Woodbridge High School (WHS) is a public high school located in Irvine, California, United States, serving grades 9-12. Woodbridge is in the Irvine Unified School District. Founded in 1980, it has an approximate enrollment of 2,384 students. Woodbridge has many athletic teams (baseball,wrestling, lacrosse, ice hockey,cross country, volleyball, basketball, tennis, swimming, etc.) which have participated in numerous CIF competitions. The school also has a very competitive marching band (which won many state championships and a national championship led by directors Joslynne Blasdel and Brad Harris) and an orchestra. In addition, Woodbridge High School's Academic Decathlon team is extremely competitive at the state level, ranking in the top 10 in 2013 and 2017.
Woodbridge High School was built with intentions of having it become a shopping center if student enrollment was low, as Principal Tom Nelson said in the fall of 2003.
The current administrative staff as of 2017 includes principal Christopher Krebs and assistant principals Alicia Foulk, Carlene McCurry, and Scott Sodorff.
Woodbridge is currently undergoing many improvements and renovations. A recent example is the new Aquatic Center which contains a 50 meter by 25 yard swimming pool, portable bleachers, restroom facilities and locker rooms.
Of note, the 1989 movie Gleaming the Cube starring Christian Slater was filmed partially at Woodbridge High School.
Maps, Directions, and Place Reviews
Academic Teams and Extracurricular Activities
Woodbridge offers a strong array of extracurricular academic organizations and hosts an annual Academic Teams Banquet.
The Woodbridge High Entertainment Corps represented the state of California in 2010 in the Field Show International competition held in Washington D.C., taking first place in the Nation. The school's percussion ensemble is also considered one of the best in the nation. In 2012 the ensemble swept the World Championships in the concert division with a record setting score of 99.6 out of 100.
The school's chapter of the National Junior Classical League is one of the top in the nation. Woodbridge hosts an annual Certamen invitational and regularly hosts Southern California Regional Amici Madness and the California Junior Classical League Convention. Multiple Woodbridge students have served as officers at the state and national levels of JCL.
The Academic Decathlon team is one of the most prestigious academic teams at Woodbridge High School. In 2017, they won the Orange Country Academic Decathlon and did it again in 2018. The Academic Decathlon team reached the state finals of the California Academic Decathlon in 2006, 2007, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, and 2018. It was ranked as 1st in Division III in 2012, 8th in Division I in 2013, 1st in Division II in 2014, 2nd in Division II in 2016, and 9th in Division I in 2017 among around 70 schools competing at the state level every year.
The robotics team currently competes in the FIRST Tech Challenge as the 9040 STEAMpunks. The STEAMpunks frequently engage in outreach activities to local elementary and middle schools, such as Springbrook Elementary School, Stone Creek Elementary School, and Lakeside Middle School. Originally, Woodbridge High School boasted a nationally competitive FIRST Robotics Competition Team under the name of 1047 Echoes, but died down due to a series of financial cuts and declining participation. In 2014, student Hope Lee recreated the robotics team which grew into the 9040 STEAMpunks today.
The Model United Nations team has won many significant awards (Best Delegate, Commendations, Research). The Woodbridge MUN team has competed in numerous local high school and college conferences as well. It is currently in the planning stages for its own conference, which will be the first ever conference that Woodbridge has hosted.
Woodbridge also sponsors National History Day, Mock Trial, Science Bowl, Ocean Sciences Bowl, competitive basket-weaving, Science Olympiad, and FIRST Robotics Teams. In January 2012 the Science Bowl team won first place at the JPL regional competition and went on to compete nationally in Washington DC that April.
Woodbridge Swim Team Video
Academic support
Woodbridge High School has a support for English Language Development as ELS for English learners.
They also have an after school tutoring center in the library.
Athletics
Woodbridge High School offers a variety of athletic teams
Fall Sports: Golf (Girls), Cross Country, Football, Tennis (Girls), Water Polo (Boys), Volleyball (Girls), Color guard (unisex), Inline Hockey (unisex)
Winter Sports: Basketball (Girls and Boys), Soccer (Girls and Boys), Water Polo (Girls), Wrestling, Color guard (unisex), Inline Hockey (unisex)
Spring Sports: Lacrosse (Boys and Girls), Softball (Girls), Baseball (Boys), Track (Boys and Girls), Swimming (Girls), Tennis (Boys), Golf (Boys), Volleyball (Boys), Color guard (unisex), Inline Hockey (unisex)
Woodbridge High School also has competitive dance and cheerleading teams that practice all year long.
Visual and Performing Arts
WHS offers a variety of programs in the Arts. Performing arts include vocal music, instrumental music, and theater.
The Woodbridge High School Music Program includes Orchestra, Band, Percussion, and more, led by Joslynne Blasdel and Brad Harris. They have won many awards and competitions over the years. In 2016, the Percussion Ensemble garnered a silver medal at the WGI World Championships in Dayton, Ohio. In 2016, Woodbridge High School named the National Grammy Signature School.
Additionally, WHS offers a range of visual arts, including ceramics and photography. There is also a film production program, which is a part of FilmEd* Academy of the Arts. The Theatre program produces multiple shows per year and goes to several festivals all led by Thespian Cassandra Gaona.
Requirements
High school diploma requirements
English: 4 years
Mathematics (including Algebra1): 2 years
Science: 2 years
World Studies: 1 year
U.S. History: 1 year
Political Science: 1/2 year
Economics: 1/2 year
Fine art or foreign language: 1 year
Health: 1/2 year
Physical Education: 2 years
Elective: 70 Credits as 7 full year classes
Passage of California High School Exit Exam (CAHSEE)
4 year college requirements
English: 4 years
Mathematics (Must complete Algebra 2): 3 years
Laboratory Science: 2 years
World Studies: 1 year
U.S. History: 1 year
Political Science: 1/2 year
Economics: 1/2 year
Foreign Language: 2 years
Fine Arts: 1 year
Academic Electives: 1 year
Physical Education: 2 year
Health: 1/2 year
GPA
A (Excellent) 4 points
B (Above average)3 points
C (Average)2 points
D (Below average) 1 point
F (Failed) 0 point
Plus and minus do not effect the GPA. some Honors classes and most AP courses will receive extra GPA points.
Notable alumni
- Christine Babcock, Cross Country Runner
- Thomas Christian Brown, Congressional Aide
- Chris Burgess, professional basketball player in Europe
- Glenn R. Côté, Film Editor/Producer/Visual Effects Editor
- Austin Daye, basketball player, Atlanta Hawks
- Payam Doostzadeh, Bassist for Young the Giant
- Tom Dumont, professional musician, No Doubt
- Georgia Hardstark, television personality, hysterical podcast host, and outspoken critic of Woodbridge High School, #SSDGM
- Adam Keefe, former NBA player for the Atlanta Hawks and Utah Jazz
- Kazu Kibuishi, Graphic Novel writer/illustrator
- Michael McClune, Professional Tennis Player
- Geoffrey Okamoto, Economist, Senior U.S. Treasury Department Official
- Alex Parsons, Offensive Lineman, Oakland Raiders
- Kira Peikoff, novelist and journalist
- Nemat Sadat, Advocate and Writer. Afghan American ex-Muslim atheist and LGBTI rights activist, former professor of political science American University of Afghanistan
- Andrea Seigel, novelist and screenwriter
- Audrey Higa, Artist and essayist
- Natasha Watley, Olympic and professional softball player
- Madeleine Westerhout, Special Assistant to the President of the United States, Executive Assistant to the President of the United States
Source of the article : Wikipedia
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