ST. CHARLES EAST HIGH SCHOOL

'Saint Charles East High School' is a public four-year high school located in St. Charles, Illinois, a western suburb of Chicago, Illinois, in the United States. It is part of Community Unit School District 303 which also includes Saint Charles North High School.

Contents

History

Academics

Activites

Athletics

Notable Alumni

External links

History

St. Charles East High School located at 1020 Dunham Road in St. Charles was originally know as St. Charles High School. Prior to moving to this location in the late 1970s the high school was located on the west side of town in what is now known as Thompson Middle School located at the corners of Seventh and Main Street in Saint Charles. Before the year 2000, one high school served all students within the District 303 boundaries at which time St. Charles North was established to accommodate the rapidly growing student population in St. Charles. The first graduating class in District 303 to be split between two high schools graduated in 2003.
The Saint Charles East High School campus includes the Norris Cultural Arts Center, and the Norris Recreational Center.[1] These facilities were established to serve not only the high school but the community as well. The Dellora A. Norris Cultural Arts Center, a 1,000-seat performing arts theater and art gallery, was founded in 1978 with funding from the St. Charles Charities, which was created in 1924 by Lester and Dellora Norris and Edward Baker.
During spring break in 2001, a very serious mold problem was discovered at the campus and was determined to be the source of some student illnesses. The mold had been reported on by student Jeanette Quinn in an article in the school paper back in the 1989. The teacher that she interviewed stated that a few of his students became nauseous in his classroom due to a foul odor. However, no conclusive evidence was found connecting the moldy odor to the students' illnesses.
In 2001 the whole building was shut down and the students received an extra two weeks of spring break while officials determined how to take care of the situation. For the rest of the 2001 school year, St. Charles East students shared a split-schedule with St. Charles North High School. East students attended class at the North campus during the morning, while North students went during the afternoon. During the summer of 2001 through the next school year, the school underwent an enormous renovation. For the entire 2001-2002 school year, the current students had to take classes in the adjacent Wredling Middle School building and mobile classrooms surrounding it (brought in specifically to accommodate the larger student body). Meanwhile, the Wredling Middle School students took classes in mobile classrooms parked in a field between Haines and Thompson Middle Schools. Classes resumed their normal locations and schedules the following school year (2002-2003). This event caught the attention and cameras of local and national news organizations on more than one occasion throughout the year.''Chicago Daily Herald'', "Legacy defined by mold crisis Parents, colleagues split on retired superintendent's performance in St. Charles", by Lisa Smith, July 4, 2004.

Academics

In 2005, Saint Charles East had an average composite ACT score of 21.5 and graduated 100.0% of its senior class. The average class size is 24.5. Saint Charles East has made Adequate Yearly Progress on the Prairie State Achievements Examination, a state test part of the No Child Left Behind Act.^[1]

Activites

Saint Charles East offers dozens of activities, including: Theatre, Orchestra, Jazz Band Wind Ensemble, Marching Band, Auto Club and National Honor Society.

Athletics

Saint Charles East has 29 athletic teams, of 14 boys and 15 girls teams, which compete in the Upstate Eight Conference and Illinois High School Association. Saint Charles East's mascot is Sir Charles the Great. In the 1998-1999 school year St. Charles East set a IHSA State Record for most State Championships won by a school with a total of 6 (not including Color guard or Drill team).
St. Charles East has also been the recipient of 9 state class AAA colorguard titles and 11 Drill team titles within the past 12 years. The colorguard is under the current direction of Johnni Zabka.
In 1979, the fledgling St. Charles High School Boy's Swim Team won their first state championship, breaking a streak of 12 in a row by Hinsdale Central. Throughout the 80's, St. Charles dominated IHSA Swimming, winning in 1980, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985 and 1986. They were runners up in 1987, 1988, and 1990.
At one time, inferiors were hung at the city limits next to the population sign that stated, ''"Welcome to St. Charles, State Capital of Illinois High School Swimming for the 80s." '' There were also championship wins in swimming in 1993, 1997 and 1999.
'School Fight Song'
''Heres to St. Charles [East] High School''

''Bring victory back

''Heres to our colors

''the orange and the Black

''RAH RAH RAH
''Heres to all the fellows

''Who bear our name

''Fighting to defeat the foe

''And win this game

''RAH RAH RAH

''RAH RAH RAH

''RAH RAH RAH

''RAH RAH RAH

''RAH RAH RAH

''RAH RAH RAH

''St. Charles EAST''

The 2005 football team, made history by beating crosstown rival, the St. Charles North "North Stars", for the season finale and the first round of the playoffs. Putting the original St. Charles football program back on the map and into the playoffs.
The St. Charles East Wrestling program as well as the Track and Field team are the only current sports to be undefeated against the St. Charles North "North Stars".

Notable Alumni

★ Bobby Conn, Chicago musician/musical artist

★ Marci Jobson, US women's international soccer player and coach at Northern Illinois University^[2]

★ Randy Wright, Former Wisconsin Badgers QB who played professionally for the Green Bay Packers and the Dallas Cowboys.

External links

★ Official website

★ Color Guard