Students win multiple medals at 2009 Science Olympiad
Science Olympiad Team, Black Panther and the Monkey: Left to right, back row: Theresa Walck, Ryan Prestangen, Jack Bernin, Patrick Brugliera, Bryan Brannon, Annik Lupieri Elise Gray-Gaillard, Mary-Beth Neilly, Katie Eichberger; middle row: Katie Garber, Elaine Simon, Erin McKearnan (as the Black Panther), Rob Colgate, Ben Hullinger, Ben Medina; front row: Lily Hulinger, Sheila Hallstrom, Anthony Hersee, Patrice Evans, James, Allen, and Michael Efughu.
On Saturday April 25th there were 39 middle schools competing at the 2009 Illinois Science Olympiad Meet at the University of Illinois in Champaign Illinois. The Pope John XXIII Science Olympiad Team had qualified to be part of this prestigious competition based on their performance at the Regional meet. They had an outstanding competition---medaling in eight events! They received a 5th place plaque for the team total! And for the first time in Pope John XXIII Science Oylympiad history they won the overall one award per year for the entire state tournament for Team Spirit. This is based on sportsmanship, enthusiasm, cooperation, helpfulness, and attitude. We are so proud of our entire team for being selected by all the judges to win the Illinois State Science Olympiad Spirit Award!
Each event has two or more students participating. There are academic events and building events. There were three Pope John XXIII teams that won 1st place at state, four teams that earned 4th place in their event, and one 2nd place award. Every score for every event counts toward the team total score. Based on their team total score for all events, the Pope John XXIII Team placed 5th in the state for their division.
The Pope John students who won medals in 8 events are the following:
1st place winners were James Allen and Jack Bernin for Amphibians & Reptiles; Ryan Prestangen, Rob Colgate, and Patrick Brugliera for Experimental Design; and Rob Colgate and Erin McKearnan for Physical Science.
2nd place winner for Elevated Bridge were Ryan Prestangen and Lily Hullinger.
4th place winners were Ryan Prestangen and Ben Medina for Compute This; Elise Gray-Gaillard and Annik Lupieri for Science Crime Busters; Sheila Hallstrom and Elaine Simon for Reach for the Stars; and Patrice Evans and Anthony Hersee for Towline Glider.
We are grateful for the contributions made by our coaches, Katie Garber, Katie Eichberger, and Theresa Walck to the success of our Science Olympiad Team. A special thank you goes to parent volunteers that helped with specific events: Mary Beth Neilly, Ben Medina, Scott Prestangen, and Richard Yu.
Coaches and the Monkey: Left to Right---Rosalie Musiala,principal, Mel Wolff, teacher suporter, Theresa Walck, 6th-8th science teacher & coach,, Katie Eichberger, 5th grade science teacher, and Katie Garber, 4th grade science teacher and coach.
Pope John XXIII receives distinguished Blue Ribbon Award
Congratulations to the administration, the teachers and the “Blue Ribbon Students”of Pope John XXIII School. On September 9, 2008 the U.S. Secretary of EducationMargaret Spellings announced the names of 320 school identified by the U.S. Department of Education as the No Child Left Behind Blue Ribbon Schools for 2008. Pope John XXIII School was selected because the test scores placed them in the top ten percent of schools in the nation. Fifty private schools were among the awardees this year, the maximum number of private school awards allowed. Pope John XXIII School was one of the fifty in the nation to receive this award.
“These Blue Ribbon Schools are an example of what teachers and students can achieve,” Spellings said. “Now our challenge is to help other schools follow their lead by continuing to measure progress through No Child Left Behind, and by using the knowledge we’ve gained to replicate effective strategies and help every student improve.”
The award ceremony was held in Washington D.C. on October 20-21, 2008. Principal Musiala and a teacher representative, Mrs. Wolff, received a plaque and a flag to signify Pope John XXIII's status as a NCLB BLUE RIBBON SCHOOL.
This award indicates that Pope John XXIII School is academically superior based on standardized test scores, core curricular programs in reading, math, science, and social studies, excellence in foreign language instruction in the middle school, and special course offerings. You can go online to learn more information about this award at www.ed.gov/programs/nclbbrs.
Congratulations - Red Ribbon Award
Pope John XXIII School was awarded the national RED RIBBON AWARD for excellence in drug free education, providing a safe environment, and promoting healthy life styles.
Sr. Mary Paul McCaughey, the Superintendent of Catholic Schools presented the RED RIBBON AWARD to the students at an outdoor assemble onthe second day of school in August 2008.
Everyone was very proud to be one of three schools in the state of Illinois to be so honored.
