Northport High School

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Northport High School
Type Public high school
Principal Irene McLaughlin
Asst. Principal Jonathan Macaluso, Grade 9
Todd Andrews, Grade 10
Shannon Dantuono, Grade 11
Dr. Peter Pantina, Grade 12
Students ~2100 (2007)
Grades 9-12
Location 154 Laurel Hill Road,
Northport, New York, USA
District Northport-East Northport Union Free School District
Campus Suburban
Colors Blue and Gold
Mascot Tigers
Newspaper The Rag[1]
Website Northport High School

Northport High School is a four-year secondary school located at 154 Laurel Hill Road Coordinates: 40°52′46.3″N 73°20′28.1″W / 40.879528, -73.341139 in Northport, New York. It functions as the high school for the Northport-East Northport Union Free School District serving the communities of Northport, Eatons Neck, Asharoken and much of East Northport, all located in the Town of Huntington. Northport High School is home to over 2100 students and 270 staff members. Northport High School is the only high school in the nation to offer the International Baccalaureate program, two National Academy programs (Finance & Information Technology), Project Lead the Way, Project P.A.T.C.H. and more than 20 Advanced Placement courses.[2] The school's athletic teams are known as the Tigers and Lady Tigers.

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[edit] Location

Northport High School is located on the corner of Elwood and Laurel Hill Roads. To the west is a Wilson Technological Center campus, part of Western Suffolk BOCES. The Long Island Rail Road's Port Jefferson Branch bounds the school to the south. Until the late seventies, the Northport Branch of the LIRR existed, providing service directly to Northport village by diverging from the Port Jefferson line next to Wilson Tech, having crossed Laurel Hill Road almost immediately parallel to Maplewood Drive [1]. A short distance down Elwood Road is Pulaski Road Elementary school, across from a presently vacant lot where affordable housing is to be built.[3]

[edit] Facility

A unique feature of the school building is the large open area, called the Commons, that visitors enter into immediately from the main entrance. The Commons acts as a hub for the entire school. Both the large and small cafeteria, faculty dining room, library and auditorium are located directly off the Commons, from which students may visit The Tiger's Den (school store) and access almost all the building's wings. There is a balcony on the north side, providing access to the school's administrative offices and counseling center. The Commons is also a favorite hangout of NHS students who congregate there before and after school, during lunch and free periods. In each corner lies the "wells," partially enclosed recessed areas where students can catch up on work, socialize or relax. The largest well has been designated for the senior class through decades of tradition, leaving the two smaller wells for the junior and sophomore classes. As part of an extensive grade restructuring of the entire Northport-East Northport Union Free School District in 1988, the 9th grade was reassigned from each of the junior high schools (as they were called at the time) to the high school. This created two incoming classes that year, including freshmen for the first time.[4] Since there was no existing well for the new freshman class and one could not be constructed, the high school built the freshman benches instead. The benches are commonly called the "bus stop" due to its close appearance to an actual bus stop with benches.

A smaller (Little) theater frequently used by drama classes is located just beyond the commons to the northeast, as are two gyms (large and small) to the southwest. The small gym contains a rock climbing wall and an archery court. Beyond the library on the east side of the building is another, albeit considerably smaller open area, known as the Small Commons, possessing only islands of lockers.

In the early 2000s, the school underwent construction and expanded. The new K-wing added family and consumer science classrooms on the first floor where the student-run preschool is located and additional regular classrooms on the second floor. The existing A-wing saw new dance rooms, photography labs, car care classrooms and an orchestra room added.

During the 2006-2007 school year, security was updated and tightened. All doors except the main entrance are locked from the outside during school. Teachers have electronic passes allowing them to enter the building through any entrance. These new security measures angered seniors with lunch leave privileges, since rather than entering the building through the entrance closest to the student parking lot, seniors must now walk around the school and circuitously enter through the main entrance.

[edit] Departments and Programs

NHS offers a wide variety of classes in many subjects. Advance Placement (AP) courses are offered in all the five core departments of English, foreign languages, mathematics, sciences and social studies.[5][6] The high school provides a particularly rich elective program, with study in the art, business and music fields, all of which also offer study at the AP level. Many other honor and college level classes allow students the opportunity to earn college credits colleges like Farmingdale State College (in PROGRAM), Long Island University (in business) and Syracuse University (through Project Advance English and Computer Engineering). The International Baccalaureate Program is offered on the certificate and diploma level.

Northport has a well-established and recognized music program. Many students avail themselves of the chance to explore and excel at all different types of music ranging from voice, band, orchestra, composition, etc. The school was named a Grammy Signature School by the Grammy Foundation four times, in 2000, 2001, 2003, and 2006. The National Association for Music Education (MENC) also named Northport as one of the 100 best communities for music education in America.[7]

The art department is another highly recognized department. Students can take higher level AP and IB art classes in addition to computer art, photography, painting, cartoon drawing and sculpture electives. Students have won many different awards for their artistic talents.[8]

For its overall distinction in academics and service, NHS was awarded the Claes Nobel School of Distinction by The National Society of High School Scholars in March of 2004.[9]

[edit] Academy Programs

NHS has two national academy programs, Academy of Finance (AOF) and Academy of Information Technology (AOIT). AOF teaches business and financial skills. For example, AOF members learn accounting, finance, marketing and management with the opportunity to earn college credit. Students are also eligible for a paid internship, usually during the summer between their junior and senior years. Students in AOIT learn how to utilize new technology in the workplace. Programming, database and web administration are particularly emphasized. Like in the AOF, AOIT students may receive college credit and a paid internship usually just before senior year.

[edit] Environmental Team

Another specialized program offered at NHS is the Environmental Team (E-Team), an interdisciplinary college preparatory program. Students participate in community service, environmental clean-ups, fund-raising and aspects of self-governance.

[edit] PATCH Project

Participatory Awareness Through Community Help (PATCH) was created by Thomas J. O'Donnell in 1969 in hope of educating more students about the Constitution and United States history and civics. From the PATCH program came several law-related electives offered by the social studies department. One of PATCH's electives, Constitution Law, supplements the regular New York State eleventh grade American history curriculum and remains popular to this day. PATCH currently partners with Touro Law College and the New York State Bar Association.

[edit] Clubs

NHS offers over 50 clubs and extracurricular activities to the student body. Some of which include: Academic (trivia) Team; Students Helping and Relating to Each Other (SHARE, part of the Natural Helpers program); Ultimate Frisbee Intramurals (among others); DECA; Wilderness, New York City and foreign languages clubs; Model United Nations; Computer Club; Science and Math Olympians; Law Club and the Business, Technology, Music and Art Honor Societies.

The largest and most active student organizations are the National Honor Society and Students for 60,000. The Honor Society runs many school and community services such as peer tutoring, fund raisers, the Senior Citizens' Prom and several other community outreach programs. The society's most notable event is A Midwinter Nights Dream which has raised $722,000 toward research for a cure for Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).[10] Students for 60,000 is a community service group that assists those in the Northport community and beyond: twice a year the club travels to Nicaragua to assist the needy there.

[edit] Notable alumni

[edit] Performing Arts

[edit] Sports

[edit] Other

[edit] References

  1. ^ Northport High School Clubs & Activities. Northport-East Northport School District. Retrieved on 2008-06-04.
  2. ^ Northport-East Northport Schools. Northport-East Northport School District. Retrieved on 2007-10-20.
  3. ^ Affordable Housing Retrieved on 2008-01-05.
  4. ^ Open Seas 1990 (Northport High School Yearbook), vol. 11, Marceline, Missouri: Walsworth Publishing Company, 1990, p. 2 
  5. ^ NHS IB Curriculum Retrieved on 2008-01-05.
  6. ^ NHS English Courses Retrieved on 2008-01-05.
  7. ^ NHS Music Department Retrieved on 2008-01-05.
  8. ^ NHS Art Awards Retrieved on 2008-01-05.
  9. ^ Claes Nobel School of Distinction Awarded to Northport High School, Northport, New York. High School Highlights. The National Society of High School Scholars (March 2004). Retrieved on 2007-11-27.
  10. ^ A Mid Winter Night's Dream Website Retrieved on 2008-01-05.
  11. ^ Rozie Bacchi. IMDb. Retrieved on 2007-11-12.
  12. ^ a b Rozie Bacchi Publicity Stills & Production Photos. Rozie Bacchi. Retrieved on 2007-11-12.
  13. ^ Aesop Rock. lala.com. Retrieved on 2008-01-08.
  14. ^ Robert Bagnell. IMDb. Retrieved on 2007-11-12.
  15. ^ a b c Biography for Joe Roseto. IMDb. Retrieved on 2007-11-12.
  16. ^ Elisa Donovan Biography. YahooTV. Yahoo!. Retrieved on 2007-11-13.
  17. ^ Edie Falco Biography. YahooTV. Yahoo!. Retrieved on 2007-11-13.
  18. ^ Super Soap Weekend Q&A #1. Elizabeth Hendrickson Online (April 6, 2002). Retrieved on 2007-11-13.
  19. ^ Patti Lupone Biography. YahooTV. Yahoo!. Retrieved on 2007-11-13.
  20. ^ Chris Messina. IMDb. Retrieved on 2007-11-12.
  21. ^ About the Louis J. Acompora Foundation. Retrieved on 2008-03-08.
  22. ^ New York State Implements Louis' Law. Retrieved on 2008-03-08.
  23. ^ a b LMU Sunday Pickup. LAXworldonline. Retrieved on 2007-11-20.
  24. ^ San Francisco Dragons. Major League Lacrosse. Retrieved on 2007-11-12.
  25. ^ NASCAR WCUP: Steve Park Remembers Giving Rides to Skinny Girl Named Mariah Carey. TheAutoChannel (November 19, 1998). Retrieved on 2007-11-13.
  26. ^ Boston Cannons. Major League Lacrosse. Retrieved on 2007-11-12.
  27. ^ Manning, Gregg. The Ultimate Crime. Retrieved on 2007-11-01.
  28. ^ Northport High School Alumni Registry Page. Northport High School. Retrieved on 2007-11-13.

[edit] External links