Burlington High School (Vermont)

Burlington High School (BHS) is a public high school located in Burlington, Vermont. BHS' current (since 1964) campus is its fourth. Two of the former buildings still exist, one (1900–64) as the Edmunds Elementary and Middle School complex while the second one, used in the late 1800s, is now a private residence.

Student life

Community service

Each student of BHS is expected to complete 40 hours of community service over his or her academic career. Community service fairs have been held at the school, with information about local organizations which need volunteers. A blood drive is hosted twice a year, with donation limited to students over age 16.^[1]

Curriculum

Burlington High School requires the typical 24 credit load to graduate: 4 mandatory English, 3 mandatory science, 3 mandatory history, 3 mandatory math, 1 or 2 foreign languages (including French, German, Chinese, Spanish, and Latin) most reach level 2, 1 computer literacy, 1/2 health, 1 and 1/2 gym, and 1 art or music (including band, chorus, clay, metals, and others). After these requirements have been completed, students are left with 5 elective credits to choose, which can span any of the aforementioned subjects.

Recognition

15 graduates qualified for National Merit Scholarships in 2008.^[2]

Campus

Burlington High School is composed of 5 main buildings, labeled A,B,C,D, and E. There is also an F building, which contains Burlington Technical Center (BTC), a regional technical center that is attended by students from BHS as well as other high schools in the county. A building is the largest; it houses the school's cafeteria, gymnasium, music department, auditorium, and a few classrooms. B building is occupied by foreign-language and art classrooms, with the school's library on the first floor. C building is occupied by the English and the history departments, while E building is used by the mathematics and science departments. D building contains mostly exploratory programs, such as computer literacy and health.

Sports

The sports teams include cross country, alpine, basketball, field hockey, hockey, lacrosse, baseball, softball, tennis, football, soccer, track (including indoor track), and "longboat" (Cornish pilot gig) racing.^[3]

Recognition

• The basketball team won the Division 1 state championship in 2001, 2003, 2006 and 2008.^[4]
  • In 2007-8 they won all 24 games, the first Division I team in Vermont to have a perfect season in 25 years.^[5]
  • The team had a 37-game winning streak as of January 2009. The team was 59-2 since fall 2006. The only losses were to Rice.^[6] Rice's 6 losses in the same timeframe have been in games with BHS.
• The boy's tennis team won the Div. 1 championship in 1998, 1999, 2005 and 2006.
• Boys' baseball Division I state champions 1966, 1969, 1979, 1983, 1984^[7]
• Football Division I 1967 and 1970.^[8]
• The football team won the Div. 2 state championship in 1964, 1974, 1999 and 2006^[8]
• Lacrosse won the Div. 2 title in 2007^[9]
• Boys' soccer Division I 1987, 1996,^[10] 1997^[11] and 2008^[12]
• Boys tennis Division I 1972, 1973, 1976, 1977, 1998, 1999, 2005, 2006^[13]
• Girls' tennis Division I 1979 and 1980^[13]
• Girls' Division I soccer state champions 2008^[12]
• Boys' Indoor Track Division 1 state indoor track champions, Winter 2009
• Boys' Outdoor Track Division 1 state outdoor track champions, Spring 2009
• Boys' Division 1 Hockey won the state championship in 1985 and 1998.
• Boys' Ski Team won several state championships and were New England Champions in 1972.
• Boys' Cross-Country Team went undefeated 72-0 in regular season meets over several years in the early 1970s.

Other extra-curricular activities

The French, Spanish, Chinese, Latin, and German foreign-language programs have taken annual trips to Europe, Peru, or Costa Rica, depending on the language. Burlington High School also has a Model United Nations (MUN) club. The MUN club has taken yearly trips to Europe.

The Drama Club has produced three annual productions, a musical, a student-directed one-act festival, and a three-act production.

The school also has clubs that aid in various local and international issues, including Amnesty International, Interact Club, Eco Club, and the International Club.

BHS Heroes (community service), Walks on Water (student-led Christian club) and the BHS Writers' Club are just a few of the wide range of clubs offered.

Y.E.S. program

Two weeks before the end of the school year, BHS has two weeks of non-curricular classes. These include trips to Costa Rica, Europe, and hiking the Long Trail. They also offer classes about learning how to make root beer, photography, art, and theater.

Notable alumni

• William Colby (1936), Director of Central Intelligence
• Grace Coolidge (1898), First Lady of the United States
• John Dewey (1874), University of Vermont Phi Beta Kappa graduate, Doctor of Educational Philosophy (Johns Hopkins University), psychologist, educational leader, and professor
• Fred Householder (1928), linguist^[14]
• Doug Racine (1970), current state senator, former lieutenant governor of Vermont
• Jessica Seinfeld (1989), author
• LJ Strenio (2007), professional freestyle skier

References