Charlotte Amalie High School
Home of the Mighty, Mighty
ChickenhawkS
>About<
Charlotte Amalie High School is a public high school on the island of St. Thomas in the United States Virgin Islands. It is the oldest public high school (and thus oldest High School) in the United States Virgin Islands. Organized functionally as a junior high school in 1920, the school began operation on August 9, 1920 serving students from grades 7-9. With the transition from the Danish West Indies to a territory of the United States, compulsory secondary education became the expectation of the educational system in the United States Virgin Islands. The 10 years between 1920 and 1930 saw students matriculate into teaching roles in the expanding elementary education system with some becoming teachers after completing 10th grade or eleventh grade alongside a summer teaching course. In 1930 Charlotte Amalie High would introduce its first 12th grade class with the first 4 senior high school graduates receiving their diplomas is 1931. Prior to its move to 8&9 Sugar Estate Road (1&2 Alton Adams Sr. Drive) in April 1955, The Commandant Gade site and the current Legislature Building served as prior locations of the school. The school shares the name of the capital of the United States Virgin Islands (Charlotte Amalie). The name of the capital itself an homage to Queen of Denmark and Norway Charlotte Amalie of Hesse-Kassel. Charlotte Amalie High School is the largest high schools in the St. Thomas / St. John District and serves the largest secondary school student population in the territory.
Mission
The mission of Charlotte Amalie High School, a comprehensive public school serving a diverse and multicultural student body, is to ensure students become responsible, productive citizens, and life-long learners, able to function at optimal levels in institutions of higher learning, in careers, and in a global society by providing a rigorous and relevant curriculum and engaging educational experiences.
Heraldry
Mascot: The chickenhawk (Red-Tailed Hawk) (Buteo jamaicensis)
Colors: Gold and Blue
Vision
The vision of Charlotte Amalie High School is to embrace and empower all students to achieve their fullest potential.
Motto
Our Motto is “TO EXCEL ALWAYS”
Mantra
Only the Best; Go C.A.H.S.
Cheer(s)
Hey [Clap] [Clap] You know the Story.... The Whole Wide World is HAWKS' TERRITORY
One Blue, One Crew You Know.
You've got to Rock with the Gold and Roll with the Blue, Hey Hawks you know what you've got to do.
Alma Mater
Written and Debuted in 1932
Arthur Benjamin and Hugh Smith (Class of 1934)
[1]
O great and noble high school, how much we owe to thee.
Our grateful hearts will always live wherever we may be.
So let us shout with all our might, and let our joyance never cease.
God grant that teachers, friends, and school may ever have
His peace.
[2]
We’ll not forget the lessons, our teachers taught each day.
We’ll make you proud of us, dear school, each pupil in his way.
We’ll strive to keep your standards high and fight with all our might.
To keep your light forever bright, by doing what is right.
CODA
Charlotte Amalie, Charlotte Amalie
We'll be true to the, Charlotte Amalie
Go HAWKS
Beliefs
We believe that:
- Each person is entitled to equal educational opportunities regardless of race, ethnicity, religion, gender, language or ability.
- A safe, secure, orderly and nurturing environment is essential for everyone’s well-being.
- All persons have the right to be treated with respect, compassion, fairness, and honesty.
- Our community’s strength resides in its unity as well as its diversity.
- All individuals in our diverse society are entitled to respect and tolerance.
- Each person of society has a responsibility to contribute to the common good of the whole.
- A community is empowered when individuals take responsibility for their own choices and actions.
Timeline
20th CENTURY
1920 - 1945
1920- C.A.H.S. founded (Commandant Gade Site / grades 7-9 eventually adding 10, 11, and 12)
August 9, 1920- First Day of School at C.A.H.S.
June 1921- 16 members of the first 9th Grade Graduating/Promotional Class receive certificates of completion
1927- The Forum a precursor to the Amalian Chapter of the National Honor Society formed by then principal
T. Ross Fink, and teachers Bertha C. Boschulte and E. S. Richardson.
1931 First Senior Graduation
1931 School transitioned to the Marine Barracks location (Present Senate Building)
1932 The Reflector (CAHS Newspaper) publishing operation
1932 The first formal Valedictorian is announced and the first Valedictory address is given by Gwendolyn Howard.
1932 The CAHS Alma Mater is written and performed for the first time at 1932's Graduation
1934 The Charlotte Amalie High School Yearbook began production/publication.
- The first yearbook (1934) would be entitled The Sentry Box
- 1935's would be The Beacon, 1936's The Torch, 1937's The Last Carib, 1938's Exit 38.
- From the Class of 1939 onward the CAHS yearbook would be christened The Amalian.
1935 The first Prom (Junior/Senior Prom) is held
1935 Melvin Evans - Valedictorian, Class President, and last appointed first elected Governor of the Virgin Islands graduates from CAHS.
1935-1936 School returned to Commandant Gade
- Earliest iteration of the Honor Roll system established
1936 First graduation with graduates in caps and gowns conducted
1937 Class colors of the class of 1937 (Blue and Gold) would be worn in their tassels and foreshadow what would become the official school colors
- First iteration of the Student Council would be formed in spring 1935
- First iteration of a graduating class insignia
1939 Class of 1939 first to be included in pictorial spread in the Virgin Islands Daily News
1940 Vocational Education Annex (Education Street) utilized as part of campus.
1944 The Commercial Class would conduct the first student Mock Election in the run up to the 1944 elections
20th CENTURY
1945 - 1970
1946 Class of 1946 becomes to first to purchase Class Rings
November 1, 1946 Class of 1947 conducts the territories (schools) first Introductory Night ceremony
1947 School moved back to Marine Barracks (after use of the facility during World War II)
1949 The Mighty Chickenhawk (Buteo Jamaicensis) would be selected as the emblem/mascot of Charlotte Amalie High School.
1950 First officially organized Baccalaureate Service held
1950-1951 Introduction of Federal Vocational Education Program
1953 Groundbreaking for the new Charlotte Amalie High School would occur in spring of 1953 at the Sugar Estate site
April 17, 1955 The dedication of the new CAHS would occur. On the 18th the students would begin sessions at the new Charlotte Amalie High School
1955 First class to have more than 100 graduates
1959 Band returns at Charlotte Amalie High School under the direction of Herman Wallace
1961 First Reunion Honors is conducted
1961-1962 school year would become the first time when the administration of the school would be composed solely of Charlotte Amalie High School alumni
September 8, 1961 First day of the official blue and blue CAHS uniform decided upon in spring 1961
1961-1962 First time the administration of the school would be composed of solely Charlotte Amalie High School alumni
1962 First Miss CAHS competition is held
1962 The Home Economics cottage would be the first new addition to the Charlotte Amalie High School Sugar Estate campus.
1963 Home Economics cottage built by vocational department
1963-1964 School accredited by Middle States Association for first time
1964 School accredited by Middle States Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools
1964 Music suite and gymnasium built, Third floor added to building B
1965 C.A.H.S. becomes a senior high school serving grades 9-12
1965 C.A.H.S. motto "To Excel Always" formally adopted
1968 Building 5 added to Trade and Industry
1969 Track and Field landscaped, prepared, and formally added to campus
20th CENTURY
1970 - 1995
1970-1971 CAHS celebrated its Golden Anniversary
1972 First graduating class to exceed 300 graduates
1973 Received charter for the Amalian Chapter of the National Honor Society
1974 Accreditation renewed through December 1983
1975 Building C added to school complex
1976 College of the Virgin Islands collaborates on creation of Early Admissions program
1978 Chickenhawk Battalion becomes the first JROTC program in the territory
1989 Hurricane Hugo demolished English Department rooms 194-200 B
1990 English Department rooms rebuilt
1993 The N (New) Building is constructed, the Jefferson Annex Elementary is acquired and added to campus
1994 Charlotte Amalie High School Auditorium remodeled with accessibility ramp constructed, new sound padding, security doors, and new flooring
- Rotary Club of St. Thomas dedicates the Career Center to Charlotte Amalie High School
20th - 21st CENTURY
1995 - 2020
1995 Hurricane Marilyn caused damage to school
1996 New Special Education classrooms built in the reconstruction after Marilyn
1997 Academic Teaming instituted
1998 Charlotte Amalie High School would shift to a two-semester block schedule
1998-1999 Virgin Islands Legislature would formally name the Charlotte Amalie High School Auditorium in honor of educator, principal, and alumna Ruth E. Thomas
2001 Advanced Placement course added to curriculum
2004 Accreditation reinstated by Middle States Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools
2006 & 2007 CAHS received AYP banner
2007 Gymnasium reconstruction completed
2008 Accreditation renewed by Middle States Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools
2008 Shawntay Henry (Alumna 2010) becomes the first student from a school beyond the continental U.S. to win the National Poetry Out Loud Championship. This feat would the accomplished in her sophomore year at CAHS.
2010 - 2013 CAHS received AYP banner
2010 Wall of Fame introduced to celebrate the achievements of outstanding Alumni
2015 Charlotte Amalie High School becomes the first school to win 3 consecutive Virgin Islands Appellate Moor Court Competitions
2017 As part of UNESCO’s Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade Project and CAHS Centennial Collaboration Project, CAHS would host students from Haderslev Katedralskole in Denmark
2017 Hurricanes Irma & Maria causes damage to the territory leading to the 7th & 8th grades of Addelita Cancryn Junior High School "returning" to CAHS on split session.
2018 Class of 2018 conduct the first Final Walk.
2018 Cancryn would move to a modular campus constructed on the CAHS field.
2019 CAHS moved to Modular campus on the field awaiting the construction of new CAHS.
21st CENTURY
2020 - Present
2021 Modernization / Renovation of portion of Ralph O. Wheatley Skill Center completed. ROWSC serves as new 9th Grade Academy.
2022 The first CAHS Tie (Adorning) Ceremony is conducted.