Summit Hill School District 161 news for Jan. 29, 2012

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Walker Intermediate School teachers who recently won the Shining Star Award include (bottom, from left) Erik Donovan, Peg LaBeau and Julie Kurzweil; (top) Pam Tucker, Kelly Higgins, Diane Crnich and Kyle Fischer. | Supplied photo

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Updated: March 1, 2012 8:03AM

Walker names ‘Shining Stars’

Seven teachers at Walker Intermediate School in Tinley Park recently were honored with the Shining Star Award for teamwork and attentiveness to the needs of students, said school officials.

Award winners included fifth-grade teacher Kyle Fischer and fifth- and sixth-grade special education resource teachers Erik Donovan, Peg LaBeau, Julie Kurzweil, Pam Tucker, Kelly Higgins and Diane Crnich.

Parents visit Workout Club

Members of the Early Morning Workout Club at Arbury Hills School in Mokena had some special guests recently when parents and teachers were invited to attend by club sponsor and physical education teacher Lori Dusek.

Dusek invited parents and staff as part of the Arbury Hills School recognition of American Education Week.

“We had a good turnout, and the students seemed to have a great time exercising with their parents and teachers,” Dusek said.

Parents attended various events during the week including being guest speakers in classrooms and writing letters to the troops with their children.

Drew students master math

Second-grade students at Mary Drew Elementary School in Frankfort are participating in Mastering Math Facts, a program that helps students master addition, subtraction, multiplication and division.

The program allows students to practice a few new facts at a time so that they can memorize them before moving on. Students work daily with partners and take turns practicing before taking a quiz.

“One great aspect of this program is that it meets the needs of all students at their own level,” said school officials in a news release. “In one classroom, you will find some students working on addition, while others are working on subtraction, multiplication or division.”

Walker students learn about Indians

Fifth-graders at Walker Intermediate School in Tinley Park recently discovered how the American Indians of eastern Illinois once lived via a program by Lou Aiello, who shared his collection of tools, clothing, games and artifacts.

Students also had the chance to explore the artifacts, try on American Indian clothing and play games American Indian children once played.

Walker helps kids with cancer

Students at Walker Intermediate School in Tinley Park recently raised nearly $5,800 for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society to benefit children with cancer during its Pasta for Pennies fundraiser.

Classrooms competed to contribute the most pennies to help cancer patients. Four classrooms raised more than $500. The Olive Garden co-sponsored the fundraiser and provided lunch for the classrooms that contributed the most money.

Students become ‘Speed Stackers’

Physical education classes at Indian Trail School in Frankfort recently participated in what Guinness World Records terms as the “World’s Largest Sport Stacking Event.”

The gym was divided up into “stacking stations,” and students could rotate on their own to whatever area they wanted to try. At the end of the class, students received a sticker verifying their participation in the event.

Indian Trail has food drive

Students at Indian Trail Elementary School in Frankfort recently collected cans and boxed goods during their annual Thanksgiving food drive.

All food collected benefited the Frankfort Township Food Pantry. Students and faculty collected about 12 boxes of canned items and boxed goods.

Students raise funds for St. Jude’s

Students at Rogus School recently raised money to benefit the children of St. Jude’s Hospital. Students who raised $200 or more during the event include Ryan Cantway, Brooke Imhof, C.J. Murphy, Sam Cabal, Karli Quinn and Ryan Ford, who raised the most with $265.