Virginia High School (Minnesota)
Virginia High School, home of the Blue Devils, educates students grades 7-12 in Virginia, Minnesota. It is a public high school with open enrollment located across from the Saint Louis County District Courthouse on scenic 5th Avenue. Virginia High School has a very strong music department. The marching band, known as the Marching Blues, is the pride of the community. The high school also excels in sports, notably hockey, basketball, volleyball, tennis, football, and soccer. Despite budget problems in the past decade due to declining enrollment, Virginia Secondary has maintained success in standardized state testing, athletics, graduation rates and school pride.
History
The first school in Virginia was established in 1893. The first graduate from School District 22 was Orin H. Griggs in 1901. Virginia and the neighboring city of Eveleth were at one time in the same school district, but the two towns separated in 1903. The following year, Virginia dedicated the first Roosevelt High School building across from the courthouse on November 22. This building served students in grades 9-12 until the Technical High School was built directly south of Roosevelt. Roosevelt then became a grade school for Kindergarten through 8th grade. When the Technical Building was enlarged in 1921, it contained the Junior High, the Senior High, and Virginia Junior College. After being deemed unsafe, the old Roosevelt School was demolished in 1926. The new Roosevelt High School opened in 1930. This school served grades 10-12 until 1983, when it became Roosevelt Elementary. Other portions of the high school campus include the Laboratory Annex, built in 1972, the Roosevelt Gymnasium, built in 1989, and Malone Hall, built in 2000. The old Malone Hall is located across from the Roosevelt Gym on 6th Avenue. Constructed in 1931, the building was named after band director Vernon Malone in 1951. The current campus contains three gymnasiums, two swimming pools, a state-of-the art industrial technology department, and the beautiful Goodman Auditorium, which has a seating capacity for approximately 1500. Enrollment peaked in the 1960s, when Virginia instructed over 4000 pupils. Virginia operated ten different elementary buildings throughout its history: Central, Primary, Roosevelt, John A. Johnson, Jefferson, Horace Mann, Lincoln, Washington, James Madison, and Midway. Johnson, Lincoln, Washington, and Madison have been repurposed, while the others have been demolished.
In the summer of 2007, new windows were added to the Roosevelt and Technical buildings, and security was increased with the addition of security cameras in every hallway. At the end of the 2007-2008 school year, the high school received new iMacs in every computer lab. In addition, projectors and interactive white boards have been added to most classrooms. All students have an iPad to use and take home during the school year.
School day
The school day consists of 7 periods ranging from 51 to 52 minutes with 3 to 5 minutes passing time allowed. Junior high students have a closed lunch period between 3rd and 4th hours while grades 9-12 enjoy an open lunch after 4th hour. The enrollment has been at a slow decline for the last few decades as the city of Virginia does the same, though recent reports from the district show that a few new teachers have been employed in the elementary, and that those grades have seen an increase in students in the last few years.
The Virginia High School Music Department
The Virginia Marching Blues is the high school's marching band that consists of students from grades 9-12. The Virginia School District has a 6th grade band, junior high band - grades 7-8, concert band - grades 9-12, Wind Ensemble - grades 10-12 (Audition only), and jazz band - grades 9-12. They play concerts in the Goodman Auditorium about three times a year. Band directors as of the 2014-2015 school year are Dave Hydukovich and Jeremy Marquardt. Virginia High School also has a large choir program, under the direction of Matthew Krage. There are many choir programs available including a 7th grade choir, an 8th grade choir, a Varsity choir (for high school students), and the A'Capella Choir (Audition Only). Junior and Senior High Orchestras are directed by Sheila Wilcox.
Virginia's Knowledge Bowl
Virginia is part of Minnesota's northeast region of knowledge bowl. There are competitive levels of three teams each at elementary, junior high, junior varsity, and varsity. Each level has three different teams that compete from Virginia. Varsity teams have a chance to make it to state in Brainerd, Minnesota; but all of the other teams just compete in three meets in the area at the Lake Country building in Mountain Iron. Recently, in 2009 and 2010, Virginia sent a team to state knowledge bowl.
Virginia's Tennis Team
The boys' and girls' tennis program has been a major success because of the location of the school right next to the Iron Range's only indoor tennis facility.
The Urban Edge
The Urban Edge is a student-run coffee shop located in the Laboratory Annex of Virginia High School. Prior to the UE's move to the Annex, it was located above the Virginia Teen Center on Chestnut Street in downtown Virginia. The district owns the Urban Edge and the shop is managed by Mr. Mauston, the economics teacher. Seniors and Juniors can choose to work at the Urban Edge as part of a class on business.
Snow Week
Snow Week is a Homecoming-like celebration of Blue Devil spirit during January/February. The celebrations feature performances from student bands and dance groups. A Snow Week king and queen are crowned, as are a freshman prince and princess.
Concurrent enrollment
Concurrent enrollment with Mesabi Range Community & Technical College and Vermillion Community College is an option many juniors and seniors consider when getting ready for college. The program allows for qualified students to gain college credit without leaving the high school campus through challenging courses with collegiate formats in lectures, assignments and grading. Many of the credits earned transfer to 4 year institutions across Minnesota. Virginia Secondary also has partnerships with other Eastern Iron Range districts for vocational classes ranging from nursing to accounting.
See also
External links
Coordinates: 47°31′13″N 92°32′22″W / 47.52028°N 92.53944°W