Thursday, Sept. 7, 2017

Stevenson Matches All-Time High on ACT

Stevenson ended its ACT testing era on a high note. The Class of 2017 matched the highest composite score in school history, according to results released today. The school’s average composite score this year was 26.9, the same as in 2016. The state average was 21.4.

SHS established a new standard in one of the four content areas covered in the exam. The reading score was 26.8, surpassing the previous best of 26.6 set last year. The science score of 26.4 matched the all-time high established in 2016. Scores in English (26.9) and math (27.1) scores were the second-highest in school history.

The state of Illinois stopped requiring all juniors to take the ACT exam in 2016. However, Stevenson chose to offer it in 2016 and 2017 as a sign of its commitment to those students whose early years at the school were shaped by ACT preparation.

Two More Seniors Post Perfect ACT Scores

Seniors Ryan Mitchell and Haoyang Yu posted perfect scores on the ACT exam in June. Each scored a 36, bringing to 31 the number of students in the Class of 2018 who have registered a perfect ACT score.

Parent Information Meetings for Summer 2018 Travel

Information meetings begin next week for parents and guardians of students thinking of participating in school-sponsored travel programs next summer. Here is the meeting schedule:

AP European History – Wednesday, 6:30 p.m., Room 2104
New York Fashion – Wednesday, 6:30 p.m., Room 1414
Spain – Thursday, Sept. 14, 6:15 p.m., Room 2104
Latin/French – Thursday, Sept. 14, 5:30 p.m., Recital Hall (Room 4100)
Educator Service Learning – Tuesday, Sept. 19, 6:30 p.m., Recital Hall (Room 4100)
Iceland – Wednesday, Sept. 27, 7 p.m., Room 2104

$3K Raised for Hurricane Harvey Relief

Last week’s National Honor Society and Student Council fundraiser for Hurricane Harvey victims raised $3,000 for GlobalGiving’s relief fund.

9/11 Ceremony Monday Morning Before School

Students Helping Soldiers will hold its annual 9/11 ceremony at 8 a.m. Monday in the Garden of Peace, Hope and Remembrance by the pond southeast of the West Building. The event is open to the public.

Choral Guild Corn Roast on Saturday

The Choral Guild will hold a corn roast fundraiser from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday at Sunset Foods in Long Grove. All proceeds will benefit the choral program. Questions can be directed to Yoko Walrath at ywalrath@gmail.com.

Saving the Hallway Locker

Pioneer Press reporter Ronnie Wachter talked with Principal Troy Gobble about the school’s experiment with hallway lockers this fall. The school did not assign lockers at first. Instead, after the first week of classes had passed, students received a survey to determine if they wanted a locker. About 1,700 students completed the survey, with 70% requesting a locker.

PATRIOT SPORTS

Click here for today’s athletic schedule

Tuesday’s Varsity Results

Girls Swimming and Diving

Stevenson 112, Glenbrook North 74: Senior Iza Pelka and junior Ashley Carollo captured two events each and swam on a winning relay as the Patriots touched first in eight of 12 events in Northbrook. Pelka won the 200-yard freestyle (1:55.99) and the 100-yard butterfly (58.73), while Carollo controlled the 50 free (25.48) and 100 free (55.02). They also formed half of the victorious 200 free relay unit with senior Sasha Kokhan and junior Claire Huang (1:42.01). Other SHS winners were senior Eva Holsen in the 500 free (5:31.03), freshman Elizabeth Cao in the 100 backstroke (1:02.90) and sophomore Maddy O’Donnell in the 100 breaststroke (1:12.95). Individual runner-up finishes came from Kokhan in the 50 free (26.35), O’Donnell in the 200 individual medley (2:18.92), Huang in the 100 free (57.21), junior Sherry Mestan in 1-meter diving (183.20) and junior Ziv Marco in the 500 free (5:42.62). Two relays finished second: the 200 medley relay with Cao, O’Donnell, Huang and Kokhan (1:55.91), and the 400 free relay with junior Jennifer Xiong, sophomore Lucy Stevens, Pelka and O’Donnell (3:45.63).

Spirit Revolution Planning 30-Year Celebration

Stevenson’s Spirit Revolution program will celebrate 30 years with a pre-game tailgate event at 6 p.m. Friday, Oct. 6. Alumni who have participated in the cheerleading, competitive dance or pom squads during the school’s history are invited. Spirit Revolution alumni can RSVP to http://evite.me/mCTR7mZaQ1, and should include their name, graduation year, and whether they were a member of cheerleading or Patriettes.

Alum Balances Classes, Basketball and Harvey Cleanup

Connor Cashaw (Class of 2015) and his Rice University basketball teammates have been working extra hard lately. Not only are the Owls getting ready for the upcoming season, but the team also has been active with cleanup efforts in the Houston area after Hurricane Harvey. Cashaw’s grandparents live in Houston, and their home flooded badly.

From Boomer to Barrister?

The Daily Herald published a glowing report on Kyle Ruchim (Class of 2010), who had his best professional baseball season this summer. Ruchim was the leading table-setter for the Schaumburg Boomers, who won a franchise-record 64 games and reached the Frontier League playoffs. He hit .315 as the team’s leadoff man, and scored a league-high 83 runs. Ruchim has been attending law school at DePaul University, and hopes to follow in the footsteps of his father Mitchell, an attorney in Northbrook. Ruchim’s older sister, Heather (Class of 2005), was recently selected as Stevenson’s head softball coach.

STUDENT ANNOUNCEMENTS

Fun, Food and Fireworks at StreetFest on Saturday

Come to the National Honor Society’s annual StreetFest on Saturday and enjoy food, fun and fireworks. StreetFest runs from 6-9 p.m., and parking lot E (by the Sports Center entrance) will be filled with games, food trucks, a dunk tank and more, plus fireworks around 8:45 p.m. in the Stadium. There also will be a large stage with music provided by various SHS students, including members of the DJ Club, plus emcees from Boom Entertainment. Admission is $10, with a limited number of T-shirts available at the gate for an additional $10. Proceeds will benefit three area charities: the Leukemia Research Foundation; Willow House, which supports grieving children and families; and the Zacharias Sexual Abuse Center.

Co-Curricular Vocal Group Auditions Next Week

Auditions for vocal co-curricular groups will be held next week: Just the Guys (Tuesday, 7 p.m.), Jazz Etc. (Wednesday, 6:30 p.m. for tenor/bass voices, 7 p.m. for soprano/alto), and Ladyjazz (Thursday, Sept. 14, 6:30 p.m.) Auditions will be held in the Choir Room (2202). Audition packets are available at www.d125.org/choir.

Fall Play Takes Stage Tonight Through Saturday

What would make someone stay inside their bedroom for a year? Come to the fall theatrical production, Too Much, Too Much, Too Many, and find out. The show will be performed at 7 p.m. tonight, Friday and Saturday in the Black Box Theater (also called the Studio Theater). Admission is $6.

Auditions for “Monster in the Closet” Next Week

You’re invited to audition for the Stevenson Foundation’s fall children’s play, The Monster in the Closet. Auditions will be held Tuesday in the West Auditorium and Thursday, Sept. 14 in the Black Box Theater (formerly known as the Studio Theater), from 4:30-6 p.m. each day. Have a children’s poem or nursery rhyme ready to perform for your monologue. Tell us how you would deal with those kids who live outside your closet; make these responses clever and creative. Bring your enthusiasm and your energy!

Half Wit Accepting Work From Frosh, Soph Writers

All freshmen and sophomores: The Half Wit, Stevenson’s underclassmen-exclusive literary magazine, wants your work! Send us your poetry, drama, screenplays, short stories, essays, songs … we’ll read every word. Get published! Submit your writing to Mr. Barnabee at jbarnabee@d125.org by Nov. 20.

Homecoming Dance Tickets on Sale

Homecoming dance tickets are available for $25 at the Patriot Superstore or through the Online School Store. If you’re bringing a guest who’s not a Stevenson student to the dance, fill out this form and have it signed by the guest’s dean.

Class of 2018: Schedule Your Senior Yearbook Portrait

This is the last chance for seniors to book their yearbook portrait session with VIP Photography. You need to have your portrait taken by the end of September if you want it in the yearbook. Times are available now, but they fill up fast. Please make an appointment online at studio.il.vipis.com or by calling 847-499-9300. Information about photo packages and pricing is available on the VIP website, studio.il.vipis.com. Please see the parent letter and senior portrait brochure for more information.

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

If you’ve lost a lunch bag, water bottle, pencil case, 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

Flag football registration closes Friday. You must be part of a team in order to participate. Stop by the Student Activities Office if you have questions, or if you are having trouble finding a team to play on.

The IM Ultimate Frisbee season starts today. The group plays on Mondays and Thursdays after school. You can register online and it’s just $10. Contact Ms. Patten at kpatten@d125.org or Mr. Gutierrez at agutierrez@d125.org if you have questions.

You can still sign up for IM Golf. The cost is $25 to register, and there will be weekly trips to the Vernon Hills Golf Course. Each trip is $10. Contact Mr. Argentar at dargentar@d125.org or Mr. Wise at bwise@d125.org if you have questions.

Open gym basketball starts Monday, and runs from 6-8 p.m. in the Field House. To see the entire open gym basketball schedule for the fall, visit the Open Gym web page.

CLUB NEWS

Chess Club will hold its first meeting of the school year after school today. The meeting will take place from 3:30-5:30 p.m. in Room 2818.

The Interactive Gamers Club will be playing Commander after school today in Room 1204! The cost is $5, and all players will be given a 100-card deck to play with, which they can then take home when the games are over. Decks this year are Dragons, Wizards, Vampires, and Cats! New players are always welcome.

Today is the last day applications will be accepted for first-semester Peer Tutors. There will be an orientation meeting after school today in Room 7066.

History Bowl/Bee will hold its first practice of the year after school today in Room 2500. If you have any questions, please contact Mr. Anderson in the Social Studies Department or at panderson@d125.org.

The Wit and the Half Wit, Stevenson’s incredible, award-winning magazines of student fiction, poetry, drama, music lyrics, essays, rants, and so much more, has begun meeting every Thursday after school in Room 2015. If you love writing and love publishing, come join the club. Just stop by or email Mr. Barnabee at jbarnabee@d125.org.

Do you want to hang out and play awesome board games? What about getting service hours for it? Come to Stevenson’s new Board Game Club! The club meets from 3:45-5:45 p.m. every Monday in Room 1500-1502. Every week, a new strategy, deduction or cooperation game will be featured. For more information, contact spollar9@students.d125.org or eaguirre@d125.org.

COLLEGE NEWS

Considering Indiana University in Bloomington? The Wells Scholarship is one of the most prestigious and selective undergraduate awards offered by any American university. The Wells Scholars Program provides special educational opportunities that encourage academic excellence, growth in leadership, and engagement in the larger world. Stevenson is allowed to nominate one student from the Class of 2018. Interested seniors may pick up nomination materials in the College Career Center (Room 1123). The deadline to return the nomination forms is Friday, Sept. 15. If selected, the nominee will need to complete the Wells Scholarship application by Wednesday, Sept. 27.

Considering the University of North Carolina? The Morehead-Cain Award, the oldest and one of the most prestigious scholarship programs in the country, recognizes well-rounded student leaders who demonstrate outstanding potential for leadership in high school, in college and beyond. The Morehead-Cain Scholar is expected to be, in conduct and achievement, a superior citizen. This merit-based award includes four years of tuition and expenses at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, as well as fully funded summer enrichment programs that supplement academic study with off-campus travel and experience. Stevenson is allowed to nominate two students from the Class of 2018. Interested seniors may pick up nomination materials in the College Career Center (Room 1123). The deadline to return nomination forms is Tuesday, Sept. 26. If selected, the nominee will need to complete and submit the Morehead-Cain application by Sunday, Oct. 15.

Comcast Leaders and Achievers Scholarship applications are available for seniors in the College Career Center. This scholarship is for a full-time high school senior with a minimum 2.8 GPA who plans to attend a college, university, vocational or technical school in the U.S. In addition, you must be committed to community service and have demonstrated leadership abilities. The deadline to return a completed application is Tuesday, Sept. 26.

Seniors interested in the University of Virginia: The Jefferson Scholars Foundation awards full scholarships to UVA to students who have demonstrated uncommon academic ability, exceptional leadership and a commitment to the community at large. Stevenson may nominate one student for this prestigious scholarship. If you are interested, please pick up an application from the College Career Center (Room 1123). Please return the application to the CCC by Nov. 21.

ATHLETICS

Patriot Baseball 2018: Please let all parents know that we will have a meeting for parents of players trying out for the team next spring at 6 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 28 in Room 2104. The meeting is not mandatory, but will cover the upcoming season, tryouts and events this year.

CAREER EXPLORATION

The Northwestern Medicine Discovery Program is currently accepting applications. This program introduces students to healthcare careers through guest speakers, discussions, tours, hands-on activities and more. Students entering sophomore or junior year are eligible to apply. See more information on the Career Camps and Internships web page.

Applications are now being accepted for students wishing to participate in a career shadow during the first semester. Please visit the Career Camps and Internships web page or come to the College Career Center for an application. If you have general career questions or would like to schedule an appointment to meet about career planning, please send Mrs. Willock an email at dwillock@d125.org.

ILLINOIS EDUCATION HEADLINES

State ACT scores improve as number of test-takers drops

ISU enrollment takes minor dip, graduate students increase

Low enrollment leaves some Chicago schools fighting to stay open

Chicago Board of Education sued over alleged abuse by former employee

Formative assessments reduce high-stakes testing at Lyons Township

Breast-feeding student moms get space at schools under new law

Chicago Teachers Union president talks school funding reform and more

Barrington District 220 seeks naming rights, advertising for stadium

East Aurora looks to HR director to fill interim superintendent post

NATIONAL EDUCATION HEADLINES

ACT scores up nationwide, but gaps remain