Break Comes Early: No School Today (12/19)
December 19, 2008
At about 5:45 a.m., District 204 administration notified students of the closure of school via the automated telephone system. District 204’s webpage also now displays a simple notice of the district wide closure. Read more
Dashing Through the Snow
December 18, 2008
Every day, a group of dedicated Neuqua Valley students top off their seven hour school day with a run…outside. This circumstance seems grossly unappealing to many due to the Chicago area’s infamous sub-zero winters, but for members of Neuqua Valley’s Winter Running Club, this routine is completely normal. Read more
Snowskating Takes World of Extreme Sports by Storm
December 18, 2008
First came skateboarding, then came snowboarding, and now…snowskating! With this self-explanatory name, the hobby seems laughably easy to master, but do not be fooled. This sport is no laughing matter.
A crossbreed of two adrenaline-packed pastimes, the newest member of the boardsport’s family involves a skateboard deck, sans the wheels, several decent snowfalls, and ample nerve. Although for experienced skateboarders or snowboarders, snowskating may be an easy transition, newcomers beware. Without the support of bindings customary to snowboards, combined with the disorienting speed that comes with speeding down a slope, snowskating is not something to take up on a whim.
There are two versions of snowskating: single deck and bideck. Again, the names of the versions are unmistakably self-explanatory. The first is almost identical to the deck of a skateboard, only with grooves on the snow-facing part of the deck, to enhance easy movement while coasting down the slopes, or grinding onto a rail. Yet, it is rare for a ski resort to allow snowskating, so urban terrain and snowskate parks are where most snowskaters partake in their underground winter sport. Read more
Soccer Ends with a Bang
December 18, 2008
The Boys’ Varsity Soccer Team has a lot to be proud of at the conclusion of their 2008 season. Managing to endure the long, challenging year, the boys have become IHSA Regional, Sectional, and Super Sectional Champions. The team also earned “Best of the West Runner Up,” third place in the Collinsville Tournament, and fourth place in State after a hard fought battle with Rockford. The Wildcats also had a dominant record of 21-6-2 and were 7-1-2 in the Upstate Eight. It was the fifth time in the past seven years that the varsity team has posted at least twenty wins in a season. Read more
Atticus and Boo Radley Teach Timeless Lessons
December 18, 2008
“You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view…until you climb into his skin and walk around in it.” This quote from Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird sums the entire central idea of the novel in just a few wise words. This year’s winter play, To Kill a Mockingbird, brings the anticipation of every Neuqua Valley production, while also providing a humble message. Read more
“All is Well” at Crystal Concert
December 18, 2008
The Wildcat’s music program is one of the best in the district. The Marching band’s drum line came in third place this year and they have won a Grammy for their music department. In the fall, the music department has a show that has a Halloween theme, and in December, it is all about the Crystal Concert. Every year the best musicians in the school play in small groups throughout the concert. It is very prestigious to be chosen to play in the small groups. Almost every Neuqua student knows about this event, and it is always a race to get tickets. Read more
Stress Piles Up During Holidays
December 18, 2008
The holiday season is often referred to as the most wonderful time of the year. Yet the shopping malls are the most hostile, the roads are more dangerous, and loneliness begins to sink in to those who do not have family or other loved ones. Read more
School Daze
December 18, 2008
Almost every high school student would love to hear the announcement that the school day will be starting later, especially during the winter when they will no longer have to wake up at 5:30, when it is still and their beds seem much more inviting then the idea of trudging to the bus stop or sitting in their ice cold cars. It is not an uncommon sight to see students in their sweatpants during school, walking around in a daze and complaining about how tired they are. Those students are making a statement in with their actions-they need more time to sleep in. Read more
Kids Helping Kids Learn
December 18, 2008
Kid to Kid is a program that provides high school students with the opportunity to visit various elementary schools in the community and act as assistant teachers. This program is only available to students currently enrolled in a psychology course and can replace the grade of the psychology final. Because it is in the place of a final, the students are graded on their work. Each Kid to Kid member is assigned to create lesson plans, carry out activities and learn to interact with the children. Participants are also required to create a weekly reflection log and to write an essay at the end of the semester. The essay must incorporate the concepts learned in psychology to the Kid to Kid program. Read more
Making a difference in Neuqua Valley
December 18, 2008
The ability to help others and aid those in need is a quality much needed in today’s society, and these deeds have not gone unnoticed. The Education Center is a counseling and referral center that strives to help children and teens gain self-confidence, independence, and the skills they will need as they go through life. They help children and teens understand that they are ultimately responsible for their lives and the number of things they can do to help change and better them. The Education Center also recognizes individuals in the community doing their part in helping these struggling students and recently, a staff member in Neuqua Valley’s own community was recognized for her role in helping to make a difference in students’ lives. Read more
