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Strath Haven High School is a ninth through twelfth grade public high school serving the Township of Nether Providence and the Boroughs of Rose Valley, Rutledge and Swarthmore. It runs on a block schedule, and students take four courses each semester.
The school day begins at 7:35 AM and ends at 2:05 PM, and there is an activity period (block 5) from 2:05 PM to 3:00 PM.
Students at Strath Haven are encouraged to excel in the five A’s: academics, the arts, athletics, activities and altruism.
Academics
In June 1985 and again in June 2002, Strath Haven was selected by the United States Department of Education to receive the Blue Ribbon School of Excellence Award. The October 2004 issue of Philadelphia Magazine identified Strath Haven as one of the 20 Best High Schools in the area. While the curriculum is rigorous, students can get help from faculty members during block 5 or take advantage of a tutor from National Honor Society.
Arts
So many students participate in the football marching band and bandfront that more than 12 school buses are needed to take them to an away game. The band played at Governor Rendell’s inauguration in Harrisburg in 2003 and is often a part of local parades for Veterans Day and other holidays.
Works by our talented artists and writers are often featured in the Philadelphia Inquirer Neighbors Section. One student recently won a scholarship and appeared on the Oprah Winfrey Show for his essay on the theme of holocausts.
For aspiring actors and musicians, our Theater Department stages both a professional-quality musical and a drama production each year, and a Battle of the Bands and a Talent Show are staged each spring. There are also opportunities to play in the orchestra, the concert band and the jazz banc, and to sing in a variety of choral groups.
Athletics
Strath Haven athletes have won state championships in Boys’ and Girls’ Track, Football, Swimming and Tennis. The school has many other sports opportunities, including recently-formed ice hockey, volleyball and crew teams.
Activities
The Activity Assembly every fall is one of the most popular events of the year because members of each of the fifty clubs and activities get to describe their organization. The Tech Crew usually wows the crowd with a special effects show. Students then sign up for activities during the lunch block. The clubs and activities serve interests in the arts, politics, foreign languages, athletics (including bowling and ping-pong), community service, music and theater.
Altruism
The Relay for Life for cancer research is just one of the many altruistic efforts spearheaded by Strath Haven students. Last year the school community raised over $125,000 in this two-day event.
To find out more about the high school, you can visit their website at www.wssd.org.
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