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School in Mill Valley, California, United States From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Tamalpais High School (often abbreviated as Tam) is a public secondary school located in Mill Valley, California, in the San Francisco Bay Area. It is named after nearby Mount Tamalpais, which rises almost 2,500 feet (760 m) above Mill Valley.
Tamalpais High School | |
---|---|
Address | |
700 Miller Avenue , California 94941 United States | |
Coordinates | 37.8921°N 122.530751°W |
Information | |
Funding type | Public |
Founded | 1908 |
School district | Tamalpais Union High School District |
Oversight | Western Association of Schools and Colleges, Accrediting Commission for Schools |
Principal | Kimberly Clissold |
Faculty | 81[1] |
Grades | 9–12 |
Number of students | 1,540 (2022–23)[2] |
Language | English |
Campus | Suburban |
Area | Southern Marin County |
Color(s) | Red, Royal Blue & White |
Mascot | Red-tailed hawk |
Team name | Hawks |
Communities served | Mill Valley, Sausalito, Marin City, Strawberry, Tamalpais-Homestead Valley, Muir Beach, Bolinas and Stinson Beach. |
Feeder schools | Mill Valley School District Sausalito Marin City School District Bolinas-Stinson Union School District |
Website | tamalpais |
Tamalpais High School is the original campus of the Tamalpais Union High School District and the second public high school in Marin County. As of 2007, Tam's attendance area includes the cities of Mill Valley and Sausalito, the nearby unincorporated areas of Marin City, Strawberry and Tamalpais-Homestead Valley, and the West Marin communities of Muir Beach, Bolinas and Stinson Beach.[3] Mill Valley School District is the largest feeder for Tam, followed by the Sausalito Marin City School District and the Bolinas-Stinson Union School District.
Tamalpais Union High School District was founded in 1907, to serve students from the Mill Valley Elementary and Sausalito Elementary School Districts who had previously commuted to San Rafael to continue their education. Tamalpais Union High School held its first classes on August 4, 1908, in tent-like structures.[4][5] The school opened with 70 students: 40 freshmen, 21 sophomores, five juniors, and four seniors.[6] Ernest E. Wood took the lead in founding the District and was the first principal.[7] In its second year, there were six teachers, 100 students, and 300 volumes in the school library.[8] By the 1913–1914 school year, enrollment had increased to 175, with eight faculty; the library holdings had grown to 650 books plus subscriptions to eight magazines and two newspapers.[9] E.E. Wood remained principal for 36 years; he retired in 1944.
Known in its early years as Tamalpais Polytechnic High School, Tam was a comprehensive high school from its beginning, with a curriculum that included both academic subjects and technical training. In an interview with the local newspaper the year before he died, Principal Wood said, "I believe the students learned by doing things. I believe in the philosophy of students getting in and doing work and accomplishing things."[4] Architecture students designed the first building on campus, and students built several structures there over the years.
For a while, the Northwestern Pacific Railroad ran what they called the "School Special, a special 5-car train running from Manor to Tamalpais High School via Almonte. 2 of the cars on the school special were separated by gender - 1 boys-only car and 1 girls-only car.[10]
In 1996, Principal Frank Gold and a group of parents formed the nonprofit Tam High Foundation to raise funds for support of the school. The Foundation raised $60,000 its first year, increasing annual funding to $360,000 by 2007–2008. The foundation awards academic grants of up to $10,000 to teachers and administrators.[49]
Tam's first 100 years, 1908 to 2008, were widely recognized in local media. The Tam Centennial Committee, which included the principal, alumni, parents, retired faculty, and others, began meeting in 2006. The centennial celebration began with kickoff events on Homecoming Weekend in September 2007. Several events were scheduled for the year, including a Tam Oral History Project, a centennial documentary, and a celebration over the 2008 Memorial Day weekend.[4]
Initially consisting of only a couple of tents on a shore front campus that allowed students to take their boats to school, the Tamalpais campus was fully developed over the years, but has seen its share of wear and tear. Following a 2004 bond measure, the campus underwent renovations to some of its nearly century-old buildings. The oldest building, Wood Hall, reopened in late August 2005.[citation needed] Wood Hall houses the school's administrative offices.[50]
The 2005–2006 academic year was delayed by five days when unhealthy levels of mold were discovered in the walls of Keyser Hall. The building was closed, and portable classrooms were used instead of Keyser's 17 classrooms. The mold grew due to runoff from the hillside the building was situated on. Keyser Hall was demolished during the summer of 2006; a state-of-the-art replacement structure, also named Keyser Hall, was opened in January 2009. School administrators are consulting with architects about the construction of a handicapped elevator in front of the school's most recognizable building, Wood Hall. Architects unveiled a plan for a four-story elevator tower in front of the school's signature archway, complete with a bridge to take handicapped students into the building. Staff were shocked at the drastic proposal, which would be costly and would have an extensive impact on many of the campus' most well-known architectural features. An elevator of some sort may be necessary to comply with handicapped accessibility laws. Administrators have formed a committee to look into alternative ways to provide that accessibility.
2014–2015[51]
White | Hispanic | Asian | African American | Two or More Races | Filipino | Native American | Pacific Islander | Not Reported |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
918 | 128 | 88 | 58 | 50 | 16 | 5 | 5 | 53 |
69.5% | 9.7% | 6.7% | 4.4% | 3.8% | 1.2% | 0.4% | 0.4% | 4% |
2013 Academic Performance Index | ||
---|---|---|
2009 Base API[53] | 2013 Growth API[54] | Growth in the API from 2009 to 2013 |
868 | 868 | 0 |
Tam has competed in the Marin County Athletic League (MCAL) since the league was established in 1959.[55] The MCAL is in the Marin-Sonoma-Mendocino Conference, North Coast Section (NCS), of the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF). Prior to the 1959 realignment, Tam was a member of the old North Bay League. In the 1920s, the NBL included Analy High School, Napa High School, Petaluma High School, San Rafael High School, Santa Rosa High School, St. Helena High School, and Vallejo High School.[56]
Through the 1940s and early 1950s, Tam played against NBL teams from Healdsburg, Napa, San Rafael, Santa Rosa, and Vallejo; non-league opponents included Analy and Petaluma. In the 1950s, Drake and Marin Catholic joined the League.[57][58]
The MCAL offers competition in 21 sports as of 2010[update], including baseball, cross country, football, softball, swimming and diving, track and field, and wrestling. Separate teams for boys and girls compete in basketball, golf, lacrosse, soccer, tennis, volleyball, and water polo. The only NCS sport that MCAL does not participate in is badminton.[citation needed]
Three Tam teams have won NCS Scholastic Championships for the highest team Grade Point Average—the Girls Cross Country Team in 1991, with a GPA of 3.58, the Boys Swimming and Diving Team in 1998, with a 3.49 GPA, and the 2008 Softball team, which took first in the Class 2A Redwood Empire, at 3.46. In Spring 2008, the Boys Golf team took third in the NCS, with a 3.57 GPA.[75][76]
Five Tam coaches have been recognized as Honor Coaches at the North Coast Section: Bruce Grant (girls track, 1982); Janis Villasenor Wood (girls track, 1985); Beth Juri (boys volleyball, 1997); and Don Smith (softball, 2003). Ed Chavez, long-time basketball coach at Tam, was named Honor Coach while coaching tennis at Branson after retiring from the Tam District.[77]
In 2009 Tam hired former Redwood High School pitcher Mike Terry to take over the program. After missing the playoffs in 2009 and 2010 the Hawks made it as the last seed and went out in the first round of the MCAL playoffs. In 2014 Scott Osder took over the program coming from Southern California. He brought Tamalpias High to its first NCS Championship in 85 years.[78]
Future Major League pitcher Kenny Rosenberg pitched for the school baseball team, and was an All-MCAL First Team pitcher and first baseman in 2013, as well as an All-League goalkeeper in soccer.[79][80][81] As a senior, on the mound Rosenberg had 75 strikeouts in 49 innings, with two shutouts.[80]
Junior Dan Milechman won the 2009 State Division IV Championship, covering the 3.1-mile course in 15:37.[82] Milechman was NCS Division IV Individual Champion in 2008 and 2009.[63]
Although Tam has never won a varsity football championship at the section level, which NCS held from 1919 to 1930 and from 1975 to present,[83] the Fall 1966 Tamalpais Indians team set records at the league, state, and national levels. In its second year under coach Willie Hector, 1957 graduate of Tam and former NFL player, the 1966 Indians had a 4–1–1 record in the MCAL and 6–2–1 overall. After sophomore quarterback Donny Mackin broke his wrist in the opening league game, he was replaced by senior Steve Woodward, in his only season playing MCAL football. In his first game as starting quarterback, against Novato High School, Woodward set the state record for passing, at 546 yards (499 m), while split-end Mike Biber set the league record with 19 receptions.[84][85][86] Woodward's passing record stood for 21 years, until a Southern California quarterback passed for 562 yards (514 m) in 1987.[87] Tam's total offense of 821 yards (751 m) in the Novato game set the state record and was the second-highest ever recorded in the nation. Tam's state record only stood for one year, until tiny Happy Camp High School gained 912 yards (834 m) against the even smaller McCloud High School.
Fifty years later, following the 2016 season, Tam's big day ranked fifth in California and is tied for twelfth in the nation.[88]
Since the current brackets were established in 2008, Tam's varsity football team has competed in Division III and has qualified for NCS playoffs seven times with the following results: lost 35–14 to Bishop O'Dowd High School in the first round in 2008;[89] defeated El Cerrito High School 33–13 in their first round in 2009, and lost to Alhambra High School of Martinez in the second round 34–13;[90] lost 40–21 to Encinal High School in the first round in 2011;[91] lost 35–7 to Encinal High School in the first round in 2012;[92] lost 64–8 in the first round in 2013 to the eventual Champion, El Cerrito High School;[93] lost 50–6 in the first round in 2014 to the eventual runner-up, Marin Catholic High School;[94] and lost 55–7 to Analy High School in the first round in 2016.[95]
In addition to the NCS championships won by the boys team in 2000 and the girls team in 2008. The boys team won MCALS in 2010, and proceeded to win NCS in 2012, beating 1st seeded Maria Carillo in the championship game. They finished the season with a record of 20–3–3.[citation needed]
The 1999 boys varsity was the MCAL champion, finishing the season 14–0, the first undefeated season in the team's history. The boys varsity team also won the MCAL title in 2007 and 2011.[96]
On October 23, 2008, the girls varsity tennis team won the 2008 MCAL championship for the first time in nine years, beating Marin Catholic 6–3 in the finals. The team was 16-6 for the season; it beat Redwood in the semifinals 5–4.[97]
On November 15, 2008, Tam was upset by the Marin Catholic Wildcats 5–2 in the NCS Division II finals.[98]
Former tennis coach Normandie Burgos was sentenced in August 2019 to 255 years in prison, years after he was arrested in 2006, tried in 2010, and fired from the high school, because students reported that he had touched them inappropriately during massages and various physical exams.[99] Despite being a convicted sex offender, he is not listed in the United States Center for SafeSport database.[99]
Two Tam milers have taken first place in California State Track Meets. In 1936, Simon Scott won in 4:31.2; in 1976, the mile was won by Linda Broderick in 4:56.8.[100]
Anne Campbell, North Coast Section Champion, 2004 and 2005,[101][102] 2004 State Heavyweight Champion (non-CIF);[103] Kelley Charlton, 2008 North Coast Section Champion, 2009 Northern California Regional Tournament Champion (154 lbs)[104][105]
The Tam High Mountain Bike Team is one of 35 high school teams in the NorCal High School Mountain Bike Racing League (non-CIF). Tam finished third in Division II in 2007[106] and 8th in 2008.[107]
The Tam High Sailing Team, is a dinghy sailing team based out of the Sausalito Yacht Club. The team competes in the local NorCal regattas, the Bay's series regattas, and the P.C.C's (Pacific coast championships). The team sails CFJ's, C420's, and laser dinghy's.
Tamalpais High School's Mock Trial team won the 2005 National High School Mock Trial Championship, held in Charlotte, North Carolina.[108][109][110] Tam had defeated Redlands East Valley High School of San Bernardino County to win the state championship. In Charlotte, competing against 44 other schools, Tam won all five rounds of the tournament, beating the previously undefeated team from Kauai High School in the finals. The members of the national championship team were Sandra Allen, Mackenzie Amara, Jason Finkelstein, Jessie Kavanagh, Courtney Khademi, Natalie Robinson, Kelly Stout, and Max Wertheimer. Outstanding Performance Awards went to Allen as attorney, and Finkelstein and Stout as witnesses.[111] Marin County defense attorney David M. Vogelstein, coach of the team since 1997, won the Advocate of the Year Award in 2005 from the Constitutional Rights Foundation.[112]
Tam won the State championship again in 2009, and took second place in 1998 and 2007 and third place in 2008.[109] As of 2014[update], the mock trial team has won the Marin County championship 19 years in a row.[113][114]
On February 7, 2009, Tam won its fourteenth consecutive Marin County Championship, with captains IndiAna Gowland and Frank Alarcon winning as outstanding prosecution attorney.[115] Tam went on to win its second State Championship on March 22, in Riverside, beating the 2007 champions, Elk Grove High School. At State, Junior Ben Harris won the best constitutional advocate award for his role as pre-trial defense lawyer. At the May 2009 National Mock Trial Competition in Atlanta, Georgia, Tam ranked 6th in the nation.[116] Tam extended its streak to 15 Marin County Championships on February 6, 2010, advancing to the California Mock Trial Tournament, held March 19–21 in San Jose.[117] Tam finished in sixth place, with Junior Amanda Weinberg receiving a Special Commendation as Outstanding Prosecution Witness.[118] On February 5, 2011, Tam won its 16th consecutive Marin County mock trail championship. They competed in the California state finals in Riverside on March 25–27, securing a fourth-place finish. Sophomore Anna Lipman received a Special Commendation as Outstanding Defense Witness.[119][120][121] On February 4, 2012, Tam won its 17th consecutive county title, besting Terra Linda High School—its championship round rival for five years running—by one point. The team will go on to the State Competition in Sacramento on March 23–25.[122] The winning ways continued on February 2, 2013, when Tam High claimed its 18th consecutive Marin County Championship, this time with a victory over a team from Novato High School.[123]
Vogelstein retired from his role as lead coach in 2018. He was honored by the Marin County Board of Education for 20 years of coaching the Mock Trial team. During his tenure, the team extended its winning steak for the county title to 23 consecutive years, and won three state championships and one national championship.[124]
Tam High is the original home of the Conservatory Theatre Ensemble (CTE, formerly Ensemble Theater Company), formed by former student (Tam/Drake Class of 1952) and teacher Daniel Caldwell, notable alumni of which include Kathleen Quinlan, Tupac Shakur, Beth Behrs, Bridgit Mendler, and Courtney Thorne-Smith. ETC expanded its presence to include Redwood High School and Drake High School in the mid-1980s. The Daniel Caldwell Performing Arts Center a new facility features a new 10,000-square-foot (930 m2) multi-use theatre building as well as significant upgrades and renovations to Ruby Scott Auditorium. The center was completed in 2006. The theatre is regionally known for its Fall & Spring One Act festival where students both act in and direct short plays.[125] The program receives grants to host guest artists to direct and produce shows.[126]
Tam High's Global Studies program has sent students to Orthez, France; Saint-Jean-de-Luz, France; Málaga, Spain; London; Pamplona, Spain; Cuba; Ireland, Italy, Vietnam, and Hungary. In 2000 the Tam News received a license from the Treasury Department to travel to Havana, Cuba and produced their first color magazine issue. The following year, 2001, musicians, artists, and dancers from the school visited Havana's art high schools and spent time creating art together with the Cuban students.[citation needed] In 2013, the baseball and softball teams received permission to travel to Havana, Cuba to each play a three-game series against Cuban teams. Throughout the trip, the teams traveled the country and experienced many unique cultural opportunities including Festival Internacional del Cine Pobre. The boys finished with a 2–1 record and the girls swept with a 3–0 record.[citation needed]
The school's newspaper, the Tamalpais News has won awards from the National Scholastic Press Association and the Columbia Scholastic Press Association.[127] News staff won individual awards for Story of the Year from the NSPA in 1998 (2nd for features); 2009 (3rd Diversity); 2011 (5th News Story); 2013 (2nd Feature, 4th Diversity); and 2014 (1st Editorial/Opinion, 2nd Feature). The 2014 First place was awarded to the Staff for "All Quiet on the District Front"; the Second place was won by Isaac Cohen for "Undocumented: Navigating Life Without Citizenship."[128] The paper introduced a website in 2006, tamnews.org, which was a finalist for the NSPA Online Pacemaker in 2007 and 2014.[129]
In 2006, for the first time since the award was established in 1983, CSPA presented the News one of 37 Silver Crown Awards.[130]
Tam News staff won ten individual and staff Gold Circle Awards and Certificates of Merit from the CSPA in 2001, with 17 total since 1984. In 2014, CPSA recognized four members of the News, with Cassie Jeong winning two awards for Hand-drawn Art/Illustration: 1st place for "Startup Weekend Adventures" and 3rd for "Zine Fest." The Staff received the 3rd-place award in Editorial writing for "All Quiet on the District Front"; Isaac Cohen received a Certificate of Merit in the In-depth news/feature story category for "Undocumented."[128] Previous Gold Circle Award winners follow:[131]
The News has experimented with different formats, including a news magazine called THAT Magazine from 2003 to 2005.[132] The staff adviser since 2006, Jonah Steinhart, was a partner in two Silicon Valley startups and was Editor-in-Chief of the Campanile when he was at Palo Alto High School.[133][134]
Tamalpais High School was a recipient of the California Distinguished School Award in 1999, 2005, and 2009.[135] The school has been ranked in the top five percent of American high schools since 2005, based on a system devised by Dave Matthews of the Washington Post and reported by Newsweek. Tam ranked the highest of all Marin County high schools each year, at 428 in 2005, 425 in 2006, 410 in 2007, and 979 in 2008.[136]
As part of its celebration of its 144th year, the San Francisco Chronicle ran a series in June 2009 listing 144 famous Bay Area high school alumni in a "roll call of fame". Tam alumni listed included Tupac Shakur, George Duke, Pat Paulsen, William L. Patterson, John Cipollina, Serge Levin and Courtney Thorne-Smith.[137]
The people listed here graduated from or attended Tam. The year shown is the year of graduation for the class that they entered with, unless they are known to have graduated with or identify with a different class.
* Alumni listed in the 2002 Alumni Directory, address unconfirmed
† Alumni listed as "reported deceased" in the 2002 Alumni Directory
‡ Alumni listed in the Biographical Section of the 2002 Alumni Directory
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