EAST LONGMEADOW HIGH SCHOOL

2004

This 2004 year proved successful at East Longmeadow High School in the areas of student achievement and community interaction.

In student achievement, individuals and teams/clubs were recognized for a variety of awards and service.  The National Merit Program cited four students as “commended scholars” (top 5% nationally) while 88 students were honored at Student Achievement Night with 20 receiving the President’s Award for Academic Excellence; 16 receiving the Certificate of Mastery; and 57 receiving the Adams Scholarship.  Moreover, 12 students achieved AP Scholar awards and our National Honor Society inducted 30 new members.  And, our three academic clubs Debate (Best Affirmative Team); Mathematics (third overall in twenty-school league) and Science Team (third in league), all finished with highly successful seasons.

In the arts, our music program was formally recognized as 15 students in Band, Chorus, and Jazz Band achieved Western Mass District Honors and 5 students were selected to All State.  The High School and East Longmeadow community enjoyed many performances given by our Chorus, Concert Band, Chamber Music Society, Jazz Ensemble, and Marching Band.  The Visual Arts program had 3 students honored as “Talented Teens” by the Springfield Republican; 1 student was nominated for All State; and 20 students participated in the annual Coca Cola contest,.  The Drama Club staged three highly entertain productions “Ten Little Indians,” “Chicka Chicka Boom Boom,” and “A Night of One Act Plays.”  And, as always, Spartanum with the theme “The Rehearsal” played before large audiences and with the proceeds generously donated to Student Council Scholarships, auditorium lighting, and club transportation funds.

In sports, beginning with the fall season, our field hockey team, boys soccer, and girls soccer, all qualified for post season play while our football team defeated Longmeadow High School in the annual Thanksgiving game.  The winter season brought nine tournament teams:  boys basketball, hockey, boys and girls skiing, boys and girls swimming, boys and girls indoor track, and wrestling while our hockey team was Western Mass semi-finalist.  With the spring season, softball and boys and girls tennis qualified for the tournament.

Moving to clubs, our Council of Peer Educators (C.O.P.E.) organized the always popular school wide Volleyball Classic while promoting Alcohol Awareness Week, the Mock Accident, and the Health Fair.  Our three foreign language clubs promoted a number of fundraisers and field trips.  For example, the French Club visited New York City and hosted Mardi Gras day; the Latin Club prepared for a trip to Rome; and the Spanish Club sponsored a Piñata Contest, Scrabble Tournament, and Shriners Hospital activities.

 The Key Club, a service organization affiliated with Kiwanis, volunteered its services in a variety of activities:  Loaves and Fishes Kitchen, Crop Walk, Kiwanis Bike Safety, and the Warming Place.  Also, the National Honor Society participated in the Habitat for Humanity, March of Dimes, and Walk for Hunger.

The School Newspaper published five issues focusing on school, local, and national/international news.  In addition, Student Council sponsored class elections, pep rallies, spirit weeks, freshmen orientation, grade eight night and food drive for Open Pantry.

In community interaction, the High School benefited greatly.  Our Career Center was able to coordinate for our students 40 job shadows, 186 internships and 24 work-studies; moreover, it hosted the Candidate Forum.  The East Longmeadow Educational Endowment funded three grants to our Stock Marketing class, Guidance Department, and Computer Program.  Also, Best Buy provided a grant to our Business Department while the Lions Club helped the English Department.