Tidbit of the Week from Superintendent Leak

Tidbit of the Week from Superintendent Leak

04/13/12

• Congratulations to our Business Plan Competition finalists who competed on Thursday, April 12, for a chance to win $500 toward the start-up costs for their business. The winner will be announced on Tuesday, April 17, 2012 at 7:30 pm during the Board of Education meeting in the Rich East High School auditorium. All winners will receive a trip to the 17^th Annual Black Enterprise Conference at the Chicago Hilton, May 23-May 26. Best of luck to Rich Central's Jessica Jade Outland-Thornton, and Rich South's Rochelle Jones, Destini Askew and Bernard Cooper.
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  Rich East Stellar Student, Heather AdneyCongratulations to Rich East's Stellar Student, Heather Adney. Adney is ranked 7 out of 203 with a 4.0 GPA. She earned a 26 on the ACT. As a member of the award-winning Business Professionals of America (BPA) team at Rich East, Adney says she is preparing to become a future businesswoman. She has been involved in volleyball, softball, bowling, National Honor Society, Key Club and Spanish Honor Society. She is the recipient of the Green & Gold Apple Award, the Straight A's Award and the Wendy Heisman Award. She is also an Illinois State Scholar. Heather plans to attend Roosevelt University to study accounting.  
• Congratulations to Rich East's Stellar Student, Laura Banya. Laura has a 3.878 GPA and is ranked 9th out of 203. She is involved in cross country, track and field, Best Buddies, Key Club, Kiwanis Club and National Honor Society. She is the recipient of The Presidential Fitness Award and Green & Gold Apple Award. She plans to attend the University of Iowa to study nursing. "I like the positive interaction between students and teachers at Rich East,” Banya said. “I also like the fact that the teachers are always encouraging students to do better."
• A special commentary by Superintendent Leak is featured in the April 12, 2012 SouthtownSTAR, regarding details of the budget reductions recently outlined during a Board of Education meeting. Read the entire column here.
• Please join us for an evening of fun at the 1st Annual Alpha Spring Dance on Friday, May 4, 2012 from 6:30 pm to 11:00 pm at the Matteson Holiday Inn. Enjoy a fun-filled evening with Alpha students, staff, family and friends. The evening will include music, dancing, video tributes and a full menu. Tickets are $40. Please support and celebrate with our Alpha students.   
• Congratulations to Chef Mark Crawford (pictured above) Director of the District 227 ProStart Culinary program. Chef Crawford is featured in the April 2012 Chefs Move to Schools E-newsletter. The Chefs Move to Schools Program, founded in May 2010, is part of First Lady Michelle Obama’s Let’s Move! Initiative, developed to address the childhood obesity epidemic. The program pairs chefs with schools in their communities with the mission of collaboratively educating kids about food and proper nutrition.    
• You are invited to the District 227 Fine Arts Exhibit at the Matteson Public Library. The display of artwork includes work from all three District 227 high schools, and will be on display through the end of April 2012. The Matteson Public Library is located at 801 South School Street in Matteson, Illinois. The exhibit is located in the Youth Section of the library.
• Prairie State College is adding Saturday hours to the Adult Training and Outreach Center (ATOC) for those who would like to improve their computer skills.  Saturday hours are from 9 a.m. to noon at Prairie State.  Weekday hours at Prairie State are 3:00 p.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Thursday. Additional hours are offered from 2:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m., Monday through Thursday, at the Matteson Area Center, located at 4821 Southwick Dr. in Matteson.
• Mark Your Calendars! The 5th Annual Entrepreneurial Breakfast with the theme "Build...Grow...Inspire!" will be held on Saturday, April 21st at 7:00 am in the Rich Central High School cafeteria.
• The  15^th Annual South Suburban Diversity Dinners will be held on Wednesday, April 25, 2012 at Rich South High School. The social hour will begin at 6:30 pm with dinner following at 7:00 pm. The event will feature performances and a special guest speaker.
• An interview with Rich East Athletic Director, Mike Laneve is featured in the Spring 2012 Home Team Marketing Newsletter. Home Team Marketing is dedicated to the financial support of high school athletics. Visit www.hometeammarketing.com for more information.
• There will be a Board of Education Meeting on Tuesday, April 17, 2012 at 7:30 pm in the Rich East High School auditorium.
• Saturday Coffee with the Board of Education will be held on Saturday, April 14, 2012 from 9:00 am to 11:00 am at the District 227 Administrative Offices. Coffee Chats with the Board are open to all members of our communities. Monday Morning Coffee with the Superintendent will be held on Monday, April 16, 2012 from 8:00 am to 9:00 a.m. in the District 227 Administrative Offices. Monday Morning Coffee with the Superintendent is for parents of current District 227 students and parents of 8^th graders who will attend Rich Township.
• Night School Awards were issued on Thursday, April 12, 2012, to more than 70 students who are currently enrolled in the program. Categories of excellence included: Leadership, Honor Roll and Novanet. Click here for a full list of honorees.
• Mrs. Betty Owens, President of the Rich Township High School District 227 School Board, will be honored as a Phenomenal Woman on Saturday, April 28, 2012, by The Reaching Back Foundation during the organization’s 4^th Phenomenal Woman Awards Breakfast. The event, which recognizes women who have made significant contributions to their community in the areas of business, education, philanthropy and religion, will be held at the Beverly Woods Restaurant and Banquet Hall, 11532 S. Western Ave. in Chicago, from 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.  In addition to Mrs. Owens, the organization will recognize five other women, including Chicago Sun-Times Columnist Mary Mitchell and Rhonda McCullough Gilmore, the widow of the late comedienne/actor Bernie Mac, for her philanthropic work.
• Rich Township High School District 227 was recognized by the Superintendent’s Commission Study of Demographics and Diversity as part of the 2012 Conference, “Transforming the Paradigm of Educating Children.” Superintendent Leak accepted the plaque on behalf of the District, which is on display in the Administrative Offices.