Grand Island Senior High School (Nebraska)

Grand Island Senior High is the only high school in the Grand Island Public Schools (GIPS) system in Nebraska, United States. It has had several buildings over its history. The official mascot is the Islander, a tall man in a tropical grass skirt.

Grand Island Senior High
Address
Map
2124 Lafayette Avenue

,
Hall County
,
68803

Coordinates40°56′33″N 98°21′56″W / 40.94250°N 98.36556°W / 40.94250; -98.36556
Information
Other nameAcademies of Grand Island Senior High School
Former nameGrand Island High School
Mottoes
  • Every Student, Every Day, A Success!
  • Wear Purple, Be Gold!
SuperintendentMatthew Fisher
PrincipalJeff Gilbertson
Teaching staff166.72 (FTE)[1]
Grades9 to 12
Enrollment2,567 (2020-21)[1]
Student to teacher ratio15.4[1]
Education systemAcademy
Hours in school day8
Color(s)Purple and gold    
Athletics conferenceHeartland Athletics Conference
Team nameIslanders
Websitewww.gips.org/senior

History

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In 1908, a new building was built for high school students at 10th Street and Walnut Street, although high school education in an all-grades building had been going on before that.[2] In 1925, a new building was constructed at 504 Elm Street; the 1908 building was turned into a junior high school.

In 1955, a fourth building was constructed in the 2100 block of Lafayette Avenue and its predecessor became Walnut Junior High.[3] In the late 1990s, a two-story section was added onto the main building.[4]

GISH adopted an "academy" system for the 2019-2020 school year, making students choose one of five tracks to focus on.[5] As a part of this system, Grand Island Senior High has expanded to three total campuses, including a technically focused Career Pathways Institute, and an education, law and public safety focused Wyandotte Learning Center.

Athletics

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Islander athletic teams compete in the Heartland Athletic Conference.[6]

State Championships
Sport Year(s)
Baseball 2008[7]
Basketball (boys) 1947*, 1948,[8] 1953, 2002[9]
Football 1936,[9] 1947, 1948,[8] 1978[9]
Track and field (girls) 1973, 1975, 2007
Wrestling 2009, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019[10]
  • denotes co-championship

Performing arts

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Grand Island has three competitive show choirs, the mixed-gender "Ultimate Image" and "Future Image" as well as the all-female "Sweet Revelation".[11] The program also hosts an annual competition, the Islander Invitational.[12]

Notable alumni

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References

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  1. ^ a b c "GRAND ISLAND SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL". National Center for Education Statistics. Retrieved October 2, 2020.
  2. ^ "Grand Island Senior High". The Grand Island Independent. April 15, 2016. Retrieved October 2, 2020.
  3. ^ Budde, Eugene J. "National Register of Historic Places Registration Form: Grand Island Senior High School".[usurped] Nebraska State Historical Society.[usurped] Retrieved October 27, 2013.
  4. ^ "About our School - Grand Island Public Schools". Archived from the original on 2008-12-02. Retrieved 2009-08-03.
  5. ^ Reutter, Harold (December 28, 2017). "GIPS to see new prep academy in 2019-20". The Grand Island Independent. Retrieved October 2, 2020.
  6. ^ "GIPS releases plans for fall athletics". KSNB Local 4. August 19, 2020. Retrieved October 2, 2020.
  7. ^ "Grand Island Senior High Announces New Varsity Head Coaches". News Channel Nebraska. Retrieved October 2, 2020.
  8. ^ a b "Football/Basketball – 1997: Grand Island Senior High, 1947-48". Nebraska High School Hall of Fame Foundation. Retrieved October 2, 2020.
  9. ^ a b c "Islander Greats Inducted into 2017 HOF Class". Sandhills Express. September 25, 2017. Retrieved October 2, 2020.
  10. ^ Zavala, Mark (17 February 2013). "G.I. dynasty impressive". Omaha World-Herald. Retrieved October 2, 2020.
  11. ^ "SCC: Viewing School - Grand Island Senior High School". Show Choir Community. Retrieved October 2, 2020.
  12. ^ Rollin, Kelly (February 25, 2017). "Show choirs dazzle, radiate joy at competition". The Grand Island Independent. Retrieved October 2, 2020.
  13. ^ "Patrick Deuel". Kearney Hub. May 3, 2016. Retrieved August 31, 2019 – via www.kearneyhub.com.
  14. ^ "Former G.I. resident Rebecca Richards-Kortum named MacArthur ‘Genius'". Grand Island Independent. September 23, 2016. Retrieved June 24, 2017.