford High School was finally split in to the two current high schools. Both now house around 2,000 students, around the number of students Medford High School collectively held in the 1970s and 1980s.
[edit] Fight Songs
"On North Medford" (tune On Wisconsin)
(Revised by Student Council in September, 2007)
New Version
On, North Medford! On, North Medford! On to vic-tor-y;
To our team and to our colors, loy-al we will be!
On, North Medford! On, North Medford! Fight on for our fame!
Fight, Tornado, fight, fight, fight! We'll win this game!
T-O-R-N-A-D-O, let's go! T-O-R-N-A-D-O, t-o-r-n-a-d-o, go Tornado! [First time only. Spelling of tornado increases in speed each time.]
Old Version
On, North Medford! On, North Medford! Pass right down the field;
Put the ball right o're the line, boys; We are out to win. Rah! Rah! Rah!
On, North Medford, On, North Medford! Fight on for the fame;
Fight, Tornado, fight, fight, fight! We'll win this game!
[edit] Bell Schedule
North Medford High School follows Block Scheduling. This table does not cover early release days.
| A | B | C | Time | Total Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Block 0 | Block 0 | No Block | 7:20AM - 8:30AM | 70 Minutes |
| Block 1 | Block 2 | Block 1 | 8:45AM - 9:55AM | 70 Minutes |
| Block 3 | Block 3 | Block 2 | 10:02AM - 11:12AM | 70 Minutes |
| Lunch | Lunch | Lunch | 11:12AM - 12:02PM | 50 Minutes |
| Block 4 | Block 5 | Block 4 | 12:02PM - 1:12PM | 70 Minutes |
| Block 6 | Block 6 | BLock 5 | 1:19PM - 2:29PM | 70 Minutes |
| Block 7 | Block 7 | Advisory/Tutorial | 2:36PM - 3:46PM | 70 Minutes |
- Block 0 Early Bird is optional class time that is not required for students and is set before the actual start of the school day at 8:45 a.m. [1]
The schedule above was adopted before the 2007-2008 school by both North Medford High School and its sister school South Medford High School.
The new schedule used by the school as of the 2007-2008 school year has angered many students at NMHS. Many have stated that the new schedule is "too confusing" and "too complicated" to remember and to follow as there is now a three day schedule (A day; B day; C day) instead of the traditional 2 day schedule (Red day; Black day)
[edit] Student Body Constitution
The Student Body Constitution is composed of six articles and a preamble describing how the Body works, similar to the United States Constitution. The Articles are titled "The Associated Student Body", "Bill of Rights", "The Executive Committee", "Executive Committee Elections", "Clubs and Organizations", and "Amendments".
Preamble: In the search for self-government, those who oppose that which is highest in the American spirit often are misguided or ignorant. We, the members of the Associated Student Body of North Medford High School, dedicate this tablet to the furtherance of student liberty and true education.
Article I- Associated Student Body
Section 1. This organization shall be known as the Associated Student Body of North Medford High School.
Section 2. The purpose of this organization shall be to make possible the benefits to be obtained from self-government.
Section 3. All students duly enrolled full-time (defined as a minimum of five classes) in North Medford High School are regarded as the members of the Associated Student Body (ASB). Part-time students may be eligible for some privileges granted to members of the ASB.
Section 4. This constitution and these bylaws of the ASB in pursuance thereof, shall be the supreme laws of the ASB and ASB organizations and clubs, and shall have precedence over all other enactments that conflict with this constitution. Any part of this constitution that conflicts with State, or District 549C school laws or policies shall be considered null and void.
[edit] Grading Scale
| Grade | Definition | Percentage to Determine Grade |
|---|---|---|
| A | Excellent | 90% - 100% |
| B | Above Average | 80% - 89% |
| C | Average Performance | 70% - 79% |
| F | Fail & Repeat Course | 0% - 69% |
| I | Work in Progress | Work Incomplete |
| W | Withdraw | None |
| P | Pass | 70% - 100% |
| X | No Grade No Cedit | None |
It should be noted that there is no "D" grade between the grades "C" and "F".
[edit] Small School Initiative
In 2004-2005 school year, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation selected North Medford High as part of their Small School Initiative program. Over the course of the next three years, the staff of North Medford toured various other high schools across the nation to determine the exact manner in which to implement the program. Starting in the school year of 2006-2007, North Medford began the SSI with the "Freshman Academy." However, during the 2007 - 2008 school year the school lost its money for the program. The Gates stated if the money was not sufficiently used in a given amount of time the money would not be granted.
[edit] Campus Development
North Medford was built in 1967 and has been remodeled and has had additions added in 1973, 1981 and 1992. In 2006, Codi Lankford, district 549c financial director approved bond measure 15-73 to give the 549C district $189 million to repair or replace all of its schools.
The goal of the repairs is to renovate and add new addition based on facility evaluation and design. Addition will include new commons and classrooms. Renovation projects will include: HVAC upgrade, hazardous material removal, floor replacement, roofing, ADA upgrade, security upgrade, underground piping replacement, and site drainage. Project will be phased over four summers, with it beginning in the summer of 2007 and ending in the fall of 2010.[2]
Wood is the main exterior material in many buildings, and they are damaged by dry rot. Detached classroom buildings make security a major problem. Heating-water pipes are badly deteriorated and leak heated water. The roof is made of wood that is rotting and falling apart, it leaks. Flooding has damaged classrooms, gyms, and the auditorium. Science rooms and technology infrastructure are very outdated. Flooring includes asbestos tile that is used throughout the campus.
During the campaign for bond measure 15-73, both students and staff, as well as the citizenry of Medford were told to expect a new North Medford if the bond were to pass, prompting many of the parents, guardians and family of the 2029 students to vote in favor of the measure. After the bond passed it has been rumored and reported by school board members that there would not be a new North Medford. This prompted outrage in the students and parents of NMHS.
North Medford has many problems on its campus relating to the buildings, which includes a poorly built drainage system that often floods walkways and courtyards, making movement throughout the school difficult as there are many separate buildings. Another problem, that is often an embarrassment to the student population, is the wooden roofing. The school has a flat based roof, usually designed for desert areas and not for the wet and rainy environment of the Northwest. The wooden roof is often covered in green moss and is rotting and home to many bird nests and bats. Students often see shingles falling from the roof and it is a common joke among the populous that the shingles will fall onto your head if you are not careful. Because of the old age of the water and sewer pipes students are often forced to use bottled water to drink as the pipes are often being worked on.
North has very large campus that includes 226,712 square feet of occupied building space, 64 classrooms, and is located on a large 61.1-acre campus, most of which is used solely for sports and recreation. Both North and South Medford High Schools share a common football stadium, Spiegelberg Stadium. The stadium is located on the campus at South Medford High and often sparks a rivalry between the two secondary schools, South claiming that the stadium is their's as it is on there campus, while North students claim that the stadium is there for them, as it was built to be used during the time when North was the senior high school.
North Medford has several paid "Campus Monitors" who patrol the hallways and campus area to make sure students are attending their assigned classes. The Medford Police Department also has 1 School Resource Officer and 1 Community Service Officer who are assigned to North. The two Officers deal with any school safety issues, patrol nearby neghiborhoods, assist students with theft incidents, enforce Medford Municipal Code and Oregon Revised Statutes, and are a resource for the students if they need any law enforcement assistance.
[edit] Activities
North Medford Activities are headed by Mr. Ralph Burrelle. Each individual club and activity has its own director, typically being a teacher from the school who is somehow already associated to the clubs' focus area in what they teach or their own personal interestes. For instance, the "Chefs in Black" are led by Mrs. Ladon Weston, one of North's culinary arts teachers, and the Gaming Club is lead by Mrs. Jaclyn Stewart, an English teacher who is a self-expressed game lover.
The 2007-2008 school year extracurricular activities and clubs are as follows.
- Academic Team/ Brain Bowl
- Amnesty International
- Art Club
- Band
- Buddy Program
- "Chefs in Black"
- Cheer Team
- Chess Club
- Children of Uganda
- Choir
- Color Guard
- Debate
- DECA
- French Club
- Friends of Rachel
- Footbag Club
- Gaming Club
- GSA (Gay Straight Alliance)
- German Club
- "Hi-Times" Newspaper
- Improv Club
- International Club
- Jazz Band
- Junior State of America
- Key Club
- Latin Traditions
- LINK Crew
- Magic Club
- Math Team
- Mock Trial
- Multimedia/Engineering
- Orchestra
- Peer Mediation
- Pep Band
- Science Bowl Team
- SCUBA Diving
- Skills USA
- Spanish Club
- SELAC
- STARS
- Student Government
- Technical Theater Club
- Thespian Troupe #358 / Tornado Theater
- Torch Honor Society
- Tornado With Life/ FCA
- Tornadia Yearbook
- Writers Group
[edit] Sports
The North Medford athletic program is headed by Athletic Director Mr. Tim Sam, who has held the job since 2004. The various sports teams participate in Oregon's 6A level Southwest Conference (SWC) along with five other schools: South Medford High School (Medford), Sheldon High School (Eugene), South Eugene High School (Eugene), Roseburg High School (Roseburg), and Grants Pass High School (Grants Pass).
Prior to Oregon's shift from four classification level to six levels, North Medford was part of the Southern Oregon Conference (SOC) at level 4A. In that league were eight schools: North Medford, South Medford, Roseburg, and Grants Pass of the current SWC, and Crater High School (Central Point), Ashland High School (Ashland), Eagle Point High School (Eagle Point), and Klamath Union High School (Klamath Falls), all of the current 5A level Southern Sky Conference (SSC).
Sport Awards for the 2006-2007 school year-
- 1st place State Men's Baseball
- 1st place State Men's Doubles Tennis
- 2nd place State Men's Tennis
- 3rd place State Women's Volleyball
- 3rd place State Women's Golf
Multiple sports also received awards for their achievements in the 6A level Southwest Conference.
At North Medford, P.E. classes are a required field for graduation, with one credit necessary. However, P.E. credit can also be earned one quarter (1/4) credit per season per sport. All sports giving credit are listed below.
North Medford High School sports for the 2007-2008 school year are as follows.
Fall:
- Cross Country
- Football
- Soccer
- Volleyball
Winter:
- Basketball
- Swimming
- Wrestling
Spring:
- Baseball
- Golf
- Softball
- Tennis
- Track
Club Sports:
- Bowling
- Crew/Rowing
- Equestrian
- Figure Skating
- Ice Hockey
- Skiing
- Snowboarding
- Water Polo
