Plainfield Central High School

Plainfield High School - Central Campus
Location
24120 W. Fort Beggs Dr.
Plainfield, Illinois
USA
Coordinates 41°36′09″N 88°12′23″W / 41.60239°N 88.2064°W / 41.60239; -88.2064Coordinates: 41°36′09″N 88°12′23″W / 41.60239°N 88.2064°W / 41.60239; -88.2064
Information
Type Public secondary
Established 1959
Principal Robert Smith
Grades 9–12
Enrollment 2,174 (2010-2011) [1]
Campus Suburban
Color(s)

Forest Green, White

         
Mascot Wildcat
Website psd202.org/PHS

Plainfield High School - Central Campus, or PHS-CC, is a four-year public high school 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 three other high schools: Plainfield South High School, Plainfield North High School and Plainfield East High School.

Campus history

PHSCC Welcome Sign

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. Had school been in session, casualties could have been even more grave, 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 the 2008-2009 school year, the freshman cafeteria was changed to the senior cafe. Then was changed back to the freshman cafeteria in the 2012-2013 school year.

In 2005, the school constructed a new snack building and restrooms on the south end of the football–track stadium. In 2007, a new home grandstand was constructed, replacing the visitors' seating on the west side of the football field, and the former home grandstand was converted into visitor seating. The new home grandstand was built using only steel, contrasting with the former home seating which was constructed of brick and concrete. The grandstand opening had been planned for the pre-season 'Green and White Night' event, but construction set-backs led to its opening about one month late.

With the addition of a larger home grandstand, shot put and discus fields were relocated further west, behind the new grandstand.

Also in 2007, the faculty installed over 300 high-resolution wireless cameras to monitor the campus. New computer security measures were implemented which block some internet proxy servers, game-related sites, and other sites that the school district felt distracted their students from the educational process (like Wikipedia). The school replaced all its computers and monitors with Dell computers with LCD screens. In the 2008-2009 school year, classroom projectors that could display what was on the current teacher's computer were installed.

On June 9, 2008, severe weather resulted in damage to the tennis court fences and school roof. There were no confirmed reports of a tornado.

Activities

Athletics

Plainfield Central competes in the Southwest Prairie Conference and Illinois High School Association. The school has teams for both boys and girls for most available sports, including golf, bowling, basketball, volleyball, soccer, swimming, tennis, track, and cross-country. A few sports have only teams for girls, including badminton, softball, cheerleading, and poms. Another short list has only teams for boys: baseball, football, wrestling, and hockey.

Despite being able to trace its existence back to 1891, Plainfield Central has never won a Team Illinois State Championship.

Hall of Fame

In the spring of 1998, the high school established its athletic hall of fame to honor athletes, coaches, boosters, and fans who have made significant contributions to the athletic programs. The first class was inducted in 1999.

Year Inductee Contribution
1999 Tom Baker Coach
Kathy Kazmar Coach
Karen Roppa Coach
Clyde Avery Athlete
Scott Davis Athlete
John Ivlow Athlete
Mike Miller Athlete
Dave Needham Athlete
Carol Markwell Volunteer
James Ciarlette Athlete
1937 Football Team
2000 Kathy Cartwright Coach
Chuck Harris Administration
Ben Bates Athlete
Laurie Watters Athlete
2001 Chris Priest Athlete
Jenny (Larson) Smeets Athlete
2002 Carol Bragg Athlete
2003 Michael Zbacnik Coach
2004 Gene Fassiotto Fan/Booster
Don Martin Coach
Laura Nier Athlete
2005 1982 Girls Volleyball Team
2006 Nate Fox Athlete
Cody Salter Athlete
2007 Steve Riederer Coach
Dave Cassetto Athlete
Teresa Coccaro-Keniley Athlete
Chris Traversa Athlete
1953 Football Team
2008 1983 Softball Team
2009 Dave Stephens Coach
2010 2000 Football team

Football

The Wildcats have experienced mixed results in football recently. Coached by 27-year coaching veteran John Jackson. In 2008, the Wildcats went 8-1, including a 7-0 record in the SPC. However, they were upset in the first round in the state playoffs. The Widcats had a rather disappointing 2009 campaign, going 4-5 and missing the playoffs by one game after losing the final contest of the season to the Minooka High School Indians. The decline continued in 2010, when the varsity team went 2-7 for the season. The team rebounded in 2011, finishing the campaign at 5-4, missing the state playoffs by one game after a disappointing week 9 loss to Romeoville High School. The Wildcats improved the next season, finishing the regular season at 6-3 and finally breaking the playoff dry spell. However, their first round game was at the state powerhouse Lincoln-Way East High School Griffins, and the Wildcats lost 47-22. This makes it 10 years since Plainfield Central has won an IHSA State Playoff football game.

Choirs

Directed by Alanna Frederiksen since 2007, the Plainfield Central choir program includes:

Bands

The Band Program is under the direction of Dan Valkema (Director of Bands). The marching program is constantly striving to return it its original competitive marching roots. The 2012 show is entitled The Hood, The Wood, and The Wolf (Originally entitled "Red!") arranged by Leslie Gilreath. The 2012 marching band has competed at AA Stagg High School, where they placed 3rd in class AAA and the color guard was rewarded best in class. They also competed at Wheaton North High School where they placed 2nd in class AAA. In the near future, they will be competing at Prospect High School on September 29 and will be finishing the season at Downers Grove South High School on October 13. The marching band will also be performing at the annual Plainfield Homecoming Parade, and at the annual Plainfield Memorial Day Parade.

2012 Marching Band Show:

2011 Marching Band Show:

2010 Marching Band Show:

Past show performances have included:

The Concert Band is under the direction of Patrick Hoadley and Dan Valkema.

The Symphonic Band is under the direction of Patrick Hoadley

The Wind Ensemble is under the direction of Dan Valkema.

""Co-Curricular Bands""

Every year the Plainfield Band Program presents a festival for local bands called the Plainfield Invitational Concert Band Festival "(PICBF)".

Theater

Each year, students put on a play in the fall, and then a musical in the spring. 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.

Fall plays performed in recent years include:

Spring musicals of recent years include:

Clubs and organizations

References

  1. ↑ http://www.psd202.org/Departments/Trans/2011_ATTENDANCE_ZONE_QA.pdf

External links

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