Washington High School (Fremont, California)

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Coordinates: 37.55203° N 121.99487° W

Washington High School
Location
38442 Fremont Blvd.
Fremont, CA 94536
Information
Principal Linda Fernandez (acting)
Enrollment

2012
Faculty 85
Type Public
Motto "We focus on empowering our students to become healthy individuals, responsible and ethical citizens, critical thinkers, effective communicators, collaborative workers, and lifelong independent learners."
Newspaper Hatchet
Established 1892
Information (510) 505-7300
Colors
Mascot		 Orange and Black
Hank and Hannah Husky
Homepage http://www.fremont.k12.ca.us/WHS/

Washington High School (WHS) is one of the five Fremont, California public high schools, and was established in 1892. It is a part of the Fremont Unified School District.

Contents

[edit] History

The first high school classes in the Washington Township began January 11, 1892 in the Masonic Hall on Peralta Boulevard with 22 Students. The School was named Union High School District 2 and May Burdick became the first graduate in June, 1892. In March of 1893, the students moved into a new building on Peralta Boulevard that cost $6582.

In 1914 the school name was changed to Washington High School District and in 1916 five bus routes were started to bring students to school in canvas-sided buses. Publication of the school newspaper, the Hatchet, also began that year when the students decided it "could be used to bring untruth and deceit to an end." In 1923, the first volume of the school yearbook, the Washingtonian, was published by the senior class.

In 1923, 20 acres were purchased for $20,000 at the present Fremont Boulevard location. The new classically designed building was dedicated in August, 1924. By 1926, the school enrollment had grown to 300 students and the school was the largest business in Washington Township.

By 1958, the school had grown to over 2,900 students attending a triple staggered schedule. This was quickly followed by the openings of Logan High School in Union City in 1959 and the opening of 1961 of Newark High school in Newark and also the opening of Irvington High School in Fremont to spread the students around. In 1972, earthquake concerns led to the closure of the main building and many students in the northern attendance area began attending the new American High School on October 12, 1972.

In replacement of the old War memorial stadium which was dedicated to those who served the country during the great World Wars(now known as the freshman field). Construction of a sports stadium was started in the summer of 1972 and on October 12, 1972 it was dedicated as the Tak Fudenna Memorial Stadium in honor of 1939 WHS graduate, Takeo Fudenna, who gave much to the community and the project and who had died the previous August in an accident. The stadium was later remodeled in 2005. The Washington Football team was the first team to play on it (and win) and were also scheduled to play when Tak Fudenna Stadium was remodeled, but due to falling behind on deadlines the team was not able to.

After the passage of a bond in the early '90s, the main building and gyms were demolished to make way for new construction. Efforts of the Washington High School Alumni Foundation and its many members helped save the original entrance archway of the main building and incorporate into the design of the new building. The new building was dedicated on December 13, 1997 and stands there today. (Accounts of some events taken from Reflections: The Educational History of Fremont, 1983)

[edit] Demographics

Demographics for the 2003-2004 school year: 20% Latino or Hispanic, 6% African American , 26% of these students were of Asian origin, 41% European American (White), 5% Filipino, 1% American Indian or Alaska Native, 1% Pacific Islander and 13% Multiple or No Response.

[edit] Notable alumni and faculty

  • Jack Acosta a figure on the Board of Directors of several San Francisco Bay Area companies
  • John Doyle (soccer) (1966- ) Amateur and professional soccer player and coach--USF, 1988 Seoul Olympics, 1990 World Cup, San Jose Clash and Earthquakes[1]
  • Dennis Eckersley (1954- ), Class of 1972, Baseball Hall of Famer who played for the Oakland Athletics, and other teams; six-time MLB American League All-Star[2]
  • Takeo Fudenna (c.1921-72), Class of 1939, WWII veteran in one of the Nisei units and recipient of the Bronze Star;[3] co-founder of Fudenna Bros., a Fremont development company;[4] namesake of Tak Fudenna Stadium
  • Stebler Loze (c.1916-2000) A science and math teacher and adult school and summer school principal at Washington High School[5]
  • Natasha Paremski (1987- ), pianist and musical prodigy, graduated by exam in 2002 at age 15;[6] winner of the 2006 Gilmore Young Artist Award[7]
  • Dr. Michael Ricupito, a Fremont Orthodontist, who still holds MVAL football passing records, played football at San Jose State, and served as President of the California Association of Orthodontists
  • Bill Walsh (football coach) (1931-2007) Washington High School football coach, 1957-59[8]
  • Robin Williams, Class of 1971, award-winning author of dozens of books on Macs, PCs, and graphic design and of Sweet Swan of Avon: Did a Woman Write Shakespeare?, Wilton Circle Press, 2006; she is also the founder of the Santa Fe Mac Users Group.[9]
  • John Woodcock (football player) (1954-98) an NFL defensive lineman who played with the Lions, and later with the San Diego Chargers.

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ Mustang Soccer, Director Profile
  2. ^ http://www.baseballhalloffame.org/hof_weekend/2004/inductees_eckersley.htm National Baseball Hall of Fame]
  3. ^ NARA Index, 100/442 Documents, US Navy
  4. ^ Oakland Tribune, September 8, 2005
  5. ^ Cal Alumni Newsletter, November 2000
  6. ^ T.T. Nhu, Mercury News, Piano prodigy from Fremont to perform in San Mateo, November 15, 2002; accessed 10/29/06
  7. ^ The Gilmore
  8. ^ Football Digest, September 2002
  9. ^ Robin Williams, Real Bio, accessed 10/29/2006

[edit] External links


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Fremont Unified School District
High Schools
Junior High Schools
Elementary Schools
Alternative Schools