Established 1962

On her day off, Richards High School teacher Karen Lavin brought Leo Club students to visit senior citizens living at Lexington Health Care Center in Chicago Ridge.

It was Valentine’s Day, and Lavin and her students planned to spread a little love on a day when seniors might feel like they could use a lift.

Students belonging to Leo Club, a service organization that’s the high school affiliate of Lions Clubs International, created handmade valentines and flowers. 

They spent time visiting with Lexington residents and served them food. 

Full story available in the Chicago Ridge Citizen

Experience is paying dividends for the Oak Lawn Community High School boys swim team. With several swimmers having three years of experience on the varsity level and building confidence over those years, the Spartans found the rewards of hard work and swam to a second-place finish at the South Suburban Conference meet at Evergreen Park High School recently.

Jeremy Gravelle won the Diving title while Luke Fritz won the 200 Individual Medley and placed second in the 100 Butterfly. Mike Chowaniec took second in the 100 Breaststroke, and Alan Prymon finished second in the 500 Freestyle.

Full story available in the Chicago Ridge Citizen

To demonstrate support for Muslim students and staff members, Richards High School once again celebrated World Hijab Day.

Throughout the day non-Muslim female staff members wore hijab, or head covering. Many male non-Muslim staff members wore a traditional Muslim scarf as well.  

“We asked our faculty and staff to consider expressing their solidarity with our Muslim students by wearing hijab for the day,” said Allison Williams, one of many Richards’ teachers who has organized the effort the past four years.

Organizers of World Hijab Day plan the event with two purposes. 

“By wearing hijab, non-Muslim women can take a physical stand against the discrimination and hatred sometimes experienced by the Muslim families in our communities. In addition, non-Muslims can walk in the shoes of our Muslim sisters by wearing hijab and experiencing the possible range of reactions from others. It is a peaceful exercise that is based in support and solidarity,” Williams said.

Full story available in the Chicago Ridge Citizen

The varsity and junior varsity cheerleaders from Richards High School both won the South Suburban Conference Red Division championship recently. It’s the first time in school history that the cheerleaders swept conference.

Earlier this season the varsity team won the first Grand Champion trophy in program history at the Sandburg Invitational. 

Katie Basich coaches varsity and Jessica Gall coaches JV.

Full story available in the Chicago Ridge Citizen