Thursday, Aug. 24, 2017

Communication Arts Teacher Honored by NCTE

Communication Arts teacher Nicole Smith has been chosen to receive the 2017 National Council of Teachers of English Paul and Kate Farmer English Journal Writing Award. Smith was honored for her article, “A Principled Revolution in the Teaching of Writing,” which appeared in the May 2017 edition of the journal. The award, named for a former NCTE president and his wife, recognizes outstanding articles published during the previous school year in English Journal. Smith’s article, based on her master’s thesis at Northern Illinois University, is a distillation of 60 years of research on the teaching of writing. She argues, among other things, that reliance on teacher lecturing does not improve student performance, and that students often learn better by collaborating with their peers to engage thought-provoking questions and problems. Smith will be honored during the NCTE Annual Convention in St. Louis Nov. 18.

Alum’s Work With Lincolnshire Police Spotlighted

2016 Stevenson graduate Ben Panitch is featured in this week’s Lincolnshire Review for his work with the Lincolnshire Police Department’s Explorer Post, which provides mentoring for youngsters age 14-20 who are interested in law enforcement. Panitch, a sophomore at the University of Maryland, is chief of the post, which recently won 10 awards in a state competition.

Band Parents Fundraiser at Portillo’s Monday

The Band Parents Organization is having a fundraiser at Portillo’s in Vernon Hills from 5-8 p.m. Monday. When ordering, mention ”Stevenson High School Band.” Orders at the Portillo’s side and the Barnelli’s side are valid, along with orders placed at the cake counter. Online orders are not valid. The BPO also is selling Patriot Savings Cards.

PATRIOT SPORTS

Click here for today’s athletic schedule

Stevenson Joins Forces With BSN, Under Armour

During the summer, Stevenson signed an agreement with BSN Sports and Under Armour for the purchase of apparel and equipment. Athletic Director Trish Betthauser addresses commonly asked questions about the agreement in her latest blog post. If you’d like to see the different types of apparel available for Patriot fans, visit Stevenson’s BSN Sideline Store. BSN has a back-to-school promotion in which anyone who orders $100 or more in merchandise will receive 20% off.

New Era for Patriot Football Begins Friday Night

A new era of Stevenson football begins Friday when first-year head coach Josh Hjorth takes his Patriots to Palatine for their season opener with the highly rated Pirates. Hjorth is new as head coach, but isn’t new to the program. He served as defensive coordinator for Bill McNamara the past seven seasons, and will continue to call plays for the defense this fall. The SHS defense will rely on senior middle linebacker Sam Marks, a three-year starter whom Hjorth calls “the heart and soul of our defense.” Marks also is getting high praise from Deep Dish Football.com. Last year, Stevenson finished 8-2 and won its seventh North Suburban Conference championship in the last eight seasons, and qualified for the state playoffs for the 28th consecutive time. Palatine, which also has a new head coach, went 12-1 and reached the Illinois High School Association Class 8A state quarterfinals last fall. Here’s a game preview from Deep Dish Football, and Peter Leinweber also breaks down the quarterback matchup, with senior Grayson Kubow taking the reins from Aidan O’Connell, who is now at Purdue.

First-Ever Cross Country Meet at VHAC Today

The cross country program will hold its first-ever meet at the Vernon Hills Athletic Complex after school today. Previous home meets have been held at the Half Day Forest Preserve. The girls and boys teams will be in action, with the girls facing Buffalo Grove, Highland Park and Dundee Crown, and the boys taking on BG and DC. For anyone who plans to attend, additional parking will be available across Fairway Drive at the BD Business Center parking lot and the Vernon Hills High School baseball and softball field areas by Nike Parkway. There will be white “XC Parking” signs to identify the lots. Spectators should plan to arrive early to the event; finding parking may take a few minutes longer than anticipated. View the course layout.

Varsity Boys Ice Hockey Fundraiser on Saturday

The varsity boys ice hockey team is holding a fundraiser at Rockin’ Jump in Buffalo Grove from 5-9 p.m. Saturday. Discounted tickets are just $15 for two hours. For those who can’t make it on Saturday, you can still purchase discounted tickets and use them at a later date. Visit http://app.locbox.com/campaigns/123626 to purchase tickets.

STUDENT ANNOUNCEMENTS

Be a Part of History. Come to the first ARTalks Program

All students are invited to the first-ever ARTalks program at 7 o’clock tonight at the Visiting Artist Gallery in the West Building. Anne Hughes, the current Visiting Artist of the Month, will talk about her work and her career. The program is free.

Going to the Football Games at Palatine on Friday?

If you’re going to watch the sophomore or varsity football games at Palatine on Friday, Stevenson Athletics has some expectations for you: No signs can be brought into the stadium; your student ID is required for admission; spectators must wear shirts; no full face paint is allowed; no artificial noisemakers are allowed; and no re-entry will be allowed into the stadium.

Did You Take Ceramics or Art and Design Last Year?

If you had Ceramics, or Art and Design with Mrs. Hyken last year, and left your clay pieces in Room 1422, please pick them up by Monday or they will be thrown out. The room is available for pick up every period except fourth.

West ILC Hiring Student Aides

The West ILC is hiring student aides to work in the library during all class periods. If you have a free period or a study hall and you would like to work in the ILC instead, please see Mrs. Gorman in the upper ILC for an application. This is a paid position.

If You’ve Lost Something, Check These Lost-and-Found Areas

If you’ve lost a backpack, sweatshirt or some other item of importance, check one of the lost-and-found areas to see if it’s been turned in. Lost and found items are placed in Room 2416 in the West Building, and in Room 5024 (in the Field House lobby) in the East Building.

INTRAMURALS

Open field girls softball will begin Wednesday and will meet every Wednesday through Oct. 4. Each week’s session will run from 4-5:30 p.m. on the varsity softball field.

Open baseball on the varsity field will start Tuesday and run every Tuesday and Thursday from 3:45-5 p.m. through Oct. 19. If you have questions, contact Coach Block.

CLUB NEWS

The Interactive Gamers Club will have its first meeting from 3:30-6 p.m. today in Room 1204. The club will be joining RPG groups, teaching students how to play board games, and introducing any card games that you’re interested in!

Would you like to help create artwork for the fine arts posters and program covers? If so, please attend the Poster Design Club meeting at 3:30 p.m. today in Room 6016. If you have any questions, please contact Mr. Grice at jgrice@d125.org.

A Peer Tutor information meeting will be held after school today in Room 7066. Come and find out if the Peer Tutor club is for you!

The Green Team meets Mondays from 3:30-4:30 p.m. in Room 2506, and the first meeting is this Monday.

Zumba Club will host its first meeting at 3:45 p.m. Tuesday in the Aerobics Room (2110). The club is open to all grades and no experience is required. Zumba Club meets every Tuesday at 3:45. If you have any questions, please contact Mrs. Antillera at rantillera@d125.org.

Breakfast with Books will hold its first meeting from 7:45-8:20 a.m. Tuesday in the upper ILC. The club is very excited for the upcoming year and has some fun things planned. All students are welcome. The only requirement is a love for reading!

Are you interested in science research? Do you have your own ideas of what you want to learn more about? The first Science REACH meeting will be held after school Wednesday in Room 1916. Contact Mrs. Palffy or Mr. Robinson if you have any questions.

The Stevenson Styler Fashion Club will hold its first meeting of the 2017-18 school year at 3:30 p.m. Wednesday in Room 1612. Information on events and activities being planned for the year will be shared, and the club will also be making DIY tassel necklaces. All students are welcome! Do you have any questions? Contact the faculty sponsor, Mrs. Erickson, at cerickson@d125.org.

COLLEGE NEWS

The College Career Center will hold an Essay Writing Workshop next week for seniors preparing college applications. The workshop dates are 7:45 a.m. Monday and eighth period on Thursday, Aug. 31. The CCC is located in Room 1123.

Seniors are invited to attend a Common Application Workshop to learn how to use this online application. Workshops will be held in the College Career Center (Room 1123) during eighth period on Monday and at 7:45 a.m. Thursday, Aug. 31.

Seniors who have general questions about applying to college, or need help, are invited to attend a “Drop-In Tuesday!” session in the College Career Center before school or during eighth period. Sessions will be held every Tuesday except Sept. 12. No appointment is necessary.

ILLINOIS EDUCATION HEADLINES

Top Illinois lawmakers to meet privately in Chicago on school funding

Downstate superintendents want quick action on school funding reform

Bloomington District 87 reaches tentative pact with teachers

Phishing scam targets University of Illinois computer users, passwords

Random searches have cut number of weapons found in U46, officials say

Police: Northwestern rower who drowned in April couldn’t swim

NATIONAL EDUCATION HEADLINES

Study: Oldest kids in class do better, even through college

Student loan company accused of delaying debt forgiveness for teachers

Milwaukee student beats up teacher in front of class

Florida elementary school’s new discipline system stirs emotions