Palatine High School: Difference between revisions
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==Controversy== |
==Controversy== |
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Palatine High School teachers and teachers from the other four district high schools have reported problems with [[Township High School District 211|District 211]] superintendent, Roger Thornton. According to the Daily Herald, Thornton used $5,000 of the District's money to hire a private investigator to probe an alleged affair between a teacher and her superior. In response, several teachers have noted that a strike |
Palatine High School teachers and teachers from the other four district high schools have reported problems with [[Township High School District 211|District 211]] superintendent, Roger Thornton. According to the Daily Herald, Thornton used $5,000 of the District's money to hire a private investigator to probe an alleged affair between a teacher and her superior. In response, several teachers have noted that a strike was likely when the current contract expired at the end of the 2007-2008 school year as a way to show their disapproval of Thornton, after one was averted in November 2007 over teacher union salaries. However, plans of that happening never came to fruition. |
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On January 14, 2008, the [[Illinois High School Association|IHSA]] announced that it would move forward with a program to test for the presence of performance-enhancing drugs. Many quickly looked to top-ranking District 211 schools, especially PHS and Fremd, to be one of those who led the pack in starting the random drug tests required during regular season athletics. But quite the opposite happened, with backlash against athletic coaches for allegedly supplying athletes (and some say themselves) with substances, including [[growth hormone]]. Many of the coaches at the aforementioned schools, themselves former students of PHS, criticized the IHSA's "flawed" program, saying "these kids can't even get their hands on actual steroids". |
On January 14, 2008, the [[Illinois High School Association|IHSA]] announced that it would move forward with a program to test for the presence of performance-enhancing drugs. Many quickly looked to top-ranking District 211 schools, especially PHS and Fremd, to be one of those who led the pack in starting the random drug tests required during regular season athletics. But quite the opposite happened, with backlash against athletic coaches for allegedly supplying athletes (and some say themselves) with substances, including [[growth hormone]]. Many of the coaches at the aforementioned schools, themselves former students of PHS, criticized the IHSA's "flawed" program, saying "these kids can't even get their hands on actual steroids". |
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Revision as of 20:21, 28 July 2008
Palatine High School is a high school in District 211 in Illinois, located at 1111 N. Rohlwing Rd in Palatine. It serves primarily those areas of Palatine north and east of the C&NW tracks, but also serves as a magnet school for the entire district's special education program. In 2004-2005, enrollment was approximately 2560.
| Palatine High School | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Address | |
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1111 N. Rohlwing Rd. , | |
| Information | |
| Type | Public secondary |
| Established | 1875 |
| Oversight | Township High School District 211 |
| Principal | Gary Steiger |
| Grades | 9-12 |
| Enrollment | 2600 |
| Campus | Suburban |
| Color(s) | Scarlet and grey |
| Mascot | Pirates ("Pirate Pete") |
| Newspaper | Cutlass |
| Yearbook | Spotlight |
| Fine Arts Journal | Face |
| Website | www.phs.d211.org |
History
Palatine High School was founded in 1875, the first public high school in what are now the northwest suburbs of Chicago. Its operation was reorganized into a modern school district in 1914, and in 1928 the high school built its first dedicated school building. It served the entirety of Palatine Township as a public high school, and also admitted paying students from neighboring Schaumburg Township.
In the 1950s, rising enrollments due to suburban expansion and the baby boom caused many changes. Palatine High School's district formally expanded to include Schaumburg Township, two additions were built in rapid succession, and additional school buildings were built in the southwest part of Palatine (William Fremd High School) and in Schaumburg (Conant High School). The student distribution changed as Fremd served as a school for freshmen and sophomores while Palatine High School served juniors and seniors.
Eventually, an aging building and lack of expansion room caused the school to move out of downtown Palatine to its current location in 1977. Portions of the original school building and its additions remain in active use; the auditorium of the original building was renamed Cutting Hall after the high school's first principal, and is now used for a variety of theatrical and musical productions, and the additions now house the Palatine police's headquarters, Village Hall, and the Palatine Park District.
The new school building on Rohlwing Road continues in active service, and has received a few facelifts and additions over the years. Most recently, a major physical education addition was added in 1997, and a new math/foreign language wing was completed in 2003.
Academics
In 2004, Palatine had an average composite ACT score of 21.1, compared to the statewide composite of 20.0.
Members of the 2004 graduating class were awarded over $589,000. PHS had 83 Illinois State Scholars in 2004.
Controversy
Palatine High School teachers and teachers from the other four district high schools have reported problems with District 211 superintendent, Roger Thornton. According to the Daily Herald, Thornton used $5,000 of the District's money to hire a private investigator to probe an alleged affair between a teacher and her superior. In response, several teachers have noted that a strike was likely when the current contract expired at the end of the 2007-2008 school year as a way to show their disapproval of Thornton, after one was averted in November 2007 over teacher union salaries. However, plans of that happening never came to fruition.
On January 14, 2008, the IHSA announced that it would move forward with a program to test for the presence of performance-enhancing drugs. Many quickly looked to top-ranking District 211 schools, especially PHS and Fremd, to be one of those who led the pack in starting the random drug tests required during regular season athletics. But quite the opposite happened, with backlash against athletic coaches for allegedly supplying athletes (and some say themselves) with substances, including growth hormone. Many of the coaches at the aforementioned schools, themselves former students of PHS, criticized the IHSA's "flawed" program, saying "these kids can't even get their hands on actual steroids".
Also equally as disturbing is the rumored presence of street gangs recruiting students dropping out of school to pursue violent activities. Gang graffiti has been seen in the hallways and bathroom stalls, and several arrests have been made due to fights. Police force is prevalent throughout the school, increased since the Northern Illinois University shooting, but many say police liaison officers provided to PHS have been on the take from various local gangs. The student body maintains that an oppressive police force will only provide dealers and violence with a place to root. Also there were two threats made in April and May 2008, the first a bomb threat, second after threatening graffiti was found in a bathroom stall and many prominent security provisions have been made.
Athletics
Palatine is a member of the Mid-Suburban League along with Barrington High School, District 214, and the rest of District 211. The Palatine teams are known as the Pirates, and the team's mascot (starting in 1959) is Pirate Pete. It has a strong athletic program that places well at the state level in a number of different sports, including cross country (both boys' and girls'), girls' bowling, girls' track, girls' gymnastics, and boys' lacrosse. The pirates placed 3rd at the 2007 IHSA boys cross country meet. Palatine's most recent state championship was in the spring of 2007 when the boys gymnastics team took 1st place. Palatine's main rival is William Fremd High School.
Fight Song
(to the tune of Illinois Loyalty)
Eat 'em up! Eat 'em up!
Rah, Rah, Rah!
We're loyal to you, Palatine
We're scarlet and gray, Palatine.
We'll back you to stand
'Gainst the best in the land
For we know you have sand, Palatine.
Rah, Rah!
So smash out that ball, Palatine
We're backing you all, Palatine.
Our team is the famed protector,
Onward for we expect a victory
from you, Palatine.
P-I-R-A-T-E-S,
PIRATES, PIRATES,
GOOOOOOOO! PIRATES!
Awards
In 1993, Palatine received the Department of Education's Blue Ribbon Award.
Peer Mediation, a district wide program for the resolution of peer conflicts by peer interventions, won the 1999 Peaceleader Award from the Illinois Center for the Prevention of Violence.
In 2000, Palatine High School received the most prestigious award given by the Department of Education, the New American High School Award. Palatine was one of only 10 schools in the nation to receive this designation that year, and one of 30 to be honored from 1996 to 2000.
in 2008, Palatine High School was ranked 1102 out of 1300 of the best public high schools in the United States by Newsweek magazine.
Mission
To continue our tradition of excellence, our mission is to inspire all students to become lifelong learners who will successfully participate in our changing world.[1]
We believe that:
- Everyone deserves to be valued and respected
- Everyone can learn
- Everyone is entitled to a safe, friendly environment
- Everyone should experience satisfying and meaningful work
- Everyone shares the responsibility to contribute to a clean, healthy environment
- Everyone should be encouraged to become an integral part of the school environment by participating in school related activities
- Everyone can achieve goals through a commitment to quality work
Therefore our goals are:
- To teach the skills necessary for problem solving and decision making
- To foster critical inquiry, analysis and creativity
- To promote an environment of cooperation and collaboration
- To encourage a commitment to active and responsible citizenship
- To build partnerships among school, family and community
- To respect diversity, recognize commonalities and celebrate unity
- To provide a variety of activities for a diverse student population
Notable alumni
- Carol Marin, journalist, former TV news anchor, print columnist
- Kevin McKenna, former Los Angeles Laker and current head men's basketball coach at Indiana State University
- Rita Mullins, current Palatine mayor
- Justine Salva, up-and-coming female rapper
- Andrew 'Butch' Biela, baseball player for the Pittsburgh Pirates