Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé (abbreviated JDHS and named Juneau-Douglas High School through 2019) is one of two high schools in Juneau, Alaska. It is one of two high schools for the Juneau School District, the other being Yaaḵoosgé Daakahídi Alternative High School. As of the 2021–2022 school year, the school's principal is Paula Casperson.[2]
| Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé | |
|---|---|
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 Juneau-Douglas High School viewed from Alaska Route 7 | |
| Address | |
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1639 Glacier Ave 99801 United States | |
| Information | |
| Type | Public secondary |
| Established | 1905 |
| CEEB code | 020055 |
| Principal | Paula Casperson |
| Teaching staff | 32.00 (on an FTE basis)[1] |
| Grades | 9–12 |
| Enrollment | 567 (2022–23)[1] |
| Student to teacher ratio | 17.72[1] |
| Color(s) | Crimson & black |
| Mascot | Crimson Bears |
| Website | jdhs |
In 2019, the phrase "Yadaa.at Kalé" was appended to the school's name to honor the original Tlingit heritage of Juneau. The phrase means "beautifully adorned face" in the Tlingit language, and refers to the name of the mountain which faces the school.[3][4]
History and symbols
editThe mascot of Juneau-Douglas High School is a fiercely roaring bear; the school's teams compete as the Crimson Bears.[5]
JDHS has undergone extensive renovations, most notably to its main hall.[when?][6][7]
Athletics
editThe Crimson Bears have seen success and won championships across several sports, including being the state champions in baseball two years in a row in 2002 and 2003, the state champions in boys' cross-country two years in a row in 2004 and 2005, the state softball champions during the 2004–2005 and 2009–2010 seasons, the 2004–2005 boys' track and field state champions, the 2004–2005 boys' swim and diving state champions and the girls' state champions the following year, and the state football champions in the 2005–2006 and 2007–2008 seasons. The Crimson Bears finished second overall in the high school state soccer championship in the 2005–2006 season. In 2008, the Crimson Bears won state titles in baseball, softball, and boys' soccer.
In the '06 summer season, the tennis team enjoyed victory in Fairbanks in an Alaska-wide tournament. In 2008 the Bears baseball, softball, and boys' soccer programs all won state titles. In 2010 both baseball and boys' soccer won state championships, and the boys' soccer team repeated in 2011 for a second straight state championship. The women's basketball team beat Wasilla to become the state champions in 2010. JDHS women's basketball lost to Wasilla the next year, in 2011, in the state championship game. In 2016, the JDHS boys varsity beat Dimond High School for the state title. JDHS Girls Varsity Soccer won the state title for the 2017–2018 school year, and the JDHS Cross Country team won the state championship for the 2018–2019 season.
In November 2017, the Juneau School District voted to merge JDHS's football team with Thunder Mountain High School's, citing travel costs and declining roster numbers.[8] In February 2018, students from both schools voted on a nickname for the newly merged team, with "Thunder Bears" winning. In March, the nickname caused controversy when an alternate definition of the term was discovered to be a slur for someone "usually of Native American descent" who drank too much alcohol.[9] On March 10, the school board voted 5–4 to reject the nickname, ordering the committee to pick a new one.[10] The merged football team ultimately entered the 2018-2019 season without a mascot.[11] In January 2019, the students choose the "Juneau Huskies" as the new mascot for the merged team.[12]
JDHS's girls' soccer team won three consecutive state championships, in 2018, 2019, and 2021, where the 2020 season was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[5]
Notable alumni
edit- Chad Bentz, Major League Baseball pitcher.[13]
- Carlos Boozer, professional basketball player and Olympic gold medalist.[14]
- Douglas J. Eboch, screenwriter who wrote the story for Sweet Home Alabama (2002).[15]
- Hilary Lindh, downhill skier for the United States Ski Team and Olympic silver medalist.[citation needed]
- Joseph Fredrick, plaintiff in the Supreme Court decision Morse v. Frederick (2007).[16]
References
edit- ^ a b c "Juneau-Douglas High School". National Center for Education Statistics. Retrieved March 4, 2024.
- ^ Sabbatini, Mark (April 15, 2022). "A principal of matter: Longtime JDHS leader Paula Casperson named regional principal of the year". Juneau Empire. Retrieved May 12, 2022.
- ^ Barnes, Mollie (January 9, 2019). "Juneau-Douglas changed its name. Here's what it is". Juneau Empire. Retrieved November 28, 2020.
- ^ "Our Tlingit School Name". Juneau-Douglas High School. City and Borough of Juneau School District. Retrieved April 4, 2024.
- ^ a b Lockett, Michael S. (May 24, 2022). "Juneau soccer teams celebrate their seniors". Juneau Empire. Retrieved May 25, 2022.
The Crimson Bears will graduate fourteen seniors at the end of the season.
- ^ "Juneau-Douglas High School". education.com. Retrieved March 9, 2014.
- ^ "Juneau-Douglas High School". greatschools.org. Retrieved March 9, 2014.
- ^ Baxter, Adelyn (February 7, 2018). "Juneau high school students choose Thunder Bears as new football mascot". KTOO. Retrieved April 4, 2023.
- ^ "Online definition sparks concern over Juneau sports nickname". The Seattle Times. Associated Press. March 12, 2018. Retrieved April 3, 2023.
- ^ Baxter, Adelyn (March 11, 2018). "Concerned by potential slur, students oust Thunder Bears as district mascot". KTOO. Retrieved April 4, 2023.
- ^ Smith, Cam (August 10, 2018). "As Alaska high school football kicks off, consolidated team deals with new mascot struggles". USA Today. Retrieved April 4, 2023.
- ^ Ainsworth, Nolin (August 11, 2019). "Settled on a mascot, joint high school football team ready to start fresh". Juneau Empire. Retrieved April 4, 2023.
- ^ Ainsworth, Nolin. "Chad Bentz". Alaska Sports Hall of Fame. Retrieved May 5, 2022.
- ^ Ainsworth, Nolin (August 2, 2017). "A conversation with Carlos Boozer". Juneau Empire. Retrieved May 5, 2022.
- ^ "'Sweet Home Alaska'? Alabama an afterthought". Deseret News. October 1, 2002. Retrieved May 12, 2022.
- ^ "Facts and Case Summary - Morse v. Frederick". Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts. June 25, 2007. Retrieved April 6, 2024.
External links
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