Post by doctorwho on Jun 11, 2010 7:09:18 GMT -6
Regardless of where one stands on public- private - this is pretty darn impressive:
Three of a kind
St. Joan of Arc classmates are valedictorians at three high schools
Comments
www.suburbanchicagonews.com/napervillesun/news/schools/2380706,6_5_NA11_SJAVALS_S1-100611.article
June 11, 2010
By WENDY FOSTER For Sun-Times Media
It's an impressive feat, but not surprising to anyone who knows them. As thousands of area high school seniors throughout the area are graduating, three of great distinction have two things in common.
Meghan Mandel and Lauren Ladowski of Lisle, and Dean Quaranta of Woodridge -- who were all students together at St. Joan of Arc Catholic School in Lisle -- are all graduating at the very top of their high school classes. Learning that the three were valedictorians of three area high schools, St. Joan English teacher Carol Zydron said, "I wasn't surprised about any of them. They were excellent students; all three of them ... it's not hard to understand. They were very dedicated students."
» Click to enlarge image
Benet Academy's Lauren Ladowski (left) and Lisle Senior High School's Meghan Mandel were close friends at St. Joan of Arc and now are valedictorians at their respective high schools. The St. Joan of Arc class of 2006 also boasts Wheaton St. Francis High School valedictorian Dean Quaranta (shown in cap and gown at right). SUBMITTED PHOTOS
» Click to enlarge image
The 2006 eighth-grade class at St. Joan's had 78 students and a great reputation. The class as a whole "was a really talented group of eighth-graders," said math teacher Jane Svitek. Meghan, Lauren and Dean in particular, she added "were just great kids. They were dedicated and hard-working. I'm not surprised that they've done so well. They were excellent students and wonderful people."
Meghan attended Lisle Senior High School from which she will graduate June 4 with a 5.45 GPA. St. Joan's "provided a very good foundation," she said. "I think it was a very good preparation for high school."
Meghan will attend University of Illinois, majoring in chemistry. "I want to do something with research," she said.
One of Meghan's best friends in grade school was Lauren, who graduated as valedictorian from Benet Academy. Lauren believes that the high success rate of St. Joan alumni is the result of dedicated teachers, supportive parents and students who are high achievers.
"I think we were all competitive there, to get high grades and succeed," she said. "The teachers at St. Joan pushed the students to do their best. They always expected a lot of us I think." Lauren will attend the University of Notre Dame in the fall, where she will study engineering.
Dean, who graduated last week from St. Francis High School in Wheaton, was in the difficult position of being a new student to St. Joan of Arc when he entered the eighth grade. Dean explained that his family had just moved from Florida, where he had attended a Montessori school.
"Going to St. Joan's was a good transition between Montessori and high school. It prepared me for what high school would bring," Dean said.
"It's hard to come into a school where the kids have been together, and be a new student. But he was great, really easy to get along with. He seemed to enjoy his time here," said Svitek. Dean will be attending Emory University in Georgia where he will study chemistry for pre-med.
Lauren said she was very excited to learn that two of her classmates were valedictorians along with her. "I think it's great but I don't think it's a coincidence. It was obviously a good school and encouraged us to keep succeeding in our schools. It carried on with our hard work in high school. St. Joan of Arc was definitely a factor in that," said Lauren. "I've recently been talking to other people about where they're going to be going to college. I know a lot of them are going to awesome schools."
Svitek said that although parents choose St. Joan of Arc largely for the Catholic education, the academic component is also key.
"I think we have really hard working, dedicated teachers and parents. It takes a partnership between school and home to get the best out of the kids," she said. "Definitely we offer a first-rate education as well as spiritual education."
While St. Joan of Arc students tend to do well in their high school years, producing three valedictorians in one year is impressive even by their standards. "This is astounding. We're very proud," Zydron said.
Three of a kind
St. Joan of Arc classmates are valedictorians at three high schools
Comments
www.suburbanchicagonews.com/napervillesun/news/schools/2380706,6_5_NA11_SJAVALS_S1-100611.article
June 11, 2010
By WENDY FOSTER For Sun-Times Media
It's an impressive feat, but not surprising to anyone who knows them. As thousands of area high school seniors throughout the area are graduating, three of great distinction have two things in common.
Meghan Mandel and Lauren Ladowski of Lisle, and Dean Quaranta of Woodridge -- who were all students together at St. Joan of Arc Catholic School in Lisle -- are all graduating at the very top of their high school classes. Learning that the three were valedictorians of three area high schools, St. Joan English teacher Carol Zydron said, "I wasn't surprised about any of them. They were excellent students; all three of them ... it's not hard to understand. They were very dedicated students."
» Click to enlarge image
Benet Academy's Lauren Ladowski (left) and Lisle Senior High School's Meghan Mandel were close friends at St. Joan of Arc and now are valedictorians at their respective high schools. The St. Joan of Arc class of 2006 also boasts Wheaton St. Francis High School valedictorian Dean Quaranta (shown in cap and gown at right). SUBMITTED PHOTOS
» Click to enlarge image
The 2006 eighth-grade class at St. Joan's had 78 students and a great reputation. The class as a whole "was a really talented group of eighth-graders," said math teacher Jane Svitek. Meghan, Lauren and Dean in particular, she added "were just great kids. They were dedicated and hard-working. I'm not surprised that they've done so well. They were excellent students and wonderful people."
Meghan attended Lisle Senior High School from which she will graduate June 4 with a 5.45 GPA. St. Joan's "provided a very good foundation," she said. "I think it was a very good preparation for high school."
Meghan will attend University of Illinois, majoring in chemistry. "I want to do something with research," she said.
One of Meghan's best friends in grade school was Lauren, who graduated as valedictorian from Benet Academy. Lauren believes that the high success rate of St. Joan alumni is the result of dedicated teachers, supportive parents and students who are high achievers.
"I think we were all competitive there, to get high grades and succeed," she said. "The teachers at St. Joan pushed the students to do their best. They always expected a lot of us I think." Lauren will attend the University of Notre Dame in the fall, where she will study engineering.
Dean, who graduated last week from St. Francis High School in Wheaton, was in the difficult position of being a new student to St. Joan of Arc when he entered the eighth grade. Dean explained that his family had just moved from Florida, where he had attended a Montessori school.
"Going to St. Joan's was a good transition between Montessori and high school. It prepared me for what high school would bring," Dean said.
"It's hard to come into a school where the kids have been together, and be a new student. But he was great, really easy to get along with. He seemed to enjoy his time here," said Svitek. Dean will be attending Emory University in Georgia where he will study chemistry for pre-med.
Lauren said she was very excited to learn that two of her classmates were valedictorians along with her. "I think it's great but I don't think it's a coincidence. It was obviously a good school and encouraged us to keep succeeding in our schools. It carried on with our hard work in high school. St. Joan of Arc was definitely a factor in that," said Lauren. "I've recently been talking to other people about where they're going to be going to college. I know a lot of them are going to awesome schools."
Svitek said that although parents choose St. Joan of Arc largely for the Catholic education, the academic component is also key.
"I think we have really hard working, dedicated teachers and parents. It takes a partnership between school and home to get the best out of the kids," she said. "Definitely we offer a first-rate education as well as spiritual education."
While St. Joan of Arc students tend to do well in their high school years, producing three valedictorians in one year is impressive even by their standards. "This is astounding. We're very proud," Zydron said.
