renovation which includes new offices, internet wiring, bio-thermal heating and cooling, new windows, paint, new ceilings and flooring and countless other improvements. On September 14, 2015, 44th president of the United States, Barack Obama visited North High along with United States Secretary of Education Arne Duncan for a back-to-school bus tour. This event celebrated how states and communities are working to increase access and opportunity from early learning to college. Friday, October 16, 2015, long-time governor Terry Branstad signed a proclamation at North declaring the month of October as College Application Month in Iowa. The purpose of the proclamation was to make students and their families aware of the importance of completing and submitting college applications early on in the process. In addition to the countless improvements in the school's outside skeleton, the new administration has set its eyes on raising the bar in the classroom by looking at new innovative teaching methods. Most notably, Des Moines Public Schools partnered with Learning Sciences International for the 2016-2017 school year to make North a Demonstration School, a school focused on rigorous coursework where students work more collaboratively with their peers. Faculty Benjamin Graeber replaced Mike Vukovich as principal of North High School in mid-2017. Vuokovich made many efforts to improve the school. Extracurricular activities North has a variety of extracurricular activities, the most notable of which is the Academic Decathlon team, which has a long history of success, including a placement of 7th in the nation in the Medium School e-Nationals (2012), a placement of fourth in the state in 2011, and has won the regional competition in 2011 and 2012. Athletics The Polar Bears are members of the Central Iowa Metro League, and participate in the following sports: Fall Football Volleyball Cross Country 6-time State Champions (1944, 1945, 19546, 1950, 1952, 1953) Boys' golf Girls' swimming Winter Basketball Bowling Wrestling Boys' swimming 2-time State Champions (1938, 1942) Spring — Track and field Boys' 7-time State Champions (1917, 1919, 1934, 1948, 1953, 1954, 1959) Soccer Tennis Girls' golf Summer Baseball 3-time State Champions (1931, 1934, 1936) Softball In 2016, ESPN covered North High football and their turnaround story behind Major Sean Quinlan. Curriculum The school day is split into 4 blocks lasting 85 minutes that meet every other day and a 'skinny' period that lasts for 45 minutes and meets every day. The school district requires that students take a number