Phoenix High
From Unofficial Handbook of the Virtue Universe
| Phoenix Institute For Gifted Youngsters | |
| Founder: Edward Harper | |
| Basics | |
| Side: | Hero |
|---|---|
| Motto: | Fidelis Kai Episteme ("Loyality and Learning") |
| Leader(s): | Professor Chase White |
| Logo: | - |
| Group Colours: | red/gold |
| Playerbase | |
| Levels: | all |
| Play style: | regular |
| Roleplay: | expected |
| Timezone(s): | any |
| Recruiting: | temporarily on pause |
| Contact: | @Chase White |
| A private school for children and teenagers with powers | |
The "Phoenix Institute For Gifted Youngers" (Former "Harper Military Academy" and "Phoenix Military Academy") is a private, Episcopal, co-educational boarding school located on 2,200 acres (8.9 km²) in Paragon City, Rhode island. The school enrolls roughly 300 students in grades six through twelve. Following the tradition of other Boarding schools, students refer to their "form" instead of their "grade." Freshman are I formers while seniors are VII formers. The school has a post-graduate (PG) program, through which high school graduates can improve their athletic abilities, grades and SAT scores in preperation for college.
Admission to Phoenix High is very selective. The school admitted less than 16% of applicants in 2010, one of the lowest rates among boarding schools in the country.
Contents |
School History
Harper Military Academy
Harper Military Academy was founded in 1909 as the Rhode Island Training School (RITS). RITS and its predecessor, the McKinney Training School, were general training schools for boys. In 1925, it was renamed in honor of one of its founders Edward J. Harper, a well-to-do local businessman. The renaming was part of the school's evolution into a military high school. The change in name served two purposes. First, it corrected a misunderstanding as to the type of clientele desired. Second, it established a permanent memorial to Mr. Edgar Harper, who sponsored the school with deep convictions, devout faith, and collateral security from 1909 until his death in 1935.
In response to appeals from patrons and students for military training to be made part of the available academics, a formal government inspection was conducted and H. W. Walter joined the Harper faculty as the first commandant in January 1919. Harper has been approved for Junior ROTC (JROTC) numerous times since then, but many in the Harper community, most notably the Board of Trustees, feared that the addition of that program would put too much emphasis on military studies and lessen academics. Harper has consistently operated independent of JROTC, creating its own uniforms and cadet rank structure.
Harper saw a significant rise in interest regarding its military aspects upon the attack on Pearl Harbor and the entry of the United States into the Second World War. During this time, cadets had to live in buildings near the Harper campus rather than on campus as they normally would have.
On February 20, 1950, a fire ravaged the Academy, destroying the Old Building, Harper Hall, and Founders Hall. Not one cadet or staff member was harmed in the fire, but Sanders Hall alone remained, and at the time that building lacked heat and other accommodations. After an assembly before Colonel Compton in the Sanford Hall auditorium, a two-week vacation was declared. This was to allow time for Harper staff to work out a way to continue the regular academic schedule. The institution was encouraged after the fire by many expressions of confidence in the form of letters, telegrams, and voluntary gifts from friends, patrons, and alumni. These communications came not only from Paragon and Rhode Island but from the North, South, East, West, and abroad... all the hearts and minds of these people were uplifted by the thought that from these ashes would be born a greater Harper.
On July 28, 1951, Harper was renamed into Phoenix Military Academy, serving as tribute to the vast amount of supporters who made the survival of the institute possible.
Phoenix Military Academy
The 1970s were highly significant years for the Academy. Black cadets were admitted to Phoenix for the first time in the summer of 1971, after the Board of Trustees passed a resolution that the Academy would not consider race, color, or country of origin in its admission or employment policy and the commander signed the Civil Rights Agreement.
Female cadets were admitted for the first time in the 1975-1976 year.
However, the Vietnam War years were not easy for for Phoenix. Despite such changes as the admission of non-white and female cadets, enrollment dropped, funds became low, and many hard choices had to be made to save money. The school laundry was closed, and the postgraduate program dropped. While the Academy already had a notable list of super-powered cadets, and quite a children of superheroes, the Board of Trustees decided to focus almost exculsively on the Metahuman clientele. By 1978, Phoenix had already begun to recover. Enrollment increased, and school finances were more stable. Phoenix greatest selling point at this time was the protection it offered to it's students, and power-specific training.
Phoenix Institute For Gifted Youngsters
It wasn't until 1982 that the Academy was again renamed to "Phoenix Institute For Gifted Youngsters". The decision was made after a cadet census had revealed that over 75% of the students were meta-human, or related to metahumans. Changes to the syllabus and a breaking up of the miliatry organisation emphasized small team tactics. Nonetheless, the commander of the Institute remembered it's military traditions, and continued to convey the values Phoenix had stood for in the last decades.
The semi-military structure of the school meant that senior students, and students with powers, were highly priveledged. Although hazing and fagging wasn't officially allowed, the Phoenix administration turned a blind eye to the practices, believing it necessary to strengthen and build a stendets resolve and inner strength. Of course, mostly the elite students commited these rituals, since they were most likely to get away with them when reported.
During the first Rikti war, the original campus in Founders Falls was obliterated, selected as a first strike target due to it's high density of metahumans with paramilitary training. An early warning by Sister Psyche kept the losses low, and the Institute contributed to the war by assisting defensive and relief efforts. While the students were deemed to young, and the commander too old, much of the teaching staff joined the Omega and Alpha assaults, losing their lives.
While the faculties were rebuilt, north of the city, near Salamanca, and new teaching staff was quick to be found, the commander began to sink into something short of insanity, enforcing the miliatary structure once again, and actively favoring students with agressive demeanor. Some villains actively sought to put their proteges into Phoenix, leading to a late 2011 statistic revealing that at least 70% of the alumni turned to crime.
While the board of trustees wass till searching for solutions, events unfolded that forced the issue.
The new Phoenix High
Cecilie, a Phoenix junior without powers, the daughter of a recently jailed villain, was having extreme difficulties with the hostility she encountered at the Institute. A resident of King's Row, she sought out the vigilante and local hero Ken-Po Tengu. The twelve year old told him about the trouble she had, and asked him for assistance. He contacted some allies, and it didn't take long for Justin Sinclair, an Alumni who's company had made notable donations to Phoenix, to force an investigation.
The result was full revamp of school, philosophy and teaching staff. The commander was sent to get psychiatric help. The mystics Chastity Whitmore and Christine Fawcett, both former hero, were asked to take over administrative duties. Most of the teaching staff, administration and support staff were fired. Some students have been asked to leave the facilities as well. While the revamp of the school organisation has recieved acclaim, sceptical voices question the new administrations capabilities. Miss Whitmore, Professor Fawcett and even young Cecilie have been met with animosity by former students and staff members.
Education
One of the purposes of Phoenix High is to get students ready for college. Both Standard and Advanced High School Diplomas are offered, as well as dual-enrollment classes through Paragon University. In addition to the 6-12 grade middle and high school, a one-year postgraduate program is also offered. Finally, the school also offers evening and summer classes on various topics, catering to "grown-ups".
The School's new focus lies heavily on scientific and social studies. In an official press release, Principal Whitmore stated "In these times of scientific wonders, young heroes need to build a basic understanding of what is happening in the world around them. Teaching them to learn independently and grasp what the changes and advancements imply, is imperative in helping our students find their place and vocation. As many recent events have shown, knowledge is exponentially dangerous without a sound ethical guideline. As is the power many of our students are born with. It is our goal to help our students develope a set of ethics from observing history, current events and building an understanding based on the greatest intellects of past and present. Educating the superhumans of tomorrow can only be successful if they fully understand the effect they will leave on their surroundings, and humanity as a whole."
Organisation
Phoenix is governed by a Board of Trustees, many of whom are alumni and community leaders. In addition, the Institute has developed its own charitable foundation to allow philanthropists an opportunity to make gifts to the school.
The school is accredited by the Rhode Island Association of Independent Schools and the northern Association of Colleges and Schools. The school is a member of the Association of Military Colleges and Schools of the United States and the National Association of Independent Schools.
The last president of Phoenix High was Brigadier General David Bloom, a retired US Army officer. After the latest incidents, Miss Chastity Whitmore and Professor Christine Fawcett have been enlisted as temporary acting presidents. Miss Whitmore handles the outward representation of the school, speaking to parents, press and officials, taking the title of Principal. Professor Fawcett, on the other hand, takes the function of Administrator, dealing with internal affairs, such as issues with the faculty and the student body. Both accomplished mystics, the presidents use their abilities to relay information quickly and reliably, working very closely together.
While the presidents laid down the groundwork for the new era of the Institute independently, they tend to have an open ear to feedback and criticism from the Board, the faculty, students and parents. The syllabus is developed by the faculty, under supervision of the administration. Most extracurricular activities are organised by faculty members cooperating with PGs, and senior students.
The student body currently consists of 312 students in the Terms I - VI and PG. 165 students attend the boarding premises, while the others are day-school students. The faculty staff has twelve members, with three devoted mostly to administrative duties. Three caretakers are tasked with any duties concerning maintenance of the facilities.
Class structure: Teams and Squads
At the beginning of each semester, students are placed into six to eight person teams. While teams created at the beginning of the winter semester are selected by the Faculty, teams for the summer semester are formed solely by students. Junior teams are partnered with senior teams, with Term I partnered with Term VI, Term II with Term V, and Term III with Term IV. These groups are referred to as squads, and have a post-grad student as their squad leader. Teams usually share the same core classes, while Squads dorm rooms are together, and they share their commons rooms. The reasoning behind this structure is to emphasize teamwork and generate an understanding for individual strengths and weaknesses.
Along the same line of thought, Phoenix takes care to partner good students with bad students, and strong teams with weak teams. In general, winter semester teams are of a balanced archetype structure, often with similiar origins or powers placed in the same squads. First semester students often find themselves placed in squads with friends or relatives, if possible, to make their transition to the new school easier. While the Form I/VI are always led by honor postgraduates, the other squads are most often led by PG volunteers. In the rare case that not enough volunteers are found, faculty members might take over leadership duties, until a postgraduate, alumnus, board member, or other volunteer is recruited.
Form Description
Form I
Age: 12-13
Team and squad designation: One (Junior) to Six (Junior)
Paired with: Form VI randomly (winter), Form VI based on avg. winter performance (summer)
Leader selection: PG honor students
Uniform: Standard issue with necessary variations
Field Permit: Only with full squad and faculty sanction
Form II
Age: 13-14
Team and squad designation: Alpha (Junior) to Psi (Junior)
Paired with: Form V, based on avg. pre-semester performance
Leader selection: PG volunteers
Uniform: Standard issue with necessary variations
Field Permit: Only with full squad and faculty sanction
Form III
Age: 14-15
Team and squad designation: A (Junior) to F (Junior)
Paired with: Form IV, based on avg. pre-semester performance
Leader selection: PG volunteers
Uniform: Standard issue with necessary variations
Field Permit: Only with full squad and faculty sanction
Form IV
Age: 15-16
Team and squad designation: A (Senior) to F (Senior)
Paired with: Form III, based on avg. pre-semester performance
Leader selection: PG volunteers
Uniform: Standard issue with variations
Field Permit: Minimum full team with leader and faculty sanction
Form V
Age: 16-17
Team and squad designation: Alpha (Senior) to Psi (Senior)
Paired with: Form II, based on avg. pre-semester performance
Leader selection: PG volunteers
Uniform: Standard issue, with variations
Field Permit: Minimum full team with leader
Form VI
Age: 17-18
Team and squad designation: One (Senior) to Six (Senior)
Paired with: Form I randomly (winter), Form I based on avg. winter performance (summer)
Leader selection: PG honor students
Uniform: Standard issue, with variations
Field Permit: Minimum full team with leader or solo with faculty sanction
Postgraduates
Age: 18+
Team and squad designation: Any
Paired with: Any
Uniform: Custom, must be associable with Phoenix High when working as squad leader
Field Permit: unrestricted
Honor System
Throughout the semester, Phoenix High squads gain and lose Honor Points. These points are gathered by fulfilling student duties and excelling at given tasks. They can be deducted for misdemeanor and also used to gain special benefits. In rare occasions, squads may earn or lose honor points due to special circumstances. While a ranking is available on the school intranet and updated weekly, only squad leaders are informed of their squad's exact honor rating, and the final decision for squad point expenditure is made by them. Squad leaders are free to disclose the rating to their squad, but the practice is generally frowned upon.
Honor Students
The top three squads at the of each semester are deemed honor students, squads that set examples to the other students of the campus. While being an honor student is a highly prestigious and notable reward in itself, honor students also gain additional benefits:
- All honor students gain a full set of clothing, equipment and apparel bearing the school logo. These items are usually reserved for faculty members and postgraduates.
- Honor squads and their families are invited to special school events, such as proms, fundraising dinners, etc.
- Honor students are often asked to represent the school without, giving them the opportunity to meet high-ranked heroes, city officials and other celebrities.
- They gain 50 personal honor points to invest in benefits during the next semester.
- Honor squads gain a scholarship covering the next semesters admission fee, in the case of honor postgraduates, the scholarship covers their first university semester, or their next PG semester.
Students who achieve the honor student status six or more times during their education at Phoenix High are granted a full scholarship for the further stay at the school, and also earn a full university scholarship. These honor roll students are also inducted to the Institute Hall of Fame, garnering them much outside attention.
Punishment
School Schedule
Syllabus
Extracurricular activities
Uniforms
The school grounds
Notable Atendees and Alumni
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