SCHOOL NEWS
Thursday, April 27, 2017
The Reporter
11
Middle school students create prom cards to promote safety By Kelly White Loud music, limo rides, fancy attire and the possibility of underage drinking. That is the reality of prom, and it’s just around the corner. In order to inspire teens to stay safe and instill good decisionmaking, for the seventh straight year School District 218 will be placing prom cards — handmade cards with private messages encouraging teens to make smart decisions — on every table of the three high school proms within the district. The cards are being sent to Richards in Oak Lawn, Shepard in Palos Heights, and Eisenhower in Blue Island. “Our high schoolers are reminded through these cards that they are role models and that the younger students are looking up to them,” said Cora Umecker, special education teacher at Richards and former instructor of SADD (Students Against Drunk Driving). “Sometimes it takes a reminder from someone other than their parents to get them to take notice and listen.” The middle school students created over 1,000 cards for the
prom-goers, so every attendee will receive at least one. Inside are handwritten anonymous messages stating things like, “You drink, you drive, you die”, “Stay safe tonight” and “Please make good decisions.” “I think when the high schoolers see my card they will listen to what it is saying,” said Oak LawnHometown sixth-grader Annalisa Barajas, 12, of Oak Lawn “In my card I wrote, ‘Make positive choices.’ I think they will hopefully follow it and not make bad choices.” “This project shows that the younger generation cares about people that we don’t even know,” said Independence Junior High sixth-grader Brittany McCarthy, 12, of Palos Heights. “I try to emphasize to the kids that this is a special night, so their cards should be visually attractive,” said Mike Maholland, an Independence Junior High art teacher. “On the inside, the kids write little notes, encouraging their older peers to make good choices and to get home safely. The tone ranges from caring to humorous, but the message is the same. The students learn
Photo by Kelly White
Independence Junior High students Elissa Rizek (from left) and Macey Sera, both 12 and of Palos Heights, create positive prom cards for District 218 students.
that there is a sense of caring within the community and that they play a role. I think they feel that their voice is valued and can make a difference.” “I think it’s great that they care enough to make these,” said Richards senior Sohaieb Alkhar-
absheh, 18, of Chicago Ridge. “It will make me think about what I do after prom. It is something I would probably keep.” Middle school students enjoyed extending a positive message, according to Oak Lawn-Hometown Middle School counselor Kathy
Local students who competed for the under 19 championship team (from left) — Molly Ross, Elizabeth Gildea, Megan Wagner, Alyssa Hoban, Grace O’Brien, Kiley Ross, Shannon O’Malley and Tara Campbell — pose in Ireland during the World Irish Dancing Championships.
O’Dwyer, who worked with the students on making the cards. “Students have a wonderful time making the cards,” O’Dwyer said. “I believe our students making something for the high school students inspires them to think ahead to their high school years and understand that making safe decisions is a matter of life and death in some cases.” “This project is really a lesson in life to both the middle schoolers who make the cards as well as the high schoolers who receive the cards,” Umecker said. “It says, ‘Hey, I see you, I look up to you and I’m learning from you. Please make the right choices and then when I am in the same situation, I will remember this and also make the right choice.’ It’s hard to say no to a kid who looks up to you. “This is a topic that is near and dear to my heart, and hopefully it will make some sort of difference.” Umecker took over the SADD club in 2011 at District 218 as a way of reaching out to students on a sensitive subject, such as having a friend die suddenly in an alcohol-related crash in
high school. The cards originally were made in 2010 at Richards and took on new life in 2011 when the other two district schools made the decision to use them as well. While no longer in charge of the club, Umecker still strongly stands behind the prom cards. District 218 officials have reported there have been no alcoholrelated incidents on prom night since the program began. “Knowing that these kids will be able to use our knowledge and be safe using our words is a big deal,” said Oak Lawn-Hometown sixth-grader Patrick Farrell, 12, of Oak Lawn. “We might even be saving some lives by doing this because before seeing our cards they might be thinking about doing something they shouldn’t. Also, we might know kids there that might give us respect for helping them.” Richards’ prom will be held on Friday, May 19 at the Museum of Science and Industry. Shepard’s prom will be held on Friday, May 5 at Crystal Gardens in Navy Pier. Eisenhower’s prom will be held on Friday, May 19 at Palos Country Club in Orland Park.
Submitted photos
The under 16 team of students of Claire McInerney, Olivia McMahon, Anna McMahon, Sydney Rozhon, Abby Chesniak, Maggie O’Malley, Abby Perry and Michalene Donnelly pose with their world championship trophy in Dublin.
Local students bring home two titles in World Irish Dancing Local students, including seven from Marist High School, helped capture world titles in two divisions at the 2017 World Irish Dancing Championships in Dublin, Ireland, held April 9 through 16. The girls dance for Lavin Cassidy School of Irish Dance in Worth. Marist freshman Molly Ross, of Palos Heights; sophomores Alyssa Hoban and Megan Wagner, Palos Heights; and ju-
niors Kiley Ross and Grace O’Brien, both of Palos Heights, won in the under 19 category. Their teammates — Shannon O’Malley, Tara Campbell and Elizabeth Gildea — attend Mother McAuley High School. Marist freshmen Michalene Donnelly and Abby Chesniak, both of Oak Lawn, also won with their team in the under 16 category. Their teammates were Sydney
Rozhon, of Oak Lawn High School; twin sisters Anna and Olivia McMahon, who attend Lincoln Way Central; Claire McInerney, who attends Martino Junior High in New Lenox; Maggie O’Malley, of Mother McAuley; and Abby Perry, from Oak Lawn-Hometown Middle School. At the event, the girls competed against 60 teams in the under 19 category and
90 teams in the under 16 category. The top quarter of teams advanced from the first round to the finals, where the scores from both dances were combined. O’Brien said preparing for the world competition included two to three hours of practice per day. It has paid off for the girls, many of whom have two world championships to their credit. O’Brien, who won the title with her teams in
2015 in Montreal and in 2016 in Scotland, says having a third world title is “pretty cool.” For Donnelly, it was her fourth visit to worlds and second title. “It feels pretty good,” Donnelly said. “It was very exciting.” She added that it’s a very long process to get all the team members dancing together at the same time, but it’s worth it.
OLCHS STEM Club earns medals at SSC event
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OLHMS Jazz Ensemble wins First Division Award The Oak Lawn-Hometown Middle School Jazz Ensemble of District 123 won a First Division Award at the State Jazz Festival held recently at Colin Powell Middle School in Matteson. The OLHMS Jazz Ensemble performed “Blue Skies,” “My Little Suede Shoes” and “A Mellow Time.” This is the seventh straight year that the school has qualified for the contest. It the sixth straight year they have won a First Division Award. John Kehl is the OLHMS band director.
Student at Oak Lawn Community High School participated in the SSC Science Competition and took home medals in eight events in 14 events in over a four-hour period recently at Shepard High School. Gold medalists from Oak Lawn Community High School include Fatima Akili, in the Biology Exam; Jade Ryerson and Salam Mulhelm, the Bridge Building Contest; Hend Abazid and Josh Rios, Insect Identification; and James Benson and Mike Rollberg, in the Paper Airplane Challenge. Silver medalists include Adam Baniewicz, Akram Mahdi, Viraj Paul, Matt Skupien and Cody Figus in Forensics; and Amjad Halim in the Egg Drop contest. Bronze medalists include Jozef Hyrczyk and Piotr Galas in the Electromagnet race, and Eoin Prendiville in the Environment and Ecology Challenge.
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Oak Lawn Community High School STEM Club members recently competed in the SSC Science Competition and earned medals at the Shepard High School event.
When asked why students compete in the competition, science teacher Chris Repa said, “Because these STEM enthusiasts love learning and demonstrating what they know. They are a great
group. Seeing students so excited about science and learning makes me believe that anyone can be whatever they want to be … these amazing kids are choosing to be difference-makers.”
Chicago Christian High School recognizes ‘Outstanding Students’ The annual “Student Recognition Assembly” recognized students on April 12 who excelled in several categories during the third quarter at Chicago Christian High School in Palos Heights. The students were honored for their academic excellence, classroom contribution and determination. Each department honored a freshman, sophomore, junior and senior student for performing at a high level in the classroom while displaying a Christ-like attitude that contributed to the overall learning environment of the school. Students received a free lunch for their efforts. Students recognized include Mia Bearden, Kelly Duh, Faith Rooney, Kathleen Tkoletz, Angela Cui, Lauryn Lellos, Julie Conrad, a Hickory Hills resident; Abby Haan, of Palos Heights; Tori De Jager, Marry Bergeson, Evergreen Park; Shelby Van Bruggen, Courtney Wojcik, Orland Park; Marley Bulthuis, Orland Park; Bryce Bollman, Orland Park; Gina Mejia, Oak Lawn; Faith Tanis, Palos Park; Stephanie Reusz, Clarie O’Neill, Jesse Geaschel, Brayden Roberts, Jill Van Dyk, Amy Lyons, Ellie Tiemens, Worth; Deja Claybrooks, Ben Fry, Joey Mavrogiannis, Nate Rivera and Collin Pujdak.
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A group of students at Chicago Christian High School in Palos Height were honored at the annual Student Recognition Assembly this month. The honored students were (front row, from left) Mia Bearden, Kelly Duh, Faith Rooney, Kathleen Tkoletz, Angela Cui, Lauryn Lellos, Julia Conrad, Abby Haan, Tori DeJager, May Bergeson, Shelby Van Bruggen, Courtney Wojcik, Marley Bulthuis, Bryce Bollman, Gina Mejia, Faith Tanis, Stephanie Reusz, Claire O’Neill, Jesse Geaschel, Brayden Roberts, Jill Van Dyk, Amy Lyons, Ellie Tiemens, Deja Claybrooks, Ben Fry, Joey Mavrogiannis, Nate Rivera and Collin Pujdak.