Thomas Sprigg Wootton High School
Encyclopedia
Thomas Sprigg Wootton High School or Wootton High School (WHS) is a high school in Rockville, Maryland
. Its namesake is Thomas Sprigg Wootton
, a former member of the Maryland Constitutional Convention and the founder of Montgomery County
. The school was founded in 1970 and is part of the Montgomery County Public Schools
system. The majority of the students come from Robert Frost Middle School or Cabin John Middle School
. The principal since July 2003 has been Dr. Michael Doran. The Wootton class of 2009 is the largest class ever to graduate the school, with 664 students.
by Newsweek
. The only school from Montgomery County
to beat it was Richard Montgomery High School
, which placed 11th. However, the rankings have come into question because of the controversial method used to evaluate schools. "Public schools are ranked according to a ratio devised by Jay Mathews: the number of Advanced Placement or International Baccalaureate
tests taken by all students at a school in 2004 divided by the number of graduating seniors." This method completely disregards the scores on the test, i.e., the school ranked number one could have the lowest scores on tests in the country as long as that school takes the most tests.
In addition to the usual selection of Advanced Placement and Honors-level classes and the unique College Institute program, which allows senior students to take classes through Montgomery College
, Wootton also offers two signature programs: the Humanities and Arts Program, and the STARS Program.
In order to complete the program, students must complete five more credits than what is normally required to graduate. In addition, students must have an "Off-campus Experience". This requirement can be fulfilled by studying abroad, attending a pre-college program on a college campus, or interning in a humanities or arts subject. It encourages Humanities students to step outside their comfort zone and learn outside the classroom. Finally, students must complete a "Senior Independent Project" (SIP), which is the focus of the Humanities Program for a student's junior and senior years. The project may be in the form of an extended essay or creative project. The extended essay involves writing an argumentative research paper of 18–20 pages, while the creative project involves completing a relevant project and writing a shorter argumentative or expository essay of 8–10 pages. The SIP was introduced to the program a year after the Humanities Program was formed in 2001, and it has been a defining part of the senior-year experience. Humanities students have traditionally been closely involved in Wootton's musical and theatrical productions.
" went on to attend music or theater programs at the Cincinnati Conservatory, Tisch @ NYU, the Penn State School of Music, Interlochen Arts Academy, and Musical Theatre at Emerson College
among others. Other shows recently performed include "Seussical
," "Flowers for Algernon
," "You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown
," "On the Town," and both the male and female versions of "The Odd Couple
." In recent years, Wootton has staged "Revenge of the Space Pandas," "Children of Eden
," "Sweeney Todd
," "Honk!
," "Macbeth Did It," "My Favorite Year
", "Horror High", "Grease", "Beauty and the Beast", "You Can't Take It With You", "Aida","Bye, Bye Birdie", "Mrs. Bob Cratchit's Wild Christmas Binge", and "Once Upon A Mattress.". Wootton's December 2005 production of Jason Robert Brown's "Songs for a New World
" was selected to be the full-length featured show at the Maryland State High School Theaterfest on February 11, 2005. In fall 2008, the musical "Grease" (revised student version) was a huge hit, selling out every show. In 2010 to celebrate Wootton's 40th Anniversary a musical review called "A Decade of Hits" which featured popular songs from Musicals Wootton had done in the past 10 years was performed. Medleys in the review came from but are not limited to "Sweeney Todd", "Les Miserables", "Seussical", "My Favorite Year", "Joseph and the Amazing Technocolor Dreamcoat", and "Beauty and the Beast" The 2009 Spring musical was "Beauty and the Beast".
In the spring of 2007 Matt Culbertson and Eli Mangold received Wootton's first Cappie Award
for Sound Production for Children of Eden. In spring 2008 the musical "My Favorite Year" brought home the cappie for Comic Actress in a Musical (Katina Kempel, Alice). The 2009 spring musical Beauty and The Beast brought home 3 Cappies Awards for Featured Actor in a Musical (Mattia D'Affuso, Lumiere), Lead Actress in a Musical (Jessica Futran, Belle), and Best Song (Be Our Guest).
In addition to the annual play and musical productions, the year 2009 included an extra performing arts event. Under the direction of senior Salah Czapary, Wootton students put together a production of a stage adaptation of the Academy Award Winning short film, West Bank Story
co-written by Ari Sandel and Kim Ray with music by Yuval Ron.
In 2001 the band Of A Revolution
(O.A.R.), which includes four alumni, performed at the James A. Coles Field (the Wootton football field and track) before they reached the Billboard charts.
In November 2001, President George W. Bush
visited Wootton HS and signed the congressional bill officially recognizing "Veterans Awareness Week" which takes place the week before Veteran's Day.
In early 2005, the Wootton cheerleading squad
was caught in a scandal when pictures of cheerleaders in uniform in provocative poses made their way to pornographic sites. The story made the national media, including The Washington Post
.
The Graduation ceremony for the class of 2005 featured a speech from former Secretary of State
Madeleine Albright
. For the graduation of the class of 2006, former Congresswoman Connie Morella
was the speaker.
In April 2008, the bands Gym Class Heroes
and Pat McGee Band
performed in a "Rock the Vote" concert. The concert's goal was to generate political activism throughout the school.
On August 25, 2008, former English teacher Theresa Duarte was arrested and charged with two counts of distribution of a controlled dangerous substance and two counts of contributing to conditions of a child. Duarte told detectives that she kept cocaine in the bathroom at her home and gave two Wootton High School students cocaine while still employed by Montgomery County Public Schools. She had resigned for personal reasons prior to her arrest.
On October 17, 2008, Wootton quarterback
, Mike Mooney set a state record for most passing yards in a game. After a miserable first quarter, Mooney total 451 yards by completing twenty-six of his forty-three passes. The game, which was against Blair High School resulted in a win for the Patriots in what would be one of the most prolific seasons in almost two-decades. The Patriots made it to the playoffs for the first time in seventeen years, finishing with a 7-3 record.
On November 14, 2008, CNN's chief national correspondent, John King
, spoke to students and teachers during all three lunch periods. His son and daughter currently attend Wootton. His son plays for Wootton's varsity football team.
On June 1, 2011, Marc Roberge, the lead singer of the band O.A.R. (Of a Revolution) spoke at Wootton's graduation for the class of 2011.
Rockville, Maryland
Rockville is the county seat of Montgomery County, Maryland, United States. It is a major incorporated city in the central part of Montgomery County and forms part of the Baltimore-Washington Metropolitan Area. The 2010 U.S...
. Its namesake is Thomas Sprigg Wootton
Thomas Sprigg Wootton
Dr. Thomas Sprigg Wootton a member of the Maryland Constitutional Convention, was the founder of Montgomery County, Maryland, by introducing a bill in the Maryland General Assembly on September 6, 1776 to divide Frederick into three counties---Frederick, Montgomery, and Washington. These were the...
, a former member of the Maryland Constitutional Convention and the founder of Montgomery County
Montgomery County, Maryland
Montgomery County is a county in the U.S. state of Maryland, situated just to the north of Washington, D.C., and southwest of the city of Baltimore. It is one of the most affluent counties in the United States, and has the highest percentage of residents over 25 years of age who hold post-graduate...
. The school was founded in 1970 and is part of the Montgomery County Public Schools
Montgomery County Public Schools
Montgomery County Public Schools ' is a school district that serves Montgomery County, Maryland, USA. It is the largest school district in Maryland. As of the 2009–2010 school year, the district had 11,500 FTE teachers serving 141,777 students at 200 schools.Students in the district score among the...
system. The majority of the students come from Robert Frost Middle School or Cabin John Middle School
Cabin John Middle School
Cabin John Middle School, colloquially known as CJMS, is a public school for students in grades 6, 7 and 8 located in Potomac, Maryland....
. The principal since July 2003 has been Dr. Michael Doran. The Wootton class of 2009 is the largest class ever to graduate the school, with 664 students.
Academics
In 2005, Wootton was named the 17th best high school in the United StatesUnited States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
by Newsweek
Newsweek
Newsweek is an American weekly news magazine published in New York City. It is distributed throughout the United States and internationally. It is the second-largest news weekly magazine in the U.S., having trailed Time in circulation and advertising revenue for most of its existence...
. The only school from Montgomery County
Montgomery County, Maryland
Montgomery County is a county in the U.S. state of Maryland, situated just to the north of Washington, D.C., and southwest of the city of Baltimore. It is one of the most affluent counties in the United States, and has the highest percentage of residents over 25 years of age who hold post-graduate...
to beat it was Richard Montgomery High School
Richard Montgomery High School
Richard Montgomery High School is a secondary public school located in Rockville, Maryland.Richard Montgomery High School is named for Richard Montgomery, an American General who died while attempting to capture the British-held city of Quebec...
, which placed 11th. However, the rankings have come into question because of the controversial method used to evaluate schools. "Public schools are ranked according to a ratio devised by Jay Mathews: the number of Advanced Placement or International Baccalaureate
IB Diploma Programme
The International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme is a two-year educational programme for students aged 16–19that provides an internationally accepted qualification for entry into higher education, and is recognised by universities worldwide. It was developed in the early to mid-1960s in Geneva by...
tests taken by all students at a school in 2004 divided by the number of graduating seniors." This method completely disregards the scores on the test, i.e., the school ranked number one could have the lowest scores on tests in the country as long as that school takes the most tests.
In addition to the usual selection of Advanced Placement and Honors-level classes and the unique College Institute program, which allows senior students to take classes through Montgomery College
Montgomery College
Montgomery College is a public, open access community college located in Montgomery County, Maryland, just outside Washington, D.C. in the United States. The college has three campuses, the largest of which is in Rockville; the other campuses are in Takoma Park/Silver Spring and Germantown...
, Wootton also offers two signature programs: the Humanities and Arts Program, and the STARS Program.
Humanities and Arts Program
In the Humanities and Arts Program, students typically have an affinity for at least some of the following: Social Studies, English, Foreign Language, and Fine Arts. Humanities students are enrolled in separate classes in the subjects of English and Social Studies for their freshman, sophomore and junior years. These classes count for the same credits and cover the same materials as their regular counterparts, but allow for more creativity and intellectual discussion in the classroom.In order to complete the program, students must complete five more credits than what is normally required to graduate. In addition, students must have an "Off-campus Experience". This requirement can be fulfilled by studying abroad, attending a pre-college program on a college campus, or interning in a humanities or arts subject. It encourages Humanities students to step outside their comfort zone and learn outside the classroom. Finally, students must complete a "Senior Independent Project" (SIP), which is the focus of the Humanities Program for a student's junior and senior years. The project may be in the form of an extended essay or creative project. The extended essay involves writing an argumentative research paper of 18–20 pages, while the creative project involves completing a relevant project and writing a shorter argumentative or expository essay of 8–10 pages. The SIP was introduced to the program a year after the Humanities Program was formed in 2001, and it has been a defining part of the senior-year experience. Humanities students have traditionally been closely involved in Wootton's musical and theatrical productions.
STARS Program
STARS is short for the Science Technology and Research Scholars Program at Wootton. Students in STARS are passionate about science and technology, and wish to pursue careers in these fields. Students can choose to focus on one of the following during their high school years: Global Science, Computer Technology, Engineering, Mathematics or Molecular Biology. They take challenging courses in their area of interest and participate in various extracurricular activities related to their subject. With the change of leadership in the STARS program in 2008, several major changes were made in the program's requirements. A "Capstone Project", similar to the Humanities Senior Independent Project, became a requirement beginning with the class of 2011.Clubs
- In 2007, Wootton students Timothy Hwang and Minsoo Han founded a student-led, non-profit service organization Operation Fly, Inc., helping the homeless in urban areas such as Washington DC, Chicago and New York City.
- The Wootton High School Cancer Awareness Club raises awareness of the deadly disease in the school's community. They were recently invited to WHIT Washington FM 99.5 to talk about their club with show host Julian.
- The Wootton TV / Film Club submitted a film to the Montgomery County Schools Media Festival held on April 28, 2006 at the AFIAmerican Film InstituteThe American Film Institute is an independent non-profit organization created by the National Endowment for the Arts, which was established in 1967 when President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the National Foundation on the Arts and the Humanities Act...
Silver Theater in Silver Spring, MarylandSilver Spring, MarylandSilver Spring is an unincorporated area and census-designated place in Montgomery County, Maryland, United States. It had a population of 71,452 at the 2010 census, making it the fourth most populous place in Maryland, after Baltimore, Columbia, and Germantown.The urbanized, oldest, and...
. The film, titled "The S.G.A.", was directed by Eric Fleischman, a member of the TV / Film Club of 2006, and starred English teacher Mr. Lightsey and Wootton Principal Dr. Doran. The film won second place in the live action video category. Blake High SchoolJames Hubert Blake High SchoolJames Hubert Blake High School is a secondary school located in Silver Spring, an unincorporated section of Montgomery County, Maryland, United States....
claimed first place in that category. - The Foundation Chicos Por Atyra raised over $600 for impoverished children in ParaguayParaguayParaguay , officially the Republic of Paraguay , is a landlocked country in South America. It is bordered by Argentina to the south and southwest, Brazil to the east and northeast, and Bolivia to the northwest. Paraguay lies on both banks of the Paraguay River, which runs through the center of the...
. - In Spring 2007, a team (Steven Zhang and Christine Sun) from Wootton's Research, Design, and Experimentation Club won 1st place at the Montgomery Science Fair, exploring the validity of hormesisHormesisHormesis is the term for generally favorable biological responses to low exposures to toxins and other stressors. A pollutant or toxin showing hormesis thus has the opposite effect in small doses as in large doses...
. - In February 2005 and February 2006, the Wootton Science Bowl team won the Maryland/Delaware Regional Science Bowl.
- In March 2005, the Wootton Programming Team got 3rd place out of the 32 schools competing in the University of Maryland Computer Science Competition. In October 2005, the programming team earned 2nd place at the Hood CollegeHood CollegeHood College is a co-educational liberal arts college located in Frederick, Maryland. The college serves approximately 1,050 graduate students and more than 1,400 undergraduate students.-Early History :...
Competition. In March 2006, the team placed 5th at the University of Maryland Computer Science Competition, winning $400. - At the 2005 National Science Bowl, the Wootton Science Bowl team earned 5th place out of 63 schools nationwide, all of which had won their respective regional event.
- In February 2006, a team of eight Wootton students placed 4th in the B division of the HarvardHarvard UniversityHarvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
-MIT Math Tournament. - In March 2006, the Wootton Model United Nations Club attended the Johns Hopkins Model United Nations Conference in Baltimore, Maryland. The club members acted as delegates representing Ukraine and Iceland on various UN Committees. In 2008, the club once again attended the conference, representing Japan and Moldova.
- In April 2007, Wootton won 1st place for the second-year-team at the University of Maryland'sUniversity of Maryland, College ParkThe University of Maryland, College Park is a top-ranked public research university located in the city of College Park in Prince George's County, Maryland, just outside Washington, D.C...
23nd Annual Chemathon. Twenty-four high schools from Maryland, Virginia, and DC participated. It was the third consecutive year that Wootton had placed 1st in the Level II division. The first-year-team placed 8th in this event. - The Wootton High School Debate Team placed 3rd in the 2007–2008 regional tournament.
- Wootton's Equestrian Club was ranked second in Maryland as of November 1, 2008.
- Wootton's Equestrian Club ranked first in varsity and second in JV in Maryland as of the 2010-2011 competing year.
- In 2009, Wootton's Drumline placed 2nd in a county drumline competition.
- In 2009, Wootton became the first Maryland school to have a Team Handball Club.
Athletics
- The Wootton ice hockey team in 2009 became the first Maryland public school to win back-to-back state championships (2008, 2009).
- The Wootton Girls Cross Country team star Jessie Rubin went on to win the county, regional and states races in 2010 and got a scholarship to Duke.
Performing arts
Wootton's theater department was once described by Principal Michael Doran as "the closest thing to Broadway for miles around." Leads in the 2003 production of "Les MisérablesLes Misérables (musical)
Les Misérables , colloquially known as Les Mis or Les Miz , is a musical by Claude-Michel Schönberg, based on the novel of the same name by Victor Hugo....
" went on to attend music or theater programs at the Cincinnati Conservatory, Tisch @ NYU, the Penn State School of Music, Interlochen Arts Academy, and Musical Theatre at 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...
among others. Other shows recently performed include "Seussical
Seussical
is a musical by Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty based on the books of Dr. Seuss that debuted on Broadway in 2000. The play's story is a rather complex amalgamation of many of Seuss's most famous books. After a Broadway run, the production spawned two US national tours and a UK tour...
," "Flowers for Algernon
Flowers for Algernon
Flowers for Algernon is a science fiction short story and subsequent novel written by Daniel Keyes. The short story, written in 1958 and first published in the April 1959 issue of The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction, won the Hugo Award for Best Short Story in 1960...
," "You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown
You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown
You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown is a 1967 musical comedy with music and lyrics by Clark Gesner, based on the characters created by cartoonist Charles M. Schulz in his comic strip Peanuts...
," "On the Town," and both the male and female versions of "The Odd Couple
The Odd Couple
The Odd Couple is a 1965 Broadway play by Neil Simon, followed by a successful film and television series, as well as other derivative works and spin offs, many featuring one or more of the same actors. The plot concerns two mismatched roommates, one neat and uptight, the other more easygoing and...
." In recent years, Wootton has staged "Revenge of the Space Pandas," "Children of Eden
Children of Eden
Children of Eden is a two-act musical play with music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz and a book by John Caird. The musical is based on the Book of Genesis. Act I tells the story of Adam and Eve, Cain, and Abel, and Act II deals with Noah and the Flood...
," "Sweeney Todd
Sweeney Todd
Sweeney Todd is a fictional character who first appeared as then antagonist of the Victorian penny dreadful The String of Pearls and he was later introduced as an antihero in the broadway musical Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street and its film adaptation...
," "Honk!
Honk!
Honk! is a musical adaptation of the Hans Christian Andersen story The Ugly Duckling, incorporating a message of tolerance. The book and lyrics are by Anthony Drewe and music is by George Stiles...
," "Macbeth Did It," "My Favorite Year
My Favorite Year
My Favorite Year is a 1982 American comedy film directed by Richard Benjamin which tells the story of a young comedy writer. It stars Peter O'Toole, Mark Linn-Baker, Jessica Harper, Joseph Bologna, Lou Jacobi, Bill Macy, Lainie Kazan, Selma Diamond, Cameron Mitchell, and Gloria Stuart. O'Toole was...
", "Horror High", "Grease", "Beauty and the Beast", "You Can't Take It With You", "Aida","Bye, Bye Birdie", "Mrs. Bob Cratchit's Wild Christmas Binge", and "Once Upon A Mattress.". Wootton's December 2005 production of Jason Robert Brown's "Songs for a New World
Songs for a New World
Songs for a New World is a work of musical theater written and composed by Jason Robert Brown. Its original off-Broadway production ran for 28 performances at the WPA Theater in New York City in 1995. The show sits on the boundary between musical and song cycle, but it is neither; it is an abstract...
" was selected to be the full-length featured show at the Maryland State High School Theaterfest on February 11, 2005. In fall 2008, the musical "Grease" (revised student version) was a huge hit, selling out every show. In 2010 to celebrate Wootton's 40th Anniversary a musical review called "A Decade of Hits" which featured popular songs from Musicals Wootton had done in the past 10 years was performed. Medleys in the review came from but are not limited to "Sweeney Todd", "Les Miserables", "Seussical", "My Favorite Year", "Joseph and the Amazing Technocolor Dreamcoat", and "Beauty and the Beast" The 2009 Spring musical was "Beauty and the Beast".
In the spring of 2007 Matt Culbertson and Eli Mangold received Wootton's first Cappie Award
Critics and Awards Program for High School Students
The Cappies ' is an international program for recognizing, celebrating, and providing learning experiences for high school theater and journalism students and teenage playwrights....
for Sound Production for Children of Eden. In spring 2008 the musical "My Favorite Year" brought home the cappie for Comic Actress in a Musical (Katina Kempel, Alice). The 2009 spring musical Beauty and The Beast brought home 3 Cappies Awards for Featured Actor in a Musical (Mattia D'Affuso, Lumiere), Lead Actress in a Musical (Jessica Futran, Belle), and Best Song (Be Our Guest).
In addition to the annual play and musical productions, the year 2009 included an extra performing arts event. Under the direction of senior Salah Czapary, Wootton students put together a production of a stage adaptation of the Academy Award Winning short film, West Bank Story
West Bank Story
West Bank Story is a comedy/musical short film, directed by Ari Sandel, co-written by Sandel and Kim Ray, produced by Pascal Vaguelsy, Amy Kim, Ashley Jordan, Ravi Malhotra, Bill Boland and featuring choreography by Ramon Del Barrio. The film is a parody of the classic musical film West Side Story,...
co-written by Ari Sandel and Kim Ray with music by Yuval Ron.
Notable Recent Events
Of a Revolution
O.A.R. is an American rock band composed of Marc Roberge , Chris Culos , Richard On , Benj Gershman , and Jerry DePizzo...
(O.A.R.), which includes four alumni, performed at the James A. Coles Field (the Wootton football field and track) before they reached the Billboard charts.
In November 2001, President George W. Bush
George W. Bush
George Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
visited Wootton HS and signed the congressional bill officially recognizing "Veterans Awareness Week" which takes place the week before Veteran's Day.
In early 2005, the Wootton cheerleading squad
Cheerleading
Cheerleading is a physical activity, sometimes a competitive sport, based on organized routines, usually ranging from one to three minutes, which contain the components of tumbling, dance, jumps, cheers, and stunting to direct spectators of events to cheer on sports teams at games or to participate...
was caught in a scandal when pictures of cheerleaders in uniform in provocative poses made their way to pornographic sites. The story made the national media, including The Washington Post
The Washington Post
The Washington Post is Washington, D.C.'s largest newspaper and its oldest still-existing paper, founded in 1877. Located in the capital of the United States, The Post has a particular emphasis on national politics. D.C., Maryland, and Virginia editions are printed for daily circulation...
.
The Graduation ceremony for the class of 2005 featured a speech from former Secretary of State
United States Secretary of State
The United States Secretary of State is the head of the United States Department of State, concerned with foreign affairs. The Secretary is a member of the Cabinet and the highest-ranking cabinet secretary both in line of succession and order of precedence...
Madeleine Albright
Madeleine Albright
Madeleine Korbelová Albright is the first woman to become a United States Secretary of State. She was appointed by U.S. President Bill Clinton on December 5, 1996, and was unanimously confirmed by a U.S. Senate vote of 99–0...
. For the graduation of the class of 2006, former Congresswoman Connie Morella
Connie Morella
Constance Albanese "Connie" Morella is a Republican United States politician who represented in the United States House of Representatives from 1987 to 2003. She also served as Permanent Representative to the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development from 2003 to 2007. She...
was the speaker.
In April 2008, the bands Gym Class Heroes
Gym Class Heroes
Gym Class Heroes is an American hip hop rock band from Geneva, New York. They have collaborated with Fall Out Boy's Patrick Stump on numerous occasions, notably for providing backing vocals on the song "Cupid's Chokehold." Stump also produced the majority of their album The Quilt.The group formed...
and Pat McGee Band
Pat McGee Band
The Pat McGee Band is a rock band from Richmond, Virginia. Formed by frontman Pat McGee, who attended Longwood University in Farmville, VA. On the heels of his solo release From the Wood in 1995, the Pat McGee Band signed with Warner Bros. Records subsidiary Giant Records in 1999...
performed in a "Rock the Vote" concert. The concert's goal was to generate political activism throughout the school.
On August 25, 2008, former English teacher Theresa Duarte was arrested and charged with two counts of distribution of a controlled dangerous substance and two counts of contributing to conditions of a child. Duarte told detectives that she kept cocaine in the bathroom at her home and gave two Wootton High School students cocaine while still employed by Montgomery County Public Schools. She had resigned for personal reasons prior to her arrest.
On October 17, 2008, Wootton quarterback
Quarterback
Quarterback is a position in American and Canadian football. Quarterbacks are members of the offensive team and line up directly behind the offensive line...
, Mike Mooney set a state record for most passing yards in a game. After a miserable first quarter, Mooney total 451 yards by completing twenty-six of his forty-three passes. The game, which was against Blair High School resulted in a win for the Patriots in what would be one of the most prolific seasons in almost two-decades. The Patriots made it to the playoffs for the first time in seventeen years, finishing with a 7-3 record.
On November 14, 2008, CNN's chief national correspondent, John King
John King (journalist)
John King is an American journalist and is the anchor of John King, USA which appears weeknights at 7pm/ET on CNN. He is also the former anchor of State of the Union with John King...
, spoke to students and teachers during all three lunch periods. His son and daughter currently attend Wootton. His son plays for Wootton's varsity football team.
On June 1, 2011, Marc Roberge, the lead singer of the band O.A.R. (Of a Revolution) spoke at Wootton's graduation for the class of 2011.
Notable alumni and students
- Richard On, Benj Gershman, Marc Roberge and Chris Culos, four of the members of the American rock group Of A RevolutionOf a RevolutionO.A.R. is an American rock band composed of Marc Roberge , Chris Culos , Richard On , Benj Gershman , and Jerry DePizzo...
(O.A.R.) - Bryan "Flounder" Schlossberg, Celebrity DJ and personality on Elliot in the Morning (DC101/WRXL) & Flounders Mash Ups (DC101)
- Richard Scanlan (1977), TonyTony AwardThe Antoinette Perry Award for Excellence in Theatre, more commonly known as a Tony Award, recognizes achievement in live Broadway theatre. The awards are presented by the American Theatre Wing and The Broadway League at an annual ceremony in New York City. The awards are given for Broadway...
-nominated lyricist of the Broadway Musical "Thoroughly Modern MillieThoroughly Modern MillieThoroughly Modern Millie is a 1967 American musical film directed by George Roy Hill and starring Julie Andrews. The screenplay by Richard Morris focuses on a naive young woman who finds herself in the midst of a series of madcap adventures when she sets her sights on marrying her wealthy boss.The...
". - Zac Cohen, competitor on the realityReality televisionReality television is a genre of television programming that presents purportedly unscripted dramatic or humorous situations, documents actual events, and usually features ordinary people instead of professional actors, sometimes in a contest or other situation where a prize is awarded...
game showGame showA game show is a type of radio or television program in which members of the public, television personalities or celebrities, sometimes as part of a team, play a game which involves answering questions or solving puzzles usually for money and/or prizes...
Fear FactorFear FactorFear Factor is an American stunt/dare reality game show. The original Dutch version was called Now or Neverland. When Endemol USA and NBC adapted it to the American market in 2001, they changed the name to Fear Factor. The show pits contestants against each other in a variety of stunts for a...
and first place winner. - Eric San (1992), Scratch DJ Kid KoalaKid KoalaEric San , who records under the name Kid Koala, is a Canadian DJ, turntablist, musician and an author of graphic novels. He is signed to the British record label Ninja Tune, is a member of alternative hip hop supergroup Deltron 3030, and The Slew with Dynamite D and former members of the...
- Actor Thomas JaneThomas JaneThomas Jane is an American actor known for his roles in the 1999 film Deep Blue Sea, the 2001 TV film 61*, the 2004 film The Punisher and the 2007 Stephen King adaptation The Mist...
of "The PunisherThe Punisher (2004 film)The Punisher is a 2004 American comic book action film, based on the Marvel Comics character of the same name, starring Thomas Jane as the antihero Frank Castle / The Punisher and John Travolta as the villain Howard Saint, a money launderer who orders the death of Castle's entire family...
. HBO Series Hung" - Steve CollSteve CollSteve Coll is a Pulitzer Prize-winning American journalist and writer. Coll is currently president and CEO of the New America Foundation. Prior to assuming that post on September 17, 2007, Coll was a staff writer for The New Yorker, and served as managing editor of The Washington Post from 1998 to...
(1976), two-time Pulitzer PrizePulitzer PrizeThe Pulitzer Prize is a U.S. award for achievements in newspaper and online journalism, literature and musical composition. It was established by American publisher Joseph Pulitzer and is administered by Columbia University in New York City...
winning reporter and former managing editor of The Washington PostThe Washington PostThe Washington Post is Washington, D.C.'s largest newspaper and its oldest still-existing paper, founded in 1877. Located in the capital of the United States, The Post has a particular emphasis on national politics. D.C., Maryland, and Virginia editions are printed for daily circulation...
. - Phil GalfondPhil GalfondPhil Galfond is an American professional poker player. Galfond won a World Series of Poker bracelet in the $5,000 buy-in Pot-Limit Omaha with Rebuys event at the 2008 World Series of Poker...
, professional pokerPokerPoker is a family of card games that share betting rules and usually hand rankings. Poker games differ in how the cards are dealt, how hands may be formed, whether the high or low hand wins the pot in a showdown , limits on bet sizes, and how many rounds of betting are allowed.In most modern poker...
player who won the 2008 World Series of Poker $5000 Pot-Limit Hold'em with Rebuy's event and is one of the greatest high stakes cash game players today - David M. ThomasDavid M. ThomasDavid M. Thomas is an officer in the United States Navy.-Early life:Thomas's father was a career Navy officer.Thomas, and three of his brothers, are graduates of the United States Naval Academy. All are active duty, including one in the Marine Corps. Another brother served in the Peace Corps...
(1976), current director of Joint Operations (N3JOD) - Chris LuChris LuChristopher P. Lu is Assistant to the President and Cabinet Secretary for United States President Barack Obama. Lu graduated from the Woodrow Wilson School at Princeton University and from Harvard Law School, where he was a classmate of Obama's. He served as a litigation attorney for the...
, executive director of the Obama-Biden Transition Project and White House Cabinet SecretaryCabinet SecretaryA Cabinet Secretary is almost always a senior official who provides services and advice to a Cabinet of Ministers. In many countries, the position can have considerably wider functions and powers, including general responsibility for the entire civil service... - Lucas Lendenbaum on an episode of MTV's The Buried Life
- Andrew J. Richards, Executive Assistant to Edward McGinnis, Deputy Assistant Secretary for International Nuclear Energy Policy & Cooperation. Vocal supporter of the U.S. manned space program.