Valley Central High School
Encyclopedia
Valley Central High School is located in Montgomery
, New York
.It educates students in grades 9
-12
in the Valley Central School District, which includes much of the town of Montgomery, portions of neighboring Wallkill
and Newburgh
and the three villages of Maybrook
, Montgomery
and Walden
as well as parts of Campbell Hall and Coldenham.
The building was constructed in 1961, with some additions in the 1990s. It has a wide lower level and a smaller second story. It is joined to the adjacent Valley Central Middle School
.
As soon as the election was complete, discussions about new buildings began. In January 1959 the voters selected the Russell Site as the home for the proposed East Coldenham Elementary School, and the Muller Site for the junior and senior high schools. The following June, the voters approved a $4.2 million bond
issue for the construction of these new buildings and renovation of the existing schools. By mid-March 1960, men and machinery had begun construction of what was to become, at the time, Valley Central Jr.-Sr. High School. After 18 months of labor, the new building opened on September 9, 1961.
, gym
nasium with wrestling
room. For academic purposes, it has a full library
and auditorium
. Outside are the football
field, baseball
diamonds, and a track.
Architecturally, it reflects the era of its construction, with long straight hallways laid out in a grid pattern. The rear corridor runs all the way from the building exit near the gym on the east side to the middle school, almost a half-mile in length. There are several courtyard
s in the building, but they are rarely used today.
Jason Motte
is a 2000 Valley Central graduate, and he won a World Series
ring as the closer
for the 2011 St. Louis Cardinals
against the Texas Rangers.
Montgomery (town), New York
Montgomery is a town in Orange County, New York, United States. The population was 20,891 at the 2000 census. It was named in honor of Richard Montgomery, an American Revolutionary War general killed in 1775 at the Battle of Quebec....
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
.It educates students in grades 9
Ninth grade
Ninth grade is the ninth post-kindergarten year of school education in some school systems. The students are 13 to 15 years of age, depending on when their birthday occurs. Depending on the school district, ninth grade is usually the first year of high school....
-12
Twelfth grade
Twelfth grade or Senior year, or Grade Twelve, are the North American names for the final year of secondary school. In most countries students then graduate at age 17 or 18. In some countries, there is a thirteenth grade, while other countries do not have a 12th grade/year at all...
in the Valley Central School District, which includes much of the town of Montgomery, portions of neighboring Wallkill
Wallkill, Orange County, New York
Wallkill is a town in Orange County, New York, United States. The population was 24,659 at the 2000 census.The Town of Wallkill is centrally located in the county. Interstate 84 crosses New York State Route 17 in the southern part of the town. U.S...
and Newburgh
Newburgh (town), New York
Newburgh is a town in Orange County, New York, United States. The 2010 census determined the population is 29,801. This is the first time ever that the population of the Town of Newburgh officially exceeded that of the adjacent but totally separate municipality known as the city of Newburgh...
and the three villages of Maybrook
Maybrook, New York
Maybrook is a village in Orange County, New York, United States. The population was 3,084 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Poughkeepsie–Newburgh–Middletown, NY Metropolitan Statistical Area as well as the larger New York–Newark–Bridgeport, NY-NJ-CT-PA Combined...
, Montgomery
Montgomery, New York
Montgomery, New York may refer to:* Montgomery , New York in Orange County* Montgomery , New York in Orange County* Montgomery County, New York...
and Walden
Walden, New York
Walden is the largest of three villages of the Town of Montgomery in Orange County, New York, United States. The population was 6,978 at the 2010 census. It has the ZIP Code 12586 and the 778 telephone exchange within the 845 area code...
as well as parts of Campbell Hall and Coldenham.
The building was constructed in 1961, with some additions in the 1990s. It has a wide lower level and a smaller second story. It is joined to the adjacent Valley Central Middle School
Valley Central Middle School
Valley Central Middle School educates students in grades 6-8 in the Valley Central School District in Orange County, New York. It is located on NY 17K just east of the village of Montgomery, connected to adjacent Valley Central High School...
.
History
"Centralization" to the Town of Montgomery immediately brought the hope that new structures would soon be underway to house the bulging classrooms of the three village schools and the rural school at St. Andrews. On July 2, 1958, when the new centralized district was one day old, the unofficially-named "Montgomery Central School District" held its organizational election and voted to seat nine members on the Board of Education.As soon as the election was complete, discussions about new buildings began. In January 1959 the voters selected the Russell Site as the home for the proposed East Coldenham Elementary School, and the Muller Site for the junior and senior high schools. The following June, the voters approved a $4.2 million bond
Bond (finance)
In finance, a bond is a debt security, in which the authorized issuer owes the holders a debt and, depending on the terms of the bond, is obliged to pay interest to use and/or to repay the principal at a later date, termed maturity...
issue for the construction of these new buildings and renovation of the existing schools. By mid-March 1960, men and machinery had begun construction of what was to become, at the time, Valley Central Jr.-Sr. High School. After 18 months of labor, the new building opened on September 9, 1961.
Campus
The building boasts many amenities common to other high schools in the region: a swimming poolSwimming pool
A swimming pool, swimming bath, wading pool, or simply a pool, is a container filled with water intended for swimming or water-based recreation. There are many standard sizes; the largest is the Olympic-size swimming pool...
, gym
Gym
The word γυμνάσιον was used in Ancient Greece, that mean a locality for both physical and intellectual education of young men...
nasium with wrestling
Wrestling
Wrestling is a form of grappling type techniques such as clinch fighting, throws and takedowns, joint locks, pins and other grappling holds. A wrestling bout is a physical competition, between two competitors or sparring partners, who attempt to gain and maintain a superior position...
room. For academic purposes, it has a full library
Library
In a traditional sense, a library is a large collection of books, and can refer to the place in which the collection is housed. Today, the term can refer to any collection, including digital sources, resources, and services...
and auditorium
Auditorium
An auditorium is a room built to enable an audience to hear and watch performances at venues such as theatres. For movie theaters, the number of auditoriums is expressed as the number of screens.- Etymology :...
. Outside are the football
American football
American 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...
field, baseball
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
diamonds, and a track.
Architecturally, it reflects the era of its construction, with long straight hallways laid out in a grid pattern. The rear corridor runs all the way from the building exit near the gym on the east side to the middle school, almost a half-mile in length. There are several courtyard
Courtyard
A court or courtyard is an enclosed area, often a space enclosed by a building that is open to the sky. These areas in inns and public buildings were often the primary meeting places for some purposes, leading to the other meanings of court....
s in the building, but they are rarely used today.
Student population
The building has about 1,700 students currently enrolled with 9-12 grades counting in. The class of 2013 is the largest class to date.Jason Motte
Jason Motte
Jason Louis Motte is a Major League Baseball relief pitcher for the St. Louis Cardinals.-Career:Motte graduated from Valley Central High School, Montgomery, N.Y., in 2000 where he was a catcher...
is a 2000 Valley Central graduate, and he won a World Series
2011 World Series
The 2011 World Series was the 107th edition of Major League Baseball's championship series. The best-of-seven playoff was played between the American League champion Texas Rangers and the National League champion St...
ring as the closer
Closer (baseball)
In baseball, a closing pitcher, more frequently referred to as a closer , is a relief pitcher who specializes in closing out games, i.e., getting the final outs in a close game. Closers often appear when the score is close, and the role is often assigned to a team's best reliever. A small number of...
for the 2011 St. Louis Cardinals
St. Louis Cardinals
The St. Louis Cardinals are a professional baseball team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are members of the Central Division in the National League of Major League Baseball. The Cardinals have won eleven World Series championships, the most of any National League team, and second overall only to...
against the Texas Rangers.