Torrance High School
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
 |
||
| Established | 1917-09-11 | |
|---|---|---|
| Type of institution | Public | |
| Faculty | 91 | |
| Principal | John O'Brien | |
| Enrollment | 2200 | |
| Location | Torrance, California, USA | |
| Newspaper | News Torch | |
| Colors | Maroon and grey | |
| Mascot | Tartar | |
| Information | +1 310 533-4396 | |
| Website | www.torrancehigh.com | |
Torrance High School in Torrance, California is one of the oldest high schools in continuous use in California and a popular location for television and motion picture production. Torrance High School's colors are maroon and gray. The school's mascots are the "Tartars", a Mongolian warrior.
Contents |
[edit] Mission Statement
The Community of Torrance High School is committed to providing a quality educational experience with challenging academics for all students. We are dedicated to creating and maintaining for all students, staff and parents and environment that:
- Fosters democratic ideals and good citizenship
- Nurtures mutual respect and individual differences
- Provides for diversity of learning styles, talents and levels of developments
- Develops life long learners and productive members of society
- Promotes responsible risk taking and personal growth
- Encourages critical thinking and problem solving
- Recognizes personal responsibility for the well being of the environment and global society.
[edit] School history
The school first opened as the area's first Los Angeles School District school on September 11, 1917 as a combination high school and elementary school to accommodate the area's rapid post-war growth brought on by its petroleum industry and iron works as well as the Pacific Electric Railway. Its first commencement ceremony took place June 18, 1918 during which two students received their diplomas.
Torrance High School became part of the Redondo Union High School District in 1947. On July 1, 1948, voters in Torrance voted to begin the Torrance Unified School District of which the school remains a part of to this day.
The main building is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is Torrance's first such listing. It received a major facelift and indoor modernization in the late 1970s and is the building most often seen on film.
[edit] Alma Mater
Our strong band shall ne'er be broken
Formed at Torrance High
Far surpassing wealth unspoken
Sealed by friendship's ties
Torrance High School Alma Mater
Deep graven on each heart
Shall be found unwavering true
When we from life shall part.
[edit] Athletics
Torrance High offers many sports, for its students to participate and prosper in, they include:
- Cross Country
- Tennis
- Volleyball
- Water Polo
- Golf
- Football
- Basketball
- Track and Field
- Wrestling
- Soccer
- Swimming
Torrance High also has a Debate Team, Comedy Sportz team, Academic Decathalon team, Choir, Jazz Band, Concert Band, Marching Band, and a Drama program.
[edit] Filming history
Torrance High's unique architecture and relative proximity to Hollywood make it a perfect location for major television programs and motion pictures. Among its credits:
- In TV, Torrance High served as the facade of fictitious West Beverly High School in the Fox Network series Beverly Hills 90210; as Sunnydale High School, the alma mater of Buffy Summers in the WB Network series, Buffy the Vampire Slayer; and as a location for the short-lived Fox Network series Skin.
- The movies saw Torrance High used as the high school setting for the Freddie Prinze, Jr. movie She's All That. Torrance High also played a prominent role in The Wild Life, Not Another Teen Movie, Bring It On, Whatever It Takes, Cursed, and Less Than Zero
[edit] Other historical facts
A scenic Spanish Revival fountain and patio added behind the main building in the 1920s and which was frequently seen in Beverly Hills 90210 has been known for decades as the "Senior Patio." As the patio is traditionally off-limits to underclassmen, those caught in the Senior Patio face the threat of winding up in the fountain.
The Long Beach earthquake of 1933 left its mark on the campus as well. The quake destroyed the upper part of the original auditorium and caused the ground near it to sink several feet. The replacement auditorium was built(1937)as a WPA project while elevated administrative offices were added in 1962. The area is nicknamed the "Sunken Garden."
Track star and World War II hero Louis Zamperini, for whom Torrance's general aviation airport is named, was a Torrance High graduate(1936) and still makes frequent speaking appearances at the school. Torrance High School's football stadium (which is not actually on campus but is instead at another site about a mile away) is named for Zamperini.
In front of Torrance High on West Carson Street there is a Memorial dedicated to Ted T. Tanouye, a member of the famous Americans of Japanese heritage 442nd Regiment. better known as the "Go for Broke" Regiment. This project was dedicated July 7th, 2004. The Memorial was the project of the Ted Tanouye Memorial Foundation and the Torrance High Alumni Association. The ceremony included performances by the Torrance High School NJROTC and Band. He is the only Torrance resident to have received the Medal of Honor. This award was presented to him posthumously on June 21st, 2000 by President Clinton. Ted Tanouye fought bravely as part of the famous 442nd Regimental Combat Team. Ted is from the Class of 1938.
[edit] Famous alumni
- Louis Zamperini (Athlete and WWII hero)
- Fred Kendall
- Ted Tanouye
- Bobby Blotzer (Drummer for Ratt)
- Juan Croucier (Bass player for Ratt and Dokken
- Dave Pack (Leader of the band Ambrosia)
- Paul Moyer (Popular Los Angeles television newscaster cuurently with KNBC)
- Ryan Hedgecock (Founding Member of the rock band Lone Justice)
- Steve Brownlee (Music business guru who was instrumental in the careers of Motley Crue, Great White, Ratt, Queensryche and 100's more)
- Lisa Moretti (WWF / WWE wrestling champion under the name Ivory)
- Brian Grillo (Lead singer of the band Extra Fancy)
- Julie Ronnie (Actress on the soap opera Santa Barbara)
- Jason Kendall (Major League Baseball catcher with the Oakland A's, formerly with the Pittsburgh Pirates)
- Merrill Ward (Former lead singer with the SST punk bands Overkill and SWA)
- Brad Schecter (Comedian / actor from the soap opera General Hospital, Website: www.bradschecter.com)
- Glen Mancaruso (Drummer for recording artists Vengeance Rising and Die Happy)
- Justin Miller (Major League Baseball pitcher for the Toronto Blue Jays
- Stevo Polyi (actor / appears in most Quentin Tarantino films and wrote the script for "Mr. Stitch" starring Rutger Hauer)
- Danny Gans (Headliner at the Mirage in Las Vegas)
- Mike Goode (Emmy Award Winner - Wonderful World of Disney Opener)
- George Kiriyama (KNBC - http://www.nbc11.com/meetthenewsteam/7051305/detail.html)
