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Granite High School has existed since 1906. Parts of the school still have the old, creaking, wooden floors and the student lounge and front doors are decorated with Corinthian columns.
The land around the school used to be farms, thus the mascot is a farmer. At the time Granite was built there were few high schools in the valley so students came from all around to attend Granite. We have a wall of fame with photographs of famous alumni.
We have the large brass victory bell, a school seal in the entryway, a stained glass window with a farm on it. The school is comprised of several buildings arranged like a college campus: the science building which is original, the auditorium/gymnasium building which was finished in 1944, the small gym and pool building, the cafeteria building, the cosmetology building, the I building for industrial arts. We have an alumni room and active alumni associations.
Three years ago the school district wanted to close Granite and have students attend Granger or Cottonwood. The student had a protest march to the district office. They decided to create a small learning community for Granite High and our population is about 350 students.
We were not expected to be successful and to close. "Isn't Granite closed?" is our most often asked question. No, we are not closed. We have no competitive sports and no cheerleaders. We do have intramural sports and organizations. We have a choir and percussion ensemble. We have school plays. We have assemblies and competitions. We have honors and AP classes along with remedial classes.
Our focus is on academics and learning while we begin our own new traditions. Our principal through this transition, Carole Harris, is incredibly talented at finding and supporting faculty members. In this unique environment, students know their teachers and their classmates and the teachers know all the students. We are like a large family who help and support each other.
The faculty, with direction from Ms. Harris, created an Academic Letter so students may earn letters and sweaters in academic areas. Most of us teach several different subjects and help with organizations. We just sent our 100th yearbook to be printed.
The school newspaper, The Granitian, is a 99 year old tradition. We had a teacher, Connie Anderson, who taught here until January; she went here as a student, her mother went here and her daughter went here. She left to become the newest member of the Granite District School Board.
-Pam Carson-journalism, English and Earth Systems teacher
