Plainfield Community Consolidated School District 202

Plainfield Foundation for Excellence awards five D. 202 teachers professional development grants

Thu, 16 May 2013 2:40:58 PM

Five District 202 teachers will each get $500 “Professional Development Awards” from the Plainfield Foundation for Excellence to help them pursue special projects to improve their skills.

The Professional Development Awards were created last year as part of a move by the Foundation for Excellence to help individual teachers in the classroom. The Foundation received 62 applications this year, up from 53 last year.

The awards can be used to pay for registration fees, tuition, conference/class related materials, travel, lodging, meals or other professional development expenses for classes or programs to be taken in summer 2013.

This year’s winning teachers represent each “House” (District 202’s internal feeder system that organizes schools by high school) and each educational level. As well, the awards were chosen to support a broad range of professional development areas.

The 2013 Professional Development Award winners are:

Ann Bodach, Wesmere Elementary School – Bodach will travel to Williamsburg, Virginia to participate in a Colonial Williamsburg Institute. She hopes to incorporate what she learns to teach her 4th grade students about how the United States was created and the importance of citizenship.
Justin Brand, Heritage Grove Middle School – Brand will attend a poetry workshop at the University of Chicago Graham School. He intends to use poetry to help middle school students connect to ideas in text and in the world around them.
Cynthia Egizio, Plainfield East High School – Egizio will attend an AP Summer Institute for the Arts at Columbia College in Chicago. She will explore best practice techniques in developing and reading portfolios for AP Studio students.
Paula Laurie, Central Elementary School – Laurie will attend a national conference in Atlanta, Georgia to learn current best practices for effectively reaching and teaching students with a wide range of diagnostic conditions.
Amy Schuber, Bonnie McBeth Learning Center – Schuber will attend a special education training session in Chicago to learn how to implement a researched based intervention program that highlights communication skills.

“Our screening committee was pleased with the number of applications and impressed by their range, depth and variety,” said Foundation Chair Carla Erdey.

“The Foundation for Excellence is proud to help promote excellence and achievement for learners, encourage innovation in the teaching and learning process, and enhance collaboration between the Foundation and the community, especially as the challenges for public education continue to grow,” Erdey said.

IPA Three Rivers Region honors 10 District 202 students

Tue, 14 May 2013 2:50:27 PM

The Illinois Principal Association (IPA) of the Three Rivers Region honored 10 District 202 students who have contributed positively to the school community through their academic or athletic achievement, character or community involvement.

The awards were presented as part of the IPA-Three Rivers Region’s 13th Annual Student Recognition Breakfast, on Friday, May 3, 2013, at the Rialto Square Theater in Joliet.

The awards are usually given to students in their last year at their particular level of schooling, in recognition of the “lasting impressions” these students have made on their schools and communities during their academic careers.

Awards were given to:

Eagle Pointe Elementary School 5^th graders Sarah Cousins and Alexander Creighton

Aux Sable Middle School 8^th graders Raul Contreras and Sarah Mullan

Drauden Point Middle School 8^th graders Justin Domacena and Faith Harris

Ira Jones Middle School 8^th graders Colin Le Blanc and Anneka Sebok

Plainfield North High School seniors Austin Herrick and John Ryan

Kankakee Community College Athletic Director Ted Petersen was the keynote speaker.

In all, 88 students from 44 schools from across the Three Rivers region were recognized at this year’s program.

Four District 202 high school journalists earn top state honors

Tue, 14 May 2013 1:27:20 PM

Four students from Plainfield East and South high schools and Plainfield High School – Central Campus earned top honors at the 2013 Illinois High School Association’s state journalism completion.

The event was held April 26, 2013 at Eastern Illinois University. The students were among 10 District 202 students to qualify for the completion.

PEHS senior Nic Kosirog-Jones won first place in the “Advertising” category. This is the first time that PEHS has earned a “first” at the state journalism competition, and the first time any District 202 student has earned a first place at State since 2006.
PEHS junior Taylor Joniak took fifth in the “Graphics” category
PSHS senior Megan Deppe earned third place in the “Feature Writing” category
PHSCC junior Trevor Bush also earned third place in the “Editorial Cartooning” category.

These students also qualified for State but did not place:

PEHS junior Annette Akuba in “Review Writing”
PSHS seniors Chris Higgins in “Newswriting” and “Editorial Writing”, and Rachel Hinton in “Review Writing”
PHSCC seniors Leah Breier in “Advertising” and Cass Mootrey in “Theme Development”; and juniors Megan Schuller in “Copy Writing” and Trevor Bush in “Theme Development.”

Plainfield Academy Assistant Principal is new Student Services assistant director

Mon, 13 May 2013 8:02:23 PM

Plainfield Academy Assistant Principal Tim Albores will take a new position next school year as the Student Services department’s new assistant director.

The District 202 Board of Education approved naming Albores to the post at its regular meeting on May 13, 2013. Albores will replace current assistant director Joe Schimmel, who is resigning after a year in the role.

“We are very excited to be bringing Tim to the district office,” said Mina Griffith, Assistant Superintendent for Student Services.

“He has really proven his leadership abilities in his time at Plainfield Academy and we are confident he is going to do an excellent job serving all 30 of our schools,” she said.

Albores has served the last year as assistant principal at Plainfield Academy, District 202’s alternative school for middle and high school students.

He started his professional career in District 202 working as a social worker at Heritage Grove Middle School from 2002-2003.

He also served as a social worker from 2003-2006 at the Joliet Alternate High School in Joliet, Illinois, and from 2006-10 at Komarek School in North Riverside, Illinois.

Albores then worked as a student services case manager for two years at Wrightwood Charter School in Chicago and then came back to District 202 last year.

Plainfield Foundation for Excellence awards three juniors first-ever "Horizon Grants"

Wed, 8 May 2013 10:22:32 AM

The “horizon” just got a little closer for three District 202 high school juniors, who will use a new grant from the Plainfield Foundation for Excellence to help pay for summer learning enrichment experiences.

The students will each receive a $1,000 “Horizon Grant.” This unique grant is intended to help high school juniors broaden their academic horizons and explore areas of interest through summer workshops, classes, field studies, internships or conferences during the summer before their senior year.

The Horizon Grants are the newest initiative by the Plainfield Foundation for Excellence, a private organization that supports District 202 schools, students and staff with grants, scholarships and financial support for special programming.

Plainfield East High School junior Lindsey Miller will use her grant to attend the Marquette University Debate Institute to explore the finer points of debating as a first step toward a law career.

Plainfield South High School junior Gianna Scala will take part in the People to People student exchange program in Australia.

PEHS junior Allison Wierzba will use her grant to attend the Milwaukee School of Engineering’s Summer Nursing Program.

“The Horizon Grant is a great way to support our students as they start to think about and plan for what their futures might hold,” said Foundation for Excellence Chairperson Carla Erdey.

“The Foundation is always looking for new ways to promote excellence, encourage innovation and enhance collaboration, and the Horizon Grant does that very well,” Erdey said.

The Foundation for Excellence has awarded more than $300,000 since its inception in 1983. Along with scholarships and grants, the Foundation has also supported special District 202 programs including a District Art Gallery, the Great Read community reading program and the 1847 Schoolhouse Restoration.

For more information about the Plainfield Foundation for Excellence or to make a donation, please visit: www.d202foundation.org

D. 202 high schools induct 2013 National Honor Society members

Mon, 6 May 2013 4:33:43 PM

Plainfield High School-Central Campus, and Plainfield North, South and East high schools have announced their 2013 inductees into the National Honor Society.

PHSCC inducted its new members on April 26, 2013. PSHS inducted its new members on May 5, 2013. PNHS inducted its new members on April 30, 2013, and PEHS inducted its new members April 29, 2013.

These District 202 students have been invited into membership to the National Honor Society Class of 2013:

PLAINFIELD HIGH SCHOOL – CENTRAL CAMPUS:

Tyler Allensworth; Courtney Anderson; Ashley Arneson; Jamie Bachman; Tonya Bennett; Angela Bode; Matthew Bonderski; Nester Bongabong; Alexis Butler; Kornelia Chyla; Sarah Clarke; Alexandria Clink; Kristine Countryman; Kieffer Degen; Chris Demetralis; Kayla Donnell; Ben Draviczki; Abigail Emrath; Michael Fuller; Kirollos Gabriel; Arturo Garcia; Matthew Gladem; April Goshorn; Alyssa Govea; Sarah Grabowski; Kylie Guinta; Christopher Guitron; Andrew Kazak; Will Kibler; Sharon Kirchner; Kelli Kohlstedt; Katarzyna Koziara; Kristen Krzanik; Dylan Kudia; Kyle Kudla; Caylie Kurtenbach; Amanda Lara; Simon Leclair; Sara Lorenc; Betsy Lugo; Neal Madarang; Matt Maly; Alison Mangino; Rachel Martinez; Andrew McAllister; Sydnee McDaniel; Brandi McGee; Michael Menefee; Brooke Michalik; Ryan Morris; Belen Muniz; Michael Najera; Alexander Nash; Ariellenita Ntow; Kaitlyn Orden; Ethan Owens; Alyssa Papesh; Nate Paprota; Niyatiben Patel; Carl Peterson; Andrew Plewa; Thomas Poznanski; Monica Quintana; Emily Ramsak; Thomas Rietz; Monika Ringyte; Cynthia Rojas; Natalie Rosendahl; Rudolph Rosenmayer; Matthew Ryan; Hayley Sampson; Kelsey Schmitt; Megan Schuller; Kathryn Shay; Michael Smiles; Alexandra Smith; Tyler Spangler; Connor Starkman; Ryan Stringham; Taylor Swanson; Emma Turnbull; Jennifer Vela; Samuel Vincent; Sonie Vo; Emily Ward; Shawna Watson; Kiley Weber; Sam Wielgos; Cailen Williams; Luke Worland; Sarah Wurster.

PLAINFIELD SOUTH HIGH SCHOOL:

Brittany Adams; Kamille Agustin; Sebastian Aviles; Dwaipayan Basu; Zachary Berta; Cassandra Blohm; Hayley Braun; Brandon Carlton; Sarah Castro; Zoe Chirikos; Alexandra Cichy; Arianna Contreras; Audrey Cooney; Rachell Derucki; Nicholas Deverick; Thomas Diamantopoulos; Thomas Domagala; Kimberly Ezzo; Sarwan Fahim; Joseph Ferguson; Lauren Fleming; Britney Folino; Mckenna Ganassin; Jean-Claude Godin; Cassandra Gonzalez; Alexander Grandmaison; Kamelotte Gregory; Kelly Griffin; Timothy Halmon; Zachary Hamaker; Richard Hamilton; Joshua Harris; Sean Harty; Kailyn Haski; Ahmed Hassan; Kelsey Haynes; Kaitlyn Herrera; Zachary Hir; Savannah Hoar; Ally Hotz; Matthew Imburgia; Zachary Jansa; Brandon Jarot; Timothy Kello; Richard Kelly; Thomas Kim; Melanie Kregg; Ana Labellarte; Joseph Lagioia; Stephanie Lakotich; Brianna Langys; Edwin Laskey III; Daniel Lathrop; Breanna Lipowski; Michael Lyznicki; Susy Macias; Michael Maddox; Amberlee Marini; Megan Mariotti; Michelle Mariotti; Jarek Martinez; Ashley McClendon; Bryan McDonough; Alexis Mele; Gabriella Melendez; Andrew Meyer; Austin Miller; Katherine Mirabelli; Yanina Moberg; Lauren Moreno; Matthew Morgan; Craig Muncaster; Samuel Muszynski; Paul Myers; Erin Nielsen; Ashley Orozco; Katie Peterson; Trevor Peterson; Kimberly Porsovigan; Vandhana Rajarathnam; Kayla Rice; Gianna Scala; Mallory Schwebke; Natalie Shullaw; Shannon Simek; Courtney Simms; Andrew Smith; Colbey Soderman; Erin Steik; Joshua Strong; Abegail Sumagui; Oscar Sylvester-Garcia; Rachel Tucker; Ashley Velez; Daniela Villalvazo; Emily Weymouth.

PLAINFIELD NORTH HIGH SCHOOL:

Zackary Abu-Shanab; Alaa Ahmad; Emily Amen; Rachel Anderle; Benjamin Anderson; Douglas Aremka; Nicole Batinick; Elizabeth Batjes; Tiyas Bhattacharyya; Comet Blecha; Abigail Bruen; Antonia Caba; Joseph Callahan; Shannon Carlson; Caitlin Carriel; Ashley Castillo; Jung Choi; Monique Collins; Erica Countryman; Sarah Crawford; Allison Crosson; Catherine Crosson; Margaret Daly; Katherine Donaldson; Drew Donnally; Alexandria Dunham; Mikaela Dutton; Mackenzie Englund; Megan Erickson; Adila Esaak; Joseph Fayman; Laura Ferguson; Rachel Flores; Kelly Fousek; Paige Franzen; Garrett Gathman; Nicole Lexine Gaudiano; Emily Gerner; Keelan Gneuhs; Diane Griesenauer; Audrey Hansa; Nicholas Hansen; Matthew Hebron; Haylie Helmold; Megan Heraty; Jeffrey Herlien; Ashley Hernandez; Anthony Hish; Danielle Holmes; Kaylin Holmes; Emma Hughes; Hamza Jaleel; Joseph Jerger; Brandon Johnson; Taylor Kane; Anay Katyal; Caroline Kelly; Margaret Kennedy; Monica Kettelson; Caitlyn Kissel; Clare Kitchell; Theodore Lao; Sydney Latimore; Christopher Mack; John Malec; Brian Kristoffe Mallari; Emily Manassah; Alejandro Manzo; Amberlee Marini; Christopher Marszalek; Rebeca Martinez; Michaela McGuire; Kaitlyn McLaren; Lauren Mulcahy; Matthew Nelson; Alishwa Nisar; Jack O’Connor; Hothaifah Othman; Neerali Patel; Ashka Patel; Danielle Pekarscik; Hannah Rehder; Erica Renzi; Molly Revis; Lauren Roebert; Morgan Ryley; Alana Saad; Calli Sebok; Ema Shafi; Jacob Stadler; Jillian Stassus; Alec Steinkraus; Alexander Stevens; Sara Stevens; Alexis Sujka; Jazmyne Tabb; Emily Thomas; Jenna Marie Tumang; Rebecca Vickers; Danielle Washington; Brittani Wayne; Drew Wilimitis; Taylor Willhalm; Logan Wright.

PLAINFIELD EAST HIGH SCHOOL:

Ugonna Akuba; Hannah Alderks; Tierra Alexander; Rachel Alvarez; Omokhele Anetekhai; Megan Avery; Katlyn Bailey; Jazmine Baldridge; Emily Bender; McKayla Braid; Jamal Bruce; Emily Buss; Ashton Carter; Kayla Chambers; Alanna Chapell; Kevin Chavez; Raphael Chutuape; Amanda De Avila; Caila Dela Cruz; Matthew Drew; Ashley Espino; Danielle Evans; Anna Gahafer; Alexis Gapen; Marissa Gehr; Vanessa Godinez; Laney Gore; Tyler Graham; Joni Graves; Kala Guerrero; Hannah Gutierrez; Sarah Hale; Muroo Hamed; Emily Handley; Alyssa Hibben; Andrew Ico; Taylor Joniak; Josh Kaspar; Roselle Lagman; Briana McGee; Nicole Medina; Lindsey Miller; Samuel Mondia; Matthew Moy; Matthew Murphy; Joshua Napiwocki; Salimata Ndir; Jazmin Nevarez; Kelsey Noyes; Alexandrai Ochenkowski; Oscar Oliveros-Quiroz; Nicole Olsen; Veronica Osei; Jasmine Park; Alexandra Placek; Alexandria Powell; Hana Rafat; Brittany Ramos; Jacob Rizzo; Kailey Rodriguez; Patricia Rodriguez; Katherine Rogala; Ashley Rowden; Megan Ruzicka; Youstena Saad; Jennifer Scieszka; Kaylee Smith; Katrina Spontak; Luisa Trapaga Ballest; Aleia Tripp; Savannah Ugarte; Cristian Valdez; Riley Van Wyk; Alexander Vizhalil; Natori Walters; Dejah Welton; Allison Wierzba; Megan Wilson.

Operation Welcome You Home to sponsor Wounded Warriors 5K Run/Fun Walk

Sat, 4 May 2013 9:57:45 AM

The Operation Welcome You Home organization will hold its 2^nd annual 5K Run and Fun Walk to support Military Veterans wounded in Iraq and Afghanistan on May 25th, 2013 in Settlers Park in downtown Plainfield.

The event will include a 5K run starting at 7:45 a.m. Non-runners can also participate in a 1.5 mile fun walk at the same time. A ceremony honoring wounded warriors will precede the event.

All profits from this event, including registration fees, and sales of t-shirts and other race-related items will benefit wounded warriors.

Participants can sign up as individual runners, wounded warriors or as a member of a five person team. Awards will be given to the top three male and female finishers in each age group: Under 15, 15-19, 20-24, 25-29, 30-34, 35-39, 40-44, 45-49, 50-54, 55-59 and 60 and above.

Awards will also be given to the top team in each category. Teams can be all male, all female, co-ed (with at least two males or female team members) or all military.

Registration is $30 per person. Interested runners and walkers can register online at www.welcomeyouhome.org. Everyone who registers by May 11, 2013 will get a race t-shirt.

On-line registration closes at 1 p.m. May 24, 2013. After May 24, 2013, registration is $35 on day of race.

“This special event gives our community a wonderful opportunity to support our brave men and women who serve and protect our country every day,” said Julia Fukar, who is an Operation Welcome You Home committee member and a registrar at Plainfield North High School.

PLEASE NOTE: Wounded Warriors injured while serving overseas should contact www5@welcomeyouhome.org.

Finally, participants and event fans can also memorialize or honor a friend or family member for $50, by having their name and military rank imprinted on a Wounded Warrior 5K race t-shirt. The deadline for this is May 8^th, 2013.

Operation Welcome You Home provides respectful, thoughtful, uplifting and joyous homecomings for returning warriors and their families, to show thanks and support for their service to America.

For more event information please visit www.welcomeyouhome.org.

Plainfield East High students do well on national Spanish exams

Thu, 2 May 2013 8:02:53 AM

Thirty-five Plainfield East High School World Language students earned top honors on the 2013 National Spanish Examinations.

This year’s total is 10 more than last year’s – a 40 percent increase. PEHS students earned one gold, four silver and six bronze medals; and 24 honorable mentions in levels 3 and 4 on the rigorous exams.

“Attaining a medal or honorable mention for any student on the National Spanish Examinations is very prestigious, because the exams are the largest of their kind in the United States,” said Kevin Cessna-Buscemi, National Director of the Exams. About 156,000 students participated in this year’s National Spanish exams.

The National Spanish Examinations are administered each year in grades 6 through 12, and are sponsored by the American Association of Teachers of Spanish and Portuguese.

This year’s award winners are:

Gold: junior Lorraine Szymankowski.

Silver: juniors Katrina Spontak, David Flores and Diego Oyarce: and senior Alexandra Santiago.

Bronze: juniors Jamal Bruce, Raphael Chutuape, Danielle Evans, Megan Ruzicka and Antonio Morales; and senior Alexander Pieczynski.

Honorable Mention: sophomores Daniel Avila and Adrian Diaz; juniors Hannah Alderks, Katlyn Bailey, Emily Bender, Kevin Chavez, Jordan Dobyne, Viviana Granados, Sarah Hale, Damian Medina, Lindsey Miller, Ermina Mujcinovic, Joshua Napiwocki, Jasmine Park, Alexandria Powell, Patricia Rodriguez, Jennifer Scieszka and Aleia Tripp; seniors Alonzo Diaz, Michael Gofron, Vivian Lu, John Oto, Alyssa Peek and Kevin Pikul.

D. 202 may enact "pay to participate" policy to get student fees

Tue, 30 Apr 2013 8:41:05 PM

Starting next year, a proposed new policy would require District 202 students to pay their fees in full, or be current on their fee payment plans to participate in athletics or a list of other events important to teens.

The District 202 Board of Education put the proposed new policy on 30-day public display at its regular meeting Tuesday, April 30, 2013. The Board is expected to vote on the proposed policy at its May 28, 2013 regular meeting.

If approved, students with unpaid fees or who are behind on their fee payment plans will not be able to attend Prom; take part in high school graduation and 8^th grade promotion ceremonies; obtain parking permits; or take the behind-the-wheel portion of drivers education, in addition to participating in athletics.

The proposed policy is the district’s latest attempt to curb unpaid student fees. In recent years District 202 has lost hundreds of thousands of dollars a year in unpaid student fees, including athletic fees.

The district understands the financial struggles facing many families and has created several options to help families pay their fees, officials said. Those options include income and hardship-based fee waivers and reductions, and extended payment plans.

Still, some families simply do not pay their fees, including those for athletic participation, said Angie Smith, assistant superintendent for business and operations. “We continue to go after those fees and try to get them paid, but the odds are we’re probably not going to recover that money,” Smith said.

In January when this proposal was first raised, Smith said the district was already looking at $172,155 of unpaid athletic fees just from the start of this school year.

Currently District 202 can only withhold participation in 8^th grade promotion or high school graduation ceremonies and Prom to get families to pay their fees. The proposed new policy would give the district another tool.

“This isn’t intended to punish our students or families but at some point we have to be responsible to the entire district and make sure we have enough money to serve all of our students and families,” Smith said.

Letting some families not pay their fees is unfair to the district, which faces a projected $1.8 million operating fund deficit despite four years of heavy budget cuts, thanks to the state’s financial problems, officials said.

New principals named for two District 202 elementary schools

Tue, 30 Apr 2013 8:13:54 PM

New principals will take the helm at Grand Prairie and Freedom elementary schools next school year.

The District 202 Board of Education approved appointing Sandra Garner as the new principal at Grand Prairie Elementary, and Dr. Tammy Sroczynski will take over as principal at Freedom Elementary.

“We are confident that Sandra and Tammy will do an excellent job continuing the fine work that has been done at these schools by their predecessors,” said Mark Heiss, director for elementary administration and personnel.

Garner, currently an assistant principal at Timber Ridge Middle School will replace Janan Szurek, who is taking a principal position in Indian Prairie School District 204 in Naperville.

Garner started her education career 21 years ago as a special education teacher in the Midlothian School District. She also worked for three years with the Lockport Area Special Education Cooperative before serving for 14 years as a special education teacher in the Naperville School District 203. Garner came to District 202 in 2011 in her current position.

“I couldn't be more excited to join the Grand Prairie staff,” Garner said. “I have heard wonderful things about the students, staff and families there. It's going to be a wonderful place to start my work as a principal,” she said.

Sroczynski has worked her entire 10-year education career in District 202. She started as an information literacy teacher splitting time between Lincoln and Eagle Pointe elementary schools, and then continued at Lincoln as a third grade teacher and later as a fourth grade teacher.

From 2006-10 she worked as a differentiation specialist at Lincoln, while also serving as interim assistant principal at Eagle Pointe in 2009. In 2010-11 Sroczynski served one year as assistant principal and special education administrator at Lincoln, and was named to her current position this school year.

“I am very excited to become the new principal of Freedom Elementary School,” Sroczynski said. “My goal is to ensure that we continue to work together to meet the needs of all students and ensure they reach their full potential.”