2 Blueprint
NEWS
April 29, 2016
...Cont. from page one ACT ...Cont. from page one Six Flags
The ACT has been given to juniors in Illinois for the past 15 years and is a popular choice for juniors in the Midwest. In fact, last year alone, 157,047 students took the ACT as opposed to the 6,000 students who took the SAT. Essentially, the tests are the same. The ACT has an English, mathematics, reading, science and optional writing portion, while the SAT has a mathematics, reading, writing, and language section, as well as an optional writing section. Furthermore, Students taking the ACT and SAT receive no penalty for wrong answers and are often encouraged to guess rather than leaving blank spots. However, while the SAT costs (check amount) the ACT without writing test costs stu-
Graphic by Kirsten Gard
dents nearly $40. Also, the students get penalized for getting the wrong answer in the SAT. Tom Stone is a teacher at Kaplan, a test preparatory program, and he is certified to teach both the SAT and the ACT at Kaplan. Stone weighed in on the difference between the tests. “I currently teach both tests at Kaplan and essentially the test consists and tests student on the same major subjects. The SAT is new this year, which makes it even more similar to the ACT,” Stone said. While this might seem as a minor change for the government, this transition to the SAT has effects on students because these who have been practicing for the ACT are forced to learn the SAT format. Junior Emily Kaszyk has taken the ACT and will be taking the SAT in the May. “I don’t really have a preference because both are really similar. I’m just taking both to cover all my bases for college applications,” Kaszyk said. This change will potentially affect future juniors in the upcoming years. Nothing is set in stone as of today, but it is very possible that incoming juniors will have to adjust to a new test -- the SAT.
Contact Rupa at rpal0410@csd99.org
Student Activities Director John Aldworth talked about his experiences with the freedom at Six Flags. “I’ve really enjoyed it the last two years. Once we are there, the chaperones just hang out like we are kids and ride the rides and have a good time. It is like a night out for the chaperons and me,” Aldworth said. An expansion and possible overcrowding of this event has DGS seniors will be able to enjoy rides llike the American Eagle at caused for Six their Six Flags Grad Night on May 21. Photo by Tessa Brown Flags to add an additional night of choice for all schools going to this the DGS staff to Six Flags and back, event: May 14 and May 21. On the Six Flags website, President and CEO of instead of driving in their own. Six Flags John Duffey shares the comSenior Juli Moushon shares her conmitment Six Flags has to guest safety. cerns toward safety on this field trip. “Safety is the foundation of our brand “I’m a little nervous about the safety and livelihood of our industry, and we of the park at night, especially because have every incentive from a reputait will be filled with a bunch of teentional, moral and financial perspective agers, but I think that the park will know what to expect and will be able to to ensure our parks are as safe as they handle any issues well,” Mushon said. can possibly be,” Duffey said. With Six Flags focusing on safety, Six Flags has offered this field trip students and adults going on the field for the past three years, and DGS has trip will be able to enjoy their night full participated every year without any of new events and rollercoasters. major concerns for safety, according to Aldworth. DGS is ensuring student safety on May 21 by requiring stuContact Grabrielle at dents to ride the provided bus service gbar1713@csd99.org that has at least one volunteer from
Peace Gardens update: Construction to begin in May raise, the better off the gardens will be. I think we’ve raised enough to cover the bare miniThroughout the 2015mum of what we want, but we 2016 school year, DGS has can make it better with more been raising money to go funds,” Aldworth said. toward the upcoming MemoSenior Mike Sklodowski rial Peace Garden that will plans to attend the Army in be built in the west events the future, and explained what entrance. With the help of the fundraising for the gardens corporate sponsors and difhave meant to him. ferent school fundraisers, “What I really like about the DGS students and staff have fundraising is that is has gotten raised about $25,000 for the the entire community involved, garden. and I’m excited for them to be The Mr. Mustang Pageant, finished. These brave men and the dance showcase and the women have paid the ultimate dodgeball tournament are sacrifice for our freedom. They all examples of activities deserve to be honored and that students were able to be eternalized in the community,” involved in to help fundraise. Sklodowski said. All the activities combined Building the gardens will beraised about a total of gin in May, and they will be fin$15,000 for the gardens. DGS ished by Memorial Day. “There also has also had corporate will be a ceremony sometime sponsors going through the around Memorial Day weekend, The District 99 Memorial Garden at DGS will begin being built in the west events entrance in the beginning social studies department that of May and will be done by Memorial Day.d and at that point our fundraisPhoto by Tessa Brown ing will be done,” Aldworth said. have helped raise a total of $10,000. staff members in organizing difing so far. Student Activities Director John Contact Tessa at ferent ways to fundraise. Aldworth “I wouldn’t say we need to raise Aldworth has been one of the lead tbro0122@csd99.org shared his input on DGS’s fundraismore money, but the more money we By Tessa Brown, News Editor