Aitkin High School

Infobox Secondary school
name = Aitkin High School

motto = "We believe everyone can learn and can experience success."
established = 1901
type = Public high school
principal = Jim Wagner
faculty = approx. 50
students = approx. 600
mascot = Gobblers, All Stars (for dance team)
colors = Red, Black, White, Gold
city = Aitkin
state = Minnesota,
country = USA
website = [http://www.aitkin.k12.mn.us www.aitkin.k12.mn.us]
grades = 7-12
address = 306 2nd St. NW

Aitkin High School (AHS) is a public high school in Aitkin, Minnesota. The school serves students in grades 7-12. As of 2008, it had 600 students. The school is a member of Minnesota's Independent School District 1 (Aitkin School District), and is affiliated with the Minnesota State High School League (MSHSL). The school is a member of the Great River Conference. The AHS mascot is the Gobbler.

History

Aitkin High School was established in the year 1901 and many additions have been added to the school since. When the school was first built, many children that lived outside the city of Aitkin attended local country schools, and then attended AHS after they had graduated from 8th grade. In 1928, the school received an addition. Several modifications took place during the following decades, including a new cafeteria, band area, and auditorium. The most major change after 1928 took place in 1976, when the school was remodeled and the old school building was demolished. Not many major modifications took place after that until the year 2000, when a new band area was established. In 2005, a new weight room was built. The school was modified once again in 2006 with a newly added commons area and a new 7th grade locker area built on the second floor of the school, along with an LED sign in the front of the building. In 2007, a more advanced security system was installed and a speed limit regulation was implemented around the school. In 2008, a wall was removed in the cafeteria which will enable more students to have lunch in one lunch period, and signs were posted on all entraces of the school.

The School

In 2005, AHS had 630 students [http://education.state.mn.us/ReportCard/2005/high/RCF2.pdf] .

The Aitkin School District's Superintendent is Bernard Novak. The principal of Aitkin High School is Jim Wagner, who was previously the principal and a biology teacher in Apollo High School. The assistant principal is Brian Sandberg, who was previously a teacher for many years at Rippleside Elementary School in Aitkin.

Curriculum and Scheduling

Aitkin High School currently uses a trimester format for its school schedule. Each trimester lasts 12 weeks. Classes vary in length from 1 to 3 trimesters. Class periods are currently 54 minutes in length with 4 minutes passing time in between classes. There are penalties for those who fail to come to the assigned class at the designated time. Some classes, such as the ones in the Industrial Arts field takes place in multiple periods. A seven period daily schedule is used and lunch periods are mixed grades instead of a grade level procedure that was used years prior to 2007. Additionally, middle school and high school students now share the same time schedule. From the years 1998-2007, the school used a block schedule, where classes were 84 minutes long. In 2007, the block schedule method was scrapped and the classic trimester schedule was reinstated as previously used at AHS during the 1960s and the 1970s. In 2007, independent study periods were added and the school goes on a 7 day rotation basis, in which each hour gets an independent study on that particular. (eg. Day 1 is 1st hour, Day 2 is second hour, etc.) Modular scheduling is used partially. It is not used as the standard scheduling features but it is used more or less for effective lesson planning by teachers and for school assemblies and independent study periods.

Independent study periods enable students to have some time to finish class assignments, get help from another teacher, attend meetings and school assemblies, and much more. On Days 4 and 5, students may choose to have lunch during IS if they do not have lunch in their schedule or if they want to "visit" that lunch period. Various problems in the school might end IS.

Students have lunch in either 4th or 5th period. In 2007, 3rd period lunch was included, but it was too early for the food service to prepare food and for students to eat lunch, so 3rd period is now a standard class period. Middle school ate lunch in 3rd and 4th period. 7th grade ate in the second part of 3rd period and 8th grade ate the first part of 4th period. Currently, middle school will eat lunch at the same time as the high school. 7th grade will eat in fourth period and 8th grade will eat in 5th period. Students have the option of visiting a lunch period during IS.

Planning room is used instead of the standard beginning of school day announcement and attendance. Students are automatically chosen a planning room. usually based on the person's position of the alphabet, and they are required to report to that room when the day begins. During this short time, students could have questions answered from their teachers, attendance is taken, announcements are read, passes are administered, and many other housekeeping activities. In 2008, the will receive credit for attending planning rooms.

More than 110 classes are offered [ [http://www.aitkin.k12.mn.us/registration/RegInfo.htm Registration Home Page ] ] . This includes subjects in agriculture, business, computer science, English, family and consumer science, art, music, physical education, industrial technology, mathematics, science, social studies, and World Languages.

Although AHS does not offer any AP or IB classes, it offers college credit for advanced classes with a program called College in the Schools through the University of Minnesota, Central Lakes Community College, Mesabi Community College, and Vermilion Community College.

The Principal's Office

Rumors had been spread that this school will be shown on the truTV reality show, The Principal's Office. Funding and school board approval will be required before any film crew will be able to capture footage of Aitkin High School students receiving discliplinary referalls and interviews.

Homecoming Parade

Aitkin High School had hosted a homecoming parade for many years. Under some circumstances in the early 1990s, the homecoming parade will bypassed. But in 2008, a homecoming parade will return in honor of students that are graduating in 2009 and beyond. The first Homecoming parade since the middle 1990s will take place on September 26, 2008. The parade will include a float for each class, marching band, homecoming candidates, and floats for various businesses in Aitkin.

Facilities

The school features a newly added commons area, two gyms, a band area, an auditorium, a weight room, a choir area, and three floors of classrooms for all subjects of required courses and interest.

Extra-Curricular Activities

*Business Professionals of America (BPA)
*Jazz Band
*Knowledge Bowl
*Madrigals
*National Honor Society
*One Act Play
*Peer Helpers
*Pep Band (required for excellece in the band curriculum)
*Spanish Club
*Speech
*Student Council
*Yearbook Production (used as an elective course for 9-12)
*Construction Occupation - 11th-12th grade student build and auction an small house as an elective course.
*Occupational Foods (used as an elective course for 10-12)
*Musical (as part of the Concert Choir curriculum)
*Band (used as a class elective for 7-12)
*Choir (used as a class elective for 7-12)
*Pep club
*Astromony Club
*FFA
*German Club

Athletics

Athletic teams include:

Fall
* Football
* Girl's Tennis
* VolleyballWinter
* Boy's Basketball
* Girl's Basketball
* Wrestling
* Dance Team
* Hockey (with Crosby-Ironton)Spring
* Boy's Tennis
* Softball
* Baseball
* Golf
* Track and Field

See also

* List of high schools in Minnesota

Notes

External links

* [http://www.aitkin.k12.mn.us/highs1.html AHS website]
* [http://minnesota.schooltree.org/public/Aitkin-Secondary-045930.html schooltree]