Plymouth-Canton Educational Park
Encyclopedia
The Plymouth-Canton Educational Park (commonly PCEP or "The Park", and sometimes pronounced p—cep) encompasses three public secondary schools—Salem High School, Canton High School, and Plymouth High School—in Canton Township, Michigan
, United States. PCEP is located on a 305 acres (1.2 km²) campus in Wayne County
. The schools operate a joint academic program and, for most sports, individual athletic programs. Certain extracurricular activities, such as choir, orchestra, the Plymouth-Canton Marching Band
, the FIRST Robotics Team
and some cheerleading, are combined.
PCEP is part of the Plymouth-Canton Community Schools District, serving the City of Plymouth
, Plymouth Township
, and parts of Canton Township
, Salem Township
, Superior Township
, and Northville Township
.
As of the 2006–07 school year, Salem High School had an enrollment of 1,945 students, Canton High School 1,942 students, and Plymouth High School 1,935 students. As of the 2007-08 school year, PCEP had an enrollment of 6,128 students total. PCEP has over 50 clubs and organizations, including the radio station WSDP
-FM 88.1 The Escape.
. The district deemed the facility to be outdated by the 1960s for high school use. The facility was closed after the 1969-1970 school year.
When the first new high school opened in the present-day Plymouth-Canton Educational Park, the original Plymouth High School was converted into a middle school
, dubbed Central Middle School (in conjunction with the more recently constructed East and West Middle Schools). Central Middle School remains a landmark in down town and is still in operation as a middle school as part of the Plymouth-Canton Community School District. When Plymouth opened it only let in Freshmen, and the next year Freshmen and Sophomores, etc.
originally planned to simply remain Plymouth High School, the school's name was changed to Plymouth-Salem High School after Canton opened. Although the school district serves much of rural Salem Township, Salem residents were not necessarily exclusive to Plymouth-Salem.
Plymouth High's colors of red, white, and blue, were split up, with Plymouth-Salem retaining blue and white, and the eventual Canton High School teams taking the red with white. Plymouth-Salem retained their "Rocks" mascot; supposedly named for the large unmovable boulder that sits outside the school. It is tradition for students to spray paint this rock for school events and to celebrate important sports victories. The rock was moved during the renovations in 2008.
Salem is divided into two main sections, North and South. The North side contains the swimming pool and Logan Auditorium on the north side, and a two-level gymnasium on the south side, divided by a wide central hallway leading to the east entrance of the school. A staircase leads to the second-floor corridor near the entrance to the auditorium. The west side contains three floors of classrooms, as well as the cafeteria on the southeast side of the first floor. Administrative offices are located on the northeast side of the first two floors. The center of the second floor is dominated by the school library, and also features the studio for radio station WSDP
. Stairwells on the north and south sides, referred to as the North Tower and South Tower, respectively, provide access to all three floors, and an elevator provides access for students unable to use the stairs.
One of the more distinctive features of the school building was its large ramp at the North Mall, which provided direct access to the second floor of classrooms. What made this ramp unusual were the three steps placed at the bottom of the ramp, purposely making vehicle access impractical. The ramp was demolished in the early 1990s, and the North Mall was revamped to provide a more appealing façade, while the South Mall was eliminated in favor of an expanded cafeteria. The school underwent renovations from 2006 to 2008, and is currently being renovated for additional office space.
In 2002, with the opening of the new Plymouth High School as part of the PCEP, "Plymouth" was dropped from Salem's name. Salem High School retained the "Rocks" nickname, logo, and colors of blue and white. The Salem Rocks logo is the same as Prudential Financial
's Rock of Gibraltar
logo, rendered in Salem's darker shade of blue, with an additional outer circle added featuring "Salem" on top and "Rocks" on bottom ("Plymouth-Salem" on top prior to 2002).
In addition to the formal online school resources, the school's parents, coaches and boosters proudly and voluntarily contribute content related to their group and team activities at http://www.SalemRocks.com.
In addition to Canton's sports, Phase III was home to the PCEP Marching Band, until the newer Plymouth High School was built, containing new band facilities. PCEP Orchestra remains in Canton. Originally, Phase III was not directly accessible by car from Canton's parking lot, and had to be accessed from the Salem lot instead. When Canton's parking lot was renovated in the 1990s, a bridge over the creek separating Canton from Phase III was constructed, giving direct access. The Canton football team has become a fierce competitor as a result of their "hide-the-ball" offense known as the Wing-T.
Canton High School's team name is the Chiefs. Their logo is an arrowhead, identical to the logo of the Kansas City Chiefs
of the National Football League
. Prior to dropping "Plymouth" from its name in 2002 when Plymouth High School opened, the logo featured the letters "PC" in front of the arrowhead, in the same font and arrangement as the NFL team's logo. Since 2002, a large italic "C" is superimposed over the arrowhead. Now in 2009 they changed their logo to a Red Block C. The school has also used a secondary logo of a Native American chief's head, but is usually unused. The school colors remain red and white. Canton provides many clubs and sports. In addition to the formal online school resources, the school's parents, coaches and boosters proudly and voluntarily contribute content related to their group and team activities at http://www.CantonChiefs.com.
Voted best school of the year in 2009.
of the National Hockey League
), was met with opposition from some parents who associated it with sexual predators. As a result, the school decided to use the generic "Wildcats" nickname, while still using the saber-toothed tiger logo of the Nashville Predators. Plymouth's school colors were to be purple and white (a combo of the red and blue of Salem and Canton), but were changed to black and silver. In addition to the formal online school resources, the school's parents, coaches and boosters proudly and voluntarily contribute content related to their group and team activities http://www.PlymouthWildcats.com.
For most of its history, the campus has contained Canton High School and Salem High School, with a great rivalry built between the two neighbors. For many years the campus operated under block scheduling, seen as an innovative way to allow for longer periods of uninterrupted teaching time. After many years, The Park resorted back to a traditional schedule with 6 classes per day and 2 semesters of classes per year. Currently, The Park is considered a "Closed Campus," meaning no student may leave during the school day without a pass from the office.
Prior to the summer of 2006, the Cady family barn was also a part of the campus. It has since been moved to the Canton Township Cherry Hill village area next to a historic home. Included on the campus grounds is also a small strip of forest that backs a nearby neighborhood. Various trails are scattered throughout the wooded area. An Artesian well can be found in the wooded area, and is visited by earth science and ecology classes yearly. A creek that is part of the Rouge River
watershed runs through the campus, separating Salem High School and Phase III, which are to the north of the creek; Plymouth High School is located to the south. Environmental science classes held at the park regularly take water samples to monitor water quality from this creek.
, 4% African American
, 2% Hispanic
, and less than 1% American Indian/Alaskan Nativehttp://nces.ed.gov/globallocator/ (figures are rounded and do not add to 100%). The faculty has approximately 280 members.
, Marching Band
, and FIRST Robotics Team
. All three Science Olympiad teams qualified for the state level competition in 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2010. Also, Plymouth's 2007 Novice and 2009 Varsity Quiz Bowl teams won the championship in the tri-county area.
There are many clubs dedicated to different languages and cultures, such as the Spanish and Latino Students' Association (SALSA), Asian Pacific American Club (APAC), Indian-American Student Association (IASA), Muslim Student Association (MSA), Arab Student Association, Gay-Straight Alliance (GSA), Young Republicans, and the Diversity Council.
PCEP's radio station, WSDP
88.1FM The Escape, has won numerous awards, including the Michigan Association of Broadcaster's annual 'Station of the Year' prize, which it has won nearly every year in the past decade. The station was started in 1972 at 89.3FM. Bonny Dore, Mary Phyl Godfroy, John Seidelman and Jeff Cardinal were the first faculty advisors. Multiple radio air talents, program directors and even station managers started their careers at WSDP.
The Park also has a Debate Club, a Model United Nations Club, a three Mock Trial teams, a FIRST
Robotics Team http://lightningrobotics.com, a Distributive Education Clubs of American
chapter, Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD) chapter, and an Investment Club, among other clubs geared towards educational incentives. The Park's National Honor Society and Robotics Team have been recognized by the American Cancer Society for their efforts in supporting and running the community fundraising walk for cancer cures, Relay for Life
.
In particular, the DECA organization http://mideca.org/ is popular among the marketing students at the Park. DECA prepares students to become leaders in their fields, whether it be marketing, finance, hospitality or management in high schools and colleges all over the world. The DECA organization brings together students from all three schools at PCEP and their chapter made it all the way to nationals in 07-08 and 08-09 school years. During DECA States 2011, a few students used reverse-marketing skills to convince a middle-aged man to buy them Absolut
Vodka; they got incoherently drunk and bombed their presentations the following morning. But who cares? It was a good time.
The performing arts program began with the formation of what is now the Park Players in 1970 by Gloria Logan, a drama teacher at Salem. The first three productions were staged at Central Middle School. The first production staged in Salem Auditorium was Fiddler on the Roof
in 1971; as a tradition, a revival of Fiddler has been staged on the 10th and 20th anniversary years of the auditorium (1981 and 1991), while the most recent revival was staged in 2000, the 30th anniversary of the Park Players.
Both groups stage two fully produced, faculty-directed shows each school year. Each semester, there is usually one play and one musical.
Two years ago the Second Stage Players produced two musicals, both Little Shop of Horrors
and Into the Woods
. Last school year (09-10), Second Stage Players produced two mainstage productions, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee
" in the fall, and The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged)
in the spring.
The Park Players have staged over 85 productions, including Neil Simon's "Proposals", "Footloose (musical)
," "Hello, Dolly!
," "Jekyll and Hyde," and "Smokey Joe's Cafe
". During the 2009-2010 school year, the Park Players celebrated their fortieth anniversary. They performed three stage productions: Noises Off
as their fall play, Sweet Charity
as their spring musical, and Check Please/Check Please: Take Two as an in-between production.
The Park also has a Spoken Word Club, an Improv Club and a Puppetry Club.
Grand National Championships every year since 1988. They have won the Grand National Championship there three times; 1990, 1991 and 1999. The group has won the Michigan Competing Band Association Flight or Division I title 22 times as well as 14 times in a row from 1994 to 2007. There are also various academic bands and two orchestras as classes to be taken during the regular school day. In April 2007, PCEP's Open Class Winter Guard placed 4th at the Winter Guard International
World Championships in Dayton, OH. The marching band appeared in the 1973 Rose Bowl Parade as well as a nationally broadcast Battle of The Bands Show, hosted by Jerry Lewis, prior to the parade.
classes. The lower orchestra is called Concert Orchestra, while the upper one is called Symphony Orchestra. Placement into either of these is determined by audition. Symphony Orchestra typically plays AA-rated musical pieces, often playing pieces with members of the Wind Ensemble. They have been ranked as one of the best performing high school symphony orchestras in the state, consistently earning a Division I rating at District Orchestra Festival. Both high school orchestras often perform for community events, and volunteers from orchestra classes and Wind Ensemble play in the orchestra pit
for the musicals. There is also a middle school orchestra program which meets in the high school during first hour in the high school schedule. All orchestra classes are directed by Catherine DePentu. In April 2009 the orchestras performed together at the Duxbury Performing Arts Center in Massachusetts winning second place at the festivals of music.
classes at PCEP. The entry-level choir for ninth-grade girls, Park Singers, is the starting choir for most students. The starting place for all guys is Parks Men. One step above Park Singers for girls is Allegro!. The only mixed choir class, Allegro! performs easy to moderately challenging selections. After Allegro!, the next highest choir for girls is Dulcissima. Dulcissima is a group of roughly 65 select female voices who perform moderate to challenging pieces for competitions, earning high marks. The highest choir for girls is the Madrigal Singers. The Madrigals perform extremely challenging selections, and have earned highest honors at state and national competitions. Equal with the Madrigals is the male select choir, Chamber Choir, which has also earned highest honors at state and national competitions. Although Chambers and Madrigals have separate classes, the two choirs rehearse together after school every week, and practice pieces that they do together. This combined choir is called the Festival Singers and is nicknamed by its members "Chambrigals". The Festival Singers travel around throughout the school year and perform for various competitions and community events.
The six, award-winning choirs have a total of about 300 members (and growing), and are directed by Jennifer Kopp and co-directed by Valerie Said.
Clubs that also have to do with choir are three after school acapella groups; Aria, Timbrewolves, and Conamore.
----
SALEM HIGH SCHOOL (formerly Plymouth-Salem High School)
The "Rocks"
Boys Soccer
Salem won its only State Championship in 1995 by beating Portage Northern H.S. 1-0 in the finals and finishing the season 23-3-3. They have also appeared in the Finals and finished Runner-Up in 1989, 1992, 1997, 1999 & 2002.
Girls Soccer
Salem's girls soccer team won its only State Championship in 1987 by beating Livonia Churchill 2-1 in the finals. They also appeared in the Finals and finished Runner-Up in 1995.
Cross Country
Salem Cross Country has the greatest number of all-state athletes at the park.
Football
Salem remains the only school out of the three to win a State Football Championship, doing so in 1974.
Baseball
They won the state baseball championship in 1975 and 1991.
Boys Swimming/Diving
Salem boys swimming
won the WLAA conference championship for 11 straight years
Girls Swimming/Diving
Salem girls swimming continues to close the gap between itself and Stevenson High School at the Conference Finals.
Boys Ice Hockey
The Salem boys ice hockey
team has also been a strong contender for the state championship for several years.
Boys Tennis
Salem's boys tennis team won both conferences and regionals, and took first in states.
CANTON HIGH SCHOOL (formerly Plymouth-Canton High School)
The "Chiefs"
Football
In recent years, Canton High School's football
team has finished high in regional rankings. On November 12, 2005, Canton won its first-ever regional title by defeating Detroit King. They made an appearance in the state finals against Rockford High but lost 21-31. They made it back to regionals in 2006, but then lost in the semi-finals to Rockford. In 2008, the Chiefs defeated Saline for the district title. They went on to lose to Stevenson in the regional finals.
Girls Soccer
Canton's girls soccer team, under former coach Don Smith, won the state championship in 1988, 1996, and 2001. In 2001 the Chiefs were led by four time all-state and three time Parade All-American Anne Morrell. Morrell went on to play at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
and her number 7 is the only number to have been retired in Canton High School history.
Wrestling
Canton High School's wrestling team won its seventh straight district title in 2011, and made it to the Team State tournament in Battle Creek in 2006 and 2008. In 2007, Canton's Corey Phillips won the State Championship at 140 pounds in Division 1, and in 2011, Canton's Anthony Abro won a State Championship at 189 pounds in Division 1.
Softball
The softball team was runner-up in the 1992 state championship game losing 1-0 in 9 innings. The Chiefs won five straight District Titles from 2003 to 2007. They won the Regional Title in 2004 and made it to the regional championship game in 2005. In the 2005 season they finished with a 36-2 record which included a division, conference, and district championship and two tournament championships while breaking 11 school records before the season ended including a perfect game by senior pitcher Molly Conlon in a 9-0 win against their longtime rivals the Salem Rocks. Six players from the 2005 team went on to play in college.
PLYMOUTH HIGH SCHOOL (opened Fall 2002)
The "Wildcats"
Tennis
Plymouth High School boys tennis team won their first divisional championship in 2009-10, and the second divisional championship in 2011-2012.
Volleyball
The volleyball team was first to win the division.
Boys Track & Field
The boys track and field
team joined the volleyball team in being the first to win the division.
Football
In 2005, their first year of having a full graduating class, the Plymouth football team made the state playoffs, losing their first ever playoff game. The team again made the playoffs in 2007 and 2008, again losing their first games in the Pre-District round. The Wildcats made the playoffs again in 2010; yet, this time they not only won their first game, but they went on to beat Canton, Detroit Catholic Central, and Rockford on their way to the Division 1 State Final where they lost to Lake Orion 21-13.
Girls Soccer The 2010 Girls Soccer team won their first MHSAA Regional title in 2009-2010. They went on to beat Portage Central in the state semi-finals, earning the right to play in their first State Finals game losing 2-1 in overtime on a penalty kick to Novi High School.
Plymouth-Canton-Salem Unified Teams
PCEP Debate Team
The team has grown tremendously in the past two years, and is now placing in the top two places for the Wayne-Oakland Debate League.
PCS United Cheer
In 2005, the PCS United Cheer team was formed, composed of cheerleaders from all three schools and is also a nationally ranked team.
PCS Girls Ice Hockey
The Plymouth-Canton-Salem Penguins girls ice hockey team won the 2006 and 2007 State Championships.
PCS Boys Lacrosse
When unified, the lacrosse team was called the PCS Warriors. recently, the Plymouth Wildcats, the Salem Rocks, and the Canton Chiefs started their own lacrosse teams.
PCEP Figure Skating
The Plymouth-Canton-Salem figure skating team competes annually in district competitions as well as state-wide championships. In the 2010-11 season, they came in 3rd in district competitions, and went on to tie for 4th place in the state-wide competition, just 2 points behind the 3rd place team.
Lightning Robotics
FIRST Robotics
team number 862. This team competes at the district, state, and world levels.
(the Rock Cafe in Salem), work in a preschool, produce a news program that airs three times a week, work in an auto shop, be involved in either of the two theatre groups, and work in one of the Park's three school stores
. The Park offers numerous band, orchestra, and choir courses, ranging from beginners to pre-professional. Within each of the schools is a writing center, and a math lab, which offers free tutoring service for students' writing, and additional help for students' math respectively. The Park even goes one step further to offer a plethora of alternative education courses to younger students looking for guidance and the older students who are willing and able to help.
class and was designed to train students in managing a working retail store in a real setting. Teamwork is also emphasized a great deal and an integral part of doing well in the course. The stores sell items such as fresh pretzels and cookies, sweatpants and shirts, and seasonal items that vary from store to store.
Supporter and Booster-run websites:
Canton Township, Michigan
The Charter Township of Canton, usually referred to as Canton, is an affluent charter township of Wayne County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The commuter town is located west of Detroit and east of Ann Arbor. As of the 2010 census, the township had a population of 90,173, making it Michigan's...
, United States. PCEP is located on a 305 acres (1.2 km²) campus in Wayne County
Wayne County, Michigan
-History:Wayne County was one of the first counties formed when the Northwest Territory was organized. It was named for the American general "Mad Anthony" Wayne. It originally encompassed the entire area of the Lower Peninsula of Michigan, as well as small sections that are now part of northern...
. The schools operate a joint academic program and, for most sports, individual athletic programs. Certain extracurricular activities, such as choir, orchestra, the Plymouth-Canton Marching Band
Plymouth-Canton Marching Band
The Plymouth-Canton Marching Band is a nationally recognized marching band program located on the campus of the Plymouth-Canton Educational Park in Canton, Michigan.-Music program:...
, the FIRST Robotics Team
FIRST Robotics Competition
The FIRST Robotics Competition is an international high school robotics competition organized by FIRST. Each year, teams of high school students compete to build robots weighing up to , not including battery and bumpers, that can complete a task, which changes every year...
and some cheerleading, are combined.
PCEP is part of the Plymouth-Canton Community Schools District, serving the City of Plymouth
Plymouth, Michigan
Plymouth is a city in Wayne County of the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 9,132 at the 2010 census. The City of Plymouth is an enclave completely surrounded by Plymouth Charter Township, Michigan.-Geography:...
, Plymouth Township
Plymouth Township, Michigan
The Charter Township of Plymouth is a charter township of Wayne County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 27,524 at the 2010 census...
, and parts of Canton Township
Canton Township, Michigan
The Charter Township of Canton, usually referred to as Canton, is an affluent charter township of Wayne County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The commuter town is located west of Detroit and east of Ann Arbor. As of the 2010 census, the township had a population of 90,173, making it Michigan's...
, Salem Township
Salem Township, Washtenaw County, Michigan
Salem Township is a general law township of Washtenaw County in the U.S. state of Michigan, located northeast of Ann Arbor. As of the 2000 census, the township population was 5,562.The unincorporated community of Salem is located within the township....
, Superior Township
Superior Township, Washtenaw County, Michigan
Superior Charter Township is a charter township of Washtenaw County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 10,740 at the 2000 census....
, and Northville Township
Northville Township, Michigan
Northville Township, or The Charter Township of Northville, is a charter township of Wayne County in the U.S. state of Michigan and a suburb in Metro Detroit. The population was 28,497 at the 2010 census....
.
As of the 2006–07 school year, Salem High School had an enrollment of 1,945 students, Canton High School 1,942 students, and Plymouth High School 1,935 students. As of the 2007-08 school year, PCEP had an enrollment of 6,128 students total. PCEP has over 50 clubs and organizations, including the radio station WSDP
WSDP
WSDP is the student-operated radio station owned by the Plymouth-Canton Educational Park in Canton, Michigan. WSDP positions itself as 88.1 FM the Escape. WSDP is operated out of Salem High School and has been in operation since February 14, 1972...
-FM 88.1 The Escape.
The original Plymouth High School (and later Salem High School)
The original Plymouth High School was built in the early 20th century on the northwest corner of Main Street and Church Street, opposite from present-day City Hall in present-day downtown Plymouth, MichiganPlymouth, Michigan
Plymouth is a city in Wayne County of the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 9,132 at the 2010 census. The City of Plymouth is an enclave completely surrounded by Plymouth Charter Township, Michigan.-Geography:...
. The district deemed the facility to be outdated by the 1960s for high school use. The facility was closed after the 1969-1970 school year.
When the first new high school opened in the present-day Plymouth-Canton Educational Park, the original Plymouth High School was converted into a middle school
Middle school
Middle School and Junior High School are levels of schooling between elementary and high schools. Most school systems use one term or the other, not both. The terms are not interchangeable...
, dubbed Central Middle School (in conjunction with the more recently constructed East and West Middle Schools). Central Middle School remains a landmark in down town and is still in operation as a middle school as part of the Plymouth-Canton Community School District. When Plymouth opened it only let in Freshmen, and the next year Freshmen and Sophomores, etc.
originally planned to simply remain Plymouth High School, the school's name was changed to Plymouth-Salem High School after Canton opened. Although the school district serves much of rural Salem Township, Salem residents were not necessarily exclusive to Plymouth-Salem.
Plymouth High's colors of red, white, and blue, were split up, with Plymouth-Salem retaining blue and white, and the eventual Canton High School teams taking the red with white. Plymouth-Salem retained their "Rocks" mascot; supposedly named for the large unmovable boulder that sits outside the school. It is tradition for students to spray paint this rock for school events and to celebrate important sports victories. The rock was moved during the renovations in 2008.
Salem is divided into two main sections, North and South. The North side contains the swimming pool and Logan Auditorium on the north side, and a two-level gymnasium on the south side, divided by a wide central hallway leading to the east entrance of the school. A staircase leads to the second-floor corridor near the entrance to the auditorium. The west side contains three floors of classrooms, as well as the cafeteria on the southeast side of the first floor. Administrative offices are located on the northeast side of the first two floors. The center of the second floor is dominated by the school library, and also features the studio for radio station WSDP
WSDP
WSDP is the student-operated radio station owned by the Plymouth-Canton Educational Park in Canton, Michigan. WSDP positions itself as 88.1 FM the Escape. WSDP is operated out of Salem High School and has been in operation since February 14, 1972...
. Stairwells on the north and south sides, referred to as the North Tower and South Tower, respectively, provide access to all three floors, and an elevator provides access for students unable to use the stairs.
One of the more distinctive features of the school building was its large ramp at the North Mall, which provided direct access to the second floor of classrooms. What made this ramp unusual were the three steps placed at the bottom of the ramp, purposely making vehicle access impractical. The ramp was demolished in the early 1990s, and the North Mall was revamped to provide a more appealing façade, while the South Mall was eliminated in favor of an expanded cafeteria. The school underwent renovations from 2006 to 2008, and is currently being renovated for additional office space.
In 2002, with the opening of the new Plymouth High School as part of the PCEP, "Plymouth" was dropped from Salem's name. Salem High School retained the "Rocks" nickname, logo, and colors of blue and white. The Salem Rocks logo is the same as Prudential Financial
Prudential Financial
The Prudential Insurance Company of America , also known as Prudential Financial, Inc., is a Fortune Global 500 and Fortune 500 company whose subsidiaries provide insurance, investment management, and other financial products and services to both retail and institutional customers throughout the...
's Rock of Gibraltar
Rock of Gibraltar
The Rock of Gibraltar is a monolithic limestone promontory located in Gibraltar, off the southwestern tip of Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. It is high...
logo, rendered in Salem's darker shade of blue, with an additional outer circle added featuring "Salem" on top and "Rocks" on bottom ("Plymouth-Salem" on top prior to 2002).
In addition to the formal online school resources, the school's parents, coaches and boosters proudly and voluntarily contribute content related to their group and team activities at http://www.SalemRocks.com.
Canton High School
Opening as Plymouth-Canton High School in 1972, Canton has a strikingly darker appearance than its big brother school, Salem. Darker bricks and metallic protrusions provide a stark contrast to Salem's lighter bricks and rounded corners. Canton was built without any athletic facilities of its own supporting the idea of "The Park"; these came later, in the form of an independent building just north of the school, dubbed Phase III (officially, Canton North Building, though this term is rarely used). Two parallel corridors run north-south through the building, with the library, cafeteria, and the DuBois Little Theater (formerly Little Theater) located between them. The administration offices are off the east corridor, near the main entrance. The bulk of the classrooms are located on the first and second floors on the north side of the building, with vocational classes located at the far south end.In addition to Canton's sports, Phase III was home to the PCEP Marching Band, until the newer Plymouth High School was built, containing new band facilities. PCEP Orchestra remains in Canton. Originally, Phase III was not directly accessible by car from Canton's parking lot, and had to be accessed from the Salem lot instead. When Canton's parking lot was renovated in the 1990s, a bridge over the creek separating Canton from Phase III was constructed, giving direct access. The Canton football team has become a fierce competitor as a result of their "hide-the-ball" offense known as the Wing-T.
Canton High School's team name is the Chiefs. Their logo is an arrowhead, identical to the logo of the Kansas City Chiefs
Kansas City Chiefs
The Kansas City Chiefs are a professional American football team based in Kansas City, Missouri. They are a member of the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Originally named the Dallas Texans, the club was founded by Lamar Hunt in 1960 as a...
of the National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
. Prior to dropping "Plymouth" from its name in 2002 when Plymouth High School opened, the logo featured the letters "PC" in front of the arrowhead, in the same font and arrangement as the NFL team's logo. Since 2002, a large italic "C" is superimposed over the arrowhead. Now in 2009 they changed their logo to a Red Block C. The school has also used a secondary logo of a Native American chief's head, but is usually unused. The school colors remain red and white. Canton provides many clubs and sports. In addition to the formal online school resources, the school's parents, coaches and boosters proudly and voluntarily contribute content related to their group and team activities at http://www.CantonChiefs.com.
Voted best school of the year in 2009.
Plymouth High School
Opened in August 2002, and constructed southwest of Salem High School, the new Plymouth High School was designed by the architecture firm French Associates. The students selected to be Plymouth High's first senior class, the Class of 2006, were polled to come up with a new nickname for the school. Their selection, the Predators (after the Nashville PredatorsNashville Predators
The Nashville Predators are a professional ice hockey team based in Nashville, Tennessee. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League...
of the National Hockey League
National Hockey League
The National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States...
), was met with opposition from some parents who associated it with sexual predators. As a result, the school decided to use the generic "Wildcats" nickname, while still using the saber-toothed tiger logo of the Nashville Predators. Plymouth's school colors were to be purple and white (a combo of the red and blue of Salem and Canton), but were changed to black and silver. In addition to the formal online school resources, the school's parents, coaches and boosters proudly and voluntarily contribute content related to their group and team activities http://www.PlymouthWildcats.com.
Campus
The campus is 305 acres (1.2 km²), although much of this is athletic fields. Students may have classes in all four academic buildings, even though each student is assigned to one "home school" from which he or she is to graduate from and play sports. Students are permitted 10 minutes passing time to walk among their classes. There has been criticism that it is unsafe for students to walk though several inches of snow, but the superintendent still gives snow days as rarely as possible. State Law, however, does require that passage between buildings be halted in the event of lightning, though this has happened only twice since the beginning of the 2008-09 school year. One advantage to the 3-in-1 idea is reduced cost: there is only one auto shop (at Canton), one culinary arts facility (at Salem), one varsity football field (at Canton), two swimming pools (at Salem & Canton), two soccer and football fields (at Canton and Plymouth), one Robotics Shop (At Salem), and one band complex (at Plymouth).For most of its history, the campus has contained Canton High School and Salem High School, with a great rivalry built between the two neighbors. For many years the campus operated under block scheduling, seen as an innovative way to allow for longer periods of uninterrupted teaching time. After many years, The Park resorted back to a traditional schedule with 6 classes per day and 2 semesters of classes per year. Currently, The Park is considered a "Closed Campus," meaning no student may leave during the school day without a pass from the office.
Prior to the summer of 2006, the Cady family barn was also a part of the campus. It has since been moved to the Canton Township Cherry Hill village area next to a historic home. Included on the campus grounds is also a small strip of forest that backs a nearby neighborhood. Various trails are scattered throughout the wooded area. An Artesian well can be found in the wooded area, and is visited by earth science and ecology classes yearly. A creek that is part of the Rouge River
River Rouge (Michigan)
The River Rouge, also known as the Rouge River, is a river in the Metro Detroit area of southeastern Michigan. It flows into the Detroit River at Zug Island, which is the boundary between the cities of River Rouge and Detroit....
watershed runs through the campus, separating Salem High School and Phase III, which are to the north of the creek; Plymouth High School is located to the south. Environmental science classes held at the park regularly take water samples to monitor water quality from this creek.
Students and faculty
The Park currently has over 6,000 students with a racial makeup of 81% White, non-Hispanic, 10% Asian/Pacific IslanderAsian people
Asian people or Asiatic people is a term with multiple meanings that refers to people who descend from a portion of Asia's population.- Central Asia :...
, 4% African American
African American
African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
, 2% Hispanic
Hispanic
Hispanic is a term that originally denoted a relationship to Hispania, which is to say the Iberian Peninsula: Andorra, Gibraltar, Portugal and Spain. During the Modern Era, Hispanic sometimes takes on a more limited meaning, particularly in the United States, where the term means a person of ...
, and less than 1% American Indian/Alaskan Nativehttp://nces.ed.gov/globallocator/ (figures are rounded and do not add to 100%). The faculty has approximately 280 members.
Extracurricular activities
The Park has over 50 clubs and organizations, including a radio stationRadio station
Radio broadcasting is a one-way wireless transmission over radio waves intended to reach a wide audience. Stations can be linked in radio networks to broadcast a common radio format, either in broadcast syndication or simulcast or both...
, Marching Band
Plymouth-Canton Marching Band
The Plymouth-Canton Marching Band is a nationally recognized marching band program located on the campus of the Plymouth-Canton Educational Park in Canton, Michigan.-Music program:...
, and FIRST Robotics Team
FIRST Robotics Competition
The FIRST Robotics Competition is an international high school robotics competition organized by FIRST. Each year, teams of high school students compete to build robots weighing up to , not including battery and bumpers, that can complete a task, which changes every year...
. All three Science Olympiad teams qualified for the state level competition in 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2010. Also, Plymouth's 2007 Novice and 2009 Varsity Quiz Bowl teams won the championship in the tri-county area.
There are many clubs dedicated to different languages and cultures, such as the Spanish and Latino Students' Association (SALSA), Asian Pacific American Club (APAC), Indian-American Student Association (IASA), Muslim Student Association (MSA), Arab Student Association, Gay-Straight Alliance (GSA), Young Republicans, and the Diversity Council.
PCEP's radio station, WSDP
WSDP
WSDP is the student-operated radio station owned by the Plymouth-Canton Educational Park in Canton, Michigan. WSDP positions itself as 88.1 FM the Escape. WSDP is operated out of Salem High School and has been in operation since February 14, 1972...
88.1FM The Escape, has won numerous awards, including the Michigan Association of Broadcaster's annual 'Station of the Year' prize, which it has won nearly every year in the past decade. The station was started in 1972 at 89.3FM. Bonny Dore, Mary Phyl Godfroy, John Seidelman and Jeff Cardinal were the first faculty advisors. Multiple radio air talents, program directors and even station managers started their careers at WSDP.
The Park also has a Debate Club, a Model United Nations Club, a three Mock Trial teams, a FIRST
First
First or 1st is the ordinal form of the number one.First or 1st may also refer to:* First , minor summit below the Schwarzhorn in the Bernese Alps in Switzerland* First , mountain in Bernese Alps in Switzerland...
Robotics Team http://lightningrobotics.com, a Distributive Education Clubs of American
DECA (organization)
DECA, also known as Collegiate DECA on the college level) is an international association of students and teachers of marketing, management and entrepreneurship in business, finance, hospitality, and marketing sales and service . DECA prepares emerging leaders and entrepreneurs in marketing,...
chapter, Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD) chapter, and an Investment Club, among other clubs geared towards educational incentives. The Park's National Honor Society and Robotics Team have been recognized by the American Cancer Society for their efforts in supporting and running the community fundraising walk for cancer cures, Relay for Life
Relay For Life
Relay For Life is the main volunteer-driven cancer fundraising event of the American Cancer Society. Originating in the United States, the Relay For Life event has spread to 21 countries. Relay events are held in local communities, campus universities, military bases, and in cyberspace...
.
In particular, the DECA organization http://mideca.org/ is popular among the marketing students at the Park. DECA prepares students to become leaders in their fields, whether it be marketing, finance, hospitality or management in high schools and colleges all over the world. The DECA organization brings together students from all three schools at PCEP and their chapter made it all the way to nationals in 07-08 and 08-09 school years. During DECA States 2011, a few students used reverse-marketing skills to convince a middle-aged man to buy them Absolut
Absolut Vodka
Absolut Vodka is a brand of vodka, produced near Åhus, Skåne, in southern Sweden. Since July 2008 the company has been owned by the French firm Pernod Ricard who bought V&S Group from the Swedish government....
Vodka; they got incoherently drunk and bombed their presentations the following morning. But who cares? It was a good time.
Performing arts
The theatrical side of the performing arts program at the park consists of two groups: The Park Players, based at Salem High School, and The Second Stage Players, based at Canton High School. Any student who attends PCEP can audition for shows produced by either group.The performing arts program began with the formation of what is now the Park Players in 1970 by Gloria Logan, a drama teacher at Salem. The first three productions were staged at Central Middle School. The first production staged in Salem Auditorium was Fiddler on the Roof
Fiddler on the Roof
Fiddler on the Roof is a musical with music by Jerry Bock, lyrics by Sheldon Harnick, and book by Joseph Stein, set in Tsarist Russia in 1905. It is based on Tevye and his Daughters by Sholem Aleichem...
in 1971; as a tradition, a revival of Fiddler has been staged on the 10th and 20th anniversary years of the auditorium (1981 and 1991), while the most recent revival was staged in 2000, the 30th anniversary of the Park Players.
Both groups stage two fully produced, faculty-directed shows each school year. Each semester, there is usually one play and one musical.
Two years ago the Second Stage Players produced two musicals, both Little Shop of Horrors
Little Shop of Horrors (musical)
Little Shop of Horrors is a rock musical, by composer Alan Menken and writer Howard Ashman, about a hapless florist shop worker who raises a plant that feeds on human blood. The musical is based on the low-budget 1960 black comedy film The Little Shop of Horrors, directed by Roger Corman...
and Into the Woods
Into the Woods
Into the Woods is a musical with music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and book by James Lapine. It debuted in San Diego at the Old Globe Theatre in 1986, and premiered on Broadway in 1987. Bernadette Peters' performance as the Witch and Joanna Gleason's portrayal of the Baker's Wife brought acclaim...
. Last school year (09-10), Second Stage Players produced two mainstage productions, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee
The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee
The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee is a one act musical comedy conceived by Rebecca Feldman with music and lyrics by William Finn, a book by Rachel Sheinkin and additional material by Jay Reiss. The show centers on a fictional spelling bee set in a geographically ambiguous Putnam Valley...
" in the fall, and The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged)
The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged)
The Complete Works of William Shakespeare is a parody of the plays written by William Shakespeare with all of them being performed during the show by only three actors. Typically, the actors use their real names and play themselves rather than certain characters...
in the spring.
The Park Players have staged over 85 productions, including Neil Simon's "Proposals", "Footloose (musical)
Footloose (musical)
Footloose is a 1998 musical based on the 1984 film of the same name. The music is by Tom Snow , the lyrics by Dean Pitchford , and the book by Pitchford and Walter Bobbie.-Act 1:...
," "Hello, Dolly!
Hello, Dolly!
Hello, Dolly! may refer to:*Hello, Dolly! , by Jerry Herman*"Hello, Dolly!" , from the musical*Hello Dolly! , based on the musical*Hello, Dolly! , 1964 album by Ella Fitzgerald...
," "Jekyll and Hyde," and "Smokey Joe's Cafe
Smokey Joe's Cafe
Smokey Joe's Cafe is a musical revue showcasing 39 pop standards, including rock and roll, rhythm and blues songs written by songwriters Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller...
". During the 2009-2010 school year, the Park Players celebrated their fortieth anniversary. They performed three stage productions: Noises Off
Noises Off
Noises Off is a 1982 play by English playwright Michael Frayn. The idea for it was born in 1970, when Frayn was standing in the wings watching a performance of Chinamen, a farce that he had written for Lynn Redgrave...
as their fall play, Sweet Charity
Sweet Charity
Sweet Charity is a musical with music by Cy Coleman, lyrics by Dorothy Fields and book by Neil Simon. It was directed and choreographed for Broadway by Bob Fosse starring his wife and muse Gwen Verdon. It is based on Federico Fellini's screenplay for Nights of Cabiria...
as their spring musical, and Check Please/Check Please: Take Two as an in-between production.
The Park also has a Spoken Word Club, an Improv Club and a Puppetry Club.
Marching band
The Plymouth-Canton Marching Band is under the direction of Director, Mr. David Armbruster and has placed no lower than 15th place in the country at the Bands of AmericaBands of America
Bands of America , a division of Music for All, Inc., is an organization that promotes and organizes marching band competitions for high school students. Competitions include both Regional and Super Regional Championships as well as the Grand National Championships...
Grand National Championships every year since 1988. They have won the Grand National Championship there three times; 1990, 1991 and 1999. The group has won the Michigan Competing Band Association Flight or Division I title 22 times as well as 14 times in a row from 1994 to 2007. There are also various academic bands and two orchestras as classes to be taken during the regular school day. In April 2007, PCEP's Open Class Winter Guard placed 4th at the Winter Guard International
Winter Guard International
Spawning from the organization Drum Corps International , Winter Guard International was founded in 1977. WGI is a visual performing arts organization that hosts regional and national competitions for color guard and indoor percussion ensembles. Contests are held in the U.S...
World Championships in Dayton, OH. The marching band appeared in the 1973 Rose Bowl Parade as well as a nationally broadcast Battle of The Bands Show, hosted by Jerry Lewis, prior to the parade.
Orchestra
There are two orchestraOrchestra
An orchestra is a sizable instrumental ensemble that contains sections of string, brass, woodwind, and percussion instruments. The term orchestra derives from the Greek ορχήστρα, the name for the area in front of an ancient Greek stage reserved for the Greek chorus...
classes. The lower orchestra is called Concert Orchestra, while the upper one is called Symphony Orchestra. Placement into either of these is determined by audition. Symphony Orchestra typically plays AA-rated musical pieces, often playing pieces with members of the Wind Ensemble. They have been ranked as one of the best performing high school symphony orchestras in the state, consistently earning a Division I rating at District Orchestra Festival. Both high school orchestras often perform for community events, and volunteers from orchestra classes and Wind Ensemble play in the orchestra pit
Orchestra pit
An orchestra pit is the area in a theater in which musicians perform. Orchestral pits are utilized in forms of theatre that require music or in cases when incidental music is required...
for the musicals. There is also a middle school orchestra program which meets in the high school during first hour in the high school schedule. All orchestra classes are directed by Catherine DePentu. In April 2009 the orchestras performed together at the Duxbury Performing Arts Center in Massachusetts winning second place at the festivals of music.
Choirs
There are six choirChoir
A choir, chorale or chorus is a musical ensemble of singers. Choral music, in turn, is the music written specifically for such an ensemble to perform.A body of singers who perform together as a group is called a choir or chorus...
classes at PCEP. The entry-level choir for ninth-grade girls, Park Singers, is the starting choir for most students. The starting place for all guys is Parks Men. One step above Park Singers for girls is Allegro!. The only mixed choir class, Allegro! performs easy to moderately challenging selections. After Allegro!, the next highest choir for girls is Dulcissima. Dulcissima is a group of roughly 65 select female voices who perform moderate to challenging pieces for competitions, earning high marks. The highest choir for girls is the Madrigal Singers. The Madrigals perform extremely challenging selections, and have earned highest honors at state and national competitions. Equal with the Madrigals is the male select choir, Chamber Choir, which has also earned highest honors at state and national competitions. Although Chambers and Madrigals have separate classes, the two choirs rehearse together after school every week, and practice pieces that they do together. This combined choir is called the Festival Singers and is nicknamed by its members "Chambrigals". The Festival Singers travel around throughout the school year and perform for various competitions and community events.
The six, award-winning choirs have a total of about 300 members (and growing), and are directed by Jennifer Kopp and co-directed by Valerie Said.
Clubs that also have to do with choir are three after school acapella groups; Aria, Timbrewolves, and Conamore.
----
Athletics
Note: This is not an exhaustive list.SALEM HIGH SCHOOL (formerly Plymouth-Salem High School)
The "Rocks"
Boys Soccer
Salem won its only State Championship in 1995 by beating Portage Northern H.S. 1-0 in the finals and finishing the season 23-3-3. They have also appeared in the Finals and finished Runner-Up in 1989, 1992, 1997, 1999 & 2002.
Girls Soccer
Salem's girls soccer team won its only State Championship in 1987 by beating Livonia Churchill 2-1 in the finals. They also appeared in the Finals and finished Runner-Up in 1995.
Cross Country
Salem Cross Country has the greatest number of all-state athletes at the park.
Football
Salem remains the only school out of the three to win a State Football Championship, doing so in 1974.
Baseball
They won the state baseball championship in 1975 and 1991.
Boys Swimming/Diving
Salem boys swimming
Swimming (sport)
Swimming is a sport governed by the Fédération Internationale de Natation .-History: Competitive swimming in Europe began around 1800 BCE, mostly in the form of the freestyle. In 1873 Steve Bowyer introduced the trudgen to Western swimming competitions, after copying the front crawl used by Native...
won the WLAA conference championship for 11 straight years
Girls Swimming/Diving
Salem girls swimming continues to close the gap between itself and Stevenson High School at the Conference Finals.
Boys Ice Hockey
The Salem boys ice hockey
Ice hockey
Ice hockey, often referred to as hockey, is a team sport played on ice, in which skaters use wooden or composite sticks to shoot a hard rubber puck into their opponent's net. The game is played between two teams of six players each. Five members of each team skate up and down the ice trying to take...
team has also been a strong contender for the state championship for several years.
Boys Tennis
Salem's boys tennis team won both conferences and regionals, and took first in states.
CANTON HIGH SCHOOL (formerly Plymouth-Canton High School)
The "Chiefs"
Football
In recent years, Canton High School's football
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
team has finished high in regional rankings. On November 12, 2005, Canton won its first-ever regional title by defeating Detroit King. They made an appearance in the state finals against Rockford High but lost 21-31. They made it back to regionals in 2006, but then lost in the semi-finals to Rockford. In 2008, the Chiefs defeated Saline for the district title. They went on to lose to Stevenson in the regional finals.
Girls Soccer
Canton's girls soccer team, under former coach Don Smith, won the state championship in 1988, 1996, and 2001. In 2001 the Chiefs were led by four time all-state and three time Parade All-American Anne Morrell. Morrell went on to play at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is a public research university located in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States...
and her number 7 is the only number to have been retired in Canton High School history.
Wrestling
Canton High School's wrestling team won its seventh straight district title in 2011, and made it to the Team State tournament in Battle Creek in 2006 and 2008. In 2007, Canton's Corey Phillips won the State Championship at 140 pounds in Division 1, and in 2011, Canton's Anthony Abro won a State Championship at 189 pounds in Division 1.
Softball
The softball team was runner-up in the 1992 state championship game losing 1-0 in 9 innings. The Chiefs won five straight District Titles from 2003 to 2007. They won the Regional Title in 2004 and made it to the regional championship game in 2005. In the 2005 season they finished with a 36-2 record which included a division, conference, and district championship and two tournament championships while breaking 11 school records before the season ended including a perfect game by senior pitcher Molly Conlon in a 9-0 win against their longtime rivals the Salem Rocks. Six players from the 2005 team went on to play in college.
PLYMOUTH HIGH SCHOOL (opened Fall 2002)
The "Wildcats"
Tennis
Plymouth High School boys tennis team won their first divisional championship in 2009-10, and the second divisional championship in 2011-2012.
Volleyball
The volleyball team was first to win the division.
Boys Track & Field
The boys track and field
Track and field
Track and field is a sport comprising various competitive athletic contests based around the activities of running, jumping and throwing. The name of the sport derives from the venue for the competitions: a stadium which features an oval running track surrounding a grassy area...
team joined the volleyball team in being the first to win the division.
Football
In 2005, their first year of having a full graduating class, the Plymouth football team made the state playoffs, losing their first ever playoff game. The team again made the playoffs in 2007 and 2008, again losing their first games in the Pre-District round. The Wildcats made the playoffs again in 2010; yet, this time they not only won their first game, but they went on to beat Canton, Detroit Catholic Central, and Rockford on their way to the Division 1 State Final where they lost to Lake Orion 21-13.
Girls Soccer The 2010 Girls Soccer team won their first MHSAA Regional title in 2009-2010. They went on to beat Portage Central in the state semi-finals, earning the right to play in their first State Finals game losing 2-1 in overtime on a penalty kick to Novi High School.
Plymouth-Canton-Salem Unified Teams
PCEP Debate Team
The team has grown tremendously in the past two years, and is now placing in the top two places for the Wayne-Oakland Debate League.
PCS United Cheer
In 2005, the PCS United Cheer team was formed, composed of cheerleaders from all three schools and is also a nationally ranked team.
PCS Girls Ice Hockey
The Plymouth-Canton-Salem Penguins girls ice hockey team won the 2006 and 2007 State Championships.
PCS Boys Lacrosse
When unified, the lacrosse team was called the PCS Warriors. recently, the Plymouth Wildcats, the Salem Rocks, and the Canton Chiefs started their own lacrosse teams.
PCEP Figure Skating
The Plymouth-Canton-Salem figure skating team competes annually in district competitions as well as state-wide championships. In the 2010-11 season, they came in 3rd in district competitions, and went on to tie for 4th place in the state-wide competition, just 2 points behind the 3rd place team.
Lightning Robotics
FIRST Robotics
FIRST Robotics Competition
The FIRST Robotics Competition is an international high school robotics competition organized by FIRST. Each year, teams of high school students compete to build robots weighing up to , not including battery and bumpers, that can complete a task, which changes every year...
team number 862. This team competes at the district, state, and world levels.
Curriculum
PCEP, with its large size, offers a wide range of classes. Students have the opportunity to run a restaurantRestaurant
A restaurant is an establishment which prepares and serves food and drink to customers in return for money. Meals are generally served and eaten on premises, but many restaurants also offer take-out and food delivery services...
(the Rock Cafe in Salem), work in a preschool, produce a news program that airs three times a week, work in an auto shop, be involved in either of the two theatre groups, and work in one of the Park's three school stores
Retailing
Retail consists of the sale of physical goods or merchandise from a fixed location, such as a department store, boutique or kiosk, or by mail, in small or individual lots for direct consumption by the purchaser. Retailing may include subordinated services, such as delivery. Purchasers may be...
. The Park offers numerous band, orchestra, and choir courses, ranging from beginners to pre-professional. Within each of the schools is a writing center, and a math lab, which offers free tutoring service for students' writing, and additional help for students' math respectively. The Park even goes one step further to offer a plethora of alternative education courses to younger students looking for guidance and the older students who are willing and able to help.
School Stores
One of the great opportunities offered, as mentioned above, is the opportunity to work in one of the three school stores. The Rock Shop at Salem, the Den at Plymouth, and the Chief Connection at Canton. Working in the school store was considered an Advanced MarketingMarketing
Marketing is the process used to determine what products or services may be of interest to customers, and the strategy to use in sales, communications and business development. It generates the strategy that underlies sales techniques, business communication, and business developments...
class and was designed to train students in managing a working retail store in a real setting. Teamwork is also emphasized a great deal and an integral part of doing well in the course. The stores sell items such as fresh pretzels and cookies, sweatpants and shirts, and seasonal items that vary from store to store.
Alternative Education
Younger students who need help with school or guidance have the option of attending one of the following courses (as well as older students who are accepted into certain classes to help tutor/mentor): Student Service Center, Journey Program, Female Topics, Academic Support Center, and Mentor and Mediating. In particular, Mentor and Mediating is a course specified for seniors who want to help younger students with schoolwork and peer mediation among other things. These students are chosen on their academic success based on factors such as grades, attendance, behavior and recommendations from staff.Kiddie Campus
For those looking for a career in child development or just want a break in their day from the everyday lessons and note taking, Kiddie Campus is here! This course allows students to work in a preschool setting with children 3 to 5 years of age.Notable alumni
- Margaret DunningMargaret DunningMargaret Isabel Dunning is a philanthropist and benefactor of the Plymouth Historical Museum. She was born in Redford, Wayne County, Michigan.-Personal life:...
(Salem, 1929) - Philanthropist; attended Plymouth High School before PCEP existed - Tom HulceTom HulceThomas Edward "Tom" Hulce is an American actor and theater producer. As an actor, he is perhaps best known for his Oscar-nominated portrayal of Mozart in the movie Amadeus and his role as "Pinto" in National Lampoon's Animal House. Additional acting awards included a total of four Golden Globe...
(Salem, 1972) - Actor (disputed, left Plymouth at 15, before Salem opened) - Dennis Cockrum (Salem, 1973) - Character Actor 'Uncle BuckUncle BuckUncle Buck is a 1989 John Hughes comedy film starring John Candy, Amy Madigan, Jean Louisa Kelly, Gaby Hoffman, and Macaulay Culkin, and co-stars Jay Underwood and Laurie Metcalf.-Plot:Bob Russell Uncle Buck is a 1989 John Hughes comedy film starring John Candy, Amy Madigan, Jean Louisa Kelly, Gaby...
', 'West WingWest WingThe West Wing is the building housing the official offices of the President of the United States. It is the part of the White House Complex in which the Oval Office, the Cabinet Room, the Situation Room, and the Roosevelt Room are located...
' 'NCISNCISNCIS or N.C.I.S. may refer to:* Naval Criminal Investigative Service, a United States law enforcement agency that investigates crimes in the U.S...
', 'JAGJAGJAG is an American adventure/legal drama television show that was produced by Belisarius Productions, in association with Paramount Network Television and, for the first season only, NBC Productions...
'. - Matt Watroba (Canton, 1978) - Teacher, Writer, Musician/Composer, Radio Producer/Announcer
- William R. Folks, PhD (Plymouth-Salem, 1981) - Physicist
- David Dameron (Salem, 1986) - 1987 Junior World Greco-Roman Wrestling Champion, 136.5 lbs http://www.wrestlinghalloffame.org/wrestlers.php?wrestler=1449.
- Arul ChinnaiyanArul ChinnaiyanArul Chinnaiyan is a Hicks Endowed Professor of Pathology and professor of pathology and urology at the University of Michigan Medical School. He is also a Howard Hughes medical Investigator at the Howard Hughes Medical Institute....
(Salem, 1988) - Multi-award winning cancer researcher at the University of Michigan Medical School. - Dena HeadDena HeadDena Head is a former Women's National Basketball Association player. She is best remembered as the first player ever drafted in the WNBA.-High school years:In high school, Head was named Miss Basketball of Michigan...
(Salem, 1988) - First player ever drafted in the WNBA. - Tom DaveyTom DaveyThomas Joseph Davey is a former Major League Baseball pitcher who currently plays for the Camden Riversharks. At 6'7", Davey was a tall right-handed relief pitcher for four years with the Toronto Blue Jays , Seattle Mariners , and San Diego Padres . Davey was drafted by the Blue Jays in the 5th...
(Salem, 1991) - Former Major League Baseball pitcher - Vishnu Rajendran (Salem 1993) - Frequent guest on the show "E.R."
- David BurtkaDavid Burtka-Background:Burtka was born in Dearborn, Michigan, grew up in Canton, Michigan, and graduated from Plymouth-Salem High School in 1993. He trained in acting at Interlochen Center for the Arts, obtained his Bachelor of Fine Arts at the University of Michigan and had further training at the William...
(Salem, 1994) - American actor and chef. Neil Patrick HarrisNeil Patrick HarrisNeil Patrick Harris is an American actor, singer, director, and magician.Prominent roles of his career include the title role in Doogie Howser, M.D., Colonel Carl Jenkins in Starship Troopers, the womanizing Barney Stinson in How I Met Your Mother, a fictionalized version of himself in the Harold...
's fiancé. - Jason StollsteimerJason StollsteimerJason Stollsteimer is the vocalist and guitarist for the American indie rock band The Von Bondies. Stollsteimer also is the main songwriter and producer of the Von Bondies...
(Canton, 1996) - Lead singer and guitarist in The Von BondiesThe Von BondiesThe Von Bondies were an American alternative rock band. The group disbanded in July 2011. Its most recent members were Jason Stollsteimer on vocals and lead guitar, Christy Hunt on rhythm guitar and Leann Banks on bass guitar... - Traven Thai (Salem, 1998) - Song writer and Junior World Eating Champion, 'IEA'
- Nicholas Gismondi (Salem 2000) - Television Host and Film Producer
- James WisniewskiJames WisniewskiJames Joseph Wisniewski is an American professional ice hockey player, an alternate captain for the Columbus Blue Jackets of the National Hockey League.-Playing career:...
(Canton, 2002) - Columbus Blue Jackets Defenseman - Devin ThomasDevin ThomasDevin Thomas is an American football wide receiver currently playing for the New York Giants. He was drafted by the Washington Redskins in the second round of the 2008 NFL Draft. He played college football at Michigan State...
(Canton, 2004) - Wide receiverWide receiverA wide receiver is an offensive position in American and Canadian football, and is the key player in most of the passing plays. Only players in the backfield or the ends on the line are eligible to catch a forward pass. The two players who begin play at the ends of the offensive line are eligible...
for the New York GiantsNew York GiantsThe New York Giants are a professional American football team based in East Rutherford, New Jersey, representing the New York City metropolitan area. The Giants are currently members of the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League... - Allison SchmittAllison SchmittAllison Schmitt is an American swimmer who won a bronze medal at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, China.Schmitt has won a total of six medals in major international competition, three gold, two silver, and one bronze spanning the Olympics, the World, and the Pan Pacific Championships.-Personal...
(Canton, 2008) - U.S. Olympic Swimmer, 2008 Beijing Bronze Medalist - Tyler Seguin - 2nd pick in the 2010 NHL Draft to the Boston Bruins where he currently plays
- Mitch McKinstry (Plymouth 2011) - Defensive MVP 2011 Michigan Intramural Flag Football
- Brennen Beyer (Plymouth 2011) - University of Michigan Defensive end/Linebacker
- Jimmy LaFontaine (Canton 2011) - Canton High School Hockey point leader
- Nicky Patel(Plymouth 2012)- U.S. Olympic Polo
External links
- http://www.pccs.k12.mi.us/
- http://pcep.pccs.k12.mi.us/
- http://alumni.plymouth-cantonschools.net/
- http://881theescape.com/
Supporter and Booster-run websites:
- http://www.pcmb.net
- http://www.pcepchoirs.org
- http://www.lightningrobotics.com
- http://www.wildcatstennis.com
- http://www.parkplayers.org
- http://www.PlymouthWildcats.com
- http://www.SalemRocks.com
- http://www.CantonChiefs.com