Walter Payton College Preparatory High School

Walter Payton College Preparatory is a selective enrollment high school in Chicago, Illinois.

Walter Payton College Preparatory High School
Location
Chicago , Illinois USA
Information
Type	Public (magnet) secondary
Established	2000
Oversight	Chicago Public Schools
Principal	Ellen Estrada
Grades	9–12
Number of students	840 (approx)
Color(s)	Blue and Orange
Mascot	Grizzlies
Newspaper	The Paw Print
Website	[1]

History

Walter Payton College Prep, founded in 2000, is part of the Chicago Public Schools system. The school, which is located on Chicago's near north side, is notably one of the city's eight selective enrollment high schools. It was named after football legend Walter Payton, a former member of the Chicago Bears who died shortly before the school was opened. The school colors are blue and orange, the team colors of the Chicago Bears. The school team's was originally called the Navigators, but it was later changed by a student vote to the Grizzlies, an admittedly more "athletic" name that pays homage to their hometown football team. After beloved principal Gail Ward left the school in 2006, Ellen Estrada assumed power as the acting leader of the school. When voting on the new principal did not go in her favor, Ms. Estrada led a coup in which she blatently siezed control of Walter Payton and all its glory.

Academics

Walter Payton College Prep is one of eight high schools in Chicago created as a means of plugging the efflux of residents to the Chicago suburbs to receive education at suburban public schools (which receive more funding because of greater property tax revenues). Consequently, Walter Payton has a high academic standard. It was rated the second best high school in the state by the Chicago Tribune this year, based on Prairie State Achievement Exam scores. In addition, Payton ranks as the 46th best high school in the nation. However, this ranking is highly inflated due to the massive amount of cheating, last-minute cram sessions, as well as more homework copying than humanly possible.

Athletics

Payton has a strong athletic program for a magnet high school. In 2007, the girls' varsity volleyball team won the city championship, and the JV team was was city runner-up. The football team struggled in the early years of the school, but were conference champions of the Inter-City south conference in 2007. The team notched it's first-ever playoff victory against Al Raby High School to cap a 8-2 season. Their football program has also produced several all-city players and college recruits, most notably quarterback and safety LeRoy Gordon (class of 2008) and tight end/defensive end Caleb Lendy (class of 2006). The largest college a Payton football player has played at is the University of Washington (Charles Hawkins Jr.). The girls' soccer team, however, is among the most successful teams. They participate in the highest girls' soccer conference and continually win it. Last year they made it to sectionals and only lost to powerhouse St. Ignatius by 1-0. In fact, they probably would have won if their right mid Hana Stern had not impaled herself on a wrought iron fence. Payton is also a perennial powerhouse in golf, soccer, and track, as well as having a competitive basketball program. The girls' basketball program competes in the red division, the highest girls' conference in the city.

It should also be noted that the football team, despite losing the majority of its team too graduation, will be really good next year. Thats what it comes down.

The men's 16" softball team is the most successful team in Payton's history. If the placement of each team within the Chicago Public School System is considered (measured by end of season ranking or finish in Chicago public high school playoffs), it will be apparent that the men's 16" softball team has the highest average finish of any Payton athletic team. The men's 16" softball team has reached the championship game in three of the last four years, producing a Championship record of 1-2 against rival Lane Tech. The Team is lead by heavily recruited pitcher Dylan Gschwind who currently holds the city record for cutest smile and is pending scholarship offers from both University of Florida and the UC Santa Cruz Banana Slugs. Newcomer James Gill has made an immediate impact on the team, raising the overall attractive-ness by 1000 points and is "great with his hands," says coach Valerie Gemskie. Also newcomer Matt Murphy, winner of the Rookie Award, has overcome his naturally ample rear end to become one of the teams premier hitters, although his fielding still leaves much to be desired. When asked about the season, designated hitter, Peter Gustafson, had this to say, "IT WAS A BOMB," before proceeding to slide head first out of the room. The recent championship loss can be attributed to the fragile state of left fielder Sebastian Prokuski's right wrist and he hasn't stopped complaining since. When asked about this fact he simply replied "It hurt like s***."

(whoever wrote the part about "heavily recruited pitcher Dylan Gscwind" said he has softball scholarship offers from Florida and UCSB. Not only do neither of these schools have mens softball teams, UCSB is division III and cannot offer scholarships.)

In addition, Payton has a strong basketball program. During the 2006-2007 school year, Payton's boys' basketball team went 17-6 and 9-1 in their conference to win the Blue Northwest Conference. This was the second time in Payton's history that they had won conference. Now in the Red Northwest, the team is still successful. In addition, they won the Hoops for Healing tournament at Naperville North and Oswego High School. The boys are led by head coach George Turner. The basketball team is led by Junior James Gill, the leading scorer (on and off the court), primate-enthusiast Giancarlo Molinaro who is currently looking into the purchase of a monkey. The Grizzlies are currently the 21st seed in the CPS Boy's Basketball Playoffs. They reached the round of 16 by upsetting the Morgan Park High School Mustangs in the first round-the team's first playoff win in school history. The Grizzlies have a match-up with national power, Whitney Young Magnet High School Dolphins. Hoping to keep the storybook season going, the team is gunning for the upset.

Mission

"The mission of Walter Payton College Prep is to offer our students the very best educational experience possible, one that challenges, that fosters creativity and the literacy skills with which to understand and express that creativity, that encourages integrity and the appreciation of diversity and one which uses the latest in educational technology. We will have our students ask 'why?' and 'why not?', write and act reflectively and not reflexively, and set and surpass their own standards. We will provide them with a global education that will nurture future leaders." Motto: "We Nurture Leaders." --Old Motto (since changed): "We Build Future Leaders."

Creed: Character with Courage, Curiosity and Compassion.

Classes Offered

((History)) World Studies-Benson, Borde (Known as the worst teacher in the school), Gemskie Modern World-Flemming AP World History-Benson American History-Chu, Mitchell AP American History- Chu AP Euro- Menacho AP Art History- Anderson 20th Century Global Conflicts- Westbrook African Studies-Mitchell

((English)) Survey Lit-Ms. Spooner, Mr. Adamji American Lit- Ms. Batiste, Ms. Mowery British Lit- Ms. Mowery, Mrs. Caitlin AP Literature- Mr. Miller AP Language and Composition- Mr. Wright World Literature Creative Writing- Mr. Wright African American Literature Latin American Lit Newspaper- Mr. Miller Yearbook I and II Drama:Introduction to Theater Arts- Mrs. Caitlin

(Math) Algebra 1 Geometry Algebra II/Trig AB and BC A.P. Stats A.P. Calculus AB and BC Precalculus AB and BC KAM I: Advanced Euclidian and Non- Euclidian Geometry KAM II: Introduction to Number and Group Theory

(Science) Biology Arise Biology Chemistry Arise Physics Physics A.P. Biology A.P. Chemistry A.P. Physics B and C Earth and Space Sciences Anatomy and Physiology Astronomy

Arise notates a program where freshman in geometry and beyond take Physics and take Biology as a junior or senior.

(P.E.) P.E. I/Health P.E. II/Drivers Education Team Sports Advanced Weight Training Fitness Team Leadership I and II

(Music) Beginning Band Advanced Band Beginning Chorus Intermediate Chorus Concert Choir Jazz Ensemble General Music Advanced Orchestra

(Art) Art I Drawing and Painting I and II A.P. Art History A.P. Art Portfolio Web Design Multimedia I and II Sculpture I and II

(Technology) Info Tech Computer Science A.P. Computer Science AB Web Design

(World Languages) Spanish French Chinese Japanese Latin

All World Languages include levels 1-4, and then A.P (except for Latin which has only 1-4. Spanish and French also offer a level 5 class).

Math Team

In 2004, Payton's math team scored a decisive victory for the city of Chicago when it became the first Chicago Public School in decades to win the state championship. Payton's four year-old team topped the University of Chicago Laboratory School (the reigning private school in the division) in Division 2A at the Illinois Council of Math Teachers. The statewide competition was held in Urbana, IL. The team moved up to division 3AA and now competes against larger schools. Since then they have also won the state title in 2005 and 2006, as well as the city title in 2006 and 2007. Their seniors placed first in the North Suburban Math League in 2007 and as a whole the math team finished 4th, beating out math teams from suburban schools such as New Trier High School. The math team is led by coaches Doug O'Roark and PJ Karafiol. In 2007, Payton scored in the top 60 schools in the country for scores on the AMC-12, one of the American Mathematics Competitions.

In April 2007, the math team again won the state title for the ICTM contest despite having jumped a division ( from 2A to 3AA) since last year's win. They won by almost a 100-point margin. Having proved themselves in Division 3AA, Payton's math team has moved up to the highest ICTM Division, 4AA, for the 2008 contest.

Debate

This year Payton will be the second team in the history of the CPS to go to the TOC (Tournament of Champions). Captains Lee Reed and John Trevino will be representing Payton at this tournament.

Model UN

The Walter Payton Model UN team was started in 2004. It is lead by Kristen Benson, teacher of AP World History, and World Studies. The team started with just 4 members in 2004 and has since grown to over 50. In 2006 the team won best delegation at the Global Classrooms conference, along with many other best delegate and honorable mention awards. In November, 2007 the team also received many awards for their superior representation of their assigned nations. On February 8th, 2008, the UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon visited the school because of its prestigious team, where he continued to stress the importance of reversing the global warming crisis.

Staff

• The following is true as of April 2007:

Principal/Tyrant: Ellen Estrada

Assistant Principals: Ginger Lumpkin and Naomi Nakayama

Art Department Head: Phyllis Burstein

Counseling Department Head: Tom Dunne

English Department Head: Renate Anderson

Math Department Head: Doug O'Roark

Music Department Head: Jeffrey Weaver

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Science Department Head: Marilyn Havlik

Social Studies Department Head: Kristen Benson

World Language Department Head: Abby Imrem and Alicia Gonzalez

News

• Mr. Samuel Dyson, a physics teacher at WPCP, will be honored with the prestigious Golden Apple Award in May 2007.

• Walter Payton recently went about a search for a new principal to replace Mrs. Gail Ward, who left unexpectedly at the beginning of the 2006-2007 school year; The new principal selected was former assistant principal Ellen Estrada.

Events

Payton hosts many events, with varying topics, over the course of the school year. Many of the students at Walter Payton make sure to continue an ongoing tradition of getting drunk and/or high prior to the events in the school's parking lots or surrounding neighborhood. This can be seen, most notably, during homecoming and urban house party.

Functions:

• Family University
• International Festival
• Olympian Day

Performances:

• Battle of the Bands
• The Talent Show

Dances:

• Homecoming
• Winter Ball
• Senior Prom
• Urban House Party

Scholarship:

• The Lissete Santiago Award and Scholarship
• The Walter Payton Memorial Scholarship

--The Walter Payton Scholarship Foundation, started by Payton's brother, Eddie, has set up an exclusive scholarship at Walter Payton C.P.H.S. The scholarship was originally based in Mississippi, the Paytons' home. However, Eddie Payton found such inspiration in the school that he decided to set up the scholarship there, as well. Every year since 2005, a recipient is chosen at Payton High School to receive the scholarship. Winners are chosen based on financial hardship, leadership ability, community outreach and general academic success.

Past winners are:
Devin Kenny, Class of 2005
Caleb Lendy, Class of 2006
Aramie Payton, Class of 2007

External links

• Walter Payton College Prep's official site