Volume 51 Issue 6
Downers Grove South High School
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April 29, 2016
@DGSBlueprint
Out with the ACT, in with the SAT
Seniors running through the 6 (flags)
By Rupa Palla, Staff Reporter
By Gabrielle Barkeviciute, Entertainment Editor
Starting next year, all Illinois high schools will be required to offer the new and redesigned SAT instead of the traditional ACT exam. Illinois had recently been using the ACT college entrance exam, but has instead been working on a contract with the ACT’s rival -- the SAT.
The senior class of 2016 will be taking the annual Six Flags trip on May 21. The third annual Grad Night features new experiences and events for the class of 2016. The $60 tickets that seniors purchased will cover about half of the price for bus service, a buffet from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., a DJ, a dance floor and an allnight Six Flags experience. This leaves DGS to pay about $450 for seven to eight buses. Once at the amusement park, students and adults can go wherever they please. Senior Savannah Bell commented on senior night at Six Flags. “I’ve gone before, but I haven’t gone since the new roller coasters have been added,” said Bell. “I’m super excited because I know it’ll be a lot of fun and a great way to end the year.” Six Flags has added a new virtual reality rollercoaster to all nine amusement parks. This ride features Samsung Gear virtual reality glasses that add special effects such as flying along with Superman and saving a futuristic planet during a rollercoaster ride.
A current gender-neutral bathroom is available to students in the C-hallway on the third floor. Starting next year these facilities will be available more widely across the DGS campus.
Continued on page 2
Photo Illustration by Gina Decarlis
District 99 to implement gender-neutral faclities By Grace Chaplin, Opinions Editor
Graphic by Kirsten Gard
The SAT offered their multi-million dollar proposal last December, which was less expensive than the ACT’s proposals. The $14.3 million contract for the SAT did not come without opposition, though. The ACT has been protesting this possible contract, but nothing will be confirmed until the protests end. The ACT company has officially filed a protest against the state in an attempt to cancel Illinois’ new contract with the College Board -- the official company for the SAT. The majority of the conflict roots from the fact that Illinois has a long history with the ACT. Continued on page 2
New additions will be made to DGS and DGN regarding the bathrooms and the locker rooms. At the April 11 Community High School District 99 board meeting, Superindedant Mark McDonald made a proposal for installing gender nuetral bathrooms and four private changing facilities in both the male and female locker rooms at DGS and DGN. Last fall McDonald looked into the district’s facilities and how they affect students with “special or unique needs” by speaking with the staff and adminstrators. “I [also] learned about the experiences of individual students and families in this process...and in the course of my research I found our facilities limitations affect many students, in fact, far more than I expected and for many different reasons than I considered. And that led me to consider making small chang-
es in our facilities,” McDonald said. Senior Alexis Garza is in favor of the four changing stalls that will be installed in both the DGS and DGN locker rooms. “I think[the changing stalls] it would be beneficial because it allows students to have a space to feel comfortable and let other students become knowledgeable about other people with different needs than their own,” Garza said. The changing stalls will be started over the summer break and will be ready to used for the 2016-2017 school year. At DGS the unisex bathroom will be located in the third-floor C hallway. According to Principal Edward Schwartz, ,the bathrooms will be ready for use as soon as the new signs are put on. “There are students that will benefit from using them who aren’t comfortable for many reasons,” Schwartz said. Senior Bobby Major disagrees with the new revovations being
made to schools. “I think it’s great that our school tries to accomodate all student’s needs, but I just feel like there’s a better use of money,” Major said. Assistant Principal Vince WalshRock is in favor of the new changes being made to both schools that will affect students. “We both anticipate that having these facilities in place further extends our combined message that students need to experience respect, dignity and safety at both of our campuses,” Walsh-Rock said. Director of Facilites Jim Kolodziej estimates that the cost of the renovations will range between $12,000-$15,000 for both DGS and DGN. The cost of the facility renovations and changes will be covered within the existing capital budget.
Contact Grace at gcha0641csd99.org