Shepaug Valley High School
Encyclopedia
Shepaug Valley High School is a four-year public, coeducational high school in rural Washington
, Connecticut
, although it draws residents from nearby Roxbury
, Bridgewater
, and Sherman
as well. It neighbors prep school
The Gunnery
, and is the only public high school in Region 12. It was chosen as Connecticut's only blue-ribbon school in 1998, and one of only two in New England
.
The rest of the building is shared between middle and high school students. It consists of a cafeteria, a large, central cavity known as "the mall," a library resource center with more than 10,000 print volumes, a gymnasium, a swimming pool, band and choir practice rooms, fine arts, auto, and woodworking shops, and a professionally equipped theatre.
Outdoors on campus, there is a peace pole
and reflection area, a swing-set, a pond, and a memorial to former student Tam Farrow. Shepaug also hosts soccer and field hockey fields, a competitive cross country trail, and a track that was recently under renovation.
Other unique features of Shepaug include its block scheduling, Holiday Bazaar, Swanson/Horrigan Memorial Slowpitch Softball game
, Sophomore Talent show, and Junior fashion show "Mr. Shepaug".
Washington, Connecticut
Washington is a rural town in Litchfield County, Connecticut, in the New England region of the United States. The population was 3,596 at the 2000 census. Washington is known for its picturesque countryside, historic architecture, and active civic and cultural life...
, Connecticut
Connecticut
Connecticut is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, and the state of New York to the west and the south .Connecticut is named for the Connecticut River, the major U.S. river that approximately...
, although it draws residents from nearby Roxbury
Roxbury, Connecticut
Roxbury is a town in Litchfield County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 2,136 at the 2000 census.-History:Roxbury, whose Indian name was "Shepaug", a Mahican name signifiying "rocky water", was settled about the year 1713...
, Bridgewater
Bridgewater, Connecticut
Bridgewater is a town in Litchfield County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 1,824 at the 2000 census. It is the only remaining dry town in Connecticut.-Geography:...
, and Sherman
Sherman, Connecticut
Sherman is the northernmost and least populous town of Fairfield County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 3,581 at the 2010 census. The town is named for New Haven's Founding Father, Roger Sherman....
as well. It neighbors prep school
University-preparatory school
A university-preparatory school or college-preparatory school is a secondary school, usually private, designed to prepare students for a college or university education...
The Gunnery
The Gunnery
The Gunnery is a coeducational boarding and day Prep school for 295 students in grades nine through twelve. The campus borders the village green of Washington, Connecticut, U.S., a small, historic town in the Litchfield Hills. The Gunnery has no religious or military affiliations.The Gunnery was...
, and is the only public high school in Region 12. It was chosen as Connecticut's only blue-ribbon school in 1998, and one of only two in New England
New England
New England is a region in the northeastern corner of the United States consisting of the six states of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut...
.
Ground plan
Shepaug is a one-floor building housed on an 80 acres (323,748.8 m²) campus. Since the space is shared with students of Shepaug Valley Middle School, who have their own wing in the building, high school students take academic courses in their own section of the building, a long hallway off of which classrooms branch.The rest of the building is shared between middle and high school students. It consists of a cafeteria, a large, central cavity known as "the mall," a library resource center with more than 10,000 print volumes, a gymnasium, a swimming pool, band and choir practice rooms, fine arts, auto, and woodworking shops, and a professionally equipped theatre.
Outdoors on campus, there is a peace pole
Peace pole
A Peace Pole is a monument that displays the message "May Peace Prevail on Earth” in the language of the country where it has been placed, and usually 3 to 5 additional translations. The message is referred to as a peace prayer....
and reflection area, a swing-set, a pond, and a memorial to former student Tam Farrow. Shepaug also hosts soccer and field hockey fields, a competitive cross country trail, and a track that was recently under renovation.
Features
Because of its small size, Shepaug is able to provide a number of unique events and services for its students. The most defining of these features is the Senior Project, a year-long course taken during the senior year which results in the student's presentation of a project, performance, or event. Past senior projects have ranged from humanitarian work for The Progeria Research Foundation to artistic endeavours such as CD production and even athletic events.Other unique features of Shepaug include its block scheduling, Holiday Bazaar, Swanson/Horrigan Memorial Slowpitch Softball game
Softball
Softball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of 10 to 14 players. It is a direct descendant of baseball although there are some key differences: softballs are larger than baseballs, and the pitches are thrown underhand rather than overhand...
, Sophomore Talent show, and Junior fashion show "Mr. Shepaug".