BioGENEius Science Challenge

Congrats to Senior Jilly Cronin who will be representing OPRF at the 2016 BIO International Convention in San Francisco! By the way...she's headed to USC this fall to do great things! We recognized her at the Board of Education Meeting last evening. If you know Jilly or see her in the halls- please congratulate her and wish her well!

MSAN Conference

Greetings from The University of Wisconsin! I'm here for The Minority Student Achievement Network Conference. Seeing what more we can do to close opportunity/achievement gaps over time and push our thinking about equity and excellence for the greatest students on the planet....YOU!

US National Women's Water Polo Team Captain Maggie Steffens visits OPRF!

Maggie Steffens, the current National Women's Water Polo team captain and MVP of the 2012 London Olympic Games (and gold medal winner)... came to OPRF last week l and dropped the ball for the swim-off for the varsity game vs. Lyons.  Our Lady Huskies flooded the Lyons with an offensive onslaught as they won 9-1!

Some info on Maggie and her accomplishments, in case you're curious (it's an impressive list) - 

http://www.gostanford.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=30600&ATCLID=208167987

A highlight reel to see her in action - 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u7HENlIcruE

Currently on a gap year at Stanford University, she was in Chicago for an interview with ESPN last Wednesday and wanted to watch/promote water polo - so we were the lucky ones to get her to visit!

Special thank you goes out to OPRF Water Polo Coach Beth Perez!  Here are a few pics from Maggie's visit!  PS...she really loved our athletic wall of fame and took a picture next to our Olympian in water polo from the early 1900's!  

When Doves Cry.......

RIP to one of the greatest artists ever!   

Gonna have to wear a little purple tomorrow in honor of one of my favorite artists.  Gone way too soon.

While the Seniors are away....

It's ACT/PARCC Testing Day! Today marks the beginning of standardized testing week here at OPRF. Freshmen, Sophomore, and Junior students have the opportunity to show the world class education they are receiving at OPRF based upon the variety of tests given by grade level connected to college readiness standards. Best of Luck to all of you! Make us proud!

Here is a snapshot of our alternative testing schedules which begin today and end next Monday. A huge shout out to our Director of Assessment and Research, Ms. Amy Hill and her administrative assistant, Ms. Lisa Evans for their tireless efforts to make the testing process and accommodations as smooth as they can be for our students!

Active Learning Space Pilot

Have you seen the new furniture?  A huge THANK YOU goes out to Mr. Ron Johnson, Director of Purchasing and Transportation for his tireless efforts to make this active learning space pilot a reality.  The classrooms that received the trapezoid desks, these desks are able to be used with dry erase markers for various activities. The Flip Top Nesting Tables can be used with dry erase as well....and they have incredibly comfy chairs as well!

The Active Learning Space Pilot goal is to create a student-centered, integrated, and active learning space using flexible design and innovative construction techniques. These pilot learning spaces will provide new and innovative classrooms, demonstrate new flexible classroom construction techniques, and allow faculty and students to experience and assess new classroom designs and pedagogy.  We created 14 classrooms for this year's pilot and there will be more to come!

3 Peat State Wrestling Assembly

Congrats to Ms. Jessica Stovall- OPRF 2016 Golden Apple Nominee

Here are a few pics from the Golden Apple Awards Brunch this past Saturday at the Hyatt downtown Chicago.  Special thanks to Mr. Tod Altenburg, our Chief Financial Officer, for attending the breakfast on my behalf!  Congratulations Jessica!