| Redwood High School | |
|---|---|
| Established | 1958 |
| Type | Public school |
| Principal | David Sondheim |
| Faculty | 140 |
| Students | 1502 |
| Grades | 9 - 12 |
| Location | 395 Doherty Drive, Larkspur, California, USA |
| Colors | Red & Grey |
| Mascot | Giant |
| Yearbook | The Log |
| Newspaper | Redwood Bark |
| Website | www.redwood.org |
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 |
David Sondheim is in his first year as principal.
Assistant Principals: Wesley Cedros, Tara Taupier, LaSandra White
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 east from the centrally located town of Larkspur to U.S. Route 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 choose 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.
On September 11, 2008, it was announced that Redwood had been recognized by the federal Blue Ribbon Schools Program. Redwood was recognized as a California Distinguished School in 1990. An article the local newspaper provides more information.[1]
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." 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.[2]
Redwood High School is set at the foot of Mount Tamalpais. The school has a clear view of Marin County's landmark mountain. Redwood's main school building (an original; see above) contains approximately 69 classrooms, four laboratories, the Bessie Chin Library, and a theater. Other buildings on the campus contain industrial technology areas, art studios (photography, ceramics, graphic arts), band rooms, and a cafeteria (known as the CEA—Covered Eating Area). The campus also contains a large gymnasium and a smaller practice gym, two weight rooms, a 40-meter swimming pool, tennis courts, a track, athletic fields, and an outdoor amphitheater 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. More recently in 2007-2008 Redwood has rebuilt the often flooded parking lot, and began to construct a second gym and new pool. 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. This years graduating class of 2009 was the 50th graduating class in Redwood History.
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 | 0.2 |
| White American, non-Hispanic | 78.95 |
| Multiple or no response | 10.39 |
Fall Sports
Football (2000 MCAL Champs), Cheer and Dance, Water Polo, Cross Country, Boys Soccer (1969 MCAL co-Champs, 1970, 1999, 2001, 2008 MCAL Champs), Girls Tennis, Girls Golf, Girls Volleyball (2006 NCS Champs)
Winter Sports
Wrestling, Basketball
Spring Sports
Baseball (2002, 2003, 2010 MCAL Champs, 1977 National Champs), Softball (2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010 MCAL Champs; 2008 NCS Champs), Swimming & Diving (Girls 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011 MCAL Champs), Track & Field (Girls 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008 MCAL Champs), Boys Golf, Girls Soccer (2010 MCAL Champs, 1990, 1993, 1994, 2005, 2010 NCS Champs), Boys Lacrosse, Boys Volleyball, Boys Tennis (2005 2006 MCAL Champions. 2005 2006 NCS Champions), Girls Lacrosse (2007 2008 2009 MCAL Champions)
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 2,000 each month. The newspaper's website, containing current issues as well as historical archives, can be found at http://redwoodbark.org. The paper also maintains social media links on Facebook and through mobile devices.
Music Department
The Music Department has two Jazz Bands, "Jazz A" (big band) and "Jazz B", two concert bands, the Wind Ensemble (adv.) and the Symphonic Band (int.), as well as two Performance Workshop classes, and a Beginning Guitar and Bass class. The Music Department usually goes on tour every year, in 2009, 2010, and 2011 it went to Yosemite NP. In 2009 and 2010 it hosted the Night of Swing as a fundraiser. In 2011 this was changed to a Night of Blues due to orchestration availability. The Department is Run by John Mattern, winner of the KDFC 102.1 Music Educator of the Year in 2006.
Theatre Redwood's theatre company, EPiC, is student-run. It provides students with endless opportunities to create, explore, and learn in the theatre. Every year, the senior theatre students create an original one-act and enter it in the Mother Lode Festival. The piece usually wins the highest award offered at the festival, "Superior." EPiC alum have gone on to do incredible theatrical feats.