The Spartan Standard: Volume 1

The Spartan Standard January/February 2026‌

Vol.‌ 01‌ Where Tradition Meets Tomorrow!‌ Sparty on the News!: Oak Lawn was featured on CBS Chicago’s School Spotlight back in October

Message from the Superintendent Dear Community Stakeholders, Happy New Year and best wishes as we begin 2026! We are excited to welcome students and staff back for a strong, engaging second semester at Oak Lawn Community High School.

We are pleased to share that the new fieldhouse project continues to progress as planned. Construction is moving forward smoothly, and we look forward to unveiling the completed facility this fall. This project reflects a significant investment in our students and community and will provide expanded opportunities for years to come.

We are incredibly proud of our students, who continue to excel both academically and through their participation in extracurricular activities. Their dedication, combined with the commitment of our staff and the continued support of our families, makes OLCHS a truly exceptional learning community.

Over the past year, we have seen tremendous growth in key areas aligned with our strategic plan. In student growth and learning, more students are taking advantage of early college credit and Advanced Placement opportunities. This past year, 51% of our students earned early college credit, up from 42% the previous year.

We have also experienced improvements in student attendance and increased participation in extracurricular activities.

In addition, we are proud to announce that 36 students from the Class of 2026 have been named 2026–27 Illinois State Scholars by the Illinois Student Assistance Commission, recognizing their outstanding academic achievement.

We look forward to an exciting spring semester as we celebrate student accomplishments and continued excellence.

Warm regards, Dr. Shahe Bagdasarian Superintendent

OLCHS Announces 2026/27 Illinois State Scholars

Oak Lawn Community High School is proud to announce that 36 students from the Class of 2026 have been named 2026–27 Illinois State Scholars by the Illinois Student Assistance Commission, recognizing outstanding academic achievement.

Principal Dr. Lauren May shared, “I am very proud of our Spartan seniors who were named Illinois State Scholars.

Their academic achievements are a testament to their hard work and dedication.”

Congratulations to our Illinois State Scholars: Sara Abdelrahman, Mustafa Adam, Amena Akili, Khaled Almatahen, Daisy Barrera, David Bush, Lisbeth Carrillo, Henry Evers, Moataz Farraj, Shayla Franco, Gianna Golden, Isaac Gracia, Mohammad Hamad, Mya Hilaris, Maryam Hussein, Dawid Komperda, Eli Kulpinski, Sebastian Kurnyta, Abigail Leeds, Charles Levora, Emiliano Lopez, Michael Lopez, Nader Maezouk, Vincent McBrien, Belal Moutaquakkil, Mohammed Naser, Nathalia Navarro, Kailee O’Connor, Alyssa Paplawskas, Faris Qutanani, Isaac Roche, Omar Saleh, Aidan Schopper, Iwona Turza, Virginia Whitener, and Ivan Zamora.

Spartans in the News!

Mr. Eric Kallenborn

WGN Teacher of the Month Mr. Eric Kallenborn was recognized as WGN (Channel 9) Teacher of the Month for December. He was nominated by Spartan alumni Madison Martin (’22) and Will Martin (’25), who highlighted his ability to meet students where they were, keep them engaged, and serve as “a listening ear,” along with his knowledge of manga, comic books, and anime. A QR code is included to scan and read the full story.

Coach Ryan Pattison Chicago Bears High School Football Coach of the Week

Head Football Coach Ryan Pattison was named the Chicago Bears High School Coach of the Week following a nomination after a strong start to the Spartans’ season. After finishing a combined 1– 17 over the previous two seasons, the team opened this year with a 7–2 record. The recognition highlighted Coach Pattison’s leadership and commitment to building a positive football culture at Oak Lawn Community High School.

Operation Santa Claus SALT and Student Council Spread Holiday Cheer!

We were proud to welcome the WGN Toy Drive Trolley to our campus and showcase the spirit of our Spartan community live on the news. Thank you to Dr. Lauren May, Ellen Kruger, and our student leaders from SALT and Student Council for representing OLCHS so well. A QR code is included to view the segment. Events like this highlighted the generosity, leadership, and pride that make our school community so special.

Spartans in the Community!

Bowling for Bolivia Oak Lawn High School hosted the “Bowling for Bolivia” fundraiser in support of Spartans Without Borders, part of ongoing efforts to raise $40,000 to help build a hospital in Bolivia.

Students demonstrated their commitment to global service, and staff, families, and community members contributed to making the night a success.

Tech Together: Students Helping Seniors Oak Lawn High School’s iTeam hosted a special event welcoming senior citizens into the building to receive hands-on help with their technology, highlighting students’ leadership, patience, and commitment to serving the community.

Cal’s Angels Gold Out Game Our Spartan community came together in a big way during the Gold Out football game!

Our Football and cheer teams, along with our fans, raised $5,068 for Cal’s Angels, supporting children and families battling pediatric cancer.

Thank you to everyone who wore gold and helped show what Spartan Pride is all about!

OLCHS Choir Performs for Chamber of Commerce Luncheon Oak Lawn High School’s Choir delivered a wonderful performance at the Oak Lawn Chamber of Commerce December luncheon, providing festive music that helped set the tone for the meeting and showcased the talent of our student musicians.

Athletics Update Boys Bowling Oak Lawn Boys Bowling continued its run of excellence by capturing its fifth straight conference championship, with the JV team also earning a conference title this season.

Leading the way, Justin Canvin was crowned the Varsity Individual Champion, while Zach Shane claimed the JV Individual Championship and rolled a perfect 300 game along the way.

An outstanding season that showcased the depth and talent of Spartan bowling.

Girls Basketball Over winter break, the Spartans captured the Tampa Bay Christmas Invitational Championship with a 50–45 victory over Sunlake High School.

L. Perry led the scoring with 17 points and 4 rebounds, while Tournament MVP Bianca Fleitas filled the stat sheet with 13 points, 9 rebounds, 5 assists, and 4 steals. S. Abdelrahman knocked down four three-pointers, and M. Hussein anchored the defense with 10 rebounds.

The title game also marked a major milestone, as the win gave Coach Sevedge his 200th career victory in Florida, highlighting the commitment and excellence he brings to the Spartans program.

Cheerleading Both JV and Varsity Cheer competed at the ICCA State Championship, marking a major milestone for Oak Lawn Cheer. Their appearance on the state stage reflected the hard work, discipline, and dedication these athletes showed all season long. By earning the opportunity to represent Oak Lawn at state, our cheerleaders continued to raise the standard of excellence for Spartan athletics.

Dance The Spartan Dance Team earned 2nd place at the Maine East Invitational, which qualified them for the IDTA AAA Jazz State Competition on February 14. The team also recorded a seasonhigh score in the 2A IHSA division, reflecting their continued growth and dedication. With Conference on January 16 and Sectionals on January 24 ahead, the Spartans are building momentum heading into the postseason.

Boys Basketball The Spartans boys basketball team has been playing excellent basketball this season, led by senior Jack Dempsey, who reached the 1,000-point milestone in December. The team has posted a 12– 6 record, highlighted by impressive wins over Oak Forest, St. Rita, and Tinley Park, as the Spartans continue to make their mark on the season.

Focused on the Future!

Oak Lawn Community High School offers specialized dual enrollment pathways in high-demand technical and healthcare fields through its partnership with Moraine Valley Community College. These programs allow students to earn college-level certificates and credits while still in high school, traveling to MVCC campuses in the afternoons for hands-on lab work.

Healthcare & Public Service Pathways Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA): Prepares students for the State of Illinois Nurse Aide Competency Exam, with 64 hours of classroom lecture and 40 hours of clinical rotations at local healthcare facilities.

Emergency Medical Technician (EMT): Students enroll in EMS-101, an 8credit-hour course that lays the foundation for becoming an EMT-B, including clinical rotations at sites like Northwestern Medicine Palos Hospital.

Industrial & Technical Pathways Welding: Students earn certificates in techniques such as Shielded Metal Arc Welding and Multi-Process Welding, gaining hands-on experience in TIG and MIG welding to prepare for careers in manufacturing and construction.

HVAC (Heating, Ventilation, & Air Conditioning): Training focuses on automotive, residential, and commercial systems, offering credentials such as Basic Air Conditioning Technician and practical experience in installation, maintenance, and troubleshooting.

This year, 24 OLCHS students participated in dual enrollment courses, including 11 in the CNA program, setting a new high for aspiring Spartan nurses!

AWARDS AND RECOGNITIONS Apple Distinguished School Oak Lawn Community High School is proud to be an Apple Distinguished School, a designation given to innovative schools recognized for leadership, creativity, and excellence in teaching and learning. This honor reflects Oak Lawn’s 1:1 Apple device program, deep integration of technology into the curriculum, and commitment to personalized, student-centered learning that empowers students to think critically, collaborate, and create in meaningful ways.

PLTW Distinguished School Oak Lawn Community High School is proud to be a Project Lead The Way (PLTW) Distinguished School, recognized for providing students with realworld, hands-on learning experiences that develop in-demand skills for life beyond the classroom. This distinction highlights Oak Lawn’s commitment to increasing student access, engagement, and achievement in PLTW programs, empowering students to take ownership of their education and prepare for future success.

AP School Honor Roll Bronze Medal Oak Lawn Community High School was named to the College Board’s AP School Honor Roll for the 2024–25 school year, recognizing the school’s commitment to expanding access to Advanced Placement courses and supporting student success. The honor reflects strong participation and performance in AP coursework that prepares students for college-level learning and future achievement.

Principal Dr. Lauren May shared, “Our AP program provides students with college-level experiences in high school as well as the opportunity to earn college credit, which often reduces college costs. I am proud of the work of our students, their AP instructors, and all our staff members who support them.”

VISION AND MISSION Our mission is to foster a safe, supportive, and challenging environment where all students develop the skills, knowledge, and character to graduate and succeed in a global society Our vision is to cultivate a community where every student exemplifies Spartan PRIDE Personal Responsibility Respect Integrity Dedication Excellence Through these values, we aim to prepare our students to lead with purpose and make a positive impact in the world.