Trenton High School (Michigan)

Trenton High School is a high school in Michigan, located at 2601 Charlton Rd. in Trenton. It primarily serves students living within the city limits, but also serves as a magnet school for the region’s special education program, specifically for students with hearing disabilities. In 2004-2005, enrollment was approximately 1100. Infobox Secondary school
name = Trenton High School

established = 1900
type = Public secondary
grades = 9-12
address = 2601 Charlton Rd.
city = Trenton
state = Michigan
country = USA
enrollment = ~1100
campus = Suburban
mascot = Trojans
colors = Blue and gold
newspaper = "Trojan Trumpet"
yearbook = "Monguagon"
website = [http://www.trenton.k12.mi.us/ths.htm]

History

Trenton High School was founded in 1900, the first public high school in the city.Fact|date=September 2008 The original building was located on the corner of Pine Street (now West Road) and Third Street in the downtown district. That site is now occupied by Trenton’s post office. By 1927, the enrollment had grown large enough to warrant the construction of a new school. A new building was constructed a few blocks north on Third Street and named Slocum-Truax High school, in honor of Abram Caleb Truax and Giles Slocum, two of the city’s founding fathers. The school’s first state championship came in the form of the Class D boys’ state track title in 1927 [http://www.mhsaa.com/sports/btr/yearly.htm] .

In the 1950s, rising enrollments due to suburban expansion and the baby boom caused many changes.Fact|date=September 2008 Slocum-Truax was forced to make several additions; difficult on such a small property, and the city’s westward expansion made the school’s location and access and issue.

Eventually, an aging building and lack of expansion room caused the school to move out of downtown Trenton to its current location in 1952. The old Slocum-Truax building was used for many years as a middle school (6th through 8th grades) and then eventually torn down and the property converted to park land (on or around 1977). The new school, named Trenton High School was a converted elementary school, originally named West Road School.

The new school building on Charlton Road continues in active service, and has received a few facelifts and additions over the years. Most recently, the social studies and foreign language wing was added 1970, and a new stadium and football field was built 2001.

Athletics

Trenton is a member of the Michigan Mega Conference. The Trenton teams are known as the "Trojans". It is probably best known for its hockey teams which have won eleven state titles, including one this past 07-08 season, since the late 1970s.Fact|date=September 2008 Their main rivals are Detroit Catholic Central High School and Huron High School (Ann Arbor, Michigan). Also notable are the girls’ softball team, boys’ and girls’ swimming and diving team, and the boys’ track and field team.

Music

The Trenton High School Instrumental Music Department is one of the most successful departments and organizations in Trenton High School.

The THS Bands have alumni who have performed with the Mahler Chamber Orchestra, London Symphony Orchestra, BBC Symphony Orchestra (London), and the Royal Opera House Orchestra (London.)Fact|date=September 2008 James Batcheller, Director of Bands at Central Michigan University, is a THS Band alumnus as are many other band directors and music teachers around the country.Fact|date=September 2008

Lt. Gen. Ronald F. Sams, the Inspector General of the Air Force, Office of the Secretary of the Air Force, Washington, D.C.. is a former drum major for the Trenton High School Marching Band.Fact|date=September 2008

The THS Hockey Pep Band has been featured in the Detroit News, Hockey Weekly, and has appeared several times on WDIV's "State Champs!" television show for which the group recorded the theme song for the opening of the program. The group was the first hockey pep band ever to play at the state hockey semifinals and finals.Fact|date=September 2008

The 110+ member THS Marching Band has placed in the Michigan Competing Bands Association (MCBA) Top Ten Finalists numerous times and has performed around the country including at the 2000 and 2001 National Outback Bowl Festivals.Fact|date=September 2008 The THS Band was featured in a command performance on WXYZ's "Kelly and Company" salute to the former University of Michigan head football coach, Bo Schembechler.

The THS Jazz Band has performed at the Detroit Montreux Jazz Festival, Toronto Music In The Parks Festival, Virginia Beach Music Festival, Chicago Navy Pier Jazz Weekend, and all around the state of Michigan.Fact|date=September 2008 Alumni of the THS Jazz Band have been members of the jazz ensembles of many colleges and universities including the University of Michigan, Michigan State University, Western Michigan University, and Central Michigan University. Former Trenton HS band director, Rick Goward, is the director of bands at Henry Ford Community College and is the leader of the HFCC Jazz Ensemble which has performed at the North Sea Jazz Festival, Montreux Jazz Festival (Switzerland), and at Carnegie Hall with several former THS Jazz Band members performing in the group. The Trenton High School Jazz Band gave a command performance for vice-president Al Gore at the opening of the John Dingell Veterans Hospital in Detroit.Fact|date=September 2008

Other notable THS Music Department graduates have performed on Broadway (Andrew Fitch - "Will Rogers Follies" and "Jesus Christ Superstar"), film (Natalie McNeil - "Bad Boys 2" and "Spiderman 3"/Mary Lynn Rajskub - "Firewall" with Harrison Ford, "Little Miss Sunshine", "Legally Blonde 2: Red, White, & Blonde"), television (Mary Lynn Rajskub - "24" as Chloe O'Brien), and with renown musicians such as blues legends James Cotton (Shaun McDonald - keyboards) and A.C. Reed (Dan Coscarelly - guitar), and with legendary artists George Clinton and the P-Funk All-Stars and Aretha Franklin (Larry Fratangelo - percussion.) Trenton band alum and clarinet player, Ramon Wodkowski, has performed with orchestras including the Mahler Chamber Orchestra, London Symphony Orchestra, London Philharmonic Orchestra, BBC Symphony Orchestra (London), and the Royal Opera House Orchestra (London.) He has also toured with Grammy winning polka legend, Jimmy Sturr.Fact|date=September 2008

Mike Kurilko has been the Director of Bands at Trenton High School since 1987.

Television Production

Since its inception in 1978 and the television studio's dedication in 1982 to the continued success of the Television Program today, Trenton Public School's Educational Television Studio (TPS TV) has been internationally recognized for its excellence in design, curriculum, and application.Fact|date=September 2008Students in the Television Production Classes - Introduction to Electronic Media Production and Advanced Electronic Media Production - are trained to conceptualize, research, shoot, design graphics, and edit television programs in alliance with the world of professional television production.This state of the art production facility/curriculum, affords the students unlimited creative opportunities in a wide variety of television related applications.The curriculum design has been shared with many school districts from West Virginia Beach Public Schools, El Paso Independent School District, New York and Chicago Public Schools to Vancouver, British Columbia and Sri Lanka.Fact|date=September 2008 The TPS TV Studio and Curriculum is effective and time proven to be excellent training for students interested in working in the world of electronic communication. [ [http://www.trenton.k12.mi.us/tps_television.htm] ]

Mission

The Trenton High School staff is committed to educating all its students in learning the essential skills necessary to become well rounded, responsible, caring, lifelong learning citizens. [ [http://www.trenton.k12.mi.us/ths.htm] ]

Notable Alumni

*Bradley A. Smith Law professor, a Clinton appointee to the Federal Election Commission, and one of the nation's foremost experts on campaign financeFact|date=January 2008, was born and raised in Trenton, elected Senior Class President, and graduated Trenton High in 1976.
* Mary Lynn Rajskub, comedian and actress, was born and raised in Trenton, and graduated from Trenton High School in 1989.Fact|date=September 2008
* J. J. Putz, a relief pitcher for the Seattle Mariners and 2007 MLB All-Star Game participant, was raised in Trenton, and graduated from Trenton High School in 1995.
*Comedian Tim Slagle was raised in Trenton, and graduated Trenton High in 1976
*Psychobilly frontman Jim Leedy, of the cult band Elvis Hitler was born and raised in Trenton, and graduated Trenton High in 1979.Fact|date=September 2008
* Science fiction author Sarah Zettel was raised in Trenton and is a 1984 graduate of Trenton High School.Fact|date=September 2008
*Andy Greene Professional hockey player for the New Jersey DevilsFact|date=September 2008

References

External links

* [http://www.trenton.k12.mi.us/ths.htm Official Website]
* [http://www.trenton.k12.mi.us/ Trenton Public Schools]
* [http://www.megaconferencequizbowl.com/index.cfm?section=standings&season=2007 2007-2008 Quiz Bowl Standings]