Thursday, May 17, 2012
The district would use holidays like Casimir Pulaski Day and Martin Luther King's Birthday in the "rare exception" they were needed.
The District 99 Board of Education will hold a public hearing Monday to hear testimony about using five traditional school holidays for school attendance, teacher institute days, parent/teacher conference days or staff development activities. The holidays in question are Martin Luther King's Birthday, Abraham Lincoln's Birthday, Casimir Pulaski Day, Columbus Day and Veterans Day. The district does not anticipate to use these holidays for school attendance but "wants the flexibility to do so in case of an emergency," according to a district release. Using these days for school attendance would be a "very rare exception." The board will vote on the recommendation following the hearing. The agenda item for the public hearing reads as …
The Environmental Industry Associations -- Women's Council Scholarship Program has recognized Zachary Kuerschner.
Zachary Aaron Kuerschner, a senior at Downers Grove South High School, will receive a $5,000 scholarship from the Environmental Industry Associations—Women’s Council Scholarship Program. The program recognizes outstanding students with an interest in the solid waste and environmental industries. Kuerschner has been accepted to multiple universities to study business, according to a press release. In addition to his high academic promise, he played football throughout high school, was a member of the National Honors Society and worked at a local food pantry. Inspired by his father and uncle, both employees of Waste Management in Illinois, Kuerschner has chosen to study Operations and Logistics Management to improve environmental …
Wednesday, May 16, 2012
Nicola Lostumbo, 18, was charged with unlawful possession of a controlled substance, a felony.
Officials discovered a narcotic pill in the backpack of a Downers Grove South student May 7, according to Downers Grove police. Nicola Lostumbo, 18, of 507 61st Street in Westmont, was stopped with two other students for leaving campus and coming back, according to police. A search of his bag turned up a baggie with a small white pill inside labeled "alza36." The pill is a form of ADHD medication also known as "Concerta." It is listed as a narcotic and is highly abusive. Lostumbo was charged with one felony count of unlawful possession of a controlled substance and transported to DuPage County Jail. The other two kids stopped with Lostumbo said they left campus to go to McDonald's. --- Sign up for the Woodridge Patch newsletter and get…
Monday, May 14, 2012
DGS takes 2nd, Downers Grove North took third at Thursday's track and field meet.
Downers Grove South took second and Downers Grove North took third at Thursday's girls track and field sectionals. Bolingbrook High School took first with 117.5 points. DGS had 60; DGN had 56. The two schools qualified girls in seven events for the IHSA state meet. DGN Senior Tess Johnson took second in long jump and fifth in the triple jump. DGS Junior Jada Franklin took second in the triple jump. Downers Grove North took first in the 4x800-meter relay while Downers Grove South took second. Amanda Thate, Maddie Cahill, Jacquelyn Thate and Rebecca Stearns were part of the DGS relay team. DGS Junior Katie Strelau took second in the 3,200-meter run. DGS Senior Rebecca Stearns took first in the 800-meter run. Downers Grove North will …
The team had 10 WSC Gold conference champions.
The Downers Grove South boys tennis team has taken the WSC Gold conference title, again. The Mustangs, (21-3, 7-0) came into the tournament holding 41 of the possible 42 points that could have been collected during the dual meet season, with lone point being lost due to injury. Seeded first in all seven flights, placed all 11 starters in the finals and came away with 10 WSC Gold Conference Champions. Champions included: Cody Freischlag, Ryan McMillian, Joey Leto, Connor Harmon, Lee Thornquist, Kiernan Cavangh, George Kozkin, Grant Jordan, Matt Schlitman and Alvin Wu. The boys move into sectional and state play over the next two weeks. Editor's note: Boys Tennis Coach Peter Freischlag contributed to this report.
Thursday, May 10, 2012
U.S. News and World Report recently released its school rankings per state and nationally.
Downers Grove North High School ranks 37th in Illinois and Downers Grove South High School ranks 57th in the state, according to U.S. News and World Report. The publication recently released its annual "Best High Schools" feature. DGN ranked #867 nationally while DGS ranked #1,530. You can read more about the criteria for the rankings and the full U.S. News and World Report story here.
Tuesday, May 8, 2012
Sign up your student for a free screening May 17-18.
Click to sign up your student here. Downers Grove South will host free cardiac screenings May 17 and 18 provided by the Young Hearts for Life. According to a district release, it is estimated that each week, sudden cardiac death claims the lives of more than 30 young adults in the United States. The leading cause of sudden cardiac death in young adults is triggered by a hidden heart defect. A quick, noninvasive test that can signal the presence of a serious, but treatable, heart condition is called an ECG (electrocardiogram). The YH4L program is a free program offered by Midwest Heart Foundation sponsored by the Ken Holland Memorial Fund. The screenings consist of trained volunteers working in pairs to perform ECGs on students. More …
Monday, May 7, 2012
The team will compete in the IHSA sectional meet on Thursday.
The Downers Grove South girls track & field team took home a West Suburban Gold conference championship Friday. It was the eighth straight conference championship for the team. DGS was the clear winner with 169 points, crushing second-place Hinsdale South with 105 points. Willowbrook took third with 101 points. The West Suburban Gold conference consists of seven teams. Senior Rebecca Stearns led the Mustang effort with three individual conference titles in 100-meter hurdles, 300-meter hurdles and the 800-meter run. She also ran a leg on the winning 4x400-meter relay team. The Mustangs came home first in both the 4x400-meter relay (Mueller, Clinnin, Raven Wilson, Stearns) and the 4X800-meter relay (Blake Mueller, Katrina Friedrich, Amy …
Friday, May 4, 2012
Meet the students who are graduating at the top of their respective senior classes.
Community High School District 99 in Downers Grove recognizes 27 seniors from North High School and South High School who are part of the top two percent of their senior classes academically in 2012. “Being a member of the top two percent at each campus is a most distinguishing academic honor, as it acknowledges a consistently high level of academic performance across seven semesters of high school,” said District 99 Superintendent Dr. Mark McDonald. “ We are proud of these students and know that each one has an incredibly bright future.” Meet the Top 2% from Downers Grove North Meet the Top 2% from Downers Grove South
Meet the students, read about their accomplishments and see where they're going to college.
Mohammad Salman Ali is the son of Ashraf and Ruqia Ali of Downers Grove. He has received the Downers Grove Community Bank Scholarship and an AP Scholar with Distinction award. He has participated in the Key Club, Math Team, Scholastic Bowl, Saturday Morning Physics at Fermilab, National Honor Society, and National Spanish Honor Society. He has been part of the volleyball and track teams. He works at the Kumon Math and Reading Center in Darien, and has volunteered with Tzu Chi, Polar Express, and The Giving Tree. Salman plans to attend the University of Chicago. Mohammad’s favorite memory: “While filming the death scene of Principe Ali in the middle of the street for AP Spanish, Matt Balsamo almost ran me over!” Rianda Artis is the daughter…
Tony C
11:59 pm on Wednesday, May 16, 2012
A little harsh, I agree. The problem is that our country's solution to the drug problem is to criminalize it. Wouldn't a more prudent solution be to try to find this young man treatment for his addiction so that he does not become a drain on society. Charging a 18year old with a felony for one pill leaves this young man stigmatized for the rest of his life and does not address the root of the … more ›