 Oak Leaflet E-Newsletter
Oak Lawn Community High School
April 4, 2014 |
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Illinios 5Essential Survey | |
Teachers, parents, and students across Illinois have the opportunity to participate in the Illinois 5Essentials Survey: Organizing Schools for Improvement. This survey was designed to generate a detailed picture of the inner workings of your child's school from the perspective of teachers, parents, and students. Your voice is essential to help us understand the conditions of Oak Lawn Community High School and guide improvement.
The Illinois 5Essentials Survey will be administered online by the University of Chicago, on behalf of the Illinois State Board of Education. The state will provide survey results for individual schools only if a school has at least 30 percent of parents take the survey. All survey responses will be kept confidential. The survey usually takes less than ten minutes. The Illinois 5Essentials Survey identifies five indicators that can lead to important student outcomes, including test score gains. <<read more>>
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School Calendar: April 23 & 24
PSAE Testing Days | |
On Wednesday, April 23, and Thursday, April 24, all juniors will take the state-mandated Prairie State Achievement Exam (PSAE). On both days, juniors must report to the school by 7:45 a.m. to begin the testing. Juniors will be released after they have completed the testing at approximately 12:25 p.m. on Wednesday and 11:40 p.m. on Thursday.
On these days, freshmen, sophomores, and seniors will attend classes following the appropriate bell schedules.
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Spartans Come Home with Two State Championship Trophies | |
The Spartans brought home two state championship trophies from the IHSA State Drama and Group Interpretation Tournament. Both the Contest Play and the Group Interpretation were crowned State Champions. The team was welcomed home Saturday night by a crowd of over 200 supporters. The school gathered on Thursday for an all-school assembly to recognize the teams.
For the contest play, the school performed "The Normal Heart" by Larry Kramer, which is about the outbreak of the AIDS virus in early 1980's New York City. Cast members include Taylor Lindemann, Leonardo Quezada, Joe DeLaMora, Lauren Montesano, Danny Swanberg, Jonathan Cortez, Charlie Doria, Carl Seibel, Vaughn Smith, and Josh Cash. Riley Faille is the student director. The play is directed by Billy Denton, Thomas Dzurison, Theresa Wantiez, and Marcus Wargin.
The Group Interpretation performed "She Kills Monsters" by Qui Nguyen, which is about a woman finding a Dungeons & Dragons-style game that her late sister created and playing it in an effort to learn more about her and to keep her sister's memory alive. Cast members include Laura Akouris, Erin Beland, Kaeley Clark, Cameron DeLaMora, Paul Harris, Valentina Lopez, Tina Maciaga, Joey Probst, Emily Salomone, and Andrew Waterstraat. Julia Bugaj is the student director. The play is directed by T.J. Kahriman and Bob Beland. <<read more>>
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Teen Tech Week to Inspire STEM Interest | |
OLCHS has committed itself to educating its students with 21st century technology. Teen Tech Week, formerly known as National Library week, will take place April 7 through April 11. The Media Center staff has teamed up with the Science Technology Engineering Mathematics (STEM) Club to host an entire week of technology informed and literary events. Throughout the week, students will learn some STEM facts during announcements.
On Monday, guest speaker Don Lincoln will speak during all lunch periods in the Media Center. Don Lincoln is a senior researcher at Fermi Lab and an adjunct professor of physics at the University of Notre Dame. Don has also contributed to TED-Ed Talks concerning the topic of "dark matter." He is described as communicating with a personal touch and has given many lectures around the world. His background, however, is not unlike many of the students from Oak Lawn: he comes from a working class background and was the first person in his family to attend college. In his lecture, he will address groundbreaking revelations in science as well as college/career options in the field of science. <<read more>>
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SouthtownStar: Voting Campaign Underway to get Special Car for Disabled Teen | |
OLCHS math teacher Ellen Kruger is again going above and beyond for one of her students - spearheading a campaign to get a car for Riley Spreadbury, who's confined to a wheelchair.
Spreadbury, 18, is a senior at the high school. She was born with Goldenhar Syndrome, a condition affecting internal organs, ear deformities and scoliosis. In spite of her condition, she had a relatively normal and active childhood, including swimming, ballet, hiking and other activities.
When Spreadbury was 10, she developed scoliosis, which required several back surgeries. Unfortunately, due to complications and a spinal cord injury, Spreadbury was later left paralyzed and in a wheelchair. She eventually regained control of her arms but is still paralyzed from the chest down.
She's now about to graduate and wants to pursue a career as a recreational therapist to work with children in situations similar to her own. Already thinking ahead, Spreadbury plans to attend a community college for two years and then transfer to Illinois State University to get her bachelor's degree. <<read more>>
Cast your VOTE here!
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SouthtownStar: Janet Meyers Steps Down as Basketball Coach | |
Her final season was her finest. Her final decision her hardest. In the end, family came first for Janet Meyers, who Wednesday announced her resignation as the girls basketball coach at Oak Lawn.
Meyers made it official at an emotional girls basketball awards dinner at Oak Lawn. "It was tough," she said. "For years this has been my family. And I've been lucky to coach a lot of great kids, and even luckier to still have friendships with those kids, and have some of them become a part of my coaching staff. "It's the relationships you build that make it even harder to walk away."
In 15 seasons as coach at Oak Lawn, Meyers, a former Oak Lawn player and 1991 Oak Lawn grad (she was Janet Haubenreiser then), posted a 256-152 record. The Spartans were a program-best 28-2 in 2013-14, behind LaTondra Brooks advancing to a Class 4A supersectional, where they battled Marian Catholic to overtime.
Meyers, meanwhile, was coming off of a 2012-13 season in which she was the SouthtownStar Coach of the Year. On Aug. 20, she and her husband Brian, and had a son, Andrew. "When I had the baby I kind of had thoughts that this would be my last year," Meyers said. "But I never wanted to say anything because I never wanted it to be about me. It was supposed to be about the kids this year. <<read more>>
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Winter Athletes Honored for Achievement | |
Both the Illinois High School Association and the South Suburban Conference recently released its award winners for scholastic and academic achievement during the winter sports season. The requirement for the honor is a cumulative grade point average of 3.5 or higher. The IHSA recognizes juniors and seniors, while the SSC only honors seniors.
Here's a look at Oak Lawn Community High School recipients with their respective GPAs. In Wrestling, seniors Musaab Bashir (4.1915), Jeffrey Burzinski (4.0238), and juniors Edvardas Simonelis (3.5897), and Joe Robinson (3.8235); in Swimming, seniors Steven Boetscher (3.898), Michael Felton (3.5106), David Le (3.6863), junior Sean Nugent (4.5882), and Peter Ruane (3.6286); in Basketball, seniors Kelsey Luckett (3.7391), Ibrahim Samra (3.5952), Justin Schutt (3.5582) and Mitchell Swatek (4.3478), and juniors Joseph Cosenza (4.0571), Kaylee Gattone (3.8235), Dana Greene (4.2571), Nicholas Micele (3.5278), Emmet Nugent (4.6897), Alyssa Radoicic (3.9412), and Spencer Smith (4.0); in Bowling, seniors Damien DeAngeles (3.5), Daniel McGrath (3.5625), and juniors Joe Kamenske (3.5278), Christopher Kooyman (3.5278), Andrew LaRusso (4.1818), Kristyn Oliver (3.9429), and Sarah Sievers (3.5); in Cheerleading, seniors Colleen Fahy (3.766), Lauren Misner (3.6327), and juniors Kali Graziano (4.7419), Kaleigh Hayes (3.8286), and Ashley Matejka (3.697); in Dance, seniors Rebecca Mackowiak (3.9592), Andrea Pacetti (4.3673) and junior Anna Oswald (4.3529). Congratulations to all these Spartans who excelled on and off the court this winter. <<read more>>
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Winter Sports Awards Handed Out After Successful Season | |
The girls' basketball program may have stolen the spotlight with its thrilling trip to a sectional championship game, however many other sports also completed solid seasons, and individuals were recognized for outstanding play. Here's a look at the results.
Boys Basketball had David Stacy was named as the team's Offensive Most Valuable Player and Mitch Swatek was named the Defensive MVP. Spencer Smith was awarded the Sportsmanship Award. Stacy and Josh Prince earned all-conference honors.
Girls Basketball won a conference championship and a regional championship, and team MVP and South Suburban Conference Player of the Year was LaTondra Brooks. Duneya Shatat was the Sportsmanship Award winner. Brooks, Brooke Annerino, Jannah Mahmoud, and Brianna Markusic were all named as all-conference members. The sophomore team also won the conference crown.
Wrestling saw Joe Robinson earn team MVP honors and Jeffrey Burzinski got the Sportsmanship Award. Robinson and Ahmad Zain Al-Dean were all-conference selections.
Boys Swimming gave out Co-MVP awards to Juan Barrera and Sean Nugent. Steven Boetscher got the Sportsmanship Award. Barrera, Nugent, David Le, and Colton Vogt were named to the all-conference team.
Boys Bowling saw Ryan Kirby and Dan McGrath share the team MVP honors, while Damien DeAngeles earned the Sportsmanship Award. All-conference selections were Cody Bulow, Ryan Kirby and Matt VanDerGriend.
Girls Bowling had Shannon McGuire as team MVP and Jillian Sandrik as the Sportsmanship Award winner. As a team, the Spartans won the SSC Sportsmanship Award.
Cheerleading was led by team MVPs Bailey Kean and Cassidy Ward. Chelsie O'Brien was the Sportsmanship Award winner.
Girls Dance qualified for Illinois High School Association State Finals. The team included Alyssa Bonk, Alice Bustamantez, Samantha Cholke, Patrycja Kucharska, Rebecca Mackowiak, Emma McMeekin, Guadalupe Navarrete, Anna Oswald, Andrea Pacetti, Hannah Papaleo, Valerie Schlee, Bailey Tobin, and Melina Vazquez. The Spartans named Oswald as team MVP and Tobin as Sportsmanship Award winner. Pacetti and Papaleo were all-conference selections. <<read more>>
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Boys Track Team to Host Spartan Olympics | |
The boys' track team fundraiser is the Spartan Olympics. Both individuals and teams can compete in the events on April 27, 2014, at 2:00. Individual applicants will compete in all ten events in order to earn the title of Greatest Male and Female Athlete of Oak Lawn Community High School. Teams of five, headed by a junior or senior captain, may enter to earn the title of Greatest Athletic Group at Oak Lawn Community High School. Winners will receive trophies and medals. The cost is $15 for individuals or $75 per team. Registration must be received by Wednesday, April 16.
Events include the long jump; a 1600 meter run; bench press; 100 meter sprint; basketball free throws; tire flip; soccer agility course; football distance toss; 12 inch softball accuracy throw; and an obstacle course.
For more information contact Head Boy's Track Coach Chris Kuchyt in room 372 or email at ckuchyt@olchs.org. <<read more>>
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| Oak Lawn Community High School District 229, Oak Lawn, Illinois | |
Mission Statement. Oak Lawn Community High School exists to: inspire, challenge, and empower students and staff in a safe, supportive environment; maximize individual potential through academic and personal growth; and graduate students who attain the high standards set forth by our community.
Board of Education:
Matthew Egan, President
Robert Loehr, Vice President
Kathleen Berry, Secretary
Timothy Burke, Member
Stephen Greene, Member
Michael McCarthy, Member
James Melnik, Member
Administration:
Dr. Michael Riordan, Superintendent/Principal
Richard Hendricks, Assistant Superintendent
Joseph McCurdy, Assistant Principal
Jeana Lietz, Assistant Principal
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