The Westmont High School Sentinel Fall Sports Season was brought to a wonderful conclusion on Monday, November 16. Mr. McCord, Westmont High School's Athletic Director coordinated a thoughtful and positive evening intended to recognize the many accomplishments of our fall sports participants.

After the ice cream social from 6:30-7:00 in the WHS Commons, parents, friends, coaches, and athletes met in the Auditorium. Mr. McCord welcomed each fall coach to the podium to recognize their team's accomplishments. The opportunities were plentiful. As Mr. McCord pointed out, three of our teams were recognized as state tournament/state meet participants; our boys cross country team was fourth in state; our girls volleyball team was in the Elite Eight; an individual played in the boys state golf tournament and another earned All State honors in the girls state cross country meet. Girls volleyall, girls golf, girls cross country and boys cross country were I8 Conference champions. In its first season of varsity competition, the boys soccer team had a winning record, defeated the evental state champion in a regular season game and advanced to the Regional championship. The varsity football team struggled through hard times but coach chose to emphasize the dedication to improvement the the team displayed.

28 student/athletes were introduced by Mr. Carr and Mrs. Kathy Lubeck as All Conference Academic Award winners. These students have a cumulative 3.5 gpa after at least 4 semesters while participating in a varsity sport. The WHS Auditorium stage could barely contain this impressive array of student athletes.

22 student/atletes were introduced by Mr. McCord and Mrs. Lubeck as All Conference athletes. These students were at the very top of their peers in the conference and also deserve considerable commendation for their efforts.

Following the Auditorium presentations, individual teams dispersed to various areas of the high school for individual accolades and sharing of team memories.

After an unusual and exciting week, we are ready for another busy schedule at WHS.

I would like to thank our parents and teachers for what certainly seemed to be a positive and productive Parent/Teacher Conference opportunity. If you were not able to attend and would like to discuss your student’s progress, please contact us at 468-8100.

The Mr. Sentinel Contest and Auction raised over $1200 for the Make A Wish Foundation. Kudos to the National Honor Society for their efforts…this was a thoroughly enjoyable event!

Monday evening will be the annual Fall Sports Awards starting at 7:00 p.m. Join us in celebrating our many impressive fall participants.

Tuesday evening, the CUSD 201 Board of Education will meet at 7:00 p.m. in the Village Hall.

Wednesday, The WHS Department Coordinators will meet at 3:00 p.m.

Thursday is a huge day at Westmont High School…the annual Thanksgiving Feast will brighten our smiles and fill our bellies! Many thanks in advance to our CUSD 201 Kitchen staff for this outstanding feast.

Friday evening offers an opportunity to MEET THE SENTINELS. The boy’s basketball team will be introduced and will scrimmage in the first chance to see them in action.

Midquarter for Quarter 2 is November 25.

Have a wonderful week.


Steve Carr
Principal

Several of Westmont High School’s seniors offered their insights into their leadership experiences as part of Westmont High School’s senior transition activities on November 5, 2009.

These seniors have had unique opportunities to explore leadership techniques, experience many new collaborative environments and expand their network of social and career contacts. In recent months, Sentinels have ventured off to Charleston, Illinois for the Eastern Illinois Leadership and College Prep Camp in July, participated in the Interstate Eight Leadership Conference on October 26 and experienced the first of several sessions of the DuPage County Leadership on October 16.

Jessica Yamamoto was part of both the Interstate Eight and the EIU experiences, Eric Davis and Ann Yang spent the week at EIU as well and Jennifer Harmer and Scott Fisher were senior leaders at the DuPage County collaboration. Erik Andrews was the unifying member of the team having been an active participant in all three of these experiences.

On November 5th, these seniors took the lead in a session designed to familiarize their classmates with their experiences in these often difficult situations so that, by sharing their experiences, their peers would be better prepared to excel in these collaborations. The six of them did an outstanding job of presenting a synopsis of these opportunities through their powerpoint slide presentation and several active demonstrations of activities and models. In post Transition Day comments, their peers commented that “I liked the activities and I liked that it was their own experiences.”

In addition to the peer leadership session, students reviewed their academic portfolios, transcripts and assessment performance. They summarized their perspective on the first six semesters of high school and anticipated their future expectations. Craig Etheridge, a Health and Wellness teacher at Westmont High School discussed the importance of proper nutrition, exercise, sleep and stress management. One student came to the realization that they will have to “avoid gaining too much weight and learn how to schedule diet and exercise.”.

Mr. Carr, WHS’s Principal, and Mr. Beguin, the Economics teacher at Westmont High School, provided insight into the many pitfalls of post high school finance. Following this experience one senior declared “This made me realize how all of the little expenses in college can add up. Their real-life stories were funny but eye-opening.”

Life after high school offers many exciting challenges. These transition experiences should provide our Sentinel graduates with important frameworks to maximize the opportunities that await them after graduation.

Many of the materials from this experience are available at www.cusd201.org/whs.

Dave LaBrash, Clarendon Hills Bank and Westmont High School recently honored Marta Kulich as the November 2009 Sentinel Student of the Month.

Senior Sentinels with a 3.5 grade point average or higher are asked to submit a record of their academic, athletic and extra-curricular experience. The faculty selects three of these students each month for consideration by the students in the senior class to be Sentinel Student of the Month. Each Sentinel Student of the Month is given a $100 savings bond by Clarendon Hills Bank. In May, the nine Students of the Month appear before a panel of Westmont community leaders to interview for the honor of Senior of the Year. The Senior of the Year is recognized by peers and community members at a number of end of year ceremonies and is provided a considerable scholarship by Clarendon Hills Bank.

Marta has been an outstanding student, citizen and athlete throughout her Westmont High School experience. She is ranked first in her class, earned a 4.35 gpa, scored a 33 on the ACT test and was recognized by the National Merit Scholarship Committee as a Commended Student. She is a member of the National Honor Society, an active theater participant and Scholastic Bowl competitor.

Marta is also the Treasurer of the Sentinel Buddiez. Sentinel Buddiez members include students with varying abilities and physical and emotional limitations. Members of the club establish valuable relationships with classmates that often extend beyond the school day and into their lives after high school. Marta appreciates the value of her involvement with her peers in this organization. .

Marta is also an extremely important contributor to our Sentinel athletic programs. She is a starting outside hitter on the Westmont High School volleyball team that recently made a spirited run all the way to the Super Sectional championship. In the spring, Marta is an exceptionally valuable track athlete. She is a leading point scorer in a number of events and made it to the state track meet in 2009 as a pole vaulter.
Marta is planning on a career in medicine with a focus on either oncology or pathology. Her college choices include Northwestern, University of Illinois, and UIC.

Westmont High School and Clarendon Hills Bank are pleased to recognize Marta Kulich as the November Sentinel Student of the Month.

After an exciting weekend of drama in the auditorium and drama from our athletics program, we head into one of those strange but very important weeks that seem to pop up every once in a while.

The drama program is to be commended for their fall play productions on Friday and Saturday night. Both “Stolen Identity” and “The Dancers” stretched our students and I was encouraged as they certainly created meaningful and believable situations and characters. Everyone involved did a wonderful job.

The girls volleyball team battled throughout the match on Saturday night but came up short of victory in the Super Sectional at Chicago Christian. The kids, coaches and fans were wonderful and deserve the accolades they received throughout the season.

A Sentinel sophomore earned All State honors in the girls state meet and two Sentinel striders placed 3 and 4 respectively in the boys state meet on Saturday morning. The boys placed 4th overall. I am always impressed by Coach Wolf’s and Coach Polhill’s attention to detail in preparation for success. The dedication of these athletes and their fans is also thoroughly impressive.

Monday I will accompany Marta Kulich to Clarendon Hills Bank where she will be recognized as the November Student of the Month. Marta’s outstanding scholarship, dedication to her school and excellence in athletics are worthy of this recognition.

Tuesday night is Mr. Sentinel! I hope you are able come out and support a worthy cause and an absolutely unique evening of fun put together by the National Honor Society. Show time is 7:00 p.m. in the Auditorium.

Wednesday is Veterans Day. No students will attend on Wednesday. That being said, I hope that we all take time on Wednesday (frankly, everyday) to appreciate the sacrifice and dedication of our military personnel.

Thursday is Parent/Teacher Conference Day 1…please note that conferences will start at 5:00 p.m. and conclude at 9:00 p.m. Students will be released at 12:35 on Thursday.

Friday is Parent/Teacher Conference Day 2. Conferences start at 8:00 a.m. and conclude at 11:00 a.m. No students attend classes on Friday

Parents may still arrange conferences by calling the Westmont High School switchboard at 630 468 8100.

Save the date: November 16 at 7:00 p.m. Fall Sports Awards at WHS

Many thanks for your continued support for our Sentinels.

Take care.

Steve Carr

Please click on the attached link to view the most recent updates on the am and pm drop off and pick procedures at WHS.

Memo

Parking Lot Map

The Westmont High School Volleyball team has taken their abundant team spirit beyond the court and into the community.

Westmont High School’s varsity and sophomore volleyball teams began the season volunteering in the community. The teams traveled down the street from the high school to the Westmont People’s Resource Center. The Westmont People’s Resource Center offers computer training, vocational education, art classes, clothing and food to those in need within DuPage County. The girls were responsible for cleaning the facility, organizing party favors and clothing, and stocking the food pantry. This bonding activity was not only a good way for the girls to work together and get to know one another, but it also served as a great way for the student-athletes to volunteer within their community. Senior captain Courtney Bourke says, “It was rewarding to give back to the community and it was good to experience that as a team. Our team bonding experiences are always fun and they are a great way to learn selflessness.”

To finish the season, the varsity and sophomore teams held their first Volley for Cure event on October 15th, in a match against Lisle. IHSA has sponsored this event for the past three years in an attempt to raise awareness of breast cancer while raising funds for the Susan G. Komen Foundation. Event coordinators, coaches and Westmont High School alumni¬ Kristi Vervack and Brooke Ceh guided both teams through the month of preparation and the October 15 activities. Team members sold 225 t-shirts promoting the event, prepared posters encouraging student participation, and disseminated information to all district schools inviting them to the match. As a result of these efforts, the entire Westmont High School Volleyball Team can take great pride as $1700 was raised for the Susan G. Komen Foundation. On October 15th, the Sentinel Gymnasium was a rocking and rolling wave of pink! The well-honed skill, tremendous crowd and inspirational commentary from Mr. Joe DiSalvo, a volleyball referee and husband of a breast cancer survivor, came together in the varsity team’s defeat of Lisle that secured a first place finish in the Interstate 8 Conference for the Sentinels on Senior Night. “As a former WHS volleyball player, I always have a great sense of pride in still being a part of the program. This year I feel even more proud due to the tremendous effort put forth by our athletes to make our 1st Volley for the Cure event a huge success. Our seniors should feel great about their efforts to promote the event and their effort on the court in such an exciting victory over Lisle,” said Brooke Ceh.

Clarendon Hills Bank has joined with Westmont High School to sponsor the Sentinel Student of the Month and Westmont High School Senior of the Year scholarship program.

Recognition as the Sentinel Student of the Month and Westmont High School Senior of the Year has been a long-standing tradition at WHS. Senior Sentinels with a 3.5 grade point average or higher are asked to submit a record of their academic, athletic and extra-curricular experience. The faculty selects three of these students each month for consideration by the students in the senior class to be Sentinel Student of the Month. In May, the nine Students of the Month appear before a panel of Westmont community leaders to interview for the honor of Senior of the Year. The Senior of the Year is recognized by peers and community members at a number of end of year ceremonies and is provided a considerable scholarship by Clarendon Hills Bank.

Clarendon Hills Bank President Dave LaBrash participated in the selection panel for the 2009 Westmont High School Senior of the Year. When the former sponsor was no longer able to support the scholarship program, Mr. LaBrash and Clarendon Hills Bank stepped in and agreed to support this worthwhile celebration of many of Westmont’s outstanding scholars and citizens.

The September Sentinel Senior of the Month was Alyssa Allgood. Alyssa is an outstanding student and an exemplary vocalist. She has participated in award-winning WHS drama and vocal programs and has shared her talents in public performances at US Cellular Field, Chicagoland Speedway, NIU basketball games and at IHSA State competitions.

Nick Fregeau is the October Sentinel Student of the Month. Nick is a superior scholar and his 32 cumulative score on the ACT assessment is a testament to his intellectual acuity. Nick is also an accomplished trumpet player. Both Alyssa and Nick were recently recognized by the Illinois Music Educators Association as top performers in the state in their respective musical fields. We congratulate Alyssa and Nick for their excellence throughout their Sentinel experience.

The November Sentinel Student of the Month will be selected in the next two weeks.

We look forward to an exciting year of Clarendon Hills Bank Sentinel Student of the Month and Westmont High School Senior of the Year awards. The Sentinel community is pleased that Mr.LaBrash and Clarendon Hills Bank have decided to be important partners in recognizing these students.

Principal Perspectives
November 2-November 7

The Sentinel Cross Country and Sentinel Volleyball Teams had a thoroughly exciting weekend!

The Boys’ X Country team qualified for the state meet and one of our sophomore lady runners took fourth place to qualify for state as an individual. The girls’ team just missed qualifying by a single point.

The Volleyball team was absolutely dominant on Saturday and rolled into the Sectional with a convincing win over Timothy Christian.
They play on Tuesday night at Aurora Christian.

Great job students, coaches and fans!

Girls basketball starts today…and so begins the Winter season of competition!

For updates to the Westmont HIgh School Athletic schedule, please visit our Athletic Department website.

The Faculty Meeting will take place on Wednesday. We added Universal Testing Day updates to the agenda.

Thursday is Universal Testing Day and we will follow the SIP Day (8:00-12:35) school day. The modifications within that time will accommodate the specific requirements for standardized testing.
9th graders-EXPLORE
10th graders-PLAN
11th graders-sample ACT
12th graders-seniors will review portfolio/standardized testing , senior classmates will present, staff will share career transition activities, possibly cap and gown measurements will take place.

We had the Universal Day Prep Assembly on Friday. The slide show from Friday is posted to the high school announcements and the website.

This should be an important day for all of our students. Encourage timely arrival and thorough preparation (a good night’s sleep, healthy breakfast, etc.).

On Friday and Saturday, the WHS Drama Department will present two one act plays, “The Dancers” and “Stolen Identity.” Please see the Fine Arts page on the WHS website for details.

Parent/Teacher Conferences are next Thursday and Friday. I look forward to sharing the WHS experience with our families.

Onward and upward Sentinels!

Steve Carr