John Dickinson High School
| John Dickinson High School | |
|---|---|
| Address | |
|
1801 Milltown Rd. Wilmington, Delaware United States | |
| Information | |
| Type | Public |
| Motto |
Esse quam videri "To be, rather than to seem" |
| Established | 1959 |
| School district | Red Clay Consolidated School District |
| Principal | Byron Murphy |
| Asst. Principal | Joy Loomis, Christopher Kohan |
| Grades | 9–12 |
| Enrollment | approx. 780 |
| Color(s) | Columbia blue and White |
| Athletics | www.ramssports.com |
| Mascot | Ram |
| Newspaper | Patriot |
| Yearbook | Penman |
| Website | www.johndickinsonhs.com |
John Dickinson High School is a comprehensive four-year high school located on a 67-acre (270,000 m2) campus near Wilmington, Delaware in New Castle County. Built in the Pike Creek Valley in 1959, the school takes its name from John Dickinson, one of the Founding Fathers of the United States, a colonial American patriot, and a key writer during the American Revolutionary period. One of seven high schools in the Red Clay Consolidated School District, JDHS currently has an enrollment of about 780 students and a staff of about 65.[1]
Higher-level courses
Students at John Dickinson High School are able to receive college credit for English, Calculus, Statistics, US Government, U.S. History, Physics, Biology, Chemistry and Psychology. Honors courses are offered at every level in the core-curriculum. Those courses include English, algebra, geometry, pre-calculus, U.S. history, economics & government, world history, physical science, biology, chemistry and physics.
John Dickinson High School offers the International Baccalaureate Diploma Program. Students in the IB program take a series of high level classes and exams that can lead to them earning the diploma that serves as an international admissions credential.
Sports
JDHS currently fields teams in lacrosse (boys), cross country (boys and girls), soccer(boys and girls), basketball(boys and girls), indoor track(boys and girls), swimming(boys and girls), tennis (girls), outdoor track & field(boys and girls), volleyball(boys and girls), field hockey(girls), football(boys), cheerleading(girls), wrestling(boys), baseball(boys), golf(boys), and softball(girls). Dickinson competes as a member of Flight "B" of the Blue Hen Conference. Dickinson is respected throughout the state of Delaware as consistently championship caliber in baseball and boys and girls volleyball.[2] The athletic program is run by the Athletic Director, Mr. Andrew Dick. Mr. Dick also serves as the president of the Blue Hen Conference.
Performing arts
Dickinson High School has an extensive music program. The Instrumental Department includes marching, concert, and jazz bands. The Choral Department comprises a concert choir, a women's choir, a gospel choir "AGAPE" and the Dickinson Singers, a Renaissance a cappella group. Productions by the Drama department include a spring musical as well as fall and spring dramatic presentations. The drama department is under the supervision of Elizabeth Allen. Support for JDHS Performing Arts Department activities comes from the Performing Arts Boosters.[3] The JDHS marching band has long been accompanied by a colorguard, and the school has a dance team. The bands are under the direction of Matt Pagel and the choirs are under the direction of Sheila Cassidy.
School history
The school opened to students in the autumn of 1959 and the first class graduated in 1962. During the consolidation of New Castle County schools in the mid-1960s, Dickinson High School became the only high school in the Stanton School District. In 1978, it was merged into the New Castle County Consolidated School District and then incorporated into the new Red Clay Consolidated School District in 1981.
On January 15, 1995, a substantial portion of the school was damaged by fire, closing the school for several months. Students and teachers shared the space of nearby rival McKean High School, with McKean students attending classes from roughly six a.m. until noon and Dickinson students in class from roughly noon until six p.m.[4] Fears that the graduating class of 1995 would not be able to hold their commencement at JDHS didn't come true, and the ceremony was held that year on the JDHS football field per tradition. Then-U.S. Senator Joe Biden was the speaker.
In 2013, the school set a record for highest Lego tower; 112 feet.[5]
Notable alumni
- Stephen Biddle- author, historian, policy analyst and columnist
- Mark Eaton – National Hockey League player
- Dana Herbert- Winner of the 2011 Next Great Baker competition.[6]
- Akua Parker – Ballet dancer Dance Theater of Harlem, Cincinnati Ballet, Ballet San Jose, and the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater.[7]
- Gary Smith- sportswriter for Sports Illustrated
- John Wockenfuss- Major League Baseball player.
References
- ↑ "School Profiles Details". profiles.doe.k12.de.us. Retrieved July 11, 2010.
- ↑ Rams Sports.com
- ↑ Performing Arts Boosters (This is a private URL – not accessible to the general public.)
- ↑ "Across The Usa: News From Every State". USA Today (Gannet News). January 23, 1995. p. 7A.
- ↑ Lee, Kevin. "Delaware High School Students Complete World's Tallest LEGO Tower" Inhabitat, 24 August 2013. Accessed: 29 March 2014.
- ↑ Gerace, Frank (January 25, 2011). "Bear resident is "Next Great Baker"". WDEL.com. wdel.com. Retrieved February 9, 2011.
- ↑ "AKUA PARKER, ALVIN AILEY AMERICAN DANCE THEATER". Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater. Alvin Ailey Dance Foundation, Inc. Retrieved October 28, 2009.
External links
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