The next Board of Directors Meeting will be held on Wednesday,
December 14, 2011. Click here for a complete list of Board Meetings.

 

BetterShredders is a document destruction service run by the students in the  Transition Program. For a reasonable fee, the students can shred your unwanted documents and materials. If you have items that need to be destroyed, please call Alison or Eileen at
(708) 873-1600.

 

DESTINY Students Host Local Singer

The DESTINY High School Occupations Class and one DESTINY middle school student had a visit from Jose Rivera, leader of the band Five Guys Named Moe, on Thursday, January 26th. The Students interviewed Mr. Rivera about working in a band and being on stage. The students learned many valuable lessons, including that working in a band is often a secondary or “moonlighting" job.  

Mr. Rivera donated a DVD to each student and staff member in attendance and a CD of the band's current music to the classroom. The Oak Forest based band has been performing together for 24 years and plays over 100 events each year in the Chicagoland area.



If you are interested in the band's upcoming performances, please visit their website at www.fiveguysnamedmoe.com.

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CD Students Decorate Cards for Soldiers

Students in the CD class at Arbor Park Middle School decorated holiday cards for soldiers and medical personnel in Landstuhl Medical Center in Frankfort, Germany. Governor Pat Quinn will be hand delivering these handmade cards to our heroes overseas the week before Christmas.




The students told them about home and they asked them about their life and family.  Everyone thanked the soldiers for serving our country and wished them Happy Holidays and a Happy 2012.

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Well Done,  DHH History Students!

Well done to the History Class in the DHH Department at Lemont High School. Students’ opened a museum displaying and presenting information focused on key concepts of the United States Civil War. Students’ knowledge and enthusiasm was outstanding. 

 

 

 

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CD Juniors and Seniors Participate in Festive Pines: Decorate Trees that Represent Tolerance, Acceptance, Peace, and Love

Vanessa Granato-Wagner's Junior/Senior English class (with the support of Para Educators Donna Lindemulder and Patrick Deacy) participated in an Annual Event coordinated by the Victor J. Andrew High School student council. The event, Festive Pines, gave clubs and classes the opportunity to reserve a holiday tree and decorate it per their creative freedom. 

 
The Juniors and Seniors in the English class worked in cooperative groups to create ornaments and decorations around the theme of "Tolerance", with their focus on Anti-bullying, Acceptance of Differences, Peace & Love, and Respect. 

They also chained together signed "peace contracts" for garland, that they and other students from the CD program signed, to promote solving conflicts peacefully and not violently.  In addition to the festive fun, the students each brought in cans of vegetables to contribute to the Orland Township's "Holiday Helpings Dinner Bag Program”, which provide complete dinners to families going through tough times. 
The students from the CD program are focusing on "giving" this season and learning how they, too, can make a difference in the world!

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DHH Students Place First in Academic Bowl

Congratulations to Southwest Coop’s Lemont High School Academic Bowl Team, placing first, at the Harper College Annual Academic Bowl for regional deaf and hard of hearing programs. 


Pictured left to right: Marcie Sacks-Botto (Harper College Academic Bowl Coordinator), Team members:  Colin Leonard, Abdul Alhumedy, Tommy Glynn, Matthew Cummings, Susan Sheahan (Sponsor), Debbie Sampson (Harper College Academic Bowl Moderator) and Chris Delong (Sponsor).
 

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Special Olympics Athletes and Cooperative Staff Triumph at M.A.T.P.

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Braun Thanksgiving Food Drive: A Successful Tradition

Braun’s annual Thanksgiving food drive was a success once again.  As a school, 586 non-perishable food items were collected from the staff and students.  Ms. Nagy and her class collected the items and boxed them up for the families.  Room 9 decorated the boxes in a festive fall theme.  Ms. Mason donated a pumpkin pie for each family.  Ms. Ruggio and Ms. Kmetty delivered the food to each of the families on November 21^st.  Walt’s grocery store donated a $100 gift certificate which was used to buy each family a turkey.  Seven families from Braun and Project Challenge received two large boxes of food, a turkey, and a pumpkin pie.  Thank you to all the staff and students that donated food, money, and their time to make this food drive a big success.  Happy Harvest!

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Southwest Cooperative Staff, Students, and Families Support Chicago Walk 4 Hearing Event



On Saturday, October 15, 2011, 22 team members consisting of students, staff, and family members joined together to support the Chicago Walk 4 Hearing. The Walk 4 Hearing raises awareness and helps to eradicate the stigma associated with hearing loss. Team Southwest raised more than $2,100.00 for the cause.  The team enjoyed fun and fitness on a beautiful fall day.

The team consisted of: Kim Mahoney (Team Captain), Rance Surratt, Razhane Surratt, Marshall Surratt; Marsha Green, Nathan Rodriguez, Chiara Rodriguez, Sandy Rodriguez, Kurt Bernabei, Abigail Bernabei, Ryan Bernabei, Tom Bernabei, Deb Bernabei, Samantha Altmann, Kaitlyn Altmann, Joshua Altmann,
Walter Altmann, Carole Altmann, Melissa Padovano, Dawn Mayerak, Maureen O’Brien, 
and Kathleen MacLean.

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Vision Students Spend Productive Day at Lincolnway Cooperative Transition House

The Vision Department spent an exciting day utilizing the brand new Lincolnway Cooperative Transition House on Friday, October 28^th. A joint effort between SWCCCASE and SOWIC cooperatives resulted in a group of 15 students who are blind or visually impaired accessing the house and completing various work stations throughout the day. Prior to the day, students were asked to plan a 4-course menu, purchase food, and create a meal prep schedule.


Students were divided into small groups and rotated between duties in the kitchen, family room, bathroom, and bedroom. Students were able to complete several housekeeping tasks including making a bed, vacuuming, dusting, meal preparation, using a dishwasher, and much more.

Students were able to utilize many adapted tools including a talking microwave, adapted cooking utensils, and more. Students and staff all agree that the day was a huge success!

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DESTINY Students Host Thanksgiving Feast

The students of the DESTINY Program at Oak Forest High School will be celebrating the Thanksgiving holiday by hosting a feast.  Attending the feast with all the DESTINY students will be several special guests including former staff members and Oak Forest High School Administration.  The feast is prepared and served by the students enrolled in the Hospitality Vocations class.  The DESTINY suite will be made festive for occasion with hand crafted decorations made by the students.  All DESTINY seniors will be receiving their Oak Forest HS class rings during a special ceremony.  The rings are a gift to the seniors; purchased with money raised during ongoing fundraising activities throughout the year. 
 

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