Plantation High School

Infobox high school
name = Plantation High School
principal = Susan Bruining
established = 1963
type = Public
location =Plantation, Florida, USA
district = Broward County School District
enrollment = 9-12
address = 6901 NW 16th St.
city = Plantation
state = FL, 33313
country = USA
colors = Red, White, and Blue
district = Broward County Public Schools
area superintendent = Dr. Verda Farrow
team_name = Colonels
information = [phone]
website = http://www.plantationhigh.org/|

Plantation High School (commonly referred to as PHS) is a high school located in Plantation, Florida. Its physical address is 6901 NW 16th Street, Plantation, FL 33313. It was originally a local United States Air Force base, but after it's closure, it underwent a series of renovations and was established as a junior high school for grades 7-9 in Broward County in 1963. The school currently serves 2,669 students, grades 9 through 12.

The school's principal for the 2008 - 2009 school year is Susan Bruining.

Students at Plantation High are called "Colonels". The original school logo was a graphic of a traditional Southern colonel—the equivalent of Colonel Reb, mascot of the University of Mississippi. In the early 1990s, amidst concerns of racial insensitivity, the logo was changed to a large red letter "C," similar to the Chicago Bears logo.

chool history

1960s

*1963 - First classes begin in the fall. It is classified as a junior high school for grades 7-9. As the current campus is under construction, the students attend class in naval barracks by Ft. Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport. The principal is John "Jack" Chapman.

*1964 - Becomes a grades 7-10 school.

*1965 - Becomes a grades 7-11 school. This is the year the yearbook debuts.

*1966-1967 - PHS moves to the current campus and offers up to grade 12. The campus has a population of 1,800 students between grades 7-12. In 1966, a school-wide contest supplied the school song. This time period also features the first graduating class. The first Colonel to receive a letter in football is George Snyder, Class of 1967. The Valedictorian for the class of '67 is Russ Penrod.

1970s

*1972 - The federal government placed a court order requiring all school populations to be 20% minority.

*Late 1970s - New traditions begin, for this generation of colonels is the first to graduate at the current traditional graduation ceremony location, Sunrise Musical Theater.

1980s

*1980 - The first Senior Musical debuts in its auditorium.

*1981 - PHS Marching Colonels becomes the National Field Show Champions by winning the Festival of States Marching Band Competition in St. Petersburg, Florida.

*1989 - Alumna George Snyder, now the football coach, begins a building program which would involve faculty and students who would construct 17 new structures on the school campus. Structures from this effort featured the Student Government building, the baseball and softball complexes, the field house for the track team and the gazebos.

1990s

*1990 - The renovation of the main building begins.

*1991 - Playwrights Andrea Sinert and Carolyn Keating (The Powers that Be) graduate.

*1995 - The Marching Colonels takes grand champions at Wachula Heartland Invitational.

*1997 - The Marching Colonels takes grand champions at Miami Battle of the Bands.

*1998 - The renovation of the band/choir rooms takes place.

2000s

*2000 - The construction of the new 700 building takes place on the grounds of the old tennis court, located by the horticulture and auto mechanics buildings. The Lady Colonels Soccer team makes the district title for the first time in PHS history.

*2001 - The new 700 building officially opens and the newly remodeled auditorium opens. Blue bleachers also makes its first appearance in the "Big Gym." The first all-color yearbook is distributed. The Lady Colonels Soccer Team win districts for the first time.

*2002 - The Male and Female Step teams win first place in the first National Regional Step competition at Baltimore, Maryland. Beginning Women's choir is the first group in the PHS choral department to go to states in 13 years.

Clubs and organizations

Alongside its varied curriculum, PHS also possesses a wide list of clubs and organizations that cater to the diverse interest of the student body. The following list provides the school's official clubs:

* Amigos
* AOF - Academy of Finance (part of DECA) teaches students the fundamentals needed in the business world. It is a three-year program that includes an internship and annual competitions. Students graduate with an additional diploma certifying the completion of the program.
* AOTT - Academy of Travel and Tourism (part of DECA) teaches students the fundamentals needed in the hospitality.
* Band
* Best Buddies - Focus is to enhance the lives of people with intellectual disabilities by developing friendships with members of the "Best Buddies" club.
* Bible Club - This is a club for those who read the bible; volunteer opportunities are also available via this club.
* Cultural Society
* Crime Watch
* Drama Club - Members are able to participate in the PHS's theatrical productions. Members also have the opportunity to compete in various acting competitions; the Drama Club is also responsible for organizing the Senior Musical.
* French Club
* Health Ocupations for Students of America (HOSA) - Members learn about careers in the growing health care system. Students learn hands-on skills and in their senior year go to clinicals in the hospital and work with patients and staff in real life situations.
* International Club
* Key Club - Sponsored by a local Kiwanis Club, the Key Club is a service organization that dedicates itself to providing programs, literature and opportunities for students to relate to other teenagers across the globe.
* Literary Magazine
* Mu Alpha Theta
* National Art Honor Society
* National Honor Society
* Newspaper - Students who are part of this club participate in creating the school's student-run newspaper, "The Colonel's Journal."
* Poetry Club
* Prostart
* Rocket Team
* Save What's Left
* Step Team
* Student Government - SGA is a student-run organization that organizes inter-school related activities such as FunShop and Homecoming.
* SADD - SADD (Students Agaist Drunk Driving) is a club dedicated to spreading awareness of the dangers of drunk driving to fellow students.

Athletics

The school's athletics teams are known as the PHS Colonels.

* Baseball
* Basketball
* Cheerleading
* Cross Country
* Flag Football
* Football
* Golf
* Roller Hockey
* Soccer
* Softball
* Swimming
* Tennis
* Track and Field
* Volleyball
* Water Polo
* Wrestling

Academics

In the 2006-2007 school year Plantation High School was the only school in Broward County to go up a letter grade based on FCAT scores. This has marked a turning point for a new era at this school.

Other Important Notes

Local celebrities such as Ivan L., Kaan Ocbe, Mandel Lovett, Donavan Burrows, and Chris Campbell all graduated from Plantation High. Ivan L.'s music can be heard at www.myspace.com/IvanLRhymes2Well.

External links

* [http://www.plantationhigh.us/ Plantation High School]
* [http://www.phsalumni.com/ PHS Alumni Website]
* [http://www.greatschools.net/modperl/browse_school/fl/308/ School profile]
* [http://groups.yahoo.com/group/PHS_69/ An active 'early years' alumni group from this high school]
* [http://www.browardschools.com/ Broward County Public Schools]