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McMillen High School Dedicated

November 15, 2011

The Plano ISD Board of Trustees, Principal George King and the McMillen High School staff, students and PTA welcomed hundreds of guests to the school's dedication ceremony held on November 10. Among the program speakers were Don Williams, great-grandson of Comfort A. McMillen; Sam Johnson, U.S. Representative; Bret Baldwin, City of Murphy mayor; and Superintendent of Schools Dr. Doug Otto, event emcee. The McMillen High School choir, band and step team performed.

Dedication Event Photos

Sam Johnson and George King

U.S. Representative Sam Johnson presented Principal George King with a United States flag flown in honor of McMillen over the nation's capitol.

As dedication guests arrived, they enjoyed music provided by the McMillen High School Orchestra, directed by Anu Daniel. As the dedication program , got underway, guests enjoyed a video production of a time lapse of the school's construction. And, during the program, a "Student Favorites" video featured students' favorite things about their school. (See video links to the right.).

After the McMillen High School JROTC posted colors, the group led the audience in the "Pledge of Allegiance," interpreted by students in McMillen's American Sign Language classes. The "National Anthem" was led by the McMillen Mixed Choir, directed by Christopher Mason and also interepreted by students in the sign language classes.

Sam Johnson and George King

McMillen High School JROTC posted colors at the dedication ceremony, while the McMillen Choir sang the National Anthem.

Special program guest, the Honorable Sam Johnson, U.S. Represenative, presented Principal George King with an American flag that flew over the United States Capitol.

School Board President Tammy Richards welcomed guests and introduced fellow trustees and members of Cadence McShane Construction and SHW Architects personnel who designed and planned construction of McMillen High School. Later in the program, Principal George King thanked Plano ISD Facilities Services Department staff who oversaw the building project.



Murphy Mayor Bret Baldwin (left) and Don Williams, great-grandson of school namesake Comfort McMillen, shared remarks at the dedication. Mr. Baldwin presented the school with a city resolution in honor of McMillen High School. Mr. Williams spoke about growing up in Murphy.

The Honorable Bret Baldwin, mayor of the City of Murphy, presented a proclamation to the school in honor of the dedication ceremony. Following his remarks, students performed for guests. The Lady Lions McMillen Step Team, sponsored by Robin Wiley, danced, and the Mane Attraction Choral Group sang "The Lion Sleeps Tonight."

Patty Meyer, associate superintendent for campus services, introduced Principal George King and keynote speaker Don Williams, great-grandson of Comfort Allen McMillen. Mr. King provided a historical review of the school's namesake, while Mr. Williams provided an often humerous glimpse back in time to his childhood days growing up in the city of Murphy.

Culminating the event was the school fight song, led by the McMillen band, cheerleaders and Dazzlers drill team. The band is directed by Nicholas Thomas. Cheerleader sponsor is Lisa Lambert, and drill team sponsor is Chloe Angelle.

About McMillen High School

McMillen High School and Logo

McMillen High School is located at 750 N. Murphy Road in the City of Murphy, just north of Kimbrough Stadium and Murphy Middle School.

Plano ISD's newest ninth and tenth grade high school roared onto the scene on the first day of the school year, Monday, August 22, as 1,200 "Lions" roamed their new surroundings. Built with 2008 bond program funds, McMillen features instructional technology and architectural design for optimal teaching and learning.

School to Cultivate Industrious Culture

"McMillen's vision aims to advance the collaborative learning experience for students and teachers," said Principal George King. "Our learning community will focus on interdependent partnerships, digital citizenship and cultivating a caring, yet industrious culture."

Collaborative Learning Spaces

Collaborative Space

A significant feature to the design of McMillen High School is the creation of wide esplanade hallways that not only accommodate foot traffic but collaborative learning spaces as well.

Collaborative Space

Equipped with less formal and more adaptable furniture, these collaborative learning spaces will allow students to work with one another in a relaxed, yet industrious setting.

Innovative & Flexible Classrooms

Mr. King noted that the school's classrooms are designed to promote interdisciplinary collaboration between departments as well as technology based research experiences for students. "This innovation also allows students to take on more responsibility and be more independent," said Mr. King.

Classroom

Classrooms facing collaborative areas have walls of glass that allow for visible extension of the learning space beyond the regular partitions. Additionally, the space will be equipped with wireless digital access and custom-designed folding panels used as projection/display areas.

One entire wall in every classroom at McMillen High School is covered with Idea Paint. This innovative wall covering turns the entire surface into a marker board, allowing for more student participation and collaboration. "We look forward to seeing the creative ways our teachers and students make use of this space," said Mr. King.

Word Clouds

"Word clouds" greet students at the top of stairs throughout the building. Innovation, synthesize, civility, transcend and interdependent are among the overarching words used to design the word clouds.

Hallway

The expansive second floor corridors (above) allow students to view the first floor (below) with its comfortable seating areas which double as collaborative work spaces for students.

First Floor View from Second Floor