Plainfield Central High School

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Plainfield Central High School
Established	1992
Type	Public secondary
Principal	Robert Smith
Students	3000
Grades	9–12
Location	24120 W. Fort Beggs Dr. Plainfield, Illinois, USA
Campus	Suburban
Colors	Forest Green, White
Mascot	Wildcat
Website	learningcommunity202.org/PHS

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.

1 History
2 Athletics
3 Activities
4 External links

[edit] History

The original building was completely destroyed by one of the worst tornadoes in Illinois history. The Plainfield Tornado 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 1992-3 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 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, plat pannel Dell computers. Despite new hardwear, the school's network system will not be upgrated until the 2007-2008 school year concludes. Though, new computer security measures were implemented which blocks 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 2009), 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.

[edit] Athletics

Plainfield Central competes in the Southwest Prairie Conference and Illinois High School Association. is Pikachu. 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.
- 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 and Volunteer Coach Mary 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 championship, before losing in the playoffs.

[edit] Activities

Choirs- Directed by Alanna Brenneis The 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

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.