Note: All information was current as of Nov. 15, Trapeze press time
Shakespeare Slam heads to finals
OPRF’s Shakespeare Slam team progressed to the final round of competition, to take place Dec. 11 on the main stage at The Chicago Shakespeare Theater on Navy Pier. The team is now in the top eight teams in northern Illinois. The judges complimented the group’s ensemble blocking, individual performances and generosity on stage, according to coach and sponsor James Bell.
The students on the team are Gayatri Gadhvi, Rowan Neville, Ellie Shea, Anna Bullock, Simone Arvetis, Alex Robinson Bellin (news and opinion editor of this publication), Lauren Rainey and Afton Jennings. Their peer coaches are Teddy Nielsen and Jude Kennedy.
(Photo credit: James Bell)
Holiday mixers announced
The Office of Equity and Student Success will host holiday mixers on Monday, Dec. 13 and Tuesday, Dec. 14 to introduce students to the services it provides.The OESS supports students and staff in the areas of racial equity, minority student achievement and related issues.
The mixers will be held on the second floor student balcony from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Please scan the following QR codes to RSVP:
Current families: Incoming freshmen:
Another door opens
Thanks to a Student Council Initiative, Door 10 in the Field House is now open at the beginning of the school day, providing another access point for students entering the building from the south and west. According to an Oct. 23 story in the Trapeze, Student Council leaders including President Ava Nicholson requested the access from the District 200 Board of Education.
Boys basketball hosts Huskie Madness
Boys Basketball hosted the Huskie Madness event Nov. 17 at 7:30 p.m. in the Field House. It featured performances by the cheer and drill teams, and a dunk contest by the varsity boys. The night ended with a varsity scrimmage.
Village responds to migrant crisis
The Village of Oak Park issued an emergency declaration on Nov. 2 in response to the growing number of asylum seeking migrants in the Oak Park area (reported by the Trapeze in the Oct. 23 story “Huskies aid asylum seekers”). The unanimous decision is meant to help the village respond quickly to the evolving crisis. The village’s website reported in November that more than 100 migrants were sheltering at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Oak Park. The emergency declaration expires Dec. 4.
Musicians make waves
Forty-four music students were selected to participate in November festivals sponsored by the Illinois Music Education Association, District 1, according to Semaj Coleman, head of the Fine and Applied Arts Division. Students will compete in choir, band, orchestra winds, orchestra, jazz and vocal jazz.
Speech Team racks up prizes
The Speech Team scored successes in its first two tournaments of the season. The team placed seventh overall at the Fremd High School Viking Veterans tournament on Nov. 11. Tournament champions included Alex Medina in Dramatic Interpretation and Poetry Reading, and William Cote in Extemporaneous Speaking. Other competitors were William Cote, Sonja Emerson, Malaya Finn, Georgia Gutierrez, Iris Keane, Caroline Korrison, Alex Medina, Preeti Mirmira, Mena Ollins, Mora Schigelone and Madeline Walski (arts and entertainment editor of this publication).
The team placed ninth overall at the 5th Annual York High School Royal Court Invitational, held Nov. 4. Seven students placed in the top 10 in their events and four won medals. Team members who competed were Sonja Emerson, Iris Keane, Alex Medina, Preeti Mirmira, Mora Schigelone, Blessing Simon-Ohia, Madeline Walski, Max Webster and Rai Zawadowski, according to head coach Patt Cheney.