In 1954 it was very apparent that a new school was needed on the north side of Spokane. In the spring of that same year the school board officials were presented with plans for a new Northwest High School to be named Shadle Park High. Once the plans were made, the dream finally became a reality.
The generous amount of land was donated to the city by Jessie Comstock Shadle, the widow of Eugene Shadle, for the city to build a park. Only a small fraction of this land was taken to build Shadle Park High School. In May of 1956, the firm of Culler, Gale, Martell and Norrie started construction. The structure was completed in 1957 with the total cost coming to $2,787,475. This building was the first high school built in Spokane since 1932 and at the time of construction was the most expensive one in the area. In September, 1957, the first principal, William W. Taylor, with an excellent staff, was ready greet the very first enrollment of 1,331 students. During that first year, the group of students held an all-school election and chose green and gold as their colors and the Highlanders as their nickname. In 1960, the very first class held their commencement exercise for a graduating class of 403 Highlanders.
Eugene Shadle was a descendant of the Scottish Clan Henderson. This clan plays a major role in the traditions of Shadle Park. The school colors, green and gold, are derived from the Henderson tartan, which is displayed as the background of this page. The name Henderson in Gaelic is MacEanruig, sometimes rendered in English MacKendrick, and is found in widely separated districts in Scotland. Those in Caithness and the north claim to be a sect of the Clan Gunn and descended from Henry, son of George Gunn "the Crowner," in the 15th century. The principal family of Hendersons was the Clan Eanruig of Glencoe for whom it is claimed that they were in that glen of grievous memory centuries before the MacIans (MacDonalds) arrived there. Tradition states that "Iain Fraoch," a brother of John, first Lord of the Isles, married a daughter of the chief of the Hendersons of Glencoe and that their son Iain was the founder of the MacIains of Glencow. He was called "Iain Abrach", and the clan came to be known as the Clan Abrach. The Hendersons, who were notable for their strength, always formed the bodyguard of the chief, and were the hereditary pipers of the Clan Abrach. From the Hendersons of Fordell in Angus is descended the famous divine, Alexander Henderson (1583-1646), who filled a prominent position in the Presbyterian Church of Scotland during the most vital period in her history. With the assistance of Johnson of Wariston he prepared the National Covenant of 1638. He was Moderator of the Glasgow Assembly which outlined Presbyterian organization in the same year. He drafted the Solemn League and Covenant in 1643 , and was a member of the Westminster Assembly which issued the Confession of Faith. THE MOTTO OF THE HENDERSON CLAN IS SOLA VIRTUS NOBILITAT WHICH MEANS VIRTUE ALONE ENNOBLES.
The crest, which represents Shadle in the auditorium and in the commons, was presented to Shadle by the class of 1964 . The symbolism on the crest is: a crescent and a star for Eugene Shadle and the Henderson clan; crossed Scottish thistle to portray the Highlander theme; a grouse foot from a game bird found only in the highlands; and the Henderson clan and the Spokane Falls landmark across the top.
Fight
for your school you Highlanders,
Fight when you face the foe.
Fight ever on to victory
You'll have the heart to go, go, go.
Show them your courage Highlanders,
We'll cheer you on to fame.
When you fight for the pride of Shadle High,
Green and gold you will win the game.
Shadle
High to you we sing.
All the hills with praises ring.
As our hearts proclaim our love for you
For you with faith and courage
True our colors fly.
Highlanders, both young and old,
Have a spirit brave and bold.
Friends we love and foes defy,
Wave the green and gold for Shadle High.
The Spirit Potty
The spirit potty is a green and gold toilet seat that a chosen senior student
uses to motivate our students. The toilet seat is lifted to reveal a RAH! The
senior lifts the seat and yells to a person or group of his choice "Give
me a RAH!"
MacTavish
MacTavish is our mascot embodied as a mannequin. We carry him to games and use
him to promote spirit.
The Victory Bell
The victory bell was a present from the Shadle class of 1965. The first victory
bell was named after Shadle's first principal, Mr. William W. Taylor. The history
behind the bell demonstrates the first victory bell which was to be rung after
any athletic or academic victory. In the year of 1967, during the winter, the
bell was cracked by a victorious basketball team after a crucial game. A little
while later, the same class gave another victory bell to keep that special school
spirit going. During every school year the Shadle students keep that bell ringing.
GROOVY SHOES
Groovy Shoes is a spirit competition between Shadle and our rival school North
Central High School. Two basketball games are played one between the boys' teams
and one between the girls' teams. We have people from the community judge spirit
competitions. The judges decide who deserves the Groovy Shoes, a pair of shoes
that is made up of a shoe decorated by the art department of each school. The
judges decide which school wins the shoe by evaluating each schools' spirit
through their involvement in community service and their participation in cheers.
THE BAGPIPE BAND
The Shadle Park High School Bagpipe Band and Highland Dance Team is a group
of Shadle students keeping the rich traditions of the Scottish Highlands alive
in our school. These select students strive to maintain the streak of pride
that runs through our student body. Seven pipers will accompany the six highland
dancers during the 1995-96 school year. The pipe band was founded in 1957 along
with the school. Bill Thomas was the original pipe major and still works with
the student pipers on a semi-weekly basis. Shelley Winkey is the current pipe
band director and was a pipe band member from 1967-71. During the eighties,
the pipe band tradition had died out and was rekindled in 1990 by Shelley and
some students. This tradition will live on forever and future generations will
look back with pride at the accomplishments of these future Shadle alumni.