Harrison High School (New York)
Encyclopedia
For schools with a similar name, see Harrison High School
.
Harrison High School (HHS) is a public high school
located in Harrison
, Westchester County, New York
. The school is approximately 22 miles (35.4 km) northeast of New York City
. It is the only high school operated by the Harrison Central School District. As one of the geographically largest school districts in Westchester, Harrison encompasses several micro-communities comprising a socioeconomically and culturally diverse student population.
Nearly 1,000 students are enrolled in the school (2010–2011), with 103 teaching faculty members. 98 percent of the Class of 2010 went on to post-secondary education, with 89 percent attending four-year colleges.
The student body is predominantly white
(77.7 percent), with 11.6 percent Hispanic
, 9.68 percent Asia
n/Pacific Islander
and 1 percent African-American.
The following accomplishments and points of pride are attributable to Harrison’s commitment to its mission of equity, access, rigor, and adaptability for all students, which serve as the foundation for all decisions made on behalf of our students:
*Expansive music performance program that includes ensemble groups, a string orchestra, percussion ensemble, jazz band, swing band, nationally recognized marching band and choir and show choir
Harrison High School embraces the College Board’s mission of promoting equity and access by encouraging students to enroll in a rigorous educational program. More students are now taking AP courses than at any time in the history of the school. The number of students scoring 3, 4, or 5 has increased by nearly 300% and the number of AP Scholars has increased by over 500% since 2000—ranging from 23 students in 2002 to 121 in 2010.
Superintendent of Schools -- Mr. Louis N. Wool•
Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum -- Mr. Michael Greenfield•
Assistant Superintendent for Human Resources -- Dr. Brian Ladewig•
Assistant Superintendent for Business -- Mr. Robert Salierno•
Business Manager / Treasurer -- Ms. Nora McAvoy•
•
Director of Special Education -- Ms. Susan Lockhart•
Director of Health, Physical Education & Athletics -- Ms. Patricia Seligman•
Director of Facilities and Operations -- Mr. Lenny Purcell•
Director of Fine and Performing Arts -- Ms. Mary Ellis•
Director of LOTE/ ESL -- Brendan Gallivan•
•
Supervisor of Guidance -- Mr. Christopher Miller•
•
Supervisor of Secondary English -- TBA•
Supervisor of Secondary Mathematics and Computer Science -- Dr. Clifford Sweezy•
Supervisor of Secondary Social Studies and Business -- Ms. Jennifer Laden•
Supervisor of Secondary Science -- Ms. Joah O'Keefe•
Supervisor of Secondary Special Education -- TBA
•
•
Supervisor of Elem. English and Social Studies -- Ms. Marina Moran•
Supervisor of Elem. Math and Science -- Mr. Dennis Kortright•
Elem. Special Education Chairperson -- Ms. Louann Andralliski •
•
Purchasing/Transportation Agent -- Ms. Gene George•
Transportation Assistant -- Ms. Maria Poleski•
•
Director of Cable Television Channel 74 -- Dir. Andrew Nicol•
•
Corporate Direction of Food Services -- NutriKids
•
Executive Director of the Harrison Youth Council -- Ms. Kathy Sommerich, CSW•
President of the Rotary Club of Harrison -- Mr. John Porco •
•
Chairperson for the HEF -- Ms. Laurie Fried•
Vice Chairperson for the HEF -- Ms. Renata Jacobson•
Treasurer for the HEF -- Ms. Susan Faxon•
Secretary for the HEF -- Ms. Michelle Schechter•
Grant Chair for the HEF -- Mr. Stephen Lichtenauer•
Director of Development for the HEF -- Mr. Terrill McDade
Rumor has it that the origin of the Rye-Harrison game was from a dispute in the 1920s about the Parsons Memorial School. When it was established, there was one school district covering both Rye and Harrison, the Rye-Harrison School District (Union Free School District No. 0006 in New York State). In the 1920s as both towns began to boom, the school district split up, into the current Rye School District, and Harrison central School District. Rye kept the high school because it was in rye's territory, and Harrison built a new High School. Rye kept the 4 elementary schools that had been in their town, and Harrison kept the 5 that were in their town, and there was one left. The Parsons Memorial Elementary School. The Parsons school is in the town of Harrison, but if kept by rye, both districts would have an equal number of elementary schools. Others argued that it did not matter because the town of Harrison is geographically larger than the town of Rye. To complicate the matter, Parsons was the oldest building of any of the schools, built in 1898, and opening in September 1899. Supposedly, to settle the argument, there was a football game held, and the winner kept Parsons.
There is another story, born out of the feuds that sometimes grow between the downtown parsons kids and kids from other Harrison elementary schools, that says the loser of the game got to keep parsons. The winner of the original Harrison-Rye game is not known, however it is known that it took place in 1928. (Coincidentally the same year Playland
opened in Rye.) The Athletic Department is under the supervision of the Director of Physical Education, Health and Athletics, Ms. Patricia Selligman.
subject areas. In 2006-2007, students took AP examinations in 24 of the possible 37 Advanced Placement
course areas.
The building is home to the Harrison Performing Arts Center, renovated in 2007, by a $1,250,000 grant received from the New York State Education Department in collaboration with the Harrison Educational Foundation (HEF). The Harrison Performing Arts Center (HPAC) features 825 seats, two balconies, a separate Light Booth,an extra high stage bow as well as state-of-the-art lighting systems by Electronic Theatre Controls
and audio systems by Allen and Heath. The nicest high school performing arts facility in New York State, the HPAC, is entirely managed by students. The Harrison Technical Crew has been recognized by the Hellen Hays Youth Theatre Foundation for Outstanding Achievement in Musicals and Drama; notable alumni have continued careers at well respected design/technology schools such as Emerson College
and Purchase College. The HPAC and Sirius Black Box Theatre are under the supervisor of the Director of Fine and Performing Arts, Ms. Mary Ellis.
The building was originally home to a then-state-of-the-art planetarium complete with 25 ft. diameter dome, and a projector that could recede into an underground tunnel when not used, as well as built in theater-style seating and offset lighting. Unfortunately, due to the building lacking space, when a dance studio was needed for the school to be able to apply for the International Bachelorate (IB) program, the planetarium was the space that was decided to be renovated. It is now a dance studio/planetarium, with a movable star projector, mirrors mounted on the walls, a wooden floor and folding seating. In addition to being a dance studio, it is also a black-box theater, named the Sirius Black Box Theater, the word 'Sirius' pertaining to the star, Sirius, because it is a planetarium. Despite the room having 4 identities, (planetarium, dance studio, Sirius black box theater, and its room number (A101)), it is known by students simply as the planetarium, no matter what purpose they be travelling there for, star watching, dancing, or watching a show.
Harrison High School
Harrison High School is a four-year comprehensive public high school located in Harrison, New Jersey, operating as part of the Harrison Public Schools...
.
Harrison High School (HHS) is a public high school
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....
located in Harrison
Harrison, New York
Harrison is a village and town in Westchester County, New York, United States, located approximately northeast of Manhattan. The population was 27,472 at the 2010 census.-Establishment:...
, Westchester County, New York
Westchester County, New York
Westchester County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. Westchester covers an area of and has a population of 949,113 according to the 2010 Census, residing in 45 municipalities...
. The school is approximately 22 miles (35.4 km) northeast of New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. It is the only high school operated by the Harrison Central School District. As one of the geographically largest school districts in Westchester, Harrison encompasses several micro-communities comprising a socioeconomically and culturally diverse student population.
Nearly 1,000 students are enrolled in the school (2010–2011), with 103 teaching faculty members. 98 percent of the Class of 2010 went on to post-secondary education, with 89 percent attending four-year colleges.
The student body is predominantly white
Caucasian race
The term Caucasian race has been used to denote the general physical type of some or all of the populations of Europe, North Africa, the Horn of Africa, Western Asia , Central Asia and South Asia...
(77.7 percent), with 11.6 percent Hispanic
Hispanic
Hispanic is a term that originally denoted a relationship to Hispania, which is to say the Iberian Peninsula: Andorra, Gibraltar, Portugal and Spain. During the Modern Era, Hispanic sometimes takes on a more limited meaning, particularly in the United States, where the term means a person of ...
, 9.68 percent Asia
Asia
Asia is the world's largest and most populous continent, located primarily in the eastern and northern hemispheres. It covers 8.7% of the Earth's total surface area and with approximately 3.879 billion people, it hosts 60% of the world's current human population...
n/Pacific Islander
Pacific Islander
Pacific Islander , is a geographic term to describe the indigenous inhabitants of any of the three major sub-regions of Oceania: Polynesia, Melanesia and Micronesia.According to the Encyclopædia Britannica, these three regions, together with their islands consist of:Polynesia:...
and 1 percent African-American.
Mission
The Harrison community is home to several world corporate headquarters including PepsiCo, Morgan Stanley, MasterCard and the World Tennis Federation. Harrison hosts the State University of New York’s Purchase College, Manhattanville College, a small private liberal arts college, and satellite campuses for Fordham University and Long Island University. It is also contains nine country clubs and large multimillion dollar estates. This contrasts starkly with the village of Harrison and hamlets of West Harrison with working-class families on traditional quarter acre lots and multi-family housing. The district is experiencing significant growth in its English as a second language population and ethnic diversity. Harrison embraces and celebrates its diverse student body and the Board of Education has proudly and consistently pursued a mission of excellence and equity for all students. The Harrison Central School District is committed to four core values: Equity, Access, Rigor, and Adaptability.The following accomplishments and points of pride are attributable to Harrison’s commitment to its mission of equity, access, rigor, and adaptability for all students, which serve as the foundation for all decisions made on behalf of our students:
- Harrison ranked 99 (of 27,000 high schools nationwide) in the 2010 Newsweek ranking of America’s high schools
- Harrison ranked number 1 in Westchester County, number 4 in New York States, and number 71 in the nation according to the Washington Post High School Challenge Index.
- Teaching staff committed to the development of internationally minded students, who recognize their shared humanity
- Rigorous Advanced Placement Program with 23 course offerings
- Rigorous IB Program
- Syracuse University (SUPA) Dual Enrollment Multi-Variable Calculus and Computer Science Program
- Historically successful Model Congress Delegation
- Nationally ranked debate team
- Nationally ranked Mock Trial team and academic law program
- Award winning school newspaper and journalism program
- Award winning Technical Theatre Crew
- Competitive dance, drama, theatre arts, musical theatre, and visual arts programs
*Expansive music performance program that includes ensemble groups, a string orchestra, percussion ensemble, jazz band, swing band, nationally recognized marching band and choir and show choir
- Experiential, local, and global service-learning initiatives and programs
- Peer leadership and advocacy programs*
- Forty-seven high school interscholastic sports teams, including twenty-one (out of 28 eligible) prestigious scholar athletic teams, and several league champions.
Harrison High School embraces the College Board’s mission of promoting equity and access by encouraging students to enroll in a rigorous educational program. More students are now taking AP courses than at any time in the history of the school. The number of students scoring 3, 4, or 5 has increased by nearly 300% and the number of AP Scholars has increased by over 500% since 2000—ranging from 23 students in 2002 to 121 in 2010.
District Wide Administration
•Superintendent of Schools -- Mr. Louis N. Wool•
Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum -- Mr. Michael Greenfield•
Assistant Superintendent for Human Resources -- Dr. Brian Ladewig•
Assistant Superintendent for Business -- Mr. Robert Salierno•
Business Manager / Treasurer -- Ms. Nora McAvoy•
•
Director of Special Education -- Ms. Susan Lockhart•
Director of Health, Physical Education & Athletics -- Ms. Patricia Seligman•
Director of Facilities and Operations -- Mr. Lenny Purcell•
Director of Fine and Performing Arts -- Ms. Mary Ellis•
Director of LOTE/ ESL -- Brendan Gallivan•
•
Supervisor of Guidance -- Mr. Christopher Miller•
•
Supervisor of Secondary English -- TBA•
Supervisor of Secondary Mathematics and Computer Science -- Dr. Clifford Sweezy•
Supervisor of Secondary Social Studies and Business -- Ms. Jennifer Laden•
Supervisor of Secondary Science -- Ms. Joah O'Keefe•
Supervisor of Secondary Special Education -- TBA
•
•
Supervisor of Elem. English and Social Studies -- Ms. Marina Moran•
Supervisor of Elem. Math and Science -- Mr. Dennis Kortright•
Elem. Special Education Chairperson -- Ms. Louann Andralliski •
•
Purchasing/Transportation Agent -- Ms. Gene George•
Transportation Assistant -- Ms. Maria Poleski•
•
Director of Cable Television Channel 74 -- Dir. Andrew Nicol•
•
Corporate Direction of Food Services -- NutriKids
•
Executive Director of the Harrison Youth Council -- Ms. Kathy Sommerich, CSW•
President of the Rotary Club of Harrison -- Mr. John Porco •
•
Chairperson for the HEF -- Ms. Laurie Fried•
Vice Chairperson for the HEF -- Ms. Renata Jacobson•
Treasurer for the HEF -- Ms. Susan Faxon•
Secretary for the HEF -- Ms. Michelle Schechter•
Grant Chair for the HEF -- Mr. Stephen Lichtenauer•
Director of Development for the HEF -- Mr. Terrill McDade
Athletics
Harrison High teams are named "Huskies." Their colors are maroon and white. Harrison High school has a long history of sports and continues to offer a vast variety of sports today. One of the oldest traditions is the Harrison Rye Game, a football game between the Harrison Huskies, and the Garnets, the football team from Rye High School, in the neighboring town of Rye, NY. each year the game is held at the field in the town opposite its location last year. For example, the Fall 2010 Rye-Harrison game was at the Rye High School Field, and the 2009 game was held at the Harrison field, and 2011 will be at Harrison again.Rumor has it that the origin of the Rye-Harrison game was from a dispute in the 1920s about the Parsons Memorial School. When it was established, there was one school district covering both Rye and Harrison, the Rye-Harrison School District (Union Free School District No. 0006 in New York State). In the 1920s as both towns began to boom, the school district split up, into the current Rye School District, and Harrison central School District. Rye kept the high school because it was in rye's territory, and Harrison built a new High School. Rye kept the 4 elementary schools that had been in their town, and Harrison kept the 5 that were in their town, and there was one left. The Parsons Memorial Elementary School. The Parsons school is in the town of Harrison, but if kept by rye, both districts would have an equal number of elementary schools. Others argued that it did not matter because the town of Harrison is geographically larger than the town of Rye. To complicate the matter, Parsons was the oldest building of any of the schools, built in 1898, and opening in September 1899. Supposedly, to settle the argument, there was a football game held, and the winner kept Parsons.
There is another story, born out of the feuds that sometimes grow between the downtown parsons kids and kids from other Harrison elementary schools, that says the loser of the game got to keep parsons. The winner of the original Harrison-Rye game is not known, however it is known that it took place in 1928. (Coincidentally the same year Playland
Playland (New York)
Playland, often called Rye Playland and also known as Playland Amusement Park, is an amusement park located in Rye, New York. Run by Westchester County, it is the only government owned-and-operated amusement park in the United States.-History:...
opened in Rye.) The Athletic Department is under the supervision of the Director of Physical Education, Health and Athletics, Ms. Patricia Selligman.
Clubs and organizations
Students participate in a variety of several clubs and organizations, including:- Action Club/YVH
- Art Club
- Asian Cultural Club
- Band
- Bowling Club
- Business Club
- Cable Television Club
- Chess Club
- Chorus
- Color Guard
- Dance Team
- Debate Team
- Diversity Club
- Footlight Players
- Foreign Language Club
- French Club
- Graphic Communications Club
- Habitat for Humanity
- Husky Herald
- Italian Club
- Jazz Band
- Latin Club
- Law Day
- Literary Magazine "Imagine"
- Literature Appreciation Club
- Majorettes
- Math Team
- Marching Band
- Mock Trial
- Model Congress
- National Honor Society
- Peer Leadership
- R.E.E.F. (Rescue Earth's Environmental Future)
- R.O.T.O.Y. (Reaching Out To Our Young)
- Renaissance
- SADD (Students Against Destructive Decisions)
- Spanish Club
- Student Government/G.O. (General Organization)
- Swing Band
- HPAC Tech Crew
- V.A.A.S.A.
- Visual Ensemble
- WISE
- Writers Among Us
- YearBook ("Reminiscence")
- Youth Volunteers Of Harrison (YVH)
Performance
In 2006, students exceeded the state average in 6 of 7 New York State Regents ExaminationsRegents Examinations
Regents High School examinations, sometimes shortened to the Regents, are mandatory in New York State through the New York State Education Department, designed and administered under the authority of the Board of Regents of the University of the State of New York...
subject areas. In 2006-2007, students took AP examinations in 24 of the possible 37 Advanced Placement
Advanced 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...
course areas.
Building
The current building of the Harrison High School was built in 1973 and 1974, and opened for September 1974. The building was built as a solution to the lack in size of the Harrison Junior Senior High School, serving grades 6 to 12, established in 1957 in the building built to be the Harrison High School in 1939. The building is currently used as the middle school. Harrison High school demonstrates a circular design, with a hallway spanning one quarter of a circle, and a hallway that is a full circle radially centered inside the first hallway, connected by two other hallways, the Main Hallway, and the Senior Hallway. The building is two stories tall and has two gyms, a cafeteria, a theater, and 213 classrooms.The building is home to the Harrison Performing Arts Center, renovated in 2007, by a $1,250,000 grant received from the New York State Education Department in collaboration with the Harrison Educational Foundation (HEF). The Harrison Performing Arts Center (HPAC) features 825 seats, two balconies, a separate Light Booth,an extra high stage bow as well as state-of-the-art lighting systems by Electronic Theatre Controls
Electronic Theatre Controls
Electronic Theatre Controls is a privately held corporation with global headquarters in Middleton, Wisconsin, United States. An international manufacturer of entertainment and architectural lighting systems, ETC offers professional lighting fixtures, lighting control consoles, dimming equipment...
and audio systems by Allen and Heath. The nicest high school performing arts facility in New York State, the HPAC, is entirely managed by students. The Harrison Technical Crew has been recognized by the Hellen Hays Youth Theatre Foundation for Outstanding Achievement in Musicals and Drama; notable alumni have continued careers at well respected design/technology schools such as Emerson College
Emerson College
Emerson College is a private coeducational university located in Boston, Massachusetts. Founded in 1880 by Charles Wesley Emerson as a "school of oratory," Emerson is "the only comprehensive college or university in America dedicated exclusively to communication and the arts in a liberal arts...
and Purchase College. The HPAC and Sirius Black Box Theatre are under the supervisor of the Director of Fine and Performing Arts, Ms. Mary Ellis.
The building was originally home to a then-state-of-the-art planetarium complete with 25 ft. diameter dome, and a projector that could recede into an underground tunnel when not used, as well as built in theater-style seating and offset lighting. Unfortunately, due to the building lacking space, when a dance studio was needed for the school to be able to apply for the International Bachelorate (IB) program, the planetarium was the space that was decided to be renovated. It is now a dance studio/planetarium, with a movable star projector, mirrors mounted on the walls, a wooden floor and folding seating. In addition to being a dance studio, it is also a black-box theater, named the Sirius Black Box Theater, the word 'Sirius' pertaining to the star, Sirius, because it is a planetarium. Despite the room having 4 identities, (planetarium, dance studio, Sirius black box theater, and its room number (A101)), it is known by students simply as the planetarium, no matter what purpose they be travelling there for, star watching, dancing, or watching a show.