James B. Castle High School

Principal: Bernadette Tyrell Athletic Director: Laynie Sueyasu Registrar: Darcy Wakayama Senior Counselor: Jordan Gross College Counselor Eric Takemoto & Ashley Kamanao

In 1927, the Reverend Benjamin Parker School (originally called Kāneʻohe School) opened in Kāneʻohe, Oʻahu. It started as an elementary and intermediate school, grades 1-8.

Over the years, it expanded in size and grades taught; in 1937 it became an elementary and high school, grades 1-12. In 1940, Benjamin Parker School was a founding member of the Rural O‘ahu Interscholastic Association (ROIA – with Kahuku, Leilehua, Waialua and Waipahu.)

Parker began bursting at the seams … “Congestion and inadequate accommodations at Benjamin Parker School in Kaneohe, was disclosed Thursday in a letter to the Mayor and board of supervisors by Joseph T Ferreira, of the department of public instruction, who has asked for the installation of three Quonset huts to relieve the conditions.”

Castle High School was founded in 1951. Ground was broken in 1949 for a new windward school. On “January 2, 1951, Principal Clinton Kanahele and his 700 students of Benjamin Parker Elementary and High School made their move to the new Benjamin Parker Annex on Kāne‘ohe Bay Drive.”

“During the first year of operation, approximately 750-students enrolled in grades 7-12. A library, an office and four more classrooms were under construction.” (Star Bulletin)

“At the start of the 1951-1952 school year, the name changed to James B Castle High and Intermediate School. In June, 1952, 108-seniors made up the first graduating class of the James B Castle Intermediate and High School. (In 1965, Castle became a high school servicing grades 9-12. Grades 7-8 were then served at King Intermediate School.)

When Castle High and Intermediate started, the old Parker School reverted to an elementary school, serving grades K – 6.

Castle High School is on land donated by the Castle family and is named after Hawai‘i-born James Bicknell Castle, son of American Protestant Missionary Samuel Northrop Castle (also founder of Castle and Cooke.) [4]

The campus boasts the sculpture Spring, Summer, Autumn by Satoru Abe. Its mascot is the knight and the school colors are maroon, white and gold. The student newspaper is Na Pali O’ Koʻolau, while the yearbook is Kaulana. The Kaulana yearbook staff yearbook 2005-2006 had won for best yearbook in the state, and in a national competition held at Columbia University they received a silver medal and also received honors in two categories.

James B. Castle High School is located in Kaneohe, on the Windward side of the island of Oahu. Established in 1951, it is considered a commuter community with 94.7 percent of the adult population working outside the area. Once considered rural, it is now a densely populated residential area (population of 50,000) with a mix of condominiums, single-family dwellings, acre estates, five small public housing complexes, commercial businesses, and some light industry. Based on the 2000 census report, the median family income was $68,914. Six and a half percent of the community is considered poor. There are eight elementary schools and one intermediate school that feed into Castle High School.

James B. Castle High School is a comprehensive four-year public high school, grades 9-12, with a current enrollment of approx. 1201 students and 85 teaching faculty for the 2015-2016 school year including a senior class of 287 students. Currently, 42% of the school population qualify for the federally assisted free or reduced lunch program.

Castle High started Smaller Learning Communities (SLC) in 2012 to provide a personalized learning environment of a small, focused learning community. Teachers and students integrate academic and occupation-related classes as a way to enhance real-world relevance and maintain high academic standards. All students will belong to one of the four SLCs of which approximately, 30% of our graduating seniors go on to a four-year college & approx. 50% attend a community college. Additionally, 6% go to business or trade school, 2% enroll in a military service, and the remaining 12% find employment. The needs of exceptional students are supported by Special Education and 504 programming.

Castle High was accredited in 2011 by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges for a period of 6 years, and adopted School-Community-Council in place of School/Community Based Management (SCBM).

In 1977 The Castle High Marching Band became the first high school in the United States to play the half-time show at the annual East–West Shrine Game.

The high school also has an internationally recognized performing arts program, Castle Performing Arts Center, or "CPAC" has produced multiple shows which have been the Hawaii premiere of those shows and participated in the 2009 Fringe Festival in Edinburgh, Scotland. The theatre is named after Ronald E. Bright, former director at Castle and founder of CPAC.

By: Hung Fat Choy

Hail, Alma Mater,

Beneath the Pali lands.

Where Mauna nigh keeps vigil,

Our Castle High School stands.

Thy colors wave forever,

Maroon, White, and Gold

As loyal sons and daughters,

Thy name we shall uphold.

Ne’er failing, though years go by,

We'll honor thee, CASTLE HIGH.

24 credits 4 Credits in English 4 Credits in Social Studies 3 Credits in Math 3 Credits in Science 1 Credit in PE 1/2 Credit in Health 1/2 Credit in Personal Transition Plan 2 Credits in World Lang. or Fine Arts or Career & Tech. 6 Electives 24 Total

Castle Athletics participates in the Oahu Interscholastic Association

Baseball | Basketball (boys and girls) | Bowling | Cheerleading | Cross Country | Football | Golf | Judo (boys and girls) | Paddling | Riflery | Soccer (boys and girls) | Softball | Soft Tennis | Swimming | Tennis (boys and girls) | Track and Field (boys and girls) | Volleyball (boys and girls) | Water Polo (girls)| Wrestling (boys and girls) |

Baseball

1996, 1968

Basketball

Boys- 2009 (Division 2), 1970

Girls- 2019 (Division 2)

Bowling

Boys- 1991, 1990

Football

2002, 1945 (Ben Parker)

Cross Country

Girls- 2001, 1983

Golf

Mixed- 1980

Judo

Boys- 1999, 1982

Paddling

Boys- 2005, 2001

Girls- 2015, 2007, 2003, 2002, 2001

Mixed- 2006, 2005, 2004, 2002

Soccer

Boys- 1991, 1980

Girls- 1989, 1985, 1983, 1982, 1981, 1980

Softball

1998, 1991, 1980

Swimming and Diving

Girls- 1998

Track and Field

Boys- 1997

Volleyball

Boys- 2015 (Division 2), 2011 (Division 2), 1988

Girl- 1989, 1977, 1976

Wrestling

Girls- 2001

• Kimee Balmilero, actor
• Bryan Clay, Olympian decathlete. Olympic Gold and Silver medalist[5]
• Alika DeRego, volleyball player: U.S. Open National Champion
• Carlos Diaz, former professional baseball player (Atlanta Braves, New York Mets, Los Angeles Dodgers)
• Lisa Kitagawa, member of the Hawaii House of Representatives
• Dean Wilson, professional golfer[5]

• Official Hawaii High School Website
• Official Castle Alumni Website