New teachers were paired with their mentors today!

 

 

District 99 welcomes 27 new teachers for new teacher induction week!

North High Gym

See photos of the North High gym floor refurbishment project!

North High Grad Hosts Local Newscast

Congrats to recent North High graduate Shane Gustafson for being selected to host sports segments on a northwest Indiana television station--and to North High teacher John Waite for mentoring him!

http://www.mysuburbanlife.com/2013/07/31/woodridge-college-student-eyes-spot-on-local-newscast/avtv3eh/

District 99 Speech and Debate Teams Receive National Awards!

The speech and debate teams at North High and South High Schools in Downers Grove received numerous awards at the 2013 National Forensic League National Tournament, which was held late last month in Birmingham, Alabama. For the third year in a row, South High received the “School of Excellence Award in Speech,” one of only 20 schools nationwide to be honored with the award. Also, North High School 2013 graduate Alex Buckley was named national champion in “impromptu speaking”—the school’s first national champion in speech.

 

 

South High received the national “School of Excellence Award” in speech

·         At South High, Natasha Prosek finished 13^th in the nation in her main event, “humorous interpretation.” Prosek, who was the 2013 IHSA state champion, finished as a semi-finalist in the event, automatically qualifying her for the 2014 national tournament, which will be held next June in Kansas.

Also at South High, 2013 graduates Ammar Kalimullah was in the top 60 in “international extemporaneous speaking” and Supal Mehta was in the top 30 in the same event.  Mariah Copeland placed 61^st in “dramatic interpretation” and 2013 graduate Dhara Puvar finished 62^nd in “oratory.”

Also representing South High were Timmy Arnold and 2013 graduates Mitch Bild, Jack LeBaron, and Julia Coulliard in “public forum debate” teams, as well as Stephanie Coupland and Alex Werner in “duo interpretation.”  Illini District Student of the Year recipient Dan Leahy also traveled with the team.

On behalf of the team, NFL sponsor and coach Jan Heiteen accepted the “School of Excellence Award.” The award recognizes the top 20 schools whose students have the greatest number of elimination rounds at the tournament. Heiteen also received the “NFL Distinguished Service Award,” second honors at the tournament. 

“Participation in the National Forensic League tournament continues to be a highlight of a student’s forensic experience,” comments Heiteen. “These students have a tradition of excellence and this group represented South with distinction.”

Also traveling with the team were coaches Elighie Wilson, Justin Matkovich, Julie Schwarz, Christopher Blum and Jennifer Hernandez.

 

North High's Nicole Smith, Sarah Fatinel, Coach Missy Carlson, Alex Buckley, Katie Portman and Dan Brophy

 

·         At North High, in addition to 2013 graduate Alex Buckley being named national champion in “impromptu speaking,” he also finished 8^th in “United States extemporaneous speaking,” which is the best finish that North High has ever had in a main event. Also, Nicole Smith competed in “humorous interpretation” and finished 47^th.

North High students Katie Portman, Dan Brophy and Sarah Fantinel competed in the ”Lincoln-Douglas debate.” Portman had five winning ballots out of 12, and Brophy and Fantinel each had one winning ballot. Fantinel was also in the top 90 students out of 500 for “impromptu,” and Brophy was in the top 26 students out of 194 for “commentary.” Smith and Portman also were both in the semi-finals for “expository,” finishing 13^th and 14^th out of 217 students, respectively.

Missy Carlson serves as the speech and debate team coach and sponsor.

More than 3,200 students participated in the 2013 NFL National Tournament, one of the world's largest academic contests. The event drew visitors from across the country and as far away as China. Top performers take home more than $200,000 in college scholarships. To attend, students must qualify at one of NFL’s 108 district tournaments. National competition occurs in ten main events.

For more information about the National Forensic League, please visit http://nationalforensicleague.org/.

For more information about District 99, please visit www.csd99.org.

 

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North Student Selected for 2012-13 Daily Herald Academic Team, Another Student, Honorable Mention!

Congratulations to North High's Alana Osterling! She was selected to the 2012-13 Daily Herald Academic Team. The Academic Team recognizes area high school seniors who have excelled in academics and have made a positive impact in their schools.

Congratulations also to North High's Mary Bedalov! She was named as an Honorable Mention in the 2012-13 Daily Herald Academic Team.

The Academic Team recognizes area high school seniors who excel in scholarship, but also exhibit strong character. They were nominated by the school, and a panel of judges selected the team from high school students in our area.

They will be featured in a special edition of the Daily Herald’s Neighbor section on Friday, June 7. The section will feature profiles of the winning team members as well as the 30 honorable mentions.

Way to go, Alana and Mary!

Graduation to be streamed LIVE!

For the first time, District 99’s graduation ceremonies, which will take place Friday, May 31, will be streamed LIVE over the Internet. Viewers can also replay the video and create highlight clips:

·         South High’s graduation at 5 p.m. can be viewed online at http://www.highschoolcube.com/event/2013-downers-grove-south-high-school-graduation-309304

·         North High’s graduation at 7 p.m. can be viewed online at http://www.highschoolcube.com/event/2013-downers-grove-north-high-school-graduation-309305

 

Both ceremonies will also be broadcast on channel 16 (viewable for Downers Grove Comcast subscribers only).