Valley Regional High School

Last updated
Valley Regional High School
Address
Valley Regional High School
256 Kelsey Hill Road

Deep River
,
Connecticut
06417

United States
Coordinates 41°22′17″N72°26′47″W / 41.3714°N 72.4464°W / 41.3714; -72.4464
Information
Type Public High School
School districtRegional School District #4
CEEB code 070150
PrincipalMichael Barile [1]
Teaching staff46.4 (FTE) [2]
Grades9-12
Enrollment545 (2021-22) [2]
Student to teacher ratio12.91 [2]
Color(s)Red and black
  
MascotWarriors
AccreditationNEASC
NewspaperVoices of Valley
YearbookTRIAD
Website www.vrhs.reg4.k12.ct.us
Valley Regional High School, Main Entrance Valley Regional High School (main entrance) (2005).jpg
Valley Regional High School, Main Entrance

Valley Regional High School (VRHS) is located in Deep River, Connecticut, United States. It serves the three towns of Regional School District No. 4 - Essex, Chester, and Deep River.

Contents

In its 2011 edition, Newsweek magazine named Valley Regional as one of "America's Best High Schools," ranking 334th out of 500 nationally. [3]

Controversies

Mascot controversy

In the fall of 2019, controversy arose over the Valley Regional High School mascot, the "Warriors." Outcry reached a height after many students, former and current, spoke out, arguing that the mascot was disrespectful towards the Native American community. The administration decided to change the mascot. As of 2019, symbols of the Native American "warrior" head were removed from the school. Valley Regional still uses the name Warrior; however, the logo is a "V" rather than a Native American face. [4]

Eric Rice controversy

In July 2010, the Region 4 Board of Education announced its selection of Eric Rice as the new principal of Valley Regional High School. [5] Superintendent Levy was a vocal advocate for Rice's selection, stating he has "an outstanding background in science, mathematics, and technology,” and a strong “commitment to our school community." [5]

However, after less than three weeks on the job, reports surfaced of his possible dismissal with unconfirmed accounts that Superintendent Levy had given an ultimatum that Rice resign or face possible dismissal. [6] [ clarification needed ] Approximately two weeks later, the Region 4 Board of Education accepted the resignation of Eric Rice, making him the shortest serving principal in school history. [7] Board of Education Chairwoman Linda Hall declined to comment on whether Rice's resignation was voluntary. [7]

An Essex resident filed a complaint with the Connecticut Department of Education against the superintendent, alleging an "abuse of power" by Levy. [8] The filed complaint also stated that the civil rights of the high school students had been violated due to a supposed "gag order" that "prevented students from discussing the circumstances of Rice’s departure." [8] The Connecticut Department of Education responded in a letter dated November 8, 2010 dismissing the complaint due to a lack of accompanying evidence to support the allegations. [8] Superintendent Levy vehemently denied any "gag order" had been placed upon the students at the high school; the Board of Education subsequently hired an independent party (later determined to be Madison lawyer Stacey Lafferty) to investigate reports of a gag order, which found "no evidence or support for the claim that a gag order was issued or sanctioned,” or that the civil rights of students were violated." [9] The exact reason for the abrupt departure of Eric Rice have remained confidential and were not revealed to residents of Region 4.

Academics

Valley Regional offers students a variety of classes spanning numerous subjects, including Art, Business, Mathematics, Music, English, World Languages, Science, and Technology Education. The school functions according to the block schedule, with each student enrolling in four courses per semester or a combination of full semester classes and quarter classes (which must add up to four full credits).

In order to graduate, students must earn 28.5 credits - a mixture of required as well as elective coursework.

Valley Regional offers Advanced Placement courses.

The school also maintains a relationship with the state's flagship collegiate institution, The University of Connecticut. Students must earn a grade of "C" or better if they wish to use the college credit at UConn or other universities that accept UConn credit.[ clarification needed ]

Newsweek ranking

In its 2011 edition ranking "America's Best High Schools," Newsweek magazine named the Valley Regional 334th out of 500 nationally. [3]

Athletics

Valley Regional is a part of the Shoreline Conference of the Connecticut Interscholastic Athletic Conference (CIAC), with the exception of football, which is a member of the Pequot League, Sassacus division. The school's varsity sports consist of soccer, cross country, American football, volleyball, field hockey, indoor track, basketball, gymnastics, swimming, track, lacrosse, baseball, softball, golf, and tennis. The high school shares an athletic relationship with students from Lyme-Old Lyme High School for the football team.[ clarification needed ]

The soccer team achieved a 16-4-1 record and advanced to its first state final championship match since 2000. [10] The football team had first undefeated record (10-0) ever and advanced to the state final championship match. [11] The girls' cross-country team ended the season undefeated, with a record of 19–0, and placed third in the state overall. [11]

On March 18, 2011, the boys' basketball team won the Class S State Championship. [12] The win brought the high school its very first state basketball title.

Notable alumni

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pensacola High School</span> American public high school

Pensacola High School is a secondary school located near downtown Pensacola, Florida, United States.

The Pascack Valley Regional High School District is a regional public high school district encompassing students from four communities in the Pascack Valley region of Bergen County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey, serving students in ninth through twelfth grades from Hillsdale, Montvale, River Vale and Woodcliff Lake.

Pascack Valley High School (PVHS) is a four-year comprehensive regional public high school located in Hillsdale in Bergen County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey, serving students in ninth through twelfth grades as one of two secondary schools in the Pascack Valley Regional High School District. Pascack Valley High School serves the residents of both Hillsdale and neighboring River Vale, while its counterpart Pascack Hills High School serves the communities of Woodcliff Lake and Montvale. As part of its 1:1 eLearning Initiative, the school has provided a laptop to every student, teacher, and administrator for educational use.

Toms River Regional Schools is a comprehensive regional public school district primarily located in the quickly growing coastal community of Toms River, located in Ocean County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey, along the state's Jersey Shore. The district includes Toms River and the adjoining boroughs of Beachwood, Pine Beach and South Toms River. It is the largest suburban school district in the state, and the fourth largest school district in New Jersey. It is also the largest school district in the state that is not an Abbott District.

Richmond Public Schools is a public school district located in the independent city of Richmond, Virginia. It is occasionally described locally as Richmond City Public Schools to emphasize its connection to the independent city rather than the Richmond-Petersburg region at large or the rural Richmond County, Virginia.

Watchung Hills Regional High School is a regional comprehensive public high school and school district serving students in portions of Somerset and Morris Counties in the U.S. state of New Jersey. Students from Warren Township and from the neighboring communities of Watchung, and Green Brook in Somerset County and Long Hill Township in Morris County attend the school. The high school is located in Warren Township on Stirling Road and is the only facility of the Warren Hills Regional High School District.

The Northern Valley Regional High School District is a comprehensive regional public high school district comprised of two public high schools serving students in ninth through twelfth grades from Closter, Demarest, Harrington Park, Haworth, Northvale, Norwood and Old Tappan, suburban communities in Bergen County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. Students from Rockleigh attend the district as part of a sending/receiving relationship.

The Alpine Public School District is a community public school district serving students in kindergarten through eighth grade in the Borough of Alpine in Bergen County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey.

The Closter Public Schools are a community public school district that educates students in pre-kindergarten through eighth grade from Closter in Bergen County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey.

The Demarest Public Schools is a community public school district that serves students in pre-kindergarten through eighth grade from Demarest in Bergen County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey.

The Northvale Public School is a community public school district that serves students in kindergarten through eighth grade from Northvale in Bergen County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. Students from Rockleigh, a non-operating school district, attend the district as part of a sending/receiving relationship.

The Old Tappan Public Schools is a comprehensive community public school district serving students in kindergarten through eighth grade from Old Tappan in Bergen County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey.

The Hackensack Public Schools are a comprehensive community public school district that serves students in pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade from the City of Hackensack, in Bergen County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey.

West Hartford Public Schools provides education for West Hartford, Hartford County, Connecticut, United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John Swett High School</span> Public secondary school

John Swett High School is located in Crockett, California, United States. It serves the communities of Crockett, Port Costa, Rodeo, and the Foxboro area of Hercules. It is named after John Swett, former California Superintendent of Public Instruction, elected in 1863. John Swett High School was established in 1927. The school remains in its original building complex, which was extensively renovated five years after original construction for seismic retrofitting at a cost of two-thirds of the original cost of the complex. John Swett High School is part of the John Swett Unified School District.

The Harrington Park School District is a community public school district that serves students in pre-kindergarten through eighth grade from Harrington Park, in Bergen County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey.

San Lorenzo Unified School District is a school district in Alameda County, California, serving the CDP of San Lorenzo and portions of the cities of Hayward and San Leandro and the CDPs of Ashland, Castro Valley and Cherryland. It was established in 1859, making it one of the oldest continuously operating school systems in the State of California.

The Haworth Public Schools are a community public school district, serving students in kindergarten through eighth grade from Haworth, in Bergen County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey.

The use of terms and images referring to Native Americans/First Nations as the name or mascot for a sports team is a topic of public controversy in the United States and in Canada, arising as part of the Native American/First Nations civil rights movements. The retirement of the Washington Redskins and the Cleveland Indians has tipped public opinion in favor of eliminating Native mascots by public school, more states considering or passing legislation to do so, heeding tribal leaders who have advocating for change for decades.

References

  1. ↑ Region 4 School Board Names Micheal Barile as Valley Regional High School Principal | ValleyNewsNow.com
  2. 1 2 3 "Valley Regional High School". National Center for Education Statistics. Retrieved June 17, 2023.
  3. 1 2 Valley Regional High School ranked one of the best high schools in nation by Newsweek - The Middletown Press : Serving Middletown, CT
  4. ↑ https://www.zip06.com/local-news/20191222/warriors-indian-imagery-at-heart-of-new-debates/
  5. 1 2 Region 4 Hires New Principal, Two Other Positions | ValleyNewsNow.com
  6. ↑ Valley Regional High School Principal Remains on Job as School Board Awaits Next Step | ValleyNewsNow.com
  7. 1 2 Region 4 School Board Accepts Resignation of High School Principal Eric Rice | ValleyNewsNow.com
  8. 1 2 3 State Department of Education Dismisses Region 4 Complaint | ValleyNewsNow.com
  9. ↑ Region 4 School Board Accepts Report Denying High School Gag Order | ValleyNewsNow.com
  10. ↑ TheDay.com - Valley Boys’ Soccer Coach Mick Fearon Named Coach of the Year | Southeastern Connecticut News, Sports, Weather and Video | The Day newspaper
  11. 1 2 TheDay.com - Valley Sees Numerous Highlights in Fall of 2010 | Southeastern Connecticut News, Sports, Weather and Video | The Day newspaper
  12. ↑ Class S Boys' Championship: Valley Regional Shuts Down Classical - Hartford Courant [ dead link ]
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.