Mouse and Westwood High School (Austin, Texas): Difference between pages
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{{dablink|This article is about the rodent. For the computing input device, see [[Mouse (computing)]]. For other uses of the word mouse, see [[Mouse (disambiguation)]]. For the dessert or hair product, see [[Mousse (disambiguation)]]}} |
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name = Westwood High School for the academically challenged| |
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<!-- The following is markup for the mouse taxonomy box; scroll down to get to the body text --> |
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established = 0000 By a man named Jesus Lords-son| |
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{{Taxobox |
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type = [[Public school|Free public]]| |
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| name = Mouse |
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district = [[Round Rock Independent School District]]| |
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| fossil_range = Late [[Miocene]] - Recent |
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grades = 9<sup>th</sup>, 10<sup>th</sup>, 11<sup>th</sup>, and 12<sup>th</sup>| |
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| image = Apodemus_sylvaticus_bosmuis.jpg |
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principal = Jesus Lords-son, a man who created the school in the year 0000. He has many atime, fought off the evilBecky Donald from taking over the school and stopping her plans to make school on a saturday| |
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| image_width = 250px |
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location=12400 Mellow Meadow<br/>[[Austin, Texas|Austin]], [[Texas]]| |
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| image_caption = [[Wood mouse]], ''Apodemus sylvaticus'' |
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country = Spainjingo| |
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| regnum = [[Animal]]ia |
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campus type = [[Suburb]]an| |
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enrollment = 2,511<ref name="CI">{{Citation | title=Round Rock ISD | newspaper=Community Impact | volume=1 | issue=6 | pages=18-19 | year=2007 | date=[[17 July]] [[2007]]}}</ref> |
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| classis = [[Mammal]]ia |
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| |
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| ordo = [[Rodent]]ia |
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mascot = Warriors| |
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| superfamilia = [[Muroidea]] |
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colors = [[Orange (colour)|Orange]] and [[White]]| |
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| familia = [[Muridae]] |
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website = [http://www.roundrockisd.org/westwood Westwood High School]| |
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| subfamilia = [[Murinae]] |
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| genus = '''''Mus''''' |
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| genus_authority = [[Carolus Linnaeus|Linnaeus]], 1758 |
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| subdivision_ranks = [[Species]] |
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| subdivision = 30 species; see text<br /> |
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}} |
}} |
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'''Westwood High School''' is a secondary school in [[Austin, Texas|Anderson Mill]] in unincorporated [[Williamson County, Texas|Williamson County]], [[Texas]]. WHS is located in a suburban community. The community is largely composed of business, technical, and professional people who commute to jobs in and around [[Austin, Texas]]. Westwood High School is approximately 17 miles (27 km) north of downtown Austin and 12 miles (19 km) west of downtown [[Round Rock, Texas]]. |
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[[Image:Mouse vermin02.jpg|thumb|250px|[[Feral]] mouse]] |
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''[[Texas Monthly]]'' as well as ''[[US News & World Report]]'' in recent years have listed Westwood amongst their top 10 high schools for the state of Texas and top 100 in the nation, respectively. This is a result of the school’s robust college matriculation rate, as well as honors, [[Advanced Placement]] and [[International Baccalaureate]] programs. Westwood was named a [[National Blue Ribbon School]] in 1994-96. <ref>[http://www.ed.gov/programs/nclbbrs/list-1982.pdf Blue Ribbon Schools Program, Schools Recognized 1982-1983 Through 1999-2002 (PDF)<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> |
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A '''mouse''' (plural '''mice''') is a small [[animal]] that belongs to one of numerous [[species (biology)|species]] of [[rodent]]s. The best known mouse species is the [[House Mouse|common house mouse]] (''Mus musculus''). It is also a popular [[pet]]. The American [[white-footed mouse]] (''Peromyscus leucopus'') and the [[deer mouse]] (''[[Peromyscus maniculatus]]'') also sometimes live in houses. |
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The school is a part of the [[Round Rock Independent School District]]. |
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Two Middle Schools feed into this school: |
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Although mice may live up to two and a half years in the lab, the average mouse in the wild lives only about 4 months, primarily due to heavy [[predation]]. [[Cat]]s, wild [[dog]]s, [[fox]]es, [[bird of prey|birds of prey]], [[snake]]s and even certain kinds of [[insect]]s have been known to prey heavily upon mice. Nevertheless, due to its remarkable adaptability to almost any [[ecological niche|environment]], and its ability to live [[commensalism|commensally]] with humans, the mouse is regarded to be the second most successful mammalian genus living on Earth today, after humans. |
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*[[Canyon Vista Middle School]] |
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*[[Noel Grisham Middle School (NGMS)]] |
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Mice are sometimes considered harmful [[Pest (organism)|pests]], damaging and eating [[Crop (agriculture)|crops]] and spreading [[disease]]s through their [[parasite]]s and [[feces]]. In western North America, breathing dust that has come in contact with mouse feces has been linked to the deadly [[hantavirus]]. The original motivation for the domestication of [[cat]]s is thought to have been for their predation of mice and their relatives, the [[rat]]s. |
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== |
==Block Schedules== |
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Zurish (Mice) have been known to humans since antiquity. The Romans differentiated poorly between mice and rats, calling rats ''Mus Maximus'' (big mouse) and referring to mice as ''Mus Minimus'' (little mouse). Mice can be also kept as house pets as some people sell them in petshops.<ref>{{cite web |
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| title= Etymology of mammal names |
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| work=IberiaNature |
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| url=http://www.iberianature.com/trivia/etymology_mammals.htm |
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| accessdate=2007-05-21 |
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}}</ref> |
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Westwood High School uses a type of academic scheduling in which each student has fewer classes per day for a longer period of time. This results in more time for teaching due to less time wasted due to class switching and preparation. Each class is called a block. On ''Orange'' days students have blocks 1 through 4 and on ''White'' days students have block 5 through 8. ''Orange'' and ''White'' days alternate each day. This is also an advantage for students who have ''off blocks'' or free periods, as it allows them a longer free period. |
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De-coloration in mice was supposedly first noticed in China by 900 BC, where a white mouse was discovered. |
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==International Baccalaureate== |
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The word "mouse" and the word muscle are related. Muscle stems from ''musculus'' meaning small mouse - possibly because of a similarity in shape.<ref>{{cite web |
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| title=Mouse |
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| work=Online Etymology Dictionary |
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| url=http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=mouse |
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| accessdate=2007-05-21 |
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}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |
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| title=Muscle |
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| work=Online Etymology Dictionary |
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| url=http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=muscle |
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| accessdate=2007-05-21 |
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}}</ref> The word "mouse" is a [[cognate]] of [[Sanskrit]] ''mus'' meaning 'to steal,' which is also cognate with ''mys'' in [[Old Greek]] and ''mus'' in [[Latin]].<ref>{{cite web |
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| title=Introduction |
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| work=The Beginnings: Ode to a Wee Mouse |
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| url=http://www.worldscibooks.com/lifesci/etextbook/p393/p393_chap1.pdf |
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| accessdate=2007-05-21 |
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}}</ref> |
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Westwood also houses an independent, district wide [[International Baccalaureate]] academy that operates under a selective admissions system. In recent years, the program has achieved, or fallen only a single tester or two short, of a perfect pass rate amongst those sitting for the Diploma examinations, with many scoring in the highest levels of the point schema (including perfect scores). Hence, it has frequently placed amongst the best IB programs in North America by median score (although this rate is bolstered by a majority attrition process over the four years of study). Almost all students who receive the IB Diploma also receive the AP Scholar Award with varying degrees of additional attainment, with the school having several AP National Scholars each year. The Academy likewise produces many [[National Merit Scholarship Program|National Merit Scholars]], as well as numerous winners of major American math and science competitions. In general, the 50 or less graduates from the program each year make up the highest ranked graduates in each class, and go on either to attend state flagship honors programs on merit scholarships (primarily at the [[University of Texas]] in Austin), or selective, private colleges ([[Rice University]] and [[Ivy League]] institutions being the most popular). The IB class of 2008 will be the first cohort to graduate more than 50 seniors with a programme diploma (projected). |
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=== Characteristics === |
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Mice range in size from 11 to 21 cm (4 to 8 inches)long (including a long tail). They weigh from {{convert|.25|to|2|oz|abbr=on}}. The coat color ranges from white to brown to gray. Most mice have a pointed snout with long whiskers, round ears, and thin tails. Joshwa is a little girl that wears makeup! |
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However, Westwood's IB academy also has what some consider to be negative effects on the student population. As highly [[Intellectual giftedness|talented and gifted]] students transfer to Westwood from across the Round Rock Independent School District to join the IB program, a distinct disadvantage drops on to regular students since their class rank is not disaggregated from these magnet enrollees. As a result, many otherwise strong students' (often carrying a significant number of honors or Advanced Placement courses) class ranks drop dramatically vis-à-vis where they would place in nearby local schools given their performance. This topic has been highly debated in light of state colleges such as the [[University of Texas]] and [[Texas A&M University]] rarely accepting students outside of their top quartile of class rank, largely due the legal limits imposed by the [[Texas State Legislature]]'s mandated [[top ten percent rule]]. |
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== Distribution and habitat == |
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All species of ''Mus'' are native to [[Eurasia]] and [[Africa]], where they range from lowlands to mountaintops. The five species in the subgenus ''Pyromys'' are found in [[Sri Lanka]], [[India]], [[Pakistan]], and mainland [[Southeast Asia]]. Much of their range originally consisted of open [[grasslands]] or grassy patches in [[forests]]. |
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==Journalism Department== |
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== Reproduction == |
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[[Image:Baby mice.jpg|right|thumb|Pups just a day old]] |
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Breeding onset is at about 50 days of age in both females and males, although females may have their first estrus at 25-40 days. Mice are polyestrous and breed year round; ovulation is spontaneous. The duration of the estrous cycle is 4-5 days and estrus itself lasts about 12 hours, occurring in the evening. Vaginal smears are useful in timed matings to determine the stage of the estrous cycle. Mating is usually nocturnal and may be confirmed by the presence of a copulatory plug in the vagina up to 24 hours post-copulation. The presence of sperm on a vaginal smear is also a reliable indicator of mating.<ref name=lvma /> |
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Westwood's journalism department includes newspaper, yearbook, photojournalism, and Journalism 1 class. Judy Gaines serves as adviser to the department. The 2006 yearbook won the top [[Columbia Scholastic Press Association]] award, the first time in Westwood history. Also, four journalism students founded [[Candid Austin Teen Magazine]] in the summer of 2006. |
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Female mice housed together tend to go into anestrus and do not cycle. If exposed to a male mouse or the pheromones of a male mouse, most of the females will go into estrus in about 72 hours. This synchronization of the estrous cycle is known as the [[Whitten effect]]. The exposure of a recently bred mouse to the pheromones of a strange male mouse may prevent implantation (or pseudopregnancy), a phenomenon known as the [[Bruce effect]].<ref name=lvma/> |
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==Musical Ensembles== |
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The average gestation period is 20 days. A fertile postpartum estrus occurs 14-24 hours following [[parturition]], and simultaneous lactation and gestation prolongs gestation 3-10 days due to delayed implantation. The average [[litter (animal)|litter]] size is 10-12 during optimum production, but is highly strain dependent. As a general rule, [[inbred]] mice tend to have longer gestation periods and smaller litters than outbred and hybrid mice. The young are called pups and weigh {{convert|0.5|-|1.5|g|abbr=on}} at birth, are hairless, and have closed eyelids and ears. Cannibalism is uncommon, but females should not be disturbed during parturition and for at least 2 days postpartum. Pups are weaned at 3 weeks of age; weaning weight is {{convert|10|-|12|g|abbr=on}}. If the postpartum estrus is not utilized, the female resumes cycling 2-5 days postweaning.<ref name=lvma/> |
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The student orchestras and bands of Westwood High School have earned several statewide distinctions, the most recent of which has been the title of 2006 State Honor Orchestra award, given to the top Texas high school full orchestra each year by the [[Texas Music Educators Association]]. The Westwood High School orchestra consistently ranks among the top student groups in the state; it also held the State Honor Orchestra title in 2000 and 2005. |
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Newborn male mice are distinguished from newborn females by noting the greater anogenital distance and larger genital papilla in the male. This is best accomplished by lifting the tails of [[littermate]]s and comparing [[perineum]]s.<ref name=lvma/> |
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Also, participating student musicians have earned places in region and state orchestras. Each year, Westwood students number nearly a third of the local all-region orchestra, an ensemble determined by an audition process. In addition to the several students each year who qualify for the prestigious all-state orchestras, recently Westwood students have held the titles of statewide first-chair viola and e-flat clarinet players. |
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== Species == |
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{{Cleanup|date=May 2008}} |
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* Subgenus'' [[Coelomys]]'' |
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**''[[Mus crociduroides]]'' (Western Sumatra) |
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**''[[Mus mayori]]'' (Sri Lanka) |
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**''[[Mus pahari]]'' (Northeastern India to southwestern Cambodia and northern Vietnam) |
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**''[[Mus vulcani]]'' (Western Java) |
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*Subgenus ''[[Mus (subgenus)|Mus]]'' |
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**''[[Mus booduga]]'' (Pakistan, India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, southern Nepal, central Myanmar) |
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**''[[Mus caroli]]'' (Ryukyu islands, Taiwan and southern China to Thailand; introduced in Malaysia and western Indonesia) |
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**''[[Mus cervicolor]]'' (Northern India to Vietnam; introduced to Sumatra and Java) |
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**''[[Mus cookii]]'' (Southern and northeastern India and Nepal to Vietnam) |
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**''[[Mus cypriacus]]'' (Cyprus) |
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**''[[Mus majorius]]'' (Athens, Greece) |
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**''[[Mus famulus]]'' (Southwestern India) |
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**''[[Mus fragilicauda]]'' (Thailand and Laos) |
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**''[[Mus macedonicus]]'' (Balkans to Israel and Iran) |
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**''[[Mus musculus]]'' (introduced worldwide) |
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**''[[Mus nitidulus]]'' (Central Myanmar) |
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**''[[Mus spicilegus]]'' (Austria to southern Ukraine and Greece) |
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**''[[Mus spretus]]'' (Southern France, Iberian Peninsula, Balearic Islands, Morocco to Tunisia) |
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**''[[Mus terricolor]]'' (India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Pakistan; introduced to Sumatra) |
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*Subgenus ''[[Nannomys]]'' |
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**''[[Mus baoulei]]'' (Ivory Coast to Guinea) |
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**''[[Mus bufo]]'' (Mountains of Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi and neighboring parts of the Democratic Republic of Congo) |
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**''[[Mus callewaerti]]'' (Angola and Democratic Republic of Congo) |
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**''[[Mus goundae]]'' (Central African Republic) |
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**''[[Mus haussa]]'' (Senegal to northern Nigeria) |
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**''[[Mus indutus]]'' (Southern Angola to western Zimbabwe and northern South Africa) |
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**''[[Mus mahomet]]'' (Ethiopia, southwestern Uganda and southwestern Kenya) |
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**''[[Mus mattheyi]]'' (Ghana) |
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**''[[Mus minutoides]]'' (Zimbabwe, Southern Mozambique, South Africa) |
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**''[[Mus musculoides]]'' (Africa south of the Sahara, excluding the range of ''M. minutoides'') |
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**''[[Mus neavei]]'' (Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo to northeastern South Africa) |
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**''[[Mus orangiae]]'' (South Africa) |
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**''[[Mus oubanguii]]'' (Central African Republic) |
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**''[[Mus setulosus]]'' (Senegal to Ethiopia and western Kenya) |
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**''[[Mus setzeri]]'' (Northeastern Namibia, Botswana, and western Zambia) |
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**''[[Mus siridandus]]'' (Columbia, Argentina) |
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**''[[Mus sorella]]'' (Eastern Cameroon to western Tanzania) |
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**''[[Mus tenellus]]'' (Sudan to southern Somalia and central Tanzania) |
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**''[[Mus triton]]'' (Southern Ethiopia to central Angola and Malawi) |
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*Subgenus ''[[Pyromys]]'' |
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**''[[Mus fernandoni]]'' (Sri Lanka) |
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**''[[Mus phillipsi]]'' (Southwestern India) |
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**''[[Mus platythrix]]'' (India) |
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**''[[Mus saxicola]]'' (Southern Pakistan, southern Nepal, and India) |
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**''[[Mus shortridgei]]'' (Myanmar to southwestern Cambodia and northwestern Vietnam) |
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The Westwood Marching Band made it to the finals at the Westlake Marching Festival in 2005, and won 4th prize for their show, "Rhythms of a New Era." They won the contest in 1998. In 2006, the band took 4th place at the Cedar Park Marching Festival with their show, "Chain Reaction." Also in 2006, the Westwood Drumline won 1st place in the CBS 42/Rudy's Country Store and Bar-B-Q Marching Band Challenge. This was a competition that featured 15 other high school drumlines throughout the area. |
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== Laboratory mice == |
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[[Image:PCWmice1.jpg|thumb|[[Knockout mice]]]] |
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The Westwood Choral program has long since proved itself to be one of the most outstanding high school choral ensembles in the State of Texas. Currently directed by Dr. David Means who came on board in 2007, the choir regularly places students into the highly competitive All-State Choir, and the choir itself has achieved high marks in nearly every state singing and sightreading contest. The choir has been selected to tour nationally to several cities including Boston, San Francisco, and Washington D.C. The entire choral department (some 200 singers) has also been asked to perform at festivals in the [[United Kingdom]] (1998) as well as [[Germany]] and [[Austria]] (2004). Every year for the last six years, Westwood has boasted at least one student as one of the top five singers in the state. |
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Mice are common [[experiment]]al animals in [[biology]] and [[psychology]] primarily because they are mammals, and so share a high degree of [[homology (biology)|homology]] with humans. They are the most commonly used [[mammal]]ian [[model organism]], more common than [[rats]]. The mouse [[genome]] has been sequenced, and virtually all mouse [[gene]]s have human homologs. They can also be manipulated in ways that would be considered unethical to do with humans (note [[Animal Rights]]). A '''[[knockout mouse]]''' is a [[genetic engineering|genetically engineered]] [[mus musculus|mouse]] that has had one or more of its genes made inoperable through a [[gene knockout]]. |
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==Debate== |
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There are other reasons for why mice are used in laboratory research. Mice are small, inexpensive, easily maintained, and can reproduce quickly. Several [[generation]]s of mice can be observed in a relatively short period of time. Mice are generally very docile if raised from birth and given sufficient human contact. However, certain strains have been known to be quite temperamental. Mice (and rats) have the same organs in the same places, just different proportions. |
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Westwood High School Speech and Debate has long been a part of school life and offers events in [[Lincoln Douglas Debate]], [[Policy Debate]], [[Extemporaneous Speaking]], and [[Original Oratory]], as well as other events. |
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There are hundreds of established inbred, outbred, and [[transgenic]] strains. In the United States, mice are not protected by the [[Animal Welfare Act]] (AWA) (administered by the [[United States Department of Agriculture]] (USDA), [[APHIS]]). However, the [[Public Health Service Act]] (PHS) administered by the [[National Institutes of Health]] (NIH) does cover their treatment. |
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Westwood is actively involved in the TFA (the Texas Forensics Association) where participants compete against debaters from other schools. The tournaments that Westwood attends attract quality competition. Many students have received multiple awards through success at the tournaments, including qualification to attend the most prestigious national tournament, the Tournament of Champions, in 05-06 for CX debate. Other schools in the area include [[McNeil High School|McNeil]], [[Akins High School|Akins]], [[Round Rock High School|Round Rock]], [[LBJ High School|LBJ]], and [[Stony Point High School|Stony Point]]. |
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== As pets == |
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{{main|Fancy mouse}} |
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Many people buy mice as companion pets. They can be playful, loving and can grow used to being handled. Pet mice should not be left unsupervised outside as they have many natural predators, including but not limited to, Birds, Cats and Dogs. Male mice tend to have a stronger odor than the females, making females preferable. Well looked after mice can make ideal pets. Some common mouse care products are: |
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* [[Fancy mouse#Caging|Cage]] - Usually a [[hamster]] or [[gerbil]] [[cage]], but special mouse cages are now available. You can also use a small [[aquarium]] (5 [[gallon]]s for up to 3 mice, 10 gallons for 8 or so mice) with a mesh top, so there is no risk of them escaping. But this is not recommended, as the lack of proper ventilation can cause respiratory complications in mice. |
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* [[mouse food|Food]] - Special pelleted and seed-based food is available. Mice can generally eat most rodent food (for rats, mice, hamsters, gerbils, etc) |
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* [[Pet bedding|Bedding]] - Usually made of hardwood pulp, such as [[aspen]], sometimes from shredded, un[[ink]]ed [[paper]] or recycled virgin [[wood pulp]]. [[Cedar]] or [[pine]] should not be used because they contain harmful liquids that can damage any rodent's respiratory system. [[Corn husk]] bedding should not be used because it promotes ''Aspergillis'' [[fungus]], can grow [[mold]] once it gets wet and is rough on their feet. |
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The team went through a particularly strong period in the late 1990s through early 2000s when several students dominated the national LD circuit. Three students repeatedly qualified and placed at the Tournament of Champions and took finishing places at significant national tournaments. |
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[[Image:100 0726.JPG|thumb|250px|Pet mice]] |
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Some benefits of having mice as pets are |
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* Minimal shedding and allergens |
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* Entertaining and interactive |
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* Inexpensive |
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* Clean (contrary to popular belief) |
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* Socially self-sufficient when in a group of other mice |
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* Less likely to bite than other rodent pets |
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* Relatively intelligent |
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The Westwood Policy Debate team qualified the maximum of two teams for the 2007 UIL State Tournament. The teams placed 3rd and 1st in the 5A league. |
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Disadvantages include: |
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* Short lifespan |
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* Small and fragile (not as easy to handle as a dog or a cat) |
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* Defecate and urinate frequently |
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* Nocturnal |
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* Frequent eye infections when under stress |
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* Easily subject to disease when without optimal care |
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* Frequent reproduction |
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In 2008, the Westwood Policy Debate team once again qualified the maximum two teams for the UIL State Tournament. Westwood once again won fifth and first place to complete the back to back championships. |
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== Nutrition == |
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Mice are commonly fed commercial pelleted mouse diet. These diets are nutritionally complete, but they still need a large variety of vegetables. Food intake is approximately {{convert|15|g|abbr=on}} per {{convert|100|g|abbr=on}} of body weight per day; water intake is approximately {{convert|15|ml|abbr=on}} per 100 g of body weight per day.<ref name=lvma>[http://www.lvma.org/mouse.html Louisiana Veterinary Medical Association]</ref> |
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== |
==Westwood Athletics== |
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The Westwood athletic department has dominated many sports in the past, winning multiple district, bi-district, area and so on championships including two volleyball state championships. The Westwood Warrior football team has won a handful of district championships, most recently when the 2006 Warriors qualified as area finalists after winning the first playoff game in school history. |
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[[Image:Feeder mice.jpg|250px|thumb|"Pinkie" mice for sale as [[reptile]] food]] |
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The Warrior basketball team has also had success throughout the years, obtaining a record of above .500 since the team began in 1981. The Warriors baseball team has made the state playoffs almost every year in the team's existence. |
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Humans have eaten mice since prehistoric times. They are still eaten as a delicacy throughout eastern [[Zambia]] and northern [[Malawi]],<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.bridgewater.edu/~mtembo/mbeba.html | title = Mice as a Delicacy: the Significance of Mice in the Diet of the Tumbuka People of Eastern Zambia | first = Mwizenge S. | last = Tembo | accessdate = 2008-08-13 }}</ref> as well as in parts of east Asia, including [[Guangdong]] Province, China.{{Fact|date=August 2008}} They are an excellent seasonal source of [[protein]]. In most other countries, mice are no longer routinely consumed by humans. Across the U.S. pet owners keep exotic pets such as [[snakes]], [[lizards]], [[frogs]], [[tarantulas]], and [[bird of prey|birds of prey]]. Most US pet stores now carry mice for this purpose. Because they breed quickly, grow quickly, are easy to care for, and can be sold in a wide variety of sizes, this makes them suitable for consumption by animals of various sizes. Mice also seem to be a desirable food item for a very large variety of [[carnivores]]. |
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For ethical reasons it may be considered questionable (and under German law, forbidden) to feed live mice (or any vertebrate for that matter) to carnivores. An exemption may be made for those carnivores that do not eat anything but live food, a claim particularly made by snake owners on behalf of their pets. It is especially unnecessary to feed "pinkies" to Tarantulas; their venom is about as strong as a bee's sting, and it takes a long time for the venom to overcome the prey's nervous system, suggesting a prolonged agony.{{Fact|date=September 2008}} |
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Common terms used to refer to different age/size mice are pinkies, fuzzies, hoppers, and adults. Pinkies are newborn mice that have not yet grown fur; fuzzies have some fur but are not very mobile; hoppers have a full coat of hair and are fully mobile but are smaller than adult mice. These terms also refer to the various growth stages of [[rat]]s (also see [[Fancy rat]]). |
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== |
==References== |
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{{ |
{{Reflist}} |
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== |
==External links== |
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* [http://schools.roundrockisd.org/westwood Westwood Web Site] |
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{{Wiktionary}} |
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* [http://www.roundrockisd.org/home/index.asp?page=310 Westwood High School Page on the Round Rock ISD website.] |
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{{wikiquote|Mice}} |
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* [http://www.roundrockisd.org/ District Homepage] |
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{{Commons|Mus}} |
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* [http://www.myspace.com/westwoodhsband Westwood Band MySpace] |
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{{wikispecies|Mus}} |
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* [http://209.184.141.5/westwood/orgs/org_alumni/default.html WW Alumni] |
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*[[Audiograms in mammals]] |
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* [http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=7444461213394103856&q=westwood+band Westwood Marching band at Westlake Marching Band Competition 2005] |
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*[[House mouse]] |
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* [http://www.tx861.com TX-861 AFJROTC] |
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*[[Mice in fiction]] |
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{{Geolinks-US-streetscale|30.4556|-97.7976}} |
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*[[Mouse trap]] |
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*[[Mouse (computing)]] |
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*[[Musophobia]] (fear of mice) |
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*[[Vacanti mouse]] |
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{{Round Rock ISD Schools|show=yes}} |
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== External links == |
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* [http://www.fancymice.info Fancy Mice]: extensive information about breeding mice and keeping them as pets |
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* [http://brainmaps.org/index.php?p=speciesdata&species=mus-musculus High-resolution images of cross sections of mice brains] |
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* [http://www.worldscibooks.com/lifesci/etextbook/p393/p393_chap1.pdf History of the mouse] (with focus on their use in genetics studies) |
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[[Category:Educational institutions established in 1980]] |
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Revision as of 19:18, 11 October 2008
| Westwood High School for the academically challenged | |
|---|---|
| Location | |
 | |
Spainjingo | |
| Information | |
| Type | Free public |
| Established | 0000 By a man named Jesus Lords-son |
| School district | Round Rock Independent School District |
| Principal | Jesus Lords-son, a man who created the school in the year 0000. He has many atime, fought off the evilBecky Donald from taking over the school and stopping her plans to make school on a saturday |
| Grades | 9th, 10th, 11th, and 12th |
| Enrollment | 2,511[1] |
| Campus type | Suburban |
| Color(s) | Orange and White |
| Mascot | Warriors |
| Website | Westwood High School |
Westwood High School is a secondary school in Anderson Mill in unincorporated Williamson County, Texas. WHS is located in a suburban community. The community is largely composed of business, technical, and professional people who commute to jobs in and around Austin, Texas. Westwood High School is approximately 17 miles (27 km) north of downtown Austin and 12 miles (19 km) west of downtown Round Rock, Texas.
Texas Monthly as well as US News & World Report in recent years have listed Westwood amongst their top 10 high schools for the state of Texas and top 100 in the nation, respectively. This is a result of the school’s robust college matriculation rate, as well as honors, Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate programs. Westwood was named a National Blue Ribbon School in 1994-96. [2]
The school is a part of the Round Rock Independent School District.
Two Middle Schools feed into this school:
Block Schedules
Westwood High School uses a type of academic scheduling in which each student has fewer classes per day for a longer period of time. This results in more time for teaching due to less time wasted due to class switching and preparation. Each class is called a block. On Orange days students have blocks 1 through 4 and on White days students have block 5 through 8. Orange and White days alternate each day. This is also an advantage for students who have off blocks or free periods, as it allows them a longer free period.
International Baccalaureate
Westwood also houses an independent, district wide International Baccalaureate academy that operates under a selective admissions system. In recent years, the program has achieved, or fallen only a single tester or two short, of a perfect pass rate amongst those sitting for the Diploma examinations, with many scoring in the highest levels of the point schema (including perfect scores). Hence, it has frequently placed amongst the best IB programs in North America by median score (although this rate is bolstered by a majority attrition process over the four years of study). Almost all students who receive the IB Diploma also receive the AP Scholar Award with varying degrees of additional attainment, with the school having several AP National Scholars each year. The Academy likewise produces many National Merit Scholars, as well as numerous winners of major American math and science competitions. In general, the 50 or less graduates from the program each year make up the highest ranked graduates in each class, and go on either to attend state flagship honors programs on merit scholarships (primarily at the University of Texas in Austin), or selective, private colleges (Rice University and Ivy League institutions being the most popular). The IB class of 2008 will be the first cohort to graduate more than 50 seniors with a programme diploma (projected).
However, Westwood's IB academy also has what some consider to be negative effects on the student population. As highly talented and gifted students transfer to Westwood from across the Round Rock Independent School District to join the IB program, a distinct disadvantage drops on to regular students since their class rank is not disaggregated from these magnet enrollees. As a result, many otherwise strong students' (often carrying a significant number of honors or Advanced Placement courses) class ranks drop dramatically vis-à-vis where they would place in nearby local schools given their performance. This topic has been highly debated in light of state colleges such as the University of Texas and Texas A&M University rarely accepting students outside of their top quartile of class rank, largely due the legal limits imposed by the Texas State Legislature's mandated top ten percent rule.
Journalism Department
Westwood's journalism department includes newspaper, yearbook, photojournalism, and Journalism 1 class. Judy Gaines serves as adviser to the department. The 2006 yearbook won the top Columbia Scholastic Press Association award, the first time in Westwood history. Also, four journalism students founded Candid Austin Teen Magazine in the summer of 2006.
Musical Ensembles
The student orchestras and bands of Westwood High School have earned several statewide distinctions, the most recent of which has been the title of 2006 State Honor Orchestra award, given to the top Texas high school full orchestra each year by the Texas Music Educators Association. The Westwood High School orchestra consistently ranks among the top student groups in the state; it also held the State Honor Orchestra title in 2000 and 2005.
Also, participating student musicians have earned places in region and state orchestras. Each year, Westwood students number nearly a third of the local all-region orchestra, an ensemble determined by an audition process. In addition to the several students each year who qualify for the prestigious all-state orchestras, recently Westwood students have held the titles of statewide first-chair viola and e-flat clarinet players.
The Westwood Marching Band made it to the finals at the Westlake Marching Festival in 2005, and won 4th prize for their show, "Rhythms of a New Era." They won the contest in 1998. In 2006, the band took 4th place at the Cedar Park Marching Festival with their show, "Chain Reaction." Also in 2006, the Westwood Drumline won 1st place in the CBS 42/Rudy's Country Store and Bar-B-Q Marching Band Challenge. This was a competition that featured 15 other high school drumlines throughout the area.
The Westwood Choral program has long since proved itself to be one of the most outstanding high school choral ensembles in the State of Texas. Currently directed by Dr. David Means who came on board in 2007, the choir regularly places students into the highly competitive All-State Choir, and the choir itself has achieved high marks in nearly every state singing and sightreading contest. The choir has been selected to tour nationally to several cities including Boston, San Francisco, and Washington D.C. The entire choral department (some 200 singers) has also been asked to perform at festivals in the United Kingdom (1998) as well as Germany and Austria (2004). Every year for the last six years, Westwood has boasted at least one student as one of the top five singers in the state.
Debate
Westwood High School Speech and Debate has long been a part of school life and offers events in Lincoln Douglas Debate, Policy Debate, Extemporaneous Speaking, and Original Oratory, as well as other events.
Westwood is actively involved in the TFA (the Texas Forensics Association) where participants compete against debaters from other schools. The tournaments that Westwood attends attract quality competition. Many students have received multiple awards through success at the tournaments, including qualification to attend the most prestigious national tournament, the Tournament of Champions, in 05-06 for CX debate. Other schools in the area include McNeil, Akins, Round Rock, LBJ, and Stony Point.
The team went through a particularly strong period in the late 1990s through early 2000s when several students dominated the national LD circuit. Three students repeatedly qualified and placed at the Tournament of Champions and took finishing places at significant national tournaments.
The Westwood Policy Debate team qualified the maximum of two teams for the 2007 UIL State Tournament. The teams placed 3rd and 1st in the 5A league.
In 2008, the Westwood Policy Debate team once again qualified the maximum two teams for the UIL State Tournament. Westwood once again won fifth and first place to complete the back to back championships.
Westwood Athletics
The Westwood athletic department has dominated many sports in the past, winning multiple district, bi-district, area and so on championships including two volleyball state championships. The Westwood Warrior football team has won a handful of district championships, most recently when the 2006 Warriors qualified as area finalists after winning the first playoff game in school history. The Warrior basketball team has also had success throughout the years, obtaining a record of above .500 since the team began in 1981. The Warriors baseball team has made the state playoffs almost every year in the team's existence.