Prospect High School (Illinois)

Infobox Secondary school
name = Prospect High School
logo =
motto =
established = 1957 (Arlington HS)
1958 (Prospect HS)
principal =
type = Public secondary
grades = 9–12
city = 801 W. Kensington Rd.
Mt. Prospect
state = Illinois
country = USA
enrollment = 2,046
faculty =
campus = Suburban
mascot = Knights
colors = Navy Blue, Columbia Blue
yearbook = "Crest"
newspaper = "The Prospector"
nickname =
website = [http://phs.d214.org/ phs.d214.org]
picture =

Prospect High School, or Prospect, is a public four-year high school located in Mt. Prospect, Illinois, a northwest suburb of Chicago, Illinois, in the United States. It is part of Township High School District 214, which also includes Buffalo Grove High School, Elk Grove High School, John Hersey High School, Rolling Meadows High School, and Wheeling High School.

History

Prospect was opened in 1957 as a freshman campus for the now-defunct Arlington High School. By the next school year, the district had grown enough that Prospect was turned into a full four-year school. [ [http://www.d214.org/community/info/history.php Brief History of District 214 ] ]

In August 1995, on only the second day of the new school year, the school's field house suffered a fire. The cause of the fire was nothing short of a freak accident. Thick mats used by the track team (mostly the mats for high jump) had been out in the blistering sun on the previous day. The mats, with the heat of the sun still within them, were placed above a loft in the field house. One of the mats rested against a frayed electrical cord. The heat of the mat combined with the frayed wiring started the fire. The scoreboard and school record plaques were melted in the fire, though the most damage came from the water damage from the fire hoses. The field house was closed off for most of the 1995-1996 school year. The field house re-opened with a much-needed lighting improvement, better basketball floor and new paint.

The most recent additions to the school have been a library in 2002, a new art wing in 2003, and a new cafeteria in 2004. As of 2007, work is being done to remove asbestos from the older parts of the building.

Academics

In 2005 Prospect had an average composite ACT score of 23.5, and graduated 93.0% of its senior class. Prospect has made Adequate Yearly Progress on the Prairie State Achievement Examination, a state test used for the No Child Left Behind Act. [ [ftp://ftpirptcard.isbe.net/ReportCard2005/1401621400005_e.pdf Illinois School Report Card] ]

Athletics

Prospect competes in the Mid-Suburban League East Conference and Illinois High School Association. Its mascot is the Knight. The football team won the state 7A championship in 2001, 2002 and 2005, in addition the Knights also made it to the state 7A semi-finals in 2003 and 2006.

Activities

Foreign Exchange

Since 2005-06, the foreign language department facilitates an exchange program between students studying French and Itailan at Prospect, and students studying English in Sèvres, France and Verona, Italy.

Fine & Performing Arts

The award-winning Fine & Performing Arts Department at Prospect High School provides hundreds of students with a broad exposure to the visual and performing arts. The music curricula consists of many performing ensembles including the Prospect Concert Band, Symphonic Band, Marching Band, Jazz Ensemble I & II, Symphony Orchestra, Chamber Orchestra, Pit Orchestra, Concert Choir, Treble Choir, Varsity Choir, Chamber Choir, Jazz Choir, “Xentricity” (female a cappella ensemble), One Stop (male a cappella ensemble), and two competitive show choirs - Company and Mixed Company.

In 2007 Prospect‘s Marching Band, Symphony Orchestra, and Chamber Choir were invited to perform in the 2008/2009 London New Year’s Day Parade and Gala Concerts.Fact|date=June 2008 The Symphony Orchestra, Jazz Ensemble I, and Chamber Choir were all selected to perform at the 2008 Illinois Music Educators Association All-State Festival as Honors Ensembles.Fact|date=June 2008 The Prospect Symphonic Band has been selected to perform at the Illinois Superstate Festival 13 times, and was named an Honor Band in 2005.Fact|date=June 2008 The Prospect Marching Knights, both Jazz Bands, Mixed-Company, and Company have gained national recognition for their performance at all levels of competition.Fact|date=June 2008

Students at Prospect are provided the opportunity to study Harmony and Arranging in a fully equipped MIDI lab focusing on music theory, technology, and recording. Art studies include beginning and advanced placement in drawing, painting, sculpting, and photography. In addition, Prospect provides the opportunity to compete in Congressional Debate and Speech. Both organizations are consistently recognized for their high levels of performance.Fact|date=June 2008 The dance ensemble, Orchesis, performs in district festivals, sporting events, an annual recital, and has been selected to perform at the state dance festival on several occasions.Fact|date=June 2008 Annual theater productions include the fall and winter plays and spring musical, with corresponding courses focusing in drama and theater tech. Prospect’s production of "With Their Eyes" was chosen in 2006 to perform at the state theater festival.Fact|date=June 2008

Band

The Prospect High School Band program consists of the Symphonic Band, Concert Band, Marching Band, and Percussion Ensemble. The Symphonic Band and Concert Band regularly perform in concerts and festivals in Illinois and throughout the Midwest. The Symphonic Band has been invited to perform at the prestigious University of Illinois Superstate Festival 12 timesFact|date=July 2008 and was named the Honor Band in 2005.Fact|date=July 2008

The Prospect High School Marching Knights have gained national recognition for their outstanding performances at state and national competitions.Fact|date=July 2008 The band has been selected for the finals five times at the Bands of America Grand National Championships Fact|date=July 2008 and was the Grand Champion at the Bands of America Toledo Regional in 2001Fact|date=July 2008 In addition, the band has won the Grand Championship at the University of Illinois Marching Band Festival 26 times(http://www.music.uiuc.edu/outreach/imbf/imbf.html)), including the past 25 years consecutively.((http://www.music.uiuc.edu/outreach/imbf/imbf.html Some of their destinations have included Hawaii, London, the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City, Phoenix, Orlando, Houston, and the Hollywood Christmas Parade in Los Angeles, CA.Fact|date=July 2008 The marching band has also performed for the President of the United States on three occasions.Fact|date=July 2008 This year, the band will perform in London for the New Years Day Parade ((http://www.londonparade.co.uk/event/participants/details.asp?id=1980))

This fall, the band was named Grand Champions at the Lake Park Lancer Joust, ((http://www.lakeparkband.com/, the University of Illinois Marching Band Festival,((http://www.music.uiuc.edu/outreach/imbf/imbf.html)), finished 4th at the Miami of Ohio Bands of America Regional, Fact|date=July 2008 and 2nd at the St. Louis Super Regional Championships.Fact|date=July 2008

Choir

The Prospect Choir Department consists of 5 choir classes: Varsity Choir, Treble Choir Concert Choir, Chamber Choir, and Madrigal Singers/Vocal Jazz Choir. Prospect Choir also boasts two competition-level show choirs, Company and Mixed Company. Company is a 40-voice all-women's show choir; Mixed Company is a male and female show choir of 44 singer/dancers. In addition to the large class ensembles, three small groups rehearse after school. Knight Voices is a mixed 6-voice vocal jazz ensemble specializing in R&B and vocal jazz. One Stop (all-male) and Girl Stop (all-female) are two student-run a cappella groups that perform at many of the school concerts. The choir department actively participates in local area choir festivals as well as State and National music associations IMEA and ACDA. Individual choir members consistently have been selected for All-District and All-State vocal ensembles each year.Fact|date=July 2008 Show choirs at Prospect have a tradition of high awards in Regional and National competition.Fact|date=July 2008 Company and Mixed Company pride themselves on Best Vocals, Best Soloist, and Best Choreography Awards.Fact|date=July 2008 Also, the accompaniment Combo has received Best Horns and Best Combo consecutively in competitions during the 2002-2004 seasonsFact|date=July 2008 and several of the competitions from the 2005-2006 season.Fact|date=July 2008

Orchestra

Prospect’s Orchestra program consists of the Symphony, Chamber, and Pit Orchestras. The three ensembles are composed of students ranging from freshman to seniors. All of Prospect’s string students participate in the Symphony Orchestra, which performs several concerts throughout the year at the school and in the community.

In 2008 the Prospect Symphony Orchestra was selected to perform at the 2008 Illinois Music Educator’s All-State Conference as an Honors Ensemble.Fact|date=July 2008 Additionally, the Symphony Orchestra performs throughout the Midwest on an annual performance tour. Recent tours have included performances and clinics at Illinois Wesleyan University (Bloomington, Illinois) and Butler University (Indianapolis, Indiana). In joint and combined concert, the Symphony Orchestra has performed with the Illinois Wesleyan University Orchestra, Rockwood Summit High School Orchestra (Fenton, Missouri), and the Rockford Youth Symphony Orchestra (Rockford, Illinois). Recently, Prospect’s Symphony Orchestra was selected to perform in the 2008/2009 London New Year’s Gala Concerts.Fact|date=July 2008

Concerts have featured music premiers, including the Illinois premier of Cummington Overture and 15,000 Days on EarthFact|date=July 2008 composed by Richard Maltz. In the fall of 2008, the orchestra will premier Great Prospects Overture by Dr. Maltz,Fact|date=July 2008 commissioned for Mt. Prospect by the Prospect High School Symphony Orchestra. The annual spring concert features student concerto-aria winners and guest performers.

Jazz Band/Ensemble

The award-winning jazz program at Prospect High School has received consistent superior ratings and top placement at festivals for more than a decade.Fact|date=July 2008 Prospect’s top jazz ensemble was selected to perform at the 2008 Illinois Music Educators Association’s All-State conference as an Honors Ensemble.Fact|date=July 2008 The top band also received superior ratings at the 2008 Jazz in the Meadows, and 2008 Eastern Illinois Jazz Festival (1st place, class AA).Fact|date=July 2008

Students are selected for placement in one of the two ensembles through audition. Both bands perform several concerts throughout the year at the school and in the community. Prospect’s top ensemble performs throughout the Midwest in festival and on tour. Recent tours have included performances and clinics at Illinois Wesleyan University (Bloomington, Illinois), Butler University (Indianapolis, Indiana), and Rockwood Summit High School (Fenton, Missouri).

Annual spring jazz concerts feature vocal and instrumental performing ensembles, and a guest artist. Past guest artists have included: Bob Lark, Mark Colby, Rob Parton, Steve Wiest, Randy Brecker, Bobby Shew, and Saturday Night Live trombonist, Steve Turre in 2008.Fact|date=July 2008

Notable alumni

* Jeff Bzdelik, Head Coach Denver Nuggets 2003 - 2005. Head Coach, Colorado Buffaloes basketball team 2007 - present. (class of 1971) [“Golden nugget - After 32 years, Prospect graduate Jeff Bzdelik found the job of a lifetime”, "Chicago Sun-Times", February 4, 2003.]
* Jennifer Morrison, film and TV actor (class of 1997) [ [http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0607185/ Jennifer Morrison (II) ] ]
* Dave Kingman, Professional Baseball Player; MLB, (class of 1967) [ [http://www.baseball-reference.com/k/kingmda01.shtml Dave Kingman Statistics - Baseball-Reference.com ] ]
* Pari Pantazopoulos Soccer player on Cyprus team ASIL Lysi (class of 2007)
* Kateryna Yushchenko-Chumachenko, first lady of Ukraine (class of 1979) [“First lady of Ukraine comes home 'Ukraine now must make hopes real'- Chicago native talks about troubles of past, risks of future”, "Chicago Sun-Times", April 6, 2005]
* John Ankerberg, TV evangelist and author (class of 1964) [ [http://www.ankerberg.com Ankerberg Theological Research Institute, John Ankerberg Show - Christian Apologetics, Jesus, Bible&Christ ] ]
* Reinhold Weege, television writer, producer and director (class of 1967) [ [http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0917271/ Reinhold Weege ] ]
* Bruce Boxleitner, film and TV actor (class of 1968) [ [http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000310/ Bruce Boxleitner ] ]
* Randy Clark, Professional Football Player; NFL, (class of 1974) [ [http://www.databasefootball.com/players/playerpage.htm?ilkid=CLARKRAN01 Randy Clark Past Stats, Statistics, History, and Awards - databaseFootball.com ] ]
* Mike Quade, Third base coach of the Chicago Cubs (class of 1975)unfact
* Rich Schutz, weightlifting champion, member of the 1988 and 1992 US Olympic weightlifting teams (class of 1984) [ [http://www.weightliftingexchange.com/index.php?option=com_smf&Itemid=39&topic=1975.0 Weightlifting Exchange ] ] [“Weighty problem for Schutz, Mt. Prospect lifter trails European foes”, "Chicago Sun-Times", August 5, 1987]
* Rosa Blasi, film and TV actor (class of 1990) [ [http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0087726/ Rosa Blasi ] ]
* Todd Heisler, Pulitzer Prize-winning photojournalist (class of 1990) [ [http://www.pulitzer.org/year/2006/feature-photography/bio/ 2006 Pulitzer Prizes - FEATURE PHOTOGRAPHY, Biography ] ]

Controversies

In September 2006, Jason Krigas, 36, was convicted and sentenced to three years in prison for sexually abusing a female student. Krigas was fired by the school in 2005. Krigas was a well-respected teacher credited with building the once-small Prospect High School choir into an award-winning group. [* “Teacher fired over sex abuse cases: Ex-Prospect choir leader vows to fight”, "Chicago Tribune", August 26, 2005] [* “Chorus teacher accused of sex abuse”, "Chicago Sun-Times", March 2, 2005]

In October 2006 the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) began investigating allegations of abuse against former Prospect High School administrator David J. Good. That investigation ended in December 2006, with DCFS officials stating that all allegations against Good were unfounded. Good was the former assistant principal of activities at Prospect. He resigned from his job on October 12 2006 after a leave of absence that had begun on September 22 2006.Fact|date=January 2008

References

* “Schools soar to new heights in report card”, "Chicago Sun-Times", December 15, 2004.
* “Mt. Prospect music teacher gets top honor”, "Chicago Sun-Times", March 23, 2003
* “Assault trial ends in guilty pleas, apology, 2 teens get 5 years of probation”, "Chicago Tribune", March 12, 1999.
* “Prospect proud of conservatism”, "Chicago Sun-Times", January 15, 1992.

External links

* [http://phs.d214.org/ Official Website]
* [http://phs.d214.org/russell/exchange.html Propsect-Sèvres Exchange Website]
* [http://www.prospectfinearts.com Prospect Fine Arts Page]
* [http://www.prospectband.com/ Prospect Marching Knights Home Page]
* [http://www.prospectknights.com/ Prospect Knights Athletic Information Page]
* [http://www.prospectchoralboosters.org/ Prospect High School Choir Home Page]
* [http://www.classreport.org/usa/il/mt_prospect/phs Prospect High Alumni Website]
* [http://www.musicforall.org Bands of American Website]