OAK PARK STUDENTS TAKE ON THE WORLD AT ODYSSEY OF THE MIND COMPETITION

Eight teams from Longfellow, Mann, and Julian schools have advanced from the state level to qualify for the world championship Odyssey of the Mind competition at the University of Maryland May 31-June 3, 2008. Odyssey of the Mind is an international education program that provides creative problem solving opportunities through questions or situations developed at Odyssey of the Mind headquarters. Students select their problem/question and spend many months solution-seeking, team building, and developing creative projects to address their problem. This year, the student teams chose their problem from one of the five categories: Road Rally, Dinosaur Extinction, Muses, Tee Structure, Eccentrics. While adult coaches oversee the students' work over the course of the year, the problems were solved by the student teams without adult help. Solutions were presented to judges in an eight minute presentation at the state competition April in Bellville, Illinois.

Teams and their coaches are:

Mann School:
Road Rally
Elizabeth Perkins, Franklin Taylor, Esther Ramsay, Ruby Grillier, Emma Bergey
Coaches: Mr. and Mrs. Perkins

Dino Stories
Annie Schurr, Danny O'Sullivan, Helen Susman, Victoria Pancewicz, Sam Ginn, Chelsie Kowalski
Coaches Mr. Schurr and Mrs. Kowalski

Tee Structure
Will Dunne, Ethan Mertz, Ellora Jaggi, Hannah Sklar, Oliver Soto
Coaches Mrs. Harris and Mrs. Dodd

The Eccentrics
John Stankovich, Katie McGrath, Claire Rolfes, Abby Pont, Miles Blim, Bria McNeal
Coaches Mrs. Stankovich and Mrs. McGrath

Percy Julian Middle School:
Road Rally, Div II
Victoria Citko, Emily Grzeda, Nathanael Koetke, Clayton Miller, and Sarabeth Weszely
Coaches: Steve Citko, and Ed Grzeda

Longfellow School
Road Rally
Alex Kenoian, James MacFadyen, Griffin McDermott, Katie Seitelman, Leah Silver, Kirk Svensson
Coaches: Eric Svensson, Karen Colley, and Penny Wallingford

Dino Stories
Henry Harper, Jacob Meister, Jeremy Pesigan, Annalore Salemi, Rory Schrobilgen, Emma Sullivan, Alex Todorovic
Coaches: Tom Sullivan, Greg Schrobilgen, Kathleen Shehan, Kathy Sullivan, and Dianna Thomas

Wonderful Muses
Aida Garcia, Zaynah Habibi, Sarah Hudson, Caroline Orlin, Cristin Reyes, Halie Schuster, William Skudlarek
Coach: Alice Skudlarek

Tee Structure
Willy Gilmore, Madison Lisle, Mylee Rolock, Reiny Rolock, Fiona Ryan, Charity Strong
Coach: Josh Rolock

A message on the Odyssey of the Mind Website reads: " For teams heading to World Finals at the University of Maryland we look forward to seeing your creative solutions. You have reached the highest level of international competition because of your creativity, ideas, and teamwork. To all Odyssey teams and volunteers we wish you good luck and heartfelt thanks for making Odyssey of the Mind possible."

Schools have been engaged in fund raising efforts to defray the cost of the trip. Congratulations to our winning teams and coaches and best of luck!
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BOARD MEETING NIGHT CHANGE FOR 2008-09
At its Wednesday night meeting, the board approved a change in board meeting nights for the 2008-09 school year from Wednesday to Tuesday evening. Meetings will generally be held the second and fourth Tuesdays of the month. A calendar of meeting dates will be available soon. The board understands that some PTO and school dates have already been set for next year and cannot be changed and will try to work around those dates.
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ELECTION OF BOARD OFFICERS
At the annual reorganization of the board, Michelle Harton was voted in for a one-year term as board president, Peter Traczyk as vice-president, and Sheryl Marinier as board secretary. Carolyn Newberry Schwartz stepped down as vice-president of the board. We thank Carolyn for her many years of service as an officer of the board, Michelle Harton for continuing to serve as president, and Peter Traczyk for stepping up as vice president.
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TRISH QUANE ANNUAL REMEMBRANCE SET
Please bring your family to Holmes School Thursday, May 29, 2008 6:30 - 8:00 PM for the third annual remembrance of former District 97 speech pathologist Trish Quane, who was killed in a biking accident in 2005. Bring your gym shoes for some Latin Zumba dancing. Light refreshments will be served.
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D. 97 SEEKS ACTION TEAM MEMBERS FOR MIDDLE LEVEL STUDY
It's not too late to join an action team for the Middle School Study. Teams are being formed now, and work will begin in the fall through January 2009. Action team members will make recommendations for middle level program improvements/enhancements to the Middle level Oversight Committee. Parents/ guardians and community members are welcome to participate in the Action Team process. Each Action Team will be responsible for researching one topic. The topics to be examined include, but are not limited to:

· Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment
· Extended Learning Opportunities (i.e. co curricular)
· Technology
· Organizational Structure (teaming, electives, etc.)
· Parent and Community Engagement/ Communication
· More topics can be added by the MLOC

An overview of the Middle Level Study was presented to the board on April 9 and is available on our website. To join an Action Team, or for more information about the Middle level Study, call Dr. Kelly Baird at (708) 524-3027
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SIXTH GRADE PHYSICALS NEEDED
The Illinois State Board of Education has changed the mid level requirement for annual physical from fifth grade to sixth grade. Students entering sixth grade in 2008 are required to show proof of completion of the physical before school begins. For more information, contact your child's school nurse.
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SOCCER REGISTRATION UNDERWAY
Registration for the AYSO fall soccer season will be held on Saturday, May 17th & Saturday, June 7th. AYSO soccer is open to all kids who will be in 1st through 12th grades this fall. All who wish to register need to visit the Oak Park AYSO website (www.opayso.org) for further details & pre-registration requirements.