Ottawa High School (Kansas)

Ottawa High School is a public high school located in Ottawa, Kansas, operated by Ottawa USD 290 public school district, serving students in grades 9-12. Its athletic teams, known as the Cyclones, compete in the Frontier Athletic League. The principal is Kelly Whittaker, the assistant principal is Jason Hagg, and the athletic director is Brad Graf. The current enrollment of the school is approximately 689 students, and the school has 102 teachers, secretaries, paras, and nurses. Ottawa Middle School is its main feeder school.

Ottawa High School
Ottawa High School (2010)
Address
1120 South Ash Street [1]

Ottawa
,
Kansas
66067

United States
Coordinates38°36′01″N 95°16′42″W
Information
School typePublic, High School
Established1917 (1917)
School districtOttawa USD 290
SuperintendentRyan Cobbs
PrincipalKelly Whittaker
Teaching staff49.50 (FTE)[2]
Grades9-12
GenderCo-educational
Enrollment701 (2017–18)[2]
Student to teacher ratio14.16[2]
Education systemblock
Classes offeredCollege & College Prep
Color(s)Red and White (Unofficially Black)
      
Athletics16 Varsity Sports
Athletics conferenceFrontier League
SportsYes
NicknameCyclones
RivalBaldwin Bulldogs
Louisburg Wildcats
Paola Panthers
NewspaperThe Review
YearbookThe Record
AffiliationKSHSAA 4A
Athletics DirectorBrad Graf
Websitewww.usd290.org/OHS

History

The original Ottawa school district was established on November 12, 1864.[3] The first term of Ottawa Public School (then the only school in the county) was held from 1864 to 1865 in the upstairs of a building on Second Street and Main Street. The first school building was built in 1866 and served until 1872.[3] A newer school, referred to as Central School, was built at Fifth Street and Main Street and served until 1898 when it was renamed Washington School until 1927. In 1917, adjacent to Washington School, a new building designed by architect George Washburn's son officially became Ottawa High School.[3] This new school served the community for 51 years before a new school on Ash Street replaced it in 1968. Later, in 1978, wood and metal shops were added. The latest addition was created in 1990.

Academics

Ottawa High School operates on a 7:45am to 3:10pm school day with 7 classes each day. Ottawa High School offers a wide variety of classes geared towards the specific abilities and interests of its students. In addition to the standard curriculum, the school also has various courses geared towards the preparation of students for college or university-level education. College prep courses are offered in English, government and economics.

Ottawa High School also offers college classes via Neosho County Community College, classes on the Spanish language,[4] and visual and performing arts classes such as basic/advanced art, clay construction,[5] debate, forensics, theatre,[6] band, and various vocal classes.[7]

Ottawa High also has a newspaper class that electronically publishes The Review,[6] with physical copies released near the end of each semester,[6] and a yearbook class that annually puts out The Record.[6]

Extracurricular activities

The Cyclones compete in the Frontier League and are classified as a 4A school according to the KSHSAA. Throughout its history, Ottawa High School has won several state championships in various sports and activities.

Athletics

Ottawa High School offers the following sports:

State championships
State Championships
SeasonSportNumber of ChampionshipsYear
FallCross Country, Girls'71981, 1985, 1987, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999[9]
Cross Country, Boys'11972[9]
WinterBasketball, Boys'21971,[10] 2013
Indoor Track & Field, Boys'11970[11]
SpringTrack and Field, Boys'41948, 1970, 1971, 2000[11]
Track and Field, Girls'31981, 1982, 1983[11]
Softball12003[12]
Total19

Fall musical and spring play

Every year the Ottawa High School music department presents a fall musical. The performance is run by a student cast, stage crew, tech crew, and pit, and is put on at the Ottawa Municipal Auditorium.

Ottawa High School puts on a play every spring at the Ottawa Municipal Auditorium with a student cast and crew.

Debate and forensics

Many Ottawa students participate in speaking and acting competitions throughout the school year. During the fall, Ottawa's Debate team is active, and during the spring the Forensics teams is active. Both teams, composed of 9th–12th graders, compete on Saturdays at area high schools. Ottawa annually hosts both debate and forensics tournaments. When competing nationally, Ottawa competes in the National Catholic Forensic League.

Other

Ottawa High School students actively participate in Student Council (STUCO). It also has a state-qualifying Scholar's Bowl team, a branch of the National Honor Society, a state-qualifying chess team, and a successful Science Olympiad competition team.

Notable alumni

References
  1. Geographic Names Information System (GNIS) details for Ottawa High School; United States Geological Survey (USGS); November 3, 2008.
  2. "Ottawa Sr High". National Center for Education Statistics. Retrieved December 27, 2019.
  3. Yeamans, Diane (1989). My Ottawa Book. Ottawa, Kansas.
  4. "Ottawa High School - Foreign Language". USD 290. Archived from the original on April 25, 2009. Retrieved 2010-08-23.
  5. "Ottawa High School - Art Courses". USD 290. Archived from the original on April 25, 2009. Retrieved 2010-08-23.
  6. "Ottawa High School - Language Arts". USD 290. Archived from the original on April 25, 2009. Retrieved 2010-08-23.
  7. "Ottawa High School - Music Courses". USD 290. Archived from the original on May 2, 2009. Retrieved 2010-08-23.
  8. "Ottawa High School - Athletics". USD 290. Retrieved 2010-09-30.
  9. KSHAA. KSHSAA Cross Country (PDF). KSHAA.org. pp. 11–13.
  10. KSHAA. History of Boys State Basketball Winners (PDF). KSHAA.org. p. 1.
  11. KSHAA. KSHSAA Track & Field (PDF). KSHAA.org. pp. 31–34.
  12. KSHAA. KSHSAA Girls State Softball Tournaments (PDF). KSHAA.org. p. 35.
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