Savannah High School (Missouri)

Savannah High School is a public secondary school in Savannah, Missouri, United States serving grades 9 through 12.

Savannah High School
Location
701 W. William St.
Savannah, MO 64485

United States
Coordinates39°56′46″N 94°49′02″W
Information
TypePublic
Motto"Savage Pride" "Savage Nation"
PrincipalSarah Portenier
Enrollment760 (2014-15)[1]
Color(s)   Black and gold
Athletics conferenceMidland Empire Conference
Team nameSavages
Websitehs.savannahr3.com

It is in the Savannah R-III School District, which has been accredited with distinction four of the last five years.

The principal is Sarah Portenier. The enrollment is just over 800 students. Additions include a new commons area and a library.

Notable alumni

Quizbowl

Savannah High School is home to one of Missouri's premier quizbowl teams, having won six state championships. They have done well on a national level at the ASCN national Tournament of Champions, placing 7th in 2003 and 2004, 5th in 2005, 4th in 1995, and winning the championship in 1988. The quizbowl is composed of a Junior Varsity team and a Varsity team. The JV team won state in 2006 and 2007.

Debate and Forensics

Savannah High School is also home to one of the winningest Speech and Debate squads in the Midland Empire Conference and greater Kansas City area, winning every conference championship since its inception, and qualifying numerous competitors to the Missouri State High School Activities Association Tournament and National Forensic League National Tournament.

In recent years, Savannah has placed well at the state and national levels:

  • 2001: A 2nd place MSHSAA State Tournament Humorous Interpretation, 2nd place NFL Nationals Video Speaking Contest
  • 2002: A 6th place MSHSAA State Tournament Dramatic Interpretation, a State Champion Extemporaneous Speaking
  • 2005: An 8th place MSHSAA State Tournament Storytelling
  • 2006: A 5th place MSHSAA State Tournament Poetry, a 7th place Storytelling, a 5th place Dramatic Interp., a 2nd place Humorous Interp., 7th place NFL Nationals Humorous Interpretation
  • 2007: A 5th place MSHSAA State Tournament Poetry, a 5th place Extemp, a 3rd place Lincoln Douglas Debater, 14th place Poetry Interp. NFL Nationals
  • 2008: A 2nd Place DI, 2nd place HI, 2nd place Storytelling, 3rd place Oratory, 3rd place Extemp, 6th place Poetry, Quarterfinalist P.F.D. team, and a Semifinalist L.D. debater at MSHSAA State. A 3rd place Oratory (winning the Professor's Bowl for placing 1st in the final round), and a 5th place Poetry at NFL Nationals
  • 2009: A 5th place Poetry at the MSHSAA State Tournament, two semi-finalists in Student Congress at the NFL National Tournament
  • 2010: A 10th place in Student Congress, a 10th place in Duo Interpretation, a 7th place in Domestic Extemporaneous speaking at the NFL National Tournament
  • 2011: Two semi-finalists in Student Congress, an octo-finalist and a quarterfinalist in Domestic Extemporaneous speaking, and a quarterfinalist in International Extemporaneous speaking
  • 2013: Noah Jermain won the Humorous Interpretation event at the NFL National Tournament.

Savannah soccer team

Savannah High School began girls' and boys' soccer teams in 2005. In the 2006 season, the boys' team won their first game. In 2011 and 2012 the girls' team won back-to-back district titles.

Savage football

Savannah football has been having success in recent years as they have gained two conference titles and one district title in the past three years. In 2011 the Savages lost to Webb City 28-24 with four seconds left for the semi-final game.

Mascot Controversy

On June 6, 2020, a petition was started on Change.org by to remove the Savage mascot due to its racist connotations.[2] The use of terms and images referring to Native Americans and First Nations as the name or mascot for a sports team is a topic of public controversy in the United States and Canada. The American Psychological Association, United States Commission on Civil Rights, and The National Conference for Community and Justice are among those who have called for a ban on Native American mascots.[3] Such mascots are said to misrepresent, distort, and trivialize many aspects of Native American culture; and mascot stereotypes have a negative impact on Native American lives. [4]

A counter-petition was launched on June 29. The Savannah R3 School District's Board of Education is meeting July 14 to discuss the petitions. Previous attempts to change the mascot have been made, notably in 1993 and 2018.

References
  1. "SAVANNAH HIGH". National Center for Education Statistics. Retrieved December 29, 2017.
  2. Hancock, Makayla (June 30, 2020). "Debate renews over Savannah mascot". St. Joe News Press Gazette. News-Press Now. Retrieved 7 July 2020.
  3. "History of Progress". Change The Mascot. Retrieved 7 July 2020.
  4. Davis, Laurel. "The Problems with Native American Mascots". ERIC. Multicultural Education. Retrieved 7 July 2020.
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