Fenton High School (Michigan)

Fenton High School is a public high school located in Fenton, Michigan. In 2008 the school received International Baccalaureate (IB) Authorization.^[1] The high school is home to over 1,200 students.

History

The current high school was built in 1969 and the entire Fenton Area Public Schools complex has evolved over decades; the high school recently underwent major renovations and expansion. In 2006, a new addition was made to the English wing of the school. In 2007, the building underwent renovations to expand the fine arts wing, pool, and lunch room, and to add an auxiliary gym. With these new renovations the High School now offers an IB Diploma Programme curriculum. The school runs block scheduling, which works as two separate days with 4 classes each, listed as A days and B days. The days alternate and leave students with 8 classes in total, including a Student Resource Time (SRT).

The previous Fenton High School, which was first built in the 1890s and was expanded in 1938 and 1949, became a middle school, and, with the 2006-07 opening of Andrew G. Schmidt Middle School (known locally as 'AGS') which shares the Fenton Area Public School complex with the high school, Ellen Street Academy. Southern Lakes Parks and Recreation is also housed at Ellen Street Academy.

In 2014, an $11 million bond was passed (overwhelmingly) to improve technology, busing and security, among other things ^[2] over a 12-year period. The school has since improved its technology and other parts of the building.

Athletics

In addition to the Little League Baseball fields, other athletic fields at Fenton High School include Ivan Williams Field, used for football and track and field, a soccer field and high school baseball fields. Ivan Williams Field was rebuilt in 2007 to seat 2,500 spectators. However, the school welcomed more than 3,500 people into the stadium for the opening home football game of the 2007 season.

In 2013, both the Varsity Girls' softball field and the Varsity soccer field received renovations and a new scoreboard. The boys' baseball field was also renovated and improved in 2013.

The school building houses an 8-lane swimming pool. The girls' swimming team as of 2014 has captured the Flint Metro League title for 11 years straight.^[3]

Overall, the school has received multiple league titles in multiple sports.

Yearbook

The Fenton High School yearbook, officially named the 'Fentonian,' has received numerous awards over the years, including the Spartan Award by the Michigan Interscolastic Press Association. Most recently, however, they received a Silver Crown award from the Colombia Scholastic Press Association in New York City along with a National Pacemaker Award, making it among the top 36 in the nation. The first all-color volume was printed in 2008, but due to lack of funds, another all-color book was not in the making until 2014. According to yearbook director Pam Bunka, who has been in that position since 1977, the 2016 book will be a "video book, featuring video tie-ins that the student can look back on using an application called Aurasma." The book's theme has yet to be revealed, but it will be distributed in May. This book will be the second to include augmented reality, alongside the 2015 issue. It is also the first in the history of the school to be distributed in the spring.

Notable alumni

• Kenny Allen (class of 2012), Current Kicker and Punter for University Of Michigan football.
• Jill Ann Weatherwax (class of 1988), model and singer, was murdered in 1998.
• Cari Cucksey (class of 1993), host of popular HGTV program Cash and Cari.
• Myles Jury, Michigan Wrestling Championships All-American;^[6] professional Mixed Martial Artist for the UFC^[7]
• Brian A. Nance (class of 2013), Michigan Technological University student, AFROTC Detachment 400 Wing Commander.
• Jimmy Allen (class of 2010), Former Kicker for the Iowa Barnstormers of the Indoor Football League and current American football free agent.

References