Kickapoo High School (Springfield, Missouri)
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| Kickapoo High School | |
|---|---|
| Established | 1971 |
| Type | US Public Secondary |
| Principal | David Schmitz |
| Students | 1,774 |
| Grades | 9–12 |
| Location | Springfield, Missouri, USA |
| Campus | Suburban |
| Colors | Brown and Gold |
| Mascot | Chiefs |
| Website | http://sps.k12.mo.us/khs/ |
Contents |
[edit] Special Programs
The school's characteristics include: Honors, Dual Enrollment and Advanced Placement courses, an Orthopedically Handicapped Program, a Learning Resource Center for special needs students, and a Japanese language program. This school also has a multiple-award-winning band as well as a Drumline.
[edit] Mandatory ID Badges
The school makes use of mandatory identification badges for all students and staff to prevent unauthorized entry into the school. This policy is heralded as an important part of building security by some, and also a needless frivolity by others. The 'ID badges' as well as school-wide video surveillance were introduced following a series of nationwide school shootings in the late 1990s.
[edit] Freshman Mentor Program
At the end of each year, Sophomores and Juniors have the opportunity to apply for the Freshman Mentor program. These students are charged with assimilating small groups of freshmen into the school culture. They also assign rudimentary study skill and research tasks to all freshmen. This program takes place during Chief Time.
[edit] Privilege System
All students are assigned a rank. The lowest rank, "Brave," is automatically given to Freshmen, Sophomores, and first-semester Juniors. Students with this rank must remain in their assigned Chief Time classes and work silently. The next rank, "Warrior," is automatically given to second-semester Juniors with no referrals and a 2.5 GPA, as well as all Seniors. Students with this rank are allowed to leave their Chief Time classes and go to the cafeteria for early lunch or to the gym for free activity time. The highest rank is "Chief," given to all Freshman Mentors. Chiefs are allowed to leave several minutes early from school, leave early for lunch, and walk freely around the school without a written hall pass. Historically, Chiefs have been given preferential parking near the front door of the school; however, this will not be the case during the 2007-2008 school year due to construction.
[edit] School Schedule
[edit] Block System
The school schedule is a four block system: Each day, students have four classes around 90 minutes each in length. The semester is 18 weeks long. In one school year, students have completed the equivalent of eight year-long classes.
[edit] Chief Time
The 2004-2005 school year saw the introduction of a program called 'Chief Time.' This modified the school schedule, extending the school day from 7:50 A.M. to 2:58 P.M. on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday. Students are allowed to do different things during this block, depending on their status in the ranked system.
Students with extreme academic issues can be assigned to a Chief Time class where they receive tutoring for the duration of Chief Time. Students in these rooms are, in practical terms, the only group lower than Braves in terms of freedoms during Chief Time.
[edit] Late Start
On Wednesdays, school starts at 8:35, rather than 7:50. Class continues with a similar schedule to Tuesday and Thursday but without Chief Time. This adds time for detention on Wednesday mornings as well as time to make up tests.
[edit] Camp Barnabas Fundraising
During the 2006-2007 school year, there were two fundraisers for an organization called Camp Barnabas[1]. Between the two, about $4,000 was raised. An unidentified corporate donor matched that amount for a total donation of around $8,000.
[edit] Stop the Bop
Kickapoo adopted the Stop The Bop[2] fundraiser from a Pennsylvania school. The Hanson song MMMBop was played between classes until the student body donated $2,000.
[edit] Mr. KHS
"Mr. KHS" is an annual beauty pageant for men. The 2007 theme was "Man, I feel like a woman." 2007 was the first time this activity raised money specifically for Camp Barnabas. Nile Forsythe won the 2007 Mr. KHS competition.
[edit] Controversy
Some controversy has come about because Camp Barnabas is a non-denominational Christian organization.
[edit] Spirit Shirts
Kickapoo's name has led to the making of a number of creative spirit shirts sold to the students. The most widely known of these being the famous "Fear the 'Poo" shirts in both brown and gold. The 2007-2008 shirt reads "Top of the Totem Pole," which depicts Kickapoo at the top of a totem pole, followed by Hillcrest, Parkview, Central, and at the bottom, Glendale: Kickapoo's biggest rival.
[edit] Notable alumni
- Brad Pitt (b. 1963), actor, voted best dressed in the school, 1982
- Jeremy Mhire, singing artist in christian band, Plus One, 1998
- Sterling Robert Macer Jr., Actor in the television series "Homefront," "Harts of the West," "CSI: Miami" and "NYPD Blue." He was also in such films as "Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story" and "Double Take." Macer also wrote, produced and directed the feature film "Park Day," which starred Hill Harper and Brock Peters.
- Lucas Grabeel, star of the Disney Channel Original Movies "Halloweentown High" and "High School Musical" 1 and 2. He was a guest on the television series Boston Legal in 2003 and appeared as a young Lex Luthor on the Smallville episode "Reunion," also in 2003. He also has the lead in Alice of Lester McKinley and is the voice of a dog in the upcoming animated film, Walking With Jesus.
- Michael "Bryant" Johnson, competitor in the 1996 Olympic Games in the 400m dash.
- Kim Crosby, actress on New York's Broadway circuit, 1978.
- Jay Kenneth Johnson, actor in the television series "Days of Our Lives" and "North Shore."
[edit] References
- ^ 'Stop The Bop' To Raise Katrina $$ cbsnews.com. URL Accessed May 17 2007.
- ^ Camp Barnabas Home Page campbarnabas.org. URL Accessed May 17 2007.
