District 218 sets record with AP exams taken
Despite the destabilizing effects of a pandemic, District 218 this past year continued to build upon the growth and success in Advanced Placement that date back more than a decade, school officials said.
More than a quarter of the graduating class of 2021 earned college credit while still enrolled in high school through AP; for the Class of 2022, projections show that 50 % of those students will have a chance for college credit by taking an AP class while they were in high school.
District 218 students set a record for AP exams taken. The number rose from 1,698 in 2019-2020 to 2,137 in 2020-2021.
The growth happened despite the pandemic and its well-documented effects on learning environments and mental health. Due to COVID-19, many students learned remotely full-time. This affected exam pass rates across the nation.
While students could take some exams in the traditional pencil-and-paper format, The College Board provided some exams online; for some subject areas, however, the organization did not offer the opportunity to take exams.
“Overall COVID-19 had a significant impact on AP testing and clearly kept many students from testing. Due to a lack of a digital option for some exams some students were unable to take their AP exams,” District 218 Director of Assessment Anthony Corsi said.
After a decade of growth in AP enrollment, the upward trend surged in 2019-2020 when District 218 partnered with Equal Opportunity Schools to recruit more students of color. This decision proved pivotal.
Between the 2019-2020 and 2020-2021 academic years, the number of Black students enrolled in AP courses increased from 129 to 305. Likewise, the number of Latino students enrolled in AP courses grew from 327 to 622.
Overall in District 218, the number of students enrolled in AP courses increased from 909 to 1,675 between 2019-2020 and 2020-2021, officials said.
Woods Walk hiking challenge returns in Will County
The Forest Preserve District of Will County’s Woods Walk hiking challenge kicks off Sept. 1 and runs through Nov. 30. Hikers who complete seven of the 10 Woods Walk trails can receive a 2021 hiking medallion.
“Our annual Woods Walk program is a fantastic way to explore the county’s many trails,” said Jen Guest, the Forest Preserve’s recreation coordinator. “This year we really have a great mix of natural surface trails and hard surface trails. Each trail will lead you into nature to explore and be active.”
All the trail sections included in the program are well marked, officials said. The free, all ages program is detailed in a Woods Walk travel log available Sept. 1 at Four Rivers Environmental Education Center in Channahon, Isle a la Cache Museum in Romeoville, Monee Reservoir in Monee Township, Plum Creek Nature Center in Crete Township and Sugar Creek Administration Center in Joliet. as well as online at ReconnectWithNature.org.
Crisis Center Auxiliary sets virtual fundraiser
The Crisis Center for South Suburbia Auxiliary, which has raised over $135,000 to support domestic violence programs and services in Chicago’s south suburbs since 2008, is once again hosting a Virtual Walk Against Domestic Violence through the end of September.
Last year the event raised over $6,000, and Auxiliary members hope to exceed that amount this year.
“The pandemic has shown us the importance of caring for one another, especially those whose lives have hung on a thread due to violence and abuse,” said Crisis Center Auxiliary President Marie Kaminski. “Your support can be a lifeline for these women and their children.”
More Top Picks Best Leather Work Gloves For Men
Donors can give online at AuxWalk2021.givesmart.com or mail a check to Crisis Center Auxiliary, P.O. Box 174, Palos Park, IL, 60464. Donation levels are listed on the website, but gifts in any amount are welcome.
The Auxiliary is collecting funds from now through the end of September, which will be used for programs, client emergency needs such as car repairs, prescriptions, transportation to court and medical appointments, and meals for residents in the Crisis Center’s emergency shelter.
The Crisis Center for South Suburbia provides free emergency shelter and community-based housing, counseling, advocacy, community education and prevention services for victims of domestic violence. The Crisis Center has impacted the lives of more than 60,000 people since it was founded 43 years ago. Visit www.crisisctr.org for details.
Sickle cell awareness blood drive set in Lynwood
The Chicago Southland Convention & Visitors Bureau has partnered with the American Red Cross to host a blood drive from 1 to 6 p.m. Sept. 2 at the Southland Center in Lynwood.
This blood drive is being held to raise awareness for sickle cell disease, officials said. Currently, there are about 100,000 people in the United States with sickle cell, of whom 90% are of African descent. Blood transfusions to those with sickle cell often reduce the risk of complications and symptoms associated with the disease. A close blood type match is essential and is found in donors of the same race or similar ethnicity; one donation saves approximately three lives.
Appointments are preferred by calling 1-800-733-2767 or online at https://rcblood.org/3hRcvNK. All self-identified African American blood donors will be screened for the sickle cell trait and all donors will receive a free health screening prior to donating. Plus, all donors will receive a digital $10 Amazon gift card.
Cook commissioner to address League of Women Voters
Donna Miller, Cook County commissioner for the 6th District, will be the featured speaker at the League of Women Voters of Park Forest Area meeting at 7 p.m. Sept. 8 at the Park Forest Village Hall, 350 Victory Drive. This meeting will be the first in-person meeting for the group since spring 2019.
Commissioner Miller will provide updates on critical topics of interest in the Southland including forecast for economic growth, infrastructure, accessibility to health care and the impact of COVID-19 on the quality of life in our diverse community, according to a release from the organization. More information is available via email at [email protected].
Clean energy focus of Sauk-Calumet Sierra Club meet
The Sauk-Calumet Sierra Club Group’s monthly meetings and programs will resume at 7:15 p.m. Sept. 13 with a program titled “How You Can Get Clean Energy — Community Solar, Energy Efficiency, and You.”
Matt Harvey, program coordinator for the Citizens Utility Board, will discuss how to choose clean energy for residential electricity supply.
The Sauk-Calumet Group’s fall programs will be online using Zoom, with plans to resume meeting at the Frankfort Public Library in 2022. Contact Lois Laurer at [email protected] to save your place and receive a link to the online meeting. All meetings are free and open to everyone.
Send news to [email protected].