Redwood High School (Larkspur, California)

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Redwood High School
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Established 1958
Type Public school
Principal Nancy Neu
Faculty 140
Students 1502
Grades 9 - 12
Location 395 Doherty Drive,
Larkspur, California, USA
Colors Red & Gray
Mascot Giant
Newspaper Redwood Bark
Website www.redwood.org
For other "Redwood High Schools" , see Redwood High School (disambiguation).

Redwood High School is a public secondary school located in the city of Larkspur, Marin County, California, approximately 11 miles north of San Francisco. Redwood High is part of the Tamalpais Union High School District. The school serves the cities of Belvedere, Corte Madera, Greenbrae, Kentfield, Larkspur, Ross, and Tiburon.

Contents

[edit] History

By 1957, the school age population of the Tamalpais Union High School District had grown too large for Tamalpais High School to accommodate. With the pressure of students coming in from elementary schools from Sausalito to Belvedere to Ross, it was therefore put to the voters of the district to decide on a solution. The vote was to create a new school, and chosen for its site was the marshy area that extended west from the centrally located town of Larkspur to Highway 101, an area that townspeople had called "the slough" since Larkspur was settled. It seemed the perfect solution. Of course, back in 1957, such things as the vital importance of wetlands were under-appreciated, therefore the land was seen as "waste." Beginning in early 1957, a large section of the marsh was flattened and filled, two roads were cut through from Magnolia Avenue out to the new school, and a playing field and parking lot were included. The first students who were to attend the new High School were allowed to chose the name of the newspaper and sports teams, choosing the Giants as their mascot in reference to the nearby redwood trees. School publications followed the tree theme: the Bark became the school's newspaper, and the Log the school's year book. The colors red and gray were a source of much contention, but were finally accepted. The school opened its doors in 1958 and in came three classes relocated from other area High Schools, and one class that would graduate in 1962 thereby becoming the first class to attend all four years at Redwood. By this date, there were still very few "extras." No pool. No cafeteria. No theater. Only one field, only the original two dirt roads in and out of the school. The entire school was a flat ochre colored box set on flat thinly grassed ground surrounded by what was left of the marsh. Since then, much has changed. The original box remains but its contours have been softened by landscaping, new buildings, and mature trees. Much of the marsh has been replaced by housing.

[edit] Redwood in the news

On May 24, 2006, Redwood gained notoriety for a prank gone wrong. Seven chickens were found dead in a school hallway. Apparently, certain seniors, intending to release 32 chickens purchased at a live market in San Francisco's Chinatown, had left them in the trunk of a hot car. A student tip led the administration and Marin's Humane Society to the "pranksters." For their thoughtless cruelty, the four students most directly involved were not allowed to participate in graduation ceremonies. The incident made it into the local newspaper, as well as several major newspapers around the country.[1]

[edit] Campus

Redwood High School is set at the foot of Mount Tamalpais. The school has a clear view of Marin County's signature mountain. Redwood's main school building (an original; see above) contains approximately 69 classrooms, four Dexter's laboratories, the Bessie Chin Library, and a theater. Other buildings on the campus contain industrial technology areas, art and photography rooms, the band rooms, and the cafeteria (known as the CEA--Covered Eating Area). The campus also contains a large gymnasium with two weight rooms, a swimming pool, a diving pool, tennis courts, a track, athletic fields, and an outdoor amphitheatre facing the South Lawn. Marin Community Fields, which are located adjacent to the high school, are available for student recreation.

The original Redwood High School campus was opened in 1958, and additions to the main building were made over the next few years. Between 2002 and 2006, Redwood embarked on a major modernization process financed through a bond measure passed by district voters. Approximately forty million dollars were spent to remodel classrooms, refurbish the gymnasium and theater, and add new athletic fields. The modernization process included upgrades to the technology networking system in most classrooms. In the spring of 2006, Redwood art students created a 40-foot mural of the Marin County countryside. The mural was created on an exterior wall of the CEA (Covered Eating Area). This year, the 100th anniversary of Larkspur is also the 50th anniversary of Redwood High School.

[edit] Students

The following breakdown of students based on ethnicity is from 2006/2007 enrollment data.

Student Ethnicity Percent
African American 1.96
Asian American 4.32
Hispanic 3.64
Filipino 0.2
Native American 0.54
Pacific Islander American 0
White American, non-Hispanic 78.95
Multiple or no response 10.39

[edit] Faculty and staff

[edit] Extracurricular activities

[edit] Sports

Fall Sports

Football (2001 MCAL Champs), Cheer and Dance, Water Polo, Cross Country, Boys Soccer, Girls Tennis, Girls Golf, Girls Volleyball (2006 NCS Champs)

Winter Sports

Wrestling, Basketball

Spring Sports

Baseball (2002, 2003 MCAL Champs), Softball (2006, 2007 MCAL Champs), Swimming & Diving (Girls 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2007 MCAL Champs), Track & Field, Boys Golf, Girls Soccer, Boys Lacrosse, Boys Volleyball, Boys Tennis (2005 2006 MCAL Champions. 2005 2006 NCS Champions), Girls Lacrosse

Club Sports

Rugby (Spring), Crew (Year-round), Mountain Biking (Spring), Ultimate Frisbee , Badminton , Sailing (Year-round)

Newspaper

The student-run newspaper, the Bark, has a long history of excellence, with student writers, photographers, and graphic designers earning honors at the national level each year. Active since the school's inception in 1958, the newspaper acts as a limited public forum for its student, teacher, parent, and community audience. Circulation of the free publication reaches 1,700 each month. The newspaper's website, containing current issues as well as historical archives, can be found at http://redwoodbark.org

[edit] Notable alumni

[edit] References

  1. ^ Joe Wolfcale, Marin Independent Journal, "Fowl prank at high school," 2006-05-27, accessed 2007-02-28
  2. ^ Larken Bradley, Point Reyes Light, "Ex-assistant fire chief of Stinson Beach dies", June 10, 2004, accessed December 10, 2007
  3. ^ Willow Camp Gallery (photo of Allen's bronze dolphin), accessed December 10, 2007
  4. ^ Player Bio: Pete Carroll :: Football
  5. ^ The Secret Magdalene
  6. ^ Act Locally SF
  7. ^ "Mikyo Riggs Interview", On the Mat Magazine, December 31, 2002, accessed December 5, [[2007]

[edit] External links