- Northwood High School (North Carolina)
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Northwood High School is located in Pittsboro, North Carolina, In Chatham County. The school is the largest of three high schools in Chatham County and is operated by Chatham County Schools. The school's mascot is the Charger and the school colors are gold and green.(1) It is a member of the Mid State 2A Conference. It currently serves around 1,024 students, about 300 students over capacity. The school receives students primarily from the Eastern and Northeastern portions of the county, which coincidentally are the fastest growing parts of the county. This has led to the problem of overcrowding.
Contents
History
Northwood High School opened in time for the 1972-1973 school year to replace the older Pittsboro High School which is now the headquarters of Chatham County Schools. The school was opened two school years after school integration (schools were not fully integrated in Chatham County until the 1970-1971 school year) as a way of consolidating black and white students into a larger facility than available at Pittsboro High. [2] The school building has changed little since its opening with the exception of a new math wing and modular classrooms. A green steel roof was added during the 2000-2001 school year. During the 2009-2010 school year, the arts wing was remodeled and expanded as well as the renovation of the gymnasium.
Administration:
2009-Present Principal: Chris Blice
Assistant Principals: Melanie Williams and Mark Gould
Assistant Principal Emeritus:
Northwood High School has held their annual commencement ceremonies on the campus of UNC-Chapel Hill at the Dean Smith Center since 2008.
2006-2007 Valedictorian: Siler G. Bryan Salutatorian: Julia Wood
2007-2008 Valedictorians: Dabney Allen and Anna Martin.
2008-2009 Valedictorian: Zack McCaw Salutatorian: Heather Emch
2009-2010 Valedictorian: Brennan Allen Salutatorian: Philip Brooks
New School
As with most of the high schools in Chatham County, Northwood was built to accommodate a rural school district. With the boom of growth and influx of students within the past 10–15 years, Northwood has grown substantially overcrowded. The county board of education has had plans since the late 1990s (even purchasing land and erecting a future home sign) to build a new high school south of Fearington Village in northern Chatham County, not as a replacement for Northwood, but as school that would take students from the northern part of the county, essentially cutting off the northern half of Northwood's district. Financing problems tabled the project and the school has yet to be built, although with new developments being built in the vicinity, it is believed it will be built eventually.
Athletics
Northwood currently provides the following JV and Varsity sports:
Fall:
- Football
- Women's Volleyball
- Men's and Women's Cross-Country
- Men's Soccer
- Women's Tennis
- Women's Golf
Winter:
- Swimming
- Men's and Women's Basketball
- Men's and Women's Indoor Track
- Wrestling
Spring:
- Men's Golf
- Men's Tennis
- Club Lacrosse
- Women's Soccer
- Men's and Women's Track
- Baseball
- Softball
Northwood also has a year-round swim team, which has a unique tradition of being small. The swim team had one member during the 2006-2007 school year. The swim team grew to four swimmers in 2010. One swimmer won the state 1A/2A title for 100 Breaststroke and finished 3rd in the 50 Free.The school's Ultimate Frisbee team took first in State during their 2006-2007 season.
In 2005 and 2006 the Northwood High School Cheerleading Squad took home the State Championship title in the small Co-Ed division.
In 2005, senior Scott Korynta advanced to the State Championship golf match for the individual competitions.
For the 2009-2010 school year, both the men's and women's golf teams finished first in the conference with the women advancing to the state championship.
Clubs
Northwood currently has around 35 clubs, such as FCCLA, DECA, FFA, weight-lifting, and an outdoor club.[1] The school's Ultimate Frisbee team took 1st in state during their 2006-2007 season, defeating Cardinal Gibbons High School in the state semi-finals, and then Chapel Hill High School in the championship game, 13-11. Northwood's branch of FCCLA are renowned for their excellence in Parliamentary Procedure competitions. A team of eight females, all class of 2008 students, have won three state and national championships since 2004, traveling to San Diego, Nashville, and Anaheim. In 2009 the music department added a Tri-M honor society.[2] Northwood also has an all-superior marching band, the highest rating possible. The marching band has won championships at distinguished school competitions such as Western Alamance, Lee Senior, Danville Dixie Classic, and Union Pines.[3] Northwood fielded a Science Olympiad team in the spring of 2010 winning multiple 1st, 2nd, and 5th place medals at the Regional competition at UNC-Greensboro.
Mission statement
"To graduate students who are productive members of a democratic society."
Student Council
2011 - 2012 Executive Council
- Student Body President: Diane Thompson
- Student Body Vice President: Brandon Edwards
- Student Body Treasurer: Blake Scruggs
- Student Body Secretary: Alisha McCrimmon
2010 - 2011 Executive Council
- Student Body President: Weston Greene
- Student Body Vice President: Katie Kolls
- Student Body Treasurer: Diane Thompson
- Student Body Secretary: Alisha McCrimmon
2009 - 2010 Executive Council
- Student Body President: Malbert Smith
- Student Body Vice President: Katie Hudson
- Student Body Treasurer: Cameron Williams
- Student Body Secretary: Candice Glosson
2008 - 2009 Executive Council
- Student Body President: Derrick Kay
- Student Body Vice President: Reade Oakley
- Student Body Treasurer: Aaron Raynor
- Student Body Secretary: Cameron McIntosh
2007 - 2008 Executive Council
- Student Body President: Hart Philips
- Student Body Vice President: Lauren Sawyer
- Student Body Treasurer: Alan Foushee
- Student Body Secretary: Derrick Kay
Advisor: Henry Foust
News
The school made national headlines for a senior prank in June 2007. A massive water balloon fight across the school led to forty students being forced to do twenty hours of community service before they could receive their high school diplomas.[3]
References
External links
Coordinates: 35°44′39″N 79°10′09″W / 35.7440347°N 79.1691806°WCategories:- High schools in North Carolina
- Schools in Chatham County, North Carolina
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