Winters Mill High School

Winters Mill High School
Established 2002
Type Public Secondary
Principal Mr. Eric King
Teaching staff 71
Students 1243
Grades 9-12
Location 560 Gorsuch Road,
Westminster, Maryland, United States
Coordinates 39°34′17″N 76°58′36″W / 39.57139°N 76.97667°WCoordinates: 39°34′17″N 76°58′36″W / 39.57139°N 76.97667°W
District Carroll County Public Schools
Colors

Burgundy, Silver, and White

         
Mascot Falcons
Newspaper The Talon & The Guidance Gazette
Website http://www.carrollk12.org/wmh/index.htm

Winters Mill High School is a high school in Westminster, Maryland, and it opened in August 2002.

Winters Mill High School is in the Carroll County Public Schools system. It is an academy high school designed for a functional capacity of 1,200 students. The mascot is the falcon, and the school colors are burgundy, white, and silver.

School History

Winters Mill High School is named after a grist mill that stood in the village of Cranberry. Winters Mill operated through most of the 1800s until the site was cleared in the 1920s to make way for the Westminster Water Treatment Plant. The original mill raceway, which brought water to the old mill, is still used to supply water to the plant for the City of Westminster.

Tremendous overcrowding in Westminster High School during the 1990s demanded a new school in Westminster. After the construction of Century High School in Eldersburg, Maryland, Winters Mill was built with a nearly identical architectural design.

Construction of Winters Mill High School began in the summer of 2000, and the school opened in the fall of 2002 with ninth and tenth grade students the first year. Each subsequent year an additional grade was added until the fall of 2004 when the student body became complete. The school's enrollment capacity is 1200, though enrollment has been slightly over the capacity of 1200 since the 2005-2006 school year.

Administration

Winters Mill opened in 2002, with Mrs. Sherri-Le Bream as Principal, and Mr. Gordon Love as Vice Principal. Mr. Jim Rodriguez joined as Vice Principal in the 2004-2005 school year, and Ms. Ruby Kimbrow was transferred from Westminster High School and was added to the Winters Mill staff as a third Vice Principal for the 2005-2006 school year. During the 2005-2006 school year, Mr. Rodriguez was promoted to Director of Physical Education for Carroll County, and history teacher Mr. David Herman replaced him during the second semester. Mr. Herman returned to teaching for the 2006-2007 school year.

Mrs. Bream was promoted to Director of Carroll County High Schools in 2006, and Mr. Kenneth Goncz was named principal. Mr. John Baugher from Francis Scott Key High School and Mrs. Rita Dowd, a biology teacher at Winters Mill, were new Vice Principals for the 2006-2007 school year, as well. After the 2007-2008 school year, Mr. Goncz returned to Westminster High School as Principal. Mr. Jeffery Alisauckas became Principal for the 2008-2009 school year. Mrs. Ruthanne Kenney was named Principal for the 2010-2011 school year. She is a former Winters Mill Special Education teacher and Assistant Principal from Liberty High School in Eldersburg (Carroll County).

A history of the administration is detailed below:

Principal

Assistant/Vice Principal

Faculty

Mr. Ken Fischer, a former biology teacher at WMHS, was named Carroll County Teacher of the Year for 2006. Mrs. Lynn Earp, a reading specialist at WMHS, was one of 8 finalists selected by the Carroll County Chamber of Commerce for the 2007 Teacher of the Year. Mr. John Holt, a former Westminster High School educator, was nominated for Teacher of the Year for the 2008-2009 school year. Mrs. Diane C. Safar, an Agri-Science Teacher at WMHS, was awarded Outstanding Teacher of the Year for the 2010-2011 School Year and was one of 8 finalists selected by the Carroll County Chamber of Commerce for the 2010-2011 Teacher of the Year.

Mission statement

"Winters Mill High School creates a rigorous learning environment where all students will develop their individual potential to become college and career ready in a global society."

Academy School

Winters Mill High School has four "academies" or focuses of interest where students are grouped based on the fields they expect to enter after graduation. Teachers take an interest survey and are also assigned to academies to serve as advisors. There are four Academy Leaders who serve as department chairs for their respective academies. Mr. Greg Knill is the school-wide academy coordinator who oversees advisory lessons and course scheduling. Students are then arranged into advisories within each grade level to facilitate this career focus.

The Academies are:

Academy Achievement Award

The Academy Achievement Award recognizes academic achievement as well as outstanding attendance during students' high school careers. Students who meet the following criteria at the time of graduation qualify for the Academy Achievement Award:

1. Successful completion of a minimum of six academy credits
2. A minimum of 3.0 as a non-weighted cumulative grade point average
3. An overall attendance average of 94% in grades 9–12

Advisory Program

Each student at Winters Mill is assigned an advisor whose advisory they attend during 2nd mod each day for 35 minutes. The program is intended to create a relationship between students and their advisors in order to establish a common point of contact throughout high school with whom the student feels comfortable. Students stay with their advisor for their entire time at Winters Mill. Parents meet with their child's advisor annually and students develop a portfolio through their advisory. Additionally, students are taught advisory lessons on Tuesdays, which may differ depending on grade level and academy. These advisory lessons often pertain to situations that students may encounter during the course of their life, or discuss values or school procedures such as dress code, academic integrity, and student rights.

School Services

Guidance Department

The WMHS Guidance Department offers support to all WM students. Each student is assigned a counselor who can be met with by appointment. Peer Facilators are also available to talk to students and peer mediate student conflicts. Additionally, the Guidance Department helps students with transcripts, college applications, and many scholarship opportunities.

Media Center

The Media center is open Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 7:15am–3:00pm and Tuesday and Thursday from 7:15am–3:45pm.

Falcon Learning Lab

The Falcon Learning Lab is open every day from 7:00am–4:00pm. Students may use the lab to do homework, to make up missed work or tests, for homework help, or for computer work.

Members of the National Honor Society are frequently available as tutors in the Lab throughout the school year.

Athletics

Varsity Athletics

Winters Mill High School competes in the 2A class of the Piedmont Conference. The mascot is Faruco the Falcon.

Fall Sports:

- 2006 Varsity Carroll County Champions
- 2007 Varsity Carroll County Champions

- 2004, Girls Cross Country placed second in state

-2008, Boys County and Regional Champions. Boys placed 4th in states.

- 2009, Boys County, Regional, and State Champions

- 2010, Boys County, Regional, and State Champions

-2011, Boys Country, Regional, and State Champions

-Boys-Coached by Dan Replogle

- 2006 County champions - Made a state semi-final appearance in 2006

- Made state playoff appearances in 2005, 2006 losing in the first round each trip, not semi-finals.

Class of 2008 Defensive tackle Jeff Braun signed his letter of intent to play for the West Virginia Football Mountaineers. He was the first football player in school history to sign a letter of intent.

- 2012 reached the Regional Semifinals.

Winter Sports:

- 2006 & 2008 2A West Regional Champions
- 2006, 2007 MVAL Piedmont Champions
- 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008 Carroll County Champions
- Made state semi-final appearances in 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008 - 2008 2A Maryland State Champions

- Made state semi-final appearances in 2005, 2006

- 2003 JV Carroll County Champions - 2005 Carroll County Champions (JV & Varsity)

– 2011 State Dual Meet Finalist – 2011 State Tournament Champions - 2012 State Dual Meet and Tournament Champions (32-0) - 2013 State Dual Meet and Tournament Champions (30-1)

Spring Sports:

- 2008,2010 Girls Lacrosse Carroll County Champions - 2008,2010,2011 Girls Lacrosse Regional Champions - 2008,2010,2011 Girls Lacrosse 2A/3A State Champions

Club Sports

The WMHS Dance Team is an organization whose primary goal is to increase the school spirit of students, teachers, and sporting spectators at school events and functions. The dance team meets two times a week for practice after school, and membership is achieved through auditioning for the team and attending practices. There must be a commitment on behalf of the participating student to attend all practices and events. During practices, student participants will work on strength/conditioning, dance steps/skills, school spirit activities, and personal character/motivation. The Falcon Fusion Dance Team competes in area dance competitions and performs at football games, basketball games, and school pep rallies. The Falcon Fusion is coached by Stacy Romano.

Falcon Fusion Dance Team Pictures

Entertainment Events

Winters Mill hosts a PowderPuff Football Game each year where the girls play football while the boys cheerlead, with the senior class competing against the junior class. Actual football players and cheerleaders "coach" the teams with faculty members acting as referees and emcees for the event.

Annual Student-Faculty basketball and volleyball games are also played to generate school spirit and raise money for charity.

Performing arts

In 2009, the Winters Mill Art's department won the prestigious Kennedy Center Award for being 1 out of 5 schools in the United States with the best art department. In April 2009 the Winters Mill Vocal Ensemble and four dancers from the dance program performed at the Kennedy Center. The performance is available for viewing on the Kennedy Center's website.

Drama

The Winters Mill Drama department produces two productions every year. Under former drama teacher Jean Burgess, there was a play every fall, and a musical in the spring. In the 2007-2008 school year, the two productions are a fall musical, and spring play, due to a change in the Drama teacher to Phyllis Traynor. In the 2009-2010 school year, however, the schedule returned to the original Fall play and Spring musical. At the end of the 2011-2012 school year, Phyllis Traynor resigned from teaching and was replaced by Meredith Birmingham, who has directed all of Winters Mill's shows since.

In December 2014, Winters Mill was officially inducted into the International Thespian Society.

Instrumental Music

Ms. Kristen Gottlieb directs the instrumental music department.

Marching band

Band Front accompanies the Marching Band. These students learn basic marching and flag techniques. Students are expected to perform with the marching band at football games as well as parades. The advisor for both groups is Kristen Gottlieb.

Choral Music

Mrs. Caren Bezanson directs Winters Mill's vocal music department. Vocal music consists of 4 choruses: Concert Choir (Chorus I and II), Women's Select, Select Choir (Honors Festival Chorus), and Vocal Ensemble (Honors Vocal Ensemble). The last three choruses combine to create Select, but also having the Women's and Ensemble performing separately. When enough singer-dancers are available, a Show Choir is assembled for the Winter Concert. An arrangement between the dance classes and chorus, has dancers during some of the song selections.

In 2006, The Winters Mill High School Select Choir and Vocal Ensemble both received all 1s at the Carroll County Chorus Festival. Both groups then attended the MD State Choral Festival. Select Choir received 3-2s and 1-1 at States.

In 2007, Select and Ensemble again received all 1s at the County adjudication level and an overall rating of 1 for both groups at State Choral Festival on April 26, 2007 at Morgan State University. (Both groups received 3 1s and a 2). Select and Ensemble also won 1st place in the small and large chorus categories and Best High School Overall in the Music in the Parks competition on May 5, 2007. In 2008, Select and Ensemble received all 1s at the County level and at the State level, Ensemble received an overall rating of one while select received an overall rating of 2. In 2009 Select got all 1s at county and received 2s at State. Ensemble did not make it past County level.

In 2007, Tri-M Music Honor Society was formed.

Student Government Association

The Winters Mill Student Government Association is very active in the school community. Its advisor is Mr. Raymond Elliot.

Mascot Adoption Program

The Winters Mill SGA, in the events following Hurricane Katrina which devastated the Gulf Coast in September 2005, officially adopted L.E. Rabouin High School in New Orleans, Louisiana and raised over $6500 for the school during the 05-06 school year. The program brought many community businesses together with the school to raise money to support our sister school L.E. Rabouin.

Fisher House

During the 06-07 school year, the WM History Club, with SGA support, raised money for the Fisher House military charity. Fisher House provides families of wounded American soldiers a place to stay on the military base where their son or daughter is recovering, enabling families to visit their soldiers. The History Club raised over $750 in September and October selling Winters Mill Fan tee shirts and the SGA matched their contribution to donate $1,000 for the Thanksgiving season. The SGA contributed 20% of profits from events with the History Club throughout the school year in especially needy times such as Thanksgiving and Christmas to create a continuous presence at Fisher House. Additionally, a portion of the proceeds from the annual Winters Mill Talent Show went to benefit Fisher House.

Student Clubs and Organizations

Winters Mill has a multitude of clubs and organizations for students:

JROTC

The JROTC program was established in 2005 and is led by Colonel Martin Compton and Sergeant First Class Ronald Ruff. The Army JROTC program awards academic grades, but its true measure of success is the young people it motivates to stay in school and graduate. It is also designed to prepare students for life after high school by providing them essential skills to become successful citizens. Leadership roles are established in the classroom, and students learn respect and teamwork throughout the semester. There are 8 JROTC classes available to take, LET (leadership education and training) I-VIII. There is also an established Falcon Battalion staff, consisting of A Battalion Commander, Battalion Executive Officer, and many specialty positions. Cadets wear their uniforms every Thursday as a way to show "Esprit de Corps" (pride in the battalion).

Many Students have continued to serve in a Military Service after graduation.
James Mackey '05 U.S. Army, Engineer
John Mackey '05 U.S. Army, Engineer
Matthew Clarke '06 U.S. Army Maryland National Guard, Infantry
Kyle Hower '06 U.S. Army Maryland National Guard, Infantry
Christopher Moore '06 U.S. Army Maryland National Guard, Infantry
Dustin Beall '07 U.S. Air Force Academy
Scott Bitz '07 U.S. Army, Field Artillery
Robert Eyler III '07 U.S. Army Maryland National Guard, Military Police
Matthew King '07 U.S. Army, Military Police
Tatiana Kish '07 U.S. Navy ROTC
Dominic Mancuso '07 U.S. Army Maryland National Guard, Infantry
Matthew Mayne '07 U.S. Army, Cavalry Scout
Cristofer Farley '08 U.S. Marine Corps, Transportation
Evan Greer '08 U.S. Navy ROTC
Devan Hamric '08 U.S. Army ROTC
Scott Krumrine Jr. U.S. Marine Corps, Infantry
Stephan Steinberg '08 U.S. Army ROTC McDaniel College
Joshua Utz '08 U.S Army, Infantry
John Wahman '08 U.S. Army ROTC Florida Southern College
David Warren Jr. '08 U.S. Marine Corps, Transportation
Zachary Wolfe '08 U.S. Marine Corps, Infantry
Nathan Adamcyzk '09 U.S. Army ROTC McDaniel College
Benjamin Love '09 U.S. Air Force Academy
Gunther Zimmer '10 U.S. Army ROTC, Hood College
Michael Safar '10 U.S Army ROTC, The Citadel

Parent Involvement

Parents are encouraged to take an active role in their child’s educational experience at Winters Mill. Three parents have been serving on the instructional leadership team and have helped develop the instructional programs. Additionally, three parent organizations are needed to support Winters Mill:

1. The PTSA (parent, teacher, student association) supports and promotes the entire school.

2. The athletic boosters work with the total athletic program.

3. The music boosters supports marching band activities and other instrumental and choral groups.

External links