Plum Grove Junior High's Scholastic Bowl team capped off a successful season with a second-place finish in the Illinois Elementary School Association's (IESA) Class AA Section B competition held May 4 at Humphrey Middle School in Bolingbrook.

The team finished one round away from qualifying for state. It defeated Homer Junior High from Homer Glen, 330-120, and Jane Addams Middle School from Bolingbrook, 280-115, but lost to Aptakisic Junior High in Buffalo Grove, 265-205.

The team qualified to compete at sectionals after taking first place at the IESA Class AA Region 6 Scholastic Bowl competition, which was held April 29 at Westview Middle School in Willowbrook. At regionals, the team defeated Pleasantdale Middle School from Burr Ridge twice, 280-135 and 205-80, before beating Roosevelt Middle School from River Forest, 320-170, to advance to sectionals.

Members of Plum Grove's Scholastic Bowl team are Sidharth A., Shalin M., Shreyah P., Sidharth K., Srishti S., Kellie L., Yansong T., Justin C., Shyam S., Suchet K., Arnav B., and Nipun V. The team is coached by Ana Kamath.

Sandburg students' Discover 'E' essays
earn them a tour of Northrop Grumman

Carl Sandburg Junior High recently participated in Northrop Grumman's Discover "E" outreach program aimed at encouraging students to pursue math and science courses.

Two Northrop Grumman engineers visited Deanna Makas' classes to discuss what it means to be an engineer. During their visit, students participated in an card building engineering challenge and were given the opportunity to take part in an essay contest describing how the visit impacted them. Three students who wrote exemplary essays were then chosen to participate in a special appreciation luncheon at Northrop Grumman.

During the luncheon, those students -- Amanda P., Kenny H., and Diego D. -- toured Northrop, learned about their latest projects, and enjoyed a delicious meal.

"It was a welcoming and student-focused reception that honored the essay winners and sparked continued interest in the profession," said Mrs. Makas. "The engineer tour guides explained current projects in ways students could connect with and understand. Students heard motivational messages about being curious, staying in school, and the value of mistakes, and were encouraged to choose occupations that enrich people's lives."

"Northrop Grumman's appreciation luncheon inspired curiosity, wonder, and reflection about the world of possibilities that await the students in their future," added Mrs. Makas. "We were honored to partake in such a wonderful event."

A group of eight District 15 students received top 20 national rankings in Math Kangaroo, a popular international mathematics competition for students in Grades 1-12.

Math Kangaroo competitions take the form of multiple-choice tests that build students' confidence in their mathematical abilities by helping them understand how math applies to nature's laws and human activities. The competitions encourage students to expand their knowledge and comprehension of mathematical concepts and master their math skills by developing their abilities to derive pleasure and satisfaction from intellectual pursuits, and by showing them that mathematical education is significant in every part of life.

Approximately 21,000 students from across the country participated in Math Kangaroo competitions this year. District 15 students who received top 20 rankings in those competitions are as follows:

For the 11th anniversary of its "When Pigs Fly" charitable fundraising drive, Walter R. Sundling Junior High collected 122 boxes of 4,274 food items for the Palatine Food Pantry, and raised $10,288 for Palatine Food Pantry and Palatine Assistance Through Hope.

This three-week collection effort culminated May 29 when Sundling students made activity booklets and more than 70 blankets to provide to the local children's hospital.

"It was a great day, and a day of giving back," said Jason Dietz, Sundling's principal.

Sundling has sponsored its "When Pigs Fly" charity event for the past 10 years to demonstrate what can happen when kids put their efforts toward helping others. During this time, students have raised more than $75,000 for the Make-a-Wish Foundation, Palatine Food Pantry, and PATH.

The event is named in memory of Carolyn Baider, a Sundling teacher whose motto was, "I'll give up on helping kids when pigs fly." Although Carolyn passed away in 2004, the teachers, students, PTA, families, and administration at Sundling still carry this belief close to their heart, and celebrate her memory each year with this three-week effort to "pay it forward." This includes participating in the Pig Walk in memory of Carolyn and other wonderful teachers that the Sundling family has lost, such as Frank Feeley, Dusty Bartel, and Nancy Ellison.

This spring, for the 13th consecutive year, Plum Grove Junior High participated in the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society's "Pennies for Patients" fundraiser, collecting $11,174.34 for the cause.

That total was tops in the state this year, and with a grand total of approximately $143,000 raised over the 13 years it has participated in "Pennies for Patients," Plum Grove has donated the most money of any school in Illinois since it joined the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society's quest for a cure for cancer. Annually, it has ranked among the top 10 fundraising schools in Illinois, and among the top 40 schools nationwide.

Throughout Plum Grove's three-week "Pennies for Patients" fundraising drive, staff, students, and parents raised money in many ways.

For the first week, classrooms tried to win cupcakes by raising the most pounds of pocket change. That week, the school raised a total of 540 pounds of change totaling $1,988.83! During the second and third weeks, students and staff could buy raffle tickets for prizes donated by the staff, parents, and local businesses. During the drive's third and final week, Plum Grove hosted an "Eat for Change" event at Chipotle. In just four hours, Plum Grove raised more than $6,000, half of which was donated to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.

"Plum Grove's staff and student body continues to amaze me with their generosity and dedication to this wonderful cause," said Maura Reid, a history teacher and Plum Grove's "Pennies for Patients" coordinator. "I am honored to work in such a wonderful school."  

Prior to their graduation, four District 15 eighth graders were awarded the District Fifteen Educational Foundation's Keep Music Strong Scholarships.

These $150 scholarships are funded each year by Dr. Gerry Aylward, a local orthodontist and multi-talented musician, to provide instruments and/or music lessons for a student at each of District 15's four junior highs.

The 2014-15 recipients of the Keep Music Strong Scholarships are as follows:

• Daisy A. from Carl Sandburg Junior High
• Leah B. from Winston Campus Junior High
• Madison L. from Walter R. Sundling Junior High
• Zachary S. from Plum Grove Junior High