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8 | April 25, 2019 | the orland Park Prairie news <strong>OP</strong>Prairie.com New health fair gets Sandburg students socializing Mental, emotional health are among focuses of program Bill Jones, Editor Sean Airola cannot help himself when it comes to revamping what physical education and health can mean for high school students. After last year unveiling a more tech-heavy curriculum to update physical education for 2018, Airola — Sandburg High School’s division chairman for physical education, health and sports medicine — was sitting on the pool deck, thinking about how he could improve mental and social well-being education as the next step forward, as the mind and body are “one big whole.” “I felt the best avenue was within our health curriculum,” he said. And Sandburg’s inaugural Mental-Emotional- Social Health Fair was born. The fair kicked off the morning of Thursday, April 18, with a keynote presentation from Karissa Kouchis, a Sandburg graduate who now works with Tony Robbins. She spent time in the school’s Performing Arts Center teaching students how they can harness and focus their emotions to achieve their goals. She talked about limited mental states versus empowering ones, and instead of a lecture engaged the students with shows of hands, activities and open discussion. “She pumps up kids and gives them the chance to get out of their slumps,” Airola said. That was a goal of the program as a whole: to take students at an age when their chemistry and emotions are changing, and give different personalities the chance to interact, open up to one another and feel comfortable with themselves. “Oftentimes, you have kids that don’t want to branch out, get out of their comfort zone,” Airola said of high school. “We’re going to give them that opportunity. ... There’s more time to be social in these kinds of settings.” Students got to help each other along that path. Following the presentation, students broke out into three groups and rotated through stations. One stayed with Kouchis to spend more time on the keynote message; another talked with social workers; and the last got to check out the fair itself, which included outside organizations such as The Bridge Teen Center and Orland Park Public Library, as well as service opportunities. But it also featured student groups such as Student Council, Honor Society and SuperfanZ. Twins Rachel and Ashley Keller talked to students about FEMpower, Sandburg’s feminist club. “Our goal is to empower women and female students,” Rachel said, noting the group also raises money for Girl Up, a United Nations Foundation organization that helps women in developing countries. The students also said the group deals with intersectional feminism, encouraging everyone to join the conversation. And Ashley said she felt the message was an important one to have at the fair. Dave Pascarella, from The Bride Teen Center, waits with Sandburg student Omar Beirat as a wheel spins to determine his prize on Thursday, April 18, at the Mental-Emotional-Social Health Fair held at the high school. Photos by Bill Jones/22nd Century Media “We like to promote self-love with women,” she said. The school’s Mindfulness Club also had a booth. Its goal was to share what it can offer students. “It teaches you to be compassionate to ourselves and others,” Mariam Jaber said of the club’s simple message. Student Omar Beirat said he had a great time checking it out. “I enjoyed it,” he said. “It’s really good that the schools are pushing for the healthy stuff.” He said the presentation was fun, too. “She’s really motivating and gave us things to think about,” Beirat said. In a breakout group later in the morning, Kouchis encouraged students to “let yourself soar,” and Airola said he hopes that is what this program does, too. The curriculum continues Mindfulness Club members (left to right) Victoria Eakins, Nicole Buckley and Mariam Jaber pose at their booth. to evolve, and the educator said this fair was the result of how the education has evolved over the last couple of years, as well as the support of not only others in the physical education/ health department but also the rest of the school and district, who see an opportunity to connect to students on a different level. “Everyone needs to play a part,” Airola said, noting he was allowed to “field trip” the students for the first three periods to take part in this event. In a twist from Airola’s recent tech focus with physical education, he said it might be the tech that makes it more difficult for students to socialize nowadays, because something is lost as they spend more time communicating electronically. “They’re not talking about where they’re at mentally and emotionally,” he said. He is hoping programs like this can change that going forward, setting a template for other schools in the district in the process. “I don’t think they knew what to expect today,” Airola said of the students. “We’re going to see how it goes.”
<strong>OP</strong>Prairie.com news the orland park prairie | April 25, 2019 | 9 Orland School D135 Board of Education Bryk explains proposed $10 million in bond issues Bill Jones, Editor Orland School District 135 is gearing up to issue a combined total of $10 million in bonds. The Board of Education voted 6-0 twice on April 8 for one resolution authorizing the intent to issue $6.8 million in bonds for the purpose of paying claims against Orland School District 135 and a separate resolution declaring an intent to issue $3.2 million in working cash fund bonds. Board Member Angie Sexton was absent. According to John Bryk, an assistant superintendent who is overseeing the duties of superintendent as DJ Skogsberg is on leave, D135 intends to use the funds from the working cash bond issue to complete capital projects that include Liberty, Century, Park and Prairie schools roof projects, as well as the replacement of HVAC rooftop units and two school playground sets. The payback on the bonds is to occur over the next six years, with an estimated total interest cost “conservatively estimated” at $300,000 Bryk said. The $6.8 million bond issue is a refunding to cover the claim of Series 2012 Debt Certificates. “Nothing else is included in the funding bond other than the refunding of the debt certificates,” Bryk wrote in an email to The Orland Park Prairie. The payback time of six years matches the existing debt certificates, and the estimated interest cost on the refunding bonds is $615,000. Both are to be paid with a level debt service. “The proposed bond resolution will assist the district in continuing to maintain high-quality programming and meeting unfunded State mandates,” Bryk said. “This will also help the District stay ahead of any potential State and local funding issues.” The School Board is ex- Please see d135, 12 May 1 deadline to add names to Orland Park veterans wall before Memorial Day Submitted by Village of Orland Park The Village of Orland Park holds ceremonies each Memorial Day and Veterans Day, inviting area families to add their veterans’ names to the Village’s granite walls bordering the Village’s Veterans Memorial, Ara Pace - Place of Peace. The last day to add a veteran’s name to Orland Park’s granite memorial for this year’s Memorial Day Ceremony is Wednesday, May 1. The cost to add a name is $250, which covers the cost of engraving and maintenance of the memorial. Veterans may be living or deceased, and do not have to live in Orland Park. The Village’s Memorial Day Ceremony is to be held at 1 p.m. Memorial Day, May 27, at the Orland Park Village Center, 14700 S. Ravinia Ave. The public is invited, and attendees are invited to bring lawn chairs. Information about the Orland Park Veterans Commission and access to an online listing of veterans’ names on the Village’s memorial can be found at orlandpark.org/ services/veterans. Orland Park’s memorial is located south of the Village Hall at 14700 S. Ravinia Ave. The Memorial Day Ceremony is to begin at 1 p.m., followed by refreshments being served inside of the adjacent Orland Park Civic Center. Attendees are encouraged to bring lawn chairs. Forms to add veterans’ names can be found at orlandpark.org. They also are available at the Village Hall, 14700 S. Ravinia Ave. For more information, call (708) 403-6115. SINGLE FAMILY •815.462.0242 From $296,900 TOWN HOMES •815.680.5037 First floor master bedrooms &ranches available. Immediate occupancy available. From $222,900 Model open 11:00-3:00 Friday, Saturday and Sunday
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