Programs
Kamiak Debate Team
Under Steve Helman's leadership, the Kamiak Debate Team has established itself as a dominant program in the state of Washington. In recent years, Kamiak Debate Team has won numerous regional tournaments including the Snohomish Debate Championship and the Regional Championship. Kamiak has sent at least one Debate Team Member to Nationals every year since the school has opened.
Kamiak Band Program
It is currently in the NWAPA circuit of bands and does well at competitions. The Kamiak Show Band has won sweepstakes awards at Northwest marching competitions in 1995, 1997, 1998, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, and 2011. Earlier in 2009, the Kamiak Show Band traveled to Washington D.C. to perform in the National Cherry Blossom Festival as well as on the steps of the Jefferson Memorial. In April 2012, the Kamiak Show Band travelled to Paris, France, including performances near the Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame and in Disneyland Paris. There are four concert bands (Concert, Symphonic, Wind Ensemble, and Chamber Winds) as well as Jazz I and Jazz II. The concert bands perform in festivals during the spring and usually do fairly well.
Kamiak Chorale Program
The Kamiak Chorale Program includes four choirs (Kantorei, Bel Canto, Chanson - Women, and Chanson - Men) and is known for its performances under the direction of Nancy Duck-Jefferson, who has also been honored several times for the musical direction of the Spring Musicals (i.e. Pirates of Penzance, 2005, Guys and Dolls, 2008) by the 5th Avenue Awards. The choir goes on trips every year, with a trip abroad, such as to Canada or to Ireland (where they sang in both Dublin and Belfast 2007) occurring every so often. In March 2010, the advanced choirs went on a choir tour of New York.
Kamiak Orchestra Program
The Kamiak Orchestra program includes three main orchestras (Intermediate, Philharmonic Strings I and Philharmonic Strings II) under the direction of conductor Brian Steves, who was inducted into the Washington State Teaching Hall of Fame in 2009. These string orchestras often combine forces with the band program to build Symphony Orchestras I and II for concerts and competitions. The school is also home to a chamber group called the Kamiak Über Kammerstreich (from the German for "Super Chamberstrings") consisting of roughly 15 players from Philharmonic Strings I, free of a conductor. The award-winning Philharmonic Strings I and Über Kammerstreich have consistently performed well at the Pacific Northwest Orchestra Festival held annually in Gresham, Oregon. Additionally, many members of the orchestras have placed in statewide competitions. The Kamiak High School Orchestras have traveled to and performed in Italy and Hawaii, among other places. In the Spring of 2011, they travelled to Spain on one-week tour, performing in such destinations as Madrid and Seville. In April 2012, the Kamiak Über Kammerstreich took 1st Place at 2012 WIAA/WMEA State Solo and Ensemble Contest.
Kamiak Drama Program
June 2010, Kamiak High School won Best Overall Musical at the 5th Ave Awards for The Pajama Game. For the Pajama Game, they were nominated for 11 awards and received 14 nods overall. In August 2002, a group of Kamiak High School students performed an adaptation of Mark Twain's The Adventures of Tom Sawyer at the annual International Fringe Festival held in Edinburgh, Scotland. The show received 4 out of 5 stars for their performance. Kamiak was one of 25 American schools selected to perform at the festival and only one of two to be located west of the Mississippi River. In June 2005, the Kamiak Spring Musical Pirates of Penzance, by Gilbert and Sullivan, was pronounced the "Best Musical Show" in the entire state of Washington by Seattle's 5th Avenue Theatre. Kamiak has also had several students place at the Washington Music Educator's Association State competition.
Kamiak Knowledge Bowl
The "Golden Horde," a team consisting of four seniors and two juniors, won a narrow 1st Place against Curtis High School at the 2008 Washington State Tournament, after placing 6th place the previous year.
In the 2008-09 season, Kamiak Knowledge Bowl swept the district playoffs, with all three state-qualifying slots filled by Kamiak teams. The two remaining members of the Golden Horde successfully led a new team, Mao's Dragons, to win the state 4A title for the second year in a row.
The legacy of Kamiak Knowledge Bowl dates back to 2005, where the premiere team known as the Robster Craws placed first in the 4A Division at the Anacortes High School Competition. Since then, the five members of the Robster Craws have founded the Robster Craw Fund, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that rewards a Kamiak Senior in Knowledge Bowl with a prestigious cash scholarship each June.
Kamiak Dulcineas
The Kamiak Dulcineas Dance Program (named for Don Quixote's fantastical lover in Cervantes' famous novel) consists of students in freshman through senior year. Various activities include performing at football and basketball halftimes, competing in competitions, District and State Championships, as well as various parades and festivals. The team is under the direction of Kathy Noonan. They have qualified for the WIAA State Championships every year of their competitive career, and in the Spring of 2011, took 1st Place in 4A Kick with their routine "Waka Waka: This Time for Africa."
Kamiak Colorguard & Winterguard
The Kamiak Colorguard and Winterguard consists of students in freshman through senior year. Various activities include performing at football halftimes, competing in competitions as a part of the Show Band, NWPA Circuit shows and Championships, WGI Regionals, as well as various parades and festivals.
The Kamiak Colorguard has taken High Auxiliary at several NW Marching Band Competitions as a part of the award winning Kamiak Show Band. The Kamiak Winterguard has been the State NWPA Scholastic A Class Champions 3 times in a row from 2006 to 2008. In 2008 they competed at the WGI West Regional in Hayward, CA. They placed 7th overall out of 24 Scholastic A Class Winterguards and moved onto the finals round of competition. In 2009 they competed at the WGI NW Regional in Vancouver, WA and ended up placing 3rd out of 19 Scholastic A Class Winterguards.
This award winning ensemble is currently growing to be one of the premier scholastic colorguards in the NW. The Director is Jonathon Brown. The staff includes Marie Caryl, Matt Passino, and Amy Sciuto.
Kamiak Homecoming
When the high school first opened in 1993 there was a semi-formal "Dedication Dance" in the fall. Every year since then Kamiak has had a Homecoming Dance. As a high school tradition, Kamiak chooses a Homecoming King and Queen:
2007: Cecelia Black and Christopher Stolz
2008: Julia Church and Tyler J. Thomas
2009: Shaylin Johnson and Tyler Lambert
2010: Emma Leedy and Ray Jackson
2011: Taylor Cole and Moses Reuben
2012: Victoria Sonnenburg and Jackson Carter
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