Morgan Park High School junior Lavontae Brooks will be moving to the Capitol to begin working as a page for Illinois Congressman Bobby Rush. He was selected through the after the congressman recommended him to apply to the U.S. House of Representatives Page Program. During his six month stay while working for the House, Brooks and the other pages will live in the House Page Residence Hall, a few blocks from the Capitol and the Library of Congress. All who are a part of the program attend Page School, which is located in the Jefferson Building of the Library of Congress.

 

Four MPHS seniors were awarded the Posse scholarship, a four-year full-tuition scholarship to a Posse school for illustrating academic excellence and great leadership ability throughout their high school careers. Giancarlo Danno received the award to Carleton College, Northfield, Minn.;  Shavon Mathus received the award to DePauw University, Greencastle, Ind.; Kenneth Carter and Troy Huggins both received awards to the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

 

MPHS alumni recently returned to school to talk to current students about their college experience in an event called, “A Different World.”  A panel of 40 college students, all of whom graduated from MPHS between 2006 and 2009, answered questions from students who appeared eager to become college freshmen. The students attend Illinois State University, Florida A&M, University Of Illinois, Howard University, Ohio State, Spelman College, Tuskegee University, Northwestern University, Hampton University, Alabama State, Morgan State, Eastern Illinois, Marquette University, Northern University and Central Methodist University. They gave their opinions about how the college experience has changed them and what they hope to instill in high school students about the importance of a college education. 

 

MPHS sophomore Dareil Crowder and 65 other high school football players were recently recognized for their accomplishments on and off the field as the Tom Lemming Underclassman All-Area Team. The team was chosen by the National Collegiate Scouting Association (NCSA) Selection Committee which includes former college football coaches Randy Taylor and Bob Chmiel, the nation’s leading expert on college football recruiting and high school talent, Tom Lemming and Taylor Bell of the Chicago Sun-Times.

 

Janae Meaders and Janesse Washington, coached by teacher William Colson, were quarter finalists in a debate tournament held at Lindblom Math and Science Academy. Additionally, Meaders earned second place as the Individual Speaker and Washington placed seventh out 100 speakers in the Junior Varsity Division. The Junior High debate team, coached by teacher Brian Patrick, won first place in the Individual Speaker category in their second competition of the year.

 

2009 MPHS science fair winners are Alexandria Foreman, Arleveia Freeman, Sydney Haney, Asia Harlan, Melanie Kirkwood and Tyrin Wages. Cheyenne Batchman and Eric Walker will represent us in the elementary school category.

 

Under the direction of music teacher Anthony Whitaker and principal Laura Kennedy, St. Walter School will present its first all-school musical, "Godspell,” Fri., Feb. 19 and Sat., Feb. 20 at 7 p.m. in Peterson Hall, 11741 S. Western Ave.

 

St. Walter students had an opportunity to try out for a part at the beginning of the school year. Many students were cast as actors and/or singers, and others chose to participate in stage production, lighting, music, etc., allowing every child who wanted to participate to have a role in making the musical come together. With the assistance of faculty and parent volunteers, the students have been preparing and practicing diligently.

 

"Godspell" is based on the Gospel according to St. Matthew, which tells the story of the last seven days of Jesus's life. Tickets are $7 adults, $3 children in advance at the school office, $10 adult, $5 children at the door.

 

St. Walter 5^th grader Paul Lesley won the school-level competition of the National Geographic Society Bee. Second and third place winners were Greg Pitts (8th grade) and Nora Gilliam (5th grade). The entire student body cheered the ten students (grades 4th through 8th) who made it to the final competition.  Paul Lesley will take a test to determine if he qualifies for the state competition in Springfield.  

 

 

Max Esterhammer-Fic, a sophomore at St. Rita of Cascia High School, was one of three winners of the 3^rd Annual Joseph J. Jasica Art Scholarship. Each winner is awarded a $500 grant that goes toward the current school year’s tuition.  Esterhammer-Fic attended Clissold elementary school. The Joseph J. Jasica Art Scholarship Competition encourages students to create a piece of art.  Winning works demonstrated the talents and perspective of the artists. Esterhammer-Fic completed a painting that depicted a close-up flower with a bee. Freshman Austin Kingsley, a graduate of Christ the King elementary school, was nominated for the honor.