Ocean City High School

With a student body of about 1300, 125 faculty members, and 46 support staff members, Ocean City High School takes pride in delivering a very forward approach to education. According to the school’s website, they not only give students the skills and education they need for life, but the school also instills in students an attitude of responsibility and self respect.

OCHS students don’t follow the typical eight-class-periods daily schedule that many schools have. A few years ago, the school switched from eight 42-minute class periods per day to a six 55-minute period school day. Instead of having separate lunch periods, there is a community lunch that has all students together for 55 minutes.

In 1904, Ocean City High School’s first graduating class consisted of six students who attended a school building located at Central Avenue between 8th and 9th streets. A new building was constructed at the site that served as the high school until 1924. A 1982 renovation project replaced and renovated the front portion of the old building. Construction began on the current high school in 2002 and the new building was finished for the 2004-05 school year. The old building was gradually torn down and replaced by parking and tennis courts. A Gothic style entrance arch is the only remnant of the previous structure.

The Ocean City High School Red Raiders compete in the Atlantic Division of the Cape-Atlantic League, an athletic conference consisting of both parochial and public high schools located in Atlantic County, Cape May County, Cumberland County, and Gloucester County.

The school has many athletic teams and extracurricular activities. Carey Stadium is used for Ocean City High School's football team. Soccer and lacrosse are played at the Tennessee Avenue fields. The school also has baseball, wrestling, tennis, field hockey, swimming, crew, cross country, track and many other teams.

The OCHS Gilda’s Club is a popular activity for students. The Gilda’s Teen Club offers support to OCHS students who have cancer or have family members or friends with cancer. It’s also a place for volunteers to assist others and fundraiser for the Gilda’s Club of South Jersey. The club’s fundraising efforts have been included in publications including the Ocean City Gazette and the Ocean City Sentinel.

Student Maham Ahmad was presented with an iPad mini and a certificate from the local Gilda’s Club chapter in May for her first place poem entitled ‘Hope’. Maham will get to read her poem at the Gilda’s Club youth conference at the Linwood Country Club this month.

In April, 17 American Sign Language students from OCHS joined the Stockton College ASL Club to present “Stockton College Signing and Singing” at the Campus Center Theater. Participating students included Carly Benson, Jen Campbell, Sabiha Chowdhury, Kyrstin Ebert, Anna Elmer, Alexia French, Jake Gibson, Cierra Granger, Maddie Greaser, Angelo Guido, Whitney Hanna, Jasmine Holder, Gloria Laboy, Hadly Patterson, Laura Pomeroy, Mikayla Utley and Caliope Yiannos.

OC-TV is Ocean City High School’s own in-house television channel. Each week, students produce “The Morning Wave,” a news magazine with content that students gather, write and produce. Student roles for the show include producers, writers, editors, reporters, photojournalists, anchors, directors, technical directors, tape control operators, floor directors, studio camera operators, prompting assistants and audio engineers.

Congratulations to the winners of this year’s OC’s Got Talent contest. Recipients of the People’s Choice Award and Second Runner Up for their performance of “Landslide” by Fleetwood Mac were Macy Oteri, David Greenwood, BriarRose Ginn and Mackenzie Greene. First Runner Up was Madison Mack for her guitar, vocal and video solo entitled “Duct Tape and Crazy Glue.” Winner of the evening was Rachel Wright who performed a contortionist act called “Allegria” by Cirque Du Solei.

Ocean City High School Performing Groups directed by Mrs. Donna Schwartz include: Wind Ensemble, Concert Band, Marching Band, Jazz Ensemble, String Ensemble and String Orchestra. According to their website, “the goal of the OCHS Red Raider Band program is to maintain the pride of Ocean City High School while instilling life long habits of dedication, hard and honest work ethics, and pride in self.” The 2013-2014 band council president is Emily Knight, vice-president is Ben Fischer, executive secretary is Shelby Petro, treasurer is Isabel Benvenuti and sergeants at arms are Russell Belz and J-Britz.

Congratulations to junior Robert Phillips for being accepted to attend the 2014 Governor’s School of Engineering & Technology at Rutgers University. He will spend four weeks this summer on campus attending five academic classes, completing an intensive research and/or design project in a group, going on site visits to local corporations and meeting other talented peers from across the state as well as professionals.

Junior Emma Leeds has also been accepted to attend a Governor’s School program. Hers is the 2014 New Jersey Governor’s School for the Sciences for three weeks at Drew University.

Ocean City High School is located at 501 Atlantic Avenue. For more information about the school, visit oceancity.nj.och.schoolinsites.com or call 609-399-1290.

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For more information about what’s going on in our local schools and what today’s students are up to, visit our South Jersey Schools page.

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Author: Meghan Shaginaw