Graham-Kapowsin High School
Encyclopedia
Graham-Kapowsin High School is a high school
in the Bethel School District
, Pierce County, Washington
, United States. Its doors first opened to students in September 2005.
classes here are:
The GK Eagles are members of the South Division of the South Puget Sound League in Washington's West Central District.
The football team made its first State appearance in 2007, losing in the Quarterfinals to Ferris
, 49-14. The Eagles lost in the State Qualifying Round in 2006 and 2008.
The first graduating class set impressive standards in Track and Field. The 2007 Boys 4×400 meter Relay Team won the 2007 State Championship. The previous year they went to state placing 5th overall. The 2007 team, however, soared passed their previous mark by becoming the only team in the state that year to run under a 3:20, with a time of 3:19.56.
The wrestling team has been doing very well. The team fielded many state placers and one state champ in the 2006-07 Season. The 2007-08 Season was the team's best year, placing second in 4A State finishing behind state champions Lake Stevens High School. The 2008-09 saw a less successful season as the team finished 7th in state.
GK volleyball has built an impressive program over the years. The eagles were league champs back to back in 2009 and 2010, placing 2nd in the West Central Districts tournament in 2010. Making appearances at the state tournament in both 2009 and 2010 placing 6th and 7th.
in 2007. The 2007-2008 Choir (Chorale) was also invited, and recognized as the Keynote Address at the WMEA (Washington Music Educators Association) Conference. They have performed at the Puyallup Fair, and have also participated, and placed in the BINW (Best In the North-West) competition held annually in Portland, Oregon. GKHS is known for having great student leadership. The past years the Chorale has been by students aspiring to become music majors. To name a few, Bryan Watson, now attending PLU for Vocal Performance; and Justin Daniel, a Performance major who has previously attended the Berklee College of Music
in Boston and now attends the University of North Texas
to continue his extremely prosperous musical career. In addition, the Band program also shares a musical relationship with the Tamana Girls High school
in Japan. These bands come together every school year to exchange wonderful music. Starting 2010-2011 school year, Sue Green is the new appointed choir program director and Christopher Burnes is the new Orchestra Conductor.
In November 2008, GK hosted a Donkey basketball
game. The players were various teachers from different schools inside Bethel School District.
On Friday May 8, 2009, about 500 students walked out of school in protest against teachers possibly losing their jobs due to district funding.
High school
High school is a term used in parts of the English speaking world to describe institutions which provide all or part of secondary education. The term is often incorporated into the name of such institutions....
in the Bethel School District
Bethel School District (Washington)
Bethel School District No. 403 is a public school district in Pierce County, Washington, USA and serves of unincorporated Pierce County including Spanaway, Graham, Kapowsin, and the city of Roy. Bethel is unique in the way that its high schools serve grades 10-12 as opposed to the traditional...
, Pierce County, Washington
Pierce County, Washington
right|thumb|[[Tacoma, Washington|Tacoma]] - Seat of Pierce CountyPierce County is the second most populous county in the U.S. state of Washington. Formed out of Thurston County on December 22, 1852, by the legislature of Oregon Territory...
, United States. Its doors first opened to students in September 2005.
Academics
Languages taught at this school include Spanish, French, German, and Japanese. A few APAdvanced Placement Program
The Advanced Placement program is a curriculum in the United States and Canada sponsored by the College Board which offers standardized courses to high school students that are generally recognized to be equivalent to undergraduate courses in college...
classes here are:
- BiologyBiologyBiology is a natural science concerned with the study of life and living organisms, including their structure, function, growth, origin, evolution, distribution, and taxonomy. Biology is a vast subject containing many subdivisions, topics, and disciplines...
- PsychologyPsychologyPsychology is the study of the mind and behavior. Its immediate goal is to understand individuals and groups by both establishing general principles and researching specific cases. For many, the ultimate goal of psychology is to benefit society...
- CalculusCalculusCalculus is a branch of mathematics focused on limits, functions, derivatives, integrals, and infinite series. This subject constitutes a major part of modern mathematics education. It has two major branches, differential calculus and integral calculus, which are related by the fundamental theorem...
- HistoryHistoryHistory is the discovery, collection, organization, and presentation of information about past events. History can also mean the period of time after writing was invented. Scholars who write about history are called historians...
- ChemistryChemistryChemistry is the science of matter, especially its chemical reactions, but also its composition, structure and properties. Chemistry is concerned with atoms and their interactions with other atoms, and particularly with the properties of chemical bonds....
Athletics
The football team made its first State appearance in 2007, losing in the Quarterfinals to Ferris
Joel E. Ferris High School
Joel E. Ferris High School is a public high school located in Spokane, Washington, USA. The school educates in grades 9–12 and is part of Spokane Public Schools...
, 49-14. The Eagles lost in the State Qualifying Round in 2006 and 2008.
The first graduating class set impressive standards in Track and Field. The 2007 Boys 4×400 meter Relay Team won the 2007 State Championship. The previous year they went to state placing 5th overall. The 2007 team, however, soared passed their previous mark by becoming the only team in the state that year to run under a 3:20, with a time of 3:19.56.
The wrestling team has been doing very well. The team fielded many state placers and one state champ in the 2006-07 Season. The 2007-08 Season was the team's best year, placing second in 4A State finishing behind state champions Lake Stevens High School. The 2008-09 saw a less successful season as the team finished 7th in state.
GK volleyball has built an impressive program over the years. The eagles were league champs back to back in 2009 and 2010, placing 2nd in the West Central Districts tournament in 2010. Making appearances at the state tournament in both 2009 and 2010 placing 6th and 7th.
Past Daffodil Parade Princesses
- Kori Hinkle (2011)
- Tresa Turner (2010)
- Gloria Bleakley (2008)
- Karen Rogers (2007)
Music
The music program at GKHS has earned a few awards and received recognition from accredited professional musicians and teachers. The band program's Wind Ensemble, directed by Paul Bain, has been invited to play at many festivals across the country. Currently, their jazz band ranks sixteenth in the nation. The choir program has been led by Andrea Klouse and was invited to perform at New York's Carnegie HallCarnegie Hall
Carnegie Hall is a concert venue in Midtown Manhattan in New York City, United States, located at 881 Seventh Avenue, occupying the east stretch of Seventh Avenue between West 56th Street and West 57th Street, two blocks south of Central Park....
in 2007. The 2007-2008 Choir (Chorale) was also invited, and recognized as the Keynote Address at the WMEA (Washington Music Educators Association) Conference. They have performed at the Puyallup Fair, and have also participated, and placed in the BINW (Best In the North-West) competition held annually in Portland, Oregon. GKHS is known for having great student leadership. The past years the Chorale has been by students aspiring to become music majors. To name a few, Bryan Watson, now attending PLU for Vocal Performance; and Justin Daniel, a Performance major who has previously attended the Berklee College of Music
Berklee College of Music
Berklee College of Music, located in Boston, Massachusetts, is the largest independent college of contemporary music in the world. Known primarily as a school for jazz, rock and popular music, it also offers college-level courses in a wide range of contemporary and historic styles, including hip...
in Boston and now attends the University of North Texas
University of North Texas
The University of North Texas is a public institution of higher education and research in Denton. Founded in 1890, UNT is part of the University of North Texas System. As of the fall of 2010, the University of North Texas, Denton campus, had a certified enrollment of 36,067...
to continue his extremely prosperous musical career. In addition, the Band program also shares a musical relationship with the Tamana Girls High school
Tamana Girls High School
Tamana Girls High School is a girls high school in Tamana, Kumamoto, Japan. It was founded in April 1925 under the name 'tamana jussen jogakuin'...
in Japan. These bands come together every school year to exchange wonderful music. Starting 2010-2011 school year, Sue Green is the new appointed choir program director and Christopher Burnes is the new Orchestra Conductor.
JROTC
The JROTC program at GKHS began in 2005. The elective course is taught by Chief Warrant Officer 3 Michael Meray (Ret.) and First Sergeant James Kemp (Ret.). The JROTC has grown from a unit with 77 enrolled cadets to well over 120 in the upcoming year. The JROTC Special Teams have also met moderate success in their regional competitions in the programs short three years. Their 2008-09 Team A Color Guard is led by Brad Schoch. The school's Drill Team (unarmed and armed) is also led by Brad Schoch. The school's Battalion Commander is Edward Sparks. The new battalion commander for 2009-2010 school year will be Zachary Moran, and the executive officer will be Dylan Gowland.History
In November 2008, GK hosted a Donkey basketball
Donkey basketball
Donkey basketball is a variation on the standard game of basketball, played on a standard basketball court, but in which the players ride donkeys. A donkey basketball game is usually staged as a one-shot fundraising event, typically in public schools. Commercial firms provide donkeys and equipment,...
game. The players were various teachers from different schools inside Bethel School District.
On Friday May 8, 2009, about 500 students walked out of school in protest against teachers possibly losing their jobs due to district funding.