Strath Haven High School
Encyclopedia
Strath Haven High School is a four-year public high school in Wallingford
, Pennsylvania
serving the Township
of Nether Providence and the Boroughs of Rose Valley
, Rutledge
, and Swarthmore, Pennsylvania
, as well as the communities of South Media, Garden City, Pennsylvania, and sections of Morton, Pennsylvania
. The school is accredited by the Middle States Association and was awarded the National Blue Ribbon School of Excellence by the Department of Education
in 2002. The student body numbers roughly 1200. The school is led by principal Dr. Mary Jo Yannecone, who was promoted from assistant principal in March 2005 when Albert Bichner became the Superintendent of High Schools for the School District of Philadelphia
. The school is the product of a merger between the former Swarthmore High School
and Nether Providence High School
. In 1984, the two schools combined to become Strath Haven, and Swarthmore students were moved to Nether Providence. The school was named after the Thomas Leiper Estate
-- called Stathhaven—a Registered Historic Place in Nether Providence. This was in turn named after Strathaven
, Scotland
where Thomas Leiper
was born. Strath Haven High School is a part of the Wallingford-Swarthmore School District
. The 1984 graduating class was the charter class of Strath Haven High School. Strath Haven is also noted for its burgeoning musical scene. During the 2008 presidential primary season, on April 2, 2008, Barack Obama
held a town meeting in the school's gym. On November 2, 2008, the school hosted the Republican nominee, John McCain
.
scores that were significantly higher than state and national averages. The mean SAT
verbal score was 563 and the mean SAT
math score was 574. More than 94% of the Class of 2005 participated in college
admissions testing; the student body produced 15 National Merit Finalists, 3 Semifinalists, and 17 commended students. The football team won state titles in 1999 and 2000 with players such as Mark Jones, who is now a punt returner for the Tennessee Titans, Dan Connor (American football player), an All American linebacker from Penn State who is now drafted by the NFL's Carolina Panthers, and Sam McGarity (American football), now a starting defensive end for UPenn
. They also made title game appearances in 2001 and 2002 and continue to be a state power. The Strath Haven Panthers football team is a member of the Central League, which consists of twelve different teams. Other notable alumni include Mike Conway of Fox 29
in Philadelphia; Jon Cohen (writer), screenplay writer of Minority Report
; and David Buck (flutist), principal flutist of the Los Angeles Philharmonic
. In addition, the school is known for its vibrant arts community; many students who participate in musical and visual arts programs go on to some of the best schools in the country. Strath Haven boasts many students performing in state, national, and international musical competitions. In addition, Strath Haven's various musical groups have performed across the globe, in places ranging from Canada to Italy. The Strath Haven Cantata joins Paul Winter in the Earth Mass every year at New York City's Saint John the Divine.
area technical schools to make vocational training available for students. Students enrolled in technical school
programs spend one-half day at Strath Haven taking a required core curriculum, and one-half day at the technical high school. Special education
programs are available for students with special needs. Strath Haven High School is known in the area for its high-quality assistance for hearing-impaired and handy-capable students.
All students are required to complete four years of study in major subject areas. A wide variety of electives are available to help students meet the course requirements listed below:
Guidance counselors assist in course selection, college and career placement, as well as student support. A full time psychologist and communications specialist are the core of a Student Assistance Program providing help to students at risk. In addition, Strath Haven maintains a career center for post-secondary advising.
Strath Haven is also known for its large marching band. Under the direction of Jack Hontz, the band consists of about 425 students ranging from 9th graders to 12th graders. They are present at every football game, and also perform in many parades in the surrounding communities. The band wears t-shirts with the number "12" on then, signifying they are the "12th member" of the football team. After each football game, the football team runs towards the band and raises their helmets, showing their thanks for the band's presence and support.
, music
, the arts
, and a host of extracurricular clubs (statistic based on Class of 2003). As stated above, the music scene at Strath Haven is very much up and coming. The marching band has roughly 400 members each year.
Want to know what games are being played today?
Log on to http://www.highschoolsports.net/portal.cfm?schoolid=PA190863960
Strath Haven's marching band is known for its massive size. The band currently has over 450 members.
It is the largest marching band in the state of Pennsylvania, over 100 members larger than the Penn State Blue Band.
As of 2010, it is the second largest marching band in the country.
Wallingford, Pennsylvania
Wallingford is an unincorporated community in Nether Providence Township, Delaware County in Pennsylvania, USA. Founded in 1687, it is named for Wallingford, England...
, Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
serving the Township
Township (United States)
A township in the United States is a small geographic area. Townships range in size from 6 to 54 square miles , with being the norm.The term is used in three ways....
of Nether Providence and the Boroughs of Rose Valley
Rose Valley, Pennsylvania
Rose Valley is a small but historic borough in Delaware County, Pennsylvania, United States. Its area is and the population was 944 at the 2000 census. It was settled by Quaker farmers in 1682, and later water mills along Ridley Creek drove manufacturing in the nineteenth century...
, Rutledge
Rutledge, Pennsylvania
Rutledge is a borough in Delaware County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 860 at the 2000 census. In the borough is a children's park named Triangle Park along with a Fire Department....
, and Swarthmore, Pennsylvania
Swarthmore, Pennsylvania
Swarthmore is a borough in Delaware County, Pennsylvania, United States. Swarthmore was originally named Westdale in honor of noted painter Benjamin West, who was one of the early residents of the town. The name was changed to Swarthmore after the establishment of Swarthmore College...
, as well as the communities of South Media, Garden City, Pennsylvania, and sections of Morton, Pennsylvania
Morton, Pennsylvania
Morton is a borough in Delaware County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 2,715 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Morton is located at ....
. The school is accredited by the Middle States Association and was awarded the National Blue Ribbon School of Excellence by the Department of Education
United States Department of Education
The United States Department of Education, also referred to as ED or the ED for Education Department, is a Cabinet-level department of the United States government...
in 2002. The student body numbers roughly 1200. The school is led by principal Dr. Mary Jo Yannecone, who was promoted from assistant principal in March 2005 when Albert Bichner became the Superintendent of High Schools for the School District of Philadelphia
School District of Philadelphia
The School District of Philadelphia is a school district based in the School District of Philadelphia Education Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, that includes all public schools in the city of Philadelphia. Established in 1818, it is the eighth largest school district in the nation.The School...
. The school is the product of a merger between the former Swarthmore High School
Swarthmore High School
Swarthmore High School was a four-year public high school in Swarthmore, Pennsylvania serving the Boroughs of Swarthmore and Rutledge.Swarthmore established its own independent school district when Swarthmore Borough incorporated in 1893. The Swarthmore and Rutledge School Districts merged in 1955...
and Nether Providence High School
Nether Providence High School
Nether Providence High School was a four-year public high school in Wallingford, Pennsylvania serving the Township of Nether Providence and the Boroughs of Rose Valley, South Media, Garden City, and sections of Morton. The school became Strath Haven High School when it merged with Swarthmore High...
. In 1984, the two schools combined to become Strath Haven, and Swarthmore students were moved to Nether Providence. The school was named after the Thomas Leiper Estate
Thomas Leiper Estate
The Thomas Leiper Estate is a Registered Historic Place in Nether Providence Township, Pennsylvania. Built by Thomas Leiper around 1785, the estate was named Strath Haven after Leiper's birth place in Strathaven, Scotland....
-- called Stathhaven—a Registered Historic Place in Nether Providence. This was in turn named after Strathaven
Strathaven
Strathaven is a historic market town in South Lanarkshire, Scotland. The town was granted a Royal Charter in 1450, making the Town of Strathaven a burgh of barony. The town's principal industry was primarily weaving in the 19th and early 20th centuries, however this declined when faced by...
, Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
where Thomas Leiper
Thomas Leiper
Thomas Leiper was a Scottish American merchant and local politician who served in the American Revolutionary War...
was born. Strath Haven High School is a part of the Wallingford-Swarthmore School District
Wallingford-Swarthmore School District
Wallingford-Swarthmore School District is a midsized, suburban public school district in south-eastern Delaware County, Pennsylvania in the United States. It serves the boroughs of Swarthmore, Rose Valley and Rutledge, and the township of Nether Providence...
. The 1984 graduating class was the charter class of Strath Haven High School. Strath Haven is also noted for its burgeoning musical scene. During the 2008 presidential primary season, on April 2, 2008, Barack Obama
Barack Obama
Barack Hussein Obama II is the 44th and current President of the United States. He is the first African American to hold the office. Obama previously served as a United States Senator from Illinois, from January 2005 until he resigned following his victory in the 2008 presidential election.Born in...
held a town meeting in the school's gym. On November 2, 2008, the school hosted the Republican nominee, John McCain
John McCain
John Sidney McCain III is the senior United States Senator from Arizona. He was the Republican nominee for president in the 2008 United States election....
.
Student Performance
The Class of 2003 achieved average SATSAT
The SAT Reasoning Test is a standardized test for college admissions in the United States. The SAT is owned, published, and developed by the College Board, a nonprofit organization in the United States. It was formerly developed, published, and scored by the Educational Testing Service which still...
scores that were significantly higher than state and national averages. The mean SAT
SAT
The SAT Reasoning Test is a standardized test for college admissions in the United States. The SAT is owned, published, and developed by the College Board, a nonprofit organization in the United States. It was formerly developed, published, and scored by the Educational Testing Service which still...
verbal score was 563 and the mean SAT
SAT
The SAT Reasoning Test is a standardized test for college admissions in the United States. The SAT is owned, published, and developed by the College Board, a nonprofit organization in the United States. It was formerly developed, published, and scored by the Educational Testing Service which still...
math score was 574. More than 94% of the Class of 2005 participated in college
College
A college is an educational institution or a constituent part of an educational institution. Usage varies in English-speaking nations...
admissions testing; the student body produced 15 National Merit Finalists, 3 Semifinalists, and 17 commended students. The football team won state titles in 1999 and 2000 with players such as Mark Jones, who is now a punt returner for the Tennessee Titans, Dan Connor (American football player), an All American linebacker from Penn State who is now drafted by the NFL's Carolina Panthers, and Sam McGarity (American football), now a starting defensive end for UPenn
University of Pennsylvania
The University of Pennsylvania is a private, Ivy League university located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Penn is the fourth-oldest institution of higher education in the United States,Penn is the fourth-oldest using the founding dates claimed by each institution...
. They also made title game appearances in 2001 and 2002 and continue to be a state power. The Strath Haven Panthers football team is a member of the Central League, which consists of twelve different teams. Other notable alumni include Mike Conway of Fox 29
WTXF-TV
WTXF-TV, virtual channel 29 , is an owned-and-operated station of the News Corporation-owned Fox Broadcasting Company, based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania...
in Philadelphia; Jon Cohen (writer), screenplay writer of Minority Report
Minority Report (film)
Minority Report is a 2002 American neo-noir science fiction film directed by Steven Spielberg and loosely based on the short story "The Minority Report" by Philip K. Dick. It is set primarily in Washington, D.C...
; and David Buck (flutist), principal flutist of the Los Angeles Philharmonic
Los Angeles Philharmonic
The Los Angeles Philharmonic is an American orchestra based in Los Angeles, California, United States. It has a regular season of concerts from October through June at the Walt Disney Concert Hall, and a summer season at the Hollywood Bowl from July through September...
. In addition, the school is known for its vibrant arts community; many students who participate in musical and visual arts programs go on to some of the best schools in the country. Strath Haven boasts many students performing in state, national, and international musical competitions. In addition, Strath Haven's various musical groups have performed across the globe, in places ranging from Canada to Italy. The Strath Haven Cantata joins Paul Winter in the Earth Mass every year at New York City's Saint John the Divine.
Programs
Partnerships have been established with Delaware CountyDelaware County, Pennsylvania
Delaware County is a county located in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. As of 2010, the population was 558,979, making it Pennsylvania's fifth most populous county, behind Philadelphia, Allegheny, Montgomery, and Bucks counties....
area technical schools to make vocational training available for students. Students enrolled in technical school
Technical school
Technical school is a general term used for two-year college which provide mostly employment-preparation skills for trained labor, such as welding, culinary arts and office management.-Associations supporting technical schools:...
programs spend one-half day at Strath Haven taking a required core curriculum, and one-half day at the technical high school. Special education
Special education
Special education is the education of students with special needs in a way that addresses the students' individual differences and needs. Ideally, this process involves the individually planned and systematically monitored arrangement of teaching procedures, adapted equipment and materials,...
programs are available for students with special needs. Strath Haven High School is known in the area for its high-quality assistance for hearing-impaired and handy-capable students.
All students are required to complete four years of study in major subject areas. A wide variety of electives are available to help students meet the course requirements listed below:
Guidance counselors assist in course selection, college and career placement, as well as student support. A full time psychologist and communications specialist are the core of a Student Assistance Program providing help to students at risk. In addition, Strath Haven maintains a career center for post-secondary advising.
Strath Haven is also known for its large marching band. Under the direction of Jack Hontz, the band consists of about 425 students ranging from 9th graders to 12th graders. They are present at every football game, and also perform in many parades in the surrounding communities. The band wears t-shirts with the number "12" on then, signifying they are the "12th member" of the football team. After each football game, the football team runs towards the band and raises their helmets, showing their thanks for the band's presence and support.
The Five "A's"
Strath Haven operates along the theme of the "Five A's," a phrase used primarily in appearances by administration officials. The "Five A's," according to this system, are academics, arts, athletics, altruism, and ability. The "Five A's" theme was developed by former Principal Al Bichner, during his tenure at Strath Haven; emphasis on the "Five A's" has declined since the end of Bichner's tenure. An oft-cited "Five A's" figure is that over 90% of Strath Haven High School students participate in athletics, music
Music
Music is an art form whose medium is sound and silence. Its common elements are pitch , rhythm , dynamics, and the sonic qualities of timbre and texture...
, the arts
ARts
aRts, which stands for analog Real time synthesizer, is an audio framework that is no longer under development. It is best known for previously being used in KDE to simulate an analog synthesizer....
, and a host of extracurricular clubs (statistic based on Class of 2003). As stated above, the music scene at Strath Haven is very much up and coming. The marching band has roughly 400 members each year.
Athletics
- Strath Haven Panthers football website
- Official Strath Haven Panthers hockey website
- Strath Haven Women's soccer website
- Strath Haven Men's soccer website
- Strath Haven Cheerleading website
- Strath Haven Hockey website
- Strath Haven Baseball website
Want to know what games are being played today?
Log on to http://www.highschoolsports.net/portal.cfm?schoolid=PA190863960
Band
Strath Haven's marching band is known for its massive size. The band currently has over 450 members.
It is the largest marching band in the state of Pennsylvania, over 100 members larger than the Penn State Blue Band.
As of 2010, it is the second largest marching band in the country.