Saturday, May 11, 2013
A long-time Downers Grove resident, the popular social studies teacher and tennis coach with a knack for bringing out the best in students died Friday at age 32.
The Downers Grove and Oak Lawn communities are reeling from the death of a popular teacher and tennis coach, who lost his battle with cancer Friday. Parents received an automated voicemail from Richards High School Principal John Hallberg informing them that social studies teacher and tennis coach Matt Gavin had passed away at age 32 on Friday morning. A Downers Grove resident, Gavin was raised in town, attending Hillcrest Elementary, O'Neill Middle and Downers Grove South High School. Listen to the automated message from the Richards High School principal by clicking on the video attached to this article. After the news broke late Friday afternoon, many parents and students left messages of sadness and grief on Richards’ Facebook page, …
Tuesday, April 30, 2013
Four Downers Grove South students all received recognition in their events at the California conference, which attracted over 16,000 students.
Four Downers Grove South High School students recently recieved awards at the DECA International Career Development Conference, an Anaheim, California competition attended by over 16,000 students from across the nation. Jackie Clifford, Madelynn Kuerschner and Samarth Malhotra each placed in the top 10 overall in the "Grand Awards" for Entrepreneurship Promotion Project, Fashion Merchandising Promotion Project and Accounting, respectively. Grant Johnson recieved a yellow ribbon for a high score in Hopsitality and Tourism Professional Selling; Malhotra also received a high-score ribbon. Other DGS attendees were Mark Guzik, Monica Kolli, Bridget O’Toole, Swathi Pillalamarri and Akila Shanmugham. “The students had a tremendous national …
Tuesday, April 23, 2013
Downers Grove North ranked 36th out of 667 Illinois high schools, while South High placed 52nd, according to the annual list published by U.S. News and World Report.
Both schools in Downers Grove's Community High School District 99 are among the best in state, according to annual rankings published Tuesday by U.S. News and World Report. Downers Grove North ranked 36th out of 667 public high schools in Illinois, up one spot from 2012. Downers Grove South ranked 52nd, up five spots from last year. The 2013 U.S. News and World Report Best High Schools rankings are based on data collected from more than 21,000 public U.S. high schools from 49 states and the District of Columbia. The rankings are designed to capture how well high schools educate all of their students and prepare them for college-level work, a press release from U.S. News said. Schools are evaluated based on overall student performance on …
Tuesday, March 26, 2013
Kirk Mango, a teacher at Downers Grove South High School, will be promoting his book, 'Becoming a True Champion.'
Kirk Mango, a physical education teacher at Downers Grove South High School for more than 30 years and a Naperville resident, will be making an appearance Tuesday on WGN’s Midday News. The appearance will be in support of Becoming a True Champion, a book Mango wrote that is geared toward helping children and athletes build foundations for success in school, athletics and life. A two-time college All-American gymnast, Mango’s book was published in May and featured a foreward written by Olympic gymnast Nadia Comaneci. Last year, Naperville Patch reported on Mango's experience working toward having his book published and how it related to the book's theme of taking personal responsibility, pushing limits and achieving success. Drawing from …
Friday, January 25, 2013
Several local women business owners met with South High students Wednesday during the school's first ever Women's Entrepreneurship Vendor Show.
By Amanda Luevano, Downers Grove Patch A small group of local women entrepreneurs gathered at Downers Grove South High School on Wednesday to network with students and discuss ways to bridge the gender gap in the business world. The event—a vendor show to promote women's entrepreneurship—was conceived by South High seniors Maddie Kuerschner and Jackie Clifford as part of a state competition for DECA, an organization that prepares student leaders for careers and education in marketing, finance and other business area. Of the nearly 180 DECA members at South High, only 40 are female. The number was so striking to Kuerschner and Clifford that they decided to make it the focus their state research paper. "Women are still very much a minority …
Thursday, January 24, 2013
The Downers Grove North Athenas and Downers Grove South Fillies will travel to Bloomington, IL, on Friday and Saturday after placing among the top 12 teams at the 3A sectional in Palatine.
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Thursday, January 24
Both Downers Grove high schools have something to dance about. The Downers Grove North Athenas and Downers Grove South Fillies will both compete in the IHSA competitive dance state final Friday and Saturday after placing among the top 12 teams at the 3A sectional in Palatine on Jan. 19. The Fillies finished second in its group behind St. Charles North, with a score of 83.50. The Athenas finished sixth with a score of 75.50. Both teams are set to perform Saturday evening at the state finals competition. This year marks the first year competitive dance is recognized as an IHSA sport. Over the past eight years, the Downers Grove South Fillies have won six state championships through TeamDance Illinois. At a December competition, the school's …
Tuesday, October 16, 2012
South Principal Steve Bild was recognized by the Village of Woodridge. • Career and technical education teacher Patrick Fardy was selected to received the 3M Star in the Classroom Award. • Head football coach John Belskis earns milestone victory.
Three Downers Grove South High School staff members were recently recognized for their outstanding achievements. South High Principal Steve Bild and career and technical education teacher Patrick Fardy were each honored this month for their contributions to the school. Longtime varsity football coach John Belskis also hit a career milestone last week, earning the 200th win of his 24-year career. Bild was honored by the Village of Woodridge during its annual Community Recognition Awards ceremony on Tuesday, Oct. 9. The Community Recognition Program recognizes individuals or groups of individuals for "outstanding community service that contributes to improving the well-being of the people of Woodridge." Bild, a long-time resident of …
41.76969
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Downers Grove South High School
1436 Norfolk St, Downers Grove, IL
/articles/downers-grove-south-football-coach-earns-200th-win-principal-teacher-honored
308583
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Wednesday, October 10, 2012
The public is invited to a showing of "Stand Up! Change Teen Statistics" at 7 p.m. Thursday at Downers Grove South High School.
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Wednesday, October 10, 2012
With teenagers across the country facing an ever-growing list of challenges—from drug and alcohol abuse to bullying and self-esteem issues—Downers Grove high school counselors think it's the perfect time to spark a new way of thinking for students and their parents. On Thursday night, District 99 will host "Stand Up! Change Teen Statistics," a live musical theater production that tackles themes related to bullying, mental health, substance abuse and relationship issues that affect high school students. "Stand Up!" is written by professionals from the R.Ed.I. (Reach, Education and Inspire) Foundation, a music theater organization dedicated to prevention education through the use of performing arts. The show travels to high schools across …
41.76969
-88.01816
Downers Grove South High School
1436 Norfolk St, Downers Grove, IL
/articles/district-99-musical-tackles-bullying-drug-abuse-as-part-of-red-ribbon-week
308583
/locations/7987595
Thursday, June 28, 2012
Quarter 4 honor roll for 2011-2012 school year.
2011-2012 SCHOOL YEAR: 4.0 and Above Honor Roll Freshmen Salmaan Ahmad Akhtar, Justin Mathew Akkal, Daniel Adam Annese, Michael Alexander Baer, Summer Bakr, Brenin Charles Bales, Austin Daniel Balinski, Cody Ellis Becker, Tamara Meredith Beecroft, Angela Mary Campbell, Abigail Elizabeth Canaday Howard, Nikil Sridhar Chari, Samantha Cho, Josianne Marie Cipra, Brett Cohen, Alayna Marie Connolly, Sally Marie Cotter, Caitlin Star Coulam, Meghan L Diddia, Janine Nicole Drapak, Joshua Daniel DuBois, Joseph Edward Engel, Rachel Jordan Fisher, Michael Garrett Fogarty, Brian Lee Fuller, Saule Gabrenaite, Jessica Marie Garza, Lillian E Gross, Sara Rose Guagliardo, Allison Rose Hietpas, Jordan Dayton Jones, Abigail Kristen Kargol, Daniel Thomas …
Saturday, December 10, 2011
Okoro, DeClouette come through in the clutch as host Hinsdale South wins a thriller.
A close, physical contest that goes down to the wire. That’s what you can expect when Downers Grove South and Hinsdale South meet on the basketball court. And it was the case again Saturday night as host Hinsdale South eked out a 39-36 victory in Darien. The win was the third straight for the Hornets (6-1, 3-0), who remained tied for first in the West Suburban Conference Gold Division with Proviso East. “It’s always a battle,” said Hinsdale South coach Jen Belmonte, who once played in several of the rivalry games for the Hornets. “I think it’s just the most heated rivalry ever. Both sides played great. It was a great night.” Hinsdale South took advantage of seven Downers South turnovers to grab an 11-4 lead late in the first quarter, but …
41.754904
-87.954505
Hinsdale South High School
7401 Clarendon Hills Rd, Darien, IL
/articles/hornets-edge-downers-south-to-remain-unbeaten-in-conference
1352141
/locations/5987983
stef
11:30 am on Sunday, May 12, 2013
Wow, so young. May he rest in peace. My condolences to his family and friends. more ›