Central Bucks High School West
| Central Bucks High School West | |
|---|---|
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| Address | |
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375 West Court Street , Pennsylvania 18901 | |
| Information | |
| Type | Public Co-Ed Secondary |
| Established | 1953 |
| Principal | J. Kevin Munnelly |
| Grades | 10-12 |
| Enrollment | 1300 |
| Color(s) | Black and Gold |
| Mascot | The Buck |
| Website | http://www1.cbsd.org/schools/cbwest/Pages/Default.aspx |
Central Bucks High School West is the oldest of the three high schools in Central Bucks School District. It is located in the Borough of Doylestown, Pennsylvania in Bucks County. It was constructed as the successor to Doylestown High School, which had burned down. CB West pulls its students from Doylestown, Chalfont, New Britain Township, Plumsteadville, Plumstead Township. Students come from Lenape Middle School and Tohickon Middle School. Its sister schools are Central Bucks High School East and the newer Central Bucks High School South.
Middle Bucks Institute of Technology
CB West (as well as the other CB high schools, Council Rock, and Centennial School Districts) has a partnership with the Middle Bucks Institute of Technology. This partnership allows students the opportunity to spend half of their school day in traditional classes on the main campus, and half of the day studying their chosen vocation at MBIT. Clusters include, Architecture and Construction, Arts, A/V Technology and Communications, Health Science, Hospitality and Tourism, Human Services, Information Technology, Law, Public Safety and Security, Science, Mathematics, Technology and Engineering, Transportation, Distribution, and Logistics. After completion of the program, students are ready and able to join the workforce.
Facilities
Renovations
A wing was added along the W. Court Street face in 1996. At the same time the cafeteria and library were significantly modified and expanded. CB West has been in a continuous state of renovation from 2005-2010. The library, nurse's and guidance offices, front entrance, and academic classrooms have since been renovated.
Clocktower and Courtyard
The clocktower of Central Bucks West is the single architectural landmark that distinguishes it from other facilities within the district. Access to the clocktower is limited as its single entrance is locked a majority of the year. Classes were once held in the clocktower, but due to its limited access, it has been considered a potential trap in the event of a fire or emergency. Directly in front of the clocktower is a court yard where many students eat lunch, play games, and spend their study halls.
Athletic field
Central Buck's West War Memorial Field was resurfaced with an astroturf material over the summer of 2006, replacing the grass previously covering the field. War Memorial field and stadium are part of War Memorial Park, owned by the Borough of Doylestown, and are leased to the Central Bucks School District. It also serves as the home field for Central Bucks High School East. During the American Civil War, the area now utilized as athletic fields had served as a drill field and encampment for union troops."McClellan Rangers Reenactment Association".
Student activities
CB West offers many clubs, including:
Student Council, Student Government Organization, Future Business Leaders of America, the World Affairs Club, Crossroads Christian Club, Gay-Straight Alliance, Heifer International, Art Club, Harlequin Club, National Honor Society, Key Club, Yearbook Club, Student Leadership Council, Cooking for the Homeless, Quidditch Club, Philosophy Club, Newspaper Club (Court Street Press), Ultimate Frisbee Club, Technology Student Association, Ski Club, Computer Game Programming Club, West Graphix Group, Families in Need, Fencing Club, the Democratic Club, the Young Republicans Club, Environmental Club, Guitar Club, Spanish National Honor Society, French National Honor Society, German National Honor Society, Latin National Honor Society, Russian Colloquium, Break Dancing Club, Junior Classical League, Future Doctors of America, Science Olympiad Team, Scholars Bowl, Adopt-a-Highway, and the Poet's Society.
Choir
The choir has sung for major world leaders such as Nelson Mandela and Former President Bill Clinton[1]. The choirs have sung across the United States as well as in Canada and Europe. The choir, with the help of its director Dr. Joseph Ohrt, plans a Spring trip every year to a major city. They perform in major venues of that city and finish the four-day trip with a major concert. In 2005, the choir traveled to Chicago. They performed in some of the major cathedrals and performing spaces in the city of Chicago including Theodore Thomas Orchestra Hall. At the end of the trip, the choir performed a concert at Fourth Presbyterian Church in the heart of Chicago and premiered fifteen new pieces of modern choral music created by major Chicago composers. In 2006, the choir went to Toronto, where they hosted a summit for some of the major composers from across the country of Canada. Premieres included new music from Stephen Hatfield, Eleanor Daley, Stephen Chapmen, John Burrage, and other Canadian composers as well as some Central Bucks West graduates.
On September 20, 2006, the Central Bucks West Chamber Choir sang the National Anthem at a baseball game in Philadelphia between the Philadelphia Phillies and the Chicago Cubs.
In 2007, the choir traveled to Baltimore, Maryland and Washington, D.C. for their yearly trip where they were joined by the composer Jaakko Mäntyjärvi of Finland and conductor Charles Bruffy of the Kansas City Chorale and the Phoenix Bach Choir.
In the fall of 2007, the choir worked with members of the Broadway cast of Les Misérables to do a reading of Amazing Grace: The True Story, a new musical.
In 2008, the choir traveled to South Carolina and Hartford, Connecticut.
In 2009, the choir traveled to Montréal, Canada. Their itinerary includes the Basilique Notre-Dame de Montréal, Oratoire Saint-Joseph du Mont-Royal, Orchestre Symphonie des Jeunes de Montréal, and McGill University.
In 2010, the choir traveled to Nashville, Tennessee.
Band
The Central Bucks High School West Band, directed by Neil Delson, is a nationally recognized music program that has been invited to perform at premiere venues around the United States and the World, including Avery Fischer Hall at the Lincoln Center in New York City Symphony Center in San Francisco, and the Olympic Cultural Festival in China (spring 2008.) The top wind ensemble has consistently won top ratings at YEA and PA Band Master's Association Concert Band Festivals. They have also performed under the direction of distinguished conductors, including Dr. Denis Glocke from Penn State University and Dr. Robert Streckfuss from the University of Delaware. The Central Bucks West High School Band has also been fortunate enough to have many of its students participate in the Pennsylvania Music Educators' Association honors ensembles, including Districts, Regions, and All-States bands and orchestras.
The competitive jazz ensemble, "Jazz West", has consistently received accolades for both its ensemble sections and individual soloists. They have also hosted several concerts featuring world-renowned guest soloists, including Neil Wetzel, Assistant Professor and Director of Jazz Studies at Moravian College, and Terell Stafford, Professor of Music and Director of Jazz Studies at Temple University.
The CB West Marching Bucks, the marching ensemble at CB West, currently under the direction of Mr. Robert Pacitti, has also enjoyed great success throughout the years being invited to march in many major venues and stadiums across the nation. In 2003 and 2004 the Marching Bucks were the PA State Champions in the United States Scholastic Band Association. In 2004 and 2005 the band had the privilege to march 3 times in M&T Stadium in Baltimore, Maryland., and Giant Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, where they were the Yamaha Cup Champions twice and the Mid-Atlantic Champions once. In 2006 they came in 4th place at the USSBA National Championships, in Maryland. In 2006, the band joined the highly competitive Tournament of Bands association and rose to become the Silver Medalist in Group III competition in 2008, and was the Silver Medalist and High Auxliary winner in Group II in 2009. In addition to its outdoor ensemble, CB West runs a highly acclaimed indoor colorguard, also under the direction of Mr. Pacitti which in 2006 became the Keystone Indoor Drill Association Champions, the TIA 2008 Novice A Silver Medalist, the 2009 Intermediate A Champion, and the 2010 National A Class Champion becoming the first guard in the history of Tournament Indoor Association to medal from Novice to National class consecutively. The program has won every Tournament of Bands and Tournament Indoor Association Chapter Championship it has attended since 2006.
Student Government Organization
One of the schools clubs is the Student Government Organization, or simply SGO. The Organization consists of a general assembly of about 80 students, and is headed by a board of five officers. The entire assembly participates in the twice-monthly meetings. SGO is responsible for many events at the school, including the annual Girls Powderpuff football game, a Winter Formal Dance. SGO also organizes the Washington Project, an annual winter service trip to the George Washington School located in Philadelphia
World Affairs Club
The Central Bucks High School West World Affairs Club has been known as one of the most respected scholastic institutions in Central Bucks High School West. The Club is a forum for students to meet and discuss current events, foreign affairs, and international news. During the course of Club meetings, members learn how to proficiently debate and write bills and resolutions, and display their skills by representing C.B. West in the district wide Model Congress and Model United Nations. Club meetings are completely student led with the purpose of fostering a greater understanding of civics and governance among West students.
Athletics
Central Bucks West offers the following sports teams:
Girls: Field Hockey, Volleyball, Tennis, Cheerleading, Cross Country, Basketball, Swimming/Diving, Track (winter and spring), Lacrosse, Softball, Soccer,
Boys: Football, Soccer, Cross Country, Golf, Ice Hockey, Swimming/Diving, Basketball, Track (winter and spring), Wrestling, Baseball, Lacrosse, Tennis, Volleyball
Football
Since the mid-1980s, the Central Bucks West football team has often been ranked by USA Today as one of the top ten high school football teams.[1] Under coach Mike Pettine, now retired, the Bucks won the Pennsylvania state championship four times in the 90's (1991, 1997, 1998, 1999), and hold a Pennsylvania record of 59 straight wins. The streak was broken with an overtime loss to Erie Cathedral Prep in the 2000 state title game. CB West's 1999 championship win was forever immortalized in the documentary "The Last Game." The title of the documentary is remarkably apt, as soon afterward, the team began its current slump. In the 2005 season, CB West recorded its first losing season in team history. In 2010, they made the playoffs for the first time in a long time.
Girls' soccer
The Central Bucks West girls' soccer team has proven itself to be one of the most successful spring soccer programs in the state of Pennsylvania. The Lady Bucks have captured 7 state titles during the first 15 years the Pennsylvania state playoff system has been in existence. West has won almost each time they have made it to the finals, with titles in 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2003, 2006, and 2007. They lost in the state championship 1-0 on a penalty kick in 2008 to the Central Dauphin Rams.
Distinguished Students
Graduates of Doylestown High School
- Margaret Mead, Anthropologist
- James A. Michener, Novelist
Notable students of Central Bucks West
- Pink, Born Alecia Beth Moore September 8, 1979, two time Grammy Award-winning American singer-songwriter who first gained prominence in early January 2000. She attended CB West before dropping out during her sophomore year, and going on to sell more than 30 million albums and over 25 million combined single sales worldwide.
- Timothy Stack, Actor, (TV) Night Stand, Son of the Beach, (film) Cast Away, Brave Little Toaster series, Scary Movie 3, My Name is Earl.
- Jarl Mohn, aka Lee Masters, founding President and Chief Executive Officer of Liberty Digital from January 1999 to April 2002. Prior to Liberty Digital, Mr. Mohn created E! Entertainment Television, serving as President and Chief Executive Officer for E! from January 1990 to December 1998. Before founding E!, Mr. Mohn was Executive Vice President and General Manager of MTV.
- Fred Fielding, held the office of White House Counsel for U.S. Presidents Ronald Reagan and George W. Bush. In April 2003, a team of journalism students taught by William Gaines conducted a detailed review of source materials, leading them to conclude that Fielding was Deep Throat, the unnamed source for articles written by Washington Post reporters Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein. Many years previously, former White House Chief of Staff for Richard Nixon, H. R. Haldeman, also concluded that Fielding was Deep Throat.[citation needed]
- Mike Pettine, Defensive Coordinator for the New York Jets of the NFL.
- Jon Hensley, actor best-known for his role as Holden Snyder on As the World Turns.
- Al Holbert, American automobile racing driver who was a five-time champion of the IMSA Camel GT series.
- Scott Green, Current NFL Official, he has been with the league since 1991 and served as Head Referee for Super Bowl XLIV on February 7, 2010.
References
- ^ USA Today (2006). Preps: Year-by-year final football rankings 1982-2005. Accessed 19 March 2007.