| Booker High School | |
|---|---|
| Location | |
| 3201 North Orange Avenue Sarasota, Florida, 34234-4793 United States |
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| Information | |
| Motto | stay an 'A' School! |
| School district | Sarasota County Schools |
| Principal | ? |
| Grades | 9-12 |
| Mascot | Tornadoes |
| Website | Booker High Home Page |
Booker High School is a high school located in Sarasota, Florida. It is located in the northern area of Sarasota and is part of the school district of Sarasota County. The athletic teams are known as the Tornadoes.
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Booker High School is named after a teacher and educational leader in Sarasota's black community, Emma Edwina Booker. Booker moved to Sarasota in 1910 and soon helped start Sarasota Grammar School, for the education of young black children. In 1925 she led a procession of students and teachers from the old school (in Knights of Pythias Hall) to a new school built next to the railroad tracks at Lemon and Thirteenth Street (now Seventh Street) by the Rosenwald Fund. Booker served as an inspiration to many of her students and was eventually commemorated by having three schools named in her honor: Emma E. Booker Elementary, Booker Middle School, and Booker High School.[1]
Booker High School offers students power over what they choose to learn, with several "Academies" within the school.
The goal of the JROTC is to teach its cadets to appreciate the ethical values that underlie good citizenship, to develop leadership potential, and to learn to live and work cooperatively with others. This program is greatly influenced by the armed forces and strives to instill military conduct principles in students.
The Booker High Art program has helped develop talented artists including Bill Corso, who won the Oscar for "Best Makeup" in 2005, and Jack Mac Kinnon. Honorable teachers who taught Jack Mac Kinnon and other talented teachers who attend the VPA art program in the last few years are Nancy Skwire and Steve Strenk. Mr. Bill Corso, the 2005 Oscar winner attended Booker before Ms. Felts and Mr. Strenk joined the faculty. His artistic abilities were enhanced by long time BHS teacher, Mr. Gary Bowen.
The Dance program has many talented dancers who consistently perform at events and shows all over the Sarasota/Bradenton area. The dance VPA is led by Melissa Lodhi. With other outstanding teachers: -Courtney Smith -Deborah Vinton -Alyson Dolan
The students who play wind instruments performed at Carnegie Hall in March 2007, and at Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in April 2009. They have also won many awards at the Berklee Jazz Festival with their vocal jazz ensemble who has successfully won 1st place many times. They are also the only competitors who have earned perfect scores in the competition. Booker's Renowned V.P.A. Program is so competitive that out of the original 142 students who started off in the Music V.P.A. program in 2002, in 2006 that same graduating class graduated with about 11 students with a music V.P.A. degree. Music V.P.A offers theoretical music education that is comparable to college-level courses, enabling students to compose and analyze musical works. Music V.P.A also offers extensive music history classes which cover music throughout written history.
Booker's TV/Film program is one of the most high quality high school television programs in the country. It inheirited a news station's equipment and set, with which they produce a morning show everyday. The program is part of the V.P.A program and holds a semi-annual Film Showcase.
The Theatre department of Booker High is renowned in the state as one of the best. Students in the program choose to either specialize in acting or technical work.Actors are required to audition for every show of the program's four-show seasons, and do up to six Shop Hours a period. They take classes in acting, Voice and Music Theory, Dance - Tap, Ballet, Jazz, Broadway, History of Theatre, Directing, Script Analysis and Film acting. Technical students help to build sets, run lights, sound, and manage what goes on backstage, in addition to learning the tricks of the technical trade.
During the 2004-2005 school year, the Theatre department placed first in both the Florida Theatre Conference and the South-Eastern Theatre Conference with their production of Seussical the Musical. The following school year, the Theatre department was the runner-up with the senior class' original play written by H. Scott Keys , The Alchemist, based on the book of the same name. In 2006-2007 school year, the Theatre department took Children Of Eden to the Conference and won the Best Technical Award for their design of the Garden of Eden. In 2007-2008 the senior class took an original work by H. Scott Keys entitled, Ta2.
Booker High School's Theatre Department production of John Lennon and Me is The Florida Theater Conference 2008-2009 Champion. It was directed by Candice Artim. The set design was done by Ken Wiegers. The costumes by Sheryl Wiegers. The lighting design was done by senior Patrick Bedell. Mona Pirnot, a BHS Junior, won Best Actress. In winning Florida, Booker High School had the opportunity to compete in the South-Eastern Theatre Conference in Birmingham Alabama in March 2009.
The Theatre department is also home to 2005 graduate Syesha Mercado, an American Idol Top 3 Finalist. American Juniors winner Danielle White was part of the 2010 graduating class.
The Booker High School varsity football team has had a successful run for 3 of the last 4 years, reaching the Class 3A State Semifinal game in 2003, the 2005 Class 3A State Finals game (Lost to St. Augustine Yellow Jackets 31-15), and the 2006 Class 3A Regional Semifinals game. A well-known rivalry occurs each season between Booker and neighboring school, Riverview High. Another storied rivalry is between another neighboring school, Sarasota High. However,historically, the original cross town rival is Cardinal Mooney.
Keeping with school tradition, the 2006 Boys Basketball were State Champions. They have five state basketball championships in school history, and are the only school in sarasota county to win a basketball state championship.The girls basketball team was also succssesfull in 2007-2008 when they became district champions.
Booker Baseball is currently being coached by Chris Hutchinson. Booker High School was successful in 1997, 26-5, winning the District title. They are improving every year.
The girl's golf team for the 2010-2011 school year includes four girls, Alana Palau, Emily Messinger, Maegan Niver and Oneka Mackenzie. They are coached by Chris Hutchinson, and the captain is Alana Palau.
2006- Boys District Runner-up. Anthony Lipe-Ladenheim & Cody Gusto finished 3rd in States series for doubles competition. Girls District Runner-up.
2007- Boys District Champions. Anthony Lipe-Ladenheim & Cody Gusto advanced to State series.
2008- Boys District Runner-up.