Pinecrest High School

History

In 1969, Pinecrest High School opened its doors for the first time. Located just west of Southern Pines, Pinecrest represents the consolidation of seven high schools in southern Moore County and the merger of three school administrative units.

On September 3, 1969, the Pinecrest student body of about sixteen hundred gathered for the first time. Their day was not divided into the traditional six-period day. Instead, their computer schedules reflected the flexibility of twenty-one blocks of time called mods. They heard terms like team teaching, teacher assistants, media center, closed-circuit television instruction, and programmed instruction.

Pinecrest's physical plant was tailored for flexible scheduling, large and small group instruction, and independent study. The large, open classrooms could accommodate four small classes at a time or one large group of as many as two hundred students. Traditional study halls were replaced with learning labs. In each building a vending area that provided hot and cold foods replaced the traditional school cafeteria.

The Pinecrest curriculum offered eighty-three courses the first year as well as extra programs for both remediation and enrichment. Pinecrest offered a full range of traditional high school sports. The athletic program was headquartered on campus, but many athletic events utilized the facilities at the feeder schools. The band program was organized before the school was opened. The Marching Band began the first year with twenty-five members. The choral organized the following year.

When the school opened, its physical plant consisted of three two-story classroom buildings. In the spring of 1974, the music program moved into the newly completed music building. The cafeteria, also located in that building, began serving "a la carte" and regular type A school lunches. In the fall of 1974, Pinecrest played its first homecoming game on its own athletic field. An ultra-modern gymnasium was opened in 1975.

The school was dedicated on February 15, 1976. At that time, six and one-half years after it opened, the major facilities were completed. In addition to the classroom building, a music building, a cafeteria, a gymnasium and a football field, the plant included a baseball field, tennis courts, a student commons building, and paved parking areas.

The school day was changed to a more traditional six-period day, and other changes soon followed as the school slowly returned to the traditional structure. Classes returned to a traditional size with larger instruction being offered as the need arose. Programs of instruction were greatly expanded with additions in the vocational and business departments. In the area of remediation, the program for the educable mentally handicapped was improved while programs for the multi-handicapped, educable/trainable, learning disabled, behaviorally and emotionally handicapped, visually and physically impaired were added. Title I Reading was added in 1978 and a Competency Remediation Lab followed passage of the North Carolina Competency requirement. Opportunities for the academically talented were also improved. Students were able to begin their college-bound English as freshmen. Since 1974, seniors have been able to take Advanced Placement English. The Mathematics Department offered the traditional courses in algebra and geometry as well as two courses in advanced math, and in 1973, it added Advanced Placement Calculus. In 1980, the Science Department expanded its college preparatory courses from five to six when it included Advanced Placement Biology. In 1981, the Social Studies Department expanded its program to include Advanced Placement American History. Through the Foreign Language Departments, students were given the opportunity to take four years of French or Spanish. German was added to the curriculum in 1980.

In 1982, the school received a new administration whose emphasis centered on returning the school to a more traditional operating mode while retaining the unique aspects that had been successful. Increased attention was given to student pride, parental involvement, participation in extracurricular activities, community awareness, and continued academic excellence. Results were immediate and tangible. Soccer and swimming have been added to the athletic program while a new softball field and a practice field have been constructed. Currently, plans are to build a modern football field stadium. In the academic area, the school has been recognized twice as a North Carolina School of Excellence. An extensive curriculum review has been conducted and courses in data processing, computerized math, computer science, and computerized accounting have been added. In local competition such as Quiz Bowl, Morehead nominations, and vocational contests, Pinecrest students have won more than 80% of the awards. Community support has continued to grow, as evidenced by the passage of the 1986 School Bond Referendum which provides a $2,500,000 for construction of a new auditorium as well as other money for facility improvement.

The Pinecrest faculty, administration, staff, and community are committed to providing a quality education for all students, preparing them to emerge as informed and competent citizens ready to meet the challenges of the complex world in which they live.

Pinecrest has been a part of quite a few curriculum and building changes and additions. Included in these are the following:

Notable Alumni

Orchestra

For members of the Pinecrest High School Orchestra, the trip to Washington, D.C.,was memorable in more ways than one. The orchestra not only won several awards at the Presidential Inaugural Heritage Festival held at George Mason University,but its members also attended the historic Inauguration of President Barack Obama.

The Pinecrest orchestra was one of only two that achieved the gold ranking at the festival, which attracted high school bands, choruses and orchestras from across the country. In all, about 4,700 students participated in the festival last weekend.

The showing at the festival is especially impressive, Leach said, because the Pinecrest orchestra is made up of strings only. Students play cello, violin, viola or bass. Many of the other orchestras competing at the festival were much bigger, and had percussion or woodwind sections, in addition to string sections. The only other orchestra to achieve a gold ranking was a full orchestra, far larger than Pinecrest.

Honors Theatre Ensemble

Each fall the honors theatre ensemble (known as the Pinecrest Players) competes in regional theatre competition. During the 2009-2010 school year the group presented a play entitled "At the Bottom of Lake Missoula" by Ed Monk and received the top honors at the regional competition. The show moved on to compete at the North Carolina Theatre Conference's High School Play Festival where it again took home the top prize and moved on to compete in the South Eastern Theatre Conference in Lexington, Kentucky. This is the first time in the school's history that the theatre program has advance to the highest level of competition. In the 2013-2014 school year, the ensemble presented the Alice and Wonderland sequel titled "Through the Looking Glass". After being awarded the Distinguished Play Award at the regional festival, making it one of only 16 productions (out of the original 128 statewide) to receive the invitation to the NCTC State Play Festival in Greensboro.

Band

They also have an award winning marching and symphonic band and various music ensembles.

Buildings

Pinecrest is composed of nine different buildings. Pinecrest's buildings 1-3 are the original buildings that were built in 1969. Building 4 is a more recent building that connects with the cafeteria and gym. Building 9, also referred to as the Freshman Academy (even though more than just freshman students use the building) is the newest building that was completed before the second semester of the 06-07 school year. Pinecrest has a Gymnasium along with a Field House that houses the Home and Visitors locker rooms for its athletic teams. The Butler building houses a room for PC's Exceptional Education program. The Auditorium is located on the west side of the school and houses the Band, Theatre, Orchestra, and Chorus.

Architecture

Pinecrest High School has an outdoor/indoor design, with students having to traverse between outdoor classes, and some classrooms that are inside of hallways. Most buildings are two floors, except the 9th Grade Building, and the learning cottages. The courtyard is in the center of the school, and is where most students eat their lunch. Most of the buildings have direct access to the courtyard, excluding the gym, weight room, auditorium, the 9th grade building, and the learning cottages. Also, there are benches and picnic tables set up in the courtyard allowing students the ability to sit and enjoy their lunch.

During the 2008-2009 school years, Pinecrest's aging outdoor wooden tables and benches were replaced with more durable plastic coated metal tables and benches.

The Patriot

The Patriot, Pinecrest's school paper, has been around since the founding of the school itself in 1969. As of 2008, the mentor in charge of the newspaper staff is Kelli Klingenschmidt.

Spirit Week (Homecoming)

Spirit week starts on the week of the homecoming game. During this week, students may participate in daily events (such as Wacky Tacky Day and Blast from the Past). Also, during Spirit Week, PCHS as well as multiple clubs (Cheerleading, Key Club, etc.) host their own events during Oktoberfest. Oktoberfest generally occurs one day before the homecoming game and two days prior to the homecoming dance.

In 2007, the PCHS athletic department decided to add another event (a parade) to the lineup of others. The Homecoming Parade (as it is called) allows the athletes of the Football and Men's Soccer teams, Cheerleading, Marching Band and Drumline, as well as a handful of various floats designed for the event follow a circuit taking them around downtown Southern Pines. There is generally a good turnout of observers ranging from other students, parents, friends, local business owners, as well as fans of PCHS.

In 2009, PCHS moved Oktoberfest to its original month, October.

Clubs

Pinecrest is also known to be home of some of the most dynamic clubs in the county.

The Pinecrest High School Step Team is also known as Omega Psi Rho.

Pinecrest also has clubs such as M.A.C. (modern arts club), International Thespian Society, Earth club, Art club, Debate team, Key club, Leo club, Polis Philosophy Club, Pinecrest Young Republicans, Pinecrest Liberty Foundation, Interact Club, Take Back, Drill team, Orienteering, Spanish and French clubs, FCCLA, SEA, Global Awareness, Ultimate Frisbee, and More.

Athletics

Pinecrest High school is a 4-A high school.

The John Williams Athletic Complex which includes a lighted 4500 seat football/soccer stadium and an eight lane track. (A planned renovation for the summer of 2010 is the resurfacing of the field with artificial turf.)

The John Williams Baseball Field which is lighted and seats 500. (The new stadium has been completed. Future additions include an enclosed press box, a snack bar, and a new storage building).

The James Moore Gymnasium is the home for basketball, volleyball and wrestling and seats 1400.

The remainder of the athletic facilities includes a lighted softball field, which seats 250; a practice football field, a practice soccer field, a lighted ROTC practice area (turned into parking lot before the 07-08 school year), and six hard court tennis courts. There are also many trails that run through the woods behind the school. These trails are used by the cross country and track teams.

Teams

Cross Country

The boys' cross country team won the state championship in 2005.

Wrestling

In 2012 the Pinecrest Wrestling team won the State title in the NC Team individual tournament.

Men's Golf

In 2008 the PCHS Men's Golf team won the 4A State Championship. Coming from a nine stroke deficit after the first round, the Patriots rallied to win by six. They defeated first round leader Providence as well as two time defending state champions Green Hope. This was the first ever championship by Men's Golf.

Football

In 2008, for the first time in over 16 years, the football team defeated Richmond County High School. That game was Richmond's homecoming game. Pinecrest finished that season 7-4 after winning only 8 games over the previous 6 years.

In 2009, the Patriots carried a 9-2 record into the playoffs. They defeated their first opponent CE Jordan (6-5), 28-0. During their second, and final game during the 2009 playoffs, the Patriots went up against Fuquay Varina (10-2) and lost, 41-7. They finished their season 10-3. During this season, Pinecrest set many school firsts. Among them were; first 9 win season and hosting not 1, but 2, home playoff games.

In 2010, the Patriots were unable to play in playoffs due to being put on probation for on field fighting with rival Union Pines.

Team divisions

Most of Pinecrest's sports teams have a Junior Varsity (average skill) and a Varsity (advanced skill). Football, basketball, and baseball are the only teams that have a 9th grade team along with both JV and V teams. Near the middle of the JV season, most of the 9th grade team joins the JV team. The soccer team will have a second JV team during the 08/09 season. This team will play a full schedule alongside the regular JV and Varsity.