CHS: EARTH DAY SNOWCONE FRIDAY
Reminder to bring your Earth Day Snow Cone voucher for pulling together with us to serve both the community and planet we call home. Snow Cones will be served during lunch tomorrow 5/3/24. Thank you!
CONGRATULATIONS to these CGS Jr. Jacket Trackletes!!! They will be competing in the SIJHSAA Class L State Track & Field Meet in Carterville on May 11th.
400m Relay Team: Donnie Sabo, Xzyavier Wilson, Preston Liefer, Danny Worley
Long Jump: Danny Worley
Shot Put: Kingston Turner
WE ARE PROUD OF YOU ALL!! 👏😎
CHS: SIUC MORRIS LIBRARY FIELD TRIP
Chester High School Creative Writing and Senior Composition Classes (both taught by Rana Hodge). 25 students total.
The field trip idea came from an assignment in Creative Writing. One of the first class projects was to “create a field trip,” and students had to complete the official school paperwork with real details, plans, times, dates, a budget, a reason it connects to the class, and even state standards. Two of the projects were approved by Principal Blechle — the first was a class field trip to the Chester Public Library, submitted by Hannah Kaemphe and Nico DeGuzman, and this field trip to Carbondale was created by Ice Smith and Austin McDonald. Cherie Watson of SIUC helped Miss Hodge plan the agenda and guided us throughout the day.
To prepare for the trip, students in both classes had to research and teach their fellow students about a variety of topics pertaining to the experience, including presentations on Professor Sharp, Professor Allison Joseph, SIUC history, Faner Hall, and more.
Students were given the Saluki Welcome in the rotunda of Morris Library, where they also received a tour and a visit to special collections. Here research specialist Aaron Lisec prepared a unique look at Chester history — from Civil War letters to 1970s photographs, students were surprised to learn that there were archival records and some downright interesting artifacts being preserved from their hometown.
In the afternoon, students headed to the Sharp Museum for a tour guided by Wes Stoerger. Due to their research, they understood the Sharp legacy and the connection from Chester to the halls in the Carbondale gallery. Here they saw exhibits from SIUC art students, Southern Illinois women artists, regional artists, world art, and historical art collections. Pieces ranged from ceramics and paintings to interpretive dance (on film) and even a series of work depicting a unique language created by Carbondale artist Marquez Scoggin.
At the gallery, Professor Allison Joseph (world-renowned poet and SIUC faculty member) led a poetry workshop with Chester students on Ekphrastic poetry — or, poetry inspired by art. Students learned about the subject with a mini-lecture by Joseph, and then wrote poetry inspired by the art in the Sharp Museum.
At the end of the workshop, students shared their work with Professor Allison Joseph and the group. Joseph explained that the rough drafts and fresh ideas are like “wet paint,” and students should continue to work with them, ideally even visiting the original art again for new ideas and inspiration — but despite the short amount of time the students had to work, she was impressed with their creativity, boldness, and ability to tackle big emotions with small words. Some students wrote poems of heartbreak and pain, while others saw uplifting visions or were curious about the art. Professor Joseph invited students back for a Writers’ Conference — a two day workshop in June for high-school students who are passionate about the art of writing. Several students expressed excitement about the idea and hope to return to SIUC this summer.
CGS & CHS: THANK YOU
Both CGS & CHS would like to thank Kristen Gonzalez of Ritter Real Estate for the gift of treats during Staff Appreciation Week. Thank you!
CHS: STAFF APPRECIATION WEEK DRESS UP DAYS
Thank you Chester CUSD 139 Staff for making a difference everyday. 🧡
CHS: 2024 IPA BREAKFAST
Mabry Wingerter recognized as a student
who exemplifies leadership, good character,
and strong academics. Congratulations Mabry!
CHS: SIGNING DAY 2024
Wednesday, May 8th 2:25 pm
Come join the CHS family as our Seniors sign commitments to their plans for the coming year.
Family, friends, and community welcome.
Ceremony will be in Colbert Gymnasium
Please enter through the Professor Sharp Cafeteria
Doors open to the public at 2:10pm
CHS: 2024 SPRING CONCERT
Tuesday, May 7th, 7:30pm
Performance in
Colbert Gymnasium
Please enter through the Professor Sharp Cafeteria
CHS: NEXT COMMUNITY BLOOD DRIVE
FRIDAY, MAY 10th
11:30 AM - 4:00 PM
Chester Memorial Hospital
Conference Room (downstairs)
GIVING SAVES LIVES!
CHS: Graduation 2024
Sunday, May 19th 3pm
Ceremony in Colbert Gymnasium
Enter through Professor Sharp Cafeteria
CHS: Saturday Homeruns
Chester's Aron Korando and Kolton Jany each hit solo homeruns Saturday, 4/27/24, at the game in Flora. Congratulations guys!
CHS: Today’s Cancellations
Home varsity softball vs Murphy has been canceled (no practice)
Boys track @ Nashville has been canceled
CHS: Congratulations for an outstanding performance at SkillsUSA State competition in Peoria this weekend.
Scott Brown is the Illinois State Champion in Automotive Service Technology and Gage Hopkins placed 7th in State in Welding.
Congratulate these two young men on their accomplishments and representing our school and community in such an exceptional way!
CHS: Chester High School welcomed SIU in their Saluki Take Over tour. We're very thankful, they chose Chester High School as one of their stops during the tour. Four of our students: Cailey Bainter, Anarosa Ruiz Huerta, Jacob Pfeiffer, and Isaiah Roth, "Put a Cap" on it and signed commitments to attend in the coming year. We would like to thank Chancellor Austin A. Lane, Provost Sheryl Tucker, Associate Vice Chancellor for Enrollment Management Wendell Williams, and SIU Freshman Admissions, Carl Franks, Director of Undergrad Admissions Sarah Jiter, admissions for territory of Southern Illinois, Hannah Lunon for the outreach to the region and our community.
Thank you SIU! (photos courtesy of Jim Beers)
CHS: Home JV baseball game vs Marissa tonight is canceled.
Join our team. 🧡🖤🧡🖤
Great job tonight Mrs. Colonel and the CGS Band!!
CHS: BLOOD DRIVE SUCCESS
We exceeded our normal goal, due to many first time doners, and hit 39 units.
Donating blood saves lives! Thank you!
CHS REMINDER:
Lifetouch Photos are tomorrow Friday, April 26th.
Senior Tux and Drape Portraits, Any Necessary Make-Up Portrait, Spring Sports and all Club & Activity Photos will be taken.
A schedule for the day will be posted in the Google Classrooms.
CHS: UPCOMING MAY EVENTS
MAY ASIAN PACIFIC AMERICAN MONTH
MAY 1st SCHOOL PRINCIPALS DAY
MAY 1st SISHSA BANQUET
MAY 3rd SCHOOL LUNCH HERO DAY
MAY 5th CINCO DE MAYO
MAY 6th AP CHEMISTRY EXAM
MAY 6-10th STAFF APPRECIATION WEEK
MAY 7th CHS SPRING CONCERT
MAY 8th GSA FIELD TRIP TO SPRINGFIELD
MAY 8th SCHOOL NURSE’S DAY
MAY 8th SENIOR COOKOUT
MAY 8th SENIOR SIGNING DAY
MAY 8th CHS HONORS NIGHT
MAY 9th SENIOR EXAMS
MAY 10th SENIOR EXAMS
MAY 12th MOTHER’S DAY
MAY 16th SENIOR TRIP TO HOLIDAY WORLD
MAY 17th GRADUATION PRACTICE
MAY 19th CLASS OF 2024 (3pm)
MAY 20th UNDERCLASS EXAMS
MAY 21th UNDERCLASS EXAMS
MAY 22th UNDERCLASS EXAMS
MAY 23 FIRST DAY OF SUMMER BREAK (students)
