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| News May/June 2002, Volume 5, No. 7 |
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Questions? Comments? Tell us what you think!
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By Steve G. with Carl L., Michael K. and Megan K.
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| Congressman Henry Hyde, with eighth graders Ashley C. and James A., came to Peacock to accept a $6000 donation to the 9/11 Twin Towers Fund. |
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In trying to explain why the attacks of September 11, 2001 happened, Hyde said that some people in the world envied not only the prosperity, but even more importantly, the freedom of the United States. This was a country, he said, where "no matter who you are and where you are, you can be anything your energy and your spirit will let you be."
Hyde told students that they were part of the sense of brotherhood that Americans felt after the disaster.
After his speech, Hyde added that he was very encouraged and reassured by the effort District 10 students had put into producing the United We Stand CD.
"There are a lot of good kids in the world," he said. "We always hear about the ones who get in trouble, but never about things like this."
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O’Hare is already the biggest airport in the world— there’s only so much space for it and they are already polluting the area. |
When asked if he favored military action outside of Afghanistan to take care of terrorism, he said, "We have to do what it takes to get rid of terrorism." "We have a problem with a lot of foreign leaders who have access to nuclear warheads and could wipe out large numbers of people. So we have to stop them before something else goes wrong."
"Terrorism should be stopped from wherever it comes from," said Hyde. "It is all over the world, from South Korea to Israel and many more areas."
On the local front, the Congressman was asked what he though about O'Hare expansion, which most people here in Addison Township oppose.
He replied, "I think O'Hare is large enough. There are already 900,000 flights in and out a year. For safety's sake and for the environment, I think we need a third airport, rather than stuffing more flights into O'Hare."
"O'Hare is talking about doubling the flights with the expansion," said Hyde. "Northern Illinois needs more airline capacity but there is no need to put it all in one airport. O'Hare is already the biggest airport in the worldthere's only so much space for it and they are already polluting the area."
"I think there should be an airport in the rural area, like Peotone, Illinois," Hyde concluded. "There could be an airport there without crowding out homes or businesses. I prefer that more than making O'Hare a bigger monster."
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| Itasca’s Congressman, Henry Hyde, speaks with The Charger editors following his acceptance of a check for over $6000 for the 9/11 Twin Towers Fund. | |
Finally, Hyde was questioned about the expansion of Irving Park Road: "It appears Itasca has lost the battle for the expansion of Irving Park Road, what are your feelings on it, and what would you say to kids who feel their safety is being jeopardized?"
Hyde answered "well that's actually a state issueI don't believe the federal government steps into that." "But, he added, "safety is very important, especially after school hours went Irving is crossed the most."
"Just be as safe as possible," said Hyde. "I'm not unhappy with the way Irving Park is now. I wish there was another way to move traffic."
The Charger editors were impressed with Henry Hyde's full and candid answers to their questions.
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Stock market game success
Again!
By Nicole D.
Do you know what Quicksilver, Neogen, Sterling, and Quadstar are? I do now.
They are the stocks that the winners of the stock market game, Michael W., Erik S., Michael R., and Alex C., picked this year.
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| Winners of the stock market game, Michael W., Erik S., Michael R., and Alex C. | |
The stock market game is sponsored by the Securities Industries Association for Economic Education, the Chicago Tribune, the Illinois Secretary of State, Northern Illinois University, and Economics America.
"This game is to teach children about economics," explained seventh grade social studies teacher, Mr. Peel. "There are three to five kids on a team. They get 100,000 dollars to invest. They check their portfolio over a fifteen week period."
Everybody thinks learning is boring, right? But, the stock market game is the fun way to learn about math, social studies, business skills, reading, writing, and research.
"Originally Professor Thorton at DePaul University and the Chicago Tribune started it." Mr. Peel said. "It then got switched over to the Securities Industries."
Has Peacock performed well these past eighteen years we have had the stock market game? Last year Susie Ross won the stock market game with Krispy Kremes.
"Well, we've won first, second, or third, seventeen times in eighteen years out of 3000 high schools." said Mr. Peel.
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“Well, we’ve won first, second, or third, seventeen times in eighteen years out of 3000 high schools.” said Mr. Peel. |
"Usually the kids get shirts and certificates." Mr. Peel said. "But the president of Firestone sent the kids (from a couple of years ago) a starter jacket because he saw their names in the newspaper."
Wow. That's neat. Hey, but what about Neogen, Quadstar, Quicksilver, and Sterling? Why did Mike, Eric, Alex, and Mike pick those?
"We have no strategy, but we picked unusual stocks." Alex Chen said, on the first place team. "I enjoy it basically."
Eric and Alex do not share their strategy with friends or family. But they will probably play the stock market again someday.
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Seven alumni inducted into Peacock Wall of Fame
By Megan K., Advertising Editor
On Thursday, May 22, 2002, a ceremony was held to honor seven Peacock Middle School alumni for their accomplishments after graduation. These graduates were: Jeffrey S. Kordell, Caryn Preston, Frank E. Williams, David Hodgins, Matt Stinton, Grant Richard Evensen, John McCareins, Justin McCareins, and Kelly Vlahakis.
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| Ashley D., seventh grade, hugs Kelly Vlahakis who was honored. | |
Dr. Kordell (class of 1976) is a veterinarian who specializes in disabled animals and also makes house calls.
Ms. Preston (class of 1970) works for Boeing's Aeronautical Unit. She designs thermal heat generators and helped design part of the robotic arm on the International Space Station.
Mr. Williams (class of 1961) is the police chief for Wood Dale. He is the longest serving police chief in all of DuPage County.
Mr. Hodgin (class of 1969) wrote several Hollywood screenplays, including Murder At 1600, which starred Wesley Snipes, Alan Alda and Diane Lane.
Mr. Stinton (class of 1990) is an actor who has made many guest appearances on shows such as Law and Order and Guiding Light.
Mr. Evensen (class of 1963) is a counselor who works with junior high students and has developed a way of counseling through the arts.
Mr. John McCareins (class of 1990) is a successful financial executive.
Mr. Justin McCareins (class of 1993), John's brother, is a wide receiver for the Tennessee Titans of the NFL.
Ms. Vlahakis (class of 1991) is a public relations executive who works for democracy, human rights and peace, particularly in Greece and Cyprus.
Some of the graduates fondly remembered some of their Peacock teachers. Actor Matt Stinton wanted to let Mr. Scaletta know, "Even though I wasn't the best student in math, you were my favorite teacher."When asked what being inducted into the Wall of Fame meant to him, football pro Justin McCareins replied, "it means that I get to be on the wall of my favorite school forever."
McCareins also said that he owed a lot of his success to the teachers and coaches at Peacock.
Dr. Jeffrey S. Kordell said that being inducted into the wall of fame "allows me to be representative of the education that I received at this school and it also lets the students know that whatever they choose to do, they can."
"You can be a good student who asks a lot of questions," explained Dr. Kordell, "or you can be a student who doesn't really know, doesn't really get it yet." What's most important, is that you have "a drive to learn and want to know things."
Justin McCareins added to that, "You can do anything you put your mind to."And in the words of Kelly Vlahakis, " just strive to do your best and just follow your dreams."
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The Music Man left Itasca after a great run
By Kaitlyn L.
Many people attended Peacock's production of The Music Man. Most people interviewed thought that this year's performances, held on Thursday, April 25, and Friday, April 26, were great.
A lot of hard work went into these performances. Not only did the actors and actresses have to practice often, but the stage crew also played a huge part.
Eighth grader Melissa M., the stage manager, said that her job was difficult, but she had a ton of fun. She had a great time being in charge of the stage crew even though there was a lot of responsibility.
Another member of the stage crew was seventh grader Hannah O. She was in charge of the stage lights, and she thought that it was great because she was able to help out the school.
Hannah said that her job was easy because she knew what to do.
Hannah's classmate, Rachel R., was one of the many people who moved the sets. She enjoyed it, but she added that it was tiring work.
All three crew members thought that it was fair for the actors and actresses to be in front for the whole show, but they also thought that stage crew should be in the front for the bows.
The actors and actresses in the play also had a lot of work to do. Eighth grader Renee W. prepared for three and a half months at home before the performance.
Renee, who played Marian Paroo, admitted that she was very nervous, but she said that after practicing for a while, things became easier.
She believed that the hardest scene was the footbridge (the kissing scene), and the easiest part was memorizing lines.
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Eighth grader Renee W. prepared for three and a half months at home before the performance. |
Renee added that she really enjoyed the whole experience, but she didn't like how everything ended so soon.
Seventh grader Mark G., who played Winthrop Paroo, also practiced at home. He was nervous because of his solos. Mark really enjoyed everything about the experience.
Seventh graders Susie S. and Ana N. were two of the many chorus members, and both practiced a little at home.
Both girls were a little nervous, and Ana thought that the dancing was hard.
Susie believed that drinking the lemonade and eating the food after the show was the easiest part.
On the other hand, Ana thought singing was the easiest.
All four actors questioned said that friends and family made it a great deal easier to perform. They also would like to continue acting in high school.
Photos by Courtney O. and William V.
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