Downers Grove Native, Teacher Matt Gavin Loses Battle With Cancer
A long-time Downers Grove resident, the popular social studies teacher and tennis coach with a knack for bringing out the best in students died Friday at age 32.
Downers Grove South High School
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Monday, May 13, 2013
Saturday, May 11, 2013
Downers Grove Native, Teacher Matt Gavin Loses Battle With Cancer
A long-time Downers Grove resident, the popular social studies teacher and tennis coach with a knack for bringing out the best in students died Friday at age 32.
The Downers Grove and Oak Lawn communities are reeling from the death of a popular teacher and tennis coach, who lost his battle with cancer Friday. Parents received an automated voicemail from Richards High School Principal John Hallberg informing them that social studies teacher and tennis coach Matt Gavin had passed away at age 32 on Friday morning. A Downers Grove resident, Gavin was raised in town, attending Hillcrest Elementary, O'Neill Middle and Downers Grove South High School. Listen to the automated message from the Richards High School principal by clicking on the video attached to this article. After the news broke late Friday afternoon, many parents and students left messages of sadness and grief on Richards’ Facebook page, …
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Tuesday, April 30, 2013
Downers Grove South Students Awarded at Anaheim Career-Development Conference
Four Downers Grove South students all received recognition in their events at the California conference, which attracted over 16,000 students.
Four Downers Grove South High School students recently recieved awards at the DECA International Career Development Conference, an Anaheim, California competition attended by over 16,000 students from across the nation. Jackie Clifford, Madelynn Kuerschner and Samarth Malhotra each placed in the top 10 overall in the "Grand Awards" for Entrepreneurship Promotion Project, Fashion Merchandising Promotion Project and Accounting, respectively. Grant Johnson recieved a yellow ribbon for a high score in Hopsitality and Tourism Professional Selling; Malhotra also received a high-score ribbon. Other DGS attendees were Mark Guzik, Monica Kolli, Bridget O’Toole, Swathi Pillalamarri and Akila Shanmugham. “The students had a tremendous national …
Saturday, April 27, 2013
U.S. News: Downers Grove High Schools Rank Among Best in State
Downers Grove North ranked 36th out of 667 Illinois high schools, while South High placed 52nd, according to the annual list published by U.S. News and World Report.
Tuesday, April 23, 2013
U.S. News: Downers Grove High Schools Rank Among Best in State
Downers Grove North ranked 36th out of 667 Illinois high schools, while South High placed 52nd, according to the annual list published by U.S. News and World Report.
Both schools in Downers Grove's Community High School District 99 are among the best in state, according to annual rankings published Tuesday by U.S. News and World Report. Downers Grove North ranked 36th out of 667 public high schools in Illinois, up one spot from 2012. Downers Grove South ranked 52nd, up five spots from last year. The 2013 U.S. News and World Report Best High Schools rankings are based on data collected from more than 21,000 public U.S. high schools from 49 states and the District of Columbia. The rankings are designed to capture how well high schools educate all of their students and prepare them for college-level work, a press release from U.S. News said. Schools are evaluated based on overall student performance on …
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Claire Marich
4:56 pm on Friday, May 10, 2013
Linda, Sorry for the delay in answering your question regarding college graduates. According to the National Center for Educational Statistics • Six years after starting at a community college or university, 47% of students do not complete any credential. Most of those drop-outs had planned to obtain a bachelor’s degree.* •Of students entering a four year bachelor degree program, 23% do not … more ›
Tuesday, March 26, 2013
Downers Grove South Teacher Promoting Book Tuesday on WGN Midday News
Kirk Mango, a teacher at Downers Grove South High School, will be promoting his book, 'Becoming a True Champion.'
Kirk Mango, a physical education teacher at Downers Grove South High School for more than 30 years and a Naperville resident, will be making an appearance Tuesday on WGN’s Midday News. The appearance will be in support of Becoming a True Champion, a book Mango wrote that is geared toward helping children and athletes build foundations for success in school, athletics and life. A two-time college All-American gymnast, Mango’s book was published in May and featured a foreward written by Olympic gymnast Nadia Comaneci. Last year, Naperville Patch reported on Mango's experience working toward having his book published and how it related to the book's theme of taking personal responsibility, pushing limits and achieving success. Drawing from …
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Leslie Abrahamson
11:03 am on Wednesday, March 27, 2013
Good luck! I knew you when you were a champion gymnast in college and always knew you would be successful. more ›
Friday, January 18, 2013
Downers Grove South Basketball Program to Host 5th Annual 'Shoot for a Cure' Games
Downers Grove South High School will raise money for the Kay Yow Breast Cancer Research Fund on Jan. 26, when the girls basketball teams take on Hinsdale South.
On Jan. 26 at 7:30 p.m., the varsity girls basketball team at South High School in Downers Grove will host its 5th Annual “Shoot For A Cure” breast cancer event. The school will play Hinsdale South High School. “Hinsdale South is always a challenging opponent for us on the court, but what’s even more exciting is working with them off the court in our united effort to battle cancer,” says Ellen O’Brien, a teacher and head girls basketball coach at South High. “This event really brings us all together in a positive way.” In addition to watching the game, attendees may also participate in raffles for prizes, including gift cards to local restaurants, designer products, spa treatment days, museum passes, sports memorabilia and adventures such…
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Tuesday, October 16, 2012
Downers Grove South Football Coach Earns 200th Win; Principal, Teacher Honored
South Principal Steve Bild was recognized by the Village of Woodridge. • Career and technical education teacher Patrick Fardy was selected to received the 3M Star in the Classroom Award. • Head football coach John Belskis earns milestone victory.
Three Downers Grove South High School staff members were recently recognized for their outstanding achievements. South High Principal Steve Bild and career and technical education teacher Patrick Fardy were each honored this month for their contributions to the school. Longtime varsity football coach John Belskis also hit a career milestone last week, earning the 200th win of his 24-year career. Bild was honored by the Village of Woodridge during its annual Community Recognition Awards ceremony on Tuesday, Oct. 9. The Community Recognition Program recognizes individuals or groups of individuals for "outstanding community service that contributes to improving the well-being of the people of Woodridge." Bild, a long-time resident of …
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Wednesday, October 10, 2012
District 99 Musical Tackles Bullying, Drug Abuse as Part of 'Red Ribbon Week'
The public is invited to a showing of "Stand Up! Change Teen Statistics" at 7 p.m. Thursday at Downers Grove South High School.
With teenagers across the country facing an ever-growing list of challenges—from drug and alcohol abuse to bullying and self-esteem issues—Downers Grove high school counselors think it's the perfect time to spark a new way of thinking for students and their parents. On Thursday night, District 99 will host "Stand Up! Change Teen Statistics," a live musical theater production that tackles themes related to bullying, mental health, substance abuse and relationship issues that affect high school students. "Stand Up!" is written by professionals from the R.Ed.I. (Reach, Education and Inspire) Foundation, a music theater organization dedicated to prevention education through the use of performing arts. The show travels to high schools across …
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Melinda Brunell
9:04 am on Wednesday, October 10, 2012
This is the same night as the choir concert at Downers Grove North. Unfortunate timing. Did no one check the schedule? more ›
Thursday, September 13, 2012
12 District 99 Students Named National Merit Semifinalists
Downers Grove North and South high school students are among 16,000 nationwide will be considered for a National Merit Scholarship next spring.
Twelve Community High School District 99 students have been named 2012-2013 National Merit semifinalists, district officials announced Wednesday. Seven of those students attend Downers Grove North High School. Five attend Downers Grove South High School. “All of us at District 99 congratulate these students on their achievements, and we are proud of their recognition in this prestigious program,” District 99 Superintendent Dr. Mark McDonald said in a statement. To qualify for the National Merit Scholarship program, students must rank among the top scorers in the state on the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test. Of the 1.5 million eligible students, only 16,000 students nationally have been named semifinalists, …
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stef
11:30 am on Sunday, May 12, 2013
Wow, so young. May he rest in peace. My condolences to his family and friends. more ›