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| News May 2004, Volume 7, No. 5 |
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By Pam R.
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| Eighth graders, (left to right) Heather N., Celsey B., Amanda P., Alexander A. and Alexandra B. look forward to graduation on Tuesday, June 1, 2004. | |
Eighth graders enjoyed the special privileges they received this year, like the field trips and graduation activities.
Alex D. said, "We get a lot more field trips than the other grades, and better field trips, like Springfield. We also get a little more permission to do things around the school than the other grades do. You know all the teachers and they know you, so it's a good relationship."
Joanna M., another eighth grader, said, "We get more field trips and get to dissect sharks, which some schools don't get to do."
Alex also commented that he wished the eighth graders had more time to do more projects and things along the same lines.
When asked about how he felt about graduating, Alex said, "It feels good to graduate from Peacock, but at the same time I'm a little sad because I'm not going to see most of my friends anymore."
Alex was really glad about all of the graduation activities and having the privilege of working on the video yearbook.
When asked about how she feels about graduating, Joanna said, "I'm actually kind of happy, but obviously I'm going to miss a few people because a lot of them aren't going to be going to the same high school as I am."
Alex said he would miss some of the classes he had and some of the teachers, and he would miss his friends.
Alex added that he wouldn't miss the things he figured were pointless and all of the bibliographies.
Joanna thinks Great America and the other activities will be the best part of graduating.
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Community service comes down to the wire
By Amy E. news editor
Now that the end of the school year 2003-04 is coming to a speedy end, many are excited. But there has been some cause for worry.
Dr. Nickisch has been going around to the eighth grade classes to inform the students of the danger some of them are in of not going to attend graduation. The reason? Many students have chosen not to complete their community service.
Dr. Nickisch has said that this year's graduation class is one of the best he's seen in years. Only two students are on academic probation and can't participate in the activities for graduation.
But over forty students waited until the last minute, risking missing all graduation events. These include the trip to Great America, the dinner dance, and the actual graduation ceremony.
"I had no time all year," said Jimmy B., "but I am doing it this week."
"I'm too lazy," stated Derrick G., "I wait until the last minute."
Although some students have not finished their community service, many have been done for a long time.
"I finished my community service before the school year even started," stated Dereck S., "My mom made me."
"I helped with a food drive my advisory teacher organized," said Danielle J.
The deadline for completing community service is about ten days before graduation.
In the end, only two eighth graders did not complete their service time.
Not fulfilling the six hours per year of service not only affects the graduating eighth graders. If the six hours aren't finished by the end of the year, sixth and seventh grade students will not be eligible to receive their school ID cards next year.
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Looking forward to Lake Park
High school prospects
By Taylor Z.
Will you be happy going to Lake Park when you graduate from Peacock?
Peacock is a big school but Lake Park is a lot bigger with a lot more people.
Jessica L. said "I want to go to Lake Park because I think it will be exciting to meet new people, and also because it's so much bigger.
She added, "It will be different there because there are so many new people and more activities to do."
Next year Jessica really wants to join marching band and soccer.
Jasmine T. said "I'm kind of happy to leave, to get out of Peacock, it will be a little different because the people and the sports."
Jasmine wants to tryout to be a Lancet and possibly a cheerleader.
Kacie A. stated "I want to go to Lake Park to get out of Peacock and try something new.
Kacie is going to tryout for swimming, basketball and maybe softball and track.
It sounds like eighth graders are in for the new ride and cannot wait to meet the new people and are ready to start their high school years.
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Character Counts
May 2004
Caring
Brian K.
Jackie R.
Responsibility
Dana Y.
Morgan W-V.
Amy E.
Liz H.
Raya P.
Carina M.
Colin T.
David M.
Respect
Mike H.
Citizenship
Alex A.
Pam R.
Jose S.
Pedro Me.
Callie S.
Carmen Z.
Enrique V.
Stephanie D.
Peter D.
Adam D.
Eric A.
Kelsey P.
Vicki L.
Nicole K.i
Rachel K.
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| See pictures from the recent production. |
Annie was a hit with cast, crew and audience
By Colleen B.
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| Eighth grader, Ernest K. (Daddy Warbucks) and sixth grader Audrey J. (Annie) perform on Friday, April 30 for the Peacock student body. | |
Students felt that they were fortunate to have Carol Lynch and her daughter Kerrie Lynch as directors for the play.
Tom Vendafreddo provided the music, and Jim Beck handled the sound. Sets were by Bryan Ackerlund and Emily Shwartz. They were very helpful in pulling the whole peformance together.
Actors practiced for roughly two months. They started in the cafeteria, and as April 29 rolled around, went on to the stage. Here they got to use the microphones for the first time in practice.
Most people had more than one part. All the cast was in the New York City scene. The maids and butlers were also the Hooverites, known as the "bums."
Claire Z. played one of the leading roles, Ms. Hannigan, the orphanage director. Claire said that on the first night she was nervous, but as she got used to the audience every night, it got easier.
She mentioned that one of the hardest things to do was to remember blocking and to not laugh. She stated it was hard not to laugh because the door kept falling down on the orphanage.
On the flip-side, one of the easiest things was to memorize lines. Claire liked the stage the best and the people in the play. She enjoyed everything about it.
The Thursday and Saturday performances went pretty well she thought, but Friday was out of whack.
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Claire said that on the first night she was nervous, but as she got used to the audience every night, it got easier. |
When asked if she would study drama in high school, Claire said definitely, yes.
Another person in the play was Molly C.. Her major roles were as a maid and as a Star To Be, along with Liz R. and Amy E.
Molly's other supporting parts were as a Hooverite and a New Yorker. Molly said that she was a little nervous when she started performing. She was afraid she might mess up. One of the hardest parts was to react to other people's lines and really show how the character felt.
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| The orphans from the recent Peacock production of Annie Junior include, (front row, left to right) eighth grader, Jessica D., sixth graders, Emily B., Elizabeth R. and Colleen B. | |
The down-side, Molly thought, was towards the end of the practices. By then they had to go to four-hour practices in the cafeteria.
The leading role of Annie was played by a sixth grader, Audrey J.
Audrey has acted in lots of other plays and was completely comfortable in front of an audience.
For Audrey, the best part of it was to be performing with all her friends and having tons of fun! Audrey thought the school performance was the hardest.
Callie S., a seventh grader in tech crew, said it was really fun backstage. She got to move the sets off and on the stage. "It was very fun and organized unlike last year when it was very inefficient in the back."
Being backstage you don't get too much credit for it. When asked if she felt like she wasn't getting enough praise, Callie responded "no," "it is still tons of fun."
Another person in tech crew was Eddie K. Eddie is Ernie K.'s older brother. He decided to help out and he was a welcome addition to the crew.
A seventh grade spectator, Rachel K., was watching the play on Friday afternoon when the play was presented for the school. She commented that it was a pretty good performance.
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Family's home struck by lightening
By Amy E.
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| The home of seventh grade student Cristhal H. was struck by lightening during a storm May 20, 2004. | |
There was pouring rain, which soon turned to hail. The lightning also caused damage in our own Itasca.
According to ABC, Channel 7 Chicago, lightning hit a set of apartments on Cherry Street in Itasca. It caused the brick walls to buckle.
The lightning also caused a small fire. Luckily, the family was not home and no one was injured.
That night, ComEd reported 1000 homes without power.
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Jazz Band triumphs
By Emily B.
Nine schools, including Peacock, competed on March 6, 2004, in the Illinois Grade School Music Association District 7 Jazz Band Contest.
Jazz Band conductor Mr. Loest prepared the band by many rehearsals, and students practiced at home. The band was rewarded for their hard work with a first class or Division I ranking and the highest point total of all the bands competing.
Mr. Loest thought that the band did a remarkable job. This was the jazz band's sixteenth Division I in eighteen years.
Brodie C. is in sixth grade and plays trumpet in the jazz band. He liked playing in the contest and enjoyed having pizza afterward.
Brodie thought it was "cool" to play for the judges, he said the contest was great and they were the best.
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Students study at Fermilab
By Leo M.
The eighth grade class went to Fermilab on Tuesday, April 20, 2004.
Fermilab is located in Batavia, IL. Many parents also attended the field trip.
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“I liked watching the scientist perform the liquid nitrogen experiment and going around both of the buildings.” |
They also completed activity worksheets for each section of the games and made them into a booklet.
Wilson Hall was the building that looked like praying hands and was where all of the action happened.
All students made up three questions prior to the trip to ask the docents.
"My favorite part of Fermilab was taking the tour and listening to the students ask questions to the docents and to the scientist," said eighth grade science teacher, Mrs. Krefetz.
She also said, "The timing was perfect this year. Instead in previous years, there was too much time at Lederman Science Center."
After going to both Lederman Science Center and Wilson Hall, all of the students met with a scientist in Wilson Hall. The scientist answered any questions the students had.
Then the docent did an experiment involving liquid nitrogen.
Since liquid nitrogen is so cold, the docent put a tennis ball into a container full of liquid nitrogen. He then spilled it onto the table, it naturally flowed onto the floor, and the floor was as cold as ice.
Mike C., an eighth grader who attended the trip commented, "I liked watching the scientist perform the liquid nitrogen experiment and going around both of the buildings."
Many eighth graders enjoyed the field trip to Fermilab.
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| The 2004 recipients of the Wesley G. Usher Award, Pamela R. and Colin T., will speak at graduation on June 1, 2004. | |