Forest Leaves

New security measures at OPRF take effect Monday

Fri, 08 Feb 2013 11:18:01 -0500

OAK PARK — Oak Park-River Forest High School will implement new security measures starting Monday, Feb. 11, according to a letter signed by Principal Nathaniel Rouse and mailed earlier this week to parents. “Given the increased concerns about school safety throughout the country, OPRFHS staff has been reviewing the ways in which we might enhance the security of our building,” the letter said. “Based on this review, we are implementing a variety of measures to better protect the safety of students, staff, and visitors.” The school, in collaboration with the Oak Park Police Department, also will conduct a “hard lockdown …

Fenwick fashion show at Oak Brook Terrace April 25

Sun, 26 May 2013 06:07:53 -0500

OAK PARK — The Annual Fenwick Mothers’ club Spring Fashion Show and Dinner will take place on Thursday, April 25 at Drury Lane in Oak Brook Terrace. The evening begins with a shopping boutique at 5:15 p.m., followed by dinner and fashion show at 7 p.m. Fenwick students and faculty will model the latest spring fashions. The cost for this evening of friends, food and fashion is $65 per person. Reservation can be made through Fenwickfriars.com; follow the “Celebrate the Night” link. Or send an email to baojensen@yahoo.com or aaarts4@aim.com. Since the late 1970’s,the annual spring fashion show has been …

Magnetic theme draws students to science fair

Mon, 08 Apr 2013 06:39:43 -0500

RIVER FOREST — Hearing a student say “Whoa!” after seeing how his experiment worked during the Willard Elementary School science festival, Dr. Timothy Ozga grinned and said he gets that a lot.

Four Oak Park elementaries to get new playgrounds over summer

Mon, 01 Apr 2013 06:03:59 -0500

OAK PARK — Eight years ago, a group of parents got together at Irving Elementary School to develop a plan to build a safe playground to replace part of the 100,000 square feet of the hard blacktop for the older students. Their children have moved on, with some now attending Oak Park River Forest High School. But Laura Crawford, co-president of the school’s PTO, is determined that her daughter, second-grader Maxie Langenberg, will have the advantage of using the playground that was decades in the making. “The time for it was right. There was a lot of momentum behind it. …

River Forest District 90 wants to add street parking on Oak Avenue

Wed, 20 Feb 2013 18:42:01 -0500

After more than two hours of discussion about adding 35 new parking spaces in front of Roosevelt Junior High on Oak Avenue, a decision was reached to return March 11 and meet with the engineers for a final vote. However, another change being considered — making Oak a permanent one-way street — appears to be dead. Tuesday night, River Forest District 90 Superintendent Edward Condon addressed the River Forest Board of Trustees and a handful of residents at the Village Hall with a detailed outline. “As part of our desire to install a safe congregation area for students near the …

Many little hands make for a lighthearted time

Tue, 12 Feb 2013 16:30:00 -0500

RIVER FOREST Students at Willard Elementary School got all spiffed up last week for their annual “Big Hands, Little Hearts” event. About 135 older relatives, neighbors and other senior residents were the honored guests at a Valentine’s concert and tea put on by the students. Kindergarten and fourth graders sang. Second graders made the placemats, and first graders decorated the goody bags which were sent home with the guests. Third graders worked as greeters, door holders and servers (assisted by parent volunteers) and also passed out goody bags and flowers and helped guests at the coat racks. This year was …

River Forest school kicks off Peace and Justice Week

Wed, 03 Apr 2013 19:04:29 -0500

RIVER FOREST — “Share the Hair,” will be the kickoff event for Peace and Justice Week taking place starting Friday, Jan. 25, at Trinity High School, 7574 W. Division St., in River Forest, when 25 students are participating by cutting off inches of their hair to give to Locks of Love. Freshmen through seniors are participating and hair stylists from around the area will be cutting their hair. “Share the Hair” will start about 2:15 p.m. and end about 3 p.m. The rest of Peace and Justice Week will be filled with activities. Trinity’s homerooms will compete in a Mac …

Oak Park, River Forest school briefs: 10-year-old rock climber earns bid to nationals

Mon, 25 Feb 2013 06:05:37 -0500

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 …

Parents worry about crosswalk safety near Oak Park’s Longfellow School

Mon, 14 Jan 2013 06:20:51 -0500

OAK PARK — After school ended Dec. 6, Dana Trice and her son, Rashaad, noticed the “stop for pedestrians” sign posted in one of the crosswalks at South Cuyler Avenue and Jackson Boulevard made a difference for them as they crossed the street.

School briefs: Franklin Park, Elmwood Park and nearby areas

Mon, 21 Jan 2013 06:03:58 -0500

District 212 Exceptional Eagle Breakfast at East The following students at East Leyden High School, 3400 Rose St., Franklin Park, were honored at the Exceptional Eagle Breakfast, Thursday, Dec. 13 at the school. The monthly breakfast is held to recognize students for their extraordinary effort, special achievements and academic excellence. Parents and nominating teachers also are invited to attend. The students and the departments they represent are: Amanda Laskowski, Art; Maria Calderon, Bilingual/ESL; Penka Eneva, Business Education; A. J. Parcero, English; Samantha Martini, Family and Consumer Sciences; Jacquilyn Frausto, Family and Consumer Sciences; Mike Greco, Individual Achievement; Piotr Dabek, Industrial …

OPRF adds alumni to Tradition of Excellence rolls

Mon, 07 Jan 2013 06:24:11 -0500

OAK PARK — In the four years he’s been a student at Oak Park and River Forest High School, senior Steven Piper said this year’s Tradition of Excellence honorees made one of the best groups.

Fenwick teacher wins Jeopardy teachers tournament

Sun, 30 Dec 2012 06:14:27 -0500

OAK PARK — Colby Burnett wasn’t born with a love of trivia. But when he was ostracized or bullied as a child, he read whatever he could get his hands on, which included volumes of the encyclopedia.

Trinity school news

Mon, 07 Jan 2013 06:10:53 -0500

Jan. 12 ‘Pack the Gym’ alumnae event Trinity High School will be hosting its alumnae event alumnae “Pack-the-Gym” starting at 2:30 p.m. Jan. 12, at Trinity’s athletic facility, 7574 W. Division St., in River Forest. Trinity alumnae are invited to come and cheer on the Blazer’s basketball team, currently ranked second in the state. Trinity High School Blazers will be taking on the Vernon Hills Cougars. Following the game, there will be a party from 5 to 7 p.m. at O’Sullivan’s Public House at 7244 Madison St., in Forest Park. For more information, contact Patti Williams at (708) 453-8342 or …

Reading Olympics competition nears

Mon, 24 Dec 2012 06:13:42 -0500

OAK PARK — Fifth graders at all 12 Oak Park and River Forest schools will have a chance to bond this winter and spring over a shared love of reading.

OPRF exchange designed to foster cultural understanding

Thu, 15 Nov 2012 11:58:01 -0500

OAK PARK — The mundane parts of every day life can be quite exciting through the eyes of a foreign visitor. “The vegetables – they are always raw,” observed 16-year-old Italian student Alessia Orlandi. “And she loves squirrels,” chimed in her new friend Xenia Mansour, 17, of Oak Park-River Forest High School. “She freaks out every time we see them.” Mansour and Orlandi are paired together this year in a high school exchange program between Oak Park and a town just outside Florence, a program that began in 1988. Between Oct. 22 and Nov. 2, local high schoolers hosted 26 …

Trinity math contest open Nov. 30

Sun, 23 Dec 2012 06:25:06 -0500

River Forest — Mark your calendars for Trinity High School’s annual “Smart Girls Rock” Math Contest. Contest is open to seventh- and eighth-grade girls. Join girls from more than 50 different grade schools as they compete for the honor of winning Trinity’s prestigious Annual Math Competition. Contest will be held beginning at 4 p.m. Friday, Nov. 30, at Trinity High School 7574 W. Division St., in River Forest. Enter through the auditorium doors on Lathrop. Prizes are awarded to the top five scores in both seventh and eighth grade. After the contest, there will be pizza and a trivia contest. …