Maine Township High School Foundation News
October 2023 Newsletter
In This Issue


Letter from the Chair

National History Day Competition

Lookingglass Alice


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Current District 207 faculty and staff may apply for grants.
Letter from the Chair

Dear Friends of Maine Township High Schools:

I want to introduce myself as the new chairperson of the Maine Township High School Foundation.

But first I want to thank Susan Yadgar, our recent chair, for her extraordinary leadership of the Foundation for the last three years. She leaves a great example and big shoes to fill.

I grew up in Park Ridge, the youngest of three boys, all of us graduates of Maine East – Class of ‘65 (with Hilary Clinton), ‘69 (state soccer champs), and ’71 (celebrated our 50+1 reunion last year). Maine means a lot to all of us, so it is very special for me to be on the Foundation Board, and now chair.

Our mission is to support Maine Township High School students with needs that the school budget doesn't cover. We have a lot of momentum and big plans for this school year.
  • Teacher grants – We will continue our core grant program that has provided over $300,000 in grants for field trips, specialized equipment, academic competitions, guest speakers, and other enrichment resources.
  • CareerPathways – we will grow our support for students accessing career-related extracurricular opportunities, including program fees and transportation.
  • School-Based Health Center – we will continue our long-time support for the health clinic that provides much-needed primary care and mental health support to students across the district.
  • Alumni Engagement – we are launching new programs to engage thousands of Maine Township alums, tapping into their energy for volunteer and financial support.

We hope you will join us in supporting our students and teachers! Please read more about these opportunities, in our newsletters, social media, and website!

Thanks!
David Hiller
National History Day Competition
Two pairs of students from Maine West qualified for the National History Day Competition, which was held at the University of Maryland in June. The Foundation provided funding to help them attend the event.
One pair of students created a historical exhibit on the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence (NCADV). Their project highlighted the work and achievements of the NCADV in a way that further advocates and raises awareness for the abused. The second pair of students created a historical website on blood banking in WWII. Their website focused on the development of blood banking during WWII and the racial challenges that accompanied it.
Bryanne Roemer, the grant’s sponsor, remarked that the Foundation’s support “provided a remarkable opportunity for our students to showcase their skills and talents on a national stage. The Foundation's commitment to education and empowerment has had a profound impact on our students, and we are truly appreciative of their support.”
Lookingglass Alice
Maine East performed its fall play "Lookingglass Alice" earlier this month. The show tells the stories of “Alice In Wonderland” and “Through the Lookingglass” while incorporating a variety of circus elements. To bring this to the stage, Maine East partnered with the Actors Gymnasium to choreograph the show and train the student actors in circus arts, which included Lyra, Spanish web, globe walking, juggling, unicycle, and partner acrobatics. Funding for the partnership was made possible through a grant from the Foundation. This was truly a unique experience for everyone involved, from the performers to the backstage crew and ultimately the audience.
Maine Township High School Foundation | mthsfoundation.org