Ridgewood High School (Florida)

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Ridgewood High School
Established	1978
School type	Public
Locale	Urban Fringe of Large City
Grades	9-12
Principal	Randall Koenigsfeld
Location	New Port Richey, Florida, United States
Students	1783
Faculty	94
Colors	Orange and Blue
Mascot	Rocky the Ram
SAT	473 verbal 480 math
Website	http://rhs.pasco.k12.fl.us/

Ridgewood High School is a four-year public high school in New Port Richey, Florida. It is part of the Pasco County Public School System in Pasco County, Florida. The school was founded in 1978.

The 20th anniversary class of Ridgewood High School, Class of 2006 before Graduation.

1 History
2 Learning communities
3 School symbols
4 Alma Mater
5 Athletics
6 Notable alumni
7 References
8 External links

[edit] History

The Pasco County School Board approved creation of a new Junior High School in the Ridgewood area of New Port Richey in response to population growth in the area during the 1970s, with the expectation that the school would ultimately become West Pasco's third high school. The school was built for $3.2 million and opened in 1978. Wendell L. Krinn became the first principal of the school.^[1]

Ridgewood officially opened up as a high school in 1983 with a freshman class, adding one grade per each year, until it had a full four-year complement in the 1985-1986 school year, which was the first graduating class. As part of the transition to a high school, Ridgewood underwent a $1.6 million renovation project, which included a gym added to the back of the main building, a stadium built by the football field, as well as a new weight room and tennis courts.^[1]

After winning the "Pride of Pasco" academic award, in 1988, the title stuck as the nickname of the school.^[1]

[edit] Learning communities

In 1997, Ridgewood High School started implementing the learning community concept, which has been expanded over the years to the current four learning communities at Ridgewood High School.^[2]

The Academy of Business and Law (ABLE) focuses on business and law through the study of business and law courses as part of an enhanced core curriculum.^[2]
Communication and the Arts Standing Together (CAST) program educates students in the communications field, and prepares them for future careers in the industry through study of communication and the arts.^[2]
The Health Occupational and Technological Services (HOTS) program focuses on hands-on science courses, with attention to developing critical-thinking skills. Students address the influence of science on society. Guest speakers from related fields participate in the process.^[2]
The Graduation Enhancement Program (GEP) helps "at risk" students improve their academic achievement, vocational skills and community involvement to connect students to the world at large.^[2]

[edit] School symbols

During the establishment of the school in the late 1970’s, the student body at Ridgewood voted to make the official nickname and logo the Ram, "which symbolizes the endless determination of our spirit to strive for high standards in every aspect within our institution."^[2] There was actually a real ram brought in as a mascot for sporting events who would soon be replaced by the present day “Rocky the Ram.” The colors orange and blue were adopted^[2], matching those of the University of Florida Gators.

[edit] Alma Mater

To Her name we pledge our honor.

In joyous song we raise Ridgewood our Alma Mater.

Thy glorious name we praise.

Where sea and tide are rolling, forever will our voices ring her deeds we proudly sing.

Beneath the orange and blue victorious, her name shall never die.

There's no other name so glorious, all hail Ridgewood High.

[edit] Athletics

Rams Booster Stadium in 2006.

RHS won two state titles in Cross Country under then Coach Glenn Cable in 1991^[3] and 1999.^[4] Ridgewood won the Class 3A state title in Fast-Pitch Softball in 1992, led by coach Marlyn Bavetta, defeating Berkeley Preparatory School by a score of 7-6.^[5]^[6] Ridgewood achieved success in both sports during the 1990s with victories at both the district and conference level.

Girls basketball advanced into the state playoffs, winning several district and conference titles and moving on to a Sweet 16 appearance in 2004.^[7] Ridgewood Football made its first playoff appearance in 2002 under coach Troy Cornwell, falling to Belleview High School by a score of 48-6 in the first round of the Class 4A tournament.^[8]

Gary Anders was hired in 1987 to coach the Ridgewood boys basketball team and serve as athletic director. The basketball program would win several conference titles under Anders and back-to-back district titles in the mid-1990s and again achieving the feat in 2003 and 2004.^[9] Ridgewood won another conference title in 2006. Anders won his 400th basketball game in 2003^[10] and made the Elite 8 in the Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA) basketball tournament.^[11]

Former Assistant Principal and teacher Larry Beets was hired as head baseball coach, and after winning back to back conference championships in 1986 and 1987, won district titles in 1990 and 1991, and a Regional Championship in 1991 and 1998. From 2003-2005, the team won three straight district championships capped off in 2006 with six consecutive playoff appearances. The Rams would also make the 2003 State Championship game, falling to Bishop Kenny High School by a score of 13-0 in the Class 4A finals at Legends Field in Tampa, Florida.^[12] Larry Beets was recognized by the St. Petersburg Times as "Coach of the Year" for his accomplishments with a team that had less "firepower" than its competitors yet managed to pull off a major upset in the district final.^[13]

Competing in a group of 61 high schools in Citrus, Hernando, Hillsborough, Pasco and Pinellas counties, participating in 19 different sports, Ridgewood High School was recognized in 1992 as a winner of the fourth annual St. Petersburg Times All-Sports Championship, paced by state titles in boys cross country and softball.^[14]