Redwood High School (Larkspur, California)

Infobox Secondary school
name = Redwood High School

motto =
established = 1958
type = Public school
principal = Nancy Neu
faculty = 140
students = 1502
mascot = Giant
colors = Red & Gray colorbox|redcolorbox|#808080
city = Larkspur
state = California
country = USA
website = [http://redwood.org/ www.redwood.org]
grades = 9 - 12
average
address = [http://redwood.org/rhs/general/maps/map2.htm 395 Doherty Drive]
newspaper = [http://redwoodbark.org Redwood Bark]
yearbook =

:"For other "Redwood High Schools" , see Redwood High School (disambiguation)."

Redwood High School is a public secondary school located in the city of Larkspur, Marin County, California, approximately 11 miles north of San Francisco. Redwood High is part of the Tamalpais Union High School District. The school serves the cities of Belvedere, Corte Madera, Greenbrae, Kentfield, Larkspur, Ross, and Tiburon.

History

By 1957, the school age population of the Tamalpais Union High School District had grown too large for Tamalpais High School to accommodate. With the pressure of students coming in from elementary schools from Sausalito to Belvedere to Ross, it was therefore put to the voters of the district to decide on a solution. The vote was to create a new school, and chosen for its site was the marshy area that extended west from the centrally located town of Larkspur to Highway 101, an area that townspeople had called "the slough" since Larkspur was settled. It seemed the perfect solution. Of course, back in 1957, such things as the vital importance of wetlands were under-appreciated, therefore the land was seen as "waste." Beginning in early 1957, a large section of the marsh was flattened and filled, two roads were cut through from Magnolia Avenue out to the new school, and a playing field and parking lot were included. The first students who were to attend the new High School were allowed to chose the name of the newspaper and sports teams, choosing the Giants as their mascot in reference to the nearby redwood trees. School publications followed the tree theme: the Bark became the school's newspaper, and the Log the school's year book. The colors red and gray were a source of much contention, but were finally accepted. The school opened its doors in 1958 and in came three classes relocated from other area High Schools, and one class that would graduate in 1962 thereby becoming the first class to attend all four years at Redwood. By this date, there were still very few "extras." No pool. No cafeteria. No theater. Only one field, only the original two dirt roads in and out of the school. The entire school was a flat ochre colored box set on flat thinly grassed ground surrounded by what was left of the marsh. Since then, much has changed. The original box remains but its contours have been softened by landscaping, new buildings, and mature trees. Much of the marsh has been replaced by housing.

Redwood in the news

On September 11, 2008, it was announced that Redwood had been recognized by the federal Blue Ribbon Schools Program. Redwood has been recognized as a California Distinguished School since 1990. An article the local newspaper provides more information. [ [http://www.marinij.com/marinnews/ci_10430454 Rob Rogers, "Marin Independent Journal," "Redwood Recognized as Blue Ribbon School," 2008-09-11] , accessed 2008-09-11]

There have been recent rumors that MTV is planning to film a new reality show " The County " at Redwood High School, which would involve the daily life of seven teenagers.

There's also a new MTV show that just started filming about two Redwood grads in LA, something like The Hills.

Campus

. The school has a clear view of Marin County's signature mountain. Redwood's main school building (an original; see above) contains approximately 69 classrooms, four laboratories, the [http://rhslibrary.org Bessie Chin Library] , and a theater. Other buildings on the campus contain industrial technology areas, art and photography rooms, the band rooms, and the cafeteria (known as the CEA--Covered Eating Area). The campus also contains a large gymnasium with two weight rooms, a swimming pool, a diving pool, tennis courts, a track, athletic fields, and an outdoor amphitheatre facing the South Lawn. Marin Community Fields, which are located adjacent to the high school, are available for student recreation.

The original Redwood High School campus was opened in 1958, and additions to the main building were made over the next few years. Between 2002 and 2006, Redwood embarked on a major modernization process financed through a bond measure passed by district voters. Approximately forty million dollars were spent to remodel classrooms, refurbish the gymnasium and theater, and add new athletic fields. The modernization process included upgrades to the technology networking system in most classrooms. In the spring of 2006, Redwood art students created a 40-foot mural of the Marin County countryside. The mural was created on an exterior wall of the CEA (Covered Eating Area). This year, the 100th anniversary of Larkspur is also the 50th anniversary of Redwood High School.

Students

The following breakdown of students based on ethnicity is from 2006/2007 [http://www.tamdistrict.org/sarc/redwood.pdf enrollment data] .

Faculty and staff

* [http://www.redwood.org/rhs/staffinfo.htm Staff E-mail Listings & Room Information]

Extracurricular activities

ports

Fall Sports

Football (2001 MCAL Champs),Cheer and Dance,Water Polo,Cross Country,Boys Soccer,Girls Tennis,Girls Golf,Girls Volleyball (2006 NCS Champs)

Winter Sports

Wrestling,Basketball

Spring Sports

Baseball (2002, 2003 MCAL Champs),Softball (2006, 2007 MCAL Champs),Swimming & Diving (Girls 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008 MCAL Champs),Track & Field,Boys Golf,Girls Soccer,Boys Lacrosse,Boys Volleyball,Boys Tennis (2005 2006 MCAL Champions. 2005 2006 NCS Champions),Girls Lacrosse

Club Sports

Rugby (Spring), Crew (Year-round), Mountain Biking (Spring), Ultimate Frisbee ,Badminton ,Sailing (Year-round)

Newspaper

The student-run newspaper, the "Bark", has a long history of excellence, with student writers, photographers, and graphic designers earning honors at the national level each year. Active since the school's inception in 1958, the newspaper acts as a limited public forum for its student, teacher, parent, and community audience. Circulation of the free publication reaches 1,700 each month. The newspaper's website, containing current issues as well as historical archives, can be found at http://redwoodbark.org

Notable alumni

* Peter Bishop Allen (November 1, 1943–June 3, 2004), sculptor of marine mammals; Assistant Chief, Stinson Beach Fire Department; founder of The Kids Camp nature education program [ [http://www.ptreyeslight.com/stories/june10_04/allen_obituary.html Larken Bradley, "Point Reyes Light," "Ex-assistant fire chief of Stinson Beach dies", June 10, 2004] , accessed December 10, 2007] [ [http://webresult.com/gallery/peter.html Willow Camp Gallery (photo of Allen's bronze dolphin)] , accessed December 10, 2007]
* Greg Behrendt, stand-up comedian, author, TV performer
* Buddy Biancalana, former shortstop for the Kansas City Royals
* Pete Carroll, current University of Southern California head football coach. [ [http://usctrojans.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/carroll_pete00.html Player Bio: Pete Carroll :: Football ] ] (He was a 3-sport (football, basketball and baseball) standout at Redwood High, earning the school's Athlete of the Year award as a senior.)
* Gabrielle Carteris, actress
* Alaura Eden, adult film star
* Gary Fisher, mountain bike inventor
* Erin Gray, actress
* Peter Horton, actor and director
* Maz Jobrani, Iranian-American comedian
* China Kantner, former MTV VJ and actress
* Chad Kreuter, current University of Southern California head baseball coach
* John Walker Lindh, the "American Taliban"
* Ki Longfellow, aka Pamela Longfellow, novelist and screenwriter [ [http://www.thesecretmagdalene.com The Secret Magdalene ] ]
* Andy Luckey, television producer of "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles", "Adventures from the Book of Virtues," author and illustrator of children's books
* Gavin Newsom, mayor of San Francisco [ [http://www.gavinnewsom.com/ Act Locally SF ] ]
* Ned Overend, cyclist
* Jessica Roellig, importer/exporter (Vandelay Industries)Fact|September 2008|date=September 2008
* Eric Schmitt, Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist of the New York Times
* Tiffany Shlain, founder of the Webby Awards
* David Strathairn, actor, most notably for his roles in Sneakers and Good Night, and Good Luck.
* Robin Williams, comedian and actor

References

External links

* [http://www.redwood.org Redwood High School Official Web Site]
* [http://www.redwood.org/rhs/staffinfo.htm Staff E-mail Listings & Room Information]
* [http://www.redwood.org/rhs/instguid.pdf Redwood High School Instructional Guide]
* [http://www.tamdistrict.org/sarc/redwood.pdf School Accountability Report Card]
* [http://redwoodbark.org Redwood Bark (School Newspaper)]
* [http://www.marinij.com/marin/ci_3819483 Redwood Mural]