Enrico Fermi High School
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Enrico Fermi High School
Enrico Fermi High School (defunct) was a high school located in Enfield, Connecticut, and closed when it consolidated with Enfield High School in 2016. The Enrico Fermi name was transferred to a wing of the Enfield High School building, and the original building is now known as the Enfield Municipal Annex.
Overview
Enrico Fermi High School was established in 1971. It previously served the Enfield community along with Enfield High School as one of the town's two high schools.
Fermi High School Yearbooks have been archived online and are available at no cost.[4]
Consolidation with Enfield High School
In May 2010, it was voted that Enfield High School and Enrico Fermi High School would undergo a consolidation process as part of the restructuring and improvement plan of Enfield Public Schools.[5] In November 2012, a town-wide referendum to appropriate $103 million for additions and renovations to Enfield High School overwhelmingly passed by a 2:1 margin.[6] As a result of the consolidation Enrico Fermi High School was closed, resulting in yearly savings of $2 million, which paid for bonding for the renovations and additions to Enfield High School. The State of Connecticut provided more than 70% reimbursement for construction to Enfield High School, as well. Students from Enrico Fermi moved into the expanded high school after construction finished in 2017, with an expected town-wide high school enrollment of 1,500 students.[7] Proposed uses of the vacated building included moving the middle school to the Enrico Fermi location or renovating the building as a town library/community center. The Enrico Fermi name was used as the name of the new STEAM wing of the expanded and renovated Enfield High School. In 2016, Enrico Fermi High School closed, and its students began attending Enfield High School.[8] Since the consolidation the facility has been renamed the Enfield Municipal Annex, and is used for adult education & other services.[9]
History
The school is named after Italian physicist Enrico Fermi.[10] A 41-acre (170,000 m2) site for the school was purchased in February 1968[11] and a ground-breaking ceremony took place on September 14, 1968.[12] The school opened for the 1971-72 school year with Mr. Anthony Torre as principal.[13]
Campus
The building was designed by Charles "Ted" Bellingrath[14] of Hartford firm Gibson von Dohlen and built by Fontaine Brothers of Springfield, MA.[15]
For several years the fields were off limits and sports teams were required to drive to different locations in order to practice as harmful chemicals were found in the soil. The fields were redone and improved.[16] "The Work" consisted of remediation of approximately 41 acres of landscape area throughout the entire Fermi High School site. It was the intent of this project to cover the contaminated soil with new topsoil brought onto the site
Curriculum
The school offered a comprehensive college preparatory curriculum. Students participated in Advanced Placement courses, University of Connecticut Early College Experience courses, and vocational education offered both at the school and Asnuntuck Community College.
Extracurricular activities
Student groups and activities at Enrico Fermi High School included art club, badminton club, bowling club, chess club, dance team, Lamplighters drama, DECA, FBLA, Future Teachers Club, LEO Club, Mathletes, Model United Nations, National Honor Society, peer mediation, Buzz Robotics, science club, video game club, ski club, a string ensemble, student council, Jazz Ensemble, and yearbook.
The school's athletic teams, known as the Fermi Falcons, competed in the Central Connecticut Conference. Teams were fielded in baseball, basketball, cheerleading, cross country, field hockey, football, golf, ice hockey, indoor track, soccer, softball, swimming, tennis, track and field, volleyball, and wrestling. The school had a cross-town rivalry with Enfield High School, playing a football game on Thanksgiving Day. In all other sports they competed as well, with each school having their favored teams. For example, Fermi’s wrestling team historically beat Enfield’s, and Enfield High’s football team had not lost a football game to Fermi in many years.[17]
References
- ^ "Strategic School Profile 2005-06: Enrico Fermi High School" (PDF). Connecticut State Department of Education. December 4, 2006. Archived from the original (PDF) on September 23, 2015. Retrieved April 10, 2010.
- ^ a b c "School Detail for Enrico Fermi High School". National Center for Education Statistics. Retrieved April 10, 2010.
- ^ a b "CAS/CIAC Membership Data Search: Enrico Fermi High School". Connecticut Association of Schools. Retrieved April 10, 2010.
- ^ "Fermi High School : Free Texts : Download & Streaming : Internet Archive". archive.org. Retrieved October 22, 2017.
- ^ http://www.enfieldschools.org/UserFiles/Servers/Server_899572/File/06-01-10%20Special%20BOE%20Minutes%20DRAFT.pdf [bare URL PDF]
- ^ http://articles.courant.com/2012-11-07/community/hc-enfield-school-consolidation-1108-20121107_1_enfield-high-fermi-falcons-enfield-facebook-page [bare URL]
- ^ "The Town of Enfield, Connecticut - Enfield High School Consolidation". Archived from the original on March 18, 2013. Retrieved February 27, 2013.
- ^ "Enfield Board to Decide on Colors, Mascot for Combined High Schools Tuesday - Hartford Courant". www.courant.com. Archived from the original on April 8, 2013. Retrieved January 27, 2022.
- ^ Healey, Will. "Former Fermi High School to be renamed 'Enfield Town Annex' while long-term use is mulled". www.journalinquirer.com. Journal Inquirer. Retrieved April 26, 2023.
- ^ "Enfield; New High School Named After Atomic Pioneer". Hartford Courant. June 15, 1967. p. 54C.
- ^ "Fermi School Site Purchased". Hartford Courant. February 29, 1968. p. 46C.
- ^ "Ceremonies to Start Work on High School". Hartford Courant. September 12, 1968. p. 58C.
- ^ "Anthony Torre Named Enrico Fermi Principal". Hartford Courant. January 7, 1970. p. 33A.
- ^ Devaney, James J. (December 22, 1968). "Architect 'Ted' Bellingrath, 34, Considers Individuals' Needs". Hartford Courant. p. 14B.
- ^ "Fermi School Project Seen In 'Good Shape'". Hartford Courant. February 25, 1971. p. 48C.
- ^ http://enfield-ct.gov/filestorage/725/5783/Enrico_Fermi_ENV_Report_ADDENDUM.pdf Archived 2010-07-21 at the Wayback Machine http://enfield-ct.gov/content/91/803/142/7433/6292.aspx Archived 2012-04-25 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "Thanksgiving Games". Archived from the original on October 8, 2008. Retrieved December 17, 2009.
External links
- Enrico Fermi High School website
- Fermi Baseball
- Fermi Football
- Fermi Music
- Friends of Fermi Wrestling [permanent dead link]