classroom notes

LOCKPORT -- On Oct. 16, seventh- and eighth-grade students from St. Joseph School traveled to Olympia Fields to participate in a cooperation-building field trip.

Visiting the Irons Oaks Adventure Center for the day, students were challenged in several course activities. The purpose of the trip was to build skills based on solving problems by using the team approach.

Students were expected to bring their newly learned skills and attitude back to the school to use in daily challenges.

The classes were accompanied by teachers Erin Dunmore and Christine Nash .

JOLIET -- Joliet Catholic Academy's Math Honor Society, Mu Alpha Theta, announces the officers for the 2009-10 school year: Kyle Jelinek , president; Alex Corcoran and Jessica Peek , vice presidents; Matt Dollinger , corresponding secretary, and Kelsey DiPietro , recording secretary.

Co-sponsored by the Mathematical Association of America and the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics, Mu Alpha Theta encourages interest in scholarship in mathematics.

Induction is held in the fall and is open to qualified seniors.

JOLIET -- Jessica Peek was named Kiwanis October Student of the Month for Joliet Catholic Academy.

Peek excels both in and out of the classroom. She is a member of the National Honor Society, National Spanish Honor Society, high honor roll, varsity tennis team, Book Club, Respect Life Club and math team.

She has earned multiple medals and certificates for academic excellence in English, Spanish, religion, biology and psychology. Peek is a member of St. Paul Youth Ministry.

She is the daughter of Mark and Nanci Peek of Plainfield and a member of St. Dominic Parish.

After high school Peek plans to further her academic career as an undergraduate at Harvard College or the University of San Diego. She aspires to obtain an anthropology degree and plans to pursue a career doing fieldwork and research.

PLAINFIELD -- The Plainfield South High School pep band will perform at the 2009 Illinois High School Association girls volleyball tournament at Illinois State University on Nov. 14.

The band was invited to perform after submitting an audition CD last winter.

Fifty-six Plainfield South pep band students will perform some of the pieces they played for the audition tape.

"We will be performing a variety of popular music ranging from early rock 'n' roll hits like 'Shake Rattle and Roll,' to '80s punk hits like, 'Rock and Roll High School,' by the Ramones, to swing tunes like, 'Jump, Jive an' Wail!' and everything in-between," said Jerrod Cook, PSHS director of bands.

The band will play for about 30 minutes prior to the first volleyball game. They will also play during time-outs and in between periods.

"The students are very excited about the opportunity to play for such a large crowd and to show the state just how talented they are," Cook said.

SHOREWOOD -- The Shorewood Lions Club named its students of the month for Troy W.B. Orenic and Troy Middle schools.

The following students were selected:

Sixth-graders: Kyra Moulton , daughter of Herold and Lisa Moulton ; Tommy Purcell , son of Sharon Purcell ; Oday Adi , son of Naiem Omar ; and Rhiannon West , daughter of Cleveland and Carolyn West .

Seventh-graders: Brandon Kaminski , son of John and Becky Kaminski ; Carlos Samano , son of Carlos Samano Sr. ; Hannah Combs , daughter of Phil and Karri Combs .

Eighth Graders: Marcos Damien , son of Maribel Perez ; Monika Evdokimova , daughter of Krasimir and Nataliya Evdokimova ; and Amanda Dulceak , daughter of Abby and Christopher Silha .

JOLIET -- The 2009-10 junior high student council members at Cathedral of St. Raymond School are: Alexandra Blotnik , president; Monica Underwood , vice president; Meghan Allen , secretary; and Christopher Korst , treasurer.

Elected as classroom representatives are Madeline Seneker, Victoria Kinsella, Antonio Acosta, Kathleen Flanigan, Lily Ongkiko, Chandler Kowaliczko, Claire Schmig, Michael Dow, Addison Taylor, Rudy Batis, Savannah Rubocki, Kody Block, Luke Troha, Cade Earl and Makenna Earl .

Teacher Alina Kuczma is the adviser.

ROMEOVILLE -- Mark down another award-winning season for The Marching Spartans of Romeoville High School.

The RHS marching band won the Class 3A championship at the Pontiac High School field show competition with best drum line and best horns and placed second in Class 3A at St. Rita High School with best drum line and best horns, again.

At the Stagg High School field show contest, the band won grand champion out of 16 bands performing with best drum majors, best horns and best drum line.

Student leadership includes: Stacey Depluzer, Lydia Montemayor and Melanie Washington as drum majors; flute section leader, Mary Milette ; clarinet section leader Putarut Suntharanund ; alto sax section leader Ardin Labis ; low woodwinds section leader Matt Grela ; trumpet section leaders Nick Elsberg and Amber Mager ; mellophone section leader Kerby Carter ; trombone section leader Aaron Langer ; baritone section leader Rob Szczerba ; sousaphone section leader Andrew Ryan ; guard captain Kira Bonk ; drum captain Kristen Jurca ; and pit percussion captain Patty Aviles .

The Marching Spartans are under the direction of Clark Anderson and Adam Hill . Instructors include Bart Bates, Jill Herrick, Brandon Estes and Derrick Shannon .

Student council representatives for fall 2009 at St. Paul the Apostle School in Joliet are as follows: Modesty Tan , president; Brittany Cunnea , first vice president; Brynn Christensen , second vice president; Dan Hinkleman , treasurer ; and Jacob Misischia , secretary.

The class representatives are eighth grade Tyler Kenny and Allyson Klein , seventh grade Alex Taylor and Breanne Vath , sixth grade Michaela Fossberg , fifth grade Maddie Bauer and McCoy Hutchinson .