Waseca Junior and Senior High School

Waseca Junior and Senior High School
Waseca High School in 2016
Address
Map
1717 Second Street, N.W.

,
56093

United States
Coordinates44°5′40″N 93°30′35″W / 44.09444°N 93.50972°W / 44.09444; -93.50972
Information
Motto"We R4 The Bluejay Way"
  1. Respect Yourself
  2. Respect Others
  3. Respect Property
  4. Respect Learning
PrincipalJason Miller
Teaching staff35.33 (FTE)[1]
Grades9–12
Enrollment630 (2017-18)[1]
Student to teacher ratio17.83[1]
Color(s)   Blue and gold
SloganThink Blue, Achieve Gold
SportsBaseball, basketball, cheerleading, cross country, football, golf, gymnastics, hockey, soccer, softball, swimming, tennis, track and field, volleyball, wrestling
Team nameBluejays
Websitewww.waseca.k12.mn.us/Domain/114

Waseca Junior and Senior High School (WJSH) is located in Waseca, Minnesota, United States.[2] The school mascot is the bluejay and the school colors are blue and gold. It houses approximately 1,000 students in grades 7 through 12. They offer a rigorous curriculum which meets Minnesota standards. They also offer Post-Secondary Enrollment Options (PSEO) including College in the Schools and Advanced Placement courses. Jeanne Swanson is the current principal.

Activities

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There are many different activities and clubs at WJSH:

Music program

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Choir[3] is a program open to all students. Concert Choir is a group of students in grades 9 through 12 and anyone can join. Select Choir is open to students in grades 10 through 12 and is an audition only group.

Showchoir is a branch of the choir program and participation requires the involvement in either Concert or Select Choir. Showchoir groups are also audition only. There are four showchoir groups:

  • State Street (Co-ed, 10th through 12th grade)
  • Sextets (6 boys and 6 girls, 10th through 12th grade)

Band is another big program open to all students. There is one jazz band, Jazz I. Students are encouraged every year to prepare a solo for local and state competition, students can also perform in ensembles that they can also take to local and state competitions. There is a symphonic and concert band as well. The marching band program consists of The Waseca Marching Jays. It includes the instrumental sections and a Colorguard section, and is known throughout the region for its tradition of excellence, pride, unity, and discipline. Waseca Marching Jays are 23 time grand champions at Sioux Falls Festival of Band.[4]

Planned shooting and bombing

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In May 2014, a combined shooting and bombing plot was discovered and stopped. John David LaDue had planned to kill his family, set a fire, then bomb the school and shoot students. After local police were tipped off, they found bomb-making materials in a storage facility.[5] LaDue was to be charged, as a juvenile, with attempted murder, possession of explosives and property damage.[6] Later, all charges were dropped except for six counts of possession of an explosive device. Psychologists argued that LaDue, who was diagnosed Asperger syndrome and several other mental conditions, continues to pose a risk to society and requires extensive treatment. Witnesses for the prosecution argued that LaDue should be tried as an adult, because he could then receive treatment for a longer period of time.[7] LaDue plead guilty to a single charge of possessing an explosive device; he was sentenced to ten years probation and required to undergo psychiatric treatment.[8]

Notable alumni

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References

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  1. ^ a b c "WASECA SENIOR HIGH". National Center for Education Statistics. Retrieved March 26, 2020.
  2. ^ "Waseca Public Schools - Good School Districts in Southern Minnesota". Discoverwaseca.com. Retrieved 2013-10-15.
  3. ^ "Waseca High School Choirs". Waseca.k12.mn.us. Retrieved 2013-10-15.
  4. ^ "WASECA BANDS Home Page". Waseca.k12.mn.us. 2012-11-26. Retrieved 2013-10-15.
  5. ^ Ford, Dana; Brumfield, Ben (May 2, 2014). "Police: Minnesota teen planned school massacre". CNN.com. Retrieved May 2, 2014.
  6. ^ Brumfield, Ben (May 3, 2014). "Police: Woman's gut feeling thwarts planned school massacre, family murder". CNN.com. Retrieved May 3, 2014.
  7. ^ Nelson, Emma (August 21, 2015). "Waseca teen accused of plotting school bombing will be charged as an adult". Star Tribune. Retrieved February 25, 2016.
  8. ^ Louwagie, Pam (January 28, 2016). "With jail sentence complete, Waseca teen John LaDue heads to state facility". Star Tribune. Retrieved February 25, 2016.
  9. ^ THE WISCONSIN BLUE BOOK. Madison. 1913. p. 652.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  10. ^ Berardino, Mike (September 20, 2013). "Minnesota Twins: Gene Glynn has a merry go-round at AAA Rochester". Pioneer-Press. Retrieved May 2, 2014.
  11. ^ "Ernie Jessen". Pro Football Reference. Retrieved May 3, 2014.
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