James Logan High School

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Jump to: navigation, search
This article or section has multiple issues. Please help improve the article or discuss these issues on the talk page.
James Logan High School
Address
1800 H Street
Union City, California, 94587
United States
Information
Established 1959
School district New Haven Unified School District
Principal Judy Billingsley[citation needed]
Vice principal Linda Kingston
Vice principal Yvonne Hull
Vice principal John Rodriguez
Vice principal Grace Kim
Faculty 180 or more[citation needed]
Enrollment 3860 Total Students[citation needed]
Grade 9 Freshmen
Grade 10 Sophomores
Grade 11 Juniors
Grade 12 seniors
Campus size 70 acres[citation needed]
Color(s)              Red, White, Black
Mascot Colt
Newspaper The James Logan Courier
Information 510-471-2520
Website official website

James Logan High School is a 9-12 high school located in Union City, California. James Logan is also the only high school in the New Haven Unified School District, and serves students throughout Union City and South Hayward. James Logan has student population of 3860 from many ethic backgrounds during 2008-2009 school year.[citation needed] Logan is the most populous and the largest high school in Northern California followed by Berkeley High School (BHS) with 3300 students Logan is one of two high schools within the district along with Conley-Caraballo High School a comingle Continuation High school, Alternative High School.

Contents

[edit] History

James Logan High School is named after James Logan, an education official from Fremont, California.[citation needed]

James Logan High School is notable for being one of the first schools to have a 7-Eleven store on campus, which has since closed.[1]

In the Spring of 2002, students in Logan's Leadership (Student Government) class started an initiative with state senator Liz Figueroa to permit state high school students to carry cell phones on campus. The students were motivated to change existing law prohibiting student use of signaling devices to match the common usage of cell phones. The initiative was also a reaction to emergency situations including recent terror attacks and school shootings. Students collaborated with Figueroa in writing Senate Bill 1253, solicited support from various stakeholders, and testified before the state Senate Education Committee. The revised law became effective in January 2003.[2] At Logan actual use of a cell phone is generally prohibited during classroom time.

[edit] Campus

This map of the east side of campus highlights each section of the school in order of expansion throughout the years.

The original campus was established in 1959 east of H Street.[citation needed] In 1992, a two square block property west of H Street, save for a flower shop, was acquired through eminent domain and added to the campus (which was dubbed the "Logan annex"). Originally this property contained a shopping center and several single-family homes. Since this acquisition, several of the school's athletic facilities have been moved to the annex and a new child-care center established. In March 2006, the remaining flower shop was acquired and the land is currently under construction to complete the student parking lot and make room for other projects.[3]

Local voters passed Measure A in 2003, which provided funding for the district to address over crowding through facility rehabilitation and expansion.[4]

The campus has a capacity for 4,200 students. All teaching facilities have Internet access. All facilities are compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) access requirements. Modernization Projects and Improvements: The original school buildings were modernized in 1993. New HVAC systems were installed, the classroom interiors were upgraded with carpeting and vinyl tackable wall surfaces, and new wiring was installed to provide the backbone for the installation of technology. Various specialty rooms, such as the photo lab, have also been upgraded to meet the expanded needs of the school. During the summer of 2005, two classrooms for the forensics department were modernized, and two classrooms for Special Education were upgraded with new restroom facilities added in conjunction with some cosmetic improvement to the classrooms. The running track was resurfaced with a new structural sprayed surface that will provide several more years of use. In 2005-06, local bond funds (Measure A) were used to demolish a commercial building on the Logan annex parking lot and add new parking space, remove a section of the annex parking lot and install a new lighted basketball complex, provide new electrical service and improvements for an ecology area, and upgrade the campus public address system with additional speakers and an emergency battery backup system. The following improvements will be funded by local bond funds (Measure A): During the 2006–07 school year, two restrooms located by the theater complex were modernized and brought up to current ADA standards; sections of the campus perimeter security fence were replaced with a taller curved top design; replacement of deteriorated wood walkways on the football stadium bleachers was completed in the spring of 2007; replacement of the pavilion wrestling room mats was completed in the fall of 2006; and installation of a new HVAC system with air filtration to handle clay dust in the art Room New School Construction Projects: Beginning in fall 2004, the first of multiple construction phases began. A new complex housing the auto shop, print shop, central supply, and eight classrooms was started, as well as the addition of 12 classrooms to the existing 300 Wing. In 2006-07, the new building was opened and occupied. Fifteen portable classrooms were removed in this first phase. This first phase was occupied in spring of 2006. Phase II was started in spring 2006 with the removal of 24 portable classrooms. Phase II provides 26 new classrooms, a new administration area, and a new maintenance shop. Phase II was completed and opened in the summer/fall 2007. A new performing arts center with classrooms for the music department has been designed, and is scheduled to begin construction in spring 2008. In 2006-2007, gates were added to the 400s Wings to improve the flow A Culinary Arts Academy is in the designing stage. Construction is expected to begin in the fall of 2008 There are 152 classrooms (including 45 portables), a theater, media center, health center, student store, activities director center, curriculum center, career center, administration center, print shop, auto shop, video studio, supply room, maintenance shop, gym complex with locker rooms, weight training room, one classroom, one exercise room, cafeteria, student union, pavilion gymnasium with locker rooms, dance studio, wrestling room, swim complex, football stadium, baseball/softball stadiums, tennis complex, and basketball court complex. The original school was built in 1959, with permanent building additions: • 1962—Cafeteria building • 1978—Theater, 2 classrooms, 2 labs, media center, 2 music rooms • 1983—Administration building • 1986—Pavilion complex, 12 classrooms, and music room • 1993—27 Classroom building • 1996—Swim center • 2006—8 Classrooms, auto shop, print shop, central warehouse • 2006—8 Classrooms and 4 double-size classrooms Portable buildings were installed in: • 1973—8 Classrooms, removed in March 2006 • 1981—10 Classrooms, removed in March 2006 • 1983—2 Classrooms, removed in March 2006 • 1984—2 Classrooms, removed in March 2006 • 1985—2 Classrooms and restroom building, removed in March 2006 • 1984—2 Snack bar buildings • 1985—1 Snack bar building • 1994—12 Classrooms, stucco exterior finish • 2004—33 Classrooms and a restroom building, 14 leased and 20 purchased for temporary housing during modernization and expansion of high school

[edit] Student Body

The student body is divided into four "houses" that are each overseen by a separate team of administrators and counselors.[citation needed] Each house has its own House Principal, who has authority comparable to a vice principal at other high schools. The current house principal's are Linda Kingston, Yvonne Hull, John Rodriguez, and Grace Kim. James Logan has adjusted the number of houses as the student population has fluctuated. James Logan also implements a 2-period lunch where half of the school has lunch one period, and the other half has lunch the other period. This increases the safety of the school in that only half of the students need to be monitored by campus safety technicians during these times.[citation needed] To maintain campus safety, James Logan has two permanently stationed police officers for safety[5]

The school is jointly accredited by the California Department of Education and the Western Association of Schools and Colleges.[citation needed] James Logan High School hosts several Regional Occupational Programs[1]. James Logan was also the first high school in the Bay Area to offer several Punjabi foreign-language courses, the only high school in the U.S. to have ethnic studies classes,[6] and an Electronic Media Production class allows students to make school announcements every morning on a 5-10 min show called Logan Live.James Logan High is also planning to offer ROP additional classes for High tech, Medical and many other careers on the campus and to develop a career pathway of classes so students have an opportunity to job shadow and or serve an internship at a variety of local businesses.

Following entire faculty-takeovers of the nearby Oakland Unified School District,[7] James Logan High School officials fear similar non-compliance with the requirements set by the California Department of Education. Originally, in terms of instructional minutes, James Logan was in compliance. However, after finding out that the school's extra class periods before and after regular school hours would not count because of low attendance, administrators have been scrambling to compose an alternate schedule that would meet such requirements.[8] A proposed schedule involved shorter breaks and extended school times, creating cause for controversy.[9]

[edit] Awards

Logan High School has been recognized by a number of academic awards. In 1998 and 1994, it was recognized as a California Distinguished School by the California Department of Education.[10] It was one of the first high schools in the nation to be awarded the national award for Excellence in Education.[11] Logan was recognized in 1983 and 1987 as a Blue Ribbon School by the U.S. Department of Education.[12]

[edit] Extracurricular activities

James Logan offer 50 school clubs and a wide assortment of sports teams for its student body to participate. These sports are: badminton, baseball, basketball, cross-country running, football, golf, gymnastics, soccer, softball, swimming and diving, tennis, track and field, volleyball, water polo, and wrestling,Logan is home to many fine Notable buildings and facilities that are use by sports Teams and the school they Include:

Guy Emanuele, Jr. Pavilion a 3,000 seat facility which can be configured for various sports events, a padded wrestling room, a full-sized dance studio, and a professional-quality sound and lighting system. The building is dedicated to Guy Emanuele, Jr., former superintendent of the school district, who, among his other accomplishments, was intstrumental in the building's planning and construction.

Dan Oden Swim Complex A swim Complex use for Logan swimming and diving courses as well as the sports such as water polo,swimming.Dan Oden Swim Complex is jointly operated by the school district and the City of Union City. The complex is dedicated in memory of a beloved swimming coach who died suddenly of cancer in the mid-90s.

Logan Stadium a 4,050 seat stadium with an artificial turf football field surrounded by an artificial surface track use for Logan Football team, road running,cross-country running,track and field.

Logan Little Theatre an intimate theatre-in-the-round with a seating capacity of 300 and outstanding sound and lighting systems.

Logan Performing Arts Center Construction of a $25 million Performing Arts Center at Logan High School is under way. The 599-seat theater, with rehearsal space and teaching stations for the performing arts, is expected to open during the 2009-10 school year.

[edit] Sports

Boys Tennis Team won the MVAL Singles League Title for the first time in Logan's history. Nico Bernardo won the MVAL Singles title in 2005, and won it for the next 2 years making it a 3 year MVAL Singles Title Streak.[citation needed]

In 2004 the Logan boys Track & Field team won the California State Meet with 46 points, behind two wins by Kevin Craddock (110 high hurdles and 300 intermediate hurdles), a win in the 3200 by Yosef Ghebray and two medals in the triple jump, a win by Nkosinza Balumbu and a third place by Angelo Jeffery.[citation needed]

In 2006, after five second place finishes, the Colts girls Track & Field team tied Long Beach Wilson for first place with 37 points at the California State Meet.[citation needed] Despite not winning in an individual or relay event, the Colts moved into title contention late in the meet when Tierra Ward finished in third-place in the 300 hurdles right about the same time that Tracey Stewart was finishing in second-place in the triple jump. Stewart earlier landed a second-place mark in the long jump while Ward had a fifth-place run in the 100 hurdles. The rest of Logan’s points came via a second-place sprint in the 4x100 relay, a fourth-place finish in the 100-meter dash from Kristina Davis and a sixth-place throw in the shot put from Jaleesa Jeffery.

Logan has won various North Coast Section championships, including wrestling, baseball (2001)[13] and basketball (boys: 1985, 1987; girls: 1988), among others.

[edit] The Forensics Speech and Debate Program

The Forensics Speech and Debate program at James Logan High School, ranked as one of the top five teams in the National Forensic League[14] is one of the largest extracurricular programs at James Logan[citation needed]. The program was started 16 years ago in 1989 as nothing more than an after-school club activity, but quickly became one of the largest programs in the nation of over 200 members, offering classes throughout the day.[citation needed]

The James Logan Forensics team is coached by Tommie Lindsey. who has appeared on Oprah,[15] won the prestigious MacArthur Award,[16] and received many other awards from organizations such as the NAACP. Normally, a speech and debate program is an expensive operation, and because James Logan is located in a working-class community. Tommie Lindsey strives to make sure everyone has a chance to compete. For example, in the past, he has helped purchase suits for students who cannot afford them right out of his pocket. Acts like these have helped him gain recognition in the community.[citation needed]

The Martin Luther King, Jr. Invitational at James Logan High School is host to more than a thousand competitors every year.

Team members compete in debate and individual events at many tournaments throughout the school-year ranging from local California High School Speech Association(CHSSA) league tournaments to national circuit tournaments throughout the country, including prestigious competitions hosted by the University of California, Berkeley, Emory University, Stanford University, and Wake Forest University.

Every year, James Logan High School hosts the Martin Luther King, Jr. Speech and Debate Invitational on the Martin Luther King, Jr. Day weekend in January. During this busiest time of the forensics season, thousands of competitors from more than 50 schools in the Bay Area region and out-of-state participate in the three-day tournament.

At the end of each competitive season, the James Logan Forensics team participates at a CHSSA championship, in which it has achieved status as a five-time California state champion (1996, 1998, 1999, 2001, and 2005), and also at an NFL Nationals championship where it has twice earned the distinction of participating at the most number of elimination rounds (1996 and 2005).[citation needed] In 2005, the James Logan Forensics team, with over 200 members, became the largest and most successful team in the history of the National Forensic League, winning the California State Tournament and National Forensic League Championship, while also sending the highest number of competitors to those respective tournaments. The Forensics team has also won the NFL National Championships for three consecutive years: 2005, 2006, and 2007.[citation needed] It is second in number of consecutive wins only to Chesterton, which has 5.[citation needed] Such success has allowed the team to be recognized throughout the nation and has been featured in a PBS documentary titled "Accidental Hero, Room 408",[17] The Jim Lehrer News Hour on PBS,[18] and various local news broadcasts around the Bay Area.

The program has also been acclaimed for helping to battle academic odds in the community. In the 2005-2006 school years, 96% of all seniors in the program attended a 4-year college or university the following fall (as compared to 40% of all Logan seniors). In the 2006-2007 school years, 100% of the seniors on the team went to 4-year schools or universities. Appreciating the benefits they experience from the program, many of its current members and alumni describe the program as "not only preparing you for public speaking, but preparing you for life."[19]

[edit] Band and Color Guard

The Marching Band and Color Guard at James Logan High School is considered among the best in California.[citation needed] Directed by Ramiro Barrera, the James Logan Marching Band has won two WSMBC championships (1997, 1999) and eight WBA championships (2000-2002, 2004-2008). They did not attend the championships in 2003.[citation needed]

The marching band has also performed in the 1999 Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, the 2003 Tournament of Roses parade in Pasadena, and the 2005 Edinburgh Easter Festival.[citation needed] The band and color guard performed at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, China for the as part of the American Band in venues around Beijing.

The music program also includes the Wind Symphony concert band, which has attended the Midwest Clinic of 2003 in Chicago and performed in a joint concert with the Ninth Annual National Wind Ensemble at Carnegie Hall in 2006. The Logan Wind Ensemble commissioned 2 pieces for this event. One piece was composed by jazz musician James Miley entitled "After The Water, The Clouds," and the other written by Carter Pann entitled "The Wrangler (Cowboy Dances)."[20][21] In February 2006, the Logan Wind Symphony sent twelve students to the California All-State Honor Band Convention in Fresno, CA, the maximum amount of students eligible to audition for the rigorous event. Of these twelve students, four were ranked 1st in their respective instrument categories.


1997 Pirates Ramiro Barrera's first year at James Logan High School. Won at WSMBC Championships. Based on music from "On Dangerous Ground", "Psycho", and "Harmonium"
1998 Powerhouse Based on "Powerhouse: Rhumba for Orchestra" and "Unchained Melody". 2nd Place.
1999 Marco Polo Based on "Tempered Steel" and music from Star Wars: Episode I. Final Score: 96.98. Captions: Marching, Effect, and Auxiliary.
2000 Tribe Based on Vincent Persichetti's "Symphony No.6. Final Score: 97.85 Note: This is the one and only year that Logan won all captions, including the Percussion caption that Mission Viejo High School historically has won instead.
2001 Paris Sketches Based on the Martin Ellerby wind ensemble piece of the same name. Final Score: 95.67. All captions except Percussion.
2002 Masque: A Medieval Production Based on music from the Kenneth Hesketh piece of the same name, "Sarabande" by Ron Nelson, "Blithe Bells," music from Harry Potter, and "Carmina Burana". Final Score: 96.99. All captions except Percussion
2003 Ode to Joy: A Musical Celebration featuring Beethoven's "Ode To Joy," Morten Lauridsen's "O Magnum Mysterium" and Giuseppe Verdi's "Requiem". Note: Logan did not go to Championships this year, as the Midwest Clinic occurred in the same year. Mission Viejo High School won in place.
2004 Wind Dances Based on "Mars" by Gustav Holst, "Danza De Los Duendes" by Nancy Galbraith, music from Stravinsky's "The Firebird," and John Williams's "Buckbeak's Flight" which appeared in the motion picture Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban. Notably, the film was released concurrent to the band season. Final Score: 97.24 Note: This was the infamous year that Logan received a perfect score of 100 in General Effect: Music coordination.
2005 The Secret Garden Based on music from Lord of the Rings, the Candide Suite by Leonard Bernstein, and music of Philip Glass. Final Score: 96.25 All Captions except Percussion
2006 Snakes, Lizards and Dragons Based on "Symphony in Bb" by Paul Hindemith, "The Carnival Of The Animals mvt. VII: The Aquarium" by Camille Saint-Saëns. and "Night on Bald Mountain". This marching show ends with the Firebird chords also found in the finale of "Wind Dances." Final Score 95.50.
2007 Stormy Present Based on "Music for Prague 1968" by Karel Husa, the Irish folk tune "Danny Boy"/"Londonderry Air", and music by Béla Bartók, including "Concerto For Orchestra mvt. V: Finale". Final Score: 97.80. All captions except Percussion, receiving 100 in Auxiliary and Visual.
2008 Shangri-La Based on "Machu Picchu" by Satoshi Yagisawa, "Scheherazade" by Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov, and "Frenergy" by John Estacio. Final Score: 97.43. All captions except Percussion.

[edit] Winter Guard

The Color Guard is one of the largest guards in the state. The James Logan World Guard competes in the Winter Guard International championships, where it has won ten consecutive gold medals (1998-2007), the most in the history of the competition. The James Logan Open Guard competes in the California Color Guard Circuit of the WGI, winning the bronze medal in 2006, the silver in 2005, and the gold in 2004, 2003, and 2002.[22]

[edit] Notable alumni

[edit] References

  1. ^ "James Logan High School Information Page". James Logan High School. Retrieved on 2006-04-19.
  2. ^ Goot, Dustin (2002-08-27). "Cell Sanity Arrives in Schools", Wired News, Advance Magazine Publishers, Inc.. Retrieved on 18 April 2006. 
  3. ^ Shatzman, Berry (2005-08-31). "Union City's first and only florist going out of business", The Argus, Alameda Newspaper Group. 
  4. ^ "Measure A: School Bonds - Alameda County, CA", League of Women Voters of California Education Fund. Retrieved on 18 April 2006. 
  5. ^ "City of Union City, CA - UCPD Field Ops". City of Union City, CA. Retrieved on 2006-04-20.
  6. ^ Fernandez, Lisa (2006-01-30). "School's Punjabi Course Goes Beyond Language", San Jose Mercury News, Knight Ridder, Inc.. Retrieved on 19 April 2006. 
  7. ^ Meredith May (2002-12-08). "Oakland Schools Broke, Face Bailout / $100 Million Takeover Would Be Biggest Yet", San Francisco Chronicle, San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved on 20 April 2006. 
  8. ^ Staff writer (2006-03-23). ""New and Improved" Schedule Revealed", James Logan Courier, James Logan High School. Retrieved on 20 April 2006. 
  9. ^ Staff writer (2006-03-28). "Principal Answers Staff's Schedule Questions", James Logan Courier, James Logan High School. Retrieved on 16 April 2006. 
  10. ^ "Distinguished School Awards - Alameda County". State of California - Department of Education. Retrieved on 2006-04-18.
  11. ^ "James Logan High School Information Page". James Logan High School. Retrieved on 2006-04-19.
  12. ^ "Blue Ribbon Schools Program: Schools Recognized 1982-1983 through 1999-2002". U.S. Department of Education. Retrieved on 2006-04-19.
  13. ^ "HISTORYBASEBALL". North Coast Section, CIF. Retrieved on 2006-04-21.
  14. ^ "View NFL Reports". National Forensic League. Retrieved on 2006-04-16.
  15. ^ "James Logan Forensics Team". Harpo Productions, Inc.. Retrieved on 2006-04-16.
  16. ^ DeFao, Janine (2004-09-28). "The MacArthur Grants: Bay Area Profiles", San Francisco Chronicle, Hearst Communications, Inc., p. A-11. Retrieved on 16 April 2006. 
  17. ^ "Accidental Hero. Meet Tommie Lindsey". PBS. Retrieved on 2006-04-16.
  18. ^ "Online News Hour: Speaking For Success". PBS. Retrieved on 2006-04-16.
  19. ^ "James Logan Forensics Team". Harpo Productions, Inc.. Retrieved on 2006-04-16.
  20. ^ Carnegie Hall Concert Series
  21. ^ John Mackey's Blog, OstiMusic (Composer Mackey called the Logan High School Wind Ensemble "the best high school band I've ever heard.")
  22. ^ "James Logan High School Band and Color Guard". James Logan High School. Retrieved on 2006-04-20.

[edit] External links

Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Logan_High_School"
Personal tools