Reedsburg Area High School

Reedsburg Area High School is a public high school located in Reedsburg, Wisconsin, and is a part of the School District of Reedsburg. The high school was built in 1998 by Kraemer Brothers.[3] It serves more than 900 students in grades 9-12 from Reedsburg, Loganville, La Valle, Ironton, Rock Springs, and the surrounding communities. Reedsburg Area High School's mascot is Herbie the Beaver. The school's colors are navy and white.

Reedsburg Area High School
Address
1100 South Albert Avenue

Reedsburg
,
Wisconsin
53959

United States
Coordinates43.5226°N 90.0211°W / 43.5226; -90.0211
Information
Other nameRAHS
Established1998
School districtSchool District of Reedsburg
SuperintendentTom Benson
PrincipalRob Taylor
Teaching staff57.12 (FTE)[1]
Grades9-12
GenderCo-ed
Enrollment930 (2018–19)[1]
Student to teacher ratio16.28[1]
ScheduleHybrid-Block
Color(s)   [2]
Athletics conferenceBadger Conference
MascotHerbie the Beaver
NicknameBeavers
RivalBaraboo High School
Websitehttp://www.rsd.k12.wi.us/schools/high/

Rob Taylor and Matt Terry are the current principal and vice principal, respectively. Bryan Yager is the activities director. The school offers 10 AP courses in five different departments and several dual-credit classes with Madison Area Technical College. Reedsburg Area High School has six choirs, 3 bands and an orchestra, along with a fall musical or one-act play, and a play in the spring. There are over 14 different sports, and several clubs available to all students.[4]

The school year is divided into two 18 week semesters. RAHS uses hybrid-block scheduling, and has a seven period day. Monday through Wednesday, each period is 50 minutes long, passing periods are five minutes, and every student has a 30 minute RTI time at the end of the day. On Thursdays and Fridays, each period is 90 minutes long, passing periods are 10 minutes, and RTI is 30 minutes long. The seven periods are split between Thursday and Friday, with early dismissal every Friday at 2:05.

History

Early history

The first high school in Reedsburg was established in 1875. A new brick building was built in 1903 to better serve the larger population in Reedsburg.[5] The new building was able to accommodate 120 students, compared to the roughly 50 student capacity of the previous school. This new building was 3 storeys tall, and included many state of the art amenities, such as drinking fountains, full electrical lighting, and a large athletic field. Due to the growing population of Reedsburg, they built a large addition to the school building in 1923, doubling the capacity to 260 students. In 1937, South School was built, and most grades were transferred to the new school.[6]

It had become clear that Reedsburg would need a new high school building, as South School was beyond maximum capacity. The school board voted to purchase 22 acres of land on Webb Avenue, called the "Hay Creek Site". Several community members disapproved of this action, claiming that the swampy grounds would not provide a stable foundation. With the recommendation of the Board of Education, they moved ahead with the Hay Creek Site, but only building a one storey structure due to the swampy conditions.[5] Using funds donated by Herbert H. Webb, they called this new school Webb High School.[7]

Late 1900s - present

In 1957, Webb High School finished construction, north of Webb Park. Herbert H. Webb donated the rest of his remaining fortune to the city of Reedsburg for the new high school, on his death in 1954.[5] The Webb High School building was renovated and added to in 1962 and 1970. In the 1996 referendum, plans were made to build a new high school along South Albert Avenue, and repurpose Webb High School as the new middle school. The 1996 referendum passed, and the plans were set into motion. Reedsburg Area High School officially opened for the 1998–1999 school year.

The CAL Center opened in 1999 after the community donated over 2.3 million dollars towards its construction. In 2015, a new district storage room was added the side of the building, bordering the choir room. In 2020, the new fitness center was built, containing a new weight room, and new wrestling rooms.[8]

Additions

CAL Center

The CAL Center is a building adjacent to Reedsburg Area High School that hosts music and drama performances, as well as other events.[9] The 598-seat auditorium opened in 1999. The CAL Center was funded entirely by private donations by individuals and local businesses that totaled over 2.3 million dollars.[10] The auditorium includes a control booth, in-house sound console, and an orchestra pit. The CAL Center has a large green room and a scene shop.

The CAL Center was conceptualized during the 1996 referendum to build the new high school. The 2.3 million dollar CAL Center was left off of the 1996 referendum because the committee members didn't think it would pass. In just three years, the community had came together to donate a collective 2.3 million dollars to the CAL Center. It opened in September 1999.[11]

Fitness Center

The Reedsburg Athletic Club has been fundraising[12] since March 19, 2019, in order to get a new fitness center built at Reedsburg Area High School. They had a fundraising goal of $600,000, and as of September 18, 2019, the Reedsburg Athletic Club has received $120,000 in donations, and grants.[13] As of February 5, 2020, the school board approved the addition of the new facility. The School District of Reedsburg will be using $1.8 million leftover 2017 referendum funds, $1 million in a 10-year loan, and the $600,000 fundraiser from the Reedsburg Athletic Club, in order to pay for the new fitness center.[14]

Extracurricular activities

Athletics

RAHS offers over 14 different sports available to its students. The list below shows the 2019–2020 school year.[15]

Athletics at RAHS
Boys' Girls'
Cross Country Cross Country
Golf Golf
Soccer Soccer
Tennis Tennis
Football Volleyball
Basketball Basketball
Wrestling Gymnastics
Baseball Dance Team
Hockey Hockey
Track & Field Track & Field
Softball

The school's varsity football team won the division three state championship on November 20, 2009, defeating West De Pere 34–27.[16]

Clubs

RAHS offers 18 different clubs available to all students. The list below shows the 2019–2020 school year[17]

RAHS has a competitive show choir, named the "Choraliers", and previously had a women's-only group, "Corodonna".[18] During the 2020 season, Choraliers took home the Best Vocals, Best Band and Grand Championship awards at the Monona Grover Silver Stage Invitational.[19]

Drama Club

RAHS offers Drama Club available to all students. In the fall, the club gets together to perform a musical on odd numbered years, and a one-act play on even numbered years. In the spring there is a play. In 2019, Reedsburg Area High School was selected to perform their "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat" musical for the Wisconsin High School Theatre Festival in the Milwaukee High School of the Arts.[20]

Notable alumni

See also

References
  1. "Reedsburg Area High". National Center for Education Statistics. Retrieved January 15, 2021.
  2. http://www.maxpreps.com/high-schools/reedsburg-beavers-(reedsburg,wi)/home.htm
  3. "Reedsburg area high school | Kraemer Brothers Construction". www.kraemerbrothers.com. Retrieved 2019-10-25.
  4. "School District of Reedsburg - Principal's welcome". www.rsd.k12.wi.us. Retrieved 2019-11-29.
  5. Sesquicentennial History Committee (1997). Reedsburg Remembers 150 Years: A History of Reedsburg, Wisconsin 1848–1998. Chelsea, MI: BookCrafters. pp. 135–137.
  6. "420 PLUM ST | Property Record". Wisconsin Historical Society. 2012-01-01. Retrieved 2020-10-05.
  7. "Herbert H. Webb". www.reedsburgwi.gov. Retrieved 2020-10-05.
  8. Rastall, Zachary. "Construction underway on new Reedsburg High School fitness facility". Wiscnews.com. Retrieved 2020-10-05.
  9. "CAL Center". www.calcenter.org. Retrieved 2018-11-16.
  10. "About | CAL Center Presents". Retrieved 2019-10-25.
  11. [email protected], ERICA DYNES. "Reedsburg's Cal Center celebrates 20 years". Wiscnews.com. Retrieved 2020-02-15.
  12. [email protected], ERICA DYNES. "Reedsburg school board OKs fundraising for fitness center". Wiscnews.com. Retrieved 2020-02-10.
  13. [email protected], ERICA DYNES. "Reedsburg athletic club provides update on fitness center project, raised $120,000 of $600,000 goal". Wiscnews.com. Retrieved 2020-02-10.
  14. "Proposed Fitness Center at RAHS".
  15. "School District of Reedsburg - Athletics". www.rsd.k12.wi.us. Retrieved 2018-11-16.
  16. "West De Pere vs Reedsburg Area (Nov 20, 2009)". www.wiaawi.org. Retrieved 2018-11-16.
  17. "Activities and Clubs" (PDF).
  18. "SCC: Viewing School - Reedsburg Area High School". Show Choir Community. Retrieved February 19, 2020.
  19. "SCC: Monona Grover Silver Stage Invitational 2020". Show Choir Community. Retrieved February 19, 2020.
  20. [email protected], ERICA DYNES. "Reedsburg Area High School will present 'Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat'". Wiscnews.com. Retrieved 2020-02-14.
  21. "Representative Edward Brooks". Wisconsin Legislative Documents. Wisconsin State Legislature. Retrieved September 14, 2020.
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