Welcome to ornacle.com on July 12 2009.
This is an internet experiment running to monitor browsing habbits of individuals through wikipedia contents.

DeWitt Clinton High School

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

  (Redirected from De Witt Clinton High School)
Jump to: navigation, search
DeWitt Clinton High School
Sine Labore Nihil
(Without Work Nothing Is Accomplished)
Location
New York City (Bronx),
New York State,
United States of America
Information
Type Public
Established 1897
Principal Geraldine Ambrosio
Faculty 270
Students approx. 4,093
Mascot The Governors
Colors Red and black
Website Official Website

DeWitt Clinton High School is an American high school located in the New York City borough of the Bronx.

Contents

[edit] History

Haaren Hall in 2008

Clinton opened in 1897 at 60 West 13th Street at the northern end of Greenwich Village under the name of Boys High School[1], although this Boys High School was not related to the one in Brooklyn. This school was renamed for DeWitt Clinton in 1900[1].

In 1906 it moved to a newly constructed building on Tenth Avenue between 58th Street and 59th Street in the Hell's Kitchen neighborhood—the same year as the opening of the nearby DeWitt Clinton Park where students "farmed" plots in what was the first community garden in New York.

The H-shaped building designed by Charles B. J. Snyder was said to be the biggest high school building in the United States at the time.[2] After the school moved to the Bronx it became Haaren High School. It is now Haaren Hall on the campus of the John Jay College of Criminal Justice.[3]

Until a high school education became compulsory in the early 1930s, Clinton, like all other public schools in the City, had a Classics Department, where Greek and Latin were taught. Perhaps the most famous teacher to ever grace the halls of the school was History teacher Dr Irwin Guernsey, known to generations of students as "Doc" Guernsey. He came to Clinton in Fall, 1914 and retired in Spring, 1959, only because he had become ill. A cripple with two "irish" canes, he taught from the chair and won twice in his lifetime the title of Master Teacher in New York City. He was also head of Arista, the Honors Association. The History wing is named "Guernsey Hall" in his memory, and one can still see the library cart "Doc's Special" that students used to wheel him to class on the last years of his tenure when he was sick.

The school moved to a new building on a 21-acre (85,000 m2) campus at 100 West Mosholu Parkway South and East 205th Street in the Bedford Park section of the Bronx in 1929[1], where it has remained.

In the 1930s its enrollment peaked at 12,000 and it was said to be the largest high school in the world. Enrollment has subsequently dropped to about 4,000. [4]

It remained the last gender-segregated public school in New York until 1983. The current principal is Geraldine Ambrosio, the first woman to hold the Clinton Principalship.

In 1996, Clinton was selected by Redbook magazine as one of the five most improved schools in America. In 1999, US News and World Report designated Clinton as one of the most outstanding schools in America.

The school receives government aid because of the low income status of its students. As of 2006, the school has a large Hispanic population, followed by Blacks and Asians. Caucasians, primarily Albanians, comprise a tiny minority.

[edit] Organization-Houses/Small Learning Communities

Clinton is split into several small learning communities (SLC). They include the Macy Honors Gifted Program (internally referred to often as the Macy House), Health Professions, Veterinary Professions, Public Service, Business Enterprise, Future Educators, Academy House, and Varsity House. DeWitt Clinton High School is best known for its Macy honors program, attracting intelligent, hard-working children and preparing them for selective colleges such as Cornell, MIT, Columbia, Wesleyan, Tufts, and Yale. The Macy program has been expanded to serve 1,200 students. The current Macy Coordinators are Phyllis McCabe and Ernesta Consolazio. [5]

The Macy Honors Gifted Program in the Sciences and Humanities has its own teachers, and a nine-period day compared to the regular New York City 8 period day. The program offers specialized and advanced Technology (SMT) courses, Science, Math, English, Law, Government, Philosophy and Great Books. All students in the program are required to have a minimum average of 80 and not to fail any courses. When MACY students are removed from the program, they are placed in "Excel," a special MACY run program just for its kick-outs and drop-outs, before getting fully demoted to the lower programs. From at least 1998 to 2002 some students went directly into the Excel program.[6]

 The neutrality of this article is disputed. Please see the discussion on the talk page. Please do not remove this message until the dispute is resolved. (January 2009)

[edit] Honors

The advanced Macy students are invited to join the super-selective "Einstein" program with about 50 students in each grade, totaling to a few hundred students from the Macy Honors Gifted Program in the Sciences and Humanities. In Einstein, the academic performance requirements are more strict than regular Macy.

Einstein students in their junior year are required to take a College Now course for philosophy and government science, in their first and second semester, respectively. These courses are used to earn college credits.

Einstein students are automatically assigned to honors and AP classes as early as freshman year, followed by the mandatory AP United States History and AP English Language for Einstein students who make it to their junior year.

Many within this elite of elites program either drop out of Einstein, or get further demoted to Excel. Although an average of 90 or higher is allegedly required to remain in Einstein, many with averages significantly lower are still in it. It is observed that many who are taken out of Einstein have failed a class or more or merely performed inexcusably poor. This program is for students who are willing and capable.

There is also the regualar Macy Program, which consists of those who are able to keep 80 averages or above. If one fails in reaching those standards, they are taken out and put into excel. Macy, although not as challenging as Einstein, still is an honors program.

[edit] MASTERS Program

Many MACY students are invited to MASTERS, a month-long summer program that offers many hands-on college courses that emphasizes mathematics and science. Some include: Forensic Science, Robotics, Anatomy, Business, Consumer Chemistry and Electricity.

MASTERS offers everyday SAT practice in the form of quizzes; winners get a trip to the prize box. This MASTERS Program is a very engaging yet enriching summer program. Many who attend this program learn to dissect different animals, conduct college leveled experiments, etc. They also go on to do very well on the vocabulary part of the SAT.

[Past Masterites, please extend this section.]

[edit] Course Offerings

Partly due to the immensity of size, DeWitt Clinton High School has several course offerings, more than most New York City Schools. REGULAR and ELECTIVES:

  • Mathematics: Integrated Algebra, Mathematics A, Mathematics B, College Algebra, Precalculus
  • Science: Environmental Science, Biology, Biology Research, Chemistry, Physics, Earth Science, Forensics, Intro to Engineering, Engineering 2,
  • History: World History, United States History, Government, Historical Research, Presidents, Law, New York History, Economics
  • Foreign Language: Spanish, Spanish Heritage, Spanish Native, French, Latin
  • English: In addition to English 1-8, there are Literary Criticism 1 and 2, Great Books, TDF- Playwriting, Writing, Journalism, Film and the WITT Seminar on Activism.
  • Physical Education and Health: Karate, Yoga, Fitness, Basketball, Gymnastics, Boys Weightlifting, Girls Weightlifting, Dance, Health
  • Art and Music: Beg Guitar, Advanced Guitar, Beg Piano, Chorus, History of Music, Band, Marching Band, Studio Art, Photography, Drawing, Ceramics
  • Technology (SMT): Computer Applications, Computer Research

Advanced PlacementTM:

  • Mathematics: Calculus AB, Calculus BC, Statistics
  • Science: Biology, Chemistry, Physics
  • English: Language and Composition, Literature and Composition
  • Social Studies: World History, United States History, United States Government and Politics, European History, Macroeconomics, Microeeconomics, Psychology
  • Foreign Language: Spanish Language and Composition, Spanish Literature and Composition

Course offerings and availability depend highly upon the house a student is enrolled in. For instance, the Mathematics A and B tracks tend to be shorter for MACY students. Also, environmental science is usually the starter course for DeWitt Clinton High School, whereas MACY students skip straight to the "Biology" course. Health Careers students can have Health classes for up to two years whereas others get one term under the incorrect course name "hygiene" (referred to as Health above). Even within some houses, there are smaller divisions or Small Learning Communities (SLCs). For instance, the MACY program included a breakdown into Humanities, Math Science and Engineering, and Business. Houses, particularly MACY, tend to have their own classes. However, there maybe some overlap as MACY classes are often considered "honors" courses. Health Careers students have been permitted to take a limited number of MACY classes to count as honors.

[edit] Club Activities

There are over 40 academic and interest clubs. These clubs include[7]:

  • Alumni Squad
  • Animal Rights Club (ARC)
  • Art/Comic Club
  • Asian
  • ARISTA (National Honor Society)
  • ASPIRA
  • Broadcast Crew
  • Caribbean
  • Cheerleading
  • Chess Team
  • Chorus
  • Christian Seekers
  • Clinton News (School Newspaper)
  • Conflict Mediation
  • Dance Team
  • DIVAS
  • Drama
  • ESPIRA
  • Environmental Affairs
  • Gentlemen's Club
  • Leadership Council
  • Hope
  • H.O.S.A.
  • Key Club
  • Kung Fu
  • Marching Band
  • Math (coincides with chapter of Mu Alpha Theta, math honor society)
  • Peer Tutoring
  • MAGPIE Literary Magazine
  • Model United Nations Club
  • MOOT COURT
  • Paint Club (by PUBLICOLOR)
  • Psychology Club
  • J.R.O.T.C.
  • S.P.A.R.K.
  • STEP Team
  • Swimming Club
  • United Nations
  • Virtual Enterprise
  • Voracious Vocabulary Club
  • Wise
  • Witt Agency
  • Yearbook

"The Clinton News," the school's newspaper, is written and managed by its students. However, like many other outstanding Clinton possessions, the Clinton News publishes several multi-page full color papers a year by a grant from the Christian A. Johnson Endevaour Foundation.

Another but better known Clinton High School publication is "The MAGPIE." Published yearly, the historic color edition of this magazine came out May 2007. This literary collection received the most attention for its association with the Harlem Renaissance.[8]

[edit] Governors Sports

The Governors are the school mascot at DeWitt Clinton and represent it not only in basketball and football, but in approxiamtely thirty-five teams. There have been various teams which do not exist this year in the past such as fencing, and rifle. Teams for the 2007-2008 school year include: [9]

  • Baseball: Boys Varsity, Boys JV
  • Basketball: Boys Varsity, Boys JV, Girls Varsity, Girls JV
  • Bowling: Boys Varsity, Girls Varsity
  • Cricket: Co-ed
  • Cross Country: Boys Varsity, Girls Varsity
  • Football: Boys Varsity, Boys JV
  • Golf: Girls Varsity
  • Gymnastics: Boys Varsity, Girls Varsity
  • Handball: Girls Varsity
  • Indoor Track: Boys Varsity, Girls Varsity
  • Outdoor Track: Boys Varsity, Girls Varsity
  • Soccer: Boys Varsity, Girls Varsity
  • Softball: Girls Varsity, Girls JV
  • Swimming: Boys Varsity, Girls Varsity
  • Tennis: Boys Varsity, Girls Varsity
  • Volleyball: Boys Varsity, Girls Varsity
  • Wrestling: Boys Varsity

DeWitt Clinton also has a boys Cricket Team, encouraged by the large number of South Asians which has been added as a PSAL game this year.

[edit] School Facilities

The DeWitt Clinton High School tremendous, scholarly, and classical library in 1929.

DeWitt Clinton High School is currently located at 100 West Mosholu Parkway South. It dominates the entire gargantuan block excluding the small ground at the end that the Bronx High School of Science is situated on. Facing the main entrance of the building, Paul Avenue runs to the left and Goulden Avenue to the right. The school faces Mosholu Parkway, and has its turf behind it, followed by a small baseball field, and then the large one. It is at this point that DeWitt Clinton territory ends, meeting that of Bronx Science.[10]

Clinton has a small branch of Montefiore Medical Clinic in it, capable of supplying essential services to the students of the campus. [11]

  • The coordinates of Clinton are as follows: Latitude: 40.88111 : Longitude: -73.8875 [12]

More Images

Here is a link to a New York Times article regarding the second DeWitt Clinton High School structure: To Open DeWitt Clinton High School Bids

[edit] DeWitt Clinton in the Media

A vital part of the Bronx, the institution was featured in A WALK THROUGH THE BRONX WITH DAVID HARTMAN AND HISTORIAN BARRY LEWIS. In it, Hartman and Lewis take a peek at the library. [13]

The DeWitt Clinton Chorus performed songs in the 2000 production, Finding Forrester. [14]

Clintonites made headlines and New York City School history in September 2005, when they walked out. The 1,500 strong walk out was a result of the installation of metal detectors [15]

[edit] Notable alumni

Although he did not graduate, guitarist Paul "Ace" Frehley of KISS also attended Clinton. [23]

[edit] Distinguished Visitors

Visitors who have addressed Clinton assemblies include:

[edit] Interesting Facts

 Lists of miscellaneous information should be avoided. Please relocate any relevant information into appropriate sections or articles. (November 2008)
  • Six NYC schools are named for Clinton grads: August Martin High School in Queens, Murry Bergtraum High School in Manhattan, P.S. 96 Richard Rodgers and P.S.105 Abraham Bernstein in the Bronx, and P.S.50 Vito Marcantonio and P.S. 194 Countee Cullen in Manhattan.
  • DeWitt Clinton High School's literary magazine, the Magpie gained notice in January 1921 when Countee Cullen published "I Have a Rendezvous with Life (with Apoligies to Alan Seeger)" in it. That poem is often consideried the first sign of the Harlem Renaissance. The Magpie published its historic color edition in Spring of 2007.
  • Geraldine Ambrosio, the school's current principal, is the first female to rise to the position in the school's over a century history.
  • The school's newspaper is "The Clinton News." [24]
  • DeWitt Clinton High School (DWCHS) students organized one of the largest high school walkouts in New York in September 19, 2005. The protest occurred over installation of airport-style metal detectors and x-ray scanners, which had already been installed in many other schools throughout New York City. [25] In conversation, many students admitted that they were mostly upset that the metal detectors finally allowed the school to enforce the longstanding policy against using cell phones in school, since it provided an effective means to prevent the phones from getting into the school.
  • The Castle on the Parkway: The Story of New York City's DeWitt Clinton High School and Its Extraordinary Influence on American Life is co-written by Gerard Pelisson and James A. Garvey III. It will be published by the Hutch Press in March 2009. [26]
  • According to the school itself, it offers more Advanced Placement (AP) courses than any other school in the borough other than the Bronx High School of Science. These courses include AP Language and Composition, Literature and Composition, Calculus AB, Calculus BC, Statistics, World History, U.S. History, U.S. Government and Politics, Psyshology, European History, Biology, Chemistry, Spanish Language and many more.
  • Over half of DeWitt Clinton High School's population is on the social networking website Sconex. [27]
  • DeWitt Clinton High School has the largest high school Alumni Association in the world! It is this alumni association that prevented the school from being broken down into smaller schools like some of its peer schools like sister-school Walton. [28]
  • Paul Avenue, which runs to the side of the school from Mosholu Parkway to Lehman College, is named after a DeWitt Clinton High School Principal, Dr. Paul. It was under this principal that the school moved to its current location in the Bronx.

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b c Kenneth T. Jackson: The Encyclopedia of New York City: The New York Historical Society; Yale University Press; 1995. P. 332.
  2. ^ "To Open De Witt Clinton High School Bids". New York Times. May 10, 1903. http://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=9F03EEDD1339E333A25753C1A9639C946297D6CF. 
  3. ^ F.Y.I., New York Times, December 16, 2001
  4. ^ The DeWitt Clinton Way - dewittclintonalumni.com - Retrieved July 30, 2008
  5. ^ "Macy, Coordinator: P. McCabe-Department Information". http://clinton.ny.schoolwebpages.com/education/dept/deptinfo.php?sectiondetailid=2781&sc_id=1206909663. Retrieved on 2008-03-29. 
  6. ^ My brother was one such student. You can call the school to verify that this is true.
  7. ^ "EXTRA_CURRICULAR_ACTIVITIES". http://clinton.ny.schoolwebpages.com/education/sctemp/b0c7c3fb7e0df1dbcb375d7f9c7a0670/1190770218/EXTRA_CURRICULAR_ACTIVITIES..doc. Retrieved on 2007-09-25. 
  8. ^ "The Magpie Sings The Great Depression". http://newdeal.feri.org/magpie/index.htm. Retrieved on 2007-10-15. 
  9. ^ "PSAL School Profile". http://psal.org/psalsports/school/psal_schoolprofile.asp?cschool=10505. Retrieved on 2007-07-30. 
  10. ^ "DeWitt Clinton High School Google Maps". http://maps.google.com/?sll=40.88111,-73.8875&spn=0.05,0.05. Retrieved on 2007-11-02. 
  11. ^ "New York State Hospital Profile". http://hospitals.nyhealth.gov/browse_view.php?id=1714. Retrieved on 2007-12-28. 
  12. ^ "DeWitt Clinton High School, Bronx, New York, USA". http://www.placenames.com/us/p948113/. Retrieved on 2007-11-02. 
  13. ^ "A Walk Through The Bronx. about the Program". http://www.thirteen.org/bronx/about.html. Retrieved on 2007-12-28. 
  14. ^ "DeWitt Clinton High School Chorus-Trailer-Showtimes-Cast-Movies-New York Times". http://movies.nytimes.com/person/540768/Dewitt-Clinton-High-School-Chorus. Retrieved on 2007-12-28. 
  15. ^ "The Real Cost of Prisons Weblog". http://realcostofprisons.org/blog/archives/2005/09/there_are_treat.html. Retrieved on 2007-12-28. 
  16. ^ "CMOM Staff & Board". http://www.cmom.org/about/contactus.html. Retrieved on 2008-03-30. 
  17. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l "DeWitt Clinton High School, Bronx, New York". http://www.nndb.com/edu/788/000095503/. Retrieved on 2007-07-30. 
  18. ^ "Charles Alston Oral History Interview". http://www.aaa.si.edu/collections/oralhistories/transcripts/alston68.htm. Retrieved on 2008-03-30. 
  19. ^ a b c d "The DWC Alumni Website- Notable Alumni Hall of Fame". http://www.dewittclintonalumni.com/Headlines_ShowArticle.asp?HID=36. Retrieved on 2008-04-02. 
  20. ^ "DeWitt Clinton Hidh School, Bronx, New York". http://www.nndb.com/edu/788/000095503/. Retrieved on 2007-07-30. 
  21. ^ "A Heritage Press Retrospective-How These Books Came to Be". http://www.bookthink.com/0075/75her1.htm. Retrieved on 2008-04-03. 
  22. ^ "Boston University School of Management". http://www.answers.com/topic/boston-university-school-of-management. Retrieved on 2008-04-02. 
  23. ^ "The KISSFAQ- Ace Frehly Biography, Bronx, New York". http://www.kissfaq.com/members/bio_ace.html. Retrieved on 2008-03-30. 
  24. ^ "DeWitt Clinton High School- School Newspaper". http://clinton.ny.schoolwebpages.com/education/club/default.php?sectiondetailid=3233&sc_id=1185829843. Retrieved on 2007-07-07. 
  25. ^ Fernanda Santos. "Protest Over Metal Detectors Gains Legs as Students Walk Out". http://www.nytimes.com/2005/09/21/nyregion/21walkout.html?ex=1185940800&en=2ded7b33c937ee5f&ei=5070. Retrieved on 2007-07-30. 
  26. ^ "The Clinton Times". http://clinton.ny.schoolwebpages.com/education/sctemp/1f3b50e65cf0327f8a63e1fc0de271c3/1185830760/March_Newspaper.pdf. Retrieved on 2007-07-30. 
  27. ^ "The Norwood News". http://www.bronxmall.com/norwoodnews/past/100605/schools/S51006page2.html. Retrieved on 2007-07-30. 
  28. ^ "The DWC Alumni Site". http://www.dewittclintonalumni.com/. Retrieved on 2007-07-30. 
  • Frank Bergen Kelley, Editor; The DeWitt Clinton Book (New York: Clinton Memorabilia Society, 1906).

[edit] External links

Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DeWitt_Clinton_High_School"
Personal tools
Visit joltnews for the latest headlines
Visit bloit.com for company information
Geed Media does computer consulting on long island.
This page viewed times. See Logs