O'Neill engineering teams tackling impressive challenges

About two dozen O'Neill Middle School students have been notching some impressive wins at science and engineering competitions this school year. O'Neill teams have won teamwork awards at the National Fluid Power Association's Fluid Challenge, taken home strength and aesthetics awards from bridge-building competitions, and notched a top-three finish in a race car challenge at Argonne National Laboratory.

With STEM education continuing to take higher priority, this is certainly something to celebrate. With educators trying to figure out how to interest more girls and women in pursuing careers in the STEM fields, it is more than worth noting that every single participant on O'Neill's science and engineering teams this year is female.

The challenges involve a great deal of design work, teamwork, problem-solving, technical knowledge and creativity, and the teams work together on weekends and over breaks. Not only must the students create products that do what they are supposed to do -- such as hold weight in the case of the bridge or complete a specific task in the case of the fluid challenge -- they also must present the design documents to the judges and be able to explain their work in-depth. In some cases, a daily journal is required, along with accompanying photographs.

Belle Aire students make Kindness Connection 

Belle Aire students recently worked together to make a difference for several organizations during the second annual school-wide Kindness Connection Day.

During the morning-long event, provided through the non-profit organization The Kindness Connection and sponsored by the Belle Aire PTA, Belle Aire School students visited the gymnasium in one-hour shifts to learn about volunteerism. They could then choose two of three projects to complete: decorate tissue boxes for residents of Saratoga Grove, create medals for Special Olympics, or make teddy bears for Children's Hospital patients.

The Kindness Connection is an innovative nonprofit organization that encourages volunteerism by providing fun and meaningful service learning activities for school-aged children. According to the organization's website, "The Kindness Connection believes that meaningful volunteer experiences have the power to inspire individuals to make a lifelong practice of giving their time and resources to charitable and civic causes. Their mission is to foster the next generation of volunteers. Research has shown that children who volunteer have increased academic gains, school connectedness, and civic engagement. Additionally, youth volunteerism contributes to identity development, increased self-esteem, and development of empathy for others."

For additional information about The Kindness Connection, please visit www.thekindnessconnection.org.  

O'Neill students switch roles with administrators for a day

Two O'Neill Middle School students recently had the opportunity to "switch places" with the leaders of their school.  

On May 8 Margo Kuzmanova served as assistant principal while Assistant Principal Chris Clavenna attended her classes. On May 15 Samuel Moore served as principal while Principal Matt Durbala attended his classes.   

Moore and Kuzmanova fielded phone calls and e-mails, visited classes and answered questions, to name just a few of the activities that kept them busy in their new "roles" -- which they won through the school's Conquest of the Realm Winter Literacy Program.

Click here for more about Conquest of the Realm! 

Belle Aire hosts Earth Week fun

Exciting things were happening at Belle Aire to celebrate Earth Week.  

Students were encouraged and rewarded to bring waste free lunches, bring in Trash for Cash items, purchase cloth napkins and donate old shoes and school/office supplies. Also, students made recycling posters and cleaned up the playground.  Some fifth graders tagged trees and the kindergartners helped plant a tree.

It paid to bring a waste free lunch. Each student who brought in a waste free lunch received a raffle ticket to win a prize. The raffles went on Monday through Thursday, but not on hot-lunch Friday. Many students were rewarded with toys. Hopefully, this activity will inspire more students to be waste free throughout the school year.

LRC teacher, Mrs. Joan Mommsen headed up a cloth napkin sale to go along with the Earth Week activities. She purchased ninety cloth napkins that were sold for $1 each. She wanted kids to be more aware of how wasteful using paper napkins are to the environment. Mrs. Mommsen commented, "I am thrilled that all the napkins sold out and it is helping the environment."

Belle Aire collected three large bags of donated shoes. These shoes were given to the Downers Grove Park District. The shoes will be used by the organization called USAgain.

Additionally, members of the Belle Aire community also collected three boxes of school and office supplies for SCARCE.

Another Earth activity that excited the kids at Belle Aire was the poster contest. Kids were encouraged to design a poster that promotes good ways to recycle and help the environment. Second grade teacher Mrs. Tara Fulton did a great job getting all of her students to participate in this fun activity.

The chance at winning Target gift certificates or Willis Tower Sky Deck passes motivated many students to participate in the Trash for Cash raffle. The Trash for Cash items that were brought in were then sent to Terracycle, which upcycles them into new products. This is a great way for the PTA to make money while also keeping trash out of landfills.

Ms. Lee's kindergarten class heard a presentation from a Downers Grove Arborist and afterwards helped him plant a tree.

Lastly, Ms. Heather Howland's fifth graders tagged trees in cooperation with Morton Arboretum. This activity helped kids understand the importance of trees and how they directly effect the environment. Ms. Howland was pleased at how much the kids enjoyed getting involved in such a meaningful project.

Earth Week organizers Kristi Kattapong and Michele Carter would like to thank the following people who helped out with many activities: Kim Kastner, Carrie Schneider, Chris Waden, Holly Ryden, Jim Finley, Jennifer Siragusa, Mike Neumann, Brent Borchelt, and Belle Aire Student Council members - Molly Smith, Arden Zajack, Hailey Grubich, and Michael Christensen.

It is clear that Belle Aire is committed to bringing awareness to the Earth and how we all play a role in making a difference. If we all work together, we can all make the world a better place.

Click here for more photos from the day!