Palm Beach Lakes Community High School

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Palm Beach Lakes Community High School
Palm Beach Lakes Seal
Palm Beach Lakes Seal
Nicknames

PBL, Twin Lakes, and Lakes
Principal

Nathan Collins
Address

3505 Shiloh Drive
City

West Palm Beach, FL
Established

1908/1970/1989
Community

Suburban
Type

Public High School
Students

Coeducational
Grades

9 to 12
District

School District of Palm Beach County
Mascot

Ram
Colors

Maroon and White
Band

The Ram Regiment
Website

[1]

Palm Beach Lakes Community High School, also known as Lakes or PBL, is a Coeducational, Public High School located in the Palm Beach Lakes community of West Palm Beach, Florida. It is under the jurisdiction of the School District of Palm Beach County. The school has the Teacher's Academy Program and serves as the Law Magnet for the entire county.

Once having an enrollment of over 3,500, Palm Beach Lakes once was one of the largest schools in the School District. However, due to Florida's Class Size Amendment and the continuous building of High Schools in the District, Palm Beach Lakes has a school enrollment of just over 3,000. It still remains one of the largest High Schools in South Florida.

Contents

[edit] History

Palm Beach Lakes Community High School was established in 1989. Founded in 1908 as Palm Beach High School, it has the legacy of being the oldest High School in the School District of Palm Beach County. The school is a year older than Palm Beach County, which was founded in April 1909.

Palm Beach High School served as the original site of Palm Beach Junior College (now Palm Beach Community College). County school superintendent Joe Youngblood and Howell Watkins, principal of Palm Beach High School, who became the college's first dean, were instrumental in opening the college. The college's initial goal was to provide additional training to local high school graduates who were unable to find jobs during the Great Depression. PBJC, or PBCC, was founded in 1933 and is the oldest Community College in the State of Florida.

Palm Beach Lakes High School was the successor of a school that was the merging of two schools: Palm Beach High School and Roosevelt High School. The latter, Roosevelt High, was established as the High School for African-Americans in West Palm Beach. They were athletic rivals with John F. Kennedy High School, the High School for African Americans in Riviera Beach. This school would go on to become apart of Suncoast High School. It was located at the site of the current Roosevelt Service Center, located on the Northwest corner of Tamarind Av. and L. A. Kirksey St. (15th St.). This site would also become known as Roosevelt Junior High School in the 1960s.

In 1970-1971, Roosevelt High School, the local High School for African-Americans and Palm Beach High School merged. The name of the new school was Twin Lakes High School. The 1970-1971 School year was the year that Twin Lakes High was integrated. The name was also derived from the fact that the new school setting was diverse with differing groups of ethnicities merging together into a future that was united. The site was located in Downtown West Palm Beach at the current Dreyfoos School of the Arts site.

In 1988, the name "Twin Lakes" was retired, and the school was renamed Palm Beach Lakes Community High School, named after the section of WPB in which it was going to be built. Not only was the name changed, but the location of the school. This site is its current location and is located at the NE corner of Shiloh Dr. and Military Trail.

[edit] Academic Programs

Palm Beach Lakes Quadrangle.
Palm Beach Lakes Quadrangle.

The school is on block scheduling, resulting in classes being taken every other day. On Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, a student would attend their 1st, 3rd, 5th, and 7th hour classes. On Tuesdays and Thursdays, the student would attend their 2nd, 4th, 5th, and 6th hour classes. The 5th hour is taken everyday due to equalizing the time for lunch hour. Students either attend 1st Lunch or 2nd Lunch, depending on the student's academic schedule. While one student is in 5th hour, another student would be at lunch. Then, the student in 5th hour would attend lunch while the other student would go to 5th hour.

[edit] Teacher's Academy

The school established the Teacher's Academy in the 1990s. The purpose of the program is to train and prepare future teachers for the world of tomorrow. Requirements to gain entry into the program are top notch, and students must maintain a certain GPA and other crudentials to gain access into the Magnet.

Requirements include having a 3.0 on a 4.0 GPA scale, and maintaining this average throughout High School. Students who enter this program take courses on the same level as collegiate courses. Upon graduation, if the student is serious about majoring in Education, they could enter a Florida state institution as a Junior.

[edit] Law Magnet

The Law Magnet program was established for students who were interested in pursuing a career as a lawyer. However, this magnet is not just limited to those interested in law. They take courses geared towards the legal field and are well versed. Those interested should contact the School District or the school directly.

[edit] Medical Magnet

The Medical Magnet at Palm Beach Lakes Community High is one of the best programs in the country. For many years they have finished first in HOSA county competitions and sending many kids to compete at the state and national level. Led by two certified Registered Nurses(Barbara Gissenter and Julie Joyner) the Medical Academy's main goal is to better prepare students for when they arrive at their professional careers in medicine. Some of the current classes the Medical Academy offers at Palm Beach Lakes Community High School are: Medical Skills ( students learn the basics of medicine), Health Science 1( students get a closer look at the Anatomy and physiology of the human body) Health Science 2 (Students get an even closer look at the Anatomy and physiology of the body. Students also learn some of the trick and trades in the medical profession.) Sports Medicine ( Students learn medicine in sports. Clinical Rotations are required. Clinical rotations consists of attending all home and away Palm Beach Lakes athletics games and assisting players with injuries on the sideline. First Responder ( Students learns the basics of emergency rescue, Clinical Rotations are required. Clinical rotations consists of 8 hour shifts at the West Palm Beach Fire Station 6, where students work in the rescue truck as Emergency Medical Technician assistants) Nursing Aide & Pharmacy Aide ( Students Learn the basics of nursing and pharmaceuticals. Clinical Rotations consists of every Wednesdays on block scheduling students are nursing assistants at nursing homes.) Independent studies( Students actually get a chance to work at Clinics,Doctor Offices, Hospitals, leave school early while getting a grade for it.)

[edit] Early Childhood

[edit] Clubs & Activities

[edit] Palm Beach Lakes Ram Regiment Band

The Ram Regiment Band is known through out Florida and the United States as one of the premier High School bands in the land. They are led under the direction of Mr. Lonnie Green, a graduate of FAMU, and a former member of the Marching 100. Sectors of the band include the Flag Team and L.O.D., or Ladies of Distinction. They have performed all over the country and are continually being known for their fun, upscale performances, and their great sound. They have often won Superiors at District and State conferences and are continuing in the tradition of greatness.

[edit] Other Activities

[edit] Sports

Palm Beach Lakes High School has long been a big name in sports throughout the state of Florida. In recent years major rivals of the school have been Palm Beach Gardens Community High School, William T. Dwyer High School,and Suncoast High School. The track and field team, on the women's side, has won 17 straight district titles with 8 state titles. They are also known for their football and basketball teams. A Lorenzo Hands, '89, led men's basketball team was ranked as high as 8th nationally in 2004-2005 by USA Today and have been to the state final four numerous times since the school opened.

[edit] Sports at Palm Beach Lakes

  • Wrestling Team - Men and Women (Varsity, Junior Varsity, and Freshman) Also known for the most intense workouts in the entire athletic program at Palm Beach Lakes High School.
  • Cheerleading Squad (Varsity, Junior Varsity, and Freshman)
  • American football Team - 6A (Varsity, Junior Varsity, and Freshman)
  • Track and Field Team - Men and Women 4A
  • BaseballTeam-Men 6A
  • SoftballTeam-Women6A
  • Girl's Flag Football Team
  • Basketball Team - Men and Women 6A (Varsity, Junior Varsity, and Freshman)
  • Soccer Team - Men and Women (Varsity and Junior Varsity)
  • Volleyball Team - Men and Women (Varsity and Junior Varsity)
  • Swimming Team - Men and Women
  • Golf Team - Men and Women
  • Bowling Team - Men and Women

The High School had the best athletic wrestlers of its history between 2002 and 2005. The head coaches for the team at the time were known for being the best in Palm Beach Lakes High history. The team was lead by head coaches Ramie Mohlman and Kevius Hodges, both of whom have outstanding wrestling careers. They both lead Andre Wallace, Nick DePalo, Dominick Oliver, and Jose Pena to become state qualifiers for Palm Beach Lakes High School. Palm Beach Lakes is also known for its annual Derek Harper Basketball Tournament. The competition is named after the retired NBA guard, and Palm Beach Lakes Alumni, Derek Harper, '80. Teams from Palm Beach, Broward, and Miami-Dade counties participate in the tournament which draws thousands each year. The event is held the week after Christmas for 4 days.

[edit] Notable Alumni

[edit] See also

[edit] References

[edit] External links