Granite Hills High School (El Cajon, California)

Granite Hills High School
Address
1719 East Madison Avenue
El Cajon, California
USA
Information
Type Public secondary
Established 1960
School district Grossmont Union High School District
Principal Mike Fowler
Grades 9-12
Enrollment Estimated 3,000
Campus Urban
Color(s) Navy blue and Columbia blue
Mascot Ernie the Eagle
Nickname Eagle Nation
Rival Valhalla High School
Accreditation Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC)
Yearbook Pageant
Nickname Eagles
Website Granite Hills High School

Granite Hills High School is a California Distinguished School,[1] public and comprehensive high school located in El Cajon, California and serves students in grades nine through twelve. Opened in 1960, Granite Hills is one of thirteen high schools in the Grossmont Union High School District. GHHS is the home of the Eagles. Granite Hills High School has been an IB World School since July 2001.

Traditions

Alma Mater

Nestled in the granite hills, fly our colors white and blue, high above the mountain crest, we soar as eagles proud and true. Rising high with pride and honor, to our victory we will soar, granite hills our alma mater, eagles now and ever more.

In 2008, the Alma Mater was composed into a 2-part arrangement by the choir director's composer husband.

Note: In 2007, the Alma Mater was as follows:

Granite Hills our Alma Mater, nestled in your mountain crown, let every son and daughter true, add to your honor, fame renown, years of most treasured memories, home of our loyalty.

Shooting

During fifth period, minutes after lunch period had ended on March 22, 2001, 18-year-old Former GHHS Student, Jason Hoffman arrived on campus and opened fire on the attendance office, which also houses the principal and vice principals' offices, from the outside. Five people were either injured by shrapnel or suffered severe symptoms from the traumatic experience but few victims incurred bullet wounds. Hoffman was shot in the buttocks and jaw. He was arrested by police officer Rich Agundez, who had been on campus during school hours since the shooting two weeks earlier at a high school within the same district, Santana High School.[2] Hoffman would later commit suicide by hanging himself from bedsheets in his prison cell in November 2002.

History

Recently Granite Hills has been undergoing some construction to many of its classes. The football field has also been renovated.

It was discovered that Granite's soil contains a large amount of carcinogens. As of January, 2009, studies were in progress and the source of contamination was unknown. Tainted dirt has also been found at other schools in the district.[3] In January 2009 the long time eagle statue, "Ernie", was ripped off of its base by vandals and destroyed.[4]

Granite Hills Marching Band

The students in the GHHS Marching Band perform at the Mother Goose Parade, Christmas in the lights, Alpine Parade, and at every home football game especially the Homecoming game. The marching Eagles also go to "Band Night" featuring the SDSU Marching Aztecs and gathering other marching bands from the GUHSD District. Popular tunes such as the "007 Theme" and "Bon Jovi Theme" highlight the "GUHSD Marching Band and Color Guard Field Show Extravaganza" held every year. During second semester they do winter and spring concerts as the "Concert Band". Some are joint concerts with middle schools from Cajon Valley School District.

Clubs

Granite Hills Acting Workshop (G.H.A.W.) EagleTheatre

Philosophy Club

Fashion Club

Debate Club

Si Se Puede Club (Yes We Can)

Club Zion (Music Appreciation)

Key Club

Leo Club

Eagle Link

New Student Club

Art Club

Creates With Paints

The Clarion (School Newspaper)

Yearbook

Earth Club

Native American club

Athletics

Granite Hills offers every CIF sanctioned sport.

Notable alumni

See also

References

  1. ↑ http://www.acsa.org/FunctionalMenuCategories/Media/EdCalNewspaper/EdCal-2013/Apr22/Schools.aspx
  2. ↑ http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/metro/granitehills/index.html
  3. ↑ Carcinogen discovered in soil at 5 schools by Leonel Sanchez, San Diego Union-Tribune January 16, 2009
  4. ↑ http://www3.signonsandiego.com/stories/2009/feb/05/1ez5eagle212520-granite-hills-high-mascot-falls-vi/

Coordinates: 32°48′N 116°55′W / 32.800°N 116.917°W / 32.800; -116.917

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