Owatonna Senior High School

Main entrance of OHS
Owatonna Senior High School
Address
651 S Grove Ave
Owatonna, Minnesota, Steele County, 55060
United States
Coordinates 44°4′46″N 93°13′12″W / 44.07944°N 93.22000°W / 44.07944; -93.22000Coordinates: 44°4′46″N 93°13′12″W / 44.07944°N 93.22000°W / 44.07944; -93.22000
Information
School type Public School
Founded 1874
Opened September 14th, 1921
School district Independent School District 761
Superintendent Peter Grant
Principal Mark Randall
Grades 9-12
Years offered 4
Language English
School colour(s) Royal Blue & Silver
Slogan Keep your eyes on the prize
Athletics conference Big 9 Conference
Mascot

Huskie 1994 - Present

Indian 1928 - 1994
Newspaper Magnet
Yearbook Glyph
Communities served Owatonna, Owatonna Township

Owatonna Senior High School is a public school in Owatonna, Minnesota, located in the heart of the town. Established in 1871, Construction of the current building started in 1920 and the school was completed in 1921. It is the third high school built in Owatonna after a referendum was passed in 1919 to replace the building at the time due to space and safety concerns. In April of 1921, during the building's construction, the high school at the time was severely damaged by a fire which started in the attic. The first two high schools were located on E Main St where Washington Elementary School stands today. It has just over 1,500[1] students and 145 faculty members.

History

Completed OHS 1921

The cornerstone was laid on September 3, 1920, for this 85,000 square feet floor space. The local architects were Jacobson and Jacobson, who were OHS graduates. The original cost of the building was $575,657. The High School opened September 14, 1921, with 60 seniors, 16 normal school students, and 10 post-graduate students. The first class graduated in 1922. There have been four additions over the years in 1954, 1955, 1957, 1996 and a separate automechanics building which was added in 1978.

In 1995, the film Angus (1995), whose cast included Ariana Richards and James Van Der Beek, was filmed on location in Owatonna, mostly at the OHS. [2]

The OHS has had multiple renovations and changes after the 1950s additions. The Band and Orchestra rooms where moved to the old gym location behind the auditorium, sometime after the new gym was completed in 1956. The original lunchroom was located under the office and is now used for storage of janitorial equipment and school records. The basement area underneath the Auditorium stage and old gym, contained the original locker rooms and the old pool, until the new locker rooms were completed and pool closed. In the late 1990s the Theatre department began using the space for storage. The original library was located on the second floor above the main doors and was switched to a classroom in the late 1980s.

In November 2009, after several fights between students and bomb threats,[3] Owatonna made national news for racial tension.[4]

Much of the 2014 silent film The Root of Evil was shot on location at Owatonna High School, most notably outside the main entrance and in the basement of the building. Produced by a cast and crew of over 60 Owatonna High School students, the film has received 10 awards at over eight film festivals on the international circuit.[5] Memorabilia from the film is set to be on display in the high school museum.

On June 4th, 2014 at 12:30 pm a small fire broke out in the Auditorium above the stage a when a light came in contact with a curtian. The fire was contained to the right side of the stage and lasted a short amount of time due to the school's sprinkler system. When fire crews arrived, the fire was almost 100% extinguished. Once the fire was contained fire crew and janitorial staff began to ventilate the smoke out of the Auditorium and school. Students were released at 1:30 pm and were allowed back in the building at 7:50 am the next day. A state Fire Marshal lead the investigation with help from the OHS Theatre Department Director. The fire was determined human error with no one was held accounted. Repairs and minor renovations for smoke and water damage in the Auditorium took place over that summer and was finished shortly after the next school year began. [6]

In December 2014, OHS went through a flu epidemic that made local news twice in the same week, at the height of the epidemic. OHS later made national news for a student who died from flu-like symptoms. [7]

Early 2015, A school facilities referendum included an idea of the OHS building being retired as the high school and a new building built. The idea was later taken out due to the lack of support from the community. [8]

Extracurricular activities

Athletics

Owatonna Senior High School is a member of the Minnesota State High School League.[9]

References

  1. ↑
  2. ↑ "Owatonna Public Schools ISD761". owatonna.k12.mn.us. Retrieved 2015-11-05.
  3. ↑ "Investigation of Bomb Threat and Racial Tension at Owatonna High School" (PDF). City of Owatonna. 17 November 2009. Retrieved 27 March 2013.
  4. ↑
  5. ↑ http://www.southernminn.com/owatonna_peoples_press/news/article_1058762f-ac5c-5dab-a4dd-bf231f1572bc.html?TNNoMobile
  6. ↑ "Fire at Owatonna High School ruled accidental". m.southernminn.com. Retrieved 2015-11-05.
  7. ↑ Moini, Nina. "Owatonna H.S. Flu Outbreak: 1 Student Dies Of Flu-Like Symptoms". Retrieved 2015-11-05.
  8. ↑ "Referendum - Owatonna Public Schools ISD761". www.owatonna.k12.mn.us. Retrieved 2015-11-05.
  9. ↑
  1. http://www.rschooltoday.com/se3bin/clientschool.cgi
  2. http://www.usa.com/owatonna-mn-population-and-races.htm
  3. http://www.southernminn.com/owatonna_peoples_press/news/article_60ee6ed5-a130-5943-9b74-a14235864d5f.html
  4. http://www.mshsl.org/mshsl/schoolpage2.asp?school=343
  5. http://www.big9.org/g5-bin/client.cgi?G5genie=4&school_id=9
  6. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2011/04/12/owatonna-schools-somalis

External links

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