Thursday, May 18, 2017

Student Writers Honored by State Association

Prose works by five students have been selected for publication in the next Illinois English Bulletin, which is produced by the Illinois Association of Teachers of English. The students chosen (with titles of their pieces in parenthesis) are senior Manikandan Swaminathan (“Grow in the Dark”) and juniors Sarah Bell (“When My Grandmother Laughs”), Hannah Lichtenstein (“The R Word”), Pranathi Posa (“Big and Dark”) and Daniel Wu (“The Sun Behind the Clouds”).

Three students received runner-up honors: juniors Eva Holsen (“Three-Hundred”), Christopher Muth (“To Repair Versus to Redress”) and Mengjing Shi (“The Seasons Come and Go”). Five others were selected for honorable mention: seniors Karan Rami (“Engulfed in Words”) and Ali Saeed (“On Experience: the Power of Story”), and juniors Gurasees Bajaj (“From Dusk to Dawn”), Noah Cooper (“Trickle-Down Benefits”) and Daniel Lee (“It’s My Heaven”).

The honored students’ Communication Arts teachers are Jennifer Arias, Denise Foster, Stephen Heller and Melissa Mack.

Class of 2018 Breaks New ACT Ground

Eleven members of the Class of 2018 earned perfect scores on the ACT exam that was provided to all juniors at Stevenson in February. Julia Qian earned a 36 for the second time, while Alexander Bian, Justin Lee, Michael Lee, Aditya Mansharamani, Aaryav Nagpal, Saketh Prazad, Jessica Shen, Ruidi Xu, Jonathan Xue and Wilson Zhu reached the scoring pinnacle for the first time. With these latest results, the Class of 2018 now has 28 members that have achieved a perfect ACT score, the largest of any class dating back to 2000 and likely in all of school history.

Four Seniors Accepted Into UI Honors Program

Out of more than 7,000 graduating high school seniors admitted into the University of Illinois each year, only 125 students are accepted into its Campus Honors Program. Four members of Stevenson’s Class of 2017 will be among this elite group: Kevin Acuna, Gary Braznichenko, Ethan Krawitz and Annie Wu.

Correction

Matt Adams was omitted from the list of students who won the 29th annual Geography Bowl at the University of Wisconsin-Parkside on Monday.

PATRIOT SPORTS

Click here for today’s athletic schedule

Wednesday’s Varsity Results

Girls Lacrosse

Stevenson hosted IHSWLA Metea Valley Sectional: The Patriots (16-5) held off the Downers Grove co-op, 12-11, for the sectional semifinal victory and a berth in the sectional championship game against Lyons Township. The sectional title contest will be played at 7:30 p.m. Monday at Metea Valley. Stevenson is the No. 12 seed in the state playoffs and Lyons is No. 5. This is the deepest advancement ever in the state playoffs for the Pats, who have won five straight games and 11 of their last 12. – IHSWLA.org, @PatsGLax

Softball

Grant 3, Stevenson 2 (9 inn.): The host Bulldogs hit a walkoff home run to lead off the bottom of the ninth, handing the Patriots (13-18) a tough loss in their regular-season finale. Emma Oriatti’s two-run home run gave SHS a 2-1 lead in the fifth inning. Grant tied the game with an unearned run in the bottom of the frame. Starting pitcher Ilyssa Muise pitched out of jams in the sixth and seventh innings to send the game into extra innings. The Pats will play host to Mundelein in the IHSA Class 4A Stevenson Regional at 4:30 p.m. Wednesday. Stevenson is the No. 9 seed in the New Trier Sectional and the Mustangs are the No. 8 seed. – Daily Herald

Baseball

Warren 11, Stevenson 2 (5 inn.): The visiting Patriots (18-13, 11-9) were held to three hits by the Blue Devils (25-9, 14-6) in their North Suburban Conference finale. Michael D’Angelo and Benjamin Chestler hit doubles for SHS, while Hayden Shape had a single. Stevenson’s runs came on a groundout by Henry Marchese and a sacrifice fly from D’Angelo. – GameChanger.com, Daily Herald

Sectional Time for Boys Track, Boys Tennis

The next Patriot squads competing in IHSA sectional competitions are the boys track and boys tennis teams. The track and field team will compete in the 16-team Class 3A Fremd Sectional today. Click here to look for results tonight. The boys tennis team will compete in the Class 2A Cary-Grove Sectional beginning Friday and concluding on Saturday. You can follow sectional tennis results here.

Water Polo Championship Games Online

Saturday’s IHSA state water polo tournament championship games in the Patriot Aquatic Center will be shown live online for a fee at this link. You can watch both games for $9.95. Click here for details.

Krames Shoulders the Load at State Gymnastics Meet

There’s no “Toughest Competitor” category among the Athletic Division’s Exceptional Stevenson Patriot Pride Awards, but if there was, Matt Krames would have to be a contender. The University of Iowa-bound gymnast separated his right shoulder around sectional time, but was able to advance to the state tournament in four events and the all-around competition. He won two state medals, including a second-place finish in floor exercise. “Honestly, 90 percent of the gymnasts I’ve coached would’ve just dropped out given the distress he was under,” Patriots coach Joe Rogalski told the Pioneer Press. “Just to power through like that? It was so impressive.”

STUDENT ANNOUNCEMENTS

First 50 SHS Students Get in Free to State Water Polo

The Sports Boosters will continue its tradition of paying for the first 50 Stevenson students to attend the IHSA Water Polo State Tournament in the Patriot Aquatic Center tonight and Friday night. The girls will play at 7 o’clock tonight and the boys at 7 p.m. Friday. Students should present their ID at the admission window.

Did You Forget to Pick Up Your Yearbook?

If you forgot to pick up your yearbook earlier this week, it will be available at the Patriot Superstore. The store is open 30 minutes before school begins and during all three lunch periods. You must present your student ID when picking up your yearbook. The cost is $50. The store accepts cash, check (made payable to Stevenson High School), your student ID card (if your parents or guardians have a Patriot Dollars account), Visa or MasterCard. There also are a number of students who did not pick up last year’s yearbook. They will be available until Friday, May 26.

Last Chance for Senior Class Party Bus Sign-Up is Monday

If you’re going to the Senior Class Party, there will be one last bus sign-up before school on Monday, from 7:30-8:30 a.m. at the Field House. If you do not sign up, the PPA will randomly assign you to a bus.

Spanish Honor Society Induction Ceremony Tonight

The Spanish Honor Society induction ceremony will take place at 6:30 tonight in the West Auditorium. Rehearsal for the students being inducted is at 5 o’clock.

Free the Children Club Portillo’s Fundraiser Today

The Free the Children club is holding a fundraiser 5-8 p.m. today at Portillo’s in Vernon Hills. Twenty percent of the proceeds will benefit the club, which seeks to educate, engage and empower social change on a global scale. Present this flyer or show it on your smartphone when placing your order.

Information on Textbook Returns During Finals

Textbook returns will be located in the Lower Sports Center from 7:30 a.m-1:30 p.m. Tuesday-Thursday, May 23-25. After May 25, all textbooks must be returned to the School Business Office (Room 2426). Teachers should not accept any textbook returns, as this may cause a delay in processing and result in the students being fined for their books. Seniors must have all their textbooks returned, and any textbook fines paid, before they receive their diplomas.

Final Exam Update From the Testing Center

The Testing Center will be open from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. on final exam days. Students must sign up for tests during final times. A test can only be taken during a free period, study hall or PE. Before- and after-final times don’t require signing up. If a student is signed up during a re-scheduled final, the Testing Center needs a note or an email from the teacher or counselor stating that the final has been rescheduled. Seniors who are exempt from a final may take a test in the Testing Center during that class time with written notification from their teacher or counselor.

15th Annual SNN Film Fest Friday Night

All students are invited to enjoy an evening of student-made short films at the 15th annual SNN Film Fest at 7 p.m. Friday in the West Auditorium. Admission is $2. Note: Some films may contain mature themes and/or language.

New Parking Guidelines for Seniors Next Year

Stevenson’s student population is increasing next year, and more students means more staff, which unfortunately means less student parking on campus. Seniors are encouraged to start talking with friends and classmates to arrange carpools and rideshares if they need to park on campus for the duration of the year. The Class of 2018 will have an opportunity to purchase up to four of six marking periods of parking. Permits will be sold on a first-come, first-served basis. Parking permits can only be purchased during online registration. All Stevenson families will receive a mailing regarding online registration in mid-June. This mailing will include when the online registration window opens for all students. Seniors also will be able to purchase daily Port Clinton parking spots in Room 2400 with a minimum of 24 hours in advance. A maximum of 10 spots per calendar month can be purchased at $3 per day.

Clean Out Your PE Locker by Monday

All Physical Education lockers must be cleaned out by the end of the last regular school day on Monday. Locks will then be cut off and any belongings left behind will be donated to local charities.

CLUB NEWS

The official Stevenson High School Patriot eSports team will have its first informational meeting in preparation for its 2017-18 season at 3:45 today in Room 2516. CSgo, League of Legends, Hearthstone, Overwatch, VainGlory and WarThunder are among the games that will be played. If you are interested in playing eSports either casually or for serious competition, then stop by the information meeting.

ATHLETICS

The Sports Boosters will continue its tradition of paying for the first 50 Stevenson students to attend the IHSA Water Polo State Tournament in the Patriot Aquatic Center on Thursday and Friday nights. The girls will play at 7 o’clock tonight and the boys at 7 p.m. Friday. Students should present their ID at the admission window.

The girls basketball team will have an informational meeting at 3:30 today in Room 2002. Don’t forget to register for summer camp/leagues!

There will be an informational meeting for girls cross country at 3:30 today in the Little Theater (Room 4200). If you cannot make the meeting, contact Coach LeVanti at mlevanti@d125.org.

The girls lacrosse team is holding a Jamba Juice sale Friday in the Wood Commons during seventh and eighth periods and during the assembly, and after school by the athletic fields before Spring Fling. You can buy a 10-ounce Jamba Juice for $3. Two flavors will be available: Strawberry Whirl and Mega Mango. You can pay in cash or with your student ID.

ILLINOIS EDUCATION HEADLINES

“Grand bargain” vote fizzles again in Illinois Senate

State lawmakers’ school funding plan likely to meet Rauner’s veto pen

Chicago-area high schools listed on website trading nude photos

Hybrid schedule elicits mixed opinions among Maine Township 207 parents

Interim U46 superintendent Arndt to leave this month

Chicago Catholic school teacher says he was fired after students outed him

NATIONAL EDUCATION HEADLINES

How colleges know what you can afford (and the limits of that tactic)

Reformers sweep Los Angeles school board elections

A look at the Trump administration’s first full education budget

Secret report shows “special” treatment for officials in D.C. school lottery