Sehome High School
Bellingham, Washington

History of Sehome High School

What's in a Name?

Click here to find out where the name Sehome originated.

A Brief Sehome Timeline:
September 1966 - School opened with concrete floors and no blinds on the windows. First Principal of Sehome was Ron Dahlin. Three classes in attendance: freshmen, sophomores, juniors. Traditions established:

Sehome Alma Mater song, words written by Carolyn Murray, student, and Dale Mattson, Choir Director. (sung to the tune of "Eternal Father, Strong to Save": [aka:, "The Navy Hymn"])
Mariner Mascot - designed by students and Wes Priebe, art teacher.
Fight Song (sung to the tune of Grand Old Flag), written by Bill Baker
Ships Wheel and Bell, donated by the Community Members

June 1968 - First Graduating Class at SHS.
Sept 1968 - 1972 Brian Barker, second principal at Sehome. During this time, the school changed from semesters to the trimester schedule, 5 classes per day, each class 65 minutes long. Students changed classes three times during the school year.
Sept 1972 - 1984 Bob Player, third principal at Sehome. Technology & Fine Arts Wing added to Sehome. Computer classes worked with WWU to begin first computer network, 1977-1978. Trench dug to the college for network cabling by off-duty National Guard members, Paul Sadler, Jack Crandall and others. Change back from trimester to semester system.
Sept 1985 - 1993 Larry Young, fourth principal at Sehome. Century 21 Grant award awarded by State. Design and installation of the video network, satellite dish, and first computer "writing" lab from $50,000 bond money awarded. Passage of the Technology Bond Issue provides over 250 computers to students and teachers and teachers at Sehome, as well as to all other schools in the district. The Site Council was established in 1993.
Sept 1994-1999 Larry Brown, fifth principal at Sehome. School Improvement Legislation passed by legislature in 1993 is put into effect. School Mission, Objectives & Strategies developed 1994-95 by a planning team of parents, students, teachers & administrators.
Sept 1999 - August 2000 - Steve Clarke, interim principal. Two high schools preparing to disseminate to three high schools in September 2000.
April 2000 - Jim Kistner, seventh principal at Sehome. Gates' grant award supports the development and implementation of school-wide strategic plan. Ninth grade support plan developed. Culminating Project planning completed and initiated. Peer mediation and peer mentoring programs begun. Video gaming and video production classes developed.
July 2005 - Phyllis Textor becomes Sehome's eighth principal.

School Colors are Forest Green and Gold.

Our Mascot is the Sehome Mariner.

Student Project: Sehome Virtual Museum

Student Body Officers 1966 to present