Plainfield Community Consolidated School District 202

Plainfield North student celebrates Chinese New Year abroad

Mon, 8 Feb 2010 12:00:00 MDT

Plainfield North High School junior Cameron Bechard will celebrate the Chinese New Year on February 14, 2010, in China, with his host family.

Bechard has been living and studying in China since August 2009 as part of the National Security Language Initiative for Youth (NSLI-Y) merit scholarship program run by the U.S. Department of State.

Bechard will usher in the Year of the Tiger by traveling with his host family to have a family celebration with a large dinner. They plan to stay up late and watch the national celebration on TV.

Just halfway through his 10-month stay, Bechard knows enough Mandarin Chinese to accomplish all daily tasks, including conversing with family members, ordering food from restaurants and using public transportation.

When he left, Bechard knew only how to say hello. He also credits his experience abroad for helping him try new things, be more independent and better at managing money.

During his stay, Bechard must take high school classes, supplemented by Chinese instruction classes at the prestigious Nanjing Foreign Language School. He is taking Math, Physics, Geography, Politics, History, oral Chinese and written Chinese.

Bechard went through a rigorous application and interview process last spring before he was awarded the scholarship to study in China for a full academic year. All expenses are paid by the U.S. State Department.

"I decided to apply for the scholarship because I saw it as a chance to learn a new language, learn a lot about a country of which I knew very little, and partake in an experience that will help me through the rest of my life," Bechard said.

"Cameron's focus is primarily on becoming fluent in Mandarin, but he is embracing the opportunity to learn Chinese culture, and will then be expected to continue to serve as an ambassador for the U.S. State Department," Cameron's mother, Dr. Amber Bechard said.

Bechard said he has learned much about the Chinese culture including how Chinese people can often come across as shy and reserved upon first meeting, but how they open up once they get acquainted.

One big cultural difference is when you walk into a Chinese person's home, you must put on slippers, Bechard said. Slippers are provided for guests and disposable slippers are even offered at Chinese hotels for customers during their stay.

Another major difference is the food, Bechard said. Chinese foods are usually seasonal, so Bechard ate river crabs in the late summer and has eaten heavier meats like beef or dog in the winter.

"His stories are very interesting," Dr. Bechard said. "Most recently he tried dog meat, but he also has been served fish lips as the guest of honor at a special luncheon."

When Bechard returns at the end of June, he'll face a hectic and challenging senior year. He will have to take the ACT and a heavier course load, including two English classes to make up for the year of English he missed.

Even still, Bechard said he would absolutely do the whole experience over again.

"I have had a great time here, made tons of new friends from all over the world, and have learned personal skills that will be useful in college," Bechard said.

"I believe that having experienced Chinese culture, and gained knowledge of the Chinese language, I will be helped immensely later in life in both personal and business relationships," he said.

John F. Kennedy M.S. raises $24,907.63 for St. Jude's

Mon, 8 Feb 2010 12:00:00 MDT

John F. Kennedy Middle School students and staff exceeded their fundraising goal, donating $24,907.63 to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.

The students, staff and JFK community set a goal to raise $22,000 for the hospital through a math-a-thon and by selling car magnets with the JFK falcon mascot.

When all the monies were counted, JFK exceeded its highest goal to date, by almost $3,000.

All of the money raised will go directly to St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital. Eighty-five percent of the money funds research and treatment for the kids.

Last year, JFK students and staff raised nearly $21,000. Since the school opened in 2007, the school has raised almost $34,000 to help St. Jude's in its ongoing fight against childhood catastrophic diseases.

Plainfield North HS student named National Merit Finalist

Sat, 6 Feb 2010 12:00:00 MDT

Plainfield North High School senior Benjamin Yu is now one of about 15,000 National Merit Scholarship Finalists nationwide.

The 2009-2010 school year is the 55th year of the prestigious program, which honors academically talented high school seniors and lets them compete for 8,200 National Merit Scholarship awards, worth more than $36 million. The awards will be announced this spring.

About 90 percent of the nearly 16,000 semifinalists for 2008 were recently named Finalists. About half of the Finalists will be named National Merit Scholars.

To become a National Merit Finalist, students must have an outstanding academic record throughout high school, be endorsed and recommended by the school principal, and earn SAT scores that confirm the student's earlier qualifying performance.

The semifinalist and a school official also had to submit a detailed scholarship application, including the student's self-descriptive essay and information about the student's participation and leadership in school and community activities.

More than 1.5 million high school juniors in over 22,000 high schools nationwide entered the 2010 National Merit Program by taking the 2007 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test. The pool of semifinalists comprises less than one percent of all United States high school seniors and includes the highest scoring entrants in each state.

PNHS senior Travis Herrick was also named a semifinalist last fall.

National Merit Finalists will compete for one of 2,500 National Merit $2,500 scholarships. About 1,000 corporate-sponsored scholarships will also be given by about 270 corporations and business organizations for finalists who meet those organizations' criteria.

About 200 colleges and universities are expected to finance about 4,700 college-sponsored Merit Scholarship awards for Finalists attending their sponsoring institution.

2010 Merit Scholarship winners will be announced between April-July 2010. They will join more than 267,000 other distinguished students who have earned the National Merit Scholar title.

Plainfield High School - Central Campus has had 34 National Merit Scholarship semifinalists, including 30 Finalists, between 1976-2006, according to National Merit records. Plainfield South High School had one Achievement Program Finalist in 2005, and one National Merit Scholarship semifinalist in 2006.

Herrick and Yu were Plainfield North's third and fourth semifinalists. The school's 2008 semifinalist, the first in the school's history, was named a Finalist and eventually received a college-sponsored National Merit scholarship.

Plainfield East H.S. students to wear runway dresses to prom to "go green"

Sat, 6 Feb 2010 12:00:00 MDT

Some lucky girls at Plainfield East High School will be able to wear off-the-runway designs to this year's prom, for free.

The PEHS student council is hosting a "Prom Kick-Off Event," fashion show from 7-9 p.m. on Tuesday, March 9, 2010.

In the spirit of this year's "Going Green," prom theme, all of the fashions modeled during the show will be gently used gowns, PEHS Assistant Student Council Sponsor Cindy Egizio said.

After the show, the more than 20 gowns will be given to students for free, to support the theme, "Go Green to Save Green."

Girls interested in receiving a prom dress will be given a card when they enter the show. As the fashion show begins, the girls will write down the dresses they are interested in, as well as their contact information.

The Student Council members will then work to match the dresses to the girls, and contact them to pick up their prom dress at absolutely no charge.

Tickets to the prom fashion show are $3 each or two for $5. The ticket price includes admission to the fashion show as well as light food and drinks. Tickets will be sold during lunch periods at the school and will also be sold at the door the night of the program.

Each ticket purchase will also be entered into a raffle drawing for a chance to win tux rentals, gift baskets, and prom-related items.

The event will serve as the kick-off of prom ticket sales. Local vendors will also be on hand to offer information on coupons and specials.

Plainfield East High School is hosting its prom at the Brookfield Zoo. The PEHS Student Council is supporting the conservation theme by using items from the zoo's greenhouse as centerpieces, donating leftover food as compost and transporting all prom-goers to and from the night's activities on coach buses.

Representative LaVia plans visits to Plainfield Academy

Sat, 6 Feb 2010 12:00:00 MDT

Illinois House Representative Linda Chapa LaVia will visit students at Plainfield Academy this month to meet with students and staff and learn about the Academy's programs and services.

LaVia will visit students throughout the school day on Friday, February 26, 2010. Plainfield Academy is District 202's alternative school.

Academy student ambassadors will give LaVia a tour and talk with her about their experiences at the school. She will also shadow the students, attending classes with them to learn about a typical day.

The knowledge and information LaVia will gain during her visit will prepare her for her next visit to the school.

At 7 p.m. on Friday, May 14, 2010, LaVia will serve as the keynote speaker during the Academy's annual Recognition Night for eighth grade and senior graduates.

LaVia will speak to the students about overcoming adversity and focusing on what is most important in life.

"Representative LaVia has shared that she was held back in third grade, and that she is one of only two Hispanic state representatives for Illinois," Plainfield Academy Principal Tod Schnowske said.

"Ultimately, her speech will communicate to our students that if you work hard in life, if you focus on education and your family, you will succeed in everything you do," he said.

LaVia has represented the 83rd district, which includes parts of Kane County and Aurora, in the Illinois House of Representatives since 2003.

She was born and raised in Aurora, graduated from East Aurora High School and is the first person in her family to complete college, having earned her bachelor's degree from the University of Illinois at Chicago.

Plainfield Academy is located at 23930 West Lockport Street, Plainfield. Plainfield Academy students meet from 7:45 a.m. to 2:48 p.m.

Eichelberger E.S. to host a reading day just for the "guys"

Sat, 6 Feb 2010 12:00:00 MDT

Elizabeth Eichelberger Elementary School will host an afternoon reading session and Reader's Theater with special guests -- but it's just for the guys.

The school's first, "Guys Read Day," will take place from 3:30-5 p.m. on Thursday, February 11, 2010, in the school media center, 12450 South Essington Road, Plainfield.

The event is supported with a grant from the Plainfield Foundation for Excellence.

All third and fourth grade boys at the school are invited to attend. Special guests will include male students from John F. Kennedy Middle School as well as Joe Marcantonio, a librarian with the Plainfield Public Library.

Marcantonio will share a specially chosen story to read aloud. A group of male high school students will also perform a Reader's Theater.

In addition, about 14 male JFK Middle School students will help prepare for the reading day and to mentor the third and fourth grade boys during the program.

"We are featuring four different 'guy books' so the boys will immerse themselves in some cool guy reads while enjoying a snack," Eichelberger Differentiation Specialist Andrea Schaal said.

Featured authors will include Jon Scieszka, Jim Davis, Gary Paulsen and Nic Bishop representing four different genres of comedy, biography, non-fiction and fiction. The authors were selected because they have all written extensively for a male audience.

After they read, the students will share their thoughts about the books on a "graffiti wall" in the media center. Representatives from local public libraries will also be on hand to sign up families for library cards.

"Boys do lag behind girls in reading achievement," Schaal said. "Third and fourth grade boys are at a critical stage as they are quickly approaching the middle school years when reading for fun and reading achievement tend to decline," she said.

"Hopefully, books by the authors we feature will start flying off our library shelves after Guys Read Day," Schaal added. "Most importantly, we want to show that reading is a social and joyful experience and is a cool thing for guys to do."

Plainfield North "Crimson Crazies" shave their heads for cancer

Wed, 3 Feb 2010 12:00:00 MDT

The Crimson Crazies, a Plainfield North High School spirit club that promotes positive sportsmanship and unity, will unite once again to shave their heads to raise money for children's cancer research.

Twenty-one Plainfield North students will shave their heads during the Plainfield North second annual St. Baldrick's event. The shaving will begin after the 7 p.m. boys varsity basketball game on Thursday, February 25, 2010, at the school, 12005 South 248th Street, Plainfield.

In addition to the 21 shavees, one Creekside Elementary School student will shave his head, at least one staff member has agreed to go bald, and one Plainfield North student will cut her hair to donate to a charity that makes wigs for children with cancer.

Members of the Plainfield Fire Department are also getting involved to shave their heads after the game, to benefit St. Baldrick's.

The volunteers will shave their heads in solidarity with kids fighting cancer, in exchange for donations. The St. Baldrick's Foundation uses the donations to fund more in childhood cancer research grants than any organization except the United States Government.

To make a donation to support the group's efforts, please visit Plainfield North's web site at www.psd202.org/pnhs and click on the St. Baldrick's link. T-shirts can also be purchased for $10 each by contacting PNHS Athletic Department Secretary Anne Bardachowski via e-mail at abardach@psd202.org

The Crimson Crazies are looking to raise $20,000 through their efforts.

"This event really brought us together as a community last year, and made us feel like we made a difference," Bardachowski said. "It is a good cause, and we are excited to be a part of it again."

Plainfield Academy plans school's third annual Career Fair

Wed, 3 Feb 2010 12:00:00 MDT

Plainfield Academy will host its largest Career Fair ever, from 9:40 a.m. to 3 p.m. Thursday, February 18, 2010 in the gymnasium at the school, 23930 W. Lockport Street, Plainfield.

The third annual event concludes a month of activities focusing on the workplace. February is Career and Technical Month.

The theme of this year's Career Fair is "Open the Door to Your Future," incorporating the school's mission for all students to develop career pathways of academic and technical study that prepare them for their postsecondary dreams.

Middle and high school Plainfield Academy students and students in the P-Step program will take part in the fair. Plainfield Academy is District 202's alternative school.

The Career Fair brings the real world into the school, Plainfield Academy Career and Technical Coordinator Robert Pogliano said.

"Most students do not know what awaits them after graduation," Pogliano said. "The Career Fair allows students to do career exploration and self-assessment with presenters who will share real world exposure and knowledge and experience, in a wide variety of careers."

Presenters to the Career Fair were invited based on the results of the students' self-assessments and personal career choices. New career choices include veterinary technician, paleontologist, archeologist, florist, video animator and real estate agent.

More than 55 presenters are scheduled to attend, representing colleges, businesses, building and trades, medicine, public service and individual specialists. Some presenters will conduct hands-on demonstrations in bricklaying, cake decorating, body massages, chemical reactions and cosmetology.

In the classroom, students will prepare for the real world and Career Fair, through a new career curriculum. The curriculum uses a Career Cluster model to allow students to create education plans of study they can follow from secondary education to postsecondary education to the workplace.

"We want to help our students create a smooth transition to the real world by exposing them to information and experiences they need in order to make informed choices for their individual plans of study," Pogliano said.

The students will complete a self-assessment to identify three of the 16 possible Career Clusters, a group of occupations and industries that have a common set of foundational knowledge and skills, they want to explore further.

"We want the students to do career exploration on their personal choice because we do not want to ignore their career dreams," Pogliano said. "The new model enables students to pursue their career dreams through career exploration, and then determine what the best path is for them."

The students will share their career research with other students by making and displaying posters in the school's hallways. As well, students will do extensive research on the presenters so they are better prepared to gain real world knowledge and exposure to a wide variety of careers.

Plainfield South H.S. boys bowling team wins first D.202 state championship; dedicates win to fallen teammate

Tue, 2 Feb 2010 12:00:00 MDT

"We're pretty excited, we've never had this before," Plainfield South High School Head Boys Bowling Coach Jeff Bailey said to a gymnasium packed with fans.

In fact, all of District 202 has never had this type of win before. The 2009-2010 boys varsity bowling team is the first team in District 202 history to bring home a state championship.

The season started with 166 teams consisting of five bowlers each. By last weekend, three of the top 20 bowlers in the state were Plainfield South High School students.

Senior Brandyn Andelbradt placed seventh, senior Calvin Hendrickson placed eighth and junior William Eklove placed eleventh, qualifying them with All-State titles.

The Cougar team started January bowling the third highest game in Illinois history. Then they won the Southwest Prairie Conference competition. At sectionals they had what PSHS Athletic Director Bob Yanello called, "an off day," placing second, but still qualifying for state. Heading into the state tournament the boys were ranked sixth.

In the two day tournament, five bowlers play 12 games. After the first day, Plainfield South trailed rivals Oswego High School by six pins. Then on Saturday, January 30, 2010, the Plainfield South High School bowling team made school and district history, capturing the first IHSA team state title. And they did so by 91 pins.

"This is proof Plainfield South can do great things," PSHS boys bowling assistant coach Derek Christensen said. "This is the first of many great things for this school. If you work hard, and dedicate yourselves as a team, you can compete with any team in the state and bring back titles."

The boys brought back the title trophy to their home gym where they proudly placed it on a table for their parents, administrators, staff members and students to see at a special assembly held in their honor on Monday, February 1, 2010.

These guys won state, Yanello said as he addressed the crowd, but they kind of cheated.

"Five guys are allowed to bowl in the state tournament, and these guys really had six," Yanello said.

The sixth is former teammate Eric Brander, who died in a car crash in early December.

"We lost a teammate, a brother, a family member and a friend, but Eric will live on forever in these guys," Yanello said. "He was the deciding factor, they did this all for him, and he will live forever through them."

"We miss Eric, and this is for him," PSHS senior bowler Bryan Tomac said. "It's been an awesome four years."

"This is probably one of my greatest moments in life," Bailey said. "See all of you next year, same time, same place."

John F. Kennedy M.S. gifted students launch Falcon TV

Fri, 29 Jan 2010 12:00:00 MDT

A dozen John F. Kennedy Middle School eighth grade students worked in groups, sitting around laptops, talking about historical events, listening to musical clips and taking pictures.

The students excitedly discussed their job for the week: to design, compile and produce the school's weekly morning announcements.

John F. Kennedy Middle School Differentiation teacher Justin Greene began "Falcon TV" this past fall. He asked his gifted students to apply to be part of the initial cast and crew. After reading the applications, Green chose 15 students for the first semester group and about a dozen for this semester's group.

Each day for 40 minutes, the students gather during their enrichment period to devise fun and unique ways to put together the announcements. They work all week and tape them on Thursday, to air the next morning for the entire school to see.

"They create it, and I just put it together," Green said.

The students are assigned roles each week so each student has a chance to be an announcer. Falcon TV features two student announcers as well as an opening; the Pledge of Allegiance; "This Day in History"; birthdays; school announcements; information on the school fundraiser for St. Jude Children's Hospital; sports; "Around JFK" and a closing.

"The pieces of the show have evolved over the semester," Greene said. "The students have total control over what they produce."

Once the students have created the five to eight minute episode, Greene pieces it all together onto a flash drive to air on Friday morning.

"I enjoy doing this," Falcon TV cast member Brianna Bartoli said.

The task is also a learning experience.

"I knew most of the technology from class and from working with computers," Falcon TV cast member Drew Bolero said. "Now I know how to put in transitions, which I wasn't really good at before."

"I've learned from the students too," Greene said.

When they meet on Fridays, after the announcements have aired, Greene and the crew critique their work from the week and talk about what they can improve or do differently for the next episode.

The students said they get feedback all the time on their announcements.

"It's been really positive," Bolero said. "Someone told me last week was one of the best shows she has ever seen."

Greene added, "I've heard from the teachers that their students are completely engaged where you could hear a pin drop."

Fans of the Falcon TV are even showing their support on Facebook. At last check, the site had 201 fans.