Santa Monica High School, officially abbreviated to Samohi, is located in Santa Monica, California. Founded in 1884 It changed location several times in its early years before settling into its present campus at 601 Pico Boulevard. It is a part of the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District.
History
The "new" campus opened in 1906 with one building, the current History building, with an enrollment of 50 students. The school sits on the hilltop between 4th and 7th Sts. and Pico and Olympic Blvds., from which one can see the Pacific Ocean. Ten years later the campus was expanded with construction of the English building. In 1921, the Open Air Memorial Theatre (now called the Greek Amphitheatre) was built to honor the Santa Monicans who served in World War I. One of the best examples of the classical Greek style in Southern California, the amphitheatre was built after Santa Monica passed a $30,000 bond measure to fund its construction. Barnum Hall Theater, originally called "the Auditorium," was built in 1937 by the Works Progress Administration (WPA) to be the Civic Auditorium of Santa Monica and host school events as well. The campus also added six buildings during this period: the Language, English, Business, History, Administration and Music buildings.
In 1952, Santa Monica High School was finally expanded to what it is now, 33 acres (130,000 m2), and two new buildings were built, the Science and Technology D.M. buildings. As the school aged, renovations took place in Barnum Hall and the Music building was completely rebuilt. As of February, 2015, a new Science and Technology Building is under construction along with an outdoor gathering space called Centennial Plaza.
The school has been a location in a number of films. Most famously, it is the high school setting in Rebel Without a Cause where James Dean walks up the History Building stairs. 17 Again was shot during the 2007-2008 school year.
Location
Santa Monica High School's campus is located about a mile southeast of downtown Santa Monica, walking distance from: the Third Street Promenade, Santa Monica Place, Santa Monica Pier, Santa Monica Civic Auditorium, Santa Monica City Hall, Santa Monica State Park, and the Santa Monica Public Safety Facility (home to the city's Police & Fire Departments).
Houses
In 2003, Samohi adopted a house system, similar to college house systems; each student is part of a house. There are five houses, S, M, O, H and I, with each house assigned a building or a floor of a building.S House is stationed in the Language Building, 'M' house is on the first floor of the History building, O house is on the second floor of the History building, H house is stationed in the English building, and I house is stationed in the Technology building. The "A" house was cut due to the California budget cuts to public schools. A principal oversees each of the houses, along with two counselors. Teachers with classrooms in a house building/floor are automatically deemed one of the house teachers. Upon enrollment in Santa Monica High School, students are randomly assigned to a house.
Academics
Santa Monica High School provides many Advanced Placement classes that are offered to all students. They range from Math and Science to Social Studies and Art to Physical Education.
Currently, Santa Monica High offers four foreign languages: Spanish, Latin, Japanese, and French. Japanese and Latin are offered up to the 4th level, preparing students for the A-BMP TRECE-P test. Spanish is offered up to the 6th level preparing students for AP Spanish tests in both language and literature.
Music department
The Santa Monica High School Music Department is home to four wind bands, the "Viking" Marching Band, two jazz bands, a percussion pedagogy class, six orchestras, five choirs, two student run choirs, piano classes, guitar classes, as well as; choral, orchestral, wind, and modern (jazz, rock, etc..) chamber groups. The music department offers many concerts in the community throughout the year, with performances by the bands, orchestras, and choirs. The school hosts concerts on the campus in Barnum Hall, a 1,200 seat theater with a full stage renovated in 2004. The Band and Orchestra annually hosts the SCSBOA Band and Orchestra Festivals, usually during late March or early April.
The bands, orchestras, choral groups and theatre are supported in their efforts by parent and community volunteers. Extensive fundraising is required to supply such things as music, instruments, music/dance/guard coaches, transportation, concert dress, uniforms, entry fees for festivals and competitions, and other items not budgeted or minimally budgeted by the school. An independent 501(c)3 organization, the Santa Monica Arts Parents Association (SMAPA) governs these efforts.
Choral and vocal ensembles
The Santa Monica High School Choral Department has recently competed in and won many competitions, both regional and national. The award-winning choral program ranges from large mixed choirs to chamber/madrigal ensembles, women's choirs, men's ensemble and jazz.
In addition to the regular Winter and Spring concerts, the choral department has a Masterworks Concert, Cathedral Classics Concert, and performs in the Santa Monica Malibu Unified School District's Stairway to the Stars every year.
Orchestral program
In 2005, Symphony Orchestra was labeled the best High School level orchestra in the nation by the American String Teachers Association (ASTA) at the National Orchestra Festival in Reno, Nevada. The orchestra program is made up of many different ensembles, ranging from the smaller Beginning Strings / String Orchestra to the large Symphony Orchestra. Many of the orchestras from Santa Monica High School have had the chance to travel around the nation and the world. In February 2006, Symphony Orchestra became the first public high school orchestra to perform in the Walt Disney Concert Hall in Downtown Los Angeles. In April 2006, the orchestra traveled to China and toured and performed in Beijing, Hong Kong, and Shanghai. In 2004 the Symphony Orchestra performed various cathedrals and churches in Vienna, Austria and in Prague, Czech Republic. In 2002 the Symphony Orchestra performed in Carnegie Hall. Recently, the orchestra program was selected for the elite Partnership Program with the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra. In April 2007, the Philharmonic and Chamber Orchestras traveled to San Francisco, where they participated in the California Music Educator's Association (CMEA) festival. Symphony Orchestra returned to Europe for a trip in March 2008, performing in the Rudolfinum and Orangerie of Schönbrunn Palace.
Band and marching band
The Santa Monica High School Viking Marching Band is one of the oldest high school marching bands in the state of California. The marching band performs for home football games, and competes in many different field shows and parades in Southern California. In their 2006-2007 season, the marching band received several sweepstakes awards and participated for the first time in the SCSBOA (Southern California Student Band and Orchestra Association) 5A division championship. In 2007 they attended a new marching band circuit, the Western Band Association, where they competed in the 4A division. The band won several awards, including Best Music in 4A category at their first WBA competition. The Marching Band traditionally performs in a Disneyland Resort parade every year. They were invited and participated in the London New Year's Day Parade in 2009.
There are currently four concert bands at Samohi, with the Wind Ensemble recognized as one of the most exceptionally talented high school bands in California. The Wind Ensemble performed at Carnegie Hall in May 2007, as well as Chicago Symphony Hall in 2013. All ensembles regularly perform in festivals, conferences, and invitational concerts. The program has grown to over 300 students, the music facilities and performance hall are state of the art facilities.
Demographics
For the 2014-2015 school year, Santa Monica High School has more than 3,100 students. Of the student population, 45% are Caucasian, 34% are Hispanic or Latino, 11% are African American, 8% are Asian and 0.2% are Native American.
Athletics
Samohi offers a variety of sports including basketball, football, baseball and softball, soccer, track, cross country, volleyball, swimming, water polo, tennis, and golf. Santa Monica's big rival is with Beverly Hills High School, in Beverly Hills.
Water Polo
The school has frosh-soph and varsity water polo teams, known as the "Greenies." Every year the Greenies paint their bodies at the Homecoming Pep Rally and some years also do a "Greenie Run" at the Homecoming football game.
Tennis
Samohi has varsity and junior varsity tennis teams, and there are seven full size tennis courts on campus. The team has won CIF in 1966. CIF finalists in 2011 and 2012.
Volleyball
The boys volleyball team, led by Olympic medalist Liane Sato, won the southern section CIF championship in their division in 2006. They returned to the championship in 2007, but lost to Valley Christian. Ari Feldman, a member of that team, signed with Cal State Northridge to play volleyball. Also Dane Keckin, a former CIF champion, signed with University of Hawaii at Manoa to play volleyball. The boys team went on to win CIF again in 2011 and placed 2nd in CIF 2012. The girls volleyball team made it to the finals in the 2009 season but lost.
Basketball
Girls Varsity team won the 2010 CIF Southern Division 1 championship, defeating Summit High 69-63. It is the first girls basketball title for SAMOHI, they went on to the Fourth Round of State and lost by two. They are coached by coach Marty Verdugo.
Boys Varsity won the 2013 CIF Division 1A Southern Section Championship against El Toro High School 66-56 at the Anaheim Convention Center. They enter the Division 1 State Championship as a #1 seed, losing in the championship game 73-57 loss to Pleasant Grove. They also made it to the finals of the 2010 CIF Southern Division 1 Championship, but they were defeated at the Honda Center against Luezinger, and they went on to lose in second round of state. The Boys Varsity Team is coached by James Hecht who is in his 16th year as head coach.
Baseball
The Samohi varsity baseball team, for the first time since 1973, made the Division IV Southern Section Championship in 2007, losing 7-1 to Charter Oak in the championship game played at Dodger Stadium.
Cross country
The cross country team informally known as the "XC team" is composed of sophomores, juniors and seniors. Its coach, Tania Fischer, commonly refers to her rule over the team as a "regime."
Wrestling
The wrestling team won the CIF State Championship in 1986. Also won the CIF State Championship in 152 lb (69 kg) weight class in 2007. For the past 7 years, the team has qualified individuals for the Southern Section CIF Masters and CIF State Championships.
Soccer
Samohi went undefeated (29-0-1) during the 2007-08 boys soccer season. Winning the Southbay/Westside Tournament, South Torrance Holiday Tournament (first time for a Varsity squad to win), undefeated Ocean League title (Back-to-Back), CIF Division IV Championship (first time in Samohi Soccer history), and the first ever CIF Southern Regional Championship Division I (a Southern State, Fresno through San Diego, where eight top teams of their region competed). Along with the championships, the Samohi men set many new records. 29 wins, 0 losses, 17 shutouts, only conceded 17 goals, scored 110 goals, and were the men's team to win CIF in the 36-year history of the program.
Softball
The lady Vikings have been undefeated in league games since 2004. In 2010 and 2014 the lady Vikings won CIF division IV southern section under coach Debra Skaggs and Dan Ramos.
Football
There are three levels for football: freshman, junior varsity, and varsity. The varsity football team last won the CIF Championship in 2001 under Head Coach Norm Lacy.
Cheerleading
The varsity team won CIF in 2008-2009 and again in 2009-2010. They also won USA Nationals 2007-2008. In 2010, they were finalists at UCA Nationals and came in 14th. The JV co-ed team won CIF for the first time in 2009.
Filming location
The 2009 17 Again was filmed at the school; the school was called Hayden High School in the film. Samohi was also featured in the 1955 classic Rebel Without a Cause, staring James Dean and Natalie Wood.
Notable alumni
References
External links
- Santa Monica High School website
Interesting Informations
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