Principal takes fond look back at some LHS memories
• The following is part of an ongoing series of articles in celebration of Libertyville High School's 100th anniversary.
I remember walking into the gym for my first football pep rally on a Friday afternoon in early September. It was difficult to walk to the speaker's podium because the 600 freshmen from the Brainerd building were sitting on the gym floor. The gym was absolutely packed. Yes, we were overcrowded beyond belief. Walking down the hall between periods was like walking to the concession stand at halftime during a Bears-Packers game at Soldier Field. Fortunately, in the early fall, we passed a building referendum to expand LHS and build a second high school. Two years later we opened Vernon Hills High School, and today we have two outstanding high schools in District 128.
Most of the new construction at LHS took place during the summer and it was a nightmare. The construction crew went on a short strike. There were many delays, the work fell behind schedule, and there was a problem nearly every day. The school was scheduled to open the day after Labor Day, and we failed the final inspection the Friday before Labor Day. The scene on that Friday was horrific. Wires were dangling from the ceiling; construction materials were spewed throughout the building; dirt and dust were everywhere. Then a miracle happened: The construction company moved in like a SEAL team on a mission. They brought in a whole battalion of workers and our maintenance crew did what they always did: their very best! We passed our final inspection late on Labor Day and welcomed students on Tuesday morning. The job was complete.
During the planning stage for the new addition, the architect submitted three different designs for the front entrance of the building. We decided to let the students vote for their favorite design. The school board supported the students and confirmed their choice. I would like to thank the faculty, staff, administrators, and especially the department supervisors for their dedicated work in planning not only the LHS renovation and new addition, but also their work in planning the design for the new high school in Vernon Hills.
Seniors at that time, do you remember parking on the outdoor track? We lost many parking spaces during the construction because space was needed for the construction equipment and materials. The following summer we built a new track and super turf football field. That fall, we had football under the lights for the first time. Thousands of fans attended the first games. Remember the grilled hamburgers?
Among the most important elements of a successful high school are parent and community support. Our Parent CATS organization stepped up to the plate. They raised funds to buy additional equipment for the school and volunteered countless hours to support our staff and students. Community members built the football locker rooms and meeting room adjacent to the football field and renovated the baseball field.
Students excelled in all walks of school life. Their ACT scores increased every year. Our top graduates enrolled in the top universities throughout the country. Our music program was number one in the state. Our pep band at the basketball games sounded like Jay Leno's band. I remember attending an orchestra concert. There were almost 100 musicians on the stage for the first set. When they finished playing, the whole audience stood up and applauded. This was remarkable because it was the freshman orchestra. The math team won state over and over again. Our physics program won high national acclaim. Many other programs achieved unbelievable success and state recognition. I highlighted their accomplishments during the graduation ceremony at Northwestern University and it took almost 20 minutes to read the complete list!
Our students are so smart and they can play ball! Our girls' soccer team won state. I think they were un-scored upon during the entire playoff tournament. Then the boys' football team won state. Their only loss in 2003 was the state championship game in double overtime. In 2004 they were undefeated and won state. Girls' soccer and boys' football players from that era, do you still have your championship rings? Do you remember the pink flamingos on the sideline at each football game? Each flamingo represented a football victory. We had a lot of flamingos during those years.
Do you remember the first year of period-by-period attendance taking, First Class during third period, Student of the Month celebrations, pizza with the administrators, the Starfish banquet, and Paczki Day (Polish doughnut day)? The Student Council-sponsored blood drive and canned food drive at Thanksgiving? Remember the human conveyor belt line packing the huge semitrailer with food for the needy? First Class sponsored the Christmas gift and dinner program. We invited over 100 needy families for Christmas dinner in the cafeteria. Students, faculty, and staff donated money and students from each class went shopping to buy presents for each family member. They purchased so many gifts we had to distribute them from the field house. Students even used their own cars to help transport the many gifts to the homes of our guests. Student Council and the First Class program supported the needy in our surrounding community with their wallets and, most importantly, their hearts. Bravo!
In conclusion, I have to say our faculty is awesome; our staff is awesome; our students are awesome, our parents and community are awesome; our central office and our school board are awesome … and I know all of these groups would join me in saying: "We Are All So Proud!"