Homecoming Now and Then - About Us - Minneapolis Public Schools

CURRENT AFTER SCHOOL ACTITIVIES
Henry now has an award winning MATH TEAM and an award winning and service focused HEROBOTICS TEAM. In addition to these “newer” groups, there was no GAY
STRAIGHT ALLIANCE at PHHS 50 years ago. It wasn’t until 1969 that the gay rights movement took off in the United States. Prior to that time, straight allies, and lesbian and gay
organizing, was most often swept under the rug.
The MINNEAPOLIS BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB has a strong presence at PHHS and the community. Some of the activities that this organization coordinates at Henry today include
break dancing, pop locking, stepping, and spoken word, all of which were not even in the minds of PHHS students 50 years ago. Cooking, which used to be a class at Henry, is
also a popular activity of the Boys and Girls Club.
WATCHING EDUCATIONAL TELEVISION
These junior “Henryites” relax a bit. Just as today, juniors are starting to think more seriously as to what occupation they will enter. However, they did not take an ACT or state
standards tests.
GIRLS’ ATHLETICS - GAA
There were not the competitive sports for girls as there are today. Young women who loved to participate in athletics played in the Girls Athletic Association. Options
were badminton and bowling in the fall, intramural basketball and volleyball in the winter, tennis and golf in the spring.
GYMNASTICS
There was a men’s gymnast team at Henry High School 50 years ago. The participants were called “matmen,” not gymnasts. Now there is a women’s team and not a
men’s team.
HENRY WOMEN’S SOCCER
As there were no women’s teams until after the passing of Title IX in 1972, Henry did not have a women’s soccer team. The law states that, “No person in the United
States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity receiving
Federal financial assistance...” This legislation is best known for its impact on women’s sports.
SENIOR BAND
The senior high bands fifty years ago performed at many half-time athletic events. The PHHS marching band of today, as of yesteryears, has a drum major, a two-to-fourperson
color guard but no mascot. The concert band, pep band, and marching band share members, whereas they were separate 50 years ago.
RECYCLING CLUB
Recycling has been a common practice for most of human history, with recorded advocates as far back as Plato in 400 BC. However, schools were not active in this
endeavor until the past decade. Students and their advisors at Patrick Henry High School began a program of collecting paper for recycling in 2007. At that time there were no
other Minneapolis public schools doing this. The PHHS recycling club was given the 2009 Youth Working to Save the Planet award by EJAM (Environmental Justice Advocates of
Minnesota) for their “leadership in creating a sustainable community.”
PHHS AFTER-SCHOOL
CLUBS/ACTIVITIES
- 1960
(Exclusive of sports & as featured in Yearbook)
German Club
Latin Club