Neshaminy High School

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Neshaminy High School
Non Sibi Sed Scholae
Location
2001 Old Lincoln Highway
Langhorne, PA 19047
Bucks County
United States
Information
Type Public high school
School district Neshaminy
Superintendent Dr. Robert Copeland
CEEB Code 392145
Principal Dr. Robert McGee
Vice principal Mr. Colin Trickel
Mr. Thomas Magdelinskas
Mr. William Ritchey
Ms. Lynn Knotts
Mr. Robert Mueller
Mrs. Lisa Pennington
Grades 9th through 12th
Number of students 2,800
School colour(s) Red and Blue
Athletics Football,
Golf,
Soccer (Boys)(Girls),
Tennis (Boys)(Girls),
Volleyball (Boys)(Girls),
Field Hockey,
Cheerleading,
Cross Country,
Basketball (Boys)(Girls),
Swimming (Boys)(Girls),
Indoor Track (Boys)(Girls),
Bowling (Boys)(Girls),
Wrestling,
Baseball,
Softball,
Outdoor Track (Boys)(Girls),
Lacrosse (Boys)(Girls)
Nickname Skins
Team name Redskins
Newspaper The Playwickian
Website link

Neshaminy High School is a large public high school in Langhorne, Pennsylvania, located on Old Lincoln Highway.

Facilities

Neshaminy High School consists of one main hallway, with hallways branching off of the main by department, arranging classes of similar types (such as art, math, social studies, and science) in the same region of the school.

There are two gymnasiums, one at the front of the school and one at the back. Of its two theaters, the smaller black box theater is used primarily for performances by the school's drama department. The larger Theodore Kloos Auditorium in the front of the building is used by the school's music department and outside groups for performances, and Neshaminy's annual musical.

Renovation

In 2003 the Neshaminy school board proposed the demolition of the current school building and construction of a new facility on current school grounds. This plan was priced at $100 million and would require the issuance of an $85 million tax funded bond. In April 2004 residents defeated the new building plan via referendum due in large part to the price.[1]

As an alternative plan, the school board decided to demolish sections of the school at a time and rebuild them as the school year proceeded. This major renovation project was estimated to cost $72 million and would replace 95% of classroom facilities, but will retain some existing structures like the auditorium, gym, cafeteria, and library. Unlike the rest of the school which has only received basic upkeep since the 1950s these facilities have already undergone major renovation as recently as 1995. The project was completed by September 2009.[1]

Graduation rate

Neshaminy High School's graduation rate was 97% for 2011.[2]

Academics

Neshaminy High School provides a rich curriculum that includes a wide variety of honors and advanced placement courses.

AP Courses

In 2007–2008 students at this school took Advanced Placement (AP) exams in the following areas:

  • Biology
  • Calculus AB
  • Calculus BC
  • English Language & Composition
  • English Literature & Composition
  • European History
  • Government & Politics: U.S.
  • Physics C: Electricity & Magnetism
  • Physics C: Mechanics
  • Psychology
  • Statistics
  • U.S. History [3]

Student Body

There are approximately 3,000 students in grades nine through twelve.[4] It is the only high school in the Neshaminy School District. Neshaminy High School is accredited by the Middle Atlantic States Association of Colleges and Secondary School.

Extracurricular activities

The school also has a long history of excellent extra curricular activities, which include several championship athletic teams.

Football Team

The Neshaminy Redskins football program is rich with history and is steeped in a winning tradition. The first football team was assembled in 1928 when the school was known as Langhorne-Middletown High School. Of notable success in the early years is when head coach Mike DeRisi led the team to a combined record of 14-4-2 in 1946 and 1947. The team became a traditional powerhouse when head coach Harry E. Franks took over the team from 1952 through 1959. Under the direction of Franks, the team compiled a 69-10-2 record (.792%), scored 2203 points for to 857 points against, and had undefeated seasons in 1954 and 1956. John Petercuskie took over the head coaching reins from 1960 through 1965 and led the team to a 59-1-5 record (.983%), scored 1925 points for to 410 points against, 26 shutout victories, undefeated seasons in 1960, 1962-63-64-65, and a 51-game unbeaten streak from 1961 through 1965. Jack Swartz coached the Redskins from 1968 through 1972 compiling a 43-11-1 record (.796%). The 1971 team, which had an 11–0 perfect record, is widely regarded as one of the best in Pennsylvania history, and by some as Pennsylvania's team of the century. In 1988, coach John Chaump took a team with an 11–0 regular season record to the semi-finals of the first ever Pennsylvania state playoffs (statewide). Head coach Mark Schmidt (1995–present) has continued the winning tradition with a 119–54 overall record (118-44 since 1996), a regular season record of 102–38 (since 1996), and a state playoff record of 16–6. Schmidt's resume also includes 3 conference championships (01-05-08), 2 conference co-championships (02-04), 7 state playoff appearances (01-02-04-05-07-08-09), 3 district-one championship appearances (01-04-08), 2 district-one championships (01-04), 2 eastern PA championship appearances (01-04), 2 eastern PA championships (01-04), 2 PA state championship appearances (01-04), and 1 PA state championship (2001). The 2001 team compiled a perfect 15-0 overall record while running back Jamar Brittingham carried the ball for 2,575 yards (2,355 m) in 14 games played. The Redskins are regularly ranked among the best in the state and at times appear in the national top-25 including a USA Today national #7 finish in 2001.

Pennsylvania is considered one of the top high school football states in the nation. Neshaminy is one of 146 Pennsylvania teams that compete in the PIAA AAAA level. (There are 4 classification levels in Pennsylvania based on school enrollment. Single-A teams being the smallest schools, and AAAA teams being the largest schools.) At the 4-A level, Eastern PA and Western PA have split state championship wins even at 11 each since state playoffs began in 1988. Neshaminy is one of 41 teams that compete through District-1 (there are 11 PA AAAA districts based on geography). Out of the 22 state championship games, District-1 has appeared in 12 of them and has won 7. Neshaminy plays in a Suburban-One League Conference that has varied between 8 and 10 teams through the year. Teams within the conference have appeared in the state championship game 9 times and have won 6 of them. The conference has won 12 of 18 District-1 championships.

The Neshaminy Redskin's biggest rivals are the neighboring Pennsbury Falcons who also have a strong football history and winning tradition. Neshaminy's record vs Pennsbury in the rivalry which began in 1930 is 35-36-7. The two teams play each other annually in the last game of the regular season in front of large crowds near 10,000. 15,000 were in attendance at the 1971 game at Neshaminy when both teams came in undefeated. Neshaminy won the game 21–17. Often, members within the same family sit and cheer on opposite sides of the field. The North Penn Knights, another annual powerhouse who won a state championship in 2003, is another big rivalry and was in the same conference with Neshaminy through 2007.

Neshaminy produces many players that go onto play football at all college levels. Some of the players that have gone onto Division-I and Division I-AA in recent years include (Year = HS Senior Season); 1988: RB/KR Brian Moser (D-I Penn State); 1999: RB/DB Chris Vincent (D-I Oregon); 2001: RB/DB Jamar Brittingham (D-I Rutgers / D-II Bloomsburg), DB/WR Mike Loveland (D-I Temple); 2002: DE/TE Geoff Donahue (D-IAA Towson); 2004: K Kevin Kelly (D-I Penn State), RB/DB Georg Coleman (D-I Temple), RB Chris Eccles (D-IAA Iona), OL Maurice Jones (D-IAA Robert Morris), P Brett Arnold (D-IAA UMASS); 2005: DT/OT Tom McEowen (D-I Penn State), DB/RB Jared Kinney (D-I Temple), DB/WR Jason Kinney (D-I Temple), OT/DE Chris Daino (D-IAA Delaware), WR/S Doug Rosnick (D-IAA Colgate), DE/FB Josh Auerbach (D-IAA Stony Brook), OL Marcellous Jones (D-IAA Duquesne); 2006: RB/DB Kitt Anderson (D-I Temple); 2008: TE/DE Paul Carrezola (D-I Rutgers), OL/DT Dan Shirey (D-IAA Villanova), DE/FB Jay Colbert (D-IAA New Hampshire).

A few Neshaminy players who have spent time in the NFL include Steve Shull (Dolphins), Harry Schuh (Raiders, Rams, Packers), Bob Grupp (Chiefs), Matt Bahr (Steelers, Browns, Giants, Patriots, 49ers, Eagles), Chris Bahr (Bengals, Raiders, Chargers), Mike Frederick (Browns, Ravens, Titans), Jim Dumont (Browns), Chris Vincent (Lions, Cardinals), Jamar Brittingham (Falcons).

Playwickian

The name "Playwickian" comes from one of the names of the Native American tribes who called the area on the Neshaminy Creek home. The Playwickian is the high schools award-winning newspaper. The Playwickian has received awards from Columbia University for outstanding performance.[5] The newspaper is distributed once a month with all the articles written by the students who choose to take the journalism course. According to their mission statement, the Playwickian is, "Saving the world, one word at a time" and is dedicated to providing "the student body with a voice and exercise students First Amendment rights while remaining unbiased and truthful in the reporting of information and the quest for self-expression."

Student Initiatives

Suicide awareness

In recent years Neshaminy High School has adopted numerous programs aimed at suicide awareness and prevention.

In October 2006, following a few tragic incidents, the SADD (Students Against Destructive Decisions) Club at Neshaminy High School implemented a Yellow Ribbon Suicide Prevention Program. The program is designed to empower youth by giving them permission and a way to ask for help through the Yellow Ribbon card. The Neshaminy High School staff has been trained in the purpose of the Yellow Ribbon card and is prepared to assist students if necessary.[6]

Notable alumni

Notable faculty

  • Joe Plumeri, Chairman & CEO of Willis Group Holdings, and owner of the Trenton Thunder, taught history and coached football and two other sports from 1966–68 at Neshaminy.[18][19]

Sports Team Name Controversy

Neshaminy High School athletic teams are known as the Redskins. On October 23, 2013, the student editorial board of the high school's newspaper, the Playwickian, declared its intention to no longer reference the team with the term redskin in its publications.[20] The school administration responded by declaring that the Playwickian editorial board lacks the power to decide to stop using the term "Redskins".[21]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Zauzmer, Julie (October 19, 2007). "Education's Rising Costs". The Bulletin. Retrieved December 6, 2007. 
  2. ↑ Pennsylvania Value Added Assessment System (PVAAS) (December 2011). "Neshaminy High School in Neshaminy School District reference search". 
  3. ↑ "Student Teacher Ratio Neshaminy High School – Langhorne, Pennsylvania – PA". Greatschools.net. Retrieved July 17, 2010. 
  4. ↑ "Neshaminy High School – Langhorne, Pennsylvania – PA – School overview". Greatschools.net. Retrieved July 17, 2010. 
  5. ↑ http://www.neshaminy.org/site/default.aspx?PageType=3&ModuleInstanceID=4525&ViewID=047E6BE3-6D87-4130-8424-D8E4E9ED6C2A&RenderLoc=0&FlexDataID=20376&PageID=778
  6. ↑ http://www1.phillyburbs.com/pb-dyn/news/111-03292007-1322041.html
  7. ↑ http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0950085/bio
  8. ↑ "Jamar Brittingham, RB, Free Agent". Kffl.com. Retrieved July 17, 2010. 
  9. ↑ http://www.cbs.com/primetime/star_search4/show/episode06/story_dancer.php
  10. ↑ http://cjonline.com/stories/102901/art_tapdogs.shtml
  11. ↑ "People And Companies In The News". Dance Magazine. 1999. 
  12. ↑ Bucks County Courier Times. June 19, 2006 http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=BURB&p_multi=LBCB&p_theme=burb&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=1126832C9F19DE48&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM |url= missing title (help). 
  13. ↑ Call-Chronicle, Sunday (January 29, 1984). "Abe'S Got The Answers". Pqasb.pqarchiver.com. Retrieved July 17, 2010. 
  14. ↑ "Neshaminy's Great Moments". Neshaminyfootball.com. Retrieved July 17, 2010. 
  15. ↑ "Kevin Kelly – Yahoo! Sports". Bwi.rivals.com. October 14, 2004. Retrieved July 17, 2010. 
  16. ↑ "popwreckoning | Tag Archive | langhorne slim". Popwreckoning.com. Retrieved July 17, 2010. 
  17. ↑ Lockridge, Jeff. "Reports: James Franklin to be Penn State's new coach". USA TODAY. Retrieved 9 January 2014. 
  18. ↑ Meir Rinde (October 11, 2009). "Willis Group set to leave Bermuda for Ireland". NJ.com. Retrieved July 15, 2010. 
  19. ↑ Plumeri, Joe (June 23, 2002). "The Boss – An Accidental Start". The New York Times. Retrieved July 15, 2010. 
  20. ↑ http://www.phillyburbs.com/00redesign/news/local/playwickian-editorial-explaining-the-decision-to-stop-using-the-word/article_6bafb6a0-71a2-57f2-9c3a-ef25100d859a.html
  21. ↑ http://deadspin.com/high-school-newspaper-not-allowed-to-ban-the-word-reds-1464742852

External links

American Conference
Continental Conference
National Conference
Bucks County, Pennsylvania Schools
Main School Districts
  • Bristol High School
  • Grandview High School (Morrisville, Pennsylvania)
  • Pennridge High School
  • Quakertown High School
Other Schools
Charter schools
  • Bucks County Montessori Charter School
  • Center Student Learning Charter School
  • School Lane Charter School
Private schools
Souderton Area (partially located in Montgomery County)

Coordinates: 40°09′24″N 74°56′42″W / 40.1567°N 74.9450°W / 40.1567; -74.9450

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