Plainfield Central High School

Infobox Secondary school
name = Plainfield Central High School

principal = Robert Smith
established = 1992
type = Public secondary
grades = 9–12
city = 24120 W. Fort Beggs Dr.
Plainfield
state = Illinois
country = USA
enrollment = 3000
faculty =
campus = Suburban
mascot = Wildcat
colors = Forest Green, White
website = [http://learningcommunity202.org/PHS/ learningcommunity202.org/PHS]
picture =

Plainfield Central High School, PCHS or PHS-CC, is a public four-year high school located in Plainfield, Illinois, a southwest suburb of Chicago, Illinois, in the United States. It is part of Plainfield Community Consolidated School District 202, which also includes Plainfield South High School, Plainfield North High School and Plainfield East High School.

History

The original building was destroyed by one of the worst tornadoes in Illinois history. The Plainfield Tornado,which was rated an F5, struck the town on August 28, 1990, one day before classes were scheduled to begin. Three faculty and staff members lost their lives, but had school been in session, casualties would have been more significant as the tornado hit the school directly.

In the middle of the 1992-1993 school year students moved into the new PHS building. At the time, it was one of the most technically advanced high schools in the state of Illinois, complete with its own observatory. In 1998, the school added a "Freshman Center" with its own gymnasium and cafeteria. The new freshman center has three floors and is connected to the main building by an enclosed catwalk. In 2005, the school constructed a new fan-friendly snack building, complete with restrooms, on the south end of the school's football/track stadium. In the summer of 2007, Plainfield High School - Central Campus scheduled to reconstruct the stadium's seating. A reconfiguration of the stadium was done when the new home grandstand was constructed, replacing the visitor's seating, on the west side of the football field. The former Home grandstand was converted into the visitor's seating. Despite the school's strong brick theming and architecture, the new home grandstand was built using only steel while the former home seating was constructed of brick and cement. The grandstand had been planned to open for the pre-season 'Green and White Night' event, though because of construction set backs, the grandstand had opened in its entirely about under one month later. With the addition of a larger home grandstand, shot and disk fields were relocated further West, mainly directly behind the new grandstand. For the 2008 baseball season, new dugouts are planned to be constructed for the field near the tennis courts. As of February, construction had already begun.

Also in 2007, the school introduced an addition of over 300 high resolution, wireless cameras both inside, and outside, to monitor the campus. New computer security measures were implemented which blocks some internet proxy servers, "game related" sites, and other sites that the school district feels distracts their students from the educational process.The campus hallways have received a new green paint scheme that has replaced the former pastel pink and orange walls. The new green paint scheme was decided on for it further connects the students and faculty with the school's history as well as the push for the advancement in school spirit upon the students.During the district's week of Spring Break, the school received a technological update which replaced all former computers with newer, LCD screen, Dell computers, that have the same hardware, with a new, and modern look. Despite new hardware, the school's network system will not be upgraded until the 2007-2008 school year has concluded. Although, new computer security measures were implemented which block some internet proxy servers, "game related" sites, and other sites that the school district feels distracts their students from the educational process.

The summer of 2008 is set to complete the construction of the school's new roof (which began during the summer of 2007), the final phases of converting the Freshmen Cafeteria into the Wildcat Den, the reversing of the track layout (to accommodate the new Grandstand configuration) with a new surface, and the addition of new digital projectors to each classroom.

On June 9th, 2008, severe storms , resulted in damaged tennis court fences and a damaged school roof. There were no confirmed reports of a Tornado.

Athletics

Plainfield Central competes in the Southwest Prairie Conference and Illinois High School Association.School sports teams include boy's and girl's golf, boy's and girl's bowling, boy's and girl's basketball, boy's and girl's volleyball, boy's and girl's swimming, boy's and girl's soccer, boy's and girl's tennis, boy's and girl's track, boy's and girl's cross-country, girl's badminton, girl's softball, rugby, cheerleading, poms, boy's baseball, boy's football, boy's wrestling, and boy's hockey.

*2007 Sports Highlights:
**Dan Iwinski, Boys Bowler, qualified for the Boys Bowling state tournament by winning a tie-breaking "roll-off" at sections. He placed 99th at the Boys Bowling State Tournament held in St. Clair, IL.
**E.J. Luna, won 1st place overall for the Boys' JV Golf at the SPC Golf Tournament held in Morris, IL.
**Mary J. Wanna, Girls Basketball, won 2nd at the national level.
** Ryan Prater won the IHSA State Wrestling Championship at 135 lb.
** Jeremy Ellingwood was runner-up at the IHSA State Wrestling Championship at 140 lb.
*2006 Sports Highlights:
**Girls bowling placed 3rd at the Illinois state tournament held in Rockford, IL.
**Four state qualifiers for the wrestling state championship held at the University of Illinois in Champaign-Urbana, IL. They include Mike Smith (4th), Jeremy Ellingwood (2nd), Ryan Prater (2nd), Alex Macier (Qualifier)
*2005 Sports Highlights:
**Chris Unger, a bowler, placed 60th and the Illinois State Tournament held in St. Clair, IL
*2004 Sports Highlights:
**The Boys' Bowling Team placed 8th at the Illinois State Tournament help in St. Clair, IL. The team consisted of Jason Kryst, Chris Unger, Patryk Bec, Charlie Kowalski, Nich Swan, and Dan Strubel. The coaching staff included Head Coach Sally Pagnusat, Assistant Coach David Barney.
***Nick Swan placed second overall
***Charlie Kowalski placed thirteenth overall.
*2002 Sports Highlights:
**The Boys' Football Team, coached by John Jackson, clinched the conference championshipin the 2007 season.

Activities

ChoirsDirected by Alanna BrenneisThe Plainfield Central Choirs are divided into three parts-

*Mixed Choir* is open to all students. No previous choir experience necessary. The ensemble performs traditional choral literature at concerts throughout the year. The curriculum is based on basic concepts of vocal fundamentals and music theory. students learn solfege, notational skills and the basics of sight reading. Attendance is required at seasonal evening concerts and after school rehearsals.

~Treble Choir~ is open by audition to women with choral experience; students will be placed with consent from the director. the curriculum is based on intermediate concepts of vocal fundamentals and music theory. Emphasis is placed on sight reading. Students perform choral literature of all styles. Attendance is required at seasonal evening concerts and after school rehearsals throughout the year. Additional required performances and festivals may be scheduled.

*~Concert Choir~* is open by audition to students with a proficiency in vocal and sight reading skills. The curriculum is based on advanced concepts of music theory relation to tonality, vocal technique and sight reading. Attendance is required at seasonal evening concerts and after school rehearsals throughout the year. Additional required performances and festivals may be scheduled. Students are allowed to participate in IMEA.

Co Curricular Choirs

=Wildcats= is an all male ensemble group that performs at concerts through out the year.

" Madrigal Singers" is open by audition to students involved in Concert Choir. Madrigal singers present a madrigal dinner in early December and perform at concerts and community events.

** Jazz Choir** performs at various concerts and activities. Membership is by audition of students involved in a music program.

Bands

The Band Program is under the direction of Dan Valkema (Director of Bands) and Moulee Dutta (Assistant Director of Bands)

*Plainfield Central High School Wildcat Marching Band

2008 Marching Band Show:

*Africa: Ceremony, Song and Ritual -The marching band will be competing at Lake Park High School, Wheaton North High School, Prospect High School, Downers Grove South High School, and Illinois State University in Normal, IL. The Marching Band will also be performing at the annual Plainfield Homecoming Parade and the annual Plainfield, IL Memorial Day Parade.

Past show performances have included:

*The Wind and the Lion and Polovetsian Dances (no show title-2007)-The marching band competed at Lake Park High School, Wheaton North High School, Prospect High School, and University of Illinois Urbana-Champagne. The Marching Band also performed at the Holiday of Lights Parade in Joliet, Illinois (November 2007), the annual Plainfield Homecoming Parade, and the annual Plainfield, Illinois Memorial Day Parade. The program concluded its season with a performance at the Disneyland Resort in Southern California. The parade's selections included music by Paul Simon ("You Can Call Me Al") and The Star Spangled Banner. No Drum Cadence was performed (for timing purposes) after a last minute decision by both the band director and drumline section leader.

*The Music of Paul Simon (2006)-The marching band competed at Amos Alonzo Stagg High School, Wheaton North High School, and Prospect High School with a non-competitive performance at Oswego High School during the 2006-2007 Marching Season. The marching band also performed in the annual Plainfield Homecoming Parade and the annual Plainfield, Illinois Memorial day Parade. The Drumline Section was invited to perform at the Plainfield, Illinois St. Patrick's Day Parade.

*Marching Through the Decades (2005)-The marching band competed at Amos Alonzo Stagg High School and Wheaton North High School with a non-competitive performance at Oswego High School during the 2005-2006 Marching Season. The marching band also performed in the annual Plainfield Homecoming Parade and the annual Plainfield, Illinois Memorial Day Parade. The season concluded with a performance in 2006 at the Walt Disney World Resort. The parade's selections included "Free Ride", "When the Saints go Marching In" (school fight song) and a drum cadence.

*Concert Band

The Concert Band is under the direction of Moulee Dutta

*Symphonic Band

The Symphonic Band is under the direction of Dan Valkema

*Jazz Ensemble 1
*Jazz Ensemble 2 (only for the 2006-2007 school year)
*Pep Band
*Pit Orchestra

Theater

Plainfield Central is well known for its outstanding theater program. Each year, students put on a play in the fall, and then a musical in the spring. In past years, these productions have been directed by English teacher Loretta McCarthy, who retired after the 2007-2008 school year. Mrs. McCarthy has made the decision to direct the November 2008 play. She may or may not direct the musical in March of 2009.

Additionally, Plainfield Central is the only District 202 high school who attends the Illinois High School Theater Association's Theater Fest, which takes place every January. Only students involved in the fall play are eligible to attend the festival.

Fall plays performed in recent years include:
*Up The Down Staircase (2004)
*Madwoman of Chaillot (January 2006, was delayed two months)
*M*A*S*H* (2006)
*My Three Angels (2007)

This year's fall play is The Mousetrap, by Agatha Christie. It will be performed on the 21st and 22nd of November.

Spring musicals of recent years include:
*Bye Bye Birdie (2005)
*Into the Woods (2006)
*Fiddler on the Roof (2007)
*Disney's Beauty and the Beast (2008)

Clubs and Organizations
*Bio Explorations
*Book Club
*Drama Club
*Entrepreneurs
*Fall Play
*FCA
*Fielder (School Newspaper)
*French Club
*German Club
*Green and White Review
*Interact Club
*Key Club
*Math Club
*Multi-Cultural Club
*NHS
*Orchesis
*Scholastic Bowl
*Science Club
*Spanish Club
*Speech
*Spring Musical
*Student Council
*Tri-M
*Yearbook

External links

* [http://www.learningcommunity202.org/phs Official Website]