Pekin, Illinois–June 26, 2021

School Tour

The reunion committee scheduled a tour of the Pekin High School campus on Saturday morning. The original part of the building (the one that was there when we attended) was closed for construction, so we saw only the new part of the campus.

The tour started near the gym, which is named after Dawson “Dawdy” Hawkins, the coach who led the Pekin basketball team to two state championships:

Tail of dragon painted on wall near trophy case

Trophy case displaying trophies, plaques, and team photos

Picture of Jimmy “Doc” Lee, long-time athletic trainer at the high school

Interior of gym showing floor and basketball hoops

Dear old Pekin High School / We're all the same / Winning or losing, / we’re always game / So team together, / We’ll cheer forever / Pekin, Pekin, Rah! Rah! Rah!

I still rememember the melody and lyrics...

Painted area of bleachers: dragon breathing fire, balancing basketball on wing. Words: Fire pit

Logos of the eight Mid-Illini conference sports teams

The topic of whether there should be a pool at Pekin High was debated for years, and finally one was built:

I haven’t seen that word in years.

On to the academic area of the school. I really like the idea of putting the teachers’ names, education, and degrees on the name plates.

Painting of dragon on wall, accompanied by many math equations

Name plate on classroom door giving teacher’s name, education, and degrees.

Sorry, this one wasn’t in focus to begin with.

The walls are lined with lots of student-generated art featuring (of course) dragons. This one is particularly...stunning.

Drawing of dragon head with text PCHS Dragons

Things were a bit spread out in order to handle social distancing.

Set of long tables in a large open classroom area

One of the biology teachers makes sea creatures out of recyclable materials.

Artwork of sea creatures hanging from ceiling.

Sea turtle constructed from recyclable materials

Shelves in biology area with anatomitcal models of ear and eye, and animal skulls

Pekin High has a lot of vocational training programs. The child care is available to the children of faculty and staff, so it’s a win for everyone.

Nursing assistant

Computer classroom with computers on table tops.

Business computing

Child Care

Floor rug labeled with colors, numbers, and classroom supplies; labels in Spanish and English

Tables with wide-screen Macintosh computers

Graphic design

Communications cabinet in background; equipment cart in foreground.

CISCO network technician program

There’s also a construction, wood, and auto shop program (I didn’t get any pictures of the auto section, sorry.)

Poster of dragon wearing hard hat and tool belt. Text: PCHS Construction

Construction area showing projects made of wood

Construction classroom with wood stacked on walls and power saws in foreground

3-D welded metal dragon attached to sign: Dragon Welding

Water fountain/sink with multicolored ceramic mosaic chips on exterior.

Remember all those motivational posters from your high school? Yeah, Pekin has them too.

Bulletin board with motivational, anti-drug, and anti-smoking posters

Poster with people speaking. In word balloons: Darn! Oh, come on! Shoot! Remaining text: Instead of “!@#%&#” / c’mon, clean it up.

This one is a lost cause, if you ask me.

Posters with “P.C.H.S. Ddragons always act with:” and acronyms for P R I D E (Purpose, Respect, Impulse Control, Dedication, and Excellence)

Miscellanea

I really like the graphics on this mobile veterinary clinic van.

Van for vip pet care; shows cat on side.

Hood of pet care van with icon of dog, cat, and paw print with a red cross

Side of pet care van with large icon of dog face in blue

And I saw this clever sculpture in front of an old building.

Blue ceramic frog with metal springs for front legs