Algonquin Regional High School

Coordinates: 42°19′33″N 71°36′48″W / 42.32583°N 71.61333°W / 42.32583; -71.61333

Algonquin Regional High School

Algonquin Regional High School is a public high school located in Northborough, Massachusetts. The school serves the students of the Northborough-Southborough Regional School District (NSRSD) comprising both Northborough and neighboring Southborough. The school's mascot is the tomahawk, but known by many as the "T-hawk." The school's colors are maroon and gold. Algonquin Regional's Superintendent is Christine M. Johnson.

Academics

Algonquin Regional offers its students a multitude of courses within various disciplines such as Mathematics, Science, Applied Arts & Technology, Fine & Performing Arts, Health & Fitness, Foreign Languages (including Spanish, French, and Latin), and Instructional Support. College Preparatory courses are graded on a 4.0 scale, Honors courses are graded on a 5.0 scale, and Advanced Placement courses are graded on a 5.5 scale.

Athletics

The girls' soccer team's upset of nationally ranked Acton-Boxborough Regional High School in the 2009 Massachusetts State Final^[3] made local headlines and was even recognized by ESPN.^[4] The Algonquin Boys' Varsity Soccer team captured two straight MIAA Division I State titles in 2004 and 2005. In 2006, they returned to the State Final to play St. John's Preparatory School, but lost 4-1. Also in 2006, the Algonquin Baseball Team won the State Title. Algonquin maintains a strong cross-town rivalry with Westborough High School, in which both teams compete in the annual Thanksgiving Day Football Game. The Boys' Varsity tennis team won the Central Massachusetts Division Title in 2009 and the Girls' team had an undefeated season and eventually won the state title that same year (the Boys' lost to Longmeadow in the state semi-final). In 2010, the Girls' varsity tennis team received a #1 seeding in the state tournament.^[5] Girls' Varsity Gymnastics became State Champions in 2011 after an undefeated season, being named both League and Sectional Champions. The Girls' Varsity Gymnastics Team repeated the same feat in 2012. The Boys' lacrosse program won the Central Massachusetts District in 2011 and 2012 and just falling short of the State Title two years in a row losing to Eastern Mass champions Medfield High School and Concord-Carlisle High School. The Girls' program recently became Central Massachusetts Champions and became the first team in Massachusetts girls lacrosse history to represent Central Massachusetts in the State Final Game; they lost to Eastern Mass powerhouse Westwood High School. The Girls' Rugby team has won the MYRO State championship every year from 2011 to 2014.^{[6] [7] [8][9]} The boys ice hockey team won the 2015-2016 Division III Central Massachusetts championship, beating Groton-Dunstable 2-1 in a shootout. They then beat Westfield 6-2 in the state semi-final before falling to Hanover 5-1 at the TD Garden in the State Championship game.

The Harbinger

The Harbinger is the official student newspaper of Algonquin Regional. It covers campus-wide events and athletic results in addition to controversial topics within the school. The publication regularly receives honors at the New England Scholastic Press Association conference.

Sachem

Sachem is the literary and art magazine of Algonquin. It is published once a year and is entirely student-run. All poems, stories, artwork, and photography are contributed voluntarily by students. In the 2010-2011 school year it won the Gold Circle Award from Columbia Scholastic Press Association, a prestigious award for literary magazines.

Clubs

Algonquin Robotics Team

Algonquin robotics team is a FIRST Robotics team, Team 1100. The team participates in the FIRST FRC Championships and other regional meets in Massachusetts. The team won the Chairman's Award at the Worcester Regional Championship in Feb 2013 and earned the right to participate at the World Championships in St Louis during the last week of April.

Algonquin Math Teams

Algonquin fields teams that participate in both the Freshman and Varsity divisions of the Worcester County Mathematics League. The school won six consecutive Varsity championships from 1998-99 through 2003-04.^[10]

Algonquin Dance Team

Started in 2009, the team performs at many of the school events including: pep rallies, basketball games and other performance opportunities, like the Variety Show and Culture Show. The Dance Team features hiphop music and dance styles.

Algonquin Latin Club

The Latin Club puts on monthly social events open to all students, but geared towards those studying the Latin language.

Algonquin LARPing Club

Also sometimes referred to as the Algonquin Society of Adventurers, the Algonquin LARPing Club has over 30 members meeting every week. The club enacts large scale battles in the athletic fields, using cardboard or foam weaponry.

Music at Algonquin

The Algonquin Music department consists of Chamber choir, Camerata Singers' group, Concert and Freshman choir, as well as Jazz I, Jazz II, Concert Band, Symphonic Band, Orchestra and Wind Ensemble. There are also two student-run a cappella ensembles for students who take music classes- one co-ed (Algonqapella) and one women-only (Ladies First) along with an additional third group for students who do not need to participate in music classes (Soulfege). Extra-curricular activities include Algonquin Acoustic and Musicians Inspiring Change, two music groups that aim to benefit the community through student music performances in which all profits contribute to various charities.

Notable alumni

• Mark "The Bird" Fidrych — former MLB pitcher
• Ryan Gallant — professional skateboarder
• Dorian McMenemy -- Olympic Swimmer
• Jon Radoff — internet entrepreneur and author
• Nathaniel Raymond — human rights investigator and anti-torture advocate
• Mike Sherman — former head coach of the Green Bay Packers; current offensive coordinator of the Miami Dolphins

Renovation

Ultimately, a $3 million renovation and expansion plan was approved by the district and renovations began in 2003. Due to failures associated with the general contractor, Eastern Contractors Inc., and need for dismissal of the contractor from the project, some delays in completion of the renovation project occurred. In 2005 the regional district fired the contractor from the project. The renovations and expansion efforts complete as a result of efforts by the school district representatives as of the 2008–2009 school year. The grand opening took place on September 4, 2008.

Building

The school's hallways are labeled by letters and numbers (denoting the floor). Currently, letters go from A-H. Building architect, Alicia Conte, designed the only rotunda in the Massachusetts public High School system as the site for the buildings main entrance. The building is divided into the Upper School, the C Corridor, the D Corridor, and the H Corridor.

References

External links

• Algonquin Regional High School website
• Northborough-Southborough Regional School District
• Tomahawk Professors