Homestead High School (Fort Wayne, Indiana)
Encyclopedia
Homestead Senior High School, in Fort Wayne, Indiana
, United States
, is a public 4-year high school with a comprehensive intake of over 2,000 students. Homestead's school year consists of two 18-week semesters. Students are enrolled in seven 47-minute periods. Homestead is a class 5A high school that is well known for its academics, athletics, and music program. Part of Southwest Allen County Schools
, the school receives accreditation from the Indiana Department of Education and the North Central Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools.
The class of 2009 is the first class of Homestead to utilize the newly annexed "Freshman Academy" (formerly Woodside Middle School). The two schools are connected to one another by two enclosed walkways.
station who broadcast live during the school day as well as Homestead High School sporting events on location.
Dave S. Walter Memorial Stadium
is the school's athletic field and in 2006 was complete with artificial turf.
. For the past twenty-five years they have gone to the ISSMA State Finals
in Indianapolis, IN, under the direction of Steve Barber. The band is also directed by Brad Wadkins and the Color Guard is led by Jonathan Meader. The State finals have been held at the RCA Dome
and Lucas Oil Stadium since it opened in 2008. The band has won five state championships (1992, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2011), third all time in Class A behind Ben Davis High School
and Avon High School
. Since 1990 they have never finished lower than fourth place at State Finals, and have been either first or second twelve times. As of 2011, Homestead holds the record for most consecutive State Finals Appearances of any current Class A Band at 25. Ben Davis previously held the record at 24 consecutive years (1975-1998 all in Class A). Lewis Cass High School
, currently a class D band, holds the record for the most consecutive State Finals Appearances of any Class Band at 30 (1982-2011, 1984-2005 in Class C).
They have competed in competitions in Hawaii, Florida, Arizona, and California. In 1999 they performed at Pearl Harbor
, in Hawaii. Recently they were runner-up at the National Field Show Competition at the Fiesta Bowl
in Phoenix, Arizona
. In 2000 they were crowned the Blue Cross Blue Shield Grand Champions at the same competition. Then in 2009 they again attended the Fiesta Bowl where the band came in fourth at the Blue Cross Blue Shield band competition and came in second at the Fiesta Bowl Parade. In 2003 They participated in the Tournament of Roses Parade
in Pasadena, California
as well as performing in the Disneyland parade in Anaheim
. In 2006 and 2011, the band performed in the Walt Disney World parade in Orlando, Florida
. Homestead annually hosts ISSMA District Competition, as well as hosts its own competition named Fall Festival of Bands, which showcases 10 Class-A Bands.
They are also one of the largest high school marching band
s in the country, with more than 200 members each year. In the 2009-10 school year the band contained 225 members. In the 2011-12 year there was a record freshman class enrollment of 90, with a total membership of 240.
Fort Wayne, Indiana
Fort Wayne is a city in the US state of Indiana and the county seat of Allen County. The population was 253,691 at the 2010 Census making it the 74th largest city in the United States and the second largest in Indiana...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, is a public 4-year high school with a comprehensive intake of over 2,000 students. Homestead's school year consists of two 18-week semesters. Students are enrolled in seven 47-minute periods. Homestead is a class 5A high school that is well known for its academics, athletics, and music program. Part of Southwest Allen County Schools
Southwest Allen County Schools
Southwest Allen County Schools is a school district in Indiana serving both Aboite and Lafayette Township residents of Allen County, including those township area incorporated into Fort Wayne....
, the school receives accreditation from the Indiana Department of Education and the North Central Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools.
The class of 2009 is the first class of Homestead to utilize the newly annexed "Freshman Academy" (formerly Woodside Middle School). The two schools are connected to one another by two enclosed walkways.
Mission statement
Homestead High School will educate all students so they may reach standards of academic excellence and develop a foundation for life-long learning. Through shared efforts with the community, we prepare students to make successful life transitions.Radio station
Homestead High School has a working radio station inside its school, broadcasting live on 91.1 FM. The station's name is The Point, with a motto of "Fort Wayne's Only Alternative". It's a student-run high school radioHigh school radio
High school radio within the United States is almost as old as radio broadcasting itself. Simply defined as a radio station, with its studios located at a high school and usually operated by its students with faculty supervision, stations fitting this description existed in the mid-1920s...
station who broadcast live during the school day as well as Homestead High School sporting events on location.
- WCYTWCYTWCYT is a radio station broadcasting an Alternative format. Licensed to Lafayette Township, Indiana, USA, the station serves the Ft. Wayne area. The station is currently owned by Southwest Allen County Schools. Studios are located at Homestead Senior High School.-History:It was founded in 1995...
, 91.1 FM external link: www.wcyt.org
Accolades
Homestead Journalism Students Inducted Into Hall of Fame- The Yearbook Retrospect, From Homestead High School, is one of nine publications that was recognized at an awards ceremony in Chicago, November 10–13.
- Recently, the Indiana Chamber of Commerce designated Homestead High School as a "best buy" high school. Homestead was one of 160 schools that were identified as ones that offer the highest educational achievement levels for the lowest amount of tax dollars.
- The Spartana, Homestead's student newspaper, was recently awarded the NSPA Pacemaker award for its 2004-2005 and 2008-2009 volumes. The current volume was awarded first in the Best in Show competition. The Spartana has won this award four times.
Sports
Homstead has a variety of sports teams and clubs which compete at the highest state level(5A/4A). Homestead also belongs to the NHC, and is a regular power in every sport.- The Spartan tennis team has won 30 sectionals, 27 regionals and 17 semistates. They have finished as state runner-up nine times, most recently in 2006.
- The 1998 Spartan football team was runner-up at state.
- The 1992, 1993, & 2009 Spartan soccer team was runner-up at state.
- The 2008 Spartan baseball team was runner-up at state.
- The 2001, 1999, 1996, 1985, 1984, & 1983 Gymnastics Teams were State Champions.
- The 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, & 2010 Dance Teams won state. The 2004, 2006, & 2008 Dance Teams won nationals and were runner-up in 2010.
- The 2004 and 2006 men's swim team was runner-up at state.
Dave S. Walter Memorial Stadium
Dave S. Walter Memorial Stadium
Dave S. Walter Memorial Stadium is a football stadium located at Homestead High School in Fort Wayne, Indiana. The stadium seats 5,000 people and has two pressboxes. It is home to the Fort Wayne Flyers of the MLFA. The annual Summit vs. Woodside football game is held here....
is the school's athletic field and in 2006 was complete with artificial turf.
Marching band
The Spartan Alliance Band competes in Class A Band in the Indiana State School Music AssociationIndiana State School Music Association
The mission of the Indiana State School Music Association, Inc. is to provide educationally evaluated music performance activities for the students and teachers of the state of Indiana, to assist in the development of performance oriented assessment of state and national musical academic standards,...
. For the past twenty-five years they have gone to the ISSMA State Finals
Indiana Marching Band State Finals
The Indiana Marching Band State Finals is a competition for marching bands governed by the Indiana State School Music Association . ISSMA has sanctioned the event annually since 1981; from 1973 until 1980 the top bands from the NISBOVA and ISMA circuits met in the All-State Marching Band Contest.-...
in Indianapolis, IN, under the direction of Steve Barber. The band is also directed by Brad Wadkins and the Color Guard is led by Jonathan Meader. The State finals have been held at the RCA Dome
RCA Dome
RCA Dome was a domed stadium, located in Indianapolis, Indiana, and the home of the Indianapolis Colts NFL franchise for 24 seasons ....
and Lucas Oil Stadium since it opened in 2008. The band has won five state championships (1992, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2011), third all time in Class A behind Ben Davis High School
Ben Davis High School
Ben Davis High School is a three year American high school in Marion County, Indianapolis, Indiana. As of 2010 , it has a student enrollment of nearly 3,500 and a staff of 178.-History:...
and Avon High School
Avon High School (Indiana)
Avon High School is a 4-year high school in Hendricks County, Avon, Indiana. It had a student enrollment of 2,264 for the 2007-2008 school year.-Marching band:...
. Since 1990 they have never finished lower than fourth place at State Finals, and have been either first or second twelve times. As of 2011, Homestead holds the record for most consecutive State Finals Appearances of any current Class A Band at 25. Ben Davis previously held the record at 24 consecutive years (1975-1998 all in Class A). Lewis Cass High School
Cass High School (Indiana)
Lewis Cass High School is a high school located in Walton, Indiana and is a part of the Southeastern School Corporation. The school is known for its consistent state finals appearances in marching band and a highly competitive football team.-External links:*...
, currently a class D band, holds the record for the most consecutive State Finals Appearances of any Class Band at 30 (1982-2011, 1984-2005 in Class C).
- 2011 - 1st place, Show Title: Children of the Sun
- 2010 - 3rd place, Show Title: Becoming My Creation
- 2009 – 4th place, Show Title: Reactions
- 2008 – 4th place, Show Title: Magnetism
- 2007 – 4th place, Show Title: Expressions
- 2006 – 3rd place, Show Title: Within
- 2005 – 2nd place (tie), Show Title: Balance
- 2004 – 4th place, Show Title: Half The Fun Is Getting There
- 2003 – 2nd place, Show Title: Gravity
- 2002 – 4th place, Show Title: Sybil: The Art Of Insanity
- 2001 – 4th place, Show Title: Credentium
- 2000 – 4th place, Show Title: Reflections Of Earth- A Celebration Of Time
- 1999 – 3rd place
- 1998 – 2nd place
- 1997 – 2nd place
- 1996 – 1st place
- 1995 – 1st place
- 1994 – 1st place
- 1993 – 2nd place
- 1992 – 1st place
- 1991 – 2nd place (Class B)
- 1990 – 2nd place (Class B)
- 1989 – 5th place (Class B)
- 1988 – 9th place (Class B)
- 1987 – 9th place (Class B)
They have competed in competitions in Hawaii, Florida, Arizona, and California. In 1999 they performed at Pearl Harbor
Pearl Harbor
Pearl Harbor, known to Hawaiians as Puuloa, is a lagoon harbor on the island of Oahu, Hawaii, west of Honolulu. Much of the harbor and surrounding lands is a United States Navy deep-water naval base. It is also the headquarters of the U.S. Pacific Fleet...
, in Hawaii. Recently they were runner-up at the National Field Show Competition at the Fiesta Bowl
Fiesta Bowl
The Fiesta Bowl, now sponsored by Frito-Lay and named with their Tostitos brand, is a United States college football bowl game played annually at the University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Arizona. Between its origination in 1971 and 2006, the game was hosted in Tempe, Arizona at Sun Devil...
in Phoenix, Arizona
Phoenix, Arizona
Phoenix is the capital, and largest city, of the U.S. state of Arizona, as well as the sixth most populated city in the United States. Phoenix is home to 1,445,632 people according to the official 2010 U.S. Census Bureau data...
. In 2000 they were crowned the Blue Cross Blue Shield Grand Champions at the same competition. Then in 2009 they again attended the Fiesta Bowl where the band came in fourth at the Blue Cross Blue Shield band competition and came in second at the Fiesta Bowl Parade. In 2003 They participated in the Tournament of Roses Parade
Tournament of Roses Parade
The Tournament of Roses Parade, better known as the Rose Parade, is "America's New Year Celebration", a festival of flower-covered floats, marching bands, equestrians and a college football game on New Year's Day , produced by the non-profit Pasadena Tournament of Roses Association.The annual...
in Pasadena, California
Pasadena, California
Pasadena is a city in Los Angeles County, California, United States. Although famous for hosting the annual Rose Bowl football game and Tournament of Roses Parade, Pasadena is the home to many scientific and cultural institutions, including the California Institute of Technology , the Jet...
as well as performing in the Disneyland parade in Anaheim
Anaheim, California
Anaheim is a city in Orange County, California. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city population was about 365,463, making it the most populated city in Orange County, the 10th most-populated city in California, and ranked 54th in the United States...
. In 2006 and 2011, the band performed in the Walt Disney World parade in Orlando, Florida
Orlando, Florida
Orlando is a city in the central region of the U.S. state of Florida. It is the county seat of Orange County, and the center of the Greater Orlando metropolitan area. According to the 2010 US Census, the city had a population of 238,300, making Orlando the 79th largest city in the United States...
. Homestead annually hosts ISSMA District Competition, as well as hosts its own competition named Fall Festival of Bands, which showcases 10 Class-A Bands.
They are also one of the largest high school marching band
Marching band
Marching band is a physical activity in which a group of instrumental musicians generally perform outdoors and incorporate some type of marching with their musical performance. Instrumentation typically includes brass, woodwinds, and percussion instruments...
s in the country, with more than 200 members each year. In the 2009-10 school year the band contained 225 members. In the 2011-12 year there was a record freshman class enrollment of 90, with a total membership of 240.
Notable alumni
- Rob BowenRob BowenRobert McClure Bowen is a former Major League Baseball catcher.Bowen spends the regular season living in San Diego, California, but spends his offseasons in a suburb of Atlanta, Georgia. He also has a baseball camp each winter back in Fort Wayne, Indiana.-High school years:Bowen attended Homestead...
, catcher, former Major League BaseballMajor League BaseballMajor League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
player - Jordan Witzigreuter, singer as The Ready SetThe Ready SetThe Ready Set was formed on November 17, 2007. Jordan Witzigreuter is the vocalist and sole member of the act. Witzigreuter generally writes and records on his own, using a backup band when on tour...
- Ryan Wright, a 5th round pick in the 2011 MLB Draft by the Cincinnati RedsCincinnati RedsThe Cincinnati Reds are a Major League Baseball team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the National League Central Division. The club was established in 1882 as a charter member of the American Association and joined the National League in 1890....