Established 1945

Mock trials help students gain important skills like public speaking, debate techniques and critical thinking. They also teach about nation’s judicial branch of government and legal system. St. Rita’s robust curriculum is geared toward teaching young men with an emphasis on “Learning by doing.”

As such, St. Rita of Cascia High School’s annual AP Government SCOTUS Mock Trial is a worthwhile academic endeavor and popular event. This year’s mock trial was held in the school’s versatile Van Leuven Family Research Center on Friday, March 26. This year’s event was live-streamed via the school’s YouTube channel—a first for the venerable high school at the intersection of 77th street and Western Avenue.

“The case is a doozy,” uttered AP Government teacher Mr. Kieran Kellam when asked about the mock trial. He continued, “Caniglia v. Strom was heard on Wednesday (March 24) by the Supreme Court. So, we argued it two days later, and months from an actual opinion of the court.”

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Help transform a life and donate blood! Oak Lawn Community High School is hosting a blood drive on Saturday, April 10, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. in Auditorium Gym 127. By appointment only. For more information or to schedule an appointment, call 877-258-4825 or visit vitalant.org and use group code OL94. Masks are required. Vitalant is offering antibody testing for everyone that donates. 

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Shepard High School recently hosted an induction ceremony for students who qualified for National Honor Society.  

Criteria for membership include a grade point average of at least 3.6/4.0 and participation in at least four extracurricular activities (five if the student is a senior.)  

Students qualifying for the first time included Julia Alvarez, Natalia Bafia, Kara Born, Saniah Calvin, Sofia Cerullo, Joseph Cinkus, Richard Cinkus, Alexis Diaz, Chloe Dunigan, Christian Dziadkowiec, Arianna Esquivel, Maggie Evoy, Riley Evoy, Madeline Feldner, Shea Fitzgerald, Agnesa Gashi, Liam Gayduk, Kelly Greene, Roxanne Habbal, Lillian Hogan, Kassy King, Elizabeth Lappano.

Also, Andrew Maddox, Linnea Marsh, Maya McGhee, Megan McGrath, Abigail Michaels, Ashley Miller, Maha Motan, Haley Ohm, Jared Puente, Angel Rabadi, Graciella Ramirez, Emma Reilly, Krysta Reveche, Alejandro Ruiz, Demi Sanders, Michael Sealy-Bakos, Alana Smith, Gianna Spain, Calah Strohacker, Omar Talaat, Conner Vogrich, Kemora Wells, Autumn  Wilson, Abdulkareem Zatar, and Alison Zemeckis.

In addition, National Honor Society chose social studies teacher Gina Hanna for its annual faculty leadership award. This award recognizes a teacher who has served as a role model and inspired students to give their best academically.

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Restricted by the rules for public gatherings, teachers and students from Shepard High School still figured out a way to raise thousands for Special Olympics of Illinois.

Traditionally, the Astros traveled by school bus to join hundreds of others at a Polar Plunge. This year, however, they needed to find another way.

“It isn’t where we plunge or how we plunge, but that we plunge! Students and staff members got creative as they plunged from home this year,” said special education teacher Ashely Lythberg, who once again coordinated the campaign.

So they plunged in pools or dumped five-gallon buckets filled with icy water on their heads. Some made snow angels. 

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