n the heart of our community, agriculture is not just a way of life; it’s a thriving career option that supports our local economy. Recognizing the growing demand for skilled workers in this sector, Amboy High School has doubled its agricultural department, offering more coursework to prepare students for careers in agriculture. Our commitment to meeting the needs of our students and the community is unwavering. We aim to equip our students with the skills and knowledge that will benefit our local economy and serve them well throughout their lives.
With the addition of a second teacher in our agriculture department, we can now double the more practical courses, such as welding and construction, and add specific math and biology courses tailored to the agricultural world. These courses teach technical skills and underscore the importance of innovation in agriculture. With the expansion of the ag department, we can offer dual-enrollment courses — Agribusiness and Agricultural Technology and Mechanics — through Sauk Valley Community College, which students take at Amboy High School.
Kody Groth and Liam Ketchum work on a welding project.
The ag shop has seen a lot of changes throughout the last year. The eight welding booths have moved to the side to allow room for small engines to be worked on in the center of the metal shop. Students can learn TIG and MIG welding, and courses are designed to allow students to take apart and put together 4-stroke and 2-stroke engines. In the wood shop, students work on various woodworking projects, including building sheds last school year (with help from Jones and Berry Lumber) and designing barn quilts to start off this year.
Other courses involve horticulture and vet science, allowing students to gain hands-on learning and experience in the classroom. Horticulture students have been busy growing their own plants and will soon learn how to can and preserve food. Vet Science is hosting its own dog show, with cardboard dogs they have made while learning about dog breeds and groups. Plans for vet science involve field trips to a local veterinarian, farms, and hands-on suturing practice in class.
Agriculture classes are thriving here at Amboy High School. We are proud of the progress that has been made in offering more courses to help prepare and educate our students for their future. Whether they choose to pursue a college degree, enter the trades, or join the workforce, our students’ education from our agriculture program prepares them to succeed in whatever endeavors they take on after they leave Amboy High School. After all, agriculture affects us all, and our students are empowered to make a difference in this vital industry. n AMBOY cont’d from page 4
Ag students have worked on various woodworking projects, including designing barn quilts and building sheds. Above are Jake Dinges, Trevor Stenzel, Jose Lopez, Caiden Heath and Javion Green. At left are Rylan McNinch, Tucker McCoy and Collin O’Malley.
By Jersey Sprague | AFC, National Honor Society President
n May 2, the Ashton- Franklin Center National Honor Society held a career day for the middle and high school students. They had 16 different speakers who each had multiple sessions. The speakers ranged from cosmetologists to pilots, and even to police officers! It was planned and put together by the Career Day Committee with lots of help from the school counselor, Mrs. Lave, and the NHS adviser, Mrs. Hansfield.
The members of the Career Day Committee had a lot of fun organizing the career-filled day, inviting speakers and making marketing videos to get the students excited. The students got to pick three different speakers to listen to and learn from. They enjoyed getting a firsthand look at the jobs they seemed interested in. Not only were the students listening but they also got to take part. Throughout the presentations, the speakers gave the students opportunities to ask and answer questions like, “How much do you make a year?” and “What do you love most about your job?” By doing so, the students were given a ticket that was entered into a drawing at the end of the day. One student from each grade was selected to pick out a mystery bag filled with different items from the presenters, companies, and post-secondary institutions!
A survey was sent out to all students asking for their honest opinions about the event, which helps the committee continue to develop the event and invite speakers the next year based on students’ interests and feedback. It was a huge win for not just the students, but the teachers and speakers as well.
Middle school students had the opportunity to attend sessions where they got an introduction to career pathways, engaged in a career exploration activity, and then listened to a senior panel in which seniors reflected on their experience at AFC and provided advice to the younger students (one of the middle-schoolers favorite sessions!).
Career Day isn’t just a normal informational day for the students here, it’s a day to learn more about their interests and passions! It not only helped the students get an inside view, but it also gave them the chance to narrow down their choices and become more involved in their community by connecting with local businesses. n
any people observed that it was a great day for a race as we set up for the big Dale Donner Invite in Walnut. The race has been named for Donner (inset photo below), who coached the Storm through many seasons. Senior Nathan Siri loves this time of year when near perfect running conditions set in. The leaves are falling and the air is cooling off — or should be at least. Saturday meets are a feeling like no other.
The course is covered in hundreds of athletes wearing a mix of school colors and neon pink Invite shirts. Teams set up camp across the Walnut Park District Complex. Corey and Valarie Peterson, who run the Park District and had a free moment in the concession stand to share their thoughts, said that they are really proud of their hometown, and love seeing so many visitors share in the beauty and fun of this meet.
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n December 27, 2022, seven schools in Bureau and LaSalle counties were awarded a near $7 million grant to assist with mental health support and services. The School-Based Mental Health Services grant recipients were selected by the U.S. Department of Education and funded by the federal government for the period of Jan. 1, 2023, through Dec. 31, 2027. The overall aspiration of the grant is to increase access to care for local students and to increase staffing of schoolbased mental health.
In the fall of 2024, Bureau Valley High School welcomed a new social worker to the staff, and implemented other efforts, as part of this School-Based Mental Health Grant, among them: Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) screener, SEL curriculum/resources, guest speakers and presenters, SEL Student Improvement Days, hygiene kits, and self-care kits.
HEALTH cont’d to page 9
CROSS COUNTRY cont’d from page 7
The BV Storm headquarters sits atop the hill that each group of runners thunders over to start their race. Next to BV, the Seneca Fighting Irish prop their tent adorned with a four-leaf clover, as if to wish every competitor the best of luck (see photo on previous page) This is what cross country offers, which is unique in sports: everyone supports everyone else. One could say it is a fairly inviting atmosphere.
Freshman Ella Wilt said her favorite part of cross country is “the last 50 meters, when you really push yourself to the finish.” Standing atop the hill at the invite, it’s easy to see the fun. Runners aren’t just pushing themselves, but they are being pushed by teammates, family, and strangers as everyone cheers for everyone else. Even people who finished their own race, like sophomore Alex Gallardo, jog back up the hill to cheer on fellow runners as they finish theirs.
Out on the course, the volunteer staff includes BVHS teachers, students, and even retirees. Community members who don’t have kids in the race are still there helping our Driver’s Ed teacher park cars. Cross country is clearly something that can’t be done alone and is so much fun to do together. The claps and cheers resonate all along the long white line that leads to the finish. And everyone applauds as trophies are handed out, no matter who got what place.
Current BVXC Coach Bob Benck runs a smooth meet. At one moment, Coach Benck was literally running to check on the timing system. Under the pressure to keep the meet going, he stopped when he noticed a couple of his athletes. Having just finished their race, he made sure to ask them how it went.
Of the Dale Donner Invite, one former BV runner remarked that, “Coach Donner always helped us be good runners, but really pushed us to be good people.” It is great to see how this legacy lives on. Coach Benck really cares for the team, parents bring a dish to pass at the postmeet potluck, and the runners share another great season together. Join us next year — everyone is invited! n
HEALTH cont’d from page 8
With the SBMH grant, Bureau Valley High School has been able to create a large impact within the school community. The grant has allocated funds for us to purchase self-hygiene products, along with self-care products. BVHS students received a self-care bag (top photo below) with items ranging from coloring books, crayons, stress balls, kindness magnets, and coping skill items. Self-hygiene products consisted of shampoo, conditioner, body wash, moisturizers, face wash, deodorant, laundry pods, dish soap, and a large range of other products. Hygiene kits have a connection with one’s appearance, self-love, and self-care. There is a strong connection between mental health and hygiene, and understanding this connection is critical to promoting overall well-being. With this, BVHS has been able to help potentially build student’s confidence and overall well-being.
An additional highlight of how Bureau Valley High School has utilized funds from the SBMH grant is through bringing in guest speakers. Eddie Speaks, Mike Donahue, and Harvie Herrington were all invited to BVHS during Student Improvement Days. With the funds provided for by the SBMH grant, BVHS has been able to introduce students and teachers in-depth knowledge on specific topics relating to mental health, while also discussing topics that are not a part of daily instruction throughout classroom environments.
T-shirts (bottom photo below) and sweatshirts for the current school year. Bureau Valley High School is now able to continue to add to the SEL library, which was created during the 2023-24 school year through the grant and which is housed in the BVHS Media Center. The library consists of workbooks, nonfiction and fiction books, poetry, memoirs, and self-help books relating to mental health. The funds have allowed Bureau Valley to create an additional space for students to help address barriers to learning and provide a sense of support in another way, so that all students can achieve in school and ultimately in life. Mental Health Matters T-shirts and sweatshirts were purchased for each of the students with the emphasis that is placed on the shirt that each person and the topic of mental health matters and that Bureau Valley is stronger than the stigma that is often surrounding mental health. The 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline is displayed on each of the designs, as another reminder of a supportive way for students or any individual to get the help that they may need.
With allocated grant funds, Bureau Valley was also able to hire a School Social Worker. This has been beneficial to the high school by providing additional support for students, family, staff and the community, specifically helping to develop the emotional and social skills needed in their everyday lives. Since hiring, the school has had additional guidance and support with students, especially with suicidal ideation and other mental health concerns.
Bureau Valley High School has been able to partner with outside organizations and resources, during Student Improvement Days with funds allocated from the grant. Within these partnerships, different wellness stations have been created, including: nutrition, breathing techniques, journaling/ coping skills, pet therapy, and anger release. These wellness stations provide students with physical space to learn and focus on self-care to develop healthy coping habits, and to reduce levels of anxiety and stress. The grant has allowed a great focus on allowing students to have better social integration, improved behavior, and increased resilience both throughout the building and the community.
Two additional highlights of the allocated funds were the purchases of the SEL Library and Mental Health Matters
The Student-Based Mental Health Grant has had a prodigious impact on the school community at Bureau Valley High School. As many in rural communities struggle not only with mental health, but overcoming stigma to seek help and search for resources nearby, a continued renewal of the grant will benefit the community tremendously. Students of all ages and backgrounds are experiencing unprecedented levels of sadness and hopelessness — and within rural communities, mental health challenges tend to be more severe, compounded by a lack of access to services. Having the flexibility with these funds from SBMH has allowed, and will continue to allow, the school community to mobilize resources to the school and benefit the overall community. BVHS is looking forward to what more can be brought to the school community, specifically surrounding mental health. n
MENTAL
Cooking up some school spirit
Milledgeville High School kicked off the school year with its annual Hog Roast and football/volleyball scrimmage (below). The Spirit Squad (above) put on its annual mini-camp and performed at the event.
Talking to Kids About Alcohol and Other Drugs: 5 Conversation Goals
Research suggests that one of the most important factors in healthy child development is a strong, open relationship with a parent. It is important to start talking to your children about alcohol and other drugs before they are exposed to them—as early as 9 years old.
Show you disapprove of underage drinking and other drug misuse
Over 80 percent of young people ages 10-18 say their parents are the leading influence on their decision whether to drink. Send a clear and strong message that you disapprove of underage drinking and use or misuse of other drugs.
Show you care about your child’s health, wellness, and success.
Young people are more likely to listen when they know you’re on their side. Reinforce why you don’t want your child to drink or use other drugs—because you want your child to be happy and safe. The conversation will go a lot better if you’re open and you show concern.
Show you’re a good source of information about alcohol and other drugs.
You want your child to make informed decisions about
alcohol and other drugs with reliable information about its dangers. Consider what you want to say and take time to learn about alcohol and other drugs and their effects. You’ll lose credibility if your child thinks you’re just making things up. Establish yourself as a trustworthy source of information
Show you’re paying attention and you’ll discourage risky behaviors
Show you’re aware of what your child is up to, as young people are more likely to drink or use other drugs if they think no one will notice. Do this in a subtle way, without prying.
Build your child’s skills and strategies for avoiding drinking and drug use.
Even if you don’t think your child wants to drink or try other drugs, peer pressure is a powerful thing. Having a plan to avoid alcohol and drug use can help children make better choices. Talk with your child about what they would do if faced with a decision about alcohol and drugs, such as texting a code word to a family member or practicing how they’ll say “no thanks.”
Keep it low-key. Don’t worry, you don’t have to get everything across in one talk. Plan to have many short talks.
It’s all Academic The Upstate Illini Conference Juniors and Seniors AllAcademic Team (3.5 GPA and above) is seen here. Seniors: Sye Dodson, Maliah Grenoble, Skyler Hartman, Kylee Jensen, Bryce McKenna, Wyatt Meiners, Connor Nye, Jacob Promenschenkel, Bruce Raymond, Olivia Schurman, Rylan Shenefelt, Jace Urish and Alexandria Vallejo. Juniors: Dalton Adamec, Lili Drinkall, Lilly Ebersole, Hannah Foster, Landon Frederick, Wyatt House, Kendra Hutchison, Taylor Sarber and Jackson Scidmore.
Award-winning artists
Four Milledgeville High School students participated in the 2024 Amboy High School Invitational Art Show. Each of the four MHS art students earned first place in four different categories: Payten Ehredt — First place and Honorable Mention in Drawing; AdaFia Tehuma — First place in Oil Pastel and Honorable Mention in Painting; Abi Sturrup — First and second place in Digital Art; and Madysen Carpenter — First Place in 3-D Miscellaneous Sculpture and Honorable Mention in Painting. Congratulations, artists! We are proud of you!
uring this past summer, Dixon High School oversaw renovations of our Career and Technical (CTE) spaces. These extensive renovations saw a complete overhaul of our Woods and Metals shops (photo below) to provide more natural light as well as the creation of new classrooms. These updated and reorganized spaces give students a modernized working environment to help them develop skills necessary for careers in the trades. Renovations also included a facelift to our Tech Zone space (top 2 photos at right), which creates a more welcoming and collaborative feel, as well as the creation of a classroom space to house our revived Agriculture Program. Finally, DHS created a coffee shop (bottom photo at right) in our cafeteria that’s is run by students in our Transitions Program. We are excited to see the development of these spaces and look forward to sharing them with students who have an interest in Career and Technical Education. n
fter nearly 40 years, Dixon High School is excited to announce the revival of an Agriculture Program! Under the direction of teacher Miranda Moen, and utilizing a newly renovated space, the Dixon Agriculture Program focuses on both the plant and animal pathways in agriculture.
The courses offered in this first year as a program are Horticulture, Animal Science, and Introduction to the Agriculture Industry.
In Horticulture, students focus on plant production and in-depth lessons on how to grow and manage plants in a greenhouse. Animal Science has students focus on animal systems and the basics of how to handle and manage both small and large animals in a safe and ethical manner. Introduction to the Agriculture Industry gives students an overview of all aspects of agriculture, touching on many topics, including Animal and Plant Science, Ag Mechanics, Aquaponics Systems, Ag Food
Science, Urban Ag, Forestry, History and Importance of the National FFA Organization, and Conduct of Meetings.
In the future the program hopes to grow by offering new classes such as Greenhouse Production, Aquaculture Science and Technology, Advanced Animal Science, and Vet Science. In FFA this year, we have had nearly 30 active members. They have been competitive even with even more established chapters. They placed second in our section as a team in Forestry, with two students in the top ten as individuals. They also placed sixth in Land Use and sixth in Agricultural Sales. We have had different groups participating in each Career Development Event (CDE) as well.
With the high interest from students and the community, we are proud to offer an Agriculture Program again and are excited to see how it grows. n
n June 2024, Dixon High School students went on a trip to Spain. During the first two days in Madrid, the students saw artwork at El Prado Museum, roamed La Plaza Mayor, enjoyed some churros and chocolate, drove by Santiago Bernabéu Stadium, La Plaza de los Cibeles, ate tapas, and saw a Spanish flamenco show. On the third day, everyone went to the medieval city of Toledo, where they watched a sword maker make a sword, learned about damasquino jewelry, saw a beautiful castle, explored the Jewish quarter, learned the history of both a cathedral and synagogue, and saw a famous masterpiece by El Greco. On the fourth day, the students explored the Palace of El Escorial and saw where Queen Isabella and King Ferdinand are buried. They then traveled to the famous basilica of Cuelgamuros and visited the city of Segovia and saw its magnificent aqueduct that is still in fabulous shape, despite it being over 2,000 years old. On the fifth day, students drove to southern Spain where they explored both the Jewish quarter of Córdoba as well as its infamous Mezquita, and then continued their journey to Sevilla to visit the largest cathedral in Spain, hiked to the top of La Giralda tower, and took a boat tour up and down the Guadalquivir River. Day 7 was spent in Granada, exploring La Alhambra and El Generalife gardens. Our DHS students had the time of their lives and were left with many stories about shopping, exploring, food, and using their Spanish. It was a trip no one will ever forget. n
ixon Broadcasting Club is a group that consists of high school students and staff, and it aims to use technology to export all things regarding Dixon High School to a wider audience using social media. The club meets once a week on Fridays after school in the school’s Tech Zone to design colorful media, discuss potential projects, and rigorously prepare to stream Dixon’s sporting events. The Broadcasting Club covers home sporting events (photo at left) and streams them to its YouTube channel, “DHS Broadcasting Club.” The group also periodically extends its reach outside of school affairs; Tyler Zepezauer recently interviewed actor Dennis Quaid (photo at right) on behalf of the Dixon Broadcasting Club when he came to Dixon for the premier of his movie, “Reagan.” The organization is a great way for Dixon High School to project its extracurriculars and activities to the public eye. n
By Monica Burkholder | Eastland Jr./Sr. High School Principal
Emergency response training for students and staff
or the past several years, all Eastland Junior and Senior High School students and staff have participated in an annual Emergency Response Training day. Students review and practice skills such as hands-only CPR, how to use an AED, how to perform the Heimlich maneuver and use a LifeVac device, and signs and symptoms of an anaphylactic reaction and how to administer an EpiPen. They also learn basic first aid skills, such as stopping bleeding, treating a burn, recognizing signs and symptoms of a concussion, and seizure care. In addition, students review the location of all emergency equipment (first aid cabinets, AEDs and rescue medications) throughout the school building and grounds so they are ready to rapidly respond to emergency situations should they arise.
In February 2023, Eastland Jr./Sr. High School also established a Cardiac Emergency Response Plan as part of the Project ADAM
Heart Safe School Program. More than ten CPR/AED-certified and trained staff members comprise the team. Annual staff education and practice drills ensure a carefully coordinated response to all cardiac emergencies on school grounds.
E-sports
E-sports is a new competitive sensation that is sweeping colleges and K through12 schools across the nation. By definition, e-sports is competitive video gaming between students and schools. During the 2024 season, more than 8,600 high schools offered e-sports to students. Last school year, the Eastland School Board saw this as a great opportunity for our students to take steps toward establishing a new program for our community. With the support of the Eastland School Board, administration, and tech department, gamers were given the chance to take their passion and turn it into a competitive activity.
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EASTLAND cont’d from page 16
The high school e-sports team (below) recruited eight players to be part of the program, in hopes that there will be more students joining as more seasons continue. They practice their skills on Friday nights, playing games such as Mario Kart, Rocket League, and Super Smash Bros. The season built up enough confidence for our e-sports players to attend the sectional tournament in Hoffman Estates. This competition led our team to go up against other northern Illinois schools. With the first season under their belts, they have never been more excited for a program to continue on. I can’t wait to watch the growth of our
e-sports program, and I have never been more thrilled to be with these students every step of the way.
Music
The Eastland High School band (right) and choir students went on an adventure in June 2024. The Eastland Music Department traveled to New Orleans, Louisiana, for their biennial music trip. While there, the marching band and color guard had a parade in the French Quarter, the choir had a concert outside of Jackson Square, and both groups attended master classes at Loyola University. When the music students were not performing, they went on a swamp boat tour, took a walking ghost tour through the French Quarters, explored the Cabildo and the WWII Museum, and were aboard the Natchez Steamboat Jazz Dinner Cruise on the Mississippi. The students are now looking forward to their 2026 trip to Orlando n
Prepare for the future
Let our team teach you and your children how they can start preparing for their future through the
ast year at Erie High School one of the biggest changes was the implementation of the Lead ’Em Up program. Lead ’Em Up is a sports and school-based curriculum focusing on “being green,” “swaying from gray,” and “running from red.”
Mr. Brad Storm and Mr. Ryan Winckler hosted class meetings (photo at left) during eighth-hour study hall to go over the key concepts of Lead ’Em Up. This included students, teachers, staff, and administration creating their own list of expectations for how we can all be green in our school building — but what does being green mean?
“Being green means that you are exercising the discipline and maturity to live up to a set of standards that allow you to be
doing the right things, the right way, and that you serve others by holding them accountable to those standards as well while also watching out for them before they go down a wrong path,” Mr. Storm said.
Students and staff also voted on recognizing their fellow students and staff as Lead ’Em Up Leaders through a verified green team. The verified green team members are recognized for going above and beyond to improve our school culture as well as model Lead ’Em Up principles on a daily basis. n
Check out the changes at the media center
In her second year as the district Media Specialist, Mrs. Michelle Buri continued to try new things in the EHS media center, including organizing all books by genre and implementing dynamic shelving, where book covers can catch the students’ eye. Lincoln Award books — books nominated by students from across Illinois — are also available for students. Mrs. Buri also updated the non-fiction section and organized them by topic. Some fun perks and incentives for students to visit the media center include puzzles and coloring pages, “Would You Rather” questions at the door, and Story Time with Mrs. Buri during lunch. This year, EHS also celebrated National Library Week with fun activities and prizes. n
Career education
ach year the staff at Forreston Junior/Senior High School strives to provide opportunities for students to develop college and career readiness skills. This semester’s Careers Education students are trading in their emojis and gifs for questions and answers. We have been beyond fortunate to have more than a dozen guest speakers join us in person so far this semester to educate our students on their career paths. Doctors, farmers, policemen, accountants, engineers, district attorneys, nurses, and many more have taken time out of their busy work schedules to answer questions from our students to help them understand what it is they do. In a deeper dive, the speakers have shared what it takes to go from sitting in a high school classroom to where they are today — what their interview was like, what sticks out on a resumé, why workplace culture matters, and how to handle upset (happy) clients. Not only do our students learn the ins and outs of specific careers, but they also get to hear what it’s like to change careers. Some of our speakers have worked in the same position for decades, and others have changed entire career pathways in the last few years. Changing career pathways can be common in today’s working world, so making sure that our students have a detailed plan for post-graduation is a main goal for our Careers course and our district. These engaging in-person conversations and experiences have helped answer that question, among hundreds of others. It is a credit to our students, as they are responsible for signing up the guest speakers to come into our class when it works best in the speaker’s work and life schedule. We are truly grateful for our guest speakers’ time and commitment to FJSHS!
Questions and answers
This semester, our students are also asking questions and getting answers outside of the classroom. In addition to our speakers, students are required to conduct at least five interviews with people who in professions that the students want to pursue. Students are again responsible for collecting contact information, setting up a time, and conducting a 20-question interview with their professionals. The students must ask their career-specific questions in person, over the phone, or on Zoom. The combination of research and human interaction to complete these interviews is a key skill in a majority of careers that these students may someday take on. Text messages and emails certainly serve a purpose in the working world, but an emoji or gif cannot construct connections while conversing over content with context.
College and Career Fair
In March, we welcomed more than 50 professionals to our annual College and Career Fair. Junior high and high school students visited the tables to learn more about potential career opportunities or the different majors that colleges have to offer. Included in the day was a Touch-A-Truck held outside, where students could view different farm equipment and emergency vehicles up close, as well as listen to speakers talk about a typical day in their occupation. We are looking forward to hosting this event again in the spring.
More than 50 professionals lent their time and know-how to the College and Career Fair in March, where students could learn more about various professions. Among the fair’s features was a Touch-A-Truck event, during which students could learn about jobs in the farm sector and emergency response services.
Engineering Design and Development students show their ladder support arm (top) and motherboard computer test bench (bottom) to their mentor.
FORRESTON cont’d from page 17
Food for thought
The Marketing Class hosted its annual lemonade stands last April. Lemonade stands are a project aimed at teaching students about being entrepreneurs, running their own businesses, and different sales techniques. Student groups pick a food and restaurant theme and work from start to finish learning how to open up and operate them. These stands were started in 2006 with the purpose of teaching students real-life skills, work ethic, and entrepreneurship.
Engineering solutions
In our Engineering Design and Development class, high school seniors spend the school year identifying a problem, researching solutions, and building a prototype to solve an issue we see in our everyday lives. Last year’s projects were a ladder support arm and a motherboard computer test bench. They presented their problem to a panel of local
engineers who served as judges. Each judge gave feedback to the students to guide them through the engineering process. By the end of the school year, students present their findings to the same panel of judges and share their reflections on what they would do if they had more time to develop the project.
Things are looking up for students
The Aerospace Engineering class visited Albertus Airport this fall. Graham Bradbury, an aerospace engineer, helped students review the concepts that create stable flight and demonstrated the surfaces that control the aircraft. Students could then sit in the cockpit to get an up-close view of the dashboard and try out the plane controls. The remainder of the field trip consisted of students asking our hosts questions about aviation, some of which related to steps in obtaining a pilot license and available jobs while training.
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Members of the ASE class check out a P-28 tail assembly during a demonstration of the plane’s elevator control.
The Marketing Class’s lemonade stand project helps teach students about running a business.
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Students lend a hand to their community
Not only are students working on their college and career readiness skills, but there is a new graduation requirement to complete 20 hours of community service. Students have volunteered for local churches, town festivals, and the Salvation Army. This past July, Forreston High School Spanish Club embarked on a service project in the Dominican Republic. Students and chaperones spent 3 days serving Dominican communities and practicing their Spanish skills while partaking in Hispanic culture. Students participated in two service projects. The first was working with the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources to reforest the side of a mountain. Students climbed down the side of a mountain while digging holes and planting saplings. For the second project, students visited a nursing home and spent time painting fingernails, playing cards, and speaking to the Dominican’s elderly population. Both projects were fulfilling and full of learning experiences. The students also enjoyed sightseeing in the capital, Santo Domingo, dancing at a local flower festival, horseback riding to a waterfall, ziplining through the jungle, and a day at the beach in Puerto Plata.
Forreston High Hall of Fame
Forreston High School inducted members into the inaugural Forreston High School Hall of Fame on October 4, 2024. Inductees and their fields were ...
Dedication: Colleen Alvey (teacher), Chip Braker (teacher and band director), and Bob Brinkmeier (teacher and coach).
Extracurricular Achievement: Robert DeVries (2015 graduate), Roger DeVries (1957 graduate), Marissa (Ludewig) Gurnett (1996 graduate), and Jonathan Schneiderman (1999 graduate).
Service: Joel Ludwig (1987 graduate).
Teamwork: 1956-57 boys basketball team, 1980-81 girls basketball team, 1995 and 1996 girls track and field teams, and the 2014 state champion football team.
At half-time of the varsity contest, inductees were recognized for their significant contributions to the school and community.
Fore!
This fall, Forreston High School had three boys and one girl in golf advance to the IHSA sectional tournament. Daylen Rahn, Darin Greenfield, and Kaden Brown advanced for the boys, with Kaden Brown finishing in the top 7 of individuals to advance to the IHSA state tournament in Bloomington. For the girls, senior Aspen McGlynn finished in the top half of golfers at the IHSA Sectional and capped off a fantastic career at Forreston. The boys team won its first NUIC conference title since Forreston began golf in 2000 — its first title in 25 years! Congratulations to all of our individuals who competed in the IHSA state series and contributed to the NUIC title. n
Above: Members of the Spanish Club donated their time painting nails for residents at a nursing home in the Dominican Republic. Left: Spanish Club members pose for a picture during their trip to the Dominican Republic.
Above: Representatives who showed up on behalf of the 1956-57 boys basketball team gather for a photo to commemorate the team’s induction into the Forreston High Hall of Fame. Below: Colleen Alvey, seen here with her family, was also inducted into the Forreston Hall of Fame.
FHS thespians
Fulton High School’s Thespian troupe brought “The Little Mermaid” to life in a magical production for their spring musical. After months of brainstorming, set-building, and rehearsals, the cast and crew took their audience on an amazing underwater adventure. Overall, the students worked together to create a seamless production, both on stage and behind the scenes. Students spent the summer cleaning and organizing the stage and storage areas, even hosting a garage sale fundraiser, to lead into another successful year of FHS theater.
FHS Gray Matters Collective September was suicide awareness month, and the FHS Gray Matters Collective presented the student body with some readings about suicide awareness and led a couple activities. One activity had students write positive affirmations on post-it notes. Those affirmations are hanging in the library hall — in the Affirmation Library — for anyone to take as long as they replace it with a positive thought for the next person.
Speaking out to save lives
Students and staff from the middle and high school attended the Speak Out Suicide Awareness walk in Camanche, Iowa. They came together to remember classmates gone too soon.
Pathways at FHS
Fulton offers four career pathways for students in the areas of education, health sciences, agriculture, and manufacturing. A recruitment presentation was held, followed by an orientation into the opportunities for students wanting to start their journey. There are currently two seniors moving through their Education Pathway and 18 others starting the planning process into one of the four pathways.
Building Lasting Impressions that Never Die
Members of the B.L.I.N.D. program participated in community service and were trained in various team building, suicide awareness, and mental wellness activities. This training prepares the leaders to orchestrate a freshman retreat with six local high schools. Throughout the school year, leaders will be working with freshmen as their mentors. Every month FHS leaders will work together with their small group of freshmen on different relationship-building and teamwork activities.
ou’ve probably seen School Resource Officer Simmons and his Morrison Police Department cruiser parked in front of MHS. The Morrison Police Department and Morrison School District have worked together for 7 years to provide increased security and safety in the district by utiliz ing a School Resource Officer. If you notice SRO Simmons’ MPD cruiser parked in front of Morrison High School, don’t be alarmed; this location serves as a highly visible re minder of safety, and has the added benefit of being located near the intersection of Genesee Avenue and Academic Drive. Officer Simmons lives here in Morrison and has 3 kids in Morrison schools: Mackenzie, Olivia and Reagan. If you see SRO Simmons at any of the Morrison schools, or around town, stop & say “Hi” or “Thank you” for helping to keep all of the students in Morrison schools more safe and secure. n
Banking for Locals by Locals
On
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On Aug. 18, 48 MHS Student Council and Key Club members volunteered at the Custom-Pak Picnic at Eagle Point Park. MHS volunteers put in a total of 273 hours helping set, coordinate and run the event.
Aug.
and 24, the Morrison Kiwanis and MHS Key Club hosted sandwich sales. Among the Key Club volunteers were: Ashly Alba, Jade Arias, Zayley Boonstra, Emma Christin, Levi Christin, Danielle Fulton, Serenity Guerrero, Leland Kramer, Katie Mahaffey, Jacob Shipley, Shawn Simpson, Josalyn Wagenecht, Abbie Weston, Alex Weston, and Leah Young.
The MHS Key Club partnered with the City of Morrison on Aug. 8 to host Family Bingo Night at Odell Public Library. Approximately 26 community members attended.
FFA members attend Greenhand Conference
MHS FFA members attended the Black Hawk East Greenhand Conference at Black Hawk College East in Galva on Sept. 4. Mr. Hendricks said members got to meet students from other chapters and learn more about what FFA has to offer.
Mustangs visit grade
school, junior high Students at Southside and Northside elementary schools and Morrison Junior High School got to meet MHS football players during visits from team members on Aug. 30 and Sept. 6.
Funday Friday!
On Aug. 30, students enjoyed sandwiches from Peanut Butter and Deli. Students focused on attendance for August’s TEAM competition, with the Junior Class earning the top spot for the month. Daily attendance rates for August were 95.2% for the 26 members of the junior class; 93.8% for the 25 seniors; 93.6% for the 27 sophomores ; and 92.8% for the 28 freshmen — all of which were better than the Illinois average of 91%.
MHS gets students fired up
MHS students enjoyed a meal, music and motivation on Aug. 21. Mr. Wright and Mrs. Vandermyde manned the grill for an all-school picnic. That night, at the MHS auditorium, Brad Hurtig gave a motivational speech and The 10 Talents Band got the crowd pumped up with some great music.
MHS scores big
Morrison High School got a some new scoreboards in August. The old scoreboards (above), — which will be given to Morrison Junior High — came down on Aug. 8, and a few days later installation work began on the new scoreboards. Installation was wrapped up and final set-up completed Aug. 21.
FFA keeps on growing
Morrison High School recently added new a FFA greenhouse to its grounds. Exterior work was wrapped up by the end of August, followed soon after by equipment installation.
Work was right on track at MHS
Runners have an improved track at MHS, thanks to a recent resurfacing project. Work on the final stages of resurfacing the MHS track began in September, with supplies arriving a day ahead of schedule, on Sept. 4. Prep work was done Sept. 5 as crews trimmed weeds and grass around the track, followed by work on the track the next day. School officials ask that all rules be followed when using the track.
Remember The Past — “Living in the past” is unhealthy; considering what came before the present is valuable. We must not ignore what we have learned from history or experienced in our lives, as those moments inspire maturity, build courage to face new challenges, and witness to God’s presence with us.
Start – Sometimes the hardest part of any project or task is to start. In this new school year, we are challenged to start off on the right foot, with faith and a positive attitude: spiritually, academically, athletically, and socially.
Seek Wisdom — If we wish to excel, we would benefit from learning wisdom that will help us achieve our goals. We can learn these lessons, principles, and values from our families, our studies, and our faith. All of which can guide us throughout our lives and help us overcome life’s challenges.
Be Sincerely Grateful — Our lives are filled with many successes and blessings in our pursuit of happiness, wisdom, and excellence. Our challenge is not just to say “thank you” thoughtlessly to God and others for our gifts, but to give ourselves to them in grateful response.
Face The Impossible — Each of us will face challenges that seem impossible, whether they arise from our personal lives or the world around us. Whatever those impossibilities are — and whether we succeed or fail against them — we ought to face our fears and refuse to be intimidated by them.
Look To The Future — Jesus’s resurrection forever rewrote the script of history. With him is found eternal life and the possibility of a hopeful future, now and forever. We need not allow the challenging monotony of life or the fear that nothing ever changes to blind us to the newness that he offers to us.
Seek Excellence Once we have begun our task we should not settle for mediocrity, but instead should strive for excellence. In all of our endeavors, especially our spiritual ones, we are challenged to be the best we can be, despite the sacrifices that may be required.
Seek Happiness — The wisdom we learn in seeking excellence directs us ultimately toward a life of genuine fulfillment in both this world and the next. The lives of the saints stand as proof to us that such a life of genuine happiness, though challenging to obtain, is possible on earth and in heaven.
Be Honest — Lives of gratitude, happiness, wisdom, and excellence are lives of integrity. A life of integrity further challenges us to be honest with ourselves; about our strengths, limitations, and desires; and to extend that honesty in our relationships with God and our neighbors.
Find Solitude — It is when we get away from “performing” for others and the noise of the world that we can find strength to face our challenges. In solitude, the voice of God speaks to us, reminding us of our inherent value and revealing to us his power and presence in our lives.
Finish Strong — We began by accepting the challenge to start our school year on the right foot. We end by challenging ourselves to finish the year with our best efforts. By “sticking the landing,” we give meaning to all our previously accepted challenges and prepare for the challenges that lie ahead. n
Father Doyle
By Kaitlyn Accardi | Director
his year, the Newman musical team wanted to do something different. Something new. Something that encouraged students to go outside their comfort zone. “Little Shop of Horrors” started as a show that scared me, but by the end it became a show that I loved and has brought many memories. I can’t take all the credit for this show. Denise Ewers, our music director, pushed for this show and had faith in its ability to unite the school. She worked with our students to provide beautiful harmonies and arrangements that gave everyone chills.
We also had an amazing group of parents that provided our set, props, costumes, meals, and unconditional support for this program and their students. Without them, this show would not have turned out as amazing as it did. So many memories will be attached to this show, but the most memorable will be getting our plant puppets delivered on my birthday. Not many people can say they’ve received a bloodthirsty plant as a birthday present, but I can!
Our cast and crew can attest, after the plants were delivered, the show really started to unfold. The show really started to come together under the presence of our largest “Twoey,” an impressive puppet that was 12 feet in length and 10 feet tall. With all four puppets in our possession, the students really locked in and produced a show that exemplified their true potential.
I was blessed with a wonderful cast and some especially wonderful seniors that made saying goodbye very difficult. Every person involved in this show put their heart and soul into it, and I cannot thank everyone involved enough. This show would not have been possible without all your dedication and love for Newman’s Theatre Department. Being Newman’s musical director brings me great pride. Seeing the students nurture and expand their musical and dramatic talents is something special and unique. This show has shown our community the immense talents of our students, and inspired future Newman students to participate in future theater productions. n
LOGAN DEVINE
What are AP scholars? AP, or Advanced Placement, offers college-level courses in high schools. Students who pass the AP Exam, scoring 3 or higher, can earn college credits at participating institutions.
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Oregon students named as Illinois State Scholars were, from left, Kenna Wubbena, Alyssa Leary, Jackson Glendenning, Emily Watter, Sage Namaste-Rose, Briley Berns and Peytyn Sadler (not pictured).
he Oregon Hawks had a very productive year in 2024-25. We focused on fulfilling our four pillars: academics, activities, leadership and service.
Academics
Academically, our students showed strong growth in many areas. Our athletic teams showed growth and achievement, our student leaders were responsible for successful projects, and our students committed to service projects that were beneficial to both our community and the region.
Our Oregon Hawks grew in both ELA and math on the SAT. We had more students earn passing scores on Advanced Placement tests than ever before. We are proud that we had seven Illinois State Scholars: Briley Berns, Jackson Glendenning, Alyssa Leary, Sage Namaste-Rose, Peytyn Sadler, Emily Watter and Kenna Wubbena.
Athletics and activities
A tremendous point of Hawk pride in 2023-24 was the accomplishment of our football, wrestling, girls soccer teams and boys and girls track. For the first time in many years, the Oregon Hawks football team made it to the playoffs. The program is on the rise; our athletes and coaches are putting in the time needed, on and off the field, to change the culture of the program. Our wrestling program sent wrestlers to state! Our girls soccer team won the regional championship by beating Aurora Christian 4-1. The girls soccer program posted an impressive 18-2 record for the season. Our boys and girls track and field programs sent multiple athletes to state.
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In addition to athletics, our students participated in many other activities, including starting a book and art club that had many members. We are proud that more than 75% of our students are involved in athletics, activities or both.
Leadership and service
As far as leadership and service, one of our most successful projects were the blood drives that the student council organized and carried out. Student council partnered with the Rock River Valley Blood Center to host three blood drives throughout the year. Our National Honor Society organized a supply drive for those serving our country in the armed forces. Oregon Hawks are very committed to service, which is also evidenced in our Hawk Huddle (advisory period) service projects, which included a hat and mitten drive, a shoe drive, and letters and gifts for shut-ins at local nursing homes. One of our Hawk Huddles even did a food and clothing drive for Miss Karly’s shelter in Rockford. Oregon Hawks complete many hours of community service every year.
We are very proud of our Hawks and all they accomplished in 2023-24. As we progress through the 2024-25 school year, we anticipate greater success in and out of the classroom. It’s always great to be an Oregon Hawk. n
OREGON
Students in the Hawk Huddle program collected 5,540 pairs of shoes that were donated to worthy causes.
The girls soccer team won the regional championship by beating Aurora Christian 4-1, and posted an impressive 18-2 record for the season.
tudents in Polo Community High School’s U.S. history and government classes have enhanced their class curriculum this year to embark on ways to better honor our nation’s veterans and recognize those men and women who paid the ultimate price in service to our country. Curriculum revisions have recently been added which are designed to provide increased awareness of the significance of Veterans Day on November 11 and Memorial Day on May 26.
Juniors in the high school’s U.S. history classes are honoring our nation’s veterans by researching various topics which are synonymous with our veterans and their service to our nation. Among the topics being researched by the students in their U.S. History classes: personal experiences of a family member, effects of PTSD on our veterans, specific battles fought by U.S. military personnel, the different branches within the U.S. military, and the various veteran memorial sites.
The juniors were challenged to select Veterans Day Recognition topics of interest to them as part of their research project. They then begin to work individually or in small groups in conducting their research. As part of their project, students will create displays and presentation slides to be placed in the high school lobby for Veterans Day and make themselves available to their peers and members from the community to discuss their research. Students will conclude their project research by presenting their topic during class.
flag etiquette, proper display of the American flag, and appropriate handling and folding of the U.S. flag. Seniors are then assigned to teams who are responsible to raise and lower the flag each school day during the year.
Not to be overlooked, Polo’s seniors participate in learning civic responsibility and awareness through their Flag Unit curriculum. In this unit, seniors learn about the Flag Code,
Beginning this school year, Polo Community High School will participate in “The Grateful Nation Project” which seeks to recognize and honor our nation’s servicemen and women who were killed in action. The project uses Hero Cards that contain online biographies to recognize and honor the servicemen and women who were killed in action while serving their country.
Polo High School is currently one of two school districts in Illinois to incorporate this program into its Social Sciences curriculum. Students enrolled in the U.S. history classes will be assigned a Hero Card and will research the fallen hero, the circumstances surrounding the death of their hero, and other available information involving the conflict in which that veteran served. The students will then present their research in class.
Plans are currently being developed to select students to present their research to the community, including the Polo American Legion Post during the Memorial Day recognition services in May. A future objective of the project will seek to partner with the Polo American Legion Post in researching local fallen servicemen and women, and have these individuals added to the selection of Hero Cards. n
By Janet Barnhart | Principal, Prophetstown High School/PLT Middle School
n a move to reduce the coaching vacancies the school faces, Prophetstown High School has introduced a coaching class aimed at empowering seniors to take on coaching roles in the school’s middle school athletic programs.
The class was launched in the 2022-23 school year and is offered as a physical education credit. The class combines theoretical knowledge with practical experience, equipping seniors with essential coaching skills, leadership techniques, and a deep understanding of sportsmanship.
“We recognized a need for being creative in staffing our middle school programs. One of the many positive attributes of our school is that it’s filled with talented, involved students who are community-minded. This gives us a pool of candidates to develop into coaches,” said Principal Janet Barnhart. “This class not only prepares our seniors for potential coaching roles but also instills a sense of responsibility and mentorship in our younger athletes.”
The curriculum, designed by Damian DeMay, physical education teacher and football coach, covers various topics, including principles of coaching, behavior, teaching, physical training, and management. While all students complete an IESA-approved coaching course as part of the class, the curriculum goes much more in depth than that requirement. Students come out with NFHS certification, as well as CPR and first aid.
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JANET BARNHART Principal
PROPHETSTOWN cont’d from page 35
Senior Demetree Larson, who is currently taking the class, stated that, “I want to go to college for education, and coaching is like teaching. The teacher is a coach, so he knows what he’s talking about. I would definitely recommend the class — it’s pretty useful even if you don’t want to coach later. You can take the knowledge into your own life, for your health and communication.”
Nolan Gerlach, who is also currently enrolled in the class, said he primarily took it because of the teacher, who is one of his football coaches. When commenting on the class, Nolan said that making practice plans for a week, learning about nutrition, mental health, and coaching techniques have all been helpful and definitely prepare the students to coach. He also noted that two of the graduates of the class are already coaching for the district.
Caleb Naftzger, who was in the first group of students to take the course, coached sixth-grade boys basketball last year and has moved up to seventh grade for this year. Jeremiah Kochevar, a 2024 graduate who took the class as a senior, is coaching sixthgrade boys basketball and middle school track. DeMay, who taught both students in the course, now serves as Athletic Director and was active in hiring the students for the open positions. In working with the students as both teacher and now AD, DeMay recognizes that the students taking the coaching class have extra knowledge and confidence in coaching skills, including better communication skills.
As a companion course, Prophetstown High School also plans to develop an officiating class for seniors. This alternative to a traditional physical education class focuses on rule interpretation and the mechanics of officiating. Students will become licensed in an IHSA sport and be ready to serve as an official, referee, or umpire in the community. n
2023-24 ACCOLADES: STAFF
Mr. Timothy Hill, RTHS Math Teacher — ISBE Those Who Excel/ Award of Meritorious Service
Mrs. Erin Bergeson, RTHS Special Education Teacher — IPA Northwest Teacher Leader Award
Mrs. Donna Page, RTHS AG Teacher — FFA Golden Owl Award
Mr. Richard Harvey — 2024 Class 2A IWCOA Administrator of the Year
Mr. Nelson Baker — 2024 Class 2A IWCOA Assistant Coach of the Year
National Technical Honors Society
Cash Budde, Katie Burdin, Sydney Carmichael, Luis Hernandez, Abel Huerta, Jessica Marin, Rebecca Norris, Jaclyn Seyller, Samantha Thorne, Sydney Thorne, Bailey Vondergathen, Danica Ward, Brisa Zepeda, and Riley Zimmerman.
2023-24 ACCOLADES: STUDENTS
Lucas Smardo, Base II, and Aiden Ramsey, Trombone — ILMEA All State Kaiden Morris, second place, and Xavier Villalobos, fifth Place — Wrestling
IHSA place Winners
Dempsey Atkinson — 1st RTHS female state medalist, fifth in state
Andrew Nuygen — indoor state pole vault champion; third place outdoor state
Landon Mickley — Discus, state track qualifier
Megan Seebach — State champion, Equine Science Entrepreneurship, FFA
Kasey Jones — First place Landscape Design, ILCA Landscape Design, FFA
Football team — Interstate 8 Conference Champs
Wrestling team — State qualifiers, regional champs, I8 Conference champs
Speech State Qualifiers
Karma Lidren, Z. Brizuela, Vi Hull, Brooklyn Hull, and Aiden Ramsey
President’s Education Awards
Kyra Bivins, Pigeon Burgholzer, Jimmy Chavez, Connor David, Alivia Henkel, Mateo Hughes, Parker Lenkaitis, Alexander McBride, Aiden Ramsey, Kennedy Underwood, Danica Ward, Cale Workman, Caleb Wyssbrod, Elin Zheng
Illinois State Scholars
Kyra Bivins, Pigeon Burgholzer, Jimmy Chavez, Alivia Henkel, Parker Lenkaitis, Emily Lovett, Alexander McBride, Emily Montelongo, Aiden Ramsey, Kendall Sachs, Alexavier Villatoro, Danica Ward, Cale Workman, Caleb Wyssbrod, Elin Zheng
National Technical Honors Society
Cash Budde, Katie Burdin, Sydney Carmichael, Luis Hernandez, Abel Huerta, Jessica Marin, Rebecca Norris, Jaclyn Seyller, Samantha Thorne, Sydney Thorne, Bailey Vondergathen, Danica Ward, Brisa Zepeda, and Riley Zimmerman.
Nelson Baker (left), 2024 Class 2A IWCOA Assistant Coach of the Year, and Richard Harvey, 2024 Class 2A IWCOA Administrator of the Year.
Jimmy Chavez Principal’s Leadership Award
Aiden Ramsey SAR Good Citizen & ICTM Student of the Year awards
Alivia Henkel DAR Good Citizen Parker Lenkaitis ISTA Student of the Year Award
he Silver Service Program honors students who volunteer their time in service-based ways. The Silver Service Honor Cord is presented to any senior who volunteered more than of 350 hours while in high school. The RTHS Class of 2024 volunteered its time and talents for a combined total of 9,782 hours.
Class of 2024 students who attained their cord are Faith Adams, Allison Dickey, Kendell Frankenberry, Alivia Henkel, Alexis Huerta, Parker Lenkaitis, Kayla Ortega, Aiden Ramsey, Jaclyn Seyller, Christian Thorne, Anna Toczylowski, and Danica Ward n
Rochelle Township High School’s Honors Night, held May 6, recognized students for academic achievement. More than $175,000 in local scholarships were presented to members of the Class of 2024. More than $1 million in institutional awards were also presented.
he Think & Drink Cafe has been open in the Rock Falls High School library since 2022, offering students drinks, a quiet place to study, and best of all, learning opportunities.
Staffed by volunteer student baristas, the cafe offers them volunteer or IMPACT Program hours (and a weekly free drink). Student baristas also gain experience working in the service industry, as they are required to fulfill all cafe tasks, including serving customers, doing inventory, cleaning, and stocking supplies. Students can order from the cafe during their study hall period, before lunch, or before and after school, while teachers can do the same, as well as use a digital order form, with free drink delivery, from the student barista on duty.
This year, student baristas are getting creative, design ing marketing for the cafe and even inventing their own special drinks. The “Mr. Ely Special,” a hot chocolate drink created by senior student barista Mike Ely, has become popular with both students and teachers.
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PROUD TO SUPPORT OUR ROCKETS
Freshman student barista Keith Ross works both during his study hall period and first thing in the morning, the busiest time at the cafe.
Senior student barista Mike Ely (of the “Mr. Ely Special”) is continuously coming up with
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“One of the best things about the cafe, for me, is seeing the students enjoy it,” said RFHS librarian Jennifer Stevenson. “They come to the cafe, they sit with their drinks, and they talk to each other. They’re not on their phones; they’re playing chess, talking about homework, and just generally enjoying each other’s company.”
RFHS students and staff members can purchase a drink at the cafe for $2 or less, with the proceeds going to cafe supplies and enrichment materials, such as board games and puzzles for the library’s positive attendance program, which encourages student engagement and interaction with each other and the library in general. n
Freshman student barista Nakoma Williamson enjoys making drinks and serving her fellow students.
Senior student barista John Sharer has been helping in the cafe and assisting students with technology issues for multiple years. He works during the busiest study hall hour and gets a lot of hot chocolate for a lot of freshmen.
his year marks the third class of interns since the launch of the S.H.S. Internship Program.
Internships give students the opportunity to gain real-world experience in their future careers of interest. The internship program has been evolving since 2020, but due to COVID restrictions, it didn’t become a reality until 2022.
Internship teacher Rebecca Koerner, the founder of the program, said, “Mr. (Jason) Austin and I were discussing that we thought [internships were] a great idea to implement in the kids’ schedules to experience the jobs before actually going into it.”
Students have interned at various local businesses and organizations, including CGH Medical Center, United Electric, Happy Tails, Franklin Elementary School, Sauk Valley Bank, and the Sterling Police Department.
The program begins with students in the classroom for the first three weeks discussing jobs of interest, rules and guidelines permitting each work citation, creating resumes, and completing an aptitude test to see if they would be a good fit for their desired career. Students participate in a variety of group activities in the classroom to help them prepare before heading off to their site placements. Following this, students meet with their supervisors before embarking on their internship journeys.
Each student is required to complete a minimum of 30 hours per semester, spending at least 2 1/2 hours a week at their placement. Koerner meets with students once a month to discuss how interning is going, and potential college and career paths after high school. She said her ultimate goal is to “have all types of students be able to participate in the class and have equal opportunities.”
and any treatment being received. Sometimes, he even gets the chance to be hands on and help by clipping the animals’ nails or giving certain medications.
United Electric intern senior Ivan Marin said he has enjoyed his time there, as he wants to pursue a career as an electrician.
Senior DeVonte Heckman, who is interning at Advanced Animal Health Center in Rock Falls, said his interning experience has been “pretty good for what I want to do in college because I want to be a veterinarian and I get the opportunity to see how the owners treat the animals.”
Heckman observes the animals during their check-ups, vaccinations,
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Marin said, “It helps with my career and gives me the opportunity to be hands on with all of the electrical stuff.”
Senior Zain Khan is interning at Sterling ReMax and plans to pursue a real estate career. A typical day for Khan usually consists of looking at properties and helping with paperwork.
Khan said, “This has been very helpful for me because it gives me the real world version of real estate rather than what I had imagined in my head. It has also helped me figure out if real estate is for me instead of just jumping straight into it as a profession.”
The program started out with 18 students and 14 different work sites and has now grown to 47 students and 16 different work sites. The S.H.S. internship program has provided students with many opportunities, not only to experience different career paths but also build a rapport with their advisors for future references as well as teaching them how to operate as cohesive teams. n
ven with the many activities and events Sterling High School Student Council holds, last year the council members decided to add even more to their already full schedule.
Throughout the 2023-24 school year, the Life Skills Committee, a sub-committee of the student council, hosted activities and events for S.H.S. life skills students, including scavenger hunts, science experiments, and much more.
Student council hosted “life skills hangouts” where the Life Skills Committee members met once a month with one or both of the life skills classes from the high school and did an activity together. The end of the year culminated in a field day in which all life skills students from the district participated.
With an impressive start to their committee, this year’s Life Skills Committee has even more planned.
According to committee chair junior Gavin Fischer, the committee is focusing on expanding to “providing STEM or agriculture activities” for the life skills students.
Said Fischer: “A new activity we’re bringing is additional agriculture in the classroom. Grace Wetzell, President of S.H.S.’s FFA chapter, has assisted me in the process.” These new activities take place in Life Skills classrooms throughout the district.
These agricultural activities aren’t just random. The committee surveyed the life skill classes to understand students’ interests, and, according to Fischer, the “feedback from life skills staff and students shows that one of their favorite activities is agriculture, so it is my job to better implement that in the classroom.”
The committee also works in
schools other than Sterling High School. This year they are working toward planning more meetings at Challand Middle School and involving the middle school life skill students in high school life skills activities. In order to involve the middle school more this year, Fischer plans to start “hosting monthly advisory activities with them, along with inviting them to participate in some events with the high-schoolers,” including this May, where the life skills committee will be holding a field day at Challand Middle School.
Along with their involvement at Challand Middle School, the committee is collaborating with Washington Elementary School and Jefferson Elementary School life skills classes to provide students with more activities and opportunities, with the help of the FFA Community.
Already this year, the committee has undergone major changes since the last time members met. Fischer shared: “Last year, we had six hand-picked members, but we now have 27. In addition, we have up to three committee members leading our activities, rather than myself planning and executing all of them.”
The committee is already working hard to provide students with a more connected and interactive life skills class. Life skills aide Shay Papoccia said “the dedication and teamwork I’ve seen from Gavin and his crew is truly inspiring. I’m really proud of what they’ve accomplished so far and excited to see what’s next.” n
In 2023 and 2024 high school juniors and seniors at Unity Christian School welcomed new offerings at the school.
Career Academy
Dual-credit opportunities began in the fall of 2023 with the opening of Clinton Community College’s Career Academy Center. UCS had three seniors take part in this new program, which offers academies in agriculture, automotive, business, CNC machine operator, coaching, construction, criminal justice, culinary, engineering, healthcare, HVAC, networking, programming, small business management, teacher preparation, and welding. These three students complet ed high school classes during the morning at UCS and then fin ished their day in class at the Clinton Career Academy Center (CAC). This state-of-the-art facility fostered their welding skills while glorifying God through learning and service.
Dual Credit
This custom grill and smoker was one of the projects UCS seniors created during their welding course at Clinton Community College’s Career Academy.
CAC offerings have continued for this year, with students branching into three more areas of learning. Additionally, the dual-credit opportunities continue to grow for UCS students. Current juniors and seniors are getting a head start on their college courses by participating in the Advantage Program through Oral Roberts Uni versity. This program allows students to work on their college writing skills as well as investigate possible areas of study. Six students are enjoying this new opportunity with ORU, and we are excited to continue these programs in the future!
Shop class
Right: Freshman Chloe Marten puts the finishing touches on her dinosaur bank. Below: UCS sophomore Amariah Catlin works on one of her projects in shop class.
Beyond the dual-credit opportunities, all high school students have the option to take a new class on campus as well — shop! Through gracious donations and a CTE-certified instructor, UCS is now able to offer two class periods for shop. These students are learning valuable skills while also serving the community through various projects.
UCS is blessed to offer these new opportunities, and we are excited to see how God will use each of the students and programs for His glory. All of these opportunities allow UCS students to take part in Christ-centered learning as well as preparing them for lives of discipleship and service beyond high school. n
Above: Freshman Nate Leathers works on a birdhouse for the preschool. Right: Sophomore Joe Striley shows his finished cutting board.
CARROLL COUNTY HAS SEEN A 54.7% DECREASE IN UNDERAGE DRINKING SINCE WE STARTED WORKING WITH THE SCHOOLS IN 2006! ***Illinois youth survey***
Mrs. Geary has worked with Chadwick-Milledgeville CUSD #399 SADD program to help organize educational programs and events for our students. Working together we have seen a reduction in teen alcohol and drug use by our students. Drug and alcohol resistance education programs are important and Mrs. Geary has been a champion of these programs in our county.
