APRIL

4/01        Friends of Payton Community Meeting, 6:15-7PM, Library           

4/01        Blood Drive, 6AM-3PM, Atrium 

4/02        Purple Door Concert, 5-9PM, Atrium 

4/03-10   No School, Spring Break

4/15        No School, Report Card Pickup 11:30AM-6:45PM 

4/20        Local School Council Meeting, 6-8PM, Library 

4/22        Payton Boosters Association Meeting, 6-7PM, Library

4/22        Seminar Day

4/22        Payton Parent Seminar: Mindset, 7PM, Library 

4/23        Senior Potluck, 6-7PM, Atrium 

4/24-25   Dance-A-Thon, 7PM-7AM, Atrium 

4/27-30   International Week, 8AM-4PM, Atrium 

Congratulations to freshmen Isabel Diersen (left) and Catherine Johnson (right) who placed 1st and 3rd, respectively, in the Illinois Future Problem Solving Bowl (FPSB) Individual Competition. First place winners advance to the International Finals to represent Illinois in the Individual Competition. Second and third place winners also advance to the International Finals but are combined with three other students from different countries and/or states to compete as a MAGIC (Multiple - Affiliate Global Issues Competition) team. This year's International Conference will be held on Jun 10-14 at Iowa State University. 

Future Problem Solving Program International (FPSPI) is an international program that involves thousands of students from over 15 countries around the world. Its mission is to foster students' ability to design and promote positive futures through problem solving using critical and creative thinking. One competitive component of FPSPI has participants research a series of global topics and learn a six-step creative problem solving process. Problem solvers apply their topic and creative problem solving knowledge to address a charge presented in an imagined situation, termed Future Scene. The topic at the Illinois FPSB was 'processed food'. In each competition, a panel of trained evaluators score student work and return it with feedback including suggestions for improvement. Click these links for more information on Illinois-FPSB and FPSPI.

A growing body of research suggests that "mindset"--the way that we interpret success and failure--is a huge component in happiness, health, and future success. At Payton, we've made it a priority to nurture students' "growth mindsets" this year by changing how we teach, and how we talk to students about their challenges and struggles. Come to a co-presentation with Mr. Paul Karafiol (Resident Principal) and Payton Parent Alan Drimmer (Chief Academic Officer, Apollo Education Group) to find out more about what a "growth mindset" is, what it can do for your child, and what you (and we) can do to foster growth mindsets. Join us on Wed., Apr. 22 at 7PM in the Library.

Bon voyage! In the coming weeks, Payton's trips and exchanges to Prague, Taiwan, Beijing, Russia, and Oaxaca will head overseas for life-changing adventures and learning abroad. Stay tuned and click here to follow Payton travel blogs.

2015-2016 Payton Trips and Exchanges  

Student selections for Payton's 2015-16 international trips and exchanges will be announced on Thurs. Apr. 2. Students will be notified via email. Stay tuned! If you have any questions, contact your trip leader.

Don't Miss I-Night 2015 on Thurs. Apr. 30!  

International Night (I-Night) is Payton's most festive celebration of our school's diversity and world cultures, as well as being the biggest fundraiser to support our international trips and exchanges. Organized by the International Club and World Language department, I-Night features a showcase of student performances and a global feast of delectable dishes from around the world and activity booths for students and families to play games, make crafts, and learn more about the many cultures at Payton. Past performances include Muntu dance, Israeli folk music, Korean K-pop, Mexican folkloric dance, Bollywood dance, Irish step dance, martial arts, Polish music, Hawaiian hula, and much more! 

International Night Schedule for Thurs. Apr. 30:

5-6:30PM International Feast, Games, and Crafts

6:30-8PM Student Performances

Please consider sharing your global talents and international flair by volunteering your time and support at I-Night. Click here to link to I-Night 2015 volunteer form. To view a video montage of I-Night 2014, click here.  

Girls Track & Field: The Lady Grizzlies have been bringing the heat to our unseasonably cool spring, with strong performances at the team and individual levels. Early last month, Payton took 2nd place out of 11 teams at the UHigh Meet #2, with top performances from the 4x800 relay team, finishing 2nd with a strong anchor leg by Elizabeth Shirk (SR), and a 3rd place showing by Samantha Foster (SR) a season personal best time 12:58. Katelynn Jankowiak (JR) leapt 13'10" to take 5th place in the long jump.

Returning to UHigh the following week, Payton had a good showing, finishing #5 out of 9 teams, with 36 points. Competition was very strong. Whitney Young and Brooks led the way, but several Payton team members registered personal bests at the meet. Jankowiak brought her long jump out to a personal best of 14'8", and Nia McFall (Soph) accomplished a personal best record of 8.51 in the 60 meter dash. In the 1600 meters, Payton had two of the top four runners, led by Foster (2nd place) and freshman Alana Chandler (4th). At the Mar. 22 CPS Championships, the Grizzlies were 9th in the field of 12 teams. The 4x800 relay squad, led by Jankowiak, took 3rd place, as did Foster in the 3200 meters. Chandler finished 4th in the 1600 meters with a personal best of 5:48.