Washington High School (Fremont, California)
Encyclopedia
Washington High School is one of the five Fremont, California
, public high school
s and was established in 1892. It is a part of the Fremont Unified School District
.
In 1914 the school name was changed to Washington High School District, and in 1916 five bus routes were started to bring students to school in canvas-sided buses. Publication of the school newspaper, the Hatchet, also began that year when the students decided it "could be used to bring untruth and deceit to an end." In 1923, the first volume of the school yearbook, the Washingtonian, was published by the senior class.
In 1923, 20 acres (80,937.2 m²) were purchased for $20,000 at the present Fremont Boulevard location. The new classically designed building was dedicated in August 1924. By 1926, the school enrollment had grown to 300 students and the school was the largest business in Washington Township.
By 1958, the school had grown to over 2,900 students attending a triple staggered schedule. This was quickly followed by the openings of James Logan High School
in Union City in 1959, Newark High School in 1962 (which eventually became Newark Memorial
in 1983 when the two existing high schools, Newark High and Memorial High merged), and Irvington High School
in 1961.
In the 1970-71 and 1971-72 school years, the student population exceeded 2600+ students, and there was only one school schedule. When American High School
opened in 1972, WHS's student population dropped drastically due to geography, and the Class of 1973 was the last full graduating class to draw students from the area that would be served by American High School. Some post-1973 students who played sports had the choice of continuing at Washington or moving to American.
In 1972, earthquake concerns led to the closure of the main building, and many students in the northern attendance area began attending the new American High School on October 12, 1972. The main building remained closed until the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake set the wheels in motion to replace the building. The contractors built a new building using the original WHS facade—backed by modern quake-resistant construction. The boys' gym was also damaged in the earthquake and subsequently replaced by a new building.
In replacement of the old War Memorial Stadium, which was dedicated to those who served the country during the great World Wars (now known as the freshman field), construction of a sports stadium was started in the summer of 1972, and on October 12, 1972, it was dedicated as the Tak Fudenna Memorial Stadium in honor of 1939 WHS graduate, Takeo Fudenna, who gave much to the community and the project and who had died the previous August in an accident. The stadium was later remodeled in 2005. The Washington football team was the first team to play on it (and win) and were also scheduled to play when Tak Fudenna Stadium was remodeled, but due to falling behind on deadlines the team was not able to.
After the passage of a bond in the early '90s, the main building and gyms were demolished to make way for new construction. Efforts of the Washington High School Alumni Foundation and its many members helped save the original entrance archway of the main building and incorporate into the design of the new building. The new building was dedicated on December 13, 1997, and stands there today.
(Accounts of some events taken from Reflections: The Educational History of Fremont, 1983)
June 1991 marked Washington 100th graduating class.
or Hispanic
, 6% African American
or Black, 26% Asian American
origin, 41% European American (White), 5% Filipino
, 1% American Indian or Alaska Native, 1% Pacific Islander
and 13% Multiple or No Response.
, football
, gymnastics
, girls' tennis
, girls' volleyball
and water polo
in the fall; basketball
, soccer and wrestling
in the winter; and badminton
, baseball
, softball
, golf
, swimming
, track and field
, seniors vs. juniors powderpuff, boys' volleyball
and girls' tennis
in the spring. Cheerleading
is done year-round.
. A student literary magazine, The Scrivener, also is published by the student club The Scrivener Society (formally Media Analysis Republic) once a year. In 2009, The Scrivener was given a PRESLM "superior" rank and nominated for the highest award by the NCTE
.
Fremont, California
Fremont is a city in Alameda County, California. It was incorporated on January 23, 1956, from the merger of five smaller communities: Centerville, Niles, Irvington, Mission San Jose, and Warm Springs...
, public high school
High school
High 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....
s and was established in 1892. It is a part of the Fremont Unified School District
Fremont Unified School District
Fremont Unified School District is a primary and secondary education school district located in Fremont, California.The District has 28 elementary school campuses, 5 junior high campuses, and 5 high school campuses, as well as one alternative school campus.-School campuses and attendance areas:The...
.
History
The first high school classes in the Washington Township began January 11, 1891, in the Masonic Hall on Peralta Boulevard with 22 students. The school was named Union High School District 2 and May Burdick became the first graduate in June 1891. In March 1893, the students moved into a new building on Peralta Boulevard that cost $6582.In 1914 the school name was changed to Washington High School District, and in 1916 five bus routes were started to bring students to school in canvas-sided buses. Publication of the school newspaper, the Hatchet, also began that year when the students decided it "could be used to bring untruth and deceit to an end." In 1923, the first volume of the school yearbook, the Washingtonian, was published by the senior class.
In 1923, 20 acres (80,937.2 m²) were purchased for $20,000 at the present Fremont Boulevard location. The new classically designed building was dedicated in August 1924. By 1926, the school enrollment had grown to 300 students and the school was the largest business in Washington Township.
By 1958, the school had grown to over 2,900 students attending a triple staggered schedule. This was quickly followed by the openings of James Logan High School
James Logan High School
James Logan High School is a public secondary school in Union City, California, United States. The school is administrated by the New Haven Unified School District and has an enrollment of more than 4000 students.-Demographics:...
in Union City in 1959, Newark High School in 1962 (which eventually became Newark Memorial
Newark Memorial High School
Newark Memorial High School is a comprehensive high school in Newark, California. It is located to the southeast of Newark's business district, between I-880 and San Francisco Bay.- History :...
in 1983 when the two existing high schools, Newark High and Memorial High merged), and Irvington High School
Irvington High School (Fremont, California)
Irvington High School is an American public high school located in Fremont, California. It is one of five public high schools in the Fremont Unified School District.-Campus:...
in 1961.
In the 1970-71 and 1971-72 school years, the student population exceeded 2600+ students, and there was only one school schedule. When American High School
American High School (Fremont, California)
American High School is a public secondary school located in Fremont, California. It is one of five public high schools within the Fremont Unified School District. The school receives its students through the American High School attendance area boundary set by the district...
opened in 1972, WHS's student population dropped drastically due to geography, and the Class of 1973 was the last full graduating class to draw students from the area that would be served by American High School. Some post-1973 students who played sports had the choice of continuing at Washington or moving to American.
In 1972, earthquake concerns led to the closure of the main building, and many students in the northern attendance area began attending the new American High School on October 12, 1972. The main building remained closed until the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake set the wheels in motion to replace the building. The contractors built a new building using the original WHS facade—backed by modern quake-resistant construction. The boys' gym was also damaged in the earthquake and subsequently replaced by a new building.
In replacement of the old War Memorial Stadium, which was dedicated to those who served the country during the great World Wars (now known as the freshman field), construction of a sports stadium was started in the summer of 1972, and on October 12, 1972, it was dedicated as the Tak Fudenna Memorial Stadium in honor of 1939 WHS graduate, Takeo Fudenna, who gave much to the community and the project and who had died the previous August in an accident. The stadium was later remodeled in 2005. The Washington football team was the first team to play on it (and win) and were also scheduled to play when Tak Fudenna Stadium was remodeled, but due to falling behind on deadlines the team was not able to.
After the passage of a bond in the early '90s, the main building and gyms were demolished to make way for new construction. Efforts of the Washington High School Alumni Foundation and its many members helped save the original entrance archway of the main building and incorporate into the design of the new building. The new building was dedicated on December 13, 1997, and stands there today.
(Accounts of some events taken from Reflections: The Educational History of Fremont, 1983)
June 1991 marked Washington 100th graduating class.
Demographics
Demographics for the 2003-2004 school year: 20% LatinoLatino
The demonyms Latino and Latina , are defined in English language dictionaries as:* "a person of Latin-American descent."* "A Latin American."* "A person of Hispanic, especially Latin-American, descent, often one living in the United States."...
or Hispanic
Hispanic
Hispanic is a term that originally denoted a relationship to Hispania, which is to say the Iberian Peninsula: Andorra, Gibraltar, Portugal and Spain. During the Modern Era, Hispanic sometimes takes on a more limited meaning, particularly in the United States, where the term means a person of ...
, 6% African American
African American
African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
or Black, 26% Asian American
Asian American
Asian Americans are Americans of Asian descent. The U.S. Census Bureau definition of Asians as "Asian” refers to a person having origins in any of the original peoples of the Far East, Southeast Asia, or the Indian subcontinent, including, for example, Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Japan,...
origin, 41% European American (White), 5% Filipino
Filipino American
Filipino Americans are Americans of Filipino ancestry. Filipino Americans, often shortened to "Fil-Ams", or "Pinoy",Filipinos in what is now the United States were first documented in the 16th century, with small settlements beginning in the 18th century...
, 1% American Indian or Alaska Native, 1% Pacific Islander
Pacific Islander
Pacific Islander , is a geographic term to describe the indigenous inhabitants of any of the three major sub-regions of Oceania: Polynesia, Melanesia and Micronesia.According to the Encyclopædia Britannica, these three regions, together with their islands consist of:Polynesia:...
and 13% Multiple or No Response.
Leadership
Washington High School has a leadership program that is one among five others in the Fremont Unified School District. It has earned much respect for its outstanding activities and hard work. The program is run by Helen Paris who also attended Washington and graduated in 1972. Spirit Week at Washington High School is memorable every year. Cheers, foghorns, and class chants are heard from many streets over.Link Crew
Starting in the 2007 - 2008 school year, link crew organizes freshman tours of the campus and continues to connect to the new freshman classes through periodical activities done with the freshman in their 3rd Period classes.Speech and debate
Washington High School also has a speech and debate team that is competitive in tournaments around the area.Sports
Washington High School has fourteen sports teams that each compete in the Mission Valley Athletic League (MVAL). These include cross countryCross country running
Cross country running is a sport in which people run a race on open-air courses over natural terrain. The course, typically long, may include surfaces of grass and earth, pass through woodlands and open country, and include hills, flat ground and sometimes gravel road...
, 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...
, gymnastics
Gymnastics
Gymnastics is a sport involving performance of exercises requiring physical strength, flexibility, agility, coordination, and balance. Internationally, all of the gymnastic sports are governed by the Fédération Internationale de Gymnastique with each country having its own national governing body...
, girls' tennis
Tennis
Tennis is a sport usually played between two players or between two teams of two players each . Each player uses a racket that is strung to strike a hollow rubber ball covered with felt over a net into the opponent's court. Tennis is an Olympic sport and is played at all levels of society at all...
, girls' volleyball
Volleyball
Volleyball is a team sport in which two teams of six players are separated by a net. Each team tries to score points by grounding a ball on the other team's court under organized rules.The complete rules are extensive...
and water polo
Water polo
Water polo is a team water sport. The playing team consists of six field players and one goalkeeper. The winner of the game is the team that scores more goals. Game play involves swimming, treading water , players passing the ball while being defended by opponents, and scoring by throwing into a...
in the fall; basketball
Basketball
Basketball 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...
, soccer and 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...
in the winter; and badminton
Badminton
Badminton is a racquet sport played by either two opposing players or two opposing pairs , who take positions on opposite halves of a rectangular court that is divided by a net. Players score points by striking a shuttlecock with their racquet so that it passes over the net and lands in their...
, 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...
, softball
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...
, golf
Golf
Golf is a precision club and ball sport, in which competing players use many types of clubs to hit balls into a series of holes on a golf course using the fewest number of strokes....
, swimming
Swimming (sport)
Swimming is a sport governed by the Fédération Internationale de Natation .-History: Competitive swimming in Europe began around 1800 BCE, mostly in the form of the freestyle. In 1873 Steve Bowyer introduced the trudgen to Western swimming competitions, after copying the front crawl used by Native...
, track and field
Track and field
Track and field is a sport comprising various competitive athletic contests based around the activities of running, jumping and throwing. The name of the sport derives from the venue for the competitions: a stadium which features an oval running track surrounding a grassy area...
, seniors vs. juniors powderpuff, boys' volleyball
Volleyball
Volleyball is a team sport in which two teams of six players are separated by a net. Each team tries to score points by grounding a ball on the other team's court under organized rules.The complete rules are extensive...
and girls' tennis
Tennis
Tennis is a sport usually played between two players or between two teams of two players each . Each player uses a racket that is strung to strike a hollow rubber ball covered with felt over a net into the opponent's court. Tennis is an Olympic sport and is played at all levels of society at all...
in the spring. Cheerleading
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...
is done year-round.
Cross country
Washington High School's cross country program, led by Coach Dave Iremonger and Coach Ben Vose, races in North Coast Section (NCS) Division II (competed in Division I in 2010). The boys have won the Mission Valley Athletic League (MVAL) title in 2006, 2007 and 2008. In 2008 the boys finished second in NCS D2 and qualified for the state meet. The girls won the MVAL title in 2006, 2009, and 2010. In 2010, the girls won their first NCS D2 title and qualified for the state meet.Student publications
The two major student publications are the Hatchet, a self-funded student newspaper which is printed on a monthly basis, and the Washingtonian, the school's full-color yearbook. The Hatchet won the Best of the West award in 2011 during the JEANC State ConventionJournalism Education Association
The Journalism Education Association, or JEA, is a national organization for teachers and advisers of journalism.-Opinion Regarding Prior Review:...
. A student literary magazine, The Scrivener, also is published by the student club The Scrivener Society (formally Media Analysis Republic) once a year. In 2009, The Scrivener was given a PRESLM "superior" rank and nominated for the highest award by the NCTE
National Council of Teachers of English
The National Council of Teachers of English is an American professional organization dedicated to "improving the teaching and learning of English and the language arts at all levels of education...
.
School clubs
There are a variety of student organized clubs each with a faculty club adviser. Each of the clubs has a student representative (usually the club president) who attends IOC meetings with ASB on a monthly basis.Notable alumni and faculty
- Steve Barnett White Sweater Award (8 Varsity Letters). Nations Top 100 Prep Athletes-1958. University of OregonUniversity of Oregon-Colleges and schools:The University of Oregon is organized into eight schools and colleges—six professional schools and colleges, an Arts and Sciences College and an Honors College.- School of Architecture and Allied Arts :...
Football-Selected as Division 1 "Sophomore Lineman of the Year". Three time "All Coast Selection". Two Time "All-American". Starter on the 1960 Liberty BowlLiberty BowlThe Liberty Bowl is an annual U.S. American college football bowl game played in December of each year from 1959 to 2007 and in January in 2009 and 2010. The Liberty Bowl was sponsored by AXA Financial and was known as the AXA Liberty Bowl from 1997 to 2003...
. Recipientof the "Emerald Trophy" as Oregon's "Outstanding Senior Scholar-Athlete and Citizen". First team Academic All-AmericaAcademic All-AmericaAcademic All-America program is a student-athlete recognition program...
senior year. Played East West Shrine Game, Hula BowlHula BowlThe Hula Bowl was an independently administered post-season invitational college football game held each year in Hawaii from 1947 to 2008. The game was last played at Aloha Stadium in the Hālawa district of Honolulu, Hawaii. At one point the longest-running sporting event in Hawaii, it had been...
and Coaches All-America Games. NFL second round draft choice, Chicago BearsChicago BearsThe Chicago Bears are a professional American football team based in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
. Inducted into the University of Oregon Hall of Fame in 2000 - John Doyle (soccer) (1966- ) Amateur and professional soccer player and coach—USF, 1988 Seoul Olympics, 1990 World Cup, San Jose Clash and Earthquakes
- Dennis EckersleyDennis EckersleyDennis Lee Eckersley , nicknamed "Eck", is a former American Major League Baseball pitcher. Eckersley had success as a starter, but gained his greatest fame as a closer, becoming the first of only two pitchers in Major League history to have both a 20-win season and a 50-save season in a career .He...
(1954- ), Class of 1972, Baseball Hall of Famer who played for the Oakland AthleticsOakland AthleticsThe Oakland Athletics are a Major League Baseball team based in Oakland, California. The Athletics are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From to the present, the Athletics have played in the O.co Coliseum....
, and other teams; six-time MLB American League All-Star - Takeo Fudenna (c.1921-72), Class of 1939, WWII veteran in one of the Nisei units and recipient of the Bronze StarBronze Star MedalThe Bronze Star Medal is a United States Armed Forces individual military decoration that may be awarded for bravery, acts of merit, or meritorious service. As a medal it is awarded for merit, and with the "V" for valor device it is awarded for heroism. It is the fourth-highest combat award of the...
; co-founder of Fudenna Bros., a Fremont development company; namesake of Tak Fudenna Stadium - Jim Ingram, Huskies football coach from 1960 to 2002; during his years, the team won 230 games and 12 Mission Valley Athletic LeagueMission Valley Athletic LeagueThe Mission Valley Athletic League is a collaboration of 7 schools in the Tri-Cities area of Fremont, Newark and Union City, California. The MVAL is part of the Bay Shore Conference in the North Coast Section ....
(MVAL) titles. - Natasha Paremski (1987- ), pianist and musical prodigy, graduated by exam in 2002 at age 15; winner of the 2006 Gilmore Young Artist Award
- Bill Walsh (football coach)Bill Walsh (football coach)William Ernest "Bill" Walsh was a head coach for the San Francisco 49ers and Stanford Cardinal football team, during which time he popularized the West Coast offense....
(1931–2007) Washington High School football coach, 1957-59 - Lyle WestLyle WestBenjamin Lyle West is a former professional American football safety in the National Football League. He played four seasons for the New York Giants and the Kansas City Chiefs...
, Class of 1995, NFL Safety with the New York GiantsNew York GiantsThe New York Giants are a professional American football team based in East Rutherford, New Jersey, representing the New York City metropolitan area. The Giants are currently members of the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
(1999-2000) and the Kansas City ChiefsKansas City ChiefsThe Kansas City Chiefs are a professional American football team based in Kansas City, Missouri. They are a member of the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Originally named the Dallas Texans, the club was founded by Lamar Hunt in 1960 as a...
(2002-2003). - Robin WilliamsRobin Williams (writer)Robin Patricia Williams is an American educator who has authored many popular computer-related books, as well as the book Sweet Swan of Avon: Did a Woman Write Shakespeare? Among her computer books are manuals of style The Mac is Not a Typewriter and The Non-Designer's Design Book, as well as...
, Class of 1971, award-winning author of dozens of books on Macs, PCs, and graphic design and of Sweet Swan of Avon: Did a Woman Write Shakespeare?, Wilton Circle Press, 2006; she is also the founder of the Santa Fe Mac Users Group. - John WoodcockJohn Woodcock (football player)John Maurer Woodcock was an American football defensive lineman who played professionally in the National Football League.-Early years:He attended Washington High School in Fremont, California.-Career:...
(1954–98) an NFL defensive lineman who played with the Lions, and later with the San Diego Chargers.
External links
- Washington High School Web Site
- Campus map
- Washington High School Football
- Washington Huskies Aquatics–swimming and water polo
- Washington High School Alumni, Faculty, Administrative and Custodial Staff, 1892-2000, USGenWeb Archives (over 19,000 names)
- Washington High School Alumni Foundation
- Washington High School Class of 1992 website
- Washington High School Class of 1994 website
- Washington High School Class of 2005 website