University High School (Spokane Valley, Washington)

University High School (nicknamed 'U-Hi' or 'U-High') is a 4A, grade 9-12 high school in Spokane Valley, Washington. It is part of the Central Valley School District in Spokane Valley. In fall of 2002, the school campus moved approximately 2 miles (3.2 km) to a new location. The new building has a higher capacity than the old, capable of housing around 1650 students. Unfortunately, because of the growing number of students attending, U-High is no longer accepting choice students, and many of the teachers must trade classrooms during the day.

Clubs and activities

U-High has many clubs and activities. Amateur radio club, ASB/Leadership, Anime/Asian Culture club, Crimson Crew (Crimson Crew is a group of 200 juniors and seniors who help freshman make the transition into high school), Debate Club, DECA (Distributive Education Clubs of America), Destination Imagination , Drama, Electronic Communications (radio, broadcasting, etc.), FACSE, FBLA (Future Business Leaders of America) , First Priority (Christian club), French club, GSA (Gay-Straight Alliance), German club, National Honor Society , Human and Animal Rights Club, Junior Statesmen , Key Club, Knowledge Bowl (Knowledge Bowl is a lot like the TV-show Jeopardy!, only it's played with teams of 3 or 4), Math Club, Spanish club, TSA (Technology Student Association) , theater, orchestra, marching band , concert band, jazz band, choir (Chanteuse Treble Choir, Concert Choir, University Choir, Lirico Chamber Singers, MAN Choir, Titan Jazz Choir), lacrosse club (which competes in the NILL) and WDFY (Washington Drug-Free Youth).

Band/Orchestra

U-High has an extensive band and orchestra program. Musical classes and programs vary from concert band to wind ensemble to jazz band to pep band, along with marching band. The University Marching band has won a national title (1983) and consistently makes finals in its various competitions.

Drama

The U-High Drama department is guided by Briane Green. They have performed shows such as "Grease," "Damn Yankees," "Forever Plaid, "The Taffetas," "Of Mice and Men," and are most well known for their 2009 fall production of "Sweeney Todd." University high school was the first school to put on "Sweeney Todd" in the entire state of Washington. Not only did they receive rave reviews from local audience members, but they were also talked about in the Seattle area for their great success. They entered in the 5th Avenue High School Musical Theatre competition and received seven nominations and one honorable mention. They won the awards of "Best Chorus," Russell Seaton for "Best Musical Direction," and Ross Mumford for "Best Actor in a Supporting Role." University High school was the school to receive the most nominations and win the most awards at the 5th Avenue competition. In the 2010-2011 school year, Oklahoma! and Assassins received numerous nominations. Assassins (like Sweeney Todd) received a nomination for Best Show in State. Assassins took home three awards including the Education Impact Award. For the second straight year, U-Drama won the most accolades at the 5th Avenue Awards. The 2011-2012 year includes Beauty and the Beast, Almost Maine, and Little Women (Musical).

Sports

Sports at University High School include: baseball, boys and girls basketball, cheerleading, boys and girls cross country, dance team, football, boys and girls golf, gymnastics, boys and girls soccer, fastpitch softball, slowpitch softball, boys and girls tennis, boys and girls track, volleyball, and wrestling.

Sports Traditions

Stinky Sneaker Half-Time Show (theme: Shoe-Wop-a-Doo-Wop, 50's)

Central Valley High School is U-High's school rival. Most of the sports events against them have names and are a major part of the school tradition. The most-attended competition, the Stinky Sneaker, had to be moved to the Spokane Arena to accommodate the number of students and teachers present. Almost the entire population of both schools attend this basketball game. The prize is the Stinky Sneaker, an old shoe painted half crimson and gold and half blue and white (CV's colors). They also get the bragging rights for that year. The second most-attended CV-U-High sporting event is called the Greasy Pig, and it's the football game between the two schools. The third most-attended match is the wrestling match, and it's called the Battle of the Bone. The soccer game is called the Muddy Cleat, and most of the other sports have names for their CV-U-High rivalry games as well. All of these competitions, except for the Greasy Pig, are not about who wins and who loses, but about which school displays the most spirit. Until recently the Battle of the Bone was also given to the school who won the match, and not about spirit. The Battle of the Bone is the nastiest of the rivalry games with insults being thrown from one crowd to the other. At the Stinky Sneaker every year, each school chooses a theme using the word 'shoe' in it (anything from Shoesta (fiesta, Mexican themed) to Shoeper Nintendo (video-game related) to Shoerella (Cinderella, fantasy-related). Each school does a half-time presentation and everybody waves themed objects at appointed times.

State Championships
1992 Girls Cross Country
1997 Boys Cross Country
1998 Boys Cross Country
1998 Boys Track
1999 Boys Cross Country
1999 Boys Track
2003 Fastpitch Softball
2005 Wrestling
2010 Wrestling
2013 Wrestling
2014 Boys Cross Country

School Champions

SUPER 6 Baby

Hours

On Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, classes are from 7:40 to 2:15. On Tuesdays and Thursdays, there is Student Access Time from 7:35 to 8:15, and classes start at 8:15 and end at 2:15. Student Access Time has two purposes: one purpose is Teacher Collaboration time, and the other purpose is a time for students to meet with their teachers to get help either on homework or classwork.

Classes and curriculum

University contains a wide variety of classes available to students. Certain classes are required throughout each year, while other classes are optional.

Math: Until recently, University had used a math curriculum known as "CMIC." This took students from basic algebra to Pre-Calculus, extending from Freshmen to Senior year. New curriculum is currently being implemented. Special math classes are also available for students who need it, and those who fail the math WASL (Washington Assessment of Student Learning) take additional math classes.

Language: Basic language classes are offered at the school. When a student reaches his or her junior year (or in rare cases, his or her sophomore year), he/she may take AP (Advanced Placement) classes for language and composition.

Foreign Language: Spanish, French, and German are offered at University.

History: The school requires its students to take global studies; in later years, they may sign up for history or AP U.S. history. During senior year, students can take AP European history.

Health: Both health and fitness classes are available, some mandatory and others optional.

Arts: The school offers a wide array of arts; these go anywhere from band to drama to choir to pottery and drawing.

CTE: "Career and Technical Education" There are 4 specific areas for a career choice. They include: Business, Auto Tech, Communications, Cooking classes

Many elective classes are also available to students. Generally, sophomore year is the busiest for students, with their senior year being the most "open."

Schedule

University High School switch from a trimester system to a semester system in fall 2010. One semester is 90 days, and each class is 0.5 credit. There are 6 classes a day; on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, students attend TAP (Titan Advisory Period). This is a time when students can do homework, and it also serves as a sort of 'homeroom', even though it follows 1st period. Students take the HSPE (High School Proficiency Exam) during this class (TAP is extended during HSPE week), and seniors finish their senior projects during this time as well. Additionally, students register for their next year in TAP, and other various school-related activities occur during this time, such as assemblies. TAP has the same students with the same teacher for all four years of high school. Regular classes are 50 minutes long and TAP is 25 minutes long.

Facility

According to the CVSD website: " The new U-High, which opened fall 2002, is 240,000 square feet (22,000 m²) and sits on a 44 acre site. The school has 75 teaching stations divided among general classrooms, business, science, art, music, professional-technical and health/fitness areas. Our commons/cafeteria area accommodates 800 students for lunch and is a multipupose area where we hold dances and large gatherings. The theater seats 575 and is a great facility for our music concerts, drama productions and guest speakers. The gym seats 2,030 for athletic contests."

Notable alumni

• Angie Bjorklund, basketball player. Tennessee Lady Vols all-time 3 pointers record holder with 300 made 3 pointers.^[1]
• Tyler Olson, baseball player. Currently relief pitcher for the Seattle Mariners.^[2][3]

References

External links

• University H.S.
• Baseball website

Coordinates: 47°37′38″N 117°14′12″W / 47.62722°N 117.23667°W / 47.62722; -117.23667