Lincoln-Way Students March in Rose Parade

Four local student musicians kicked off 2013 by marching in the iconic New Year's event viewed by millions annually.

This New Year, four Lincoln-Way students rang in 2013 in sunny California, marching in the Rose Parade with the Bands of America Honor Band. The Rose Parade draws an estimated live audience of approximately 700,000, in addition to the more than 40 million people who watch the parade on television. “It was pretty amazing,” said Mark Reczek. A sousaphone player and a senior at Lincoln-Way East High School, Reczek was among the students selected to participate in the elite marching band. The group also included clarinetist and junior Michael Bockwoldt, who also attends East, flutist Frankie Kestel, a junior at Lincoln-Way Central, and Rachel Anderson, who plays the flute and is a senior at Lincoln-Way North. The Bands of America Honor Band is…

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LOCAL VOICES: L-W North, L-W West Students Compete in State Cosmetology Competition

Two students from Lincoln-Way Community High School District 210 participated in a state cosmetology competition this month, earning 10th place in the highly competitive Make-up Fantasy Category.

Asset Program Aims to Make Students Better Citizens

The Columbine High School tragedy in 1999 stirred the creation of the Asset Building Program used at high school and elementary schools nationwide.

On April 20, 1999, in Littleton, CO, an all-out assault by two seniors from Columbine High School resulted in the death of 12 students and one teacher along with the shooters.  In the aftermath, sociologists, psychologists and educators pondered the reasons why such a tragedy unfolded. While no one will ever know exactly what prompted the shooters to stage such a massive attack, Pastor David Hedlin of Peace Lutheran Church in New Lenox is convinced that family connections, faith, love and guidance are crucial when it comes to raising healthy children. In the Lincoln-Way area, there is a team of community leaders who work together to communicate and convey information about these positive assets. The group, which is made up of …

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L-W North, East Name Their Teachers of the Year

North science instructor Maria Wilson and East AP English teacher Rich Kolimas earned the honors. Find out why.

An AP English teacher and science instructor were named Teachers of the Year for Lincoln-Way East and North high schools, respectively. READ: Follow What's going on in L-W High School District 210 With the District's Blog in Our Local Voices Section Each year, teachers from each school nominate colleagues for the distinction, and administrators make the final decision. Here's a look at the winners and a brief reason why they were chosen: Learn more about the teachers by reading their entries in the Local Voices blog for the Lincoln-Way High School District 210. The blog also has articles on the yearbooks for North and East, an award earned by East's Best Buddies Club and more.   Two Ways to Stay Connected to Mokena Patch:

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Report: School District Mergers Could Cost Illinois Nearly $4 Billion

Gov. Pat Quinn's proposal to merge state's 868 districts failed to consider financial incentives promised under the law, according to a recent study.

Consolidating the state's 800-plus school districts into a more manageable number could cost nearly $4 billion, according to a recent report. The Classroom First Commission, a panel formed last year to study ways Illinois could increase schools' efficiency and cut costs, found little support for "sweeping consolidation of school districts," the Associated Press reports. In February 2011, Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn told the General Assembly that merging the state's 868 school districts into just 300 would save about $100 million, primarily through the reduction of the number of administrators. According to the panel's study, however, Quinn's plan failed to consider the financial incentives that Illinois law promises to merging districts, …

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