Shelton High School (Connecticut)

History

The first four SHS graduates received their diplomas on June 26, 1889. In 1894, the First School Society became the Town School Committee, with Walter D. Hood as the first school superintendent.

The school received national and international attention in 2011 when the headmaster banned a senior and two friends from attending the senior prom because the students had taped a message of 12-inch high cardboard letters above the school's entrance inviting Tate's classmate to go to the dance with him. The punishment prompted state lawmakers Jason Perillo (R-Shelton) and Sean Williams (R-Waterbury) to introduce an amendment to a pending bill that, with an exception for vandalism and violence, would require schools to offer parents an alternative to banning students from school-related activities as means of punishment. On May 14, the headmaster held a press conference reversing the decision, saying that "the level of distraction created by this incident" had "affected the culture of Shelton High School" and that "international notoriety" had forced her to reverse herself.

Extracurricular activities

''The Gael Magazine''

The school magazine is called the Gael Magazine. This magazine publishes in the fall, winter and spring.

Athletics

Shelton High is part of the Housatonic Division of the Southern Connecticut Conference. The school offers a variety of freshman, JV, and Varsity teams. The following sports run in the respective seasons:

The Shelton Gaels high school football team won the state championship in 1988, 1995, 2000, and 2003.

The Shelton Gaels high school boys' volleyball team won the state championship in 2004 and 2005, with a 46-0 record. The team won the Southern Connecticut Conference title in 2015, 2017, 2022 and 2025.

The Shelton Gaels Varsity Cheerleading squad won the state championship in the 2000-2001 season.

The Shelton boys' cross country team won its first division championship, and the SCC championship in 2007, making its first trip to the New England championships. In 2008, it placed second in the CIAC State Open Championships, and fourth in the New England Championships.

Notable alumni

• Dan Orlovsky (2001), NFL quarterback
• Dan Debicella (1992), Connecticut State Senator

References

References

1. "Shelton High School". National Center for Education Statistics.
2. "Search for Public Schools - Shelton High School (090405000806)".
3. "SHS History".
4. Miller, Joshua Rhett. (May 11, 2011). "Mayor: Punishment Doesn't Fit Crime in Case of Connecticut Teen Barred From Prom". Fox News.
5. "Creative Prom Invite Gets Student Suspended", NPR https://www.npr.org/2011/05/11/136198925/creative-prom-invite-gets-student-suspended
6. A story about this incident, featuring reporter Ben Sosenko, was aired nationially on NBC News [https://web.archive.org/web/20130129090138/http://www.nbcnews.com/id/21134540/]
7. Gendreau, LeAnne. (2011). "James Tate Take Prom Plea to Today Show". nbcconnecticut.com.
8. (May 12, 2011). "NFL Quarterback Backs Teen Barred From Prom, but School Stands Firm on Decision". Fox News.
9. [http://shelton.patch.com/articles/video-james-tate-can-go-to-prom#video-6066132 press video of press conference]
10. (16 May 2011). "James Tate allowed to go to prom". Connecticut Post.
11. "Shelton High School | PowerIT".
12. "Southern Connecticut Conference". Housatonic Division.