Fife High School

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Fife High School
Established 1899
Type Public secondary
Principal John McCrossin
Grades 10–12
Location 5616-20th St. E
Fife, Washington, USA
Colors Blue and Gold
Mascot Trojans
Website [15]

Fife High School is located in the small town Fife, Washington. FHS is the only high school in the Fife Public Schools system.[1]

Contents

Fife High School initially consisted of the upper grades, of the general Fife School, founded in 1899. The high school was officially separated from the lower grades in 1930, when the new high school building was completed.[2] At that time, the official school colors of Royal Blue and Gold were chosen.

Due to its proximity to the Puget Sound, Fife High, as well as the rest of Fife, rest very close to the water table. With the frequent heavy rains of Washington, the school grounds often flooded due to poor drainage. Remedied through remodels in the latter 20th century, the school does not flood anymore. However, in Sept. 2001, FHS flooded so much that one student (a Mr. Wooldridge) swam in the parking lot. This school is noted for its poor education, and a very low rate of college bound students. The rate of high school graduation is high however.

From the roots of Fife's agricultural economy, the Cabbage Patch Olympics[3]were born in 1980.[4] These field games were named in honor of the many cabbage fields, which until the 00's, were still very prominent in the landscape. The Olympics occur every September as an inter-class competition, as the finale of the fall Associated Student Body (A.S.B) Week. Held in the football stadium, the competition consists of numerous events, most notably: The cabbage throw, Hula Hoop pass, tug of war, and pyramid building. Each class (sophomore, junior and senior) is awarded points for each event, tallied on large decorated posters. Points are also awarded for color unity (every class member wearing the class color), spirit, and mascot creativity. Traditionally, the class colors are Sophomore: White, Junior: Gold/Yellow, Senior: Blue. Each year a theme for the Olympics is chosen, Cartoon Characters for example, but the cabbage remains the overall emphasis each year. The only prizes for winning the Olympics are the substantial bragging rights, until the next year.

Each year, Fife participates in the Pierce County Daffodil Festival, a regional tradition since 1933. As one of the first cities to participate, the high school holds particular standing as one of the longest represented schools in the annual parade. Each year a competition is held in the fall within the school, for the title of Fife Daffodil princess. Once selected, the Fife Princess joins other area school representatives in competition for the title of Daffodil Festival Queen. A prestigious regional award, Fife princesses often return to the parade as area celebrity alumni. At Fife High, every princess is professionally photographed, and her portrait is displayed alongside every other Fife princess in the school library, since the 1940s. Currently, two princesses have been named Queen: Sherri Murray in 1973,[5] and Kelly Parkhurst in 1990.[6]

Every year, the Fife community builds a parade float, following the particular theme of the parade that year. All of the Fife princesses and the Fife Queen ride, accompanied by the high school band and dance team marching.

Due to its small size, and the breadth of community it must serve, Fife has somewhat limited academic depth. However, the school is compensated through strong selected classes, such as calculus, physics, AP History, German and its drama courses. Within the recent decade, Fife has seen a surge of graduates attend college and university, including (but not limited to) the University of Washington, Washington State University, Pacific Luthern University, USC, Carnegie Mellon, Johns Hopkins, Pepperdine, The Naval Academy, West Point, UPenn, and others.

Fife competes as a 2A school in the Nisqually League. However, Fife previously competed as a 3A classified school in the Seamount League-Pierce County, Washington. Fife's rival in athletics is White River High School, in Bonney Lake, Washington.

During the 1990s and early 2000s, Fife was the regional girls volleyball powerhouse of the South Puget Sound region. This was due to the leadership of head coach Jan Kirk, still heading the program. During this time the team took 1st in 1992, 1995, 1996, 1999, in state volleyball and placed in the top 4 from 1992-2001.[15]

Fife High Schools administration has historically had a strained relationship with its art teachers, serious artisitic students and community members. Although many schools are traditonally sports-oriented, FHS heavily leans on support of sports instead of arts programs. The offerings of the school include:

  • Band/Wind Ensemble
  • Choir
  • Jazz Band
  • Jazz Choir
  • Drawing
  • Pottery
  • Drama (in collaboration with Columbia Junior High)
  • Metalworking

Despite the major lack of administrative support, the Jazz programs have exceptionally flourished, due to artisic director, Karl Sorenson. Both the choir and band consistently place in the Top 3 of Clark College Jazz Festival, held in Vancouver, Washington every January. Alumni from this group include Jake Davison, founder of Aiden.

Since orchestra is not offered, students at Fife are encourage to participate in the Tacoma Youth Symphony, Seattle Youth Symphony, or Capital Area Youth Symphony (Olympia, WA).

  1. ^ Fife High School (2007). Fife High School Retrieved February 7, 2007.
  2. ^ Fife High School: A Historical Perspective (2007). [1] Retrieved February 7,2007.
  3. ^ Cabbage Patch (2007). [2] Retrieved Februrary 7, 2007.
  4. ^ Olympics Founding (2007). [3] Retrieved February 7, 2007.
  5. ^ Daffodil Royalty (1973). [4] Retrieved February 7, 2007.
  6. ^ Daffodil Royalty (1990). [5] Retrieved February 7, 2007.
  7. ^ Obituary, Tacoma News Tribune (September 1, 2002). [6] Retrieved February 7, 2007.
  8. ^ Emmert Article (June 2004). [7] Retrieved February 7, 2007.
  9. ^ WSU Hall of Fame (2007). [8] Retrieved February 7, 2007.
  10. ^ Aiden Biography, MTV (2006). [9] Retrieved February 7, 2007.
  11. ^ General Election (2004). [10] Retrieved February 7, 2007.
  12. ^ Washington State Wrestling Coaches Association, Hall of Fame (1995). [11] Retrieved February 7, 2007.
  13. ^ Seahawks Cheerleaders (2000). [12] Retrieved Febraury 7, 2007.
  14. ^ Seahawks Cheerleaders (2001). [13] Retrieved February 7, 2007.
  15. ^ WIAA Volleyball [14] Retrieved March 29, 2007.

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