Mundelein High celebrating 50 years
Mundelein High School's colors are red and gray, but students, staffers and alumni will be in a golden frame of mind this weekend as the school celebrates its 50th anniversary.
A slew of activities, most free to attend, are set for Friday, Saturday and Sunday. A parade, homecoming football games, a rededication ceremony and an evening bash are among the planned festivities.
All the events are open to the public. You don't need to be a Mundelein student, parent or graduate to participate.
“We're using this occasion to celebrate Mundelein High School as part of the community for 50 years,” school board President Karen Havlik said.
Mundelein High opened in fall 1961 with 875 students, far fewer than the roughly 2,100 students enrolled this year.
The school initially was in the same district as Libertyville High School, which had opened decades earlier and had two campuses by 1961.
Before Mundelein High opened, Libertyville High was known as Libertyville-Fremont Township High School. Libertyville High broke away and formed its own district in 1964.
Mundelein High's campus on Hawley Street hasn't changed much through the years. The biggest alteration was a $33 million addition in the mid-1990s that saw the construction of a new library, additional classrooms and other amenities.
Officials bought the nearby Village Green Country Club to use as land for a possible second school building last decade, but changing demographics have put that proposed expansion on indefinite hold. The school still owns the land, however.
School officials and volunteers have been planning the anniversary celebration for two years, Superintendent Jody Ware said.
“We've had so many people involved, from alumni from the first class to students who are designing posters,” Ware said.
Events scheduled for Friday include:
Ÿ Classroom tours from 8 a.m. to noon.
Ÿ A homecoming parade on Hawley Street at 2:45 p.m. Retired Mundelein High guidance department Director Brian Thatcher, the school's first senior class president, will serve as grand marshal.
Ÿ An alumni art show and sale from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. in the cafeteria.
Ÿ Sophomore and varsity homecoming football games against Libertyville High, set for 5 and 7:30 p.m., respectively.
Varsity players will have commemorative decals on their helmets for their game, Ware said.
Thatcher, who spent his entire 35-year professional career at Mundelein High, said being asked to serve as grand marshal was “a real honor and a real surprise.”
“I had a really excellent run at that school, and I didn't have any inclination to change,” said Thatcher, whose son, Paul, is a counselor there now.
Some of Saturday's events will stray off campus. They are:
Ÿ A golf outing at the Village Green Country Club in Mundelein, which starts at 6 a.m.
Ÿ A freshman football game against Libertyville High at 9 a.m.
Ÿ A second art show and sale from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Ÿ A rededication ceremony set for noon.
Ÿ A gathering and jazz band performance in the school courtyard, from noon to 4 p.m.
Ÿ A meeting of the community education and alumni foundation at 1:30 p.m.
Ÿ A party at the Libertyville Sports Complex, from 5 p.m. to midnight. That event is sponsored by an alumni group.
The only event on Sunday's schedule is a second golf outing, also to begin at 6 a.m. at Village Green.
Although a fan of the annual homecoming parade, Havlik said she is looking forward to the rededication ceremony, which will feature the Rev. Philip Blackwell, the school's first valedictorian.
“We're bringing past and present together to show our commitment to the future of Mundelein High School,” Havlik said.
Blackwell now is the senior pastor at the First United Methodist Church at the Chicago Temple. He called the invitation to participate in the ceremony “a very gracious remembrance.”
“The school and the village have grown so much over the last 50 years,” said Blackwell, who added he has visited his hometown a few times in the last year. “That's fun to see.”
Many of the anniversary events are free to attend. Some, like the golf outing and party, require admission fees.
For details about the events, visit the school's website, d120.org. The anniversary celebration has its own Facebook page, facebook.com/MHS50.