The Social and Emotional Learning Committee at Oak Lawn Community High School presents PRIDE awards at a recognition event each year in May. This year, over 30 awards were given out at the Pride Assembly on May 11, 2018. The award is given to students, staff and community members who exhibit the qualities that make up Spartan PRIDE: Personal Responsibility, Respect, Integrity, Dedication, and Excellence. The community members who were recognized include:Sarah and Clyde Anhalt, Fadi Barakat, Phil Bresnahan, Sarah Galvan, Izabel Gronski, Aida Hindi, Judy Ott, Laura Shallow and John Tondelli.
Clyde and Sarah Anhalt are the owners of Smylin' Clydes Hot Dogs. They have served as guest speakers for teacher Amy Cryan in her Food Truck project, provided feedback and judging on the day of the event, and even extended employment opportunities to some of her students. The Anhalt family has generously and graciously been involved in many school efforts such as parent-teacher conferences, annual baseball fundraisers, and various other opportunities to be a part of our school and community. More than 20 years ago Sarah was recognized as Oak Lawn's Home Economics student of the year, but today she needs to stand side-by-side with her father, true role models of the legacy of Spartan Pride.
Fadi Barakat and Aida Hindi coordinate the service learning program at the Mosque Foundation, where many Oak Lawn Community High School students have completed their service learning graduation requirements. College Career Counselor Kelly Kenny said, "This is a top program for our students who are completing their service learning requirements. What I think is most special about this group is that they welcome all of our students, not just those who practice the Muslim faith. They are very welcoming and accommodating for everyone."
Phil Bresnahan is the coordinator of the VFW Post 5220 Stars Project. Many Oak Lawn Community High School students have completed their service learning requirements by participating in this project. College Career Counselor Kelly Kenny said, "We started this as a small project and it has grown greatly. It is mostly done at school in my office, which provides an option for the students faced with transportation issues. But I have also allowed a select group of students who are faced with various hardships to take supplies home and work on this project as time allows. We have also been able to find other great partnerships through this project, both service-oriented and with our local military recruiters, who regularly volunteer alongside the students working on this project." Phil and the members of the VFW Post 5220 supplied the bags and also oversaw the burning of stripes and scraps of flags per the US Flag Code.
Sarah Galvan is the Executive Director of Almost Home. Her vision became a lifelong commitment to bring awareness to our homeless, our needy, our poor, our hungry, and our broken. The foundation mission of Almost Home is to alleviate the suffering of individuals and families in our communities where we can. More specifically, they are committed to helping single parents, victims of domestic violence, families and individuals experiencing true and significant financial hardship, and the homeless.
Izabel Gronski, Teen Librarian at the Oak Lawn Public Library, maintains a great partnership with Oak Lawn Community High School. In addition to being knowledgeable and approachable, Izabel is passionate about working with Spartans. She outreaches at PT conferences and attends Media Center events like Family Reading Night & Mangapolis, sometimes in costume. She is a valuable resource and advocate for our students.
Laura Shallow has served as the Chairperson for the Spartan Educational Foundation since 2006. Under her leadership, the SEF has provided Oak Lawn Community High School graduates with over $130,000 in scholarship funding, and over $57,000 in mini-grant funding for our staff to promote innovative teaching and learning programs. Laura has demonstrated a very high level of respect as well as incredible dedication to the students and staff of Oak Lawn Community High School.
Laura Shallow, Judy Ott, and John Tondelli volunteered to speak to an advisory class about their careers. Laura spoke about her career in finance and banking. Judy spoke about her years as an ER nurse. John spoke about being the senior project manager overseeing the building of the new Oak Lawn Community High School theater. All speakers gave a great snapshot of what their careers are like and how students can pursue them.
PRIDE awards were also given to current students and staff. The student receipients were seniors Stephania Izaquirre, Sydney Janik, Anna Komperda, Mario Maka, Alexia McGlynn, Adem Osmani, Odalis Villagomez, juniors Jonathan Godinez, Davon Martin, Marissa Perales, Timothy Richerme, Moaath Salameh, Zachary Zech and freshmen Cristian Arellano, Michael Gibson, Jada Jackson, Frankie Santana. The staff members who received the award this year were Chris Chigas, Nick Chigas, Erika Johnson and Derek Maciaga.To nominate someone to receive this award in the future, please visit the PRIDE Award banner at www.OLCHS.orglocated near the bottom of the page.
Boys 800-Meter Relay Team Wins IHSA Sectional Title
Each week the Athletic Department and the Spartan Athlete Leadership Team (SALT) selects a Spartan Athlete of the Week. The recipient for the week of May 14 is boys track and field 4x200-meter relay team of Javaris Shorter, Daniel Lillard, Anthony Glover, and Zachary Olejniczak.
The varsity 4x200-meter relay team followed up the school record-breaking performance two weeks ago at the South Suburban Conference Red meet, which produced a conference championship with a championship at the Illinois High School Association Sectional meet on Friday at Morton West.
By winning the sectional race, this team will now represent OLCHS at the IHSA State Finals at Eastern Illinois University this weekend in Charleston. They will compete in a field of the top 23 relay teams in the state.
The other nominee for Spartan Athlete of the Week was Bryan Green (Baseball).
McGrath Punches Ticket To IHSA State Finals Superb Sectional Pole Vault
Each week the Athletic Department and the Spartan Athlete Leadership Team (SALT) selects a Spartan Athlete of the Week. The recipient for the week of May 7 is girls track and field athlete Maddie McGrath.
She had a performance for the books at the Illinois High School Association Girls Track and Field Sectional in very cold weather last Friday. It was cold, and Maddie knew it was her year as long as she was consistent at every vault. Well, that is exactly what happened. McGrath became the 2018 sectional champion and punched her ticket to compete in the IHSA State Finals at Eastern Illinois University in Charleston.
Celebrate summer by dancing to Almost Einstein on June 1, 2018, at Bourbon Street! Help out OLCHS Music Boosters by having a great time with us at Bourbon Street while raising money for our new grand piano. You can also make a donation, put your name on our piano sculpture, or purchase tickets
here
Substitute Teachers Needed
OLCHS is looking to increase our pool of outside on-call substitutes. The salary per day is $105. The hours are 8:10 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
If you have any interest in subbing at Oak Lawn Community High School please contact Maria Vanderwarren at (708) 741-5602 or email at mvanderwarren@olchs.org.
Mission Statement. Oak Lawn Community High School exists to: inspire, challenge, and empower students and staff in a safe, supportive environment; maximize individual potential through academic and personal growth; and graduate students who attain the high standards set forth by our community.
Board of Education
Administration
Robert Loehr, President
Matthew Egan, Vice President
Judy Ott, Secretary
Timothy Burke, Member
Margaret Nugent, Member
Lenny Svoboda, Member
Safaa Zarzour, Member
Dr. Michael Riordan, Superintendent Joseph McCurdy, Assistant Superintendent Dr. Jeana Lietz, Principal Lauren May, Assistant Principal Marcus Wargin, Assistant Principal
Newsletter Contributors:
Brian Frangella, Feature Writer
Jennifer Jepsen, District Publications
Assistant
Marcus Wargin, Assistant Principal Mary Santangelo, Administrative Assistant
