News@99 - March 2014

Read the latest District 99 news and events in the March 2014 edition of our interactive newsletter.

If you prefer, you can also download a PDF version of the newsletter.

If you have any questions or suggestions, please email our communications department.

Thank you!

District 99 Students to Receive Free Cardiac Screenings

Over 5,000 students at North High and South High have the opportunity to receive complimentary ECG (electrocardiogram) screenings from the Young Hearts for Life (YH4L) program. Medical staff and trained volunteers will provide the testing on March 7 at North High and April 10 and 11 at South High to those students whose parents grant permission.

Through the generous support fromAdvocate Good Samaritan Hospital, the District 99 Education Foundation and The Ken Holland Memorial Fund, the screenings will be provided to all students free of charge.

It is estimated that each week, sudden cardiac death claims the lives of more than 60 young adults in the U.S. The leading cause of sudden cardiac death in young adults is triggered by a hidden heart defect, which the ECG is intended to detect. In fact, it’s predicted that one-third of deaths may have been prevented through an ECG. The simple and painless test can detect about 60 percent of the abnormalities associated with sudden cardiac death that a stethoscope cannot detect.

Dr. Joseph Marek, a cardiologist who practices at Advocate Good Samaritan Hospital and who is the Medical Director for YH4L, advises that students of all levels of physical activity be tested—and also be tested whether or not they participate in a sport.

“Heart conditions that might not be apparent at one point might develop later, so it’s important that kids have a screening every two years,” said Dr. Marek. International recommendations are to repeat the ECG every other year through age 25.

If the ECG results show that a further evaluation is needed, students are referred to their family physician.

The program relies on support from volunteers. For information about the volunteer schedule at North High, visit http://north.csd99.org/activities/young-hearts-for-life/. To volunteer at South High,
email dgsparentshelp@csd99.org.

The Young Hearts for Life Cardiac Screening Program has screened more than 100,000 students in the Chicagoland area. To learn more, visit www.yh4l.org.

The holiday spirit is strong at South High! Our students have big plans underway to help others this holiday season:

Groups have joined together to collect needed supplies for the residents of Washington, Illinois. They've called their effort "Project Panther," after the high school mascot of their town. Donate items all week; the truck will head down this Saturday! See details at http://south.csd99.org/assets/3/7/120313-ProjectPanther.pdf or at their Facebook page (Project Panther - Tornado Relief).

Also, students are supporting the Hesed House in Aurora. They will be collecting items and donations on December 12 to help purchase gift cards to help meet the needs of the homeless individuals and families the Hesed House serves. See http://south.csd99.org/assets/3/7/120313-Hesed_house_poster_2a.pdf

District Open House--TONIGHT!

 

Board of Ed member Mike Davenport talks with a community member last spring

We hope to see everyone out at South High tonight for the first District Open House of the year! At 6:30 p.m., we will honor these students and staff: https://www.csd99.org/assets/1/7/112513-StudentStaffRecognition.pdf.

Immediately after the program, members of the Board of Education and District 99 administrative team will be available to answer any questions you have about the district and schools.

We hope to see you tonight!

Nearly 100 District 99 Students to Perform at 2013 Illinois Music Educators Association District Festival

After a competitive audition earlier this month, nearly 100 student musicians from North High School and South High School in Downers Grove have been selected to perform at the 2013 Illinois Music Educators Association District Festival on Saturday, November 23 at 4 p.m. at Lincoln-Way Central in New Lenox (see http://www.lw210.org/Central/about/directions.php). Students receiving the top scores were chosen to perform in band, choir, orchestra and jazz band groups.
“Selection to the ILMEA All-District ensembles is a distinct honor for a high school musician,” said North High Fine Arts Department Chairperson Brayer Teague.  “Our faculty is excited for these students who will now have the opportunity to collaborate with the most outstanding musicians in our region.”
“The total number of participating students continues to be consistently high on an annual basis,” said South High Fine Arts Chairman Glenn Williams. “Additionally, we are equally well represented in all areas of ensemble performance--band, choir, orchestra, vocal jazz and jazz band--in this process.”

Students representing District 99 include:

North High

CHOIR
Yessenia Barrera (12) Alto II
Elizabeth Brunell (12) Soprano I
Anna Burton (12) Alto II
Emmy Cook (12) Soprano II
Keara Corbett (10) Soprano I
Abby Huskisson (11) Alto II
Shannon Kennedy (11) Alto II
Annie Ketchmark (12) Soprano II
Allison Kirkegaard (11) Alto I
Alison LeBeda (11) Alto II
Zach Ligmanowski (12) Tenor I
Megan MacArtney (11) Alto II
Martin Whitmore (11) Tenor II
Freddy Zimmerman (10) Bass II

ORCHESTRA STRINGS
Jack Barkei (9) Viola
Timothy Edwards (10) Cello
Zach Foster (12) Cello
Mantas Kisielius (12) Violin
Julija Lemenaite (11) Violin
Monica Lim (11) Violin
Matt Monk (10) Cello
Liam Morgan (10) Cello
Rachel Pfeifer (11) Cello
Jonathan Poortinga (11)
Katherine Portman (12) Violin
Ari Scott (10) Cello
Amelia Smerz (10) Cello
Robert Whitmore (11) Double Bass
Sarah Williams (12) Viola
Samantha Young (11) Cello

WINDS & PERCUSSION (CLASSICAL)
Kevin Atwater (11) Clarinet (Orchestra)
Alyse Bondarowicz (10) Flute (Band)
Ben Casey (12) Tuba (Orchestra)
Tommy Donnelly (12) Trumpet (Orchestra)
Alison Elgass (10) Bass Clarinet (Band)
Katie Goldsmith (12) Clarinet (Band)
Todd Griffin (10) Tuba (Band)
Megan Hung (10) Clarinet (Band)
Joseph Pacheco (12) Trumpet (Band)
Katherine Severt (11) Oboe (Orchestra)

WINDS & PERCUSSION (JAZZ)
Sebastian Calvino (12) Trombone
Tommy Donnelly (12) Trumpet
Rob Kulik (12) Drum Set
Kyle Lewandowski (12) Tenor Sax
Lucy Lu (12) Alto Sax
Matt McCoy (9) Alto Sax
Anthony McMahon (11) Baritone Sax
Joseph Pacheco (12) Trumpet
Spencer Schillerstrom (12) Tenor Sax
Grant Severt (10) Guitar
Andrew Slobidsky (12) Trombone
Amelia Smerz (10) Trombone
Jennifer Vetrone (11) Trumpet

South High

WINDS & PERCUSSION CLASSICAL
Bridget Moroney (10) – clarinet (band)
Kelsey Richardson (12) – bass clarinet – band
Ethan Riemer – (12) – trumpet – band
John Shimanek – (12) – trumpet – orch
Kayleigh Stewart – (12) – flute – band
Kyla Swain – (11) – horn – band
Rachel Wydra (12) – bassoon – (orch)

ORCHESTRA STRINGS
Hayley Beube – (10) violin
Kathryn Krajewski – (12) – viola
Megan Mc givern – (12) - viola
Andrew Molina (12) – cello
Allison Williams (11) - cello

CHOIR
Mara Alvarez (12) – Alto I
Caitlin Carr (12) – Soprano I
Brett Cohen (11) – Bass I
Scott Conger (12) – Bass I
Mariah Copeland (12) – Sop I
Alana Copeland (10) – Soprano II
Josh DuBois – (11) – Tenor I
Emily Hodshire – (12) – Alto I
Hannah Joseph – (12) – Alto I
Lian Lucansky (12) – Alto II
Andrew Mahlan (12) – Bass II
Ahona Mazumer – (12) – Sop II
Adele McKenney – (12) – Sop I
Brian Moroney (12) – Bass II
Rose Murphy (12) – Soprano I
Joshua Rogers (12) – Bass II
Charlotte Stahulak – (11) – Alto II
Jeremy Ursache – (10) – Bass I
Elyse Warnecke – (11) – Soprano II

WINDS & PERCUSSION JAZZ
Nathaniel Gresik (12) – trumpet
Kevin Hux – (10) – trombone
Brianna Imgruet – (9) - Trumpet
Tommy Leinart (10) – piano
Brian Moroney (12) – Drums
Jonathan Nelson (11) – Bass
Daniel Piccoli (9) – Alto Sax
Emily Rzeszutko – (11) - Trumpet
John Shimanek (12) – trumpet
Sam Tedeschi – (11) - bass
Michael Tegeler (9) – trombone
Mike Ziccarelli (12) – trombone

VOCAL JAZZ

Joshua Rogers (12) - Bass

For more information about the Illinois Music Education Association, please visit www.ilmea.org.

Brand New!! News@99 - November 2013

Read the latest District 99 news and events in the November 2013 edition of our interactive newsletter, News@99.
If you prefer, you can also download a PDF version of the newsletter.

Newly minted voters!

Today at South High many of our students who are 18 years old (or will be by the next election date next March) registered to vote during their lunch hour. Thanks to the American Association of University Women and the League of Women Voters for helping us!