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2019 - 2020

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A Guide to Achievements in our Local High Schools

PRIDE

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PRIDE 2019

To our readers ...

W

elcome to the latest edition of Pride.

Within the pages of this edition, you will learn about achievements at our local high schools, whether in academics, sports or extracurricular activities.

All of the content for Pride was submitted by the schools. We extend a special thank you to all of the schools and advertisers for their participation in this publication. Pride would not have been possible without them.

We hope you enjoy this issue of Pride.

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Inside Amboy High School.............................. 4-5 Morrison High School........................ 20-21 Ashton-Franklin Center High School............ 6 Newman Central Catholic High School....22-23 Bureau Valley High School........................ 7 Byron High School................................... 8 Chadwick-Milledgeville District 399...... 9-10

Oregon High School......................... 24-25 Polo High School................................... 26 Prophetstown High School.................. 27-28

Dixon High School............................ 11-12 Eastland High School........................ 13-15 Erie High School.................................... 16 Faith Christian School............................. 17

Rock Falls Township High School........ 29-32 Rochelle High School.............................. 33 Sterling High School.......................... 34-37

Forreston High School............................ 18 Unity Christian High School..................... 38 Fulton High School................................. 19 West Carroll High School....................... 39

Publisher Don Bricker Advertising Director Jennifer Heintzelman Advertising Sales Jill Reyna

Pride is a specialty publication of Sauk Valley Media of Dixon and Sterling. Articles and advertisements are the property of Sauk Valley Media. No portion of Pride should be reproduced without written consent of the publisher. Ad content is not the responsibility of Sauk Valley Media. Sauk Valley Media cannot and will not be held liable for the quality or performance of goods and services provided by advertisers listed in any portion of this publication.

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AMBOY PRIDE

Students fulfill district’s vision

BY JANET CROWNHART Amboy High School principal

AS I WALK THROUGH THE BUILDING AND LOOK INTO CLASSROOMS I am amazed by the things students are making.

Amboy students strive to meet our district’s vision statement of “Empowering World Class Learners and Responsible Citizens.”

ACADEMICS

It is so nice to walk through the hallways and hear students in discussions with each other, the teacher moderating the conversations. Many of the classrooms have morphed from the traditional desks in rows, to tables and chairs, couches, or beanbags in groups. Students are encouraged to ask their peers questions and use their Chromebooks to Google answers before asking the teacher. They are creating cities in Spanish to learn how to give directions and comparing life in the 1600’s to life now in English classes.

This year alone, students are dissecting gummy bears and bananas in veterinary science and biology before they start dissecting animals later in the year. We have expanded our art department to have a full-time art teacher, which allows students to dive deeper into either 2-D or 3-D projects. The STEM class is continuing the hydroponics initiative from last year and has planted peas and tomatoes in their hydroponics tubing. New LED lights are contributing to an increased growth of their plants. This project itself will continue to grow in volume and complexity as the year progresses. Future STEM projects will include robots that can work their way through a maze and a video-recorded high altitude balloon launch measuring carbon dioxide all the way to 100,000 feet and video recording the flight.

An airplane was designed with our new 3-D printer with each piece being separately programmed into the machine and then glued together.

The staff at Amboy High School remains committed to helping students narrow their career pathway before graduation. This year we are utilizing Xello to help guide students towards career pathways that interest them. Through the process, students from freshmen to seniors are given opportunities to go on field trips to multiple businesses, factories, trade schools, and colleges.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 54

Sensient Flavors is very proud of all of the achievements of the students at Amboy High School and our neighboring community schools.

Continue to work hard and take pride in everything you do!

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Car ter Seier uses new welding equipment at Amboy High School.

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PRIDE 2019

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AMBOY PRIDE 3CONTINUED FROM PAGE 4 We have more juniors and seniors this year participating in classes at Whiteside Area Career Center, Sauk Valley Community College, and co-op opportunities that place students in internships. Our students are gaining valuable knowledge and skills that will give them a head start after graduation. On top of these opportunities, we have added three dualenrollment Ag classes to the curriculum, with the possibility of adding more, and are continuing to offer the AP classes we added last year.

Last spring Amboy High School theater students had three great “Shrek the Musical” performances. This fall they are performing “Clue.”

FINE ARTS

Amboy students have always been given the opportunity to perform and excel in the arts. Each year we send band and choir students to the District Music Festival; this year we sent two freshmen.

Our music students continue to perform on Friday nights with the marching band and sing the National Anthem at sporting events. They also won awards at the IHSA Solo and Ensemble competition.

Last spring the theater students had three great “Shrek the Musical” performances, and this fall they are performing “Clue.”

FFA AND AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION

After over a year of planning, grantwriting, fundraising, and hard work, the Amboy High School Agriculture Department has expanded its welding program.

They received generous donations from the Amboy FFA Alumni and the Class of 1946 in memory of Raymond J. Becker, as well as several grants, including Amboy Depot Days Car Show Committee, Tractor Supply Grants for Growing, and Monsanto’s America’s Framers Grow Rural Edu-

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ASHTON-FRANKLIN CENTER PRIDE

AFC Jr./Sr. High School welcomes new principal AFC Jr./ Sr. High School’s new principal, Kimberly Torman, is a native of Pennsylvania. She and her husband moved to Paw Paw a few years ago.

“I didn’t expect to stay in the small community,” said Torman. “But I love the small-town pace of life.”

PHOTO BY MONETTA YOUNG

BY MONETTA YOUNG

ONE OF THE NEW FACES AT THE AFC JR./SR. HIGH SCHOOL this fall is the new principal, Kimberly Torman.

Torman, a native of Pennsylvania, finished her undergraduate degree at Slippery Rock University and her masters at Aurora University.

Over the past few years, she has taught in the Geneva School District at the high school level and then accepted a Dean of Students/Athletic Director position at Geneva Middle School.

She and her husband moved to Paw Paw a few years ago so that he could take over the family business while she continued to commute to Geneva.

“I didn’t expect to stay in the small community,” said Torman. “But I love the small-town pace of life.”

She shifted her career goals and began to look for something that made sense to her for the long term. With the recommendation from a former employer about the communities that

the AFC district serves, Torman was excited to come here.

Her short-term goals include making sure that the curriculum at AFC is providing the students experience and preparing them for their next steps in life, whether it be college, trades or something else.

She also hopes to develop relationships with all the stakeholders in the AFC district, including the residents of the communities.

Torman has had the chance to meet most of the staff and is impressed with the multiple hats that all seem to wear, noting that AFC is a place to learn and grow.

“So far I have had a great sense of community from all the people that I have met,” said Torman. “The fact that everyone cares passionately is very clear. Everyone seems to be rooting for my success.”

If you happen to stop into the school, be sure to introduce yourself and welcome Mrs. Torman to the community. n

PRIDE 2019

BUREAU VALLEY PRIDE

Our students are stars Good shows and good times worth remembering at BVHS

DANIEL TRONE BVHS Drama Director

I TYPICALLY ASK MY DRAMA STUDENTS “WHY IS THEATRE IMPORTANT?” or “Why do you love theatre?”

And their answer is usually enough to keep us going through a late-night rehearsal or all the math it takes to get a 7-foot tall clock standing up.

There actually is an interview in our latest production, “Radium Girls” where a reporter asks eminent scientist Marie Curie how she manages to devote herself to so much in life. The discoverer of radium responds, “It has not been easy” balancing science and family and the crowd of onlookers is directed by the script to laugh in solidarity.

When I asked my actors this same question offstage, I’m pretty sure they laughed harder. Here, I will mix a few schedules together as an example: Up at 5 a.m., dance at 6 a.m., school at 8 a.m., cross-country at 3 p.m., phone call to grandma at 4 p.m theatre at 5 p.m., home for chores at 8 p.m., dinner at 9 p.m. and homework until falling asleep—maybe at 10 p.m, maybe at 2:00 a.m.

Getting all of this into each day is not easy.

Then I asked why – why would you do all of this? Answers came at me from one student drinking Dr. Pepper

left over from decorating for homecoming, one student drawing flowers on another with Sharpie markers, one student checking how much paint they got on their jeans, and unknowingly from one student singing so loudly on their way to the auditorium that we could hear them all their way down the hall. The students love what they do and they love being together.

Drama is a unique opportunity in the variety of people it brings together. The cross-country runner plays opposite the golfer. He is the dentist consulting his patient. The volleyball player lays her head on the dancer’s lap. She is a friend so sick in the hospital she can’t even eat the ice cream offered to her. The boy complaining about math an hour before rehearsal is the man shouting at his lawyer an hour into rehearsal. These students who otherwise may never meet have a wonderful chance on our stage. They find characters and friends—and find so much of themselves as well.

Our greatest pride comes from the process it takes to get to the show night. There is much more leading up to that final bow than an audience can ever see. Our efforts take us from being a drama club to being a drama family. And, as a family, we hope to reach and teach our audience, sharing what we love. To me as their director,

that’s important enough and it’s what keeps me going.

I am truly honored to work with my cast and crew. I might say I trust these students with my life because so much of it is already theirs this time of year. I can definitively say that I trust them with my furniture because so much of it is often sitting behind the curtain. I maybe should think it would be nice to have that home--but I guess the big point there is that it kind of is home on stage…

Many actors aspire to be remembered. Whether in role or in reality, we hope who we are and what we share is meaningful. We knew starting last year with our fall production of “Charlotte’s Web” that we wanted to be a part of a bigger cause. With memory being so vital to what we do in theatre, it felt natural to support the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America.

We offer a snack bar during the intermission of each show with free will donations going to support the AFA. Community members admire the cause, donate generously, and lead us to believe that they will remember more than just the frosted oatmeal cookies we offer. Every actor will forget a line at some point. And their own names may be forgotten, but with our work, we hope to help preserve a bigger meaning for as long as possible. n

BVHS drama students put on a production of “Charlotte’s Web.”

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BYRON PRIDE

Byron High’s award-winning team makes a difference Members of The Culture Club were presented the Excellence Award for their work with Byron’s student population.

This dynamic and passionate team is making a difference for our students’ well-being and mental health.

From left to right: Nicole Yerly, Dr. Laura Mutchler, Jen Wygant, Meghan Skidmore, Amber Swanson, and Laura McMullen.

THE ILLINOIS STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION ANNUALLY SPONSORS THOSE WHO EXCEL to honor individuals who have made significant contributions to our state’s public and nonpublic elementary and secondary schools. Excellence, Meritorious Service and Special Recognition a ​ wards are presented in seven categories: classroom teacher, school administrator/principal, student support personnel (licensed), educational service personnel (unlicensed), school board member/community volunteer, team, and early career educator. Nomination materials are evaluated by a selection committee comprised of individuals who represent a variety of educational organizations. Awards of Excellence winners in the classroom teacher category are finalists for the Illinois Teacher of the Year. Local school district leaders and members of school communities nominate candidates.​ The Culture Club was presented the Excellence Award for their work with our student population. This dynamic and passionate team is making a difference for our students’ well-being and mental health. Their work is a priority, and they are committed to making our schools great for all students. Their goal is to improve the climate and culture of

Byron High School administrative assistant Becky Little was presented the Meritorious Service Award.

District librarian and media specialist Jill Smith was presented the Excellence Award. each building and ensure success for all students.

The District Librarian and Media Specialist, Jill Smith, was also presented the Excellence Award for her work with advancements in the areas of STEM and technology use in our classrooms and the District’s three media centers, along with creating our district’s first-ever after-school STEM program. Jill has shown a true understanding of how to reach the students of all age groups along with the development of the skills they need to be successful in school and life. She also has great relationships with our teachers and works closely with them to integrate this work into their curriculum.

The high school’s administrative assistant, Becky Little, was presented the Meritorious Service Award for her work at Byron High School. Considered the eyes, ears, and the pulse of the school, Mrs. Little is a game changer when it comes to our students, our parents, and our community members at BHS. Mrs. Little is the “go-to” person when it comes to getting a task completed or information collected. With her years of experience, she has nurtured our district with only one intent: to make a positive impact for all. Mrs. Little makes deep connections with everyone she encounters and truly enjoys working with young people. n

PRIDE 2019

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MILLEDGEVILLE PRIDE

Grad glad to glide Former MHS student teaches others how to soar off into the wild blue yonder

Cadet Dylan Alexander poses with a T-6 Texan.

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Note: The following item was submitted by Dylan Alexander, Milledgeville High Class of 2017. Alexander is attending the Air Force Academy in Colorado.

I AM CURRENTLY A CADET SECOND CLASS (JUNIOR) AT THE UNITED STATES AIR FORCE ACADEMY, part of cadet squadron 7. My current job for the squadron is an element leader, responsible for 10 lower class cadets and ensuring their development as officers in the Air Force is progressing properly.

Aside from the military development, I am an operations research major. Some of my current classes include Aerospace Engineering, Electrical and Computer Engineering, Linear Programming Models, Theory of Microeconomics, and a couple others. The majority of my time, however, isn’t spent in academics or military training for the Cadet Fourth Class cadets (freshmen), but rather, it is spent at the airfield, flying gliders as part of the Academy’s airmanship program to develop cadets into the world’s best pilots.

Lt. Col. Whitmer presents After a year of flying the Cadet Second Class (Junior) TG-16A glider for the 94th Dylan Alexander with his flyFlying Training Squadron, I ing wings. was qualified to become an instructor pilot. At 20 years old, I am responsible for not only teaching lower class cadets how to fly, but also managing every aspect of the flight, from takeoff to landing and everything in between. Currently I have 148 flights under my belt.

Along with flying, I am the First Sergeant, responsible for being our Senior Squadron Commander’s right hand man and assisting him in tasks to ensure the squadron is operating safely and efficiently. We currently have around 140 Instructors flying more than 900 students and approximately 17,000 flights per year. In my future, I plan to attend pilot training in hopes to become a fighter pilot flying combat missions. n

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MILLEDGEVILLE PRIDE

Students will take their show on the road MHS Music Department will give an All-State Performance

letters of recommendation from two current ILMEA members who knew of the school, its director, and its music program in general. n

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THE MILLEDGEVILLE HIGH SCHOOL CONCERT CHOIR WAS NOTIFIED THE LAST WEEK OF MAY THAT IT HAD BEEN SELECTED TO PERFORM AT ILLINOIS MUSIC EDUCATORS CONFERENCE on January 31, 2020, in Peoria. The choir is under the direction of Mr. Scott D. Mattison and accompanied

by Mrs. Janel Stahr. The opportunity is sure to be an exciting and incredible experience for all the students involved.

Mr. Mattison spent the summer researching and listening to music to prepare the repertoire for the IMEC performance.

The choir began rehearsing for the 30-minute program as soon as school began this fall. They are working hard to learn and memorize all the selections for the concert. The choir will travel to Peoria the night before the performance and have an early warm-up the next day, at 7:35 a.m., followed by a performance at 8:15 a.m. at the Scottish Rites Cathedral on. After their performance, the choir will tour the Conference exhibits before returning home.

The choir entered the selection process in the spring. They had to submit two recorded selections of them performing, along with a biography of the school, a biography of the director, copies of concert programs from the past 2 years as well as

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PRIDE 2019

DIXON PRIDE Check it out: Library gets a makeover Among the numerous renovations at Dixon High School was the work done on the library.

Moved from the first floor to its current location on the second floor, the library overlooks the Rock River and is equipped with new furniture and collaborative student workstations with dry erase tables. The library also is a place for students to charge their ChromeBooks as well as check out books not only from Dixon High School, but also through our inter-library loan consortium.

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DIXON PRIDE

Students hit the Chromebooks to brush up on Canvas Mrs. Hansen’s English 9 Honors class takes a quiz on Canvas while using their Chromebooks. This year, Dixon High School each student received a Chromebook to facilitate their education. Dixon High School is also in the first year of using Canvas, a learning management system designed to deliver the curriculum for classes without the need for traditional books.

SAUK VALLEY TEAM UP WITH PRINTING

Students roll up their sleeves to save a life On October 25, 2019, 57 Dixon High School students signed up to give blood.

This was the second of three blood drives at DHS.

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PRIDE 2019

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EASTLAND PRIDE

Students rise to the Lap-A-Day Challenge A CROSS COUNTRY RUN WAS HELD AT EASTLAND JUNIOR/SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL on Friday, Oct. 11, for our sixth-, seventh-, and eighth-grade physical education students. Prior to the event, classes had been challenged to add a lap to their running with each day of physical education class for the 8 weeks leading up to the event. Our plan was to culminate the activity with a cross country run that would be a bit more than a mile.

The event was held with great results and participation. We had several “rabbits” in the race, and the he more competitive runners were given “treats” if they were able to catch up with the “rabbits.”

Some got a bit of a head start, but most of the adult runners started even with the kids! Josh Ehlers, Dana Keim, Rich Groezinger, Stephen Reifsteck, Jayden Day, Kim Haverland and Rachel Burk-

holder volunteered to serve that role for each class and a few students were able to catch them, but it was pretty stiff competition. The students who caught the “rabbits” this year were Parker Krogman, Camron Huber, and Ella Dambman. Of special note, the eighth-graders had to run against two very accomplished cross country runners in Jayden Day and Stephen Reifsteck – J.J. Prowant and Adrian Martz were so close to catching them!!

Thanks so much to these volunteers as well as many others. Lee Reese donated the necessary ingredients and served the post-run smoothies that the students got to enjoy. Melissa McLain made power balls to serve with the smoothies. We also had many faculty and parent volunteers who helped cheer on the runners, supervise the bleachers, run/walk themselves, or run with individual students. Volun-

The best and the brightest shine Congratulations to (from left) Naomi Mullen, Elijah Dertz, Erin Henze, Daniel Sauer, Ira Markley, Emma Norton, Lydia Coatney, and Meredith Janssen for being recognized as 2020 Illinois State Scholars. Illinois State Scholars are among the best and brightest in our state’s high schools based on test scores and class rank. We applaud them along with their families and the teachers/ staff here at Eastland High School for this stellar achievement. Way to go!

teers included: Stephanie Lamoreux, Kari Scobee, JorjAnn Fink, Amy Schubert, Jared McNutt, Vanessa Hansberry, Bonnie Dertz, Anna Ludwig, Heather Blackmore, and Tracy Siegner. A special thanks to Nancy Kniss and Mrs. Burkholder for making this event possible by covering classes and being supportive.

Finally, a special thanks to the National Honor Society members who came out to help with this event on a day when the weather was less than spectacular! Macy Misiewicz, President of the National Honor Society, organized the troops to help, which included: Daniel Sauer, Ira Markley, Emma Norton, Jenna Green, Lydia Coatney, Meredith Janssen, Shelby Beyers, Naomi Mullen, Dani Rush, Stephen Reifsteck,Theo Woessner, Erin Henze, Claire Mitchell, and Kaitlyn Wilczynski. n

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EASTLAND PRIDE

Workouts pay off for Eastland schools EIGHT AREA SCHOOLS GOT CHECKS THIS FALL FROM FHN HEALTHCARE SYSTEM, thanks to their dedicated fans who counted their exercise minutes through the summer with FHN’s Miles and Minutes program. Together, exercisers logged enough activity to equate to 312,268 miles!

FHN’s Miles and Minutes encouraged participants to be active and log various types of physical activity to win prize money for the school of their choice.

Miles and Minutes winners were chosen in two main categories: miles per school system (normalized based on the number of students in each school system to help ensure that all schools had an equal chance to win, no matter their size or how many participants they enlist), and average miles per participant.

The winners are: Miles per school system: Eastland – 98,611 miles ($2,000)

Tri-County Christian – 80,839 miles ($1,000) Aquin Catholic Schools – 52,502 miles ($500) Average miles per participant: Eastland – 260.97 ($2,000) 2 – FHN Miles and Minutes winners Dakota – 233.41 ($1,000) Chadwick-Milledgeville – 202.60 ($500) Schools that did not win a prize in the two main categories are eligible for sweepstakes prizes. In the sweepstakes category, drawn at random, this year’s winners were: Warren – $500 West Carroll – $400 Immanuel Lutheran – $300 The free program had 623 participants who logged a total of 1,451,512 minutes of exercise from June 3 through September 8. (That’s equivalent to 2.76 straight years of exercise!).

FHN, a not-for-profit organization

with nearly 1,400 employees, is an award-winning regional healthcare system committed to the health and wellbeing of the people of northwest Illinois and southern Wisconsin. FHN Memorial Hospital has been recognized as one of the state’s top hospitals for safety by the Leapfrog group and Healthgrades as well as by the world’s largest, completely independent, non-profit productand service-testing organization.

FHN caregivers serve an average of 1,500 people each day across FHN’s 19 locations in 5 counties spanning northwest Illinois. Organized in 1995 as an integrated healthcare delivery system, FHN is comprised of FHN Memorial Hospital, the Leonard C. Ferguson Cancer Center at FHN Memorial Hospital, 13 family healthcare centers offering primary and specialty medical care, hospice, and outpatient mental health services. For more information about FHN, please visit www.fhn.org. n

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PRIDE 2019

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EASTLAND PRIDE

A record-breaking day for powerlifters Eastland students (from left) Cadin Colehour, Eli Dertz, Paul Sturtevant, and Kaylee Hammer competed Oct. 27 at the WPC Can-Am World Powerlifting Championships at Pheasant Run Resort in St. Charles, Illinois.

ON SUNDAY, OCT. 27, EASTLAND STUDENTS KAYLEE HAMMER, ELI DERTZ, CADIN COLEHOUR, AND PAUL STURTEVANT competed at the WPC (World Powerlifting Congress) 2019 Can-Am (Canadian-American) World Powerlifting Championships at Pheasant Run Resort in St. Charles, Illinois.

Powerlifting, a strength sport in which athletes compete for the highest combined weight between the squat, bench press, and dead lift, became an Eastland school activity in the spring of 2019. This is the second meet in which Eastland students have competed as a team.

At the meet, senior Kaylee set four WPC world records and four APF (American Powerlifting Federation) national and state records, with a 303-pound squat, a 133-pound bench press, a 292-pound dead lift, and a 726-pound total. Senior Eli’s 363-pound bench press broke a WPC world record and APF national and state records, and his 561-pound dead lift and 1,430-pound total broke APF national and state records.

He also set a personal record in the squat, with 512 pounds.

Cadin, a junior, squatted 352 pounds, bench pressed 314 pounds, and dead lifted 418 pounds, all personal records.

Paul, a sophomore, squatted 303 pounds, bench pressed 225 pounds, and dead lifted 352 pounds, also all personal records.

Both Cadin and Paul also won first place in their divisions.

The Cougar powerlifters will take a few months off to get stronger and will next be in action in the spring of 2020. n

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ERIE PRIDE

New addition offers new opportunities ERIE HIGH SCHOOL (EHS), STUDENT POPULATION OF 197, HAS A HISTORY OF GOOD ACADEMICS that only continues to be strengthened by the teaching staff, administration, and the school board.

The school board once again embraced change and authorized a building addition to EHS. With the opening of the addition this fall our students have all of their instructors and courses in one building. No longer do they have to brave the weather and walk to the annex for industrial arts, art, or to use the weight room during physical education. The 19,000 square foot new addition opened up a new art room, industrial arts, science/ STEM room, weight room, locker rooms, and wrestling room.

ARTS

Art teacher Ms. Majeski said, “The space we have in our new art room allows us to have more storage, flexible seating, and different stations for a wider variety of learning experiences. We have an area dedicated to ceramics with four new pottery wheels as well as a separate in-class kiln room. This allows students to be a part of the entire ceramics process, from wedging the clay to the firing process.

I’ve taught this same group of students since most of them were in first grade, so it used to be “magic” how the clay they had formed would just show up as fired ceramic bisque. Now students are a part of the entire process and understanding the science behind the finished product as well.

The new addition has actually provided more cross-curricular opportunities for us to create true STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics) collaborations. With the STEM Lab next door and the Industrial Arts shop across from us, there is endless potential for us to work together.

WELDING

Mr. McCullough has benefited from the board’s decision to offer a state-of-the-art

industrial arts classroom. Although EHS students have been involved with dual credit classes in cooperation with Black Hawk College, this is the first time Erie has been able to offer anything outside of English and the humanities departments. McCullough is teaching a dual credit welding course for Black Hawk with nine students. Within McCullough’s classroom area one will find a small gas engines room, a welding room that contains seven stick welding stations as well as areas for oxy acetylene welding. Two different plasma cutters are housed in this room as well: the manual one and the new CNC cutter.

Continuing on the tour of the industrial arts department ... there are a variety of new lathes, band saws, table saws, belt sanders, etc., easily identified by the mustard brown color, along with a state-ofthe-art dust collection system. The drafting classroom has four 3-D printers ...

SCIENCE

For the first time in his 24-year employment at EHS science teacher, Mr. Storm has his own classroom. Prior to this year he shared a classroom or taught in a secondary classroom. “The STEM lab is a completely new and advanced room in the school that will give students more hands-on experience about science,” said Storm.

Storm is excited about the new room and can’t wait to see what it can do.

“I hope that our STEM classroom/lab becomes a place where a large variety of technology and equipment leads to a whole new curriculum for the classes of general science, survey of science, ecology, and STEM class,” he said. “In addition, I think that biology and physics could make use of some of the ‘toys’ as well, especially the Z-Space equipment.

Z-Space is kind of a cross between virtual reality and augmented reality. We have already used it in some classes, but in a very introductory way at this point. Students seem to really enjoy it.”

“We also have a very high-end 3D printer and a laser cutter that can cut acrylics, wood and cardboard, which will be able to build very precise pieces and objects for various activities where students will be able to design, build, redesign, etc. a variety of projects. There is also access across the hall to multiple other 3D printers and laser metal or wood cutting equipment. ...

Storm is anticipating big things with the room and its flexibility. He has more space than he’s had in awhile. “I hope with new equipment, students can learn more efficiently and for better learning. I’m going to have a lot of fun teaching science and I hope more students gain more appreciation for science.”

PHYSICAL EDUCATION

One of the final rooms in the addition is devoted to the new weight room, which also can be utilized by the community before or after the school day. ...

Ms. Tenboer, P.E. teacher, said ... it was crucial to the physical education department to have a weight room, compared to when the equipment and weight room was in the annex building. “I don’t believe it was effective to have a weight room across the street. It was too much of a short unit and they didn’t get a lot out of it,” Tenboer shared.

Lastly the wrestling program has a dedicated room for its practices directly opposite the weight room. This is going to provide easier access to equipment than what they have had before when both rooms were on two different floors. ...

Everywhere one looks in the newest addition of EHS, you will see great graphic details, Panther pride artwork, modular, adjustable seating, and enthusiastic students and staff. “The new addition is another signature project that informs our learning community that we are committed to making sure all of our students have opportunities to shine in all curricular areas and beyond into the future,” principal McConnell said. n

There’s plenty of Panther pride at Erie High School after a 19,000-square-foot new addition gave students a new art room, industrial arts room, science/STEM room, weight room, locker rooms, and wrestling room.

PRIDE 2019

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FAITH CHRISTIAN PRIDE

A full-service school

Faith Christian has a lot to offer its students DID YOU KNOW ... WHILE FUNDING IS BEING CUT IN SCHOOLS ACROSS THE COUNTRY, FAITH CHRISTIAN SCHOOL STILL OFFERS art, music, choir, sports, Student Council, Key Club, foreign languages, and much more to all our students.

Faith Christian School is housed in three locations: a preschool building in Dixon, an elementary building for kindergarten through fourth grade, and our main facility for fifth to 12th grade, both in Grand Detour.

We are proud to also present a learning experience for students in junior high and high school called Winterim. This week-long event is a great opportunity for students to learn a new skill, gain experience, and explore fresh possibilities for their futures. Students can choose classes such as baking, sewing, vehicle maintenance, carpentry, gardening, and more. During the week, students are also given the privilege to partake in service projects within the surrounding communities each afternoon. Winterim is designed to help promote a love for learning and expand their knowledge of everyday skills not often covered in a regular classroom setting and the students look forward to it each year.

Find out more about what Faith Christian School offers by visiting their website at fcsfalcons.com or by visiting their Facebook page. n

Hope Stoner, Noah Hage, and Hannah Fisher enjoyed making pickles in home economics this year.

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FORRESTON PRIDE

During the 2018-19 school year, Forreston Junior/Senior High School earned many honors at the extra-curricular level, including the football team becoming State Champions.

Forreston schools are the tops ONE OF THE GREATEST HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE 2018-19 SCHOOL YEAR was when the Illinois State Board of Education provided an exemplary designation to both of the Forreston schools. Being designated as exemplary put Forreston Grade School and Forreston Junior/Senior High School in the top 10% of all schools in the State of Illinois.

Exemplary designation was only given to 68 high schools statewide. Only six schools in our area received this designation, and Forreston Grade School and Forreston Junior/Senior High were two of those six schools! Forrestville Valley was the only district to have received an exemplary rating for all of the scored schools in the district!

Forreston Junior/Senior High School students also continued to develop their PLTW Engineering Pathway courses, thanks in part to Project Lead the Way Inc. and the Northern Illinois Community Foundation. Through these generous grants, Forreston Junior/Senior High School was able to extend the Engineering Pathway with the addition of Introduction to Engineering and Principles of Engineering classes at the high school level. These courses are in addition to the design and modeling, and introduction to robotics courses already offered to every seventh- and eight-grade student in the junior high.

Project Lead the Way continues to receive an abundance of support from the community. Local engineers have provided practical application experiences for students, including presentations to classes and setting up possible job shadow experiences. This group of professionals has shown students the many engineering career opportunities in our area.

Over 60 engineering students from Forreston High School visited the Byron Nuclear Power Plant. The trip, which focused on the generation and transmission of electrical energy, was an extension of a visit made

by Exelon engineers to Forreston Junior/Senior High

School. The field trip included a tour of the facility, an explanation of the power generating process using uranium as a fuel source, as well as a question-and-answer session with the engineers. In addition, the students experienced a simulation of the plant’s nuclear reactors. The two-hour session ended with a trip around the exterior of the plant’s support structures, including the cooling system and the electrical generation and transforming process.

During the 2018-19 school year, Forreston Junior/ Senior High School also earned many honors at the extra-curricular level. Forreston High School became State Champions in football, Regional Champions in volleyball, basketball, softball, and baseball, and Sectional Champions in boys track.

Cardinal Pride is abundant at Forreston Junior/Senior High School! n

More than 60 engineering students from Forreston High School took a field trip to the Byron Nuclear Power Plant.

PRIDE 2019

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FULTON PRIDE

Fulton High: Gearing up, building impressions, and mixing things up GRINDERS GEAR UP FOR ANOTHER SEASON the Sterling area as leaders from all six partic-

After moving on to the state competition last season, the team is excited for another year of new challenges and more opportunities. The team has learned a lot from our past 3 years and we will be sharing our experiences with more students as we begin our fourth year with the addition of six new members.

Our team’s goal is to promote FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) robotics through hands-on experiences in designing, building, programming and operating robots.

Guided by coaches and mentors, team members develop STEM skills and practice engineering principles, while realizing the value of hard work, innovation, and working as a team. Our team competes in the FIRST Tech Challenge (FTC), a national competition for students in grades seven through 12.

This year’s competition is called Skystone; two alliances compete against another to collect and stack stones to form the tallest skyscraper. Each match is 2 1/2 minutes, with the first 30 seconds being the autonomous period. The students cannot drive the robot during this portion; the robot moves around the playing field based on a pre-programmed code the students write. The last 2 minutes is a driver-controlled portion in which a pair of students control the robot’s movements and functions. Even though one of our main goals is to build and design a robot, our team feels giving back to the community is another major part of FIRST robotics. Our team hosts educational STEM events for younger kids, robotic summer camps, and trips to businesses and college promoting STEM careers.

Finally, our team could not accomplish our goals without the support of sponsors and volunteers. Follow our team’s progress this season or contact us about sponsoring our team by following us on Twitter: @GrearGrindersFHS or reach us by email at riverbendred@riverbendschools.net

BLIND – BUILDING LASTING IMPRESSIONS THAT NEVER DIE

The BLIND program at Fulton High School continues to thrive. This year we have 23 junior and senior leaders. Every leader attended a 3-day leadership training over the summer. Day one was a community event in

ipating high schools volunteered at the town’s annual Hot Dog Days. The next 2 days of the retreat were held at Camp Benson where students participated in various training and team-building activities, many of which prepare them to lead and build relationships not only at the retreat, but in their schools.

The leaders work in pairs to mentor a small group of freshmen. They will meet monthly and engage in a variety of activities, including walking together in the homecoming parade, pumpkin decorating, card writing to the nursing home, and thanking their inspirational person. This is designed to help build relationships with upperclassmen and assist the freshmen with their transition into high school. This year the leaders have already volunteered at the Suicide Awareness walk in Camanche and the Firemen’s Pancake breakfast in Albany. They worked with the leaders of Morrison High School to bring a suicide awareness night to the volleyball game between the two schools. Leaders from Rock Falls also attended the event, showing the friendships that these leaders are building throughout each others’ communities. The leaders will continue to implement various school-wide activities, including a food drive for the community and a mini dance marathon to raise money for the children’s hospital in Iowa City. As always, the leaders bring a positive image and climate to their school.

It is through the actions of these young leaders that many can learn to follow and build a community comprised of young individuals that are happy, healthy, and whole.

FHS SCIENCE CLUB

Fulton High School Science Club continues the tradition of Celebrating National Chemistry Week, an annual, week-long celebration of the chemical sciences. FHS students plan dress-up days, take part in daily activities, and a offer a science program for middle school students. It’s a great opportunity for young students to start discovering and enjoying chemistry, and for students to appreciate the positive aspects of chemistry through hands-on experiments and demonstrations. The theme for chemistry week this year was marvelous metals. Students lead experiments on crying tin, termite, ferrofluids, shape memory metal and more! n

After moving on to the state competition last season, the Gear Grinders team is excited for another year of new challenges and more opportunities.

Members of the BLIND program volunteered at the Suicide Awareness Walk.

The Fulton High School Chemistry Club provides a way for students to discover and enjoy chemistry.

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MORRISON PRIDE Scholastic Bowl team competes in Masonic State Tournament MORRISON HIGH SCHOOL’S SCHOLASTIC BOWL TEAM COMPETED in the Illinois Masonic Academic Bowl State Tournament in Bloomington on Saturday, March 2. The team advanced to Bloomington following its first-place, 7-0 finish in the Masonic Sectional Tournament at Prophetstown High School on Feb. 16.

Morrison’s team won two matches and lost three during the morning rounds of competition among Class 1A teams at Bloomington High School. Schools with enrollments of 300 or fewer students are eligible to participate in Class 1A while larger schools compete in Classes 2A and 3A. Although Morrison’s team did not advance to the afternoon, Morrison High’s Scho- championship-level matches, lastic Bowl team Coach Brian Bartoz said he received a plaque for believes that competing against its first-place finish in some of the best Scholastic Bowl the Masonic Sectional teams from across Illinois was a Tournament at Proph- valuable experience for students.

“I was impressed with team etstown High School on members’ answers to many of Feb. 16. the questions posed on Saturday, especially in math, science, and literature. Individual study does make a difference when competing in Scholastic Bowl!”

Bartoz said.

Bartoz also thanked Morrison Community Unit School District No. 6 and Morrison’s Dunlap Lodge No. 321 for their financial support of the Scholastic Bowl team throughout the season, including during the Masonic Sectional and State Tournament. n

No opening night jitters here, just good times and smiles

Morrison High School hosted and Opening Night Open House on Aug. 12. Among the events, parents and students were able to meet with Morrison High School clubs and organizations to learn more about them, including athletic teams, clubs, FFA, and the Morrison Athletic Boosters. Student Council and Key Club members also led building tours for freshmen.

Morrison High School Class of 2019 alumnae McKenna King and Megan Muur were among the recent graduates who returned on Aug. 12 to visit teachers, catch up with friends, and check out the latest renovations, including new windows throughout the building. Students and parents met faculty members in their classrooms during the open house.

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Morrison High School Scholastic Bowl members Thomas Wagenecht, Lorilee Hutson, Griffin Vos, Kara Saville, Hannah Stralow, Hannah Lambdin, and Faith Green gather for a photo following a delicious pizza lunch served by the Grand Lodge of Ancient Free and Accepted Masons of the State of Illinois during the Illinois Masonic Academic Bowl at Bloomington High School on March 2.

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PRIDE 2019

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MORRISON PRIDE

Students were in safe hands An eye-opening lesson

ROCK RIVER LUMBER & GRAIN TRUCK DRIVER JIM DEVER was kind enough to spend time with students in Driver Ed and other classes to help them appreciate the dangers of driving in trucks’ blind spots. His visit on Sept. 30 preceded the fall harvest season, which is an especially dangerous time for motorists who do not properly share the road with semis and farm equipment. Agricultural Education teacher Gabrielle Cultra worked with Jeremey Geerts, an agronomy salesman from Rock River Lumber & Grain, to bring a semi-truck to Morrison High School for the Sept. 30 demonstration that focused on trucks’ blind spots and stopping distances. Driver Education teacher Brian Bartoz prepared informational handouts for students regarding safe-driving tips near semi-trucks and slowmoving vehicles, including tractors and farm equipment.n LEFT: Agricultural Education teacher Gabrielle Cultra teaches students the finer points of driving near semi-trucks and farm equipment, particularly during the fall harvest season.

Drivers ed students were all on board for visit CHIP PEW, STATE COORDINATOR OF THE RAIL SAFETY GROUP Operation Lifesaver, visited driver education classes at Morrison High School on Sept. 26 as part of National Rail Safety Week (Sept. 22-28, 2019). Pew’s visit was designed to raise awareness among new drivers about safety practices to follow when approaching and crossing a highway-railroad grade crossing (e.g., an intersection where a roadway crosses railroad tracks.) Students learned the differences between passive warning devices (signs and pavement markings) and active warning devices (gates and flashing lights) at railroad crossings, as well as steps to take when approaching

any rail crossing.

Through humor and real-world examples gained through years of work as a rail safety expert with the Illinois Commerce Commission, Pew encouraged students to use good judgment when crossing rail tracks as pedestrians, bicyclists, and motorists.Pew also explained the purpose of the blue Emergency Notification System (ENS) signs that have been installed at railroad crossings across the U.S.. The signs list a specific identifier for each crossing, and they list a railroad phone number to call in the event of an emergency, such as a vehicle stuck on the tracks or malfunctioning signals at the crossing. n

Chip Pew, state coordinator of the rail safety group Operation Lifesaver, talks to students about railroad safety Sept. 26.

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NEWMAN PRIDE A balance of faith, education, compassion

BY PAUL MAGNAFICI Teacher

WITH CHRIST OUR CORNERSTONE, NEWMAN CENTRAL CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL PREPARES OUR STUDENTS TO IMPACT THE WORLd spiritually, intellectually, and compassionately.

As we move forward through another school year, many new opportunities and lessons are impacting the Newman family in a positive way. Newman has much to celebrate and reflect on as the school celebrates its namesake, Cardinal John Henry Newman’s sainthood on Oct. 13.

This event marked the end of a process started in 1991 with Newman’s veneration by Pope John Paul II. Newman’s sainthood capped off a homecoming week that featured alum Msgr. Hermes as its grand marshall. Msgr.

Hermes is an uncle to 26 Newman graduates, great-uncle to 11 Newman students, and serves as an ever greater example of how Newman’s history continues to influence the present.

Newman’s often lauded for its family-

centric environment ... This focus on family enables Newman to build strong bonds as classmates and staff members alike. Along with homecoming, Newman also is celebrating new clubs and activities that add to the inclusiveness of the school.

Senior Kiley Sanders points out that, “Newman is starting to get a wider variety of extracurricular activities, such as knitting club, and started a petition for drama club. This means that students are trying to engage more in activities and getting more involved with the school ... ” These clubs enable students to find their niche in the school, while helping others along the way.

Senior Kelly Rockhold believes Newman is making an impact in the community, “[There is a] conscientious effort to help the community. Right now, I’m knitting this bonnet for the babies being born over Christmas. Paying it forward and not worrying about receiving a thank you, it’s just nice to help.”

Newman Knitters Club is the brain-

child of longtime Newman faculty member Beth Verdick. When asked about this new opportunity for students to get involved, she said, “I not only want to give students the opportunity to learn a dying trait, but to also give the students something to look forward to during the day. This club gives the kids a chance to have fun, but also stay off of technology as well. I am just trying to make the kids happy.”

Newman faculty know that as the world changes, so too does education, and adjustments must be made to move classrooms into the future. Newman is currently working on maintaining a 1:1 ratio of Chromebooks for students, but also allows students time away from technology with adoration, prayer, and clubs such as the aforementioned Knitters Club. This balance is important in Newman’s commitment to developing the whole child. Newman truly wants its students to impact the world through their compassion and this year is no exception. n

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PRIDE 2019

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NEWMAN PRIDE

BY CLARE SANDERS Newman senior

Forever a Comet

JOHN C. MAXWELL ONCE SAID, “THERE ARE TWO KINDS OF PRIDE, BOTH GOOD AND BAD. ‘Good pride’ represents our dignity and self respect. ‘Bad pride’ is the deadly sin of superiority that reeks of conceit and arrogance.” To many who have attended a Newman sporting event, our students and fans appears to be those that have much to be proud of.

We wear our blue and white like it’s biblical and chant our loyalty like a prayer.

The root of our pride is more family devotion than school spirit. The secret to our success is not found inside of a gym, rather it is found in the lifelines we build with each other over our 4 years together.

Newman hasn’t always dominated in sports; there are moments of success and defeat across the years. We take pride in our physical abilities, but outsiders may

believe it is the “bad pride” as mentioned

by Maxwell. Yes, we have won together, but we have lost many more times. We are athletes who miss the last shot as the buzzer rings, strike out in the last pitch, and fumble the ball in the endzone. We have endured hardships together, but persevered. We take pride in our victories, but we learn from our losses. We are so much more than a sports school. We take the student part of student-athlete seriously and the discipline, respect, and fortitude we are taught by our coaches and teachers give us more than trophies and medals. More importantly, we learn to maintain good character long after the final buzzer rings.

We have something at Newman no other public school has: our faith.

Wherever you are as a student in your beliefs, you are linked to over 200 other students. Whether physically linked in a prayer chain, or spiritually through ado-

ration, Christ remains in our hallowed halls. Within the school, everyone finds a place – possibly because with only two main hallways, there’s nowhere to hide.

We should take pride in our efforts at inclusivity through our “Comet Connections.” By matching up seven or so students with a faculty member, Newman has set up a direct line from a trusted adult to the student. Our local studentled group, B.L.I.N.D., has also attempted to de-ostracize students by matching junior/senior leaders with three or four freshmen.

Newman is so much more than the many banners we have hanging in our gym. We are intellects. We are artists. We seek to solve equations and question our being. Yet, most importantly, we are a family, tied together forever. Endlessly, we will revolve around our world as Newman Comets, bright spots in an otherwise dark place. n

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OREGON PRIDE

Four pillars form a firm foundation ACADEMIC RECAP: 2018-2019

THE FOUR PILLARS OF THE OREGON COMMUNITY UNIT SCHOOL DISTRICT ARE academics, activities, service and leadership. Our students and staff are committed to living these values.

ACADEMICS – OHS strives for innovative and rigorous curriculum and instruction.

Our SAT math scores showed growth from 2018 to 2019. Our teachers developed curriculum for several new classes for implementation in the 2019-2020 school year. Three new classes that will be especially impactful for students include the introduction of Project Lead the Way Computer Science. Project Lead the Way is a nationally recognized college and career preparation program that teaches students industry level skills and advanced placement (AP) content. A second new class is the Senior Capstone, in which students can complete our “Changemaker” pathway by deeply exploring a project that of their interest. This course has four main components: determining the problem, conducting research, proposing a project to a panel, and developing a portfolio that includes a paper and an end product.

One of the primary benefits of a capstone project to a high school student is that it highlights their educational accomplishments. Capstone projects provide students with the opportunity to exhibit their capacity for learning and allow them to show off the critical thinking skills they’ve built. Lastly, Oregon High School planned a freshmen seminar class designed to help freshmen adjust to high school and make the most of their high school years.

Ultimately, freshmen will develop a 5-year plan that is well thought-out to help guide them in their 4 years at OHS. LEADERSHIP – Students in the Social Entrepreneur class created businesses designed for social impact. Two of our OHS businesses won at the Northern Illinois University’s “Pitch for a CAUSE.” Isabelle Nelson won first place with her business, Le Fou Gateau (French for “the crazy cake”). Le Fou Gateau is a cupcake business that allows people to nominate someone who might need their day brightened by free cupcakes. Customers make a nomination after they purchase a dozen cupcakes and Isabelle delivered the free cupcakes to the lucky recipient of the free cupcakes. Makenna Mongan and Jasmine Herbst won second place with their

ABOVE: OHS band practices for competition. Among the honors the band earned, it won fourth place in the IHSA Class B music sweepstakes.

LEFT: Isabelle Nelson, a student in the Social Entrepreneur class, competes at NIU’s “Pitch for a CAUSE,” in which students created businesses designed to make a social impact. business, The Lotus Company. The Lotus Company (TLC) is a business that sold shirts and sweatshirts to raise money for domestic violence awareness.

SERVICE – Oregon High School conducted two community-wide service days that included every student at OHS. On these days, students chose service projects throughout the communities of Oregon, Mount Morris, Chana and even Rockford. In addition to the school-wide service projects, National Honor Society introduced a recognition program called “Inspire 220,” which was given to community members who make an impact on our students and the communities served

by OCUSD. Our Silver Service program recognizes students who make significant contributions of service during their time at Oregon High School. The Class of 2019 contributed over 13,000 hours of community service. OCUSD values the time our students commit to making our communities the very best.

ACTIVITIES – Our students are very involved in all aspects of our school. Over 50% of our students are involved in things ranging from athletics to clubs to band/ choir and plays. Our freshmen class (2022) had a participation rate of over 75%. It is our belief that students who are involved feel more included and committed to our school and communities. Our band and choir won fourth place in the IHSA Class B music sweepstakes. Twenty-five OHS band/choir students were selected as part of the ILMEA district festival. We had two students, Tessa Burger (soprano) and Lydia Cermack (French horn), selected to all-state. Brigham Finch was selected as a member of the state of Illinois Future Music Educators Seminar. Oregon High School also had a very successful year on the athletic field as you can see below. Our biggest highlights were state qualifiers in bowling, wrestling and track and our firstever girls soccer and girls track regional titles. n

PRIDE 2019

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OREGON PRIDE ATHLETIC RECAP 2018-19

OREGON HIGH SCHOOL HAD ANOTHER SUCCESSFUL YEAR in athletic competition during the 2018-19 school year.

Highlights for the Hawks included: • The Lady Hawk volleyball team won 24 games and advanced to IHSA 2A Regional championship game. Senior Bailey Nelson accepted a full Division 1 scholarship to play volleyball at DePaul University.

• The Oregon boys bowling team finished the regular season with a perfect 18-0 dual meet record. Senior Austin Strite qualified for the IHSA state finals where he finished 52nd overall.

• The OHS wrestling team had four individuals medal at the IHSA State Finals in Champaign. Senior Noah Paul took third at 132 pounds, senior Chase Clark took third at 152 pounds, junior Jacob Milliman finished third at 113 pounds, and sophomore Andrew Herbst took fourth at 106 pounds.

• The OHS girls track team won the Big Northern Conference Championship for the first time and advanced six individuals and two relay team to the IHSA State

Big Northern Conference All-ConGBB Olivia Lambrigtsen 2nd GTR Jadyn Bothe ference honors: GBB Ella Martin HM GTR Cynthia Nyderek SPORT NAME TYPE AC BOWL Blake Donmeyer 1st GTR Elizza Easley AC BOWL Brigham Finch 2nd GTR Janae Bothe BGOLF Adam Merrill AC WR Chase Clark 1st GTR Lyndi Kenney GGOLF Isabelle Nelson HM WR Jacob Milliman 1st GTR Bre DeHaan GGOLF Elizabeth Villareal HM WR Noah Paul 1st BTR Jake Mennen GXC Leah Watters AC WR Andrew Herbst 1st BTR Calvin Sullivan BSOC Josh Sitze 1st WR Jokiah Sewell 2nd SOFT Ella Martin BSOC Jonathan Acosta 2nd WR Zachary Crandall HM SOFT Mia Trampel BSOC Brigham Finch HM BBB Trey Woolsey 2nd BASE Dalton Hermes BSOC Owen Ketter HM BBB Dalton Hermes HM BASE Breccan Burns FB Bobby Youngren 1st C CHEER Grace Mongan AC GSOC Katelyn Byerley FB Nick Alexander 2nd GTR Lydia Cermak 1st GSOC Leah Watters FB Zachary Crandall 2nd GTR Brenna Noon 1st GSOC Katelin Pudlas FB Dalton Hermes HM GTR Abigail Hopkins 1st GSOC MyKenzie Beitel VB Bailey Nelson 1st GTR Erin Schmidt 1st GSOC Hannah Donaldson VB McKenna Sadler 2nd GTR Cristina Tranchina 1st GSOC Olivia Lambrigtsen VB Ella Martin HM (1st = First team; 2nd = Second team; AC = All Conference; HM = Honorable Mention)

Finals in Charleston.

• The Hawk boys track team also advanced two individuals and two relay teams to the IHSA Class 1A State Finals.

At state, pole vaulter Jake Mennden earned second place honors.

• The OHS girls soccer team won the IHSA 1A Regional for the first time in school history and advanced to the Sectional championship game.

• Five OHS Seniors earned Ultimate

1st 1st 1st 2nd 2nd 2nd 1st 2nd 2nd HM 2nd HM 1st 1st 1st 2nd HM HM

Hawk honors for their participation in three sports each year for all 4 years of their attendance at Oregon High School.

They are MyKenzie Beitel, Jackson Buck, Dalton Hermes, Abigail Hopkins, and Brooke Harris.

• In addition to their fine accomplishments on the field, court, mat, or diamond, OHS athletes again donated over 2,000 hours of community service back to the area through various events. n

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POLO PRIDE

Students serve up a place to relax and recharge: A new library café GREAT THINGS ARE HAPPENING FOR POLO COMMUNITY HIGH SCHOOL due to the dedication of volunteers and workers who helped with the renovation of the library.

The library now has a new café where students can buy coffee, tea, and hot chocolate year round. At the start of the year, teachers distributed coffee tokens for students who do exceptional work throughout the year as an incentive to keep it up!

The café has become very popular in the mornings for students to hang out, buy coffee and wake up before class. When students aren’t in class, they are socializing and working on homework together.

During lunch, students can play on the new Marcade in the café, and many students have said the café is a new and relaxing place to be. After the class day is done, if students have qualifying grades, they are allowed to enjoy the new hangout during homeroom until school lets out for the day. The staff believes the new renovation has brought a lot of inclusion to our high school, as groups of students are able to mingle in a fresh and relaxing environment.

One of the most impressive features of the café is the ability to be student run through earning volunteer hours, an annual school requirement. The student manager assigns the work shifts, and all the maintenance and upkeep is done by students. The school is lucky to have such dedicated individuals who have the amazing opportunity to experience the aspects of business that an outside coffee shop would include.

Without the support of the Polo Public Library, it would have been hard to create such a space. Fortunately, every Polo student now has a public library card, allowing the high school library space for seating and entertainment. The partnership between libraries has brought great change and students are able to have a wider variety of book selections.

More is to come to the library as the school plans to purchase a large TV to be better equipped to host presentations.

This year, the student favorites from the café include caramel coffee and hot chocolate. Sales are predicted to increase as the weather gets colder! n

ABOVE: Students enjoy a snack at the new Marcos Café, just off the school library. BELOW: A student waits to serve up some some coffee or tea – several flavors are available.

PRIDE 2019

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PROPHETSTOWN-LYNDON-TAMPICO PRIDE

LEFT: PHS students repaint picnic tables at the Prophetstown State Park as part of our PLT Community Service Day. RIGHT: PHS students landscape a nature path at Winning Wheels, a local assisted living facility, as part of our PLT Community Service Day.

PLT’s campus: A place for partnerships “IT TAKES A VILLAGE TO RAISE A CHILD” – the old proverb acknowledges that only by partnering with our community organizations and working together can we best serve our students.

Prophetstown-Lyndon-Tampico 6-12 Campus embraces this idea as we partner with our community to serve all of our students in grades 6 through 12.

On July 1, Officer Jim Miller joined the PLT team as our first School Resource Officer. Officer Miller has been a positive presence on campus so that students and staff can worry less about safety and focus more on Officer learning. Officer MillJim Miller er’s role on our campus was made possible by a joint agreement between the PLT School Board and the City of Prophetstown.

the support of Prophetstown’s Kenneth and Arletta Moore Foundation, a philanthropic foundation whose goal it is to improve the quality of life in Prophetstown for all residents. These athletic facilities are open to the community, and we love seeing our students and community members making use of these new athletic spaces.

In partnership with the Prophetstown Park District, we opened our renovated athletic courts and batting cages with

We are also continuing a PLT tradition we started last year: our Community Service Days in the fall and spring. Stu-

Our staff members have also partnered with our students in a program we have borrowed from our co-op partner Erie High School, called “Panther Pals.” Panther Pals are pairings between staff and students focused on mentoring and encouraging students throughout the year with encouraging notes and occasional treats. Because of the importance of community partnerships, our students and staff work to give back to the community as well. Several of our staff and student organizations volunteer regularly to serve at our community kitchen, Pat’s Table.

dents and staff work in service teams to clean parks, mentor elementary students, and improve local assisted living facilities.

Our community partners help us advance learning in the classroom as well. The Prophetstown-Lyndon-Tampico Education Foundation provides financial support each year through grants for value-added programs, supplies, and experiences for our students.

One recent grant helped our visual art department purchase art screens to display student artwork in our Campus Commons. Our Parent-Teacher Organization (PTO) also works tirelessly to raise funds for classroom grants and improve opportunities for students. Local businesses have recently donated gift cards for our “Students of the Month” who are recognized by staff for going above and beyond in the classroom.

Thanks to all our community partners for your continued support! We could not accomplish our mission of engaging, equipping and empowering students without each of you. n

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PROPHETSTOWN-LYNDON-TAMPICO PRIDE

LEFT: PHS students paint an inspirational mural at Prophetstown Elementary School as part of our PLT Community Service Day. ABOVE LEFT: Staff members ser ve at Pat’s Table. ABOVE RIGHT: Local businesses recently donated gift cards for Students of the Month. RIGHT: In partnership with the Prophetstown Park District, and with the support of Prophetstown’s Kenneth and Arletta Moore Foundation, renovated athletic cour ts and batting cages were recently opened.

PRIDE 2019

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ROCK FALLS PRIDE

Students get ready for college and careers THE STUDENTS AT ROCK FALLS TOWNSHIP HIGH SCHOOL CAN PARTICIPATE IN A NEW COLLEGE AND CAREER LEADERSHIP SEMINAR SERIES. Last month, students learned the importance of first impressions, handshakes, and eye contact. They toured CGH and Wahl Clipper. This month, students were introduced to interview etiquette and techniques. Presenters gave them tips and tricks to prepare them for the mock interviews the following week. Fifteen professionals from the education and various business sectors interviewed students in a “speed-dating” type style, with students rotating every 2 minutes for a new interviewer and question.

Upcoming topics include: career specific presentations, FAFSA, and paying for a college, as well as college tours.

Rock Falls Township High School would like to thank the following businesses/non-profits: Sauk Valley Bank, YWCA, Wahl Clipper, VeriFacts, Franz manufacturing, Steel River Systems, Northern Illinois University, Rock Falls District 13, and CGH Medical Center. n

During the mock interviews in RFHS’s college and career leadership seminar, 15 professionals from the education and various business sectors interviewed students in a “speed-dating” type style.

No detail was too small during RFHS’s new college and career leadership seminar series. Students even learned the importance of a handshake.

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ROCK FALLS PRIDE

Write on: Students share their essays Rock Falls High School offers several dual credit courses through Sauk Valley Community College in math, speech, and composition. Below are samples of essays that were written for Miss Smith’s dual credit English 101 class. Accompanying the essays is an explanation of the students’ assignments.

THE FOLLOWING ESSAY WAS WRITTEN BY RFHS SENIOR MADISON ARICKX. To begin the semester, the class first studies the use of description in academic writing through the analysis of several essays published in The Bedford Reader. After analyzing these essays for style, tone, and dominant impression, students then write their own essays, often mimicking the styles of writers that they enjoyed in the chapter. Madison chose to use a more serious tone to convey her personal story, which is exemplified through her use of description.

“BREATHE”

My arms ache from paddling non-stop in my neon yellow kayak for the past five minutes. Behind me, my family members, caught up in the pure joy of a reunion, joke around on the dock like gleeful children on Christmas morning, their voices fading away with each row of my paddle. I can feel my anxiety rising within me as I tell myself to breathe. All week on this family vacation, I have been bombarded with, “Where are you going to college? What will your major be? Applications? Scholarships? Money? What are you doing with your life?” The words all blur together now, and I have trained myself to answer, “I’m undecided,” before I even hear the full question. Although I have kayaked every day for the last week, I have never done it by myself, so for the first time, I am alone with only my thoughts to keep me company.

I have no destination in mind, but I cannot stop paddling.

With every row, I feel drops of cool lake water splash on to my exposed thigh; however, I am unfazed. The stress of my unplanned life overloads my brain to the point where I cannot breathe, but only lift up the oar and slice it right back into the water. The words replay over and over again in my head, haunting me like a bad conscience on my shoulder. College. Row. Career. Row. Scholarships. Row. Future. Row. Like a machine stuck in a trance, I cannot snap out of my focus until I reach the perfect spot.

In the middle of the empty lake with no boats or people in sight, I finally stop and take a deep breath. For the first time since I started paddling away from the dock, I look around to enjoy the view. Surrounding the lake like a barrier, mountains loom in the distance, much different than the familiar flat cornfields back home. Although my cousins from Colorado claim that these mountains are only hills, I view the peaks on those “hills” as the top of the world. If only I were at the top of those mountains, maybe I would feel free. Despite my wearing a stars and stripes shirt in the spirit of the Fourth of July, I have never felt more trapped. Even this week, the busiest time of the year that leaves people packed together like sardines in any lake, the water appears motionless. No speed boats or jet skis chop the waves, and if I did not know any better, I would think that we are the only people staying at the lake.

Lake Pend Oreille, Idaho, is the definition of serene. When I told people I was going on vacation to Idaho, I practically had to convince them that Idaho has more to offer than potatoes.

Our lakehouse, which manages to fit over twenty of my crazy family members, sits on a steep hill that stretches down to the shoreline. My family members may drive me insane with their constant playful teasing and borderline obnoxious behavior, but these annual vacations are the only times I see most of them, so I appreciate every second. However, catching up on a year’s worth of life events is overwhelming, forcing me to give some sort of explanation about what my life has in store for me in the next year as well. I cannot blame them for wondering about my plans after high school since the next time they see me, I will be soon after moving into a college dorm room and will be thrust into adult life involuntarily. Even though I could not admit this realization before, I do not know what life will bring. I distracted myself from these thoughts all summer, but I am forced to confront them now as senior year is approaching too quickly.

MORE ON PAGE 314

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ROCK FALLS PRIDE 3CONTINUED FROM PAGE 30 I have always been the girl who panics unnecessarily about any minor difficulty in life, stresses over every assignment, and expects nothing less than perfection from herself, but seeing the water ripple around me as the evening sun starts to hide behind the mountains, I realize that I cannot be that girl anymore, and quite possibly for the first time in my life, I take a deep breath -not just a “breathe in, breathe out” kind of breath, but a real and cleansing kind of breath. I not only see but feel that my life has direction. Even if I do not know exactly where my life is headed at this moment, I know that it is going somewhere. The landscape I am admiring is not perfect. When a boat zooms through the lake in the early morning, the waves may get shaky and out of control for a moment, but at the end of the day, they are steady. When people hike up the mountains and leave muddy tracks imprinted in the paths, the mountains stand tall anyway. If a world this beautiful is not perfect, why should I have to be? n n n THE NEXT ESSAY WAS WRITTEN BY RFHS SENIOR KIERSTYN FOLGERS AFTER THE CLASS HAD STUDIED THE USE OF EXAMPLES IN ACADEMIC WRITING. After reading several different styles of example essays that employed many different writing strategies, students then had to write their own. Some students took a straight approach to this assignment, just as some of the samples they analyzed, but others, like the following example, chose a slightly different style. Folgers chose to use description and example to create a distinct tone that is both sarcastic and humorous.

I looked into the bucket where vanilla is kept, it was completely bare. The very millisecond I gave an exasperated sigh, the worst happened. Three. Not one, but THREE huge buses full of students waltzed into Culver’s. My understaffed crew and I agreed that we would not wish that nightmare on our worst enemies. The ginormous pack created a never-ending line that trailed into the dining area. “Hangry” teens gawked at the dessert menu and made me tremble as my crew quickly tried to coax stubborn Roxanne into giving up her vanilla. With no luck, I watched helplessly as my screen of orders quickly filled, soon after turning red (red means long waiting times).

Little by little, Roxanne supplied a tiny bit of vanilla just to tease me. She was amused watching my face light up when some custard finally emerged but then became scrunched in frustration after the custard immediately turned gritty. She played this game for what seemed an eternity, and because of her, I was not keeping up with orders. Finally, all of the customers had their dessert orders, and Roxanne received the death glare from my angry pupils. She responded to my anger by making a bucket full of beautiful vanilla custard (Roxanne was hit with a tray after this). Roxanne has the most unpleasant personality of anything I have ever encountered in my eighteen years of life. “She is not alive, so she cannot be out to get you,” my coworkers joke to me, but I think otherwise. Roxanne is surly and does not have a helping heart. I may have made better custard that day if I sat down and grabbed a butter churner. Although Roxanne is brutal, there is another who grinds my gears.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 324

“WHEELS AND GEARS LEADING TO TEARS” Breaking news! Robots have officially taken over the TRISTATE AREA! Machines are adapting to Earth! Although news broadcasts have not yet announced the strange report of technology taking over, this does not mean machines do not have distinct personalities. Time and again, I scour basic biology reports regarding the essential characteristics that are required for something to be considered “alive.” Some of these characteristics, as I have recently discovered, include reproduction, homeostasis, and cellular respiration, but something tells me from my own experiences that machines defy these rules and “live” without our even knowing it. I have decided that robots are not just here to help vacuum the house per se but rather to sit back and watch society struggle to open a can.

Roxanne was Culver’s restaurant’s “best newest addition” long before I was hired. Although I intended to name her something rather nasty, my coworker informed me that she already named the machine a few years prior to my arrival. Roxanne is a machine with three silver barrels accustomed to creating creamy and delicious custard that flows out into three large buckets all for eager customers to consume. I wish she ran out nothing but beautiful custard all of the time, but Roxanne cannot be tamed. When the day proves to be uneventful, Roxanne makes smooth custard and pushes the yellow waste out of her barrel as soon as the texture becomes gritty. She does this to conserve custard, but as soon as customers charge in like a pack of wolves, Roxanne likes to have a little fun, and she creates gritty and disgusting custard that she refuses to let out of the barrel.

One night a few months ago, I had the honor of working with Roxanne, for I was scheduled to make desserts. When I walked through those heavy glass doors to begin my long shift, I had a feeling the day was going to be rough. I clocked in to work, and Roxanne’s first barrel gave a high-pitched screech (more like a cackle) as she refused to allow vanilla out of her evil clutches. As

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ROCK FALLS PRIDE 3CONTINUED FROM PAGE 31 Oomie Zoomie is the name of my 2001 Subaru Outback that was passed down to me from my grandmother, Omi. My car was given the name because my grandmother speeds quite a bit (as do I). Oomie Zoomie is a great car, but she has a rather sour personality at times. She is the perfect car to own where my grandmother lives in Minnesota. With four-wheel-drive, this car is perfect for snow; therefore, she was perfect for my Omi. After the car was given to me, however, Oomie Zoomie became far from perfect.

As Oomie Zoomie adjusts to a new owner, she refuses to work hard. Illinois does not brew harsh winters like Minnesota, so my car thinks she is on vacation. She has crumbs on her carpet, clutter in the backseat, and I think she may have been raised with wild bears up North. When I start the ignition, she decides to loudly complain that I woke her from her deep sleep. She shakes as if she is cold even in the summer. When the weather is cold, she pretends she is still sleeping and refuses to let me start her ignition (a game she often wins). A few weeks back, she forced me to go and get another key crafted, all so, I suppose,

 

that she could sleep longer. As if this car is not difficult enough,I also worry that Oomie Zoomie has a gas consumption problem. She greedily engulfs my “hard-earned money” into her gas tank and excitedly burns it up to ask for more. She has turned every commodity into a headache. Big spacious trunk? I cannot open it. A radio to play music? She messes with the volume and stations just to get a rile out of me. Air conditioning? The only air conditioning she gives me is when I roll my windows down and speed a little. Having Oomie Zoomie is like having another teenage sister, but this one is quite greedy.

Many people look at me when I tell these stories like I am crazy. Do I just have bad luck or are these coincidences something more? I think all technologies are out to get me or just to use me for their amusement. Regardless of a machine’s man made intention, I strongly believe they have a dark side. Even the slightest annoyance makes a machine lash out. Words may not be their strong suit, but I believe they go by the golden rule of “actions speak louder than words.” For me, I think they are doing an excellent job with this motto. Otherwise, this paper laden with my real life examples would not exist. n

        



WHAT ARE STUDENTS UP TO?

Find out in our Community section, in Saturday’s SV Weekend editions STUDENTS OF THE MONTH SCHOLARSHIPS SPECIAL EVENTS HONOR ROLLS SHARE YOUR STUDENTS’ SPECIAL NEWS ... E-mail news items to news@saukvalley.com or call 815-632-2537

PRIDE 2019

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ROCHELLE PRIDE

A year of accomplishments MARCHING BAND

The marching band represented Illinois in the Veterans Day Parade of Heroes in Washington, D.C., thanks to the Rochelle area community, which generated $92,000 for the trip.

ILLINOIS SEAL OF BILITERACY

Four RTHS students earned the Illinois Seal of Biliteracy, having proven they are not only proficient in reading, writing, and speaking in two languages, but being bicultural as well. Citlaly Villalobos, Lisette Milan, Judy Fulgencio, and Josue Almaraz earned the distinction.

CARNEY R AWARD

The Carney R Award for academic excellence was awarded to 2019 grads Xavier Arriaga,Katherine Bakken, Rebecca Bunger, Addison Curtis, James Hart, William Jandek, Tyler Johnson, Mandi Lamb, Tara Leininger, Connor Lenkaitis, Abigail Lundquist, Amanda McCumsey, Emma Mehrings, Gregory Ricketts, Jasmine Rissman, Alyssa Summers, Kelsey Thompson, Abigail Tilton, Camryn Turner, Citaly Villalobos, and Abigail Wagner.

DRAFTING AND DESIGN TEAM SHINES

The RTHS Engineering Drafting & Design team of Alexie Smith, Will Baez, and Matt Morey placed second at the I.D.E.A State Drafting Competition.

Madison Young was ninth at the state meet in the Introductory Board Drafting division.

FFA WINNER

Amanda Headon was an Equine Entrepreneurship SAE winner

STUDENTS SHOW OFF THEIR SKILLS

Seven RTHS students competed for state titles at the Illinois SkillsUSA contest and three of them medaled! Zach Capes won a bronze medal, Clarissa Dodillet won silver, and Weston Nay a bronze.

COMMUNITY SERVICE

During the 2018-19 school year: • A dozen RTHS volunteers staffed the elementary classrooms after school.

• Students volunteered at the Central School Kermes, the city’s first Fiesta Hispana, St. Paul Fun Fair, B-Pac car wash, Kiwanis Peanut Days, pancake breakfast, chili supper • NHS hosted two blood drives

• Volley for the Cure raised $850 for Rochelle Community Hospital.

• Twenty-six students helped distribute 225 Thanksgiving meals through the Rochelle Christian Food Pantry.

• Kelsey Thompson was named a Rotary Paul Harris Fellow for her service.

• Interact Club’s Exploit No More raised money for victims of sex trafficking, started an EarlyAct Club at St. Paul, and helped write a grant for Spanish language (elementary level) books.

• Fifty percent of our 216 graduates participated in the service program, volunteering 15,432 hours while in high school.

• FFA created 50 first aid kits a year and left them at grain elevators and implement dealerships for farmers. Trent Simmons, Mark Hopkins and Kylee Sanderson presented the project to the Crest Foods Giveback Grant judges and were awarded $1,500 toward future first aid kid production.

VALLE EARNS TOP PRIZE

Alva Valle took home the top prize at the NIU Art Invitational. She also won (again) Honorable Mention in the Congressional Art Competition and the Women’s League Summer Arts Scholarship. For her service project, she created a mural of Elvis Presley that hangs in downtown Rochelle.

WE HAD OUT FIRST REGIONAL SPEECH CHAMPIONSHIP IN 25 YEARS! Speech at State: Cara Forsberg earned fifth in Informative Speaking. Others who competed: Konstans and Worthington in Humorous Duet Acting, Lauren Ponto in Prose Reading, Addison Curtis in Original Oratory, and Forsberg in Radio Speaking.

DRAFTING REGIONALS

Lexie Smith, Matt Morey, and Will Baez teamed up to create a unique project for the drafting team regionals. The Can Can won a bid to state. Madison Young earned her bid by drawing a part to solve a manufacturing problem. Logan Ortega won in CAD Architectural drafting.

BOOK PANEL

Tara Leininger participated in the prestigious Lincoln Awards Book Panel. Along with librarians from throughout the state, they read, discussed and narrowed a list of 75 books for the 2020 Lincoln Award book list.

SPORTS

Boys soccer – Hubs Soccer turned 20, had an undefeated season, a perfect conference record, and on Oct. 11 team captain Jessee Infante made history, breaking Teki Vejseli’s 15-year-old scoring record (38 goals). They defeated their 2017 War on 34 Tourney title.

On Oct 20, 2018, the boys won their thirdever Regional Championship. The Hubs’ first-ever Sectional Championship was recorded Oct. 23.

Golf – Sophomore Megan Thiravong simply factored the wind into her golf game at the IHSA Class 1A Girls Golf Regional.

Coach Glen Mehrings reported Megan got three birdies on her way to 86, finishing third of 70 girls in the Johnsburg IA Regional, and was third at sectionals, earning a return visit to state.

Swimming – Aubrey Headon and Alli Cole competed in the IHSA state swim meet.

Headon earned three state titles – 200, 100, and 50-yard freestyle – and was second in the 100 Breaststroke. Alli Cole finished in eighth place in the 50-yard freestyle.

Basketball – Abby Lundquist broke a 27-year-old girls basketball record. Against Geneseo (56-29), every point the Lady Hubs recorded was scored by Abby. The 5-foot 7-inch senior guard broke a 27-year old school record (Olivia Heitter, 1992) with those 29 points. On Feb 8, 2019, Abby became the All-Time Lady Hubs leading scorer with 1,861 points, a record held

by Olivia Heitter (1,830) since 1993. She earned AP Honorable Recognition Wrestling – Ben Harvey earned a spot on the IHSA wrestling 2A state finals dias, finishing in fifth place in the 182-pound weight class. Ben accrued an impressive 44-5 season record. Senior Eddie Villalobos was one match short of placing and lost a close overtime final match. For details, check out Russ Hodges’ coverage in the Rochelle News-Leader.

Girls track – Sectional winners Katherine Bakken (3200) and Macey Ryan (100) qualified for the state girls track meet.

Fishing – RTHS Bass Fishing Team qualified for the state tourney with a third place sectional finish. Congratulations Lucas Anderson, Zach Capes, and Coach Curt Samo.

Boys track – Trevor Goodwin placed sixth place in the Boys state track triple jump, with a 43-foot, 9.25-inch jump, a frosh/ soph All-State record. n

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STERLING PRIDE

Designed for success

Robotics teams grows by leaps and bound in only a few years ALTHOUGH A RELATIVELY NEW PROGRAM, THE SHS ROBOTICS TEAM HAS GROWN by leaps and bounds over the course of its three seasons in competition.

Each year, the competitions are set around a specific theme, and tasks are chosen within that theme. Students must develop and design a robot that can not only perform these tasks, but perform them the best and with the most precision.

The season begins with a 6-week building period. Students split into separate groups, administration and builders. The builders deal with the hands-on aspects of the robot, whereas the administration deals with the planning aspects, such as getting sponsors and keeping the finances straight.

In 2017, the first year of competition, the team exhibited extreme tenacity and perseverance in the face of adversity.

Upon arrival at regionals, the team learned that their robot, Goldie, exceeded the measurement requirements and had to be adjusted if they wanted to be eligible to compete. After spending several weeks designing and perfecting the robot, the team had to rapidly deconstruct and reconfigure Goldie.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 354

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PRIDE 2019

STERLING PRIDE 3CONTINUED FROM PAGE 34 These impromptu changes left the team with a better robot than the one they came with. In the following weeks, the team was awarded the Rookie All-Star Award at the For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology (FIRST) competition, giving them a shot at the world championship in St. Louis.

Of the 2018 season, then-junior Nathaniel Stout said, “What’s cool about this type of program is that no one walked into this knowing what to do or how to do it.”

With a program like Robotics, students can apply skills from several different areas and combine it with their problem-solving skills and creativity to create and achieve numerous goals.

The team was pleased with their sophomore season, ending it was a 24/37 ranking. Seven wins and five losses gave the team a solid standing as they headed into their third year.

Then-sophomore Damien Vorhees was thankful for the opportunity Robotics gave him to “gain experience in the field [he] wanted to go into after high school.” The team doesn’t have typical captain roles, but does offer many places for students to gain experience in leadership roles.

After 50+ rounds of qualifications, the team landed in 15th place, making them alternates for the next round of competition. They were used as an alternate, but lost two out of the three rounds necessary to move on.

Alexis Rivera, team adviser and math teacher, said that the goals for the 2019 season were “higher and better structured. We [focused] more on design and engineering.”

After years of developing a new team, SHS’s Robotics Team has been nothing short of impressive. Preparation has already begun for the 2020 season, and we are confident they will achieve great things! n

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STERLING PRIDE

SHS students help kids turn the page on reading skills THE STUDENTS AT SHS ARE CONSTANTLY WANTING TO HELP THE COMMUNITY AND OTHERS. This year, English teacher Mrs. Hannah Carbaugh and librarian Mrs. Heather Johnson teamed up with the Sterling Public Library to begin Sterling Reads.

Sterling Reads is a program that offers a one-on-one reading mentoring for children. Students from SHS take time out of their day to sit down and read to the children.

Sterling Reads happens every second and fourth Wednesday of the month. Each week, different groups of students take part in the program, and each elementary student who participates gets a ticket to the next football home game.

To start off the school year, the second Wednesday of September the SHS cheerleaders headed over to the Sterling Public Library. The children who attended selected a book that captured their attention. Afterwards, the cheerleaders and children found a spot to sit down and enjoy the book.

Two weeks later, the football team read with students, wrapping up the month of September for Sterling Reads.

Moving into October, the girls’ cross country team participat-

ed in Sterling Reads, and other students participated.

Senior Madison Bland said she thought the experience “was awesome and getting to read to kids was super fun. As I read the books to the children, watching them laugh and smile was really fulfilling.”

Johnson shares: “Sterling Reads was truly Mrs. Hannah Carbaugh’s amazing idea, and I just connected her with the public librarians.”

Carbaugh recently had a meeting with the Sterling Public Library to discuss and create a schedule for the spring semester. “I would love to see the program expand and include more elementary students, she said. “Right now, we are rather small.

However, I always remind myself that some reading is better than none at all. Moving forward, we need to spread the word, so more families know about it and bring their kids. Its all part of being at the beginning of the process.”

They hope to continue to provide the opportunity for the students at SHS to connect and read to the children in the community. n

He’s ready.

Members of the Sterling High School football team helped mentor kids in the Sterling Reads program in September.

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PRIDE 2019

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STERLING PRIDE

All the news that’s fit to broadcast STERLING HIGH SCHOOL IS WELL KNOWN FOR HAVING STUDENTS WHO SUCCEED SCHOLARLY, athletically, and also creatively. The high school provides multiple activities for students to expand their horizons and helps push the students to get out of their comfort zone in the best way possible.

The newly developed broadcasting class is another subject that SHS has grown to love. The participation from the students and staff as well as the school-wide audience is a big driving point for the broadcast class.

Broadcasting became a class at SHS in the 2016-17 school year, after the publications class created a news broadcast the year before. Having already completed a yearbook and newspaper, producing a broadcast as well became too much for one class, so broadcast was born.

Broadcasting at SHS includes creating a weekly news broadcast filled with SHS fun and news along with a digital memory book. Not only does Jennifer Drew, a teacher for AP Language and Composi-

tion, Publications, and Broadcasting, lead the classroom, seniors Madilyn Barnhart and Ohnaka Garcia are key leaders in the program as well.

Barnhart is editor-in-chief for the digital memory book. The iBook is an important part in the broadcasting class. It is a way for SHS students and staff to look back at past moments from their high school experience.

Her role as editor-in-chief is making sure that all pages are completed, checking over these pages, and putting the entire book together. Barnhat said her favorite part of the class is “seeing all of our hard work completed, whether that be a broadcast or the iBook at the end of the year.”

Garcia is news director for broadcasting.

The news director helps keep the class on track with their goals. Garcia contributes by checking up on people and their segments for the weekly broadcast, and giving creative ideas for how to improve their work as a whole. Garcia enthuses that, ”Being able to see everyone’s cre-

ative side, that really puts the broadcast together, is a great feeling.”

A day in broadcast is pretty hectic. Everyone works on their own work due to having so many projects at once. The class starts with broadcast plans and making sure everyone is on track, and then everyone goes off and works on their segments, pages, and individual projects.

“We attempt to create a weekly news broadcast every week, which means that daily we are checking on multiple news broadcasts, which include individual news packages, interviews, and other special content,” Drew said.

The weekly broadcast helps many in SHS learn all about recent events at the school, as well as including interesting components, such as competitive games; a fan favorite is “Guess That Song.”

The broadcast is loved by the school due to its fun way of spreading important information. The broadcast not only showcases the members of the class, but also incorporates the students and staff of SHS in the production. n

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UNITY CHRISTIAN PRIDE

A lot of great things happening AT THE BEGINNING OF EVERY SCHOOL YEAR, UNITY’S STUDENT COUNCIL HOSTS A RETREAT for all students in grades seven through 12. Student Council meets frequently throughout the summer to coordinate all the details, including organizing speaking times, meals, and games.

The students take a 2-day trip to an area camp to have fun and fellowship together beginning on the second day of the year. Prior to the beginning of the academic year, Unity Christian School picks out a theme; the 20192020 theme is For HIS Glory, and the academic year is focused on 1 Corinthians 10:31, “Whatever you do, do it all to the glory of God.” The retreats provide lots of fun and a time for devotions, reflection, prayer, and encouragement of spiritual growth. n

PHOTOS

TOP: This year will be Unity Christian School’s 99th year of operation. There is much anticipation about a new building for the 100th year.

CENTER: The drama department at Unity Christian also provides a lot of reason for excitement. During the fall of 2019, Unity per formed a wonderful rendition of “A Little Piece of Heaven” under the leadership of Paul Hopkins.

BOTTOM: As if that was not enough, 2 weeks before the production, the Unity Christian Soccer team also won the NICC conference tournament. There are a lot of great things happening at Unity, and all of it is for God’s glory.

PRIDE 2019

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WEST CARROLL PRIDE Meet West Carroll’s FFA

FFA IS THE LARGEST YOUTH ORGANIZATION IN AMERICA, with around 700,000 members. With 127 members, the West Carroll FFA chapter is one of the largest FFA chapters in Illinois. The chapter prides itself on being competitive in both the National Chapter Award Program and the FFA CDEs it participates in. The West Carroll FFA Chapter holds the state record for the largest school-sponsored Red Cross blood drive in the state, with 173 units of blood donated at a single drive several years ago. This year’s FFA blood drive was Nov. 8.

The 2019-20 West Carroll FFA officer team includes president Olivia Charles, vice president Jacob McLuckie, secretary Madison Haynes, treasurer Celia Hartman, reporter Deacon Hill, sentinel Riley Getz, and historian Briar Nevills. The 2019-20 West Carroll FFA advisers are Christina Polk and Don Mathey. n

ABOVE: New carpet was installed in school of fices.

BELOW: The upgraded cafeteria features two televisions.

District freshens up middle school WEST CARROLL MIDDLE SCHOOL IN MOUNT CARROLL REMODELED ITS CAFETERIA AND OFFICE SPACES. The new cafeteria flooring is speckled on a white base with a grey border around the perimeter of the dining area. The flooring was installed in July 2019 and really brightens up the space for breakfast and lunch use, as well as spaces to host community gatherings. The space now features two large-screen televisions for multipurpose use in the cafeteria setting right off the gymnasium. The school also had new carpet installed in all its offices, and vinyl wood planking for the entranceway. The new look is very contemporary and has given a new, fresh look to the space. n

These FFA members are well grounded THE WEST CARROLL FFA VARSITY LAND USE TEAM WON THE SECTION 1 FFA LAND USE CAREER DEVELOPMENT EVENT on Sept. 26 at the Dan Hartman property in rural Savanna.

The West Carroll team score was 791. Winning team members were Abby Burns, Olivia Charles, Riley Getz, Celia Hartman and Trapper Hartman.

Individually, Lakin Getz placed first, Riley Getz placed second, and Burns placed third. Charles placed seventh, and Izzy Fredericks placed ninth. Brandi Murdock and Kloey Ostendorf also competed for West Carroll.

The FFA Land Use Judging Contest educates students how to evaluate the soil and land use for agricultural applications. Five soil pits were dug so teams could judge the pits.

FFA Land Use Teams are required to evaluate each pit site for agricultural purposes and determine slope, erosion, soil texture, depth, drainage and other properties. n

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