WILLIAM CHRISMAN HIGH SCHOOL

'William Chrisman High School' is a High School located in Independence, Missouri. William Chrisman High School has a long tradition of school spirit and community involvement. The school was founded in 1888 and was originally known as Independence High School. The first building was located at the intersection of Pleasant and Truman Road, the current location of the Palmer/Central Office Building. It is from this location that President Harry S. Truman, First Lady Bess Truman, and Truman White House Press Secretary and Pulitzer Prize winner Charles Griffith Ross graduated from in 1901.
In 1917 the Independence School District passed a levy and bond to build a new high school building. Margaret Chrisman Swope offered to sell the district land for the new school at the southeast corner of Union and Maple for $1 in exchange for naming the school after her father - William Chrisman. Chrisman had served as a member of the first school board in 1866 and was also a prominent lawyer and banker in the community. The new building opened in 1918 as William Chrisman High School.
The high school moved to its current site in 1956 when a major addition was added to Ott Elementary School and the building was converted into the high school. Since that time the building has undergone numerous additions and currently is one of the largest high school buildings in the state of Missouri.

Contents

Present Day

Sports

Other Extracurriculars

School Song

Notable Alumni

Present Day

William Chrisman is currently home to approximately 1,700-1,800 students.

Sports

Recently, the Independence School District invested money into covering the football field with artificial turf.
On October 27, 2006 WCHS's football team again defeated cross-town rival Truman to retain the Wagon Wheel trophy.
In November, 2006 WCHS's varsity cheerleading squad won first place honors in the 5A Large Division of the Missouri State Cheerleading Championships. The squad, under the direction of Debbie O'Renick has placed in the top five in the state competition fifteen times since the late 1980s, including a state championship 1995. The 2006-2007 squad has also qualified for the UCA National Cheerleading competition, which will be held in Orlando, Florida in February 2007.
Recently, the William Chrisman High School Special Olympics 5-on-5 basketball team won first place at the state tournament in St. Charles, Missouri.

Other Extracurriculars

Chrisman's Debate and Competitive Drama Team is highly accomplished. It has been ranked among the top high schools in the National Forensics League for years. In June of 2007, 3 Chrisman students will be competing at the National Forensics League's National Tournament in Derby, Kansas.
Chrisman is also lucky to have some very talented singers. Chrisman is home to the Blue and Gold Singers, led by Dr. Ron Patch. In Spring of 2007, Blue and Gold, along with the Mixed Choir, Woman's Choir, and Men's Choir, all went to Blue Springs High School in Blue Springs, Missouri for the Kansas City Metro Large Ensemble Contest: All choirs received Excellent 2 ratings. Again, at Blue Springs High School, this time for the Solo and Small Ensemble Contest. Following soloists received Superior 1 ratings: Justin Arnold (Bass), Sam Carroll (Bass), Katy Hicks (Soprano), and Travis White (Tenor). Along with them, the Mixed Octet also received a Superior 1 rating, in which included: Justin Arnold (Bass), Sam Carroll (Bass), Dustin Griffin (Tenor), Kendalynne Hohe (Soprano), Melissa Nichols (Soprano), Mati Salva (Alto), Cassie Sandburg (Alto), and Travis White (Tenor). Those with Superior 1 ratings got the chance to go to Missouri University in Columbia, Missouri to compete in the State contest. 3 out of 4 soloists received Superior 1 ratings. Travis White received an Excellent 2 rating, along with the Mixed Octet receiving a Superior 1 rating at State.
Chrisman has, in an equal partnership with Truman High School, also produced a notable robotics team mentored by Dr. Clothier and Math teacher Libby Sparks. The team took Rookie of the Year at Regionals in St. Louis at the FIRST Robotics competition in 2006, and went to nationals in Atlanta, Georgia. Two notables that impressed the judges with creative designs for the group and great use of publicity and technology were Katherine Hernandez and Seth LaBean. Both helped in the decision for the receiving of the Rookie of the Year award.
The Foreign Language Department is also an active part of Chrisman. The Foreign Language Festival is an annual event that involves dances, food, and games that represent the Spanish, German, and French Cultures. The Festival was thought up by Spanish teacher, Pam Deicidue as a way to raise money for the foreign language department.
Other Extracurriculars include:

★ ACE

★ AFS

★ Chess Club

★ Common Ground

★ DECA

★ FCA

★ FBLA

★ French Club

★ German Club

★ Harry Potter Book Club

★ Math Club

★ NAHS

★ Science Club

★ Spanish Club,

★ and more

School Song

★ Faithful and true-hearted,

★ Let us cheer our dear old high,

★ We revere her and defend her,

★ And her colors proudly fly.

★ We will stand for her united,

★ Of her deeds we gladly tell.

★ Her colors streaming,

★ Glad faces beaming.

★ So here's a cheer for her,

★ For her we love so well.
'Chorus'

★ Joyous and ever loyal

★ Let us boost for Chrisman High

★ Let every heart sing,

★ Let every voice ring,

★ There's no time to grieve or sigh.

★ It's ever onward, our course pursuing.

★ Let defeat ne'er our ardor cool,

★ But united we will boost for her,

★ Our own high school.

Notable Alumni

★ Harry S. Truman - 33rd President of the United States

★ Bess Wallace Truman - First Lady of the United States

★ Charles Ross - White House Press Secretary/Pulitzer Prize Winning Journalist

★ Forrest "Phog" Allen - KU Basketball Coach

★ Paul Henning - TV Producer (The Beverly Hillbillies, Petticoat Junction, Green Acres)