Sewanhaka High School

Sewanhaka High School
Address
500 Tulip Avenue
Floral Park, NY, Nassau, 11001
United States
Information
Type Public high school
Established 1929
Principal Debra Lidowsky
Faculty 114(on FTE basis)
Grades 7-12
Enrollment 1,595 (as of 2006-07)
Student to teacher ratio 15:1
Color(s)

Purple, Gold, and White

              
Mascot Indian
Newspaper Chieftain
Yearbook Totem
Information 516-488-9600
Website sewanhaka.k12.ny.us/Domain/12

Sewanhaka High School is a six-year public high school located in Floral Park, New York, United States, as part of the Sewanhaka Central High School District. The school's sports teams are known as "The Indians" and the team colors are purple, gold, and white. The school's name translates to "Island of Shells" in English. It is located at 500 Tulip Avenue, Floral Park, 11001. Sewanhaka High School dates back to 1929.

History

Sewanhaka High School was constructed in 1929 by architects Knappe & Morris (with additional classrooms in 1936) in the Long Island town of Floral Park. The school was established first in the district and currently is the only high school in the district to offer career vocational courses on Long Island. Those eligible to join this program include students from the other 4 high schools in the district.

Awards and recognition

During the 1992-93 school year, Sewanhaka High School was recognized with the Blue Ribbon School Award of Excellence by the United States Department of Education,[1] the highest award an American school can receive.[2][3]

Sports and clubs

This is the current list of team sports, organized clubs, and student activities at Sewanhaka:[4]

Student government

Academic organizations

Music and performing organizations

Service organizations

Model UN

The Model United Nations Debate Team at Sewanhaka starts with participation in the 1/2 credit World Issues class, and then upon completion, the students become members of the club. The team goes on many conferences where they debate a wide variety of issues facing the real United Nations today. Recently at the 2009 American University Model United Conference, the Sewanhaka team took home Overall Best Delegation, the prestigious first place award on the international scale. Two members of the team took home the distinguished delegation award last November, continuing the team's success from the previous two years (members of the class of 2010). Recently, Senator Jack M. Martins congratulated the Model UN team from Sewanhaka High School. The team participated in the Sewanhaka Interschool District Model UN competition. http://www.nysenate.gov/files/imagecache/full_node_featured_image/sewanhaka%20copy.jpg Senator Jack M. Martins Visits MUN Team] - Senator Jack M. Martins with MUN Students (2011)

The Chieftain

The school newspaper at Sewanhaka has been extant since the inception of the school, and it has garnered many national and local awards, including the American Scholastic Press Award, Newsday High School Journalism Award, Hank Logerman Award, and an honorable mention in 2009 and 2010 during Adelphi Quill Young People's Press competition.

Its editorials argue both sides to a common problem that society currently faces and the rest of the paper updates the school on its recent activities, runs special features for special news events and covers the progress of its sports teams.

Musical

Sewanhaka students perform in one musical per year. The musicals occurs in the Spring of the school year. Recent shows include:

Play

Sewanhaka students in the Drama Club perform in one play per year. The plays occur in the Fall of the school year and vary from comedic to dramatic. Recent shows include:

Notable alumni

References

  1. ↑ Blue Ribbon Schools Program: Schools Recognized 1982-1983 through 1999-2002 (PDF), United States Department of Education. Accessed May 11, 2006.
  2. ↑ CIBA cited as one of the best by Education Department, Journal Inquirer, November 16, 2006. "The Blue Ribbon award is given only to schools that reach the top 10 percent of their state's testing scores over several years or show significant gains in student achievement. It is considered the highest honor a school can achieve."
  3. ↑ Viers Mill School Wins Blue Ribbon; School Scored High on Statewide Test; The Washington Post. September 29, 2005 "For their accomplishments, all three schools this month earned the status of Blue Ribbon School, the highest honor the U.S. Education Department can bestow upon a school."
  4. ↑ http://sewanhaka.k12.ny.us/domain/1794
  5. ↑ Eskenazi, Gerald. High School "PRO FOOTBALL; Testaverde Isn't Ready To Pack It In for Good", The New York Times, October 12, 2002. Accessed January 17, 2008. "Testaverde's story includes many highlights, from his days as a legendary quarterback at Sewanhaka High School in Floral Park, N.Y., to winning the Heisman Trophy at the University of Miami, to his selection as the No. 1 overall pick in the N.F.L. draft, to leading the Jets to the American Football Conference championship game in his first season with the team in 1998."
  6. ↑ " HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL; New York Area Is Teeming With Talent", The New York Times, December 12, 1993. Accessed December 27, 2007. "ZENDON HAMILTON of Sewanhaka, is rated the best senior big man in the nation by various prep school magazines, including Street & Smith."
  7. ↑ Litsky, Frank. "Al Oerter, Olympic Discus Champion, Is Dead at 71", The New York Times, October 2, 2007. Accessed November 19, 2007. "Alfred Oerter Jr. was born Sept. 19, 1936, in Astoria, Queens, and grew up on Long Island, in New Hyde Park. At Sewanhaka High School, he was a sprinter and then a miler."
  8. ↑ Halbfinger, David M. "N.F.L. CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIPS; Elmont Comes to Life for Its Hometown Hero", The New York Times, January 18, 1999. Accessed December 15, 2007. "Telly Savalas went to Sewanhaka, he said. And Al Oerter. He won four gold medals in the discus. But that's nothing next to the Super Bowl."
  9. ↑ Sarra, Gregg. "Longtime Bethpage football coach Vogts dies at 80", Newsday, August 8, 2010."Vogts was a three-sport star athlete at Sewanhaka High School and graduated in 1948. At 6-4, 235 pounds, he excelled in football, basketball and baseball. He played football at Emporia State College in Kansas before transferring to Adelphi after his freshman year.

Coordinates: 40°43′04″N 73°41′23″W / 40.71778°N 73.68972°W