Monday, January 4, 2016, following the half-day bell schedule. Students will attend their first semester classes for the last time. First period will begin at 7:45 a.m. and eighth period will conclude at 11:41 a.m.

The OLCHS Bridgeview-Hometown PACE Bus will conduct a typical route in the morning and conduct a return route immediately following the 11:41 a.m. dismissal. Second semester classes will begin on Tuesday, January 5, 2016, following the typical Tuesday Stop-Drop-Read Bell Schedule.

Curriculum Night: Wednesday, January 6, 2016

Parents Requested! Course selection for the 2016-17 school year will begin with the Annual Curriculum Night presentation for parents of students in the Classes of 2017, 2018, and 2019 on: Wednesday, January 6, 2016, 7:00 p.m. in the Auditorium Gym.

Students will receive registration materials and summer school information in the guidance seminars during the school day. Parents are urged to attend the program and to take an active role with their student in selecting courses for the 2016-17 school year.

Illinois State Scholars -28 Spartans Honored

OLCHS is pleased to announce that 28 students from the Class of 2016 have been recognized as Illinois State Scholars. The Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC) is the state agency that recognizes the top Illinois high school students annually with this distinction. The following students were named 2015-16 Illinois State Scholars: Jamilla Abdeljaber, Danielle Allen, Brea Brennan, Melissa Buss, Brianna Castrogiovanni, Kaeley Clark, Shania Enriquez, Marcus Favila, Aleksandra Gronski, Jacob Janicke, Natalie Kaminski, Kaylee Lacoco, Marisa Loya, Mia Loya, Kara Melvin, Val Molloy, Ryan Quinn, Steven Raybould, Michael Rodriguez, Sophia Shader, Richard Sheppler, Trevor Spreadbury, Lucas Stillwell, Rebecca Suarez, Kelly Touchie, Nathaniel Warning, James Wiltzius, and Adam Ziada. Congratulations Spartans!

Illinois State Scholars represent approximately the top 10 percent of high school seniors from 652 high schools across the state. Selection is based on a combination of exemplary ACT or SAT test scores and sixth semester class rank. This year, over 19,000 students statewide received this honor.

ISAC encourages Illinois families to utilize the many resources available on its website, www.ISAC.org, including a calendar of free financial aid and college access events, Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) completion workshops to assist in the application process, as well as applications for grants and scholarships administered by ISAC. In addition, students can find out how to access free one-on-one assistance and mentoring in the college admissions process. <<read more>>

Speed Shatters Life

A message from School Resource Officer Detective Hennessy... The Oak Lawn Police Department has recently increased patrols in the area surrounding Oak Lawn Community High School. Their focus: speeding autos and reckless driving.

This is the result of numerous complaints about the driving of our students in the morning and afternoon. The patrol officers have been instructed to maintain strict enforcement of traffic laws in the area of the school. Please heed my warning to slow down and drive carefully.

Your privilege to drive a car is not your right. It is a great responsibility that you take on to safely guide a two ton machine in an area populated by your friends and family. Nationally, almost 6,000 teens aged 15-20 were involved in a fatal car accident in 2013. An average of 8 teens died per day in car accidents.

When I was a senior in high school, I worked for my school. One of my co-workers was an 18 year old student as well. He had a blue Mazda. It flew like a rocket. Luckily, I was not in the blue Mazda with Brian G. on October 28, 1991 when his tire blew out as he was street racing. The Mazda slammed into an oncoming car. Brian was killed. Five other people were injured, one critically: the innocent driver of the oncoming car.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has launched a program called "Speed Shatters Life." The goals of the program are to increase awareness of the dangers of speeding and aggressive driving; seek voluntary compliance to traffic laws from the motoring public; and supporting law enforcement programs designed to slow traffic down. More information can be found at www.nhtsa.gov

If this information is not enough to slow you down, a speeding ticket costs at least $100. Reckless Driving is an arrestable offense, including impounding of the car. The fees to get your car back will be at least $700. Please drive safely! <<read more>>

Emergency Preparedness -Be Sure to Get Text Messages

OLCHS wants parents to receive school communication in a timely manner, especially in an emergency situation. Parents are strongly encouraged to sign-up to receive text messages. Parents can easily sign-up through the Skylert feature with Skyward Family Access. Follow these easy steps: 1) Log on to Skyward Family Access; 2) Click on the Skylert Button on the left; 3) Scroll to the bottom of the screen and enter your cell phone number(s) in the "Text Message" Section; and 4) Click Save.

Parents are encouraged to review all of their settings within the Skylert screen and to add additional phone numbers and email addresses as desired. Parents determine what numbers and email addresses receive messages and the type of messages. Parents needing assistance can contact Jill Malkowski at 708/741-5611.

Cinderella's Closet to Make Prom Wishes Come True

Prom is expensive, and many families have more pressing priorities in this economy. That's why Oak Lawn Community High School will offer Cinderella's Closet, a program designed to help our female students get prom gear at rock-bottom prices. All proceeds will help fund a bus for the SADD Post Prom party. So clean out those closets to help make a girl's wish come true.

Cinderella's Closet is a collection of lightly used formal dresses, shoes, accessories, and unopened make-up for girls in need. All styles, sizes, and colors are welcome. Donations can be dropped off at the high school in the District Office room 123 during business hours (7:30 - 3:30 p.m.) through February 12, 2016. Please use the Southwest Highway visitor's entrance. If you are not able to drop off dresses during this timeframe, please contact Maria Vanderwarren to make other arrangements. A tax form is available for all donations. The Cinderella Closet boutique will be open to the public on Saturday, February 13, 2016, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

For more information, contact Kate Mellone at kmellone@olchs.org or Maria Vanderwarren at 708-741-5602 or mvanderwarren@olchs.org. <<read more>>

50 Minutes at Oak Lawn

Cross-curricular lessons provide opportunities for students and staff to collaborate on topics and projects related through a central theme. Photography Teacher Jennifer Wargin and Mass Media Writing Teacher Patrick DiFilippo joined forces for an opportunity to capture 50 minutes of the school day.

Wargin's class worked on taking candid photographs using proper lighting and editing skills. DiFilippo's class worked on the proper components of writing photograph captions for publications. The two teachers saw a natural fit in the curriculum and came together to develop the 50 Minutes at Oak Lawn project. The project is currently available on the online school newspapers site http://olspartanite.org/category/academics/. Jennifer Wargin said of the project, "I love bringing classes together to cross the curriculums, to extend, and apply the students learning in a meaningful way."

The students from the photography classes partnered up with the mass media writing students to capture a typical school class period. They needed to get candid photographs that did not interfere with the teachers or the students. Senior photos student Linda Reyes said of the challenge, "I was nervous about being able to capture the right picture. It turned out better than I thought it would." The students were treated to some serious science experiments, adventure education classes, and other creative classroom experiences. After getting all the information necessary for the captions, they returned to the classroom to edit the photographs, to write the captions, and to upload the assignment to a section of the student newspaper for everyone to view.

DiFilippo believes cross-curricular and interdisciplinary projects really bring learning to life and help reinforce instruction lessons. <<read more>>

Student Council & NHS "Elves" Host Special Holiday Party

Over forty members of Student Council and National Honor Society helped host a special holiday party for Keyser Family Pediatric Cancer Center patients and their families on December 4, 2015.

Student volunteers, all dressed as Spartan Elves in red and green, assisted with food service, craft tables, and mingling. Additional entertainment was provided by Nick Vera as DJ, Tom Repetny as photobooth operator, as well as numerous professional photographers on hand to take free portraits for families. The highlight of the evening was the arrival of Santa himself who read a story to the children, took photos, and listened to holiday wishes before returning to the North Pole.

The Keyser Family Pediatric Cancer Center at Advocate Hope Children's Hospital in Oak Lawn is an 8,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art facility developed to deliver high quality outpatient care in a comfortable and healing environment. The physicians and team there are dedicated to the mission of treating all children with pediatric cancer and hematologic diseases with the goal of cure. The Keyser Center assures that all children, their families and loved ones are cared for from the moment they enter Hope Hospital and throughout the transition to adult medical care.

Student Council is sponsored by Jennifer Sidlow and the National Honor Society is sponsored by Jessica Nickless. <<read more>>

Spartans Volunteer at Feed My Starving Children

Freshmen and sophomore advisory students volunteered at Feed My Starving Children, a non-profit organization committed to feeding hungry children around the world. Spartans hand-packed manna meals specifically formulated for malnourished children. The organization then ships these meals to distribution partners in nearly 70 countries. Chaperones included Jamie Atkus, Kate Mellone, Jennifer Sidlow & Tammy Tyeptanar. <<read more>>

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: Webpage-Spartan-Logo

Matthew Egan, President

Robert Loehr, Vice President
Kathleen Berry, Secretary
Timothy Burke, Member
Stephen Greene, Member
Daniel Janik, Member
Margaret Nugent, Member

Administration:
Dr. Michael Riordan, Superintendent/Principal
Richard Hendricks, Assistant Superintendent
Joseph McCurdy, Assistant Principal

Dr. Jeana Lietz, Assistant Principal