James M. Bennett High School
Encyclopedia
James M. Bennett High School is a high school
located in Salisbury
, Wicomico County
, Maryland
. It is part of the Wicomico County Public School
system. It is one of four public high schools in Wicomico County along with Mardela Middle and High School
, Parkside High School
, and Wicomico High School
. It was established in 1962. It has an enrollment of 1346 (in 2008) in grades nine through twelve, and 110 teachers and assistants.
Construction on the replacement James M. Bennett High School completed 2010, and the school opened for the 2010-2011 school year. Construction began in 2008, with a goal completion date of 2011. The new building includes state of the art technology including geothermal heating
control and automated energy-saving lighting and up-to-date educational tools such as LCD projectors, digital whiteboards
, campus-wide Wi-FI and TV networks, and document cameras
replacing overhead projectors
. Eventually Bennett Middle School will be demolished for additional sports fields. The new school was rededicated on April 18, 2011, marking Salisbury's first new high school in more than 30 years.
The Clippers Marching Band is led by Band Director Douglas Miles, and has won numerous accolades, including traveling to the ACC championships, finishing 21st in 2007, finishing 16th and achieving a bronze medal finalist award in 2008, and finishing 13th and achieving a bronze medal finalist award in 2009, and finishing in 7th and achieving a bronze level finalist award in 2010. The Bennett Band is one of the largest high school marching bands on the Delmarva Peninsula
.
JMB's Destination ImagiNation
creative problem-solving teams have been successful. Two teams qualified to go to Global Finals in 2003 (one state-champion, one runner-up). In 2007, a team of freshmen won the state championship and traveled to the University of Tennessee in Knoxville for the Global Finals tournament.
The school's Academic Challenge team has also fared well, placing in the top three in the Comcast Academic Challenge for four straight years, and appearing on WJZ-TV
's high school quiz show, It's Academic
, where Bennett placed second for the Baltimore
region in 2009.
The school's faculty and staff have won numerous awards. In 2004, Patricia Adkins was named the Maryland's Vice-Principal of the Year. Brian Raygor was the 2004-05 Wicomico County Teacher of the Year, and recipient of the National Association of Biology Teacher's
Outstanding Biology Teacher Award. Biology teacher Jeff Royer was recognized as being Technology Educator of the Year in 2004. Raygor, Cheryl Doughty (Family and Consumer Science), Don Abbatiello (Social Studies), Marc Garlock (Social Studies) and Lisa Santore (English Language Learners) have earned National Teacher Certification from the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS). Doughty was also recognized as a "Service Learning Fellow" for her innovative student service learning
projects and webpage. Wal-Mart
Teacher of the Year recipients include social studies teacher Josh McKelvy and English teacher Mary Lou Coffin.
Current Advanced Placement offerings at James M. Bennett include Biology
, Chemistry
, Environmental Science
, Physics
, Computer Science
A, Psychology
, English Language and Composition
, English Literature
, U.S. Government and Politics
, United States History
, European History
, Calculus
, Spanish
, and Latin
.
James Bennett High School's enrollment has been steadily increasing over the past 17 years. The enrollment peaked in 2005 at 1,388.
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 Salisbury
Salisbury, Maryland
-Demographics:Salisbury is the principal city of the Salisbury-Ocean Pines CSA, a Combined Statistical Area that includes the Salisbury metropolitan area and the Ocean Pines micropolitan area , which had a combined population of 176,657 at the 2010 census.As of the census of 2000, there were...
, Wicomico County
Wicomico County, Maryland
As of the census of 2010, there were 98,733 people, 37,220 households, and 24,172 families residing in the county. The population density was 261.7 people per square mile . There were 41,192 housing units at an average density of 109.2 per square mile...
, Maryland
Maryland
Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...
. It is part of the Wicomico County Public School
Wicomico County Public Schools
Wicomico County Public Schools is the public school district in Wicomico County, Maryland. In July 2009, WCPS had 25 schools, consisting of 16 elementary, 1 elementary/middle, 3 middle, 1 middle/high and 4 high schools....
system. It is one of four public high schools in Wicomico County along with Mardela Middle and High School
Mardela Middle and High School
Mardela Middle and High School is a seven-year public middle school / high school in Mardela Springs, Wicomico County, Maryland, United States...
, Parkside High School
Parkside High School
Parkside High School is a four-year public high school in Salisbury, Wicomico County, Maryland, United States. It is one of four public high schools in Wicomico County along with James Bennett High School, Wicomico High School, and Mardela Middle and High School.-About the School:The school is...
, and Wicomico High School
Wicomico High School
Wicomico High School is a high school located in Salisbury, Wicomico County, Maryland. It is one of four public high schools in Wicomico County along with James M. Bennett High School, Mardela Middle and High School and Parkside High School. Wicomico High School currently enrolls grades 9 through 12...
. It was established in 1962. It has an enrollment of 1346 (in 2008) in grades nine through twelve, and 110 teachers and assistants.
Background
James M. Bennett High School is currently headed by principal Steve Grudis, who is aided by Vice Principals Kim Pinhey and James Cook, and Dean of Students Joe Raffa and John Kotz.Construction on the replacement James M. Bennett High School completed 2010, and the school opened for the 2010-2011 school year. Construction began in 2008, with a goal completion date of 2011. The new building includes state of the art technology including geothermal heating
Geothermal heating
Geothermal heating is the direct use of geothermal energy for heating applications. Humans have taken advantage of geothermal heat this way since the Paleolithic era. Approximately seventy countries made direct use of a total of 270 PJ of geothermal heating in 2004...
control and automated energy-saving lighting and up-to-date educational tools such as LCD projectors, digital whiteboards
Interactive whiteboard
An interactive whiteboard , is a large interactive display that connects to a computer and projector. A projector projects the computer's desktop onto the board's surface where users control the computer using a pen, finger, stylus, or other device...
, campus-wide Wi-FI and TV networks, and document cameras
Document camera
Document cameras, also known as image presenters, visual presenters, digital visualizers, digital overheads, and docucams, are real-time image capture devices for displaying an object to a large audience...
replacing overhead projectors
Overhead projector
An overhead projector is a variant of slide projector that is used to display images to an audience.-Mechanism:An overhead projector typically consists of a large box containing a very bright lamp and a fan to cool it. On top of the box is a large fresnel lens that collimates the light...
. Eventually Bennett Middle School will be demolished for additional sports fields. The new school was rededicated on April 18, 2011, marking Salisbury's first new high school in more than 30 years.
State Champions
- 2008 - Boys Soccer
- 2007 - Wrestling
- 2006 - Baseball
- 2004 - Girls' Track & Field
- 2003 - Golf
- 2003 - Boys' Basketball
- 1993 - Field Hockey
- 1985 - Football
- 1984 - Boys' Track & Field
- 1983 - Boys' Track & Field
- 1983 - Football
- 1982 - Football
- 1979 - Boys' Track & Field
Finalist
- 2004 - Baseball
- 2004 - Girls' Soccer
- 2003 - Boys' Basketball
- 1999 - Boys' Soccer
- 1993 - Wrestling
- 1990 - Field Hockey
- 1985 - Baseball
- 1985 - Field Hockey
- 1984 - Football
- 1983 - Volleyball
- 1982 - Boys' Track & Field
- 1980 - Boys' Soccer
- 1978 - Boys' Track & Field
- 1975 - Baseball
- 1972 - Boys' Track & Field
Semifinalist
- 2006 - Volleyball
- 2004 - Boys' Basketball
- 2003 - Baseball
- 2003 - Volleyball
- 2002 - Volleyball
- 2002 - Field Hockey
- 2001 - Girls' Soccer
- 2000 - Field Hockey
- 1997 - Softball
- 1992 - Baseball
- 1990 - Football
- 1988 - Field Hockey
- 1987 - Football
- 1986 - Baseball
- 1986 - Softball
- 1985 - Boys' Basketball
- 1984 - Baseball
- 1983 - Volleyball
- 1981 - Field Hockey
- 1980 - Baseball
- 1977 - Baseball
- 1977 - Boys' Soccer
- 1976 - Baseball
- 1976 - Girls' Basketball
- 1975 - Boys' Soccer
- 1975 - Field Hockey
- 1974 - Boys' Soccer
- 1973 - Boys' Soccer
- 1968 - Boys' Basketball
Academics
Several of Bennett's nonathletic organizations have seen competitive success in recent years.The Clippers Marching Band is led by Band Director Douglas Miles, and has won numerous accolades, including traveling to the ACC championships, finishing 21st in 2007, finishing 16th and achieving a bronze medal finalist award in 2008, and finishing 13th and achieving a bronze medal finalist award in 2009, and finishing in 7th and achieving a bronze level finalist award in 2010. The Bennett Band is one of the largest high school marching bands on the Delmarva Peninsula
Delmarva Peninsula
The Delmarva Peninsula is a large peninsula on the East Coast of the United States, occupied by most of Delaware and portions of Maryland and Virginia...
.
JMB's Destination ImagiNation
Destination ImagiNation
Destination ImagiNation Inc. or DI is a creative problem solving organization for youth and adults. Destination ImagiNation's educational goals are to foster creative and critical thinking, to develop teamwork, collaboration and leadership skills, and to nurture research and inquiry skills...
creative problem-solving teams have been successful. Two teams qualified to go to Global Finals in 2003 (one state-champion, one runner-up). In 2007, a team of freshmen won the state championship and traveled to the University of Tennessee in Knoxville for the Global Finals tournament.
The school's Academic Challenge team has also fared well, placing in the top three in the Comcast Academic Challenge for four straight years, and appearing on WJZ-TV
WJZ-TV
WJZ-TV, channel 13, is an owned and operated television station of the CBS Television Network, located in Baltimore, Maryland. WJZ-TV's studios and offices are located on Television Hill in the Woodberry section of Baltimore, adjacent to the transmission tower it shares with four other Baltimore...
's high school quiz show, It's Academic
It's Academic
It's Academic is a televised academic quiz competition for high school students, currently airing on two NBC affiliates in Washington, D.C. and Central Virginia and one CBS affiliate Baltimore, Maryland . The show has been on the air since October 7, 1961, making it the longest...
, where Bennett placed second for the Baltimore
Baltimore
Baltimore is the largest independent city in the United States and the largest city and cultural center of the US state of Maryland. The city is located in central Maryland along the tidal portion of the Patapsco River, an arm of the Chesapeake Bay. Baltimore is sometimes referred to as Baltimore...
region in 2009.
The school's faculty and staff have won numerous awards. In 2004, Patricia Adkins was named the Maryland's Vice-Principal of the Year. Brian Raygor was the 2004-05 Wicomico County Teacher of the Year, and recipient of the National Association of Biology Teacher's
National Association of Biology Teachers
The National Association of Biology Teachers is an American-based scholarly society that "empowers educators to provide the best possible biology and life science education for all students."...
Outstanding Biology Teacher Award. Biology teacher Jeff Royer was recognized as being Technology Educator of the Year in 2004. Raygor, Cheryl Doughty (Family and Consumer Science), Don Abbatiello (Social Studies), Marc Garlock (Social Studies) and Lisa Santore (English Language Learners) have earned National Teacher Certification from the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS). Doughty was also recognized as a "Service Learning Fellow" for her innovative student service learning
Service-learning
Service-learning is a method of teaching, learning and reflecting, frequently youth service, throughout the community. As a teaching method, it falls under the philosophy of experiential education...
projects and webpage. Wal-Mart
Wal-Mart
Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. , branded as Walmart since 2008 and Wal-Mart before then, is an American public multinational corporation that runs chains of large discount department stores and warehouse stores. The company is the world's 18th largest public corporation, according to the Forbes Global 2000...
Teacher of the Year recipients include social studies teacher Josh McKelvy and English teacher Mary Lou Coffin.
Current Advanced Placement offerings at James M. Bennett include Biology
AP Biology
In the United States, Advanced Placement Biology , is a course and examination offered by the College Board to high school students as an opportunity to earn placement credit for a college-level biology course....
, Chemistry
AP Chemistry
Advanced Placement Chemistry is a course and examination offered by the College Board as a part of the Advanced Placement Program to give American and Canadian high school students the opportunity to demonstrate their abilities and earn college-level credit.-The course:AP Chemistry is a course...
, Environmental Science
AP Environmental Science
Advanced Placement Environmental Science is a course offered by the College Board as part of the Advanced Placement Program to high school students interested in the environmental and natural sciences...
, Physics
AP Physics
AP Physics defines three categories of high school physics courses: A, B, and C. Category A refers to general introductory physics courses that are not mathematically rigorous...
, Computer Science
AP Computer Science
Advanced Placement Computer Science is the name of two distinct Advanced Placement courses and examinations offered by the College Board to high school students as an opportunity to earn college credit for a college-level computer science course...
A, Psychology
AP Psychology
The Advanced Placement Psychology course and corresponding exam is part of the College Board's Advanced Placement Program. This course is tailored for students interested in the field of psychology and as an opportunity to earn placement credit or exemption from a college-level psychology course...
, English Language and Composition
AP English Language and Composition
Advanced Placement English Language and Composition is a course and examination offered by the College Board as part of the Advanced Placement Program....
, English Literature
AP English Literature and Composition
Advanced Placement English Literature and Composition is a course and examination offered by the College Board as part of the Advanced Placement Program.-The Course:This course is designated for motivated students with a command of standard English, an...
, U.S. Government and Politics
AP United States Government and Politics
Advanced Placement United States Government and Politics, also known as AP US Gov & Pol, AP US Gov, AP Go Po or AP Gov, is a college-level course and examination offered to high school students through the College Board's Advanced Placement Program...
, United States History
AP United States History
Advanced Placement United States History is a course and examination offered by the College Board as part of the Advanced Placement Program...
, European History
AP European History
Advanced Placement European History is a course and examination offered by the College Board through the Advanced Placement Program...
, Calculus
AP Calculus
Advanced Placement Calculus is used to indicate one of two distinct Advanced Placement courses and examinations offered by the College Board, AP Calculus AB and AP Calculus BC....
, Spanish
AP Spanish Language
Advanced Placement Spanish Language is a course and examination offered by the College Board as part of the Advanced Placement Program.-The course:...
, and Latin
AP Latin: Vergil
Advanced Placement Latin: Vergil is an examination offered by the College Board's Advanced Placement Program. The current exam focuses on selections from the Aeneid, written by Augustan author Publius Vergilius Maro, also known as Vergil or Virgil...
.
Students
Graduation rates at James Bennett High School have significantly improved over the past 12 years. In 1999, the graduation rate was near 69%, though in 2007 the rate had climbed to 88%.James Bennett High School's enrollment has been steadily increasing over the past 17 years. The enrollment peaked in 2005 at 1,388.
| 2010 | 1,282 |
| 2009 | 1,313 |
| 2008 | 1,346 |
| 2007 | 1,303 |
| 2006 | 1,381 |
| 2005 | 1,388 |
| 2004 | 1,358 |
| 2003 | 1,370 |
| 2002 | 1,320 |
| 2001 | 1,300 |
| 2000 | 1,260 |
| 1999 | 1,216 |
| 1998 | 1,251 |
| 1997 | 1,263 |
| 1996 | 1,218 |
| 1995 | 1,220 |
| 1994 | 1,207 |
| 1993 | 1,124 |