April. 2007Volume 37. Issue 3

ak LeafletA Message From the Principal

This is an urgent time in the history of OakLawn Community High School. Over the past15 years that I have been a part of thisoutstanding institution, I have witnessed andparticipated in countless efforts and initiativesto improve our school. The work of the OLCHSstaff, with the support of the Board of

Education and the community, has proven to be worthwhile in ourobjective to provide for our students a secondary educationalexperience second to none.

• The school's enrollment has steadily increased as a result offamilies choosing to remain and to relocate to within theOLCHS district boundaries.

• The OLCHS curriculum has undergone significant modifica­tions to prepare students for success after leavinghigh school.Students have responded to these improvements bygraduating at a much higher rate and demonstratingcontinuous increases in state assessments.Our extracurricular participation rates are higher than ever,providing students with numerous enriching opportunitiesto learn and grow outside the classroom.

However, for the first time in my experience as a member of thisschool community, we are forced to reduce these learning and growthopportunities for students. With the failure of the 22-cent tax increasereferendum this past fall, the school is now facing unprecedentedbudget cuts for next school year. Cuts to our extracurricularprograms, as well as numerous support staff positions, are slated for2007-2008.

On Tuesday, April 17, 2007, the community will once again beasked to approve a 22-cent tax increase, a rate increase that OLCHShas not received in 40 years. With the passage of this referendum,these programs and services can continue to be available for ourstudents in the future. Please consider the stakes and the future ofOLCHS and our community. Please make an educated decision withyour vote on Tuesday, April 17, 2007.

Michael J. RiordanPrincipal

Oak Lawn Community High School

INSIDE THIS ISSUE:

Sport Achievements 2

Foren ic 3

Student of Quarter 4

Letter Writing Camp. 4

Attendance 4

PRIDE Recipients 4

National Honor Soc. 5

Spart. AlumlFriend 5

PPS ew 6-10

Seme ter Exam II

OLSA wim Team II

Relay for Life II

wim Le on II

Early Voting 12

Tornado eremony 12

Sex Offender Regi . 12

Election DayTuesday

April 17, 2007

PAGE 2

Sports Achievements

Sectional ChampionshipsVarsity Boys' Bowling: Daniel Mearker, Joseph Moore,Bruno Ojer, Brian Schopper, Christopher Taraba, FrankTirrito, Craig Volk, Robert Weaver, and Coach KevinMcKeown.

Sophomore Boys' Basketball: Zachary Barnhart, OscarGarcia, Jack Kamenske, Phillip Karczewski, Luke Lally,James Mallek, Ramon Martinez, Jeffrey Norris, WojciechPara, Leart Ramadani, Nicholas Synowiecki, GytisTamosaitis, Aaron Urbano, Cody Williams, and CoachFrank Padula.

Freshman Girls' Basketball: Natalie Boll, Mollie Brown,Seda Calbay, Lauren Green, Anna Hoban, Mary RoseKendall, Jennifer Murry, Michelle Nudo, BrittneyOverland, Rebecka Pavlick, Victoria Prokop, TaylorWeiland, Caitlin Wilson, Catherine Yacko, SaraZabransky, and Coaches Erin Dempsey and VernScarpelli.

THE OAK LEAFLET

Regional ChampionshipsVarsity Girls' Basketball: Melissa Barber, Melissa Cervantes,Brittany Foley, Kelly Hughes, Arnie Kesner, EmilyKorkosz, Colleen Madden, Andrea Mendoza, Elle Opitz,Jillian Postregna, Melissa Roti, Danielle Synowiecki, JulieTracy, and Coaches Janet Haubenreiser and Skip Sullivan.

Sophomore Boys' Bowling: Timothy Fischer, Kirk Poulsen,Anthony Renteria, Robert Reynolds, Jacob Siska, SpencerTouchie, Shawn Wynne, and Coach Kevin McKeown.

Conference ChampionsVarsity Girls' Basketball: Melissa Barber, MelissaCervantes, Brittany Foley, Kelly Hughes, Arnie Kesner,Emily Korkosz, Colleen Madden, Andrea Mendoza, ElleOpitz, Jillian Postregna, Melissa Roti, DanielleSynowiecki, Julie Tracy, and Coaches JanetHaubenreiser and Skip Sullivan.

Freshman Boys' Basketball: Andrew Barlos, Jeffrey Bauer,Brandon Byrne, Christopher Cascarano, Timothy Casey,Jesse Eskridge, Nicholas Favia, Dominique Kelly, MatthewKurnyta, Patrick Madden, Ryan Malone, Thomas March,Kevin Neely, Daniel Pazda, Justin Polehonki, JohnRobinson, Donald Seidelmann, Paul Stameson, andCoaches Chris Newton and Ron Persson.

Sophomore Girls' Basketball: Katherine Bojko, AshleyCatizone, Nicole Janik, Kessy Kesner, Jaclyn Larson,Rachel Menor, Michelle Paul, Jennifer Redlin, SarahReed, Kristy Scialabba, Megan Strelow, SamanthaWnenk, and Coach Jenny Kimmey.

Varsity Girls'DanceMVP: KaitlynKross

Varsity Boys' BasketballAll-Conference: Linus VydmantasSpartan Pride Award: Jeremy Dunk,Nathan Haubenreiser, Kendal Johnson,Christopher Mascorro, Linas VydmantasSportsmanship: Christopher MascorroAdvanced to Sectional IHSA Three-PointContest: Nathan Haubenreiser,Christopher MascorroAdvanced to State IHSA Three-Point Contest: ChristopherMascorro

Varsity Girls' BowlingAll-Conference: Kelly SmallMVP: Candice BuricaSportsmanship: Nicole Neises

Varsity CheerleadingAll-Conference: Kristine Sulit, Nina RobertsMVP: Michelle Tillman

Varsity Girls' BasketballAll-Conference: Brittany Foley,Andrea Mendoza, DanielleSynowiecki, Julie TracyHonorable Mention: JillianPostregnaMVP: Danielle Synowiecki,Julie TracySportsmanship: Kelly Hughes,

Emily KorkoszAdvanced to State IHSA Three-Point Contest: Brittany FoleyDaily Southtown All-Area Team: Julie Tracy

Varsity Boys' BowlingAll-Conference:Christopher TarabaMVP: Frank TirritoSportsmanship:Frank TirritoState Qualifier:Christopher Taraba

Varsity Boys' Swimming/DivingAll-Conference: Thomas Groark, Kevin ThompsonSectional Champion: Thomas GroarkMVP: Thomas Groark, Kevin ThompsonSportsmanship: Shadi AsfourState Qualifier: Thomas Groark

Varsity WrestlingMVP: Imad AlabedSportsmanship: Christopher LeClair, Ricardo Merced

IHSA Scholastic Achievement AwardsIHSA Scholastic Achievement Awards were earned by thefollowing juniors and seniors with a 3.5 GPA or higher: LillianBenson, Jeremy Dunk, Brittany Foley, NathanHaubenreiser, Kelly Hughes, Emily Korkosz, ChristopherLeClair, Colleen Madden, Elle Opitz, Kellie Radnis, RachelRibich, Michael Russell, Danielle Synowiecki, ChristopherTaraba, Kevin Thompson, Michael Trotta, Matthew Walsh,and Jillian Wroble.

VOLUME 37, ISSUE 3 PAGE 3

Individual Speech Events

Performance in the Round

10th Place in State1st Place in Sectionals1st Place in Regionals

2nd Place in State1st Place in Sectionals1st Place in Regionals

Team Members: Muhanad Adas, Carissa Banich, Sophia Barakat,Robert Beland, Lauren Cassidy, Amanda Eversole, Claire Ford, MarekGal, Rosalie Hincks, Danielle Kita, Heather Kita, Thomas Murphy,Jennifer Nudo, Trina Proctor, Nicholas Szurgot, JonathanWaterstraat, and Susanna Zwirkoski.

Regional/Sectional Team Members: David Ford, Delia Goldrick, ThomasKoegel, Nicole Kovacevich, Fitsum Kumssa, Michelle Moyer, RachelRangel, Theresa Slonskis, Lauren Wagner, and Antonio Zhiurinskas.

4th in State Humorous Duet Acting: Rachel Rangel and AntonioZhiurinskas5th in State, Impromptu Speaking: Thomas Koegel5th in State, Verse Reading: Theresa Slonskis

PRIDE Recipients

Letter Writing Campaign

Student Council members conductedanother successful letter writingcampaign to show their appreciation topeople serving in the United States armedforces. Lance Corporal Wayne Rydberg,Jr., who received a similar care packagefrom students in October while he wasstationed in Iraq, attended the event tosay thanks to students in person. LanceCorporal Rydberg is the brother of Ms.Jamie Rydberg of the Math Department.

The 1st Semester PRIDE(Personal Responsibility inDaily Effort) Recipients wereKamil Alberski, HusamAlshoweat, Ryan Altenburg,Julian Arana, DanielleArnold, Andrew Bernier,Michael Byrne, ClaytonCarr, Garrett Childs, JohnDiDominicis, JacobFeinman, Claire Ford,

Randal Gruidl, Eric Guerrero, Nicole Janik,Danielle Kita, Patrick Kustok, MeaghanLocklund, Mariola Makarska, SamanthaManuzak, Sean McGinty, Ryan Medlin,Christopher Oczachowski, Katelyn Pinner,Justin Polehonki, Keri Poma, Victoria Prokop,Lawrence Redlin, Marco Rojas, Carlos Santizo,Joseph Sauerwein, Thomas Schlesser, LaurenSchuld, Taghred Shalabi, Jake Shelpman,David Smith, Kyle Smith, Reid Smith, PatrickStalla, Megan Sullivan, Travis Sunderland,Danielle Swistek, Katarzyna Szponder,Richard Thompson, Carissa Trotto, JesseUdvett-Dorian, Kayla Vicik, and DanielleZalesny.

THE OAK LEAflET

Ceylan YeterEnglish

Family/Cons. Sciences

Keith VandeWerkenPhysical Education

Jessica Jarzabkowski

Social Science Industrial Technology

Attendance

Megan StrelowMathematics

Science

PAGE 4

Copies of medical/dental/court documen­tation should be submitted to theAttendance Office the day the studentreturns to the school.

Parents are encouraged to schedulemedical/ dental appointments for studentsbefore or after school so that valuableclassroom instruction time is not missed. Ifit is necessary for a student to miss schoolfor appointments or special situations, astudent should complete a pre-arrangedabsence form prior to the day of theabsence.

Forms can be picked up in the AttendanceOffice, Room 122, or may be downloadedfrom the OLCHS website. Forms need to befilled out completely and signed by aparent, teachers, and the dean. Mostimportantly, the form needs to be returnedto the Attendance Office before the date ofthe absence.

Justin Hill

Foreign Language

Students of the Second Quarter

VOLUME 37, ISSUE 3 PAGES

National Honor Society

Sixty-four students were inducted into the membership of the National HonorSociety. Mrs. Pamela Bibeau, retired teacher, was the featured speaker. Mr.Michael Riordan, Principal, and Mrs. Janet Carlson, NHS sponsor, presented theawards.

Members were selected by a faculty council for meeting high standards ofscholarship, service, leadership, and character. They will serve Oak LawnCommunity High School as National Honor Society members on various serviceprojects in the school and throughout the community. The following students wereinducted:

Seniors: Latifa Ali, Jacquelyn Evans, Kyle Exline, David Ford, Kelly Hughes,Alejandra Iniguez, Kevin McLoughlin, Amy Schiesl, Danielle Synowiecki, andKarolina Walkosz-Strzelec.

Juniors: Amy Adamow, Rasheed Allahar, Sophia Barakat, Katarzyna Beben, Jeffrey Budlove,Clayton Carr, Alexander Chigas, Sherri Crumley, Catharine Debelle, Viviana DelaPaz, MaryDowning, Brittany DuVall, Jessica Finnigan, Taylor Fionda, Marillia Gallegos, Kathryn Girten,Jamie Gowin, Sarah Grisko, Nadia Hanafi, Alexis Harr, Katherine Hoffman, Courtney Kapala,Danielle Kita, Iwona Krzysiak, Ashley LaVela, Joanna Llamas, Colleen Madden, Melissa Mamroth,Kathryn Marovitch, Emily Masek, Andrea Mendoza, Amanda Meza, Thomas Murphy, Jack Nagel,Elle Opitz, Ashley Peterson, Colleen Quinn, Anthony Ramsaran, Alexandra Rodriguez, DeenaRostom, Lauren Schuld, Lubna Shahen, Alexis Smith, Michaelene Stalla, Megan Sullivan, MallorieTomasik, Michael Trotta, Tomasz Urbanek, Laura Vognar, Michele Zagorski, Jorge Zaldivar,Mohammed Zegar, Michael Zero, and Susanna Zwirkoski.

Calling All Spartans!

The Spartan Alumni and Friends Athletic Association 2nd Annual Fundraiser "There's No Place LikeHome" is in the works, and we have a lot of fun in store for this event! The springboard to this eventis our All-Spartan Raffle. Through your generosity and support, our last Raffle was a huge success.We hope the Spartan Family will help us again. Remember, all proceeds from ANY of our fundraisersgo directly to assist our Activities and Athletic Programs. It's easy to enter. When you receive yourtickets, just mail back your stubs and $10 donation per ticket (checks made payable to SAFAA). Thewinning tickets will be selected at our Texas Hold'em Tournament. The winners need not be present.First prize: $500. Second prize: $250.

Other Upcoming Events (Mark your calendars now!):

1st Annual Alumni Hold'em Tourney, Saturday, April 28, 2007, Demma's Restaurant, Oak Lawn,Only 125 tickets will be sold. Contact John "Robbie" Robinson at 708-937-5026.

Annual Alumni Golf Outing, Friday, July 27, 2007, Odyssey Country Club. For details contactGeorge Dempsey at 708-878-9989.

2nd Annual Fundraiser Texas and All Year Reunion Weekend, "There's No Place Like Home,"Homecoming Game, Friday, September 21, 2007, All-Year Reunion highlighting Classes of'57,'67,'77,'87,'97, Saturday, September 22,2007, 115 Bourbon Street. (More details to follow!)

PAGE 6

Pupil Personnel Services

Lee StanleyDivision Chairperson

PSAEAll juniors will be taking the Prairie State Achievement

Examination (PSAE) on April 25 and 26, 2007. This is nowa MANDATORY GRADUATION REQUIREMENT. Allstudents enrolled in an illinois public high school musttake this exam in order to graduate. We stronglyencourage all juniors to be present and take theexamination on these days. There will be a make-upsession in May, but students will be required to miss classtime if they need to make up these tests.

Students will take the ACT assessment on Day 1. TheACT assessment consists of five tests: English,mathematics, reading, writing, and science.

On Day 2, students will take an ISBE-developed test inscience and two Work Keys test in reading andmathematics.

PSAE scores will now appear on transcripts. A PrairieState Achievement Award is special recognition given forexcellent performance. Students can earn an award foreach PSAE subject in which their score is at the Meets orExceeds Standards level. Each award received will benoted on the transcript, and students will receive acertificate. The PSAE ACT scores can be used for collegeentrance.

Juniors who score a "meets" or "exceeds" in allcategories of the PSAE and have no more than threeexcused absences during the Fall, 2007, semester will beexempt from their December, 2007, final exams.

Handling Test Stress

Practical Tips to Help Your StudentIn high school, your student's life is a whirlwind of tests,

from midterms and finals to the PSAT/NMSQT and SATtests. With all this experience, it may seem like taking testsshould be a breeze for your student. Unfortunately, thisisn't always the case. Pressure to get high marks canincrease a student's anxiety over grades, and make tests anerve-wracking experience.Good Stress and Bad Stress

Some stress before a test can actually be helpful. Justas stress at a job can push you to work harder, test stresscan motivate students to put forth their best effort.However, too much anxiety can weaken students'confidence. The anxiety that students feel when faced withan exam can create a kind of noise or static in their minds.Unless they're able to relax, that noise can block theirability to recall important information. It can also impairtheir comprehension and reasoning, which makesproblem-solving very difficult. As a result, students mayreceive grades that don't really reflect their hard work andabilities.Tips for Calming Test-Time Jitters

If your student gets nervous before tests for classes,encourage her to try the following tips and strategies for

THE OAK LEAflET

keeping anxiety down and energy up for the next bigexam.Before the Test

Don't cram: Studying like crazy the night before anexam can leave your student exhausted and morestressed out than before, so encourage her to study insmall doses over several days.

Take practice tests: Knowing the format and style of atest can keep anxiety at bay, so have your student takepractice exams if they're available.

Get a good night's sleep: Lack of sleep contributesheavily to anxiety. Be sure your student goes to bed earlythe night before an exam.

Eat a healthy breakfast: Blood sugar is at its lowest inthe morning. A good breakfast will enable your student tothink and problem solve effectively.

Exercise: Encourage your student to engage in physicalactivity before the test to reduce body tension. Forexample, take a brisk walk or jog.

Come early and prepared: By arriving to the test earlyand with the right supplies (e.g., No.2 pencils, calculator),your student can avoid stressing out about small details.This will allow your student to focus on the task at hand.During the Test

Preview the exam and budget time: By previewing thetest, your student can avoid any unexpected surprises(and anxiety). It will also provide the opportunity tobudget time so as not to spend too long on anyonesection.

Jot notes: Jotting down brief notes right away can helpyour student feel less anxious about forgetting importantfacts or key information.

Read all directions: Some students are so anxious toget the test over with that they fail to read the directions.

Answer easy questions first: Getting the easierquestions out of the way allows your student to focusenergy and time on the harder questions.

Rephrase difficult questions: Putting difficultquestions in her own words can help your student slowdown and really think about the problem. But yourstudent should be careful not to change the questions'meanings when re-writing them.

Organize thoughts before writing: Your student shouldorganize responses to short-answer and essay questionsbefore diving in. Having a plan will increase confidencewhile writing.

Think positively: Negative thoughts during a test (e.g.,"I'm going to fail.") can destroy your student's confidence.Encourage overriding negative thoughts with positiveones (e.g., "I studied hard and I know my facts. I'll dogreat on this test.")

Relax: A student who starts to feel stress during a testshould try quick relaxation techniques, such as, takingdeep breaths and letting out tension with each exhale;tensing muscles for 5 seconds and releasing, repeatingthree times; and visualizing a peaceful and relaxingsetting.

Keep in mind that using the tips above won'tnecessarily keep anxiety away completely. However,practicing these techniques can give your student theright skills to manage test stress when it does happen.

VOLUME 37, ISSUE 3 PAGE 7

Teen Driving Safety Tips for Parents

Teen Drivers

Sixteen-year-olds are 20 mores times likely than ad.ultsto have traJfic accidents, according to the AmencanAcademy oj Pediatrics. The Jollowing information ~s

included as part oj the Driver Education cumculum and LS

repeated here Jor the benefit oj all parents.

Effective Date January 1, 2004 - SENATE BILL 58:Teen Passenger Restriction Legislation. This law providesthat a person under the age of 18, who receives agraduated driver's license, may not drive with more thanone person in the vehicle who is under the age of 20during the first six months of their license or until theperson reaches the age of 18, whichever occurs sooner,unless an adult is present. Exceptions to this passengerrestriction are provided for siblings, step-siblings, childrenand stepchildren of the driver.

Graduated Driver License System in Illinois

Eligibility for Driver Education

Students must receive a passing grade in at leasteight academic courses during the previous two semest~rs

prior to enrolling in Driver Education, not mcludmgPhysical Education.

The Graduated Driver Licensing System in Illinoisrequires a parent to spend 50 hours in the car with theteenager behind the wheel. Encourage your teenager todevelop safe driving habits and skills.

Here are a few guidelines to follow:Take your teenager for driving practice under variousconditions and practice different skills.Take your teenager to get a license only when you andyour teenager feel the time is right.Provide a safe vehicle for practice sessions.Work with your teenager's driver educationinstructor.Meet with your insurance agent.Create a sober driving contract.Inform your teen what to do in case of an accident.

Permit Phase - Drivers Age 15Parental or guardian consent required to obtain aninstruction permit.Curfew is Sunday through Thursday, 11:00 p.m.;Friday and Saturday, 12:01 a.m. (Local curfews maydiffer.)Must be enrolled in an approved driver educationcourse and must pass vision and knowledge tests.All occupants under age 18 must wear safety belts.Number of passengers limited to one in the front seatand the number of safety belts in the back seat.Practice driving 50 hours supervised by a parent oran adult age 21 or older with a valid driver's license.Permit must be held for a minimum of three months.Permit is valid for up to two years.

SanctionsLimit of one court supervision for serious offenses.Conviction of a serious moving violation results in asix-month waiting period before applying for a driver'slicense.Not eligible for a restricted or a judicial driving permit.Anyone caught driving without a permit will beineligible to obtain a driver's license until age 18.

Initial Licensing Phase - Drivers Ages 16-17Curfew is Sunday through Thursday, 11 p.m.; Fridayand Saturday, 12:01 a.m. (Curfew applies only to 16­year olds; local curfews may differ.)Must have completed a state-approved drivereducation course.All occupants under age 18 must wear safety belts.For the first six months of licensing or until the driveris age 18, whichever occurs first, the number ofpassengers is limited to one person under age 20,unless the additional passenger is a sibling, step­sibling, child or step-child of the driver. After this .period, the number of passengers is limited to one 10

the front seat and the number of safety belts in theback seat.Parental or guardian consent is required to obtain alicense; a parent must verify that a minimum of 50hours of practice has been completed.

SanctionsLimit of one court supervision for serious offenses.Conviction of any moving violation before age 18generates a Secretary of State warning letter to theparent and the teenager.Conviction of two moving violations in a 24-monthperiod results in a minimum one-month licensesuspension.Suspended drivers required to attend a remedialeducation course may be retested and pay a $70reinstatement fee.

Losing a License . . .Driver's License Cancellation

A driver's license or instruction permit shall becancelled if a student under 18 years of age dropsout of school..The School District shall furnish quarterly reports toRegional Superintendent and Secretary of State thatinclude the names of pupils whose withdrawal is dueto extraordinary circumstances, pupils who have re­enrolled in school, and pupils certified to be chronic orhabitual truants.

Driving Under the Influence Convictions forIndividuals under 21 years of ageFirst Offense

Loss of driving privileges for a minimum of 2 years.DUI conviction is permanently on driving record.Second OffenseLoss of driving privileges for a minimum of 5 years oruntil 21st birthday, whichever is longer.DUI conviction is permanently on driving record.

PAGES

Alcohol Awareness Week

In the news recently, there have been manyreports in other communities of teen tragedies andcar crashes due to alcohol and drug use. Teenageuse of alcohol and drugs has devastatingconsequences including injury, death and addiction.To recognize the serious problem of alcohol abuse,the month of April has been designated "AlcoholAwareness Month." Oak Lawn Community HighSchool has planned several activities during ourAlcohol Awareness Week, April 10-13, 2007. OnWednesday, April 11, 2007, students will participatein "Dead for a Day." This activity will focus awarenesson deaths due to traffic crashes. According to MADD,a person in the U.S. dies in an alcohol-related trafficcrash every 28 minutes. To heighten awareness on alocal level, a randomly selected student will die asymbolic death due to an alcohol-related traffic crashevery 28 minutes of the school day.

On Thursday, April 12, 2007, a staff- andstudent-produced multimedia presentation will beoffered to the student body to encourage gooddecision-making regarding drugs and alcohol and theuntruths students believe about stereotypical teenbehavior. The overall message is about believing inyourselfl Later in the month, the community willcelebrate drug and alcohol-free youth at the REDRlBBON BLOCK PARTY on Friday, April 29, 2007,from 4:00-6:00 p.m at the Oak Lawn Village Green,near the Oak Lawn Public Library. The Red RibbonBlock Party is a family drug-free celebrationpromoting a drug-free lifestyle for youth. Studentscome out to the Village Green to play games, winprizes, enjoy refreshments, and listen to fun music.An information table is also available withinformation about alcohol and drugs. Many youngpeople make healthy decisions not to use drugs andalcohol. Let's celebrate, affirm and support youthdoing the right thing.

Parents play an important role in keeping teensaway from drugs, alcohol and other risky behaviorssuch as cigarette use and sexual activity. Researchshows that teens who have a positive relationshipwith their parents are less likely to engage in riskybehaviors. Parents are urged to monitor their child'sactivities and talk about the dangers of drug andalcohol use. The following resources for parents areavailable at www.theantidrug.com:

1) "Navigating the Teen Years: A Parent's Handbookfor Raising Healthy Teens," endorsed by the AmericanAcademy of Pediatrics, is packed with useful tips andexpert advice on how parents can tune into theirteens, set rules and expectations, and monitor themthrough their adolescent years.

2) "The Teen Years: A Roadmap for Parents" is aninteractive CD-ROM that provides in-depth

THE OAK LEAFLET

information about how your teen is developingthroughout adolescence and offers expert advice forparents on how best to guide their teen through thistransitional time. Features include a Drug KnowledgeQuiz, Conversations for Parents, Pressures onToday's Teens, and a "What's Your Parenting Style?"interactive assessment.

3) "Keeping Your Teens Drug-Free: A Family Guide"specifically addresses the importance of family as adrug deterrent and notes simple techniques that evenbusy parents can use to help prevent drug use. Thisbrochure includes information about underagedrinking, marijuana, and other illicit drugs, howparents can influence their kids, opportunities forstarting a discussion, and what parents can do andsay to keep their teen drug- and alcohol-free.Versions specifically written for African-American andHispanic parents are also available.

For more information, contact Mrs. Mary Egan,Student Assistance Program Coordinator, at 708­741-5659.

Six Tips To Keep Your Teen Safe Online

1) Ask your child how he/she uses the Internet andto show you how he/she uses the Internet tocommunicate with friends. Visit netlingo.com forupdates on abbreviations.

2) Explore the wide range of information availableonline and discuss topics you consider off-limits. Setyour own rules for use of the Internet in your homeand consider placing your computer in a commonarea of your home such as the kitchen, rather than inyour child's room.

3) Monitor the amount of time your child spendsonline and set a reasonable limit. Excessive use ofonline services, especially late at night, may signal apotential problem.

4) Remind your child not to share personalinformation such as addresses, phone numbers,school names, pictures, or activity schedules withanyone online.

5) Tell your child never to meet in person withanyone met online; people online may not be whothey say they are, and everything your child readsmay not be true.

6) Conduct a search of popular websites likeMySpace and Xanga:

Go to MySpace.com and search by name, emailaddress or screen/Display Name.Xanga has a link at the bottom ofwww.xanga.com just for parents that provideshelpful information and a method to contactXanga.

VOLUME 37,.SSUE 3 PAGE 9

Student BulletinVisit www fastweb com to search over $3 billion in scholarshipsl

Feb/Mar 2007High School Edition

Understanding Your Financial Aid Award LetterUse ~IS eurnpte ••• gu.tde to your finana.1 atd award Iener Pte... contad your prospective col_ge's atd office If you have quesbons

COA ($15,239) - EFC ($3,612)~

Financial Aid Eligibility ($11 ,627)

$3,000112500~$3,612

Cost o(Affendance (COA)The total expenses (tu~lon,

fees, etc) of one year'seducation, Your schoolmay also include indirectcosts (books, room andboard, transportation,personal expenses, etc)Our example Includes bothdirect and indirectexpenses

Expen_ (COA)TuOOn $5,334Hea~hFees 176BookslSupphes 1,015RoomlBoard 5,204Personal 2,600Transportation ~Total Ellpen....: $15,239

Resoorces (EFC)Family's ResoucesParents ContributIOn,

From EarningsFrom Assets

Studenfs ContnbutJonOther ResoucesTotal Resouces:

Expected FamilyContnbutJon (EFC)Amount your family IS

expected to gIVe per year,determined by FAFSAresuns (e g, EFC is$3,612 [3,000+112+500])The amount you end upactually paying could differfrom the EFC, dependingon what resources areavailable at your college

Ace.pI Doci... FALL SPRING TOTALo 0 Federal Pell Grant $625 $625 $1,250

Awarded Total Federal Pell Grant =$1,250Financial - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -­Aid 0 0 Direct Stafford Loan $1,000 00 $1,000 00 2,000

O-OD~d~~~~~~~~~~~$1~~~~nTotal Federal Direct Student Loans = 55,an

Total Financial Aid Package Offered (grants + loans) =57,127

FinanCIal Aid Award, Notice the choiceto accept or decline each award Thisaward letter consIsts ot

- Federal Pell Grant (free money)- Federal StalT()(d Loan (student repays)- Federal PLUS Loan (parent repays)

-----------------------------------------

Advanced Placement (AP) Exams

Comparing Financial Aid Award lettersYou may receive award letters from different colleges Keep the follovvlng In mind when making your final deCISion

Free search of 1.3 million scholarships and 4,000 collegesl

www.f••tweb.com

)

Unmet Need Unmel need IS equal toCOA less the tolal of EFC and total aidamount Our example Indicates thatthe financial aid matches the student'sneed, so the unmet need is $4,500$4,500

$15,239-3,612

:.l..12Z.

look beyond the "sticker price": The school ~h thelowest cost of attendance may not be the most aff()(dableThe amount and type of aid olTered WIll Influence alTordability

Oon't accept an offer just because It has the lowest"unmet need": You may save more by accepllng an offerwith a higher unmet need, If the aid package offersscholarshIps, grants and work-study instead of loans

Compare like tarms: Howdo the schools determine cost ofattendance? 00 they all include direct costs as well asindirect costs? How do they handle outside scholarships?What w()(k-study options are available? What are wageslike? Can you subst~ute work f()( a loan?

Fastnp: You can choose to accept or decline any part of your financial aid package.

COAH0tal Cost of Attendance• EFC EFC

• Financial Aid Total Awarded Financial Aid

Unmet Need UNMETNEEO

Look carefully at your award 18"*,.: Letters from differentschools WIll probably have their figures and costs in dilierentformats Compare award letters to see how theII olTer1lmeasure up Ask If outside scholarships WIll alTect your aId

Compare loan offers: Interest rates, how,"terestcompounds, repayment terms and cancellation prOVISions canvary widely from loan to loan

Compare affordabllity of aid offers over time: Ask howyour financial aid package WIll change over time, The aidpackage made available to you in your senior year may lookvery dllTerent from the one you were offered freshman year

(

The Advanced Placement (AP) exams will be administered the weeks of May 7-18, 2007. Currently, OakLawn Community High School offers AP classes in English, mathematics, social studies, and science.Students have already registered for the exams, The cost of each exam is $83. OLCHS refunds the $83 tostudents scoring three or higher on these exams,

The spring ACT and SAT testing dates are approaching for all juniors, Juniors must take the ACT testduring the April 25, and 26, 2007 PSAE testing days, The PSAE is now an Illinois state requirement forgraduation, ALL JUNIORS MUST TAKE THE PSAE in order to raduate.

Juniors must take the ACT by June 2007, to qualify for th Illinois State Scholarship Program, ACT andSAT I scores are automatically forwarded to the Illinois State Scholarship Commission, Juniors interested inhighly competitive colleges need to take the SAT II t sts this spring,

Dates for the ACT and SAT are as follows:ACT, June 9, 2007, registration deadline is May 4, 2007,SAT, June 2, 2007, registration d adline is April 27, 2007,

Alternative Loan GuideConsider an a~ernatlVe loan· only If you've maxed out on Iree aid (scholarships and grants) and lOW-interest government loans

While alternative loans might be the dlfferenoe between attending college or not, use them only as a last resort

Visit www fastweb com to search over $3 billion in scholarships!

Student Bulletin

THE OAK LEAFLET

FeblMar 2007High School Edition

How much should I borrow?Avoid borrOWIng more than youranticipated first-year salary anercollege. II you think your salarywill start at $40Klyr, don't borrowmore than $1 OK/yr.

• Sourc•. F..,tW~ coo.ge Gold (www.coNegegold.com)

Hard to compa,e offe,s: All things being equal, which IS abetter offer, the 7% interest loan with 4% lees, or the 6%Interest loan WIth 6% fees? (Answer the second one costsless.) Understanding the relationship between Interest,lees, number 01 years and discount rates can be conlusing(Check wwytcolleoeoo!d.cor!J!foo!s lor info on howtoanalyze these numbers!)

Good credit Is key: The adVertised rates are generally forcustomers with excellent credn records II you or yourfamily's credit history IS poor, the .nterest and fees you paycould be more than the advertised rate

In-school dele,ment: Many private education loans allowyou to defer the repayment obligation until aner graduation,but the catch IS that the interest is capitalized-lhat IS, theinterest becomes part of the principal loan balance, whichmeans a bigger loan and more to repay.

Pay lor mo'e: Use an a~ernative loan to pay for Ineligiblefederal loan expenses, such as a laptop, study abroad, etcFederal student loans can only be used for educationalexpenses (tUition, fees, room and board, etc.)

Deductible Inte,est: Deduct up to $2,500 on your lederaltax return ThiS benefit covers both a~ernatlve andgovernment education loans

Student obligation: A~ernatlveloans are consumer loans,meaning you must repay (however, a parent co-slgner wouldbe come liable II you can't pay). Shared responslbllrty maybe more appealing than the Parent Loan lor UndergraduateStudents (PLUS), where only the parent pays

When would I use one?Many lamilies use a~ernabve loans tobridge the gap between governmen~

college, work-study or scholarship aidthey are already eligible to receive andthe cost 01 attendance.

What is an alternative loan?An alternatIVe (aka: private) loan IS aioan through a commercial lender (e.g ,a bank). Unlike most government aid,eligibility is based on your credithistory and not financial need.

Variable Interest rates: Because private loan prOViders offervariable rates, you may find a more competitive rate betweenother providers. II interest rates are low, a variable rate mightbe preferred II interest rates rise, you may be better off witha fixed-rate loan

Cost: While the cost of prIVate loans generally won't be ableto compete WIth a fixed-rate government loan, their cost ISgenerally cheaper than credit cards or even the rate of apersonal loan that would be offered by your local bank

C'edlt-baaed, not need-baaed: You qualify for a~ernatlveloans based on credit history and credit score (a measure ofcreditworthiness), not finanCial need Generally speaking,the better your credit hiStOry, the lower your interest rate

... and why you might llil1.

More expensive: Government loan Interest rates are so low,private loan providers might not be able to offer a competitiverate. Alternative loans also charge lees that government loansdo not, further increasing the cost 01 borrowing.

Toughe, te,ms: While you can defer payment on ana~ernatlve ioan until after graduation, you must stili pay theInterest lithe Interest IS capitalIZed (see above), you may endup paying even more. Subsidized government loans cover thecost of Interest while you're In school.

Higher loan limits: You may be able to borrow more throughan a~ernatJVe loan vs a lederally.funded student loan.

Why you might want an alternative loan...

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Prepare and Plan:Use High School Resources

Meet with your counselor early. Plan your high school curriculum to be sure you are covered for collegerequirements.Take more rigorous classes. Course difficulty is as important as grades. If you think you can meet thechallenge, opt for an academically rigorous course over an easy "A."Master the basics. Strengthen your reading, writing, math and vocabulary skills for college and scholarshipessays, as well as standardized tests.Do your best in your classes. Remember: Class rank and GPA are still key factors in college admissions.Explore your interests through your classes. Take classes in a variety of subjects to find out what interestsyou.Perform community service or get a part-time job. Show that you are a well-rounded person who knows howto manage your time.Participate in a summer program. A quality hands-on program can help you decide if a certain career path isright for you.Make and maintain connections with teachers. You may have to ask a teacher to write a recommendationdown the road.

VOLUME 37, ISSUE 3 PAGE 11

Semester Exam Schedules

Semester Exam Schedule AThursday, May 31, 2007

OLSA Gators Swim Team

The 2007 Summer Swimming Season is uponus. Are you ready?

Semester Exam Schedule CMonday, June 4, 2007

Come join Oak Lawn Swim Association (OLSA)and learn about competitive swimming! Ourcoaches will help you improve your swimstrokes, improve your racing starts and turns,and help prepare you for competitive meets.

Summer is almost here, and it is the perfecttime to start splashing around in the pool! Thisyear we are pleased to offer summer swimlessons on weekday mornings for thecommunity youth.

Registration Dates:May 7-9, 2007

Register in the Spartan Lobby from 6:00-8:00p.m.Cost: $40 per swimmer p r session (8 lessonsper session)Start and End Dates: Monday, June 11, 2007,through Friday, July 6, 2007. (Wednesday,July 4, 2007 will be replaced with Friday, July6 2007.)

Swim Lesson Days & Times:Mon. & Wed.: 9:00-9:40 a.m. (8 lessons)Mon. & Wed.: 10:00-10:40 a.m. (8 lessons)Mon. & Wed.: 11:00-11:40 a.m. (8 lessons)Tues. & Thurs.: 9:00-9:40 a.m. (8 lessons)Tues. & Thurs.: 10:00-10:40 a.m. (8 lessons)Tues. & Thurs.: 11:00-11:40 a.m.(8 lessons)

Summer Swim Lessons

Registration forms, costs and calendarsavailable on our website:http://www.olchs.org/olsa/index.htm

New swimmers are allowed to register for eitherseason. Swimmers normally practice 3 to 5times a week, ranging from an hour to two hoursdepending on the skill set of the swimmer.

Registration DatesApril 23-25, 2007

Register in the Spartan Lobby from 6:00-8:00p.m. any of these days.

OLSA participates in two swimming seasons. Awinter season runs from the end of Septemberthrough mid-March, and a summer season runsfrom mid-April through July.Semester Exam Schedule B

Friday, June 1, 2007

Period Start End Minutes

Exam 1 7:55 a.m. 9:25 a.m. 90

Exam 7 9:30 a.m. 11:00 a.m. 90

Make-up 10:05 a.m. 11:35 a.m. 120Exams

Period Start End Minutes

Exam 8 7:55 a.m. 9:25 a.m. 90

Study 7 9:30 a.m. 10:00 a.m. 30

Exam 3 10:05 a.m. 11:35 a.m. 90

Exam 6 11:40 a.m. 1:10 p.m. 90

Period Start End Minutes

Exam 4 7:55 a.m. 9:25 a.m. 90

Study 3 9:30 a.m. 10:00 a.m. 30

Exam 2 10:05 a.m. 11:35 a.m. 90

Exam 5 11:40 a.m. 1: 10 p.m. 90

5th Annual Relay For LifeSaturday, May 19, 2007

Each team consists of 10-15members. Each member raises$100.00 for the AmericanCancer Society. Relay For Lifebegins on May 19th with theopening ceremonies at 6:30p.m., followed by a survivor lap.The survivor lap is dedicated tocancer survivors and their

caregivers. The Relay then officially begins with the teamshaving one member on the track at all times for the next12 hours. As the sun goes down, the luminaria bags arelit, which represent the lives of survivors as well as thosewho have lost their battle to cancer. The Relay ends thefollowing morning with closing ceremonies at 6:30 a.m. Inthe past five years OLCHS students have raised over$250,000.00 for the American Cancer Society.

Saturday, April 21, 2007At 2 o'clock p.m.

Oak Lawn Community High SchoolMedia Center

9400 Southwest HighwayOak Lawn, Illinois 60453

TO PARENTS/GUARDIAN OF:Scott, Thomas

9734 S Cook Ave

Oak Lawn, IL 60453

Tornado Ceremony

Event open to the publicRefreshments to follow

onProfit Org.u.s. Po tage

PAIDPennit 0.75Oak Lawn, IL

Full schedule of 40th Anniversary events onhttp:j jwww-ext.olchs.orgjol_tornado/index.htm

Oak Lawn Community High School cordiallyinvites you to attend a ceremony commemoratingthe 1967 Oak Lawn area tornado arId honoringvictims arId survivors.

Addres orrection Reque ted

Early Voting!

AdministrationDr. James Briscoe, Superintendent, ext. 5601Mr. Richard Hendricks, Asst. Superintendent, ext. 5603Mr. Michael Riordan, Principal, ext. 5609Mr. Joseph McCurdy, Assistant Principal, ext. 5613

Oak Lawn Community High SchoolDistrict 229Mary Santangelo, Editor9400 Southwest HighwayOak Lawn, IL 60453

Phone: 708/424-5200Fax: 708/424 5263Email: jmccurdy(clolchs.orgwww.olchs.org

Board of EducationMr. John Hickey, President, ext. 5661Mr. Stephen Trotto, Vice President, ext. 5666Ms. Linda Flanagan Vahl, Secretary, ext. 5664Mr. Joseph Amado, ext. 5663Mr. James O'Malley, ext. 5662Mr. Daniel Risley, ext. 5660Mr. Travis Tuomey, ext. 5665

Sex Offender Registry

Public Act 94-994 requires school districts tonotify parents that the Illinois State Policeprovides an online listing of sex offendersrequired to register in the State of Illinois. Thedatabase is updated daily and allows parents toconduct online searches of registered sexoffenders by name, city, county, zip code, orcompliance status. The information is availableat www.isp.state.il.usjsor.

Early voting will be available beginning Mondaythrough Friday, March 26th, 2007 through April12, 2007, at the Oak Lawn Village Hall from 8:30a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The Village Hall will also be openon two Saturdays for early voting on March 31,2007, and April 7, 2007. from 9:00 a.m. untilnoon. You MUST have identification! Call theVillage Hall at 708-499-7738 for furtherinformation.