Cardinal Joseph Bernardin sixth-graders dig world history On Sept. 1, Cardinal Joseph Bernardin sixth-graders engaged in a hands-on learning exercise simulating a real archeological dig. Using aluminum pans of dirt, students used plastic spoons to unearth puzzle pieces. They used toothbrushes to clean off the pieces so students could record their findings on a grid. Students used critical thinking skills to guess the puzzle picture. Teacher Barbara Kristin said her students participated in digging up the past as part of their social studies world history lesson. “We’ve just finished a unit on archaeology, so this gives them a chance to see what it’s like to do a real dig,” she said. Resurrection students help plan Hunger Walk Resurrection College Prep High School students are taking an active role in planning the 2010 Northwest Side Hunger Walk, which will be held Sept. 26. The walk raises awareness and funds to reduce hunger in the local community and throughout the world. The theme for this year’s walk is “We Walk Today So That Families Can Eat Tomorrow.” The planning of the ecumenical effort walk has been coordinated by representatives of Resurrection and churches in the Norwood Park and Edison Park neighborhoods. Funds will be donated to New Hope Methodist Food Pantry, which serves residents on the Northwest Side; Catholic Charities, which serves the Chicago area; and Heifer International, which serves the international community. New beginning at St. Bernadette Catholic Academy Students who attend St. Bernadette in Evergreen Park returned to the same building but a different school. St. Bernadette Catholic Academy has transitioned into a multi-age, inquirybased, technology-integrated school. This type of learning enables students to develop a good work ethic along with excellent oral and written communication skills. St. Bernadette Catholic Academy is on the cusp of what is projected to be the standard approach to education by 2050. Curriculum will be developed for each student, rather than developing students to meet a preset curriculum. De La Salle softball team wins IHSA Academic Award De La Salle Institute’s women’s varsity softball team was honored by the Illinois High School Association for having a team gradepoint average of more than 3.0 on a 4.0 scale during the 2010 season. The softball team became the fourth team at the institute to reach this accolade during the 2009-10 school year, joining the girls’ volleyball, chess and boys’ basketball teams. The academic award is presented by the IHSA to reward teamwork not only in competition, but in the classroom. Maria High School student at HOBY conference Juliana Pater of Berwyn represented Maria High School at the 2010 Hugh O’Brian Youth Leadership Conference this summer. Pater was selected by Maria’s faculty. Pater has been a leader since entering Maria High School in 2008, serving as a class officer both years. She also is a Drama Club leader and had roles in the 2008 fall play and in the 2009 and 2010 spring musicals. For the 2010 spring musical, “Annie,” she played the title role. She was inducted into the National Honor Society last May. Pater was also a member of the Pen Pal and Book clubs, and she served as president of the AV-MEDCOM Club. Pope John XXIII students excel at math Congratulations go to 10 eighthgrade math students who will be in honors geometry at Evanston Township High School this fall. Congratulations also go to their math teacher, Satinder Ajmani, who prepared them. The students are: James Allen, Ryan Prestagen, John Brugliera, Jack Bernin, Rob Colgate, Ryan Landis, Eleanor Clark, Alec Austin, Matthew Austin, and Bryan Brannon. Each year Pope John XXIII School has a few gifted math students who qualify at the end of their seventh-grade year to take a high school honors geometry class as eighth graders. “This is a super accelerated math class,” said Mrs. Rosalie Musiala, principal of Pope John XXIII. “While it is not a class for every bright student, it is a perfect fit for that student who has a strong aptitude for math, the kind of student who will become an engineer or a math major in college.” Catholic schools to hold Holy Hours Catholic schools throughout the Archdiocese of Chicago will host holy hours Oct. 1 as part of the Worldwide Children’s Eucharistic Holy Hour. St. Mary of the Angels School will host a holy hour at 10 a.m. led by Father Antoine Thomas. Any schools that wish to participate should contact St. Mary of the Angels. Also, Thomas will lead a family holy hour at 7 p.m. at St. Monica Parish, 5136 N. Nottingham Ave. Seton Academy, Purdue University-Calumet team up Purdue University Calumet and Seton Academy, South Holland, are partnering on an enrichment program designed to build an engineering foundation for Seton students. Faculty from Purdue Calumet’s School of Engineering, Mathematics and Science will provide university-level engineering instruction to sophomores, juniors and seniors in Seton’s existing technology program. The partnership debuts this fall when Purdue Calumet Assistant Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering Constantin Apostoaia travels to Seton to teach an early morning course in elementary engineering design. The instruction is intended to equip the high school students with engineering theory and practice, as well as challenge and develop their critical thinking and problem-solving skills, Purdue Calumet and Seton officials view the partnership as win-win. “We anticipate a long term relationship with Purdue Calumet by eventually expanding courses as we proceed,” Seton President Rick Hussmann said. RES Banner receives press awards The 2009-10 staff of the Resurrection College Prep High School student news magazine, The Res Banner, received an international first-place award for superior achievement from Quill and Scroll, an International Honorary Society for High School Journalists. The Res Banner is a student publication distributed to all students, faculty and staff of Resurrection College Prep High School. The news magazine serves as a public forum for expression and communication for the school.