The History of Parkview High School |
The First 30 Years: 1976-2006 |
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The early 1970s saw Gwinnett County lead the nation in growth. This phenomenal growth rate produced overcrowding in the school system leaving South Gwinnett and Berkmar too crowded to accommodate students. So, in 1975, construction began on a new school. With a clear view of Stone Mountain, the school assumed the name of Parkview. Today, the once uninterrupted view no longer exists. New neighborhoods, businesses, and trees have since obstructed the view. A panther was chosen as school mascot and orange and white became the school colors winning out over the very popular blue. The doors opened in 1976 with principal, Bartow Jenkins, at the helm. In 1996 Parkview had a student population of 2200, but a much larger number populated the school between 1979 and 1981. During these years, Parkview held double sessions to accommodate the large number of students. The physical plant of Parkview consisted of the current main building and one other which housed the gym and cafeteria. Brookwood opened to relieve the overcrowding. This school was to become the Panthers’ most fierce rival. At the twenty year mark there were eight teachers remaining of the original faculty. Additionally six former students were now Parkview teachers. The physical plant of Parkview now consisted of 113 classrooms in 8 buildings. In 1996 Parkview was recognized as an academic powerhouse as well as a strong contender in athletics. Being chosen as a National School of Excellence in 1985 was a crowning success of the school. The Beta Club was chartered at Parkview in 1976. Later our National Honor Society began recognizing students for scholarship, service, and academics. The Mu Alpha Theta honor society began in 1982 to recognize excellence in mathematics. In 1996 Parkview offered 15 AP courses, there were some 300 computers, and almost 100% of our students took the SAT. The following is a listing of state championships won in sports during the first 20 years: Baseball State Final four 1991,1992; Boys Basketball Final four 1994; Boys Cross Country state champions 1984,1985,1987,1990; Football state runner-up 1995;Girls Cross Country state champions 1988; Boys Soccer state champions 1993,1994; Boys Swimming state champions 1995; Wrestling state runner-up 1983,1990. In 1984 a new softball field, two large practice fields, and two tennis courts were built. A new field house located at the end zone of the football field relieved overcrowding in the gym. Parkview principals include these: 1976-1980, Bartow Jenkins; 1980-1982, Wayne Newton; 1982-1987, Charles Mason; 1987 -1996, Don Spence. Parkview won the state literary contest in 1986 and again in 1988. Other significant dates and events are these: Our business partnership with Deming, Born, and Parker was established in 1992; Declared a World War II Commemorative Community in 1993, and achieved Industry Certification in 1995. Parkview is known for strong and varied academic clubs. Many of these achieved regional, state, and world levels of success. Some of our clubs in 1996 were these: Science Olympiad, Social Studies Club, Math Team, Debate, and Odyssey of the Mind, Scholars Bowl, Classics Forum, Latin Club, French Club, International Club, German Club, Spanish Club, Technology Club, Computer Club, DECA, and FBLA. Our Fine Arts Department included Band, Chorus, Strings, Visual Art, and Drama. A theatre was built and first used in the 1987-1988 school year. The Fifteen Minute Hamlet was asked to compete at the International Thespian Festival in Lincoln, Nebraska in 1995. Our Odyssey of the Mind creative problem solving team is World Champion in 1995. 1996-1997 Dr. Bob Clark becomes principal of Parkview. “The Wall of Pride” is constructed in our cafeteria. Assistant principal, Bobby Crowson, oversees the construction. Our Drill Team is invited to dance in the 1996 Olympics. Likewise our color guard performed in the Peach Bowl and is invited to the Olympics. The Parkview Chorus performs at Symphony Hall under the direction of Robert Shaw. Sports continue to make strong showings with the following state wins: Softball is 3rd, Soccer is 1st and our baseball team is in the playoffs. In March voters pass a 1% sales tax making it possible to begin construction on a new gym. DECA and FBLA advance to the national competition to be held in July. Science Olympiad is 5th in the state. The dance program is begun in January of 1997 with organizing teacher Amanda Dean as the instructor. Cindy Johnson is chosen as the Parkview and county TOTY. Aaron Hibbs is our S.T.A.R. student and also a merit scholar. Parkview sent 18 students to the GHP program. 498 students graduated this year with 166 honor graduates. There were six National Merit finalists. 1997-1998 This year was called the “Panther Fiver” and the quote “finished business” was heard in reference to football. Five important state championships were won. These were: State Football in AAAA, Competitive State Cheerleading, Boys and Girls Swimming, and Boys and Girls Soccer. In academics, 31 German exchange students came to Parkview in March. The Academic Decathlon team took the silver medal at state against 23 other teams. The Beta Club had four state winners at convention. Science teacher Carolyn Broucek is our TOTY. Drama proceeds to the region one act competition. Our Scholars bowl qualifies to participate in WSB-TV’s High-Q. Four new assistant administrators are added to our staff. They are: Bill Tinkler, Anne Miller, Steve Miletto, and John Fleming. Parkview graduates numbered 517 in 1998. There were 161 students in AP courses. 1998-1999 Continuing our academic success, Parkview was termed the School of Choice in Lilburn, one of 96 most outstanding schools in the U.S. The Academic Decathlon won 2nd place at state competition. The Odyssey of the Mind competed in the world finals to place 7th. 572 Students graduated in 1999. Of these 201 students took 357 AP classes during the senior year. There were 14 National Merit finalists. The Committee for School Improvement was formed. Our marketing education program gained state certification. A federal grant was earned that expanded technology to the French and German classes. We were reviewed by a six member SACS team that commended our school for having a quality and enthusiastic staff. Also noted was the active involvement of the community, parents, and students in school activities. In athletics the following sports excelled: Boys and girls swimmers were 1st in state, Competitive cheering won 1st place in region and state, Cecil Flowe is the Coach of the Year for the Atlanta Touchdown Club, and we were again 1st place in state football. The football team is featured nationally on the cereal box of Cheerios. Softball is the state runner-up. Our girls are state soccer champs. 1999-2000 The January issue of US News and World Report honors Parkview as an outstanding American high school. David Mitchell is the state 1st place speller. Our band is the Grand Champion at The National Band Adjudicators Festival in Nashville, Tennessee. Our music program has a total of 18 Allstate band and chorus members. Band director Allen Beach receives the John Philip Sousa Award in Chicago. Our PTSA hosts the Miss Parkview, and Girls Soccer is co-champ of the state. Varsity Wrestling is 2nd place in the state. Boys swimming are state champs. Drama student Grant Allen is invited to the International Thespian Festival in Lincoln, Nebraska. This was the first year for our ROTC program to have a rifle team. There are 40 plus trailers parked on our campus. 545 students graduated in 2000. In the AP courses are 198 seniors taking a total of 386 classes during the senior year. There are 8 National Merit finalists. 2000-2001 We are again state Football and Baseball champs. Our students win 1st place in the state science fair. The superintendent announces that Trickum Middle School will move to a new facility and Parkview will expand to include the old Trickum campus. Our Academic Decathlon Team wins first place in the region for the 7th year in a row. The boys swimming and dive team wins the 1st place at state for the fourth consecutive year. Girls’ swimming is 4th in the state. Drama student James Helms is invited to the International Thespian Festival in Lincoln, Nebraska. The class of 2001 has 556 graduates. There are 187 seniors enrolled in 374 AP courses during the senior year. Parkview has 4 National Merit finalists. 2001-2002 The new gym is scheduled to open in August of 2002. New principal, Dale Robbins, is at the helm of the school. There are also 24 new teachers and 5 support staff that are beginning their first year at Parkview. Three of these teachers are Parkview grads. Rick Creed, outstanding math teacher and swim coach, is chosen as the Parkview and county TOTY. Dance team performs at the Peach Bowl. Parkview chorus travels to Asheville, N.C. to perform at the historic Grove Park Inn during the winter holidays. Our football team wins 30 games in a row. They are state champions with a record of 15-0. Swimming has a third consecutive state championship with four new state records. Varsity wrestling places 3rd in the state. Three Destination Imagination creative problem solving teams are state champions and advance to global competition at the University of Tennessee. The class of 2002 had 608 graduates. There are 261 seniors enrolled in 637 AP courses during their senior year. There are 4 National Merit finalists. 2002-2003 Jeff Francoeur, class of 2002, is drafted by the Atlanta Braves. Football wins the 45th straight game with a three year undefeated streak. Boys Swimming and Diving has another state win. Girl’s varsity Basketball wins the state championship as does girl’s Soccer. Wrestling is state champ. Parkview was presented with the GADA (Georgia Athletic Directors Association) Dodge Cup for the best overall athletic program at the AAAAA level. Parkview concludes a five year interim period with a formal review and evaluation by the SACS visiting team. We are commended for our exceptional level of community support, our effective writing programs, our strong faculty and staff, and the contributions of the student body to enhance the exceptional climate of the school. Parkview has 9 National Merit Finalists. In May, Parkview has students taking over 800 AP tests. Seven students are chosen for the Governors Honors Program. Science Bowl wins their 5th consecutive state championship. Science Olympiad also places first in state competition. The music department has 21 students participating in Georgia Music Educator’s Allstate events. This year has 572 graduates with 123 seniors enrolled in 220 AP courses in the senior year. There are 9 National Merit finalists. 2003-2004 Parkview has a new gym that is fully funded by the county. The press box also was completed in the fall of 2003 and was covered in bright orange shingles. Funding sources were the school and booster club. Plans are designed to convert the Trickum Middle School into the Parkview program. October 1, 2004 is the target date for the groundbreaking for our new 500 seat theatre. Our PTSA allocates $16,825.00, funding needs for the academic departments. Over 400 students take 750 AP exams. Hannah Jollay is the 1st place state speller in the literary competition. There are 24 music students in Georgia Allstate events. Wrestling wins both the traditional and dual meets at state. Boys Cross Country also wins state. This year has a total of 633 graduates. In the AP courses there are 217 seniors taking a total of 557 classes. There are 8 National Merit finalists. 2004-2005 Dr. Charles “Buck” Buchanan is named principal. Our academic achievements for the year are these: State champions in the Science Olympiad for three years in a row; Fourteen Governor’s Honors Finalists and 9 alternates; Nine perfect papers on the National Latin exam; State Star Student-Lucas Bermudez and state Star Teacher-Phil Heier; Beta Club-state quiz bowl champions; Selection by Atlanta Magazine in the top ten category of “Best All Around “; Five perfect scores on the SAT and ACT. In athletics we experience several achievements that include: State championships in men’s Cross Country, state runner up in Football, Wrestling Duals, and region champs in lady’s Golf and Soccer. Sports Illustrated identifies Parkview as having the 7th best athletic program in the nation out of 38,000 schools. Parkview graduates 576 students in 2005. Of these 217 students take 402 AP classes in their senior year. There are 8 National Merit finalists. 2005-2006 The school year 2005-2006 culminates with the finishing of phase I construction. Our new building with a 544 seat theatre and administrative offices opens in April. The main office, attendance office, and community school move to this new facility. The Theatre opens to host the Area V board meeting and a Fine Arts Night for the PTSA. Forty-eight trailers remain on campus; however Phase II plans allow for eight classrooms and a technology lab to be opened in the old Trickum facility by fall of 2006. Additionally there will be a new orchestra suite in the old theatre building. Technology in 2006 includes: 800 Desktop computers and laptops, Printers throughout the school offices and classrooms, and 9 computer labs with a minimum of 30 workstations each. All classrooms have at least one student workstation on the network. Technology is supported school wide by a technology support team consisting of a local school technology coordinator, two technology support technicians, two media specialists and one media clerk. Parkview faculty is comprised of 174 certified and 61 support personnel. Of the certified staff, 64% have masters degrees or higher. Dr. Jeff Matthews is our TOTY and becomes a finalist in county competition. There are a total of 39 clubs active at Parkview. The clubs span many areas of interest. A strong emphasis on community service and excellence in competition is in place. Some of our clubs are these: Beta, Chess, Creative Writing, Dance, DECA, Democrats of Parkview, Drama, Equality Through Change, FBLA, FCA, French National Honor Society, Future Educators, German Honor Society, Intercultural, International Thespians, Jazz Ensemble, Junior Classical League, Literary Magazine, Math Team, Mu Alpha Theta, National Art Honor Society, National Honor Society, Odyssey of the Mind, SADD/SAVE, SAGE, Scholars Bowl, Science Bowl, Science National Honor Society, Science Olympiad, Spanish Club, Spanish National Honor Society, Student Council, TSA, Volunteer Parkview, and World Quest. There are 160 honor graduates in the class of 2005-2006. Eight students are National Merit Finalists. We have 11 participants and 14 alternates in the 2006 Governor’s Honors Program. Last year 91% of the senior class planned to attend college or post secondary schools. Newsweek Magazine ranks Parkview in the top 5% of high schools in America. There are only 27 schools in Georgia to receive this honor. |
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