Publications & Sites 
Oak Park, River Forest school briefs: 10-year-old rock climber earns bid to nationals
Vincent Lee, 10, of Oak Park.
Updated: February 25, 2013 6:05AM
Oak Park — Oak Park 10-year-old Vincent Lee, a fourth-grader at Whittier Elementary in Oak Park, recently secured a spot to compete in the USA Climbing Youth National Championship, USA Bouldering Series to be held the first weekend in March in Colorado Springs, Colo.
Vincent took first place in the Midwest Regionals in December, besting kids in his category from over five states. This past weekend, he took fourth in the Divisionals Championship held in Indianapolis, Ind., from a field of 21 climbers from 14 states, earning him the national bid.
Bouldering is one of three rock-climbing disciplines in a rapidly-growing sport that is short-listed for the 2020 Olympic Games. Bouldering is a style of climbing emphasizing power, strength and dynamics. Its focus is on individual moves or short sequences of moves without ropes. The nearly year-round sport also consists of sport and speed climbing, both done with ropes.
Vincent has been climbing for three years; this is his first complete cycle climbing competitively. He began climbing at the Oak Park Fitness Formula Club during family hours on the weekend. He now trains and represents the Chicago Rock Climbing Team Hidden Peak.
District 90
Math Fest, ‘Alice in Wonderland’
Come see Chicago’s acclaimed Emerald City Children’s Theatre group perform “Alice in Wonderland” at 1 p.m. Sunday (Jan. 27) at Willard Elementary School, 1250 Ashland Ave., in River Forest. This performance is in conjunction with Willard School’s annual Math Festival.
Tickets to the performance are $5 per person and also includes entrance to the Math Festival.
The Math Festival begins immediately following the play with engaging math-based games of twister, estimation and more. Games have options for every grade level, so there is fun for the whole family. Raffle ticket prizes ($1 per raffle ticket) are awarded throughout the Festival. Festival only admission is $8 per family.
Arrive early to purchase tickets that are available at the door.
District 97
Bravo! musical at Brooks
The Bravo! organization has put together a musical production titled “Bugsy Malone Jr.,” with performances at 7 p.m. Feb. 1 and 2 at Gwendolyn Brooks Middle School, 325 S. Kenilworth Ave., Oak Park.
Based on the 1976 film, “Bugsy Malone Jr.” is a tongue-in-cheek tribute to the gangster films of the 1920s. The popular pint-sized, pin-striped classic leaps off the silver screen and onto the stage.
Tickets: Adults $9/students and seniors $7. Purchase tickets online at www.oakpark.revtrak.net
For more information, call (708) 524-5621.
Family Carnival at Lincoln
The 64th annual Lincoln Family Carnival organized by the Lincoln PTO will take place from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Feb. 2 at Lincoln Elementary, 1111 S. Grove Ave., in Oak Park.
There will be classic carnival games such as “Plinko” and “Bozo’s Buckets” and special features including goldfish toss, slam dunk basketball, face painting, balloon animals and a cake walk. A full room is set aside for Bingo players and, new to this year’s carnival, a Karaoke room. There also will be a “Ticket of Choice” raffle, where a $1 bid can win great prizes, including tickets to sporting events and gift certificates. A variety of healthy meals and snacks are available for purchase.
Game and food tickets are 25 cents a piece. Amounts vary per game.
For more information, call Allison Fluecke at (773) 320-7129.
St. Vincent Ferrer School honor roll
The following students at St. Vincent Ferrer School, 1515 Lathrop Ave. in River Forest, were named to the first trimester honor roll. High Honors means the pupil had straight As. Honors means that the pupil had no grade lower than a B and at least half As.
High Honors
Eighth grade: Margaret Gillette, Brian Johnson, Isabella Klepacki, Danielle Mangila and Benjamin Paris;
Sixth grade: Anthony Barnett, Aneliese Benitez, Sam Chierici, Hazel Gilliette, Nicholas Paris and Isabella Romanucci;
Honors
Eighth grade: Nicolette Lollino, Mary Meo, Luis Murphy, Anthony Pasquesi, Nina Saviozzi, Eddie Seley and Mia Williams;
Seventh grade: Joeseph Daley, Margaux Giacotto, Gina Grazian, Nicholas Jakaitis, Michael Kalwajtys, Reyna Paccagnini and Kayley Sherwood;
Sixth grade: Michael Carpanzano, Christian Cooke, Anthony Georgen, Haley Gohmann, Sofia Guevara, Thomas Mills, Paige Munyon, Emilia Murphy, Josh Sawyer and Matthew Walsh.
Panel to discuss diversity
The Children’s School, 1428 Wesley Ave. in Berwyn, has organized a panel discussion event in its Progressive Education In Action Speaker Series: “Never Too Early: Talking with Children About Race and Diversity.”
This event is free and open to the public from 7 to 9 p.m. Jan. 29 at the Children’s School.
The panel includes:
• William Ayers, Ed.D., professor of education, University of Illinois at Chicago (retired)
• DeeDee Farmer, Ed.D., PKP teacher/coordinator at Longfellow School, District 97, Oak Park
• Carl A. Grant, Ph.D., Hoefs-Bascom professor of education, University of Wisconson, Madison
• Bj Richards, Bj’s Kids Child Care Community
• Angela Whitacre, teacher at The Children’s School.
Moderated by:
• Brian D. Schultz, Ph.D., associate professor and chair of educational inquiry and curriculum studies, Northeastern Illinois University
• Nicole E. Holland, Ph.D., associate professor of educational inquiry and curriculum studies and African American studies, Northeastern Illinois University.
For more information, call Pamela Freese, director of administration at The Children’s School, at (708) 484-8033.
