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Northside High School (Fort Smith, Arkansas)
Encyclopedia
Northside High School (formerly known as Fort Smith High School) is one of two public high schools in the city of Fort Smith, Arkansas
(the other being Southside High School
). Within the state, the school is commonly known as Fort Smith Northside.
On November 19, 1928, Fort Smith High School moved into a new building on 23rd and B Street in Fort Smith, Arkansas
. The population of Fort Smith at the time was 31,400. The new building was dedicated on February 15, 1929, just before the mid-term class graduation could take place. The first year, 848 students enrolled in the high school (it could accommodate 3,000 students). With the new large building, many local organizations, as well as nationally known groups and individuals used the 1,060-seat auditorium for performances and other types of events. Since it was built, the auditorium has been visited by such famous people as Helen Olheim, opera singer with the Metropolitan Opera
(1937–1938); Carl Sandburg
, poet, biographer and entertainer (1939–1940); Margaret Bourke-White
, war correspondent, photographer, author (1943–44); Nancy Gean , FSHS graduate and fashion analyst for Butterick (1947–1948); Nelson Bennett, world famous model for painters and sculptors (1965–1966); and Shawntel Smith
, Miss America (1995–1996).
In 1934, the Fort Smith High School yearbook, Sounder, changed its name to Bruin. During its formative years, the senior class of 1937 hired Harry Alford of Chicago
to write the Fort Smith High School Alma Mater, which has remained the same until today for now Northside High School.
In 1956, the school built an annex. The following year, enrollment for students was up to 1,738, which made Fort Smith High School the largest high school in the state of Arkansas
. During the school year of 1960-1961, the Farnsworth Rose Garden was completed on the campus. Fort Smith High School was officially renamed Northside High School in the year 1963. Shortly thereafter, the Field House was opened and a marquee was installed in front of the campus in 1964. When Lincoln High School closed, Northside's enrollment continued to grow.
Improvements were made continually for the next several years. First, Grizzly Stadium was renamed Mayo-Thompson Stadium. The campus continued to grow with the addition of the Fine Arts building, learning lab, and elevator during the 1980-1981 school year. The Rogers Book Store was purchased to house computer labs and kept its original name, the Schlenker Building. In 2003-2004, the original gym was renovated with a new finished floor, a film room, and new custom oak lockers. The original floor, possibly the only one of its kind, required special efforts to be able to reseal and finish it. The girls basketball team has been one of the strongest teams in the state for several years, winning four straight titles between 1999-2002.
of Excellence. Today, Northside continues to strive for excellence. The enrollment for the 2003-2004 school year was 1284 with a diverse group of students, the enrollment for the 2004-2005 school year was 1350, the enrollment for the 2005-2006 school year was 1383, and the enrollment for the 2007-2008 school year was 1404. The approximate breakdown is as follows: 12% Asian, 21% African American, 18% Hispanic, 2% American Indian, and 46% Caucasian enrolled. 35% of the student population is eligible for free lunch which is less than the 46% average for the state of Arkansas.
The Northside Quiz Bowl team has a long history of victories in state and national tournaments around the country. Most notably, the team won the American Scholastics Competition Network national championship in Chicago in 1993 and 2001. Northside students also won the 2002 and 2003 Arkansas Governor's Cup Quizbowl Association tournament championships including overall and AAAAA, the state's largest classification.
The Fort Smith Northside Grizzlies have won various athletic championships, including:
Their gymnasium will host the majority of home games for the Arkansas Fantastics
of the American Basketball Association.
Formerly, it was:
Fort Smith, Arkansas
Fort Smith is the second-largest city in Arkansas and one of the two county seats of Sebastian County. With a population of 86,209 in 2010, it is the principal city of the Fort Smith, Arkansas-Oklahoma Metropolitan Statistical Area, a region of 298,592 residents which encompasses the Arkansas...
(the other being Southside High School
Southside High School (Fort Smith, Arkansas)
Southside High School is one of two public high schools in Fort Smith, Arkansas, the other being Northside High School.The school was opened in 1963 and has had over 15,000 graduates. Since 1966, the school has been accredited by the North Central Association Commission on Accreditation and School...
). Within the state, the school is commonly known as Fort Smith Northside.
History
Fort Smith, Arkansas
Fort Smith is the second-largest city in Arkansas and one of the two county seats of Sebastian County. With a population of 86,209 in 2010, it is the principal city of the Fort Smith, Arkansas-Oklahoma Metropolitan Statistical Area, a region of 298,592 residents which encompasses the Arkansas...
. The population of Fort Smith at the time was 31,400. The new building was dedicated on February 15, 1929, just before the mid-term class graduation could take place. The first year, 848 students enrolled in the high school (it could accommodate 3,000 students). With the new large building, many local organizations, as well as nationally known groups and individuals used the 1,060-seat auditorium for performances and other types of events. Since it was built, the auditorium has been visited by such famous people as Helen Olheim, opera singer with the Metropolitan Opera
Metropolitan Opera
The Metropolitan Opera is an opera company, located in New York City. Originally founded in 1880, the company gave its first performance on October 22, 1883. The company is operated by the non-profit Metropolitan Opera Association, with Peter Gelb as general manager...
(1937–1938); Carl Sandburg
Carl Sandburg
Carl Sandburg was an American writer and editor, best known for his poetry. He won three Pulitzer Prizes, two for his poetry and another for a biography of Abraham Lincoln. H. L. Mencken called Carl Sandburg "indubitably an American in every pulse-beat."-Biography:Sandburg was born in Galesburg,...
, poet, biographer and entertainer (1939–1940); Margaret Bourke-White
Margaret Bourke-White
Margaret Bourke-White was an American photographer and documentary photographer. She is best known as the first foreign photographer permitted to take pictures of Soviet Industry, the first female war correspondent and the first female photographer for Henry Luce's Life magazine, where her...
, war correspondent, photographer, author (1943–44); Nancy Gean , FSHS graduate and fashion analyst for Butterick (1947–1948); Nelson Bennett, world famous model for painters and sculptors (1965–1966); and Shawntel Smith
Shawntel Smith
Shawntel Smith is an American beauty pageant contestant, who was Miss America in 1996. She was born in Muldrow, Oklahoma.-External links:*...
, Miss America (1995–1996).
In 1934, the Fort Smith High School yearbook, Sounder, changed its name to Bruin. During its formative years, the senior class of 1937 hired Harry Alford of Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
to write the Fort Smith High School Alma Mater, which has remained the same until today for now Northside High School.
In 1956, the school built an annex. The following year, enrollment for students was up to 1,738, which made Fort Smith High School the largest high school in the state of Arkansas
Arkansas
Arkansas is a state located in the southern region of the United States. Its name is an Algonquian name of the Quapaw Indians. Arkansas shares borders with six states , and its eastern border is largely defined by the Mississippi River...
. During the school year of 1960-1961, the Farnsworth Rose Garden was completed on the campus. Fort Smith High School was officially renamed Northside High School in the year 1963. Shortly thereafter, the Field House was opened and a marquee was installed in front of the campus in 1964. When Lincoln High School closed, Northside's enrollment continued to grow.
Improvements were made continually for the next several years. First, Grizzly Stadium was renamed Mayo-Thompson Stadium. The campus continued to grow with the addition of the Fine Arts building, learning lab, and elevator during the 1980-1981 school year. The Rogers Book Store was purchased to house computer labs and kept its original name, the Schlenker Building. In 2003-2004, the original gym was renovated with a new finished floor, a film room, and new custom oak lockers. The original floor, possibly the only one of its kind, required special efforts to be able to reseal and finish it. The girls basketball team has been one of the strongest teams in the state for several years, winning four straight titles between 1999-2002.
Current administration
- Ginni McDonald - Principal
- Anthony Sims - Assistant Principal
- Chris Carter - Assistant Principal
- Angela Miller - Assistant Principal
Former principals
Fort Smith High School/Northside High School Principals:- 1928-1949 - Elmer Cook
- 1949-1973 - Earl Farnsworth
- 1973-1987 - Frank Jones
- 1987-1997 - Bill Bardrick
- 1997-2001 - Dr. Barry Owen
- 2001-2007 - Dr. Ray Martin
- 2007-2010 - Martin Mahan
- 2010–2011 - Jim Garvey
- 2011–present - Ginni McDonald
Academics
In 1992-1993, Northside High School was selected as a National Blue Ribbon SchoolBlue Ribbon Schools Program
The Blue Ribbon Schools Program is a United States government program created in 1981 to honor schools which have achieved high levels of performance or significant improvements with emphasis on schools serving disadvantaged students. The program centers around a self-assessment conducted by the...
of Excellence. Today, Northside continues to strive for excellence. The enrollment for the 2003-2004 school year was 1284 with a diverse group of students, the enrollment for the 2004-2005 school year was 1350, the enrollment for the 2005-2006 school year was 1383, and the enrollment for the 2007-2008 school year was 1404. The approximate breakdown is as follows: 12% Asian, 21% African American, 18% Hispanic, 2% American Indian, and 46% Caucasian enrolled. 35% of the student population is eligible for free lunch which is less than the 46% average for the state of Arkansas.
The Northside Quiz Bowl team has a long history of victories in state and national tournaments around the country. Most notably, the team won the American Scholastics Competition Network national championship in Chicago in 1993 and 2001. Northside students also won the 2002 and 2003 Arkansas Governor's Cup Quizbowl Association tournament championships including overall and AAAAA, the state's largest classification.
Athletics
- (8x) 7A state footballAmerican footballAmerican football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
champion - (8x) 7A state boys basketballBasketballBasketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
champion - 07,08,09 - (4x) 7A state girls basketball champion; (2x) state overall champion
- (4x) 5A state boys track champion
Their gymnasium will host the majority of home games for the Arkansas Fantastics
Arkansas Fantastics
The Arkansas Fantastics was a expansion team in the American Basketball Association that was scheduled to begin play in 2007 in Fayetteville, Arkansas....
of the American Basketball Association.
Alma Mater
- All Hail to Our Northside High,
- Carry on With Your Majesty.
- All Hail to Our Northside High,
- Good Will With Us Night and Day.
- Through Years of Loyalty
- In Our Hearts You Shall Never Die.
- Oh! Alma Mater, In Our Prayers,
- Northside Senior High.
Fight Song
- Fighting for victory,
- Never give in.
- Fight 'till the end boys,
- Fight and might will win.
- So keep on fighting for victory,
- Crown every man.
- We're gonna
- FIGHT, FIGHT, FIGHT, FIGHT, FIGHT
- For Northside High.
Mission statement
According to the official web page, the current Northside High School mission statement is: "The mission of Northside High School is the relentless pursuit of high levels of learning for all students and adults alike."Formerly, it was:
Northside High School accepts the challenge of being an important component contributing to the academic, vocational, and social success of our students. We dedicate ourselves to meet this challenge by recognizing that students of all backgrounds can learn. We pledge to provide equitable educational opportunities which ensure students become productive members of society. We furthermore pledge to continue the ongoing process of education by forming community coalitions united to educate and enhance student's self-esteem in order for them to succeed.
Notable alumni
- John BoozmanJohn BoozmanJohn Nichols Boozman is the junior U.S. Senator for Arkansas . A member of the Republican Party, he previously served as the U.S. Representative for .Born in Shreveport, Louisiana, he was the brother of state Senator Fay Boozman...
- Congressman, Arkansas 3rd congressional district (2001–2011), current SenatorUnited States SenateThe United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
representing Arkansas. Northside graduate. Two-time University of Arkansas football letterman.
- Charles Winchester BreedloveCharles Winchester BreedloveCharles Winchester Breedlove was an invalided U.S. Marine, an actor and a motion picture director who died in office while a member of the Los Angeles City Council in the 1930s.-Biography:...
, Los Angeles City Council member, 1933–45
- Ron BrewerRon BrewerRonald Charles Brewer is a retired American professional basketball player. A 6'4" guard from the University of Arkansas, he was selected by the Portland Trail Blazers in the first round of the 1978 NBA Draft.-Prep years:Brewer played basketball at Fort Smith Northside High School, leading the...
- 7th pick of the 1978 NBA Draft1978 NBA DraftThe 1978 NBA Draft was the 32nd annual draft of the National Basketball Association . The draft was held on June 9, 1978, before the 1978–79 season. In this draft, 22 NBA teams took turns selecting amateur U.S. college basketball players and other eligible players, including international players...
by the Portland Trail BlazersPortland Trail BlazersThe Portland Trail Blazers, commonly known as the Blazers, are an American professional basketball team based in Portland, Oregon. They play in the Northwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association . The Trail Blazers originally played their home games in the...
. At Northside, he was on the basketball team that won a state championship. On the University of Arkansas basketball team, he was a member of Eddie SuttonEddie SuttonEddie Sutton is an American former college head coach with 36 years of Division I basketball coaching experience at Creighton, Arkansas, Kentucky, Oklahoma State , and the University of San Francisco...
's "Triplet's" that led the team to the Final FourFinal fourFinal Four isa sports term that is commonly applied to the last four teams remaining in a playoff tournament, most notably NCAA Division I college basketball tournaments. The term usually refers to the four teams who compete in the two games of a single-elimination tournament's semi-final round...
in 1978.
- Brett GoodeBrett GoodeBrett Goode is an American football long snapper for the Green Bay Packers of the National Football League. He was signed by the Jacksonville Jaguars as an undrafted free agent in 2007. He played college football at Arkansas....
- long snapperLong snapperIn American football and Canadian football, the term long snapper refers to a player who is a specialized center during punts, field goals, and extra point attempts. His job is to snap the ball as quickly and accurately as possible....
for the Green Bay PackersGreen Bay PackersThe Green Bay Packers are an American football team based in Green Bay, Wisconsin. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Packers are the current NFL champions...
.
- Matt JonesMatt Jones (American football)Matthew Jones is a former American football wide receiver . He was drafted by the Jacksonville Jaguars in the first round of the 2005 NFL Draft, and retired officially in November 2010. He played college football at Arkansas....
- 2005 1st round NFL DraftNFL DraftThe National Football League Draft is an annual event in which the National Football League teams select eligible college football players and it is their most common source of player recruitment. The basic design of the draft is each team is given a position in the drafting order in reverse order...
; he spent his senior year in Fort Smith and was a high schoolHigh schoolHigh 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....
star athlete at Northside. He played quarterback University of ArkansasUniversity of ArkansasThe University of Arkansas is a public, co-educational, land-grant, space-grant, research university. It is classified by the Carnegie Foundation as a research university with very high research activity. It is the flagship campus of the University of Arkansas System and is located in...
and led its football team to victories in the two longest overtime games in NCAA football history. He was draftedDraft (sports)A draft is a process used in the United States, Canada, Japan, Australia, Russia and the Philippines to allocate certain players to sports teams. In a draft, teams take turns selecting from a pool of eligible players...
by the Jacksonville JaguarsJacksonville JaguarsThe Jacksonville Jaguars are a professional American football team based in Jacksonville, Florida, U.S. They are currently members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
, and helped them reach the 2005 NFL PlayoffsNFL playoffsThe National Football League playoffs are a single-elimination tournament held at the end of the regular season to determine the NFL champion. Six teams from each of the league's two conferences qualify for the playoffs based on regular season records, and a tie-breaking procedure exists in the...
.