Students from the sixth, seventh and eighth grades of St. Bruno School in Pinckneyville celebrated Earth Day by planting native flowers and creating a butterfly habitat at Pyramid State Park. This is the second consecutive year the school has participated in the program sponsored by the Illinois Dept. of Natural Resources and the Friends of Pyramid State Park. (click on image to view the photo gallery)
By Jeff Smyth
When the Pinckneyville Community High School Board of Education chose March 25 to eliminate the school’s art program with its seven corresponding courses, I couldn’t help thinking of the Dark Ages; a time in civilization of economic despair and cultural decline.
Indeed, the decision was made in order to save a school district facing a deficit of almost $310,000 next year some $60,000. The board had to cut somewhere and the art program drew its attention when teacher Mary Jane Field announced her retirement leaving only Sandy Stevens. (The board eliminated Field’s position and laid off Stevens in a move called a Reduction in Force.) The fact that only 24 students indicated they would enroll in art next fall didn’t help.
The PCHS Music Makers production of the "Pajama Game" will be presented at 7 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Tickets are $10 for adults and $8 for students. The new venue is open, airy and with ample seating to make for an enjoyable evening. More than 50 students are helping to present the show. Purchase tickets at Perry County Market Place or at the door. (click on the image to view the photo gallery)
The PCHS Poms placed second in Class A Kick and fourth in Jazz at the Illinois Drill Team Assoc. state championship in Urbana, March 16. Click on the image to view the photo gallery.
The Pinckneyville Panthers defeated regional tournament host Sparta 45-44 to advance to the championship game. They face Nashville Friday (Feb. 22) evening at Fulton Gym in Sparta. The Panthers trailed by seven points going into the half, but drew even at 29-29 at the end of the third quarter. (click on the image to view the photo gallery).
Pinckneyville's split its rivalry weekend, getting waxed by Nashville on Friday night away and returning home Saturday night to edge out Du Quoin on a last minute shot. Details to follow. Click on the image to view the photo gallery of the game, the poms, the Upbeat Dance Studio show and more.
The Lady Panthers demolished Sparta Jan. 31 on senior night. The score was 44-8 at the half. Final stats will be posted later but pictures of the first half are viewable by clicking on the image.
(NOTE: click on the image to view the photo gallery)
By Jeff Smyth
To understand the world of competitive high school pom-poms, think back to Olympic figure skating where a U.S. athlete would score “9s” with all the judges but one: the Russian who deemed the performance a “5”. In essence, while there are parameters by which teams are judged, it seems subjectivity is also a factor.
Over the weekend the PCHS Poms competed in the IHSA state Dance Competition in Bloomington. They placed sixth overall which is quite a feat considering 64 teams in the Class A division vied for an invitation to the event, 30 received it, and 10 made the final cut.
If it was Panther basketball, a sixth place finish would have been a crushing blow to Pinckneyville’s psyche but it is not, it is poms and the scoring here isn’t as obvious as when someone swishes a bucket.
The PCHS Poms earned a state-qualifying second place at the IHSA dance sectional in Troy Jan. 19. The troupe performs a highly-entertaining routine in which they dance with the appearance of being men in shirts and ties (and masks) from behind and then turnaround. It is a real show-stopper. They will compete in Bloomington on Jan. 25. (click on the image to view the photo gallery).
The PCHS Pom-Pom squad opened competition season with a second place in Class A Kick category at a regional Illinois Drill Team Assoc. meet in Edwardsville. The high-energy, highly entertaining troupe compete at Troy next week. (click on image to view the photo gallery)