School District 129

The West Aurora High School mathlete team on Feb. 18 took first place in the state regional math contest sponsored by the Illinois Council of Teachers of Mathematics.

Out of 10 events, West Aurora High School took first place six times and second place twice. By winning the regional, the entire team has qualified for the ICTM State Math Contest, April 22, at the University of Illinois, Champaign.

The following is a list of team and individual finishes:

Algebra I Team (first place) -- Laura Blinks, Kim Huynh, Andrew Nelson, Kiersten Stokes and Anna Wetherholt (first place individual).

Algebra II Team (first place) -- Ted Berg, Kate Butler, Andrew Moore (first place individual), Alex Seymour, Steve Shoyer and Matt Tigges (first place individual).

Pre-Calculus Team (first place) -- Phil Beeler, Dan Brandt, Lindsey Kosner, Brian Moy (second place individual), Ben Pierce (first place individual) and Scott Zinzer.

Calculator Team (first place) -- Scott Zinzer, Matt Tigges, Alex Seymour and David Skaggs.

Freshman-Sophomore 2-Person Team (first place) Joe Riddle and Samantha Tyner.

Freshman-Sophomore 8-Person Team (first place) -- Laura Blinks, Amy Fairgrieve, Andrew Nelson, Elizabeth Peterson, Joe Riddle, Kiersten Stokes, Samantha Tyner and Anna Wetherholt.

Junior-Senior 2-Person Team (second place) -- Brian Moy and Kate Butler.

Junior-Senior 8-Person Team (second place) -- Ted Berg, Dan Brandt, Zach Harris, Lindsey Kosner, Andrew Moore, Ben Pierce, Steve Shoyer and Matt Tigges.

In other mathlete competition, the West High team took third place in the Feb. 9 DuPage Valley Conference math contest. The following students were named All Conference: Anna Wetherholt, Matt Tigges, Andrew Moore, Ben Pierce and Lindsey Kosner.

On the national level, 13 West High mathletes have qualified for the next round of the American Mathematical Competition on March 7. This is a national math competition culminating in the USA Mathematical Olympiad. Those students are: Brain Moy, Michael Berg, Andrew Moore, Alexander Seymour, Kate Butler, Lindsey Kosner, Jeremy Geelem, Benjamin Pierce, Steven Shoyer, Aaron White, Elizabeth Peterson, Matthew Tigges and Scott Zinzer.

Student choruses from Washington and Jefferson middle schools will appear in adaptations of Rossinis opera, The Barber of Seville, on Thursday, Feb. 9.

The professional company Opera for the Young will present fully staged productions of the opera at 9:30 a.m. at Washington and 1:30 p.m. at Jefferson.

A chorus of students from each school will appear onstage, performing right alongside OFYs professional artists, which includes a local cast member, Chuck Wolter, in the role of Count Almaviva.

Based in Madison, Wis., OFY is an organization that tours schools each year with operas adapted especially for young people. In addition to professional singers and musicians, students appear on stage in chorus and cameo roles and also help design the production sets and costumes.

Further information about OFY is available at www.operafortheyoung.org.

Nicholson STUDENTS DEMONSTRATE Technology

Nicholson was chosen out of over 200 applicants to join 110 schools statewide to participate in the TECH 2006 Students for the Information Age event on Feb. 16 at the Illinois State Capitol Building in Springfield.

Shannon Yaney and Natalie Torres -4th graders from Michelle Arrocenas class, demonstrated for the public and elected members of the Illinois State Senate and House of Representatives, how technology is being used in the classroom to improve achievement. Shannon and Natalies Photo Story autobiographies were well received. Armed with digital cameras and microphones, they documented their trip to Springfield with another Photo Story created in front of curious fellow presenters, Sen. Edward Petka and Rep. Linda Chapa LaVia.

State Rep. Linda Chapa LaVia visits the Nicholson exhibit

Entering the job force without a strong foundation in information-age technology is not an option for todays students. Understanding computers and related tools is a requirement, even for entry-level jobs, and computer literacy is essential for further education and advancement in almost every academic sphere.

Shannon and Yaney effectively showed how theyll be using technology in their future careers. Senator Petka told them, Youre hired!

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