New superintendent takes over at District 10
By Michele B., Copy Editor and Ashley S., Features Editor

At the end of June, Itasca School District 10 Superintendent, Dr. Glenn Acksel, will be retiring, and Dr. Kenneth Cull, an Associate Superintendent of Personnel from Schaumburg Township Elementary District 54, will take his place.

Dr. Cull worked in Schaumburg for about thirty years as a teacher, principal, and associate superintendent.

While in Schaumburg, he helped the superintendent and made sure things ran smoothly. In Itasca, he feels he has a responsibility to "help the teacher help the student."

Dr. Cull previously taught at the middle school level, including eighth grade math.

When he takes over as superintendent in July, Dr. Cull plans to continue to advance the use of technology that is currently in place in the schools.

He also plans to strengthen the language arts classes because he feels that literacy is very important.

Dr. Cull intends to increase the participation of the community in our schools.

Dr. Cull likes Itasca and looks forward to the challenge of adjusting to a new place.

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Peacock dominates stock market game
By Steven G.

Peacock Junior High students have once again triumphed in the state-wide stock market game, played by both junior highs and high schools throughout Illinois.

Seventh grader Suzee R. finished first in the region and second for the whole state. Starting with a portfolio of $100,000, She increased its value in ten weeks to $147,467!

Suzee's winning investment was Krispy Kreme Donuts. She talked to her family about her stock and then she checked the value of it.

She commented, "I enjoyed it a lot, I found it very exciting, and I wish I was still playing the game."

Suzee's current stock pick is still Krispy Kreme.

Megan K., Lindsey Moretti, and Steph J. won second in the region and third in the state. They made $32,631.

Doug H. and Justin W. won third in the region. They made $22,586.

According to their social studies teacher, Mr. Peel, the purpose of the game is to teach students how to research and buy stocks. It teaches skills in math and research.

Mr. Peel's students have an unparalleled record in the stock market game. They have placed first, second, or third in the last sixteen out of seventeen years.

The stock market game is sponsored by the University of Illinois, Economics America, the Chicago Stock Exchange and several other organizations.

Some players have received prizes over the years from the companies in which they invested. For example, the investors in Firestone stock received jackets and the company sent jackets for the second and third place winners, even though they hadn't bought Firestone stock.

The investors in Best Buy stock received some shares of Best Buy stock.

In the future, students anticipate playing the stock market game on the Internet.

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Band explores music fundamentals
By Skyler M.

"It's very important that students, whether it is band or not, find something to do and become passionate about," said Mr. Loest, the director of Peacock's Jazz, Concert and Varsity Bands.

Many students here at Peacock have become passionate about music. These students showed off their talents at the Spring Pops Concert on Thursday, May 3 in the Peacock gymnasium.

Mr. Loest stated that there are many reasons to have concerts. Concerts give students a goal, and without a goal, students are not inspired to work. They also enable students to showcase their talents.

As band director at Peacock for fifteen years, Mr. Loest knows how to prepare students for concerts. Band members rehearse two or three times a week before school and at small group lessons held once a week during the school day.

During rehearsals, students practice the selections for the concerts as a group. At small group lessons, they learn the fundamentals of playing: notes, various rhythms, and musical terms.

Mr. Loest explained that he chooses music in different styles so that the students get a complete picture of the history of music. "I also like to choose music for their age level and playing ability so that the pieces are not too easy and not too difficult. That way, the students feel they are being challenged, but not overwhelmed," he said.

A survey of five Varsity Band members revealed that they were never nervous playing at concerts. Sixth grader Carly L., a percussionist, said, "I am not nervous because my part is easy."

Carly's classmates, Cathy C., who plays the flute, Michelle M., a clarinetist, and Eddie Krause, an oboist, agreed that they were not nervous because they had played in concerts before, and found out that there was nothing to worry about.

Sixth grader Ana Nelson explained that she was not nervous because as a trumpet player, if she makes a mistake, the other trumpet players will cover for her.

All five students interviewed said that they enjoyed this spring's concert.

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After eighteen years Peacock will miss her
Mrs. Knudsen retires
By Lora W.

Can you just imagine working at Peacock for eighteen years? Mrs. Knudsen can. She started teaching at Peacock in the spring of 1983. She is retiring this year, and in a recent interview, she discussed her past at Peacock and her future plans.

According to Mrs. Knudsen, the focus of family and consumer sciences has changed since she started teaching home economics twenty-two years ago. It used to be just on homemaking. Now the emphasis is on teaching healthy lifestyles and making good and sensible choices.

Every year, she noted, Peacock has kept improving its technology. One of the newer pieces of technology that Peacock has is the "Baby Think it Over" infant simulators. Mrs. Knudsen said that she hopes that the new teacher will continue the program, but if not, she will adopt all eight of them.

In high school, Mrs. Knudsen was the president of the Future Homemakers of America Club. She attended a workshop at the Illinois State University and decided that she wanted to be a family and consumer science teacher. She explained that she had many good teachers and mentors, one of whom she is still good friends with today.

During her time at Peacock, Mrs. Knudsen saw a lot of changes. One of the most uncomfortable times was during the school construction about seven years ago. At one point, she was forced to teach class in the teachers' lounge.

Also, there was a time that she was teaching her class, and the class ended. She walked out of the room, and not three minutes later, a wrecking ball came right through her window!

Mrs. Knudsen's more memorable experiences at Peacock included her dog, Buffy, appearing in the school's production of The Wizard of Oz.

She also fondly remembers all the annual Senior Citizen Luncheons that she organized and field trips to Benihana's, the Art Institute, Jo'Ann Fabrics, and Portillos.

Mrs. Knudsen explained that she will miss being with the students, the members of the encore team and the faculty on a daily basis.

She won't however, miss getting up at 4:30 every morning and having to clean six kitchens instead of just one!

Mrs. Knudsen is leaving this year because her husband has reached his full retirement after teaching thirty-five years.

Mr. and Mrs. Knudsen planned to retire together because they want to travel and spend a lot more time with each other.

The Knudsens plan to visit Maine and Massachusetts to see the leaves change in the autumn. They also intend to visit Hawaii and Europe in the future.

Mr. and Mrs. Knudsen have also bought property in Florida on the gulf coast, south of Tampa. They hope to build their dream home, but don't plan to move for three or four years.

Although Mrs. Knudsen knows that she will miss her students and colleagues, she intends to keep busy. She has a new computerized sewing machine and will be taking lots of sewing classes.

"Deciding to leave was a very difficult decision to make," explained Mrs. Knudsen. "Itasca has been my home for so many years it is hard to close this door in my life, but I'm looking forward to the new opportunities and challenges that will face me in the future. I will always keep the Peacock students close to my heart."

As a teacher who is trusted and liked by many of her students, and admired by her colleagues, Mrs. Knudsen will no doubt be missed.

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Spanish teacher leaving on a happy note
Mrs. Crown enjoyed her time at Peacock
By Alyssa J.

Peacock Spanish teacher, Señora Crown, is leaving Peacock at the end of this school year. She is pregnant, and her baby is due in November.

She plans to take a year off from work to be with her child.

Mrs. Crown came to Itasca three years ago and found what she described as an ideal town.

The students were phenomenal, the staff was very professional, and it was nice to work for Dr. Nickisch, she explained. The families were also very nice and supportive, added Mrs. Crown.

She plans to move with her husband back to Minnesota, her previous home.

She and her husband don't care what gender their child is, they just want a healthy baby.

Mrs. Crown said that she wants to end up with four children and her friends tell her she's nuts.

Señora Crown wanted to thank the students and staff at Peacock for three fabulous years! "I will always have the fondest memories of my time here," she said. "Gracias!"

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Fine and Applied Art Show receives positive reviews
By Kaitlyn L.

This year's Fine and Applied Art Show, held at Peacock on April 26, was widely considered a success. "I really enjoyed Bye, Bye Birdie," said a parent, Mrs. Scheck. "The singing was really great," she added.

Several teachers who attended the Fine and Applied Art Show were impressed by the talent and the hard work demonstrated in the student work. Language arts teacher, Mrs. Agnello, described the quality of the work as "exceptional."

Language Arts teacher, Mrs. Laughlin, commented that "the teachers whose dedication helped to encourage and promote the students' talents really helped with the play's success."

The young actors also received rave reviews. The comic leads, Alyssa J., who played Mrs. Peterson, and Jason Dale, who played Hugo Peabody, were particularly popular, and considered "hilarious."

When asked to compare Birdie with previous shows, a parent, Mrs. D'Angelo said, that while comparable to last year's production of Annie, Birdie was a little better.

Mrs. Scheck commented, "The Wizard Of Oz was better."

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