Central Bucks High School West
Central Bucks West High School is the oldest of the three Central Bucks High Schools. It is located in the town of Doylestown, PA. It was constructed as the successor to Doylestown High School, after the latter burnt down in the late 30's.
Renovations
CB West has been in a continuous state of renovation since early 2005. The locker rooms, the choir room, the band rooms, the gyms, the lobby, and a side entrance have all been renovated thus far. Renovations to the lobby, a popular gathering place for students, have been met with mixed reviews, as some see the new lobby as "too flashy."
According to rumors among the student body supposedly originating with the administration, there are plans to renovate the front entrance of West, possibly including the removal of the stoop and four square court sidewalk blocks. Though no official surveys of student opinion have been taken, it can be assumed that any renovations to this part of the campus will be met with displeasure due to its status as a popular forum of student interaction.
Choir
The Central Bucks West High School choir is one of the best high school choir programs in the country. The choir has sung in front of major world leaders such as Nelson Mandela and Former President Bill Clinton. The choirs have sang across the United States as well as in Canada and Europe. The choir, with the help of its famed director Dr. Joseph Ohrt, plans a spring trip every year to a major city. They perform in all of the major venues of that city and finish the four day trip with a major concert. In 2005, the choir traveled to Chicago, IL. 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 15 new pieces of modern choral music created by major Chicago composers. In 2006, the choir plans to go to Toronto, where they will be hosting a summit for some of the major composers from across the country of Canada.
Band
The Central Bucks Marching Bucks [1] is an award winning marching band. They have traveled across the United States to compete in many competitions and have been very successful. Other school bands at West include Concert Band, Symphonic Band, Central Bucks Jazz West, and the Indoor Drumline. Most school bands are led by Ed Protzman.
West Model Congress
The CB West annual Model Congress is a district wide event held at CB West each December. Hosted by the World Affairs Club at West, Model Congress is a day-long event where the students are assigned a representative and bills are put through the legislative process. It is a very successful event each year.
Four Square
CB West is renowned as one of the premiere locations in Doylestown for playing Four Square. Any day during and after school, during any season, in any weather, students can be seen playing games that range from competitively violent to friendly and gentle. Four Square maintains its status as the leading pastime of the lunchtime culture which includes a variety of different aspects. The Four Square Court is located at the main entrance of the building, consisting of 4 fairly large cement squares of equal size. At least 13 four square balls have been roofed throughout the 2005-2006 school year. Doyle Elementary is a proud partner in supplying an everlasting cache of Voit 8.5" Red Recess balls for Four Square use. The favored ball of use is currently a Black 8.5" 8-Ball Design sphere by Franklin.
Bomb Threats
Between January to March of 2006, three different bomb threats were found in various bathrooms at CB West. Central Bucks School District brought in bomb-sniffing dogs, at an expense of over $20,000 total. On March 15, 2006, the school iniated a lock-down on the school during school hours, preventing students from going anywhere without a pass. Though it was evident that some drastic action had to be taken to ensure the safety of students and staff and to facilitate the apprehension of the offender, these measures were viewed as harsh and unjustified by many students. These regulations have since been rescinded, with one exception: students are now required to have a handwritten pass from a teacher whenever they leave class.
A 15 year old girl was arrested March 17th, 2006 in connection with the bomb threats at CB West. [2]
The Tunnel
Central Bucks West High School, in addition to being a fine academic establishment, has also played an invaluable role in keeping our nation safe and preserving freedom, as it was the site of an extensive bomb shelter in parts of the 20th century. The shelter, now an all-but-abandoned and dirt-floored basement, is said to be one entrance to a legendary tunnel connecting the school to the Bucks County Courthouse and Doylestown Hospital, both some distance away. Several North American explorers have embarked on a series of missions to unearth this tunnel, but such scientific endeavors are unauthorized by the Yellow Shirts and therefore progress is slow. In addition, there is rumored to be a Harlequin Club/Stage Crew room in the bomb shelter where occult ceremonies are held. This tunnel continues to be in the thoughts of many current CB West students and alumni.
Central Bucks West Football
For many years Central Bucks West was regarded as one of the nation's top high school football programs. Under legendary 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. In addition to the success seen during the 1990s, West football was a dominant program in the 70s and 80s as well. Unfortunately, Pennsylvania did not hold a state championship football tournament until the late 80s, but various newspapers across the state voted the Bucks as the "mythical" state champions several times during those years. In recent years, the creation of a third district high school, Central Bucks South, has served to drain CB West of much of its talent base, and recent seasons have seen limited success.