Hawkettes kick to national championship
The Maine South Varsity Hawkettes took home top honors in the 2022 National Dance Team Championship held Feb. 4-6 at Walt Disney World Report.
The Hawkettes dance team was named national champions in the large varsity high kick category, according to NDTC.
The 2021-22 Hawkettes are Payton Cassidy, Sofia Scalfani, Ally Currey, Nevyn Gurney, Mia Murarescu, Chloe Clark, Sara Radziszewski, Ally Nelles, Ireland Purcell, Maya Burda, Olivia Watters, Kasia Szul, Jillian Harman, Mia Callahan, Gia Fusco, Grace Toomey, Lauren Majerczak, Madison Gatz, Sydney Gatz, Mia Belconis, and Katie Yesko. The squad’s head coach is Casey Gibbons and assistant coach is Lauren Haman.
‘Mamma Mia!” staged at Maine East
Maine East High School will present five live performances of the musical “Mamma Mia!” on stage at the Park Ridge school, 2601 W. Dempster St.
The musical, featuring the music of ABBA, will open Feb. 17 with a 4 p.m. matinee. Additional performances will take place on Feb. 18, 19, 25 and 26 at 7:30 p.m.
This is Maine East’s first return to the auditorium stage in two years due to the pandemic. Last year’s musical, “Working,” featured a smaller cast and was performed outside on the school campus.
More than 100 students are featured in the cast, crew and musical ensemble of “Mamma Mia!” according to the school.
Tickets are $10 for adults and $7 for students. They can be purchased at the auditorium door or in advance at www.showtix4u.com/event-details/59263.
Emerson Middle School student wins spelling bee
Ayesha Hakeem, a seventh-grader at Emerson Middle School in Niles, placed first in Park Ridge-Niles School District 64’s 12th annual Spelling Bee on Feb. 7.
Hakeem, who won the district’s 2020 spelling bee as well, was declared the 2022 champion after 15 rounds and the correct spelling of the championship word “windbaggery.”
Fifth-graders Avi Mirani of Franklin School and Sarah Winger of Washington School tied for second place, according to the district.
Hakeem will advance to the North-Cook Regional Spelling Bee on March 9 at Gemini Middle School in Niles.
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– Original Credit: School District 64
Yellow ribbons displayed for hospitalized student
The Kids Who Care student group at Mary, Seat of Wisdom School in Park Ridge, in partnership with the Park Ridge Police Department, is paying tribute to a hospitalized third-grade student.
Yellow ribbons have been placed around trees outside Mary, Seat of Wisdom in honor of Lucas Kaleta, who has been a patient at Lurie Children’s Hospital since Jan. 5, according to the school. Students have also been selling yellow bracelets with the message “MSW Prays” and “Lucas Love.”
The Park Ridge Police Department also recently tied yellow ribbons around trees near the police station and City Hall in support of Lucas.
Maine East senior earns speech and debate honor
Haaziya Saiyed, a senior at Maine East High School, was recently named a National Speech and Debate Association Academic All-American, the school announced.
According to the school, the award recognizes high school students who have demonstrated successes in competitive speech and debate while maintaining grade-point average and test score requirements.
Saiyed has participated in debate during all four years at Maine East, the school said.