School Notes

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Updated: July 5, 2011 2:15AM

Grayslake

Competition: What started as a class project in U.S. History brought one Grayslake North High School student to the National History Day competition at the University of Maryland June 12-16. Matthew Teubert represented District 127, the first student from Grayslake North to compete, and the state of Illinois as he presented his research project “Behind the Bomb: Secrets of Manhattan.” In his museum-style exhibit, Matt explored the development of the atomic bomb and focused on the atomic scientists of Chicago who questioned President Truman’s decision to use the bomb on two Japanese cities to end World War II. At NHD, Matt was interviewed by a panel of judges made up of professional educators and historians from across the country. Judges noted that he had uncovered valuable sources for his project and that he had a good interview when presenting his research. Matt received superior scores at the school, regional, regional finals, and the state level before he became a National Finalist. In addition, he was awarded a special cash prize and the IIT John Root Award for Science and Society at the Chicago History Museum Award Ceremony in May. His project will be showcased at the Chicago History Museum this summer, and then will be on display at the Grayslake Historical Society. Also recognized at NHD was Matt’s teacher, Emily Weiss, who was presented with the PBS National Teacher of Merit Award. This award recognizes one National History Day teacher with less than five years of experience in the classroom for innovative teaching in history. The prize includes a PBS documentary library and a $5000 cash prize for Weiss’ classroom, and is one of three annual awards given to teachers at National History Day for creative teaching to help students develop a deeper appreciation for history.

Lake Forest

Awards: Woodlands Academy of the Sacred Heart’s newsletter Mes Amies has won an Excellence in Design award from the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE). Mes Amies received a Silver award from the 2011 Circle of Excellence Awards Program, an annual program administered by CASE, an international association of educational institutions that includes more than 3,400 colleges and universities, primary and secondary independent and international schools and nonprofit organizations in 68 countries. In the Excellence in Design: Single Page Publications category, Woodlands competed among 23 entries. The judges awarded Gold to the University of Pittsburgh, and the Silver to Woodlands. Additionally, Mes Amies received the only award, Silver, in the Independent School Tabloids and Newsletters division. Also, Woodlands’ annual magazine Coeur à Coeur, received a Bronze Medal in the Excellence In Design: Covers category for its 2009-2010 cover highlighting the school’s new multi-million dollar Science Center. Of the 57 entries, Woodlands Academy was the only secondary school represented in the all college/university field. Harvard Graduate School of Education took home the only Gold, while Cedars-Sinai Medical Center and Washington State University earned Silver awards. Others receiving the Bronze award in the category were Boston University and New York University.

Libertyville

Published essayists: Almost 30 Highland Middle School gifted education students will have their essays published in the 2011 Creative Communication anthology, “A Celebration of Essays.” The winners include Logan Archibald, Harrison Bach, Maya D’Souza, Jenna El Ghatit, Deborah Hanagan, Amber Hegwood, Britt Houser, Jessica Immermann, Sabrina Kite, Alexis Kristofferson, Sam Leonard, Max Lund, Amelia Lutz, Juan Martinez, Dylan Mckerman, Annika McVermott-Hinman, Jessice Miller, Lily Nader, Jacklyn Ovassapian, Rachel Prillaman, Nick Silvis, Grant Spaulding, Elliot Stahnke, Emily Sun, Julia Thurau, Brian Vickers, Alexander von Rueden and Daniel Zou.

Artwork published: Libertyville Elementary District 70 student artwork will once again appear in the next First Choice phone book. This fall’s First Choice Yellow Pages Lake County/North Shore area phone book is expected to contain artwork from Libertyville Elementary District 70 students from Adler Park, Butterfield, Copeland Manor and Rockland schools. The 3-year-old project has been very popular among the Libertyville students. Art teacher Cindi Sartain says keeping the artwork in front of the public is important, because many people don’t know how the arts are supported in the schools.