Brookfield East High School
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| Brookfield East High School | |
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| File:BEHS logo.png | |
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| Type | Public secondary |
| Motto | Gravitas |
| Established | 1962 |
| Oversight | Elmbrook School District |
| Principal | Brett Bowers |
| Faculty | 93 (2006-2007) |
| Grades | 9–12 |
| Number of students | 1,392 (2006-2007) |
| Color(s) | White and navy blue (with red trim) |
| Mascot | Spartans ("Sparty") |
| Newspaper | Spartan Banner |
| Yearbook | Echo |
| Website | behs.elmbrookschools.org |
Brookfield East High School is a comprehensive four year public secondary school located in Brookfield, Wisconsin. The school is part of the Elmbrook School District and is accredited by the North Central Association. Its rival is Brookfield Central High School, also located in Brookfield.
Administration
- Principal - Brett Bowers
- Asst. Principal - John Hermansader, Esq.
- Asst. Principal - The LaQuinn Deloney
- Athletic/Activities Dir. - Corey Golla
Academics
Brookfield East offers courses in Art, Business Management and Technology, English, Foreign Language (French, German, Latin, and Spanish), Family and Consumer Education, Applied Technology and Engineering, Mathematics, Music, Physical Education, Science, and Social Studies. Honors, Advanced, and Advanced Placement classes are available in many subjects. As of the 2007 - 2008 school year, Advanced classes are no longer offered. In 2006, Brookfied East averaged a 24.3 on the ACT.[1] The average for Wisconsin is 22.2. [2]
Clubs and activities
The Brookfield East Spartans compete in the Greater Metro Conference, which includes most athletics and other competitive extra-cirriculars, including forensics, debate, and the "mathletes" organization. The school is home to many clubs and activities that include, but are not limited to:
| ARCh Youth Team | Archery | Bridging Brookfield | Science Club |
| Spanish Club | Chemistry Club | Class Council | Debate |
| ECHO (Yearbook) | FBLA | French Club | Spanish Honor Society |
| Frolfing | Forensics | German Club | Jazz Ensemble |
| Interact | Key Club | LEAP | |
| Link Crew | Model UN | National Honor Society | |
| Nutrition Club | Project K.I.D.S. | Recycling Club | |
| Rock Climbing | SADD | Ski Club | |
| Spartan Banner (Newspaper) | Stand Proud | Student Council |
Forensics and debate
The Brookfield East forensics/debate teams have consistently been rated one of the top teams in Wisconsin and received an award of excellence at the National Catholic Forensic League (NCFL) Grand National Tournament in Boston, MA in the 2004 season. In addition to the NCFL, The Brookfield East team also participates in the National Forensic League and the Wisconsin Forensic Coaches Association tournaments. The Forensics team won its first WFCA Division I State Championship in the 2006-2007 season.
Senior Lounge
Brookfield East once used to have a blend of facilities known as the "Cafetorium," in which a standard stage was built into the north end of the cafeteria. Before the opening of the Sharon Lynne Wilson Center for the Arts in the spring of 2002, musicals and other concerts had to be performed in the Cafetorium. Upon completion of the Wilson Center, the stage was no longer necessary and was demolished to make way for the Senior Lounge, which opened in the fall of 2002. Unofficially known as the "Phil Edwards Memorial Senior Lounge" (named for the class President who spearheaded the effort), it provides a casual environment for seniors to use during study halls and lunch hours. It also houses recreational activities for students. [3]
Fine arts
Music
Brookfield East has a notable music department. It is best known for its reception of the Grammy "Signature Gold" award in the spring of 1999, one of only 16 schools selected out of over 1200 nationwide. The music department, then led by band director and chairman Mr. John Hibler, submitted the initial application in the fall of 1998. Upon a favorable response from the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (NARAS), further evidence was submitted. After a review by elite music professionals, the school was then presented with the award, as well as a $5,000 grant.
The grant was used to commission an original work for the school. In the summer of 2001, the world premiere of "American Reflections" was performed. Written by Wisconsin composer Rick Kirby, the work utilized the band, all four choirs, and orchestra. It has three movements, "Legacy, "Peace", and "Celebrations", performed without pauses. Due to the massive size of the ensemble, it was premiered at the Elmbrook Church Auditorium.
The money raised from a raffle at the concert went towards the funding of a new arts center in the city of Brookfield, the Wilson Center for the Arts, which has become the new home for Brookfield East and Brookfield Central concert performances since 2002. Although, due to the limited capacity, larger performances are often done elsewhere.
Bands In April 2005, members of the band marched in the Cherry Blossom Parade in Washington, D.C., and performed a concert in front of the World War II Memorial. In late January 2003 and January 2007, the band traveled to Florida to perform in the annual parade at the Magic Kingdom in Disney World. The concert band, symphonic band, and jazz ensembles are all directed by Kevin Loughney.
Choirs Brookfield East has a very strong choral program, led by Mary Bigus and assisted by Kari Doepke-Warnes. The department is well known for their prestigious, audition-only Chamber Choir. East has six separate choral ensembles, three of which require an audition to enter. These choirs include the Chorale ensemble which began in the 2004-2005 school year to accommodate the quickly expanding department. In 1998, the Chamber Choir competed at the National Invitational Choral Festival of Gold in Washington, D.C. and placed second out of 22 ensembles. They were the only choir from Wisconsin invited to the festival that year. In recent years, the entire department has performed in the Heritage Music Festivals held in various cities throughout the United States.
Orchestra The Brookfield East Orchestra, led by Anne Marie Peterson, has performed at Carnegie Hall in New York on multiple occasions, most recently in 2005. In 2007 they will travel to Detroit for an invitational performance at an orchestral convention.
Athletics
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Brookfield East competes within the Greater Metro Conference.
Brookfield East is perhaps best known for its strong soccer programs, of which the boys varsity team placed second in 2006. The 2008 girls varsity soccer won the Greater Metro Conference and qualified for state.
The 1995 boy's team finished 29-0-0, won the school's first ever state soccer championship, and completed the season ranked as the number 1 team in the United States according to USA Today's NSCAA rankings.
State Champions
- 1999 Boys Swimming & Diving
- 1997 Boys Soccer
- 1996 Boys Swimming & Diving
- 1995 Boys Soccer
- 1989 Girls Soccer
- 1986 Boys Gymnastics
- 1981 Boys Tennis
- 1980 Boys Tennis
- 1979 Boys Tennis
School and community
Facilities
The school has many athletic facilities, including a pool, a three court basketball gym, a baseball diamond, a soccer stadium, and an extensive, recently renovated football stadium with an 8-lane rubberized track. Brookfield East and Brookfield Central High Schools are the only schools in their conference without an auditorium. The school has not had extensive structural work done since its construction in 1961, other than routine building maintenance and necessary repairs. This has prompted the district to put forward various remodeling and renovation proposals for referendum over recent years. Some ideas included demolishing the current building and replacing it, extensively renovating the current building, or moving both East and Central high schools onto one campus. This would have resulted in either a joint "Brookfield High School" or a merge of East and Central as separate schools, but in the same building. At Brookfield East, District officials have noted its largest academic issue related to structural deficiency is its science labs, which many find inadequate and outdated. [4]
In 2008, after years of planning and various failed referendums, voters in the Elmbrook District passed a referendum to renovate both Brookfield East and Brookfield Central High Schools. This referendum, approved for $62.2 million dollars, will go to extensive remodeling of both schools along with additional construction and thorough repair and replacement of HVAC systems. East will now have air conditioning throughout; before, only East's primary offices, certain computer labs, and faculty lounges had air conditioning available. The referendum passed on a 7,557 "yes" to 6,923 "no" vote. The 2007 referendum, with a total estimated cost of $108.8 million dollars, and which failed by a large margin, would have been the largest referendum in state history had it passed. [5] Unlike many previous building plans, the proposals in this smaller referendum do not incorporate the building of an auditorium in either high school.
Notable alumni
- Theodore Kanavas, 1979, State Senator (2001-Current) [citation needed]
- Joe Panos, 1989, NFL Offensive Lineman (Philadelphia Eagles 1994-97, Buffalo Bills 1998,2000)[citation needed]
External links
References
- ^ Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 16 Aug 2006. ACT Scores High
- ^ Wisconsin ACT Results
- ^ Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 26 Nov 2007 "Around State, Senior Lounges Help Raise Funds for Charity"
- ^ Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 17 March 2007, "Voters to have say on Elmbrook referendums"
- ^ www.elmbrookschools.org