The varsity Science Olympiad teams from Hinsdale South and Hinsdale Central are headed to state following outstanding performances at their respective regional tournaments.

The Hornets took third place overall and had 18 top five finishes (eight second place, three third place, five fourth place and two fifth place) at the tournament that was held at Oakton Community College. Meanwhile, the Red Devils took fourth place overall and had 16 top five finishes (two first place, five second place, two third place, two fourth place and five fifth place) at the tournament that was held at the College of DuPage.

We congratulate both schools on their success at regionals, and wish them the best of luck at state.

The following District 86 students finished in the top three in their individual events at the recent regional competition for the Illinois Design Educators Association.

Students who placed in the top two in their events will be invited to the state competition in April.

We want to congratulate all of our students on their accomplishments at regionals, and wish those who qualified for state continued success.

The Daily Herald recently announced the names of the student-athletes who were selected for its 2022-2023 DuPage County All-Area Boys Basketball Team. Hinsdale Central seniors Chase Collignon and Ben Oosterbaan were chosen for the team, while fellow Central senior Emerson Eck and Hinsdale South junior Brendan Savage earned honorable mentions. Ben was also selected the Suburban Life Boys Basketball Player of the Year by the Shaw Local News Network.

We congratulate all four players on these well-deserved honors.

Hinsdale Central's 4x800 relay team (Aden Bandukwala, Grant Miller, Michael Skora and Dan Watcke) continues to dominate. The Red Devils ran a 7:43.82 at the New Balance Nationals Indoor on March 12, which earned them a first place finish in the event and beat the nation's best time that they had set a few days earlier at the DGS Mustang Relays. You can check out a video of the race by visiting https://bit.ly/3LxaAwP.

We congratulate the team on this incredible accomplishment.

We want to congratulate the Hinsdale South Step Team and coach Monique Alexander on the success of their inaugural Step Down Competition. The Hornets and eight other groups performed in front of a packed house on March 11, with the team from Yorkville High School taking first place.

You can check out photos from the event by visiting https://bit.ly/3LwFpSg.

The Hinsdalean's latest student-athlete profile features a Q&A with Hinsdale Central senior Grace Van Houtte, who is a captain of the girls water polo team. In the piece, which you can check out by visiting https://bit.ly/3Lxm3fL, Grace talks about when she started playing water polo, what she likes most about the sport, her goals for the season and her plans for next year.

Photo credit to Jim Slonoff from The Hinsdalean.

Members of Hinsdale South's Model U.N. team earned awards at the recent National High School Model United Nations (NHSMUN) Conference in New York.

Layan Al-Khaled and Anastasia Galinski each won an Award of Merit for the work they did on their committees (Layan served on the ASEAN Crisis Committee and Anastasia served on the Scottish Parliament Crisis Committee). Layan was also chosen to present her committee’s plenary speech before the entire Model U.N. delegation (approximately 3,000 people) at the closing ceremonies.

We want to congratulate Layan and Anastasia on these impressive accolades.

Hinsdale Central recently recognized 12 individuals who were named Student of the Quarter by the school's various departments based on their leadership, kindness and skills as role models. Those who received the recognition included:

Madeline Miller (Art)

Mason Bernacki (Business)

Lauren Doppke (English)

Alysha Haverkos (FACS)

Ethan Charoenpitaks (Mathematics)

Parker Rohn (Music)

Lucy Arnold (Physical Education/Health/Driver Education)

Nick Stanek (Science)

Eric Willoughby (Social Studies)

Aiden Galeckas (Technology Education)

Katelyn Stern (World Languages)

Elizabeth Lahmann (Red Devil Character)

We congratulate these students on this honor.

Each month, the world language teachers from Hinsdale South nominate individuals for recognition as the World Language Students of the Month. These students have a strong interest in a world or classical language, demonstrate the traits of being accountable, respectful and engaged, and perform actions and exhibit an attitude that exemplify what it means to have South Pride.

Below are the students from South who earned this honor for March.

Civics students from Hinsdale South are collecting items that will help the Ronald McDonald House in Winfield meet the needs of the families it serves. They are currently seeking:

Community members who are interested in supporting this important initiative can bring donations to the school (foyer located off the circle drive entrance) between now and April 17. Please click the image on the right for more information.

Hinsdale Central's LEAP for Africa Club is selling flowers and plants to raise money for the LEAP Science and Math Schools in South Africa.

You can place your order and/or learn more about this initiative by visiting https://bit.ly/3JrFlAx.

We want to thank everyone who attended the district's fifth Community Conversation on March 8. You can access the video from this event, which featured a presentation and discussion about the district's earned honors credit pilot, by visiting https://youtu.be/ajCoTs5AwIg.

We also hope you will save the date for the next Community Conversation, which is scheduled to take place on April 19 from 1:30-2:30 p.m. in the library at Hinsdale South. This session will feature updates from the district's student services department and information related to the reporting requirements that Illinois schools must adhere to on an annual basis.

Principal Bill Walsh was the featured guest on a recent episode of the podcast "The Mental Plateau," which Hinsdale Central students Gargi and Shreyas Girotra started to help raise awareness and encourage discussion about mental health issues. In the episode, Principal Walsh, Shreyas and fellow Central student Riyaan Shah talk about a variety of topics, including navigating the pandemic, striving for better school- or work-life balance, and taking advantage of activities, programs, etc. that support mental health.

You can check out the podcast on Spotify by visiting https://bit.ly/3yMmJX7.

The Illinois Department of Public Health is currently distributing free at-home COVID-19 antigen tests on a first-come, first-served basis through the Project ACT website.

You can learn more about this resource by visiting https://bit.ly/3JtX62t.

The next District 86 Board of Education meeting will be held on March 23. The agenda and packet of materials for the meeting will be posted on BoardDocs (https://bit.ly/394u9as) and shared via email tomorrow (March 21).