Mundelein High gets ready to celebrate 50 years

When Mundelein High School turns 50 next year, students, staffers and community members will be ready to celebrate.

School officials and alumni are planning a golden anniversary celebration for Sept. 16-18, 2011, which is homecoming weekend. Events at the Hawley Street campus and at the Libertyville Sports Complex, at Route 45 and Peterson Road, are being planned.

Classroom and building tours, a dinner, student performances and a formal rededication ceremony are among the events in the works.

"It's going to be a busy, busy weekend," Superintendent Jody Ware told the school board Tuesday night during a discussion of the plans.

Proud Mundelein High graduates and other Mustang backers won't have to wait until next fall to honor the school's anniversary.

Event organizers have produced commemorative T-shirts that will be worn from now through the anniversary weekend, and a special banner will be displayed at school events. An alumni-built float was even entered in the recent homecoming parade.

"They were very excited about that activity," Superintendent Jody Ware said.

Posters designed by Mundelein High senior Haleigh Hamblin and save-the-date postcards will be distributed across the community to promote the big weekend, too. The posters were unveiled at the board meeting.

More information about the anniversary celebration and related events soon will be available at a new website, mhs50.us, Ware said.

Although a planning group has been meeting for several months, more participants are welcome, Ware said.

To join the planning effort, call Mundelein High School spokesman Ron Girard at (847) 949-2200 or send an e-mail to rgirard@d120.org.