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Beecher 200-U Bringing the Chickens to Roost
By Jeff Vorva The passing of the Beecher 200-U tax levy had a barnyard feel to it with chickens coming to roost. District Superintendent Jack Gaham threw out a lot of facts, figures, and percentages during a Truth In Taxation hearing at the December 11 board meeting. Some residents were confused about the increases, thinking…
Santa Letters from Ms. Baxter’s First Graders
As promised, here are more of those delightful letters from the children at Beecher Elementary School. Ms. Baxter’s first graders had some great ideas to help out the jolly big man in the bright red suit. After reading the letters, if Santa is really hungry during his journey on Christmas Eve, he won’t be disappointed…
Santa Letters from Mrs. Markland’s First Graders
Mrs. Markland’s children also took the time to inform Santa of their wishes for this Christmas season and also informed the jolly man just what their behavior was like during the past year. To everyone’s relief – they were all GOOD! It certainly looks like Santa’s sleigh is going to be very heavy when it…
Santa Letters from Mrs. Stolarek’s BES First Graders
Recently, the first graders at Beecher Elementary took on a very special project and a most important one, too – the annual writing of letters to that jolly man at the North Pole. After reading some of the correspondence, we think you will agree it was a most important task. This week, The Vedette is…
Beecher School Board Making Things Perfectly CLEAR
By Jeff Vorva The Beecher 200U school board made things perfectly CLEAR on Nov. 13. It is taking a pro-active approach to residency scofflaws and approved to enter the CLEAR Investigation Software program to catch those students who do not live in the district. CLEAR is a product from Thompson Reuters Legal Solutions and District…
BJHS Announces First Quarter Honor Rolls
Beecher Junior High School recently announced students named it its first quarter honor rolls. Congratulations to the following students! High Honors Eighth Grade: Makenna Albert, Gianna Bonomo, Shayleigh Brunger, Brady Cain, Layla Campus, Stanley Detjen, Alexandria Groen-Hudspeth, Madelyn Grooms, Fiona Hagan-Storbeck, Kendall Heldt, Lucas Hernandez, Reagan Hewitt, Matthew Hurley, Jenna Huskisson, Carmela Irwin, Alexandra Johnson,…
BHS Announces First Quarter Honor Rolls
Beecher High School recently announced students named to its first quarter honor rolls. Congratulations to the following students! High Honors Seniors: Quinton Allen, Alexis Barkus, Katelyn Bol, Savannah Bonelli, Adriana Cabrera, Tyler Cochran, Kenneth Deems, Nathan Diachenko, Julieta Dominguez, Jessica Ellerson, Ariana Fernandez, Carter Garrison, Giada Garza, Olivia Geringer-Spagnola, Caitlin Gill, Spencer Guthrie, Jack Hayhurst,…
State Report Cards Reveal Chronic Absenteeism a Concern
By Andrea Arens The state report cards were released this week and, while there were gains in academic achievement, it revealed the state still has a chronic absenteeism issue. Pre-pandemic absenteeism was at 17.5 percent. Currently, the rate is 28.7 percent, which is down slightly from last year’s 30 percent. Illinois state superintendent Tony Sanders…
Illinois Report Card Math Scores a Concern in Beecher
By Jeff Vorva Beecher 200-U Superintendent Jack Gaham received a sneak preview of the Illinois Report Card scores and he’s concerned with the district’s math results. “The (overall) results for all three school will be commendable,” Gaham said at the October 11 school board meeting. “But there is a need to focus on our math.…
Sen. Harris Announces Nearly $7.6 million in Local School Funding
State Sen. Napoleon Harris III is excited to announce $7.6 million in additional funding will be awarded to local schools to help move toward fair and equitable school systems in Illinois. “As a father, I want to ensure all our children have the opportunity to receive an excellent education,” said Harris. “The state’s budget serves…
Beecher High School Missing a Variable in the Equation
By Jeff Vorva The school year is ready to kick off in mid-August, and one thing is not adding up at Beecher High School. Or subtracting. Or dividing. At the July 10 District 200-U board meeting, Superintendent Jack Gaham was concerned about a spot still open on the teaching roster for a high school math…
BHS Announces Fourth Quarter Honor Rolls
Beecher High School recently announced students named to its fourth quarter honor rolls. Congratulations to the following students! High Honors Seniors: Grace Adams, Sydney Bonham, Trinity Bonham, Ariel Caldwell Brown, Damiano Cassanelli, Kylie Cook, Kayla Cruz, Alyssa Dillinger, Lola Eckhardt, Kayla Eickmann, Jacob Farrar, Ryan Gayton, Kevin Girard, Ethan Graham, Tabitha Gregory, Olivia Hodac, Ethan…
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Tough Week for Blue Devils
Peotone’s Blue Devils also began their basketball season at the Coaler Turkey Tourney, but came up short for the week. On Monday, November 20, the Blue Devils played IC Catholic, which resulted in a 30-52 loss. Ruben Velasco led the Blue Devils with 15 points and 9 rebounds, while Hunter Becker added 7 rebounds. The…
VEDETTE SPORTS REPORT
By Jeff Vorva Although there were no local teams in the finals of the Beecher Fall Classic, the championship game turned out to be a classic that will be talked about for a while. St. Laurence made the trip from Burbank to Beecher five times and the fifth time turned into a championship with a…
Thanksgiving Turkey Tourney Brought Exciting Play
By Jim Piacentini All the games at the Coal City Turkey Tourney tip-off were exciting, plus all the teams had their hot shooters and rebounders ready to play. Leaders for Peotone were Ruben Velasco, Brandon Weiss, and Hunter Becker. Becker did well with rebounding and Velasco and Weiss did well with long range shots. Beecher…
Beecher Ends Season with Sectional Loss to Herscher
By Jim Piacentini The Beecher Bobcat Varsity Soccer Team had quite an impressive season, but it came to a close on Tuesday, October 24, in a Sectional loss to Herscher. The Bobcats came out ready to play and dominated the first 25 minutes of the game. Hersher then took a 1-0 lead, but Beecher fought…
Beecher Bobcats Stomp the Chargers in RVC Conference Play
On October 12th, Beecher came out swinging. Taking it in two sets; 25-13 and 25-10. Led by Elena Kvasnicka and Evelyn Jablonski with kills. Aylin Lagunas and Mallory Berry had a string of great serves to keep the Lady Bobcats ahead. Good digs from the Bobcats kept them on top. They played as a well-disciplined…
Area High School Sport Highlights
Golf Peotone: On Monday, October 2, Peotone High School golfers Joe Hasse and Jake Eaheart competed in the 2A Golf Sectional at Wedgewood Golf Course in Joliet. Both players were unable to advance to the state finals, as the cut line was 76, and both players shot an 87. Volleyball ILHS: On Friday, September 29,…
Bobcat Soccer Has Winning Week!
On Tuesday, October 3, the Bobcat soccer team traveled to play conference rival Momence, bringing home a 9-5 victory. It was never in doubt, as Beecher led at the half, 8-2, then added one more goal to three additional ones for Momence, but sealing the win. For the Bobcats, Wences Baumgartner had 3 goals and…
Bobcat Soccer Records Only Wins
On Tuesday, September 26, the Bobcats faced conference foe Clifton Central in front of the home fans. It was a rather quick victory for the Beecher soccer team, as they were leading 3-0 at the half, but the game was stopped at halftime because of weather. Scoring for the Bobcats were Wences Baumgartner with two…
Bobcat Soccer Highlights
On Saturday, September 16, the Bobcats faced non-conference foe Bishop Mac in Kankakee. After a scoreless first half, Beecher managed 4 goals in the second to bring home the 4-0 win. For the Bobcats, Wences Baumgartner had 2 goals, Nate Diachenko added 1 goal and 1 assist, Tyler Kramer also was credited with 1 goal,…
Gibson City Beats Beecher in Opening Round of Purple Pool Play
By Dennis Bowling Beecher Coach Dawn Compton knew when playing a downstate power, such as Gibson City, the Bobcats should have been able to raise their level of play, but they were not able to do that at all on September 20. Fisher (Gibson City) beat Beecher, 3-1, in the opening round of the Purple…
Bobcats Rule Over Panthers
By Dennis Bowling Beecher Coach Dawn Compton was hoping to get off to a strong start against a very competitive Manteno team, and it all started with senior Nate Diachenko on September 13. A mere minute into the first half of the game, Diachenko scored a goal, which gave the Bobcats a momentum changing 1-0…
Great Week for Bobcat Soccer!
Monday through Thursday, September 11 – 14, the Beecher Bobcat Soccer Team managed to keep their opponents at zero points – yes, that’s ZERO goals, while scoring 26 goals for themselves during the four contests. On Monday, September 11, the Bobcats faced non-conference foe Reed-Custer and led at the half, 2-0. They then added 3…
College News
College News
The following students achieved the Dean’s List at Belmont University in Nashville, Tennessee, for the fall semester. Eligibility is based…
College News
The following residents are among 1,470 prospective candidates for degree who attended the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee commencement exercises on Sunday,…
Returning Home During COVID-19 Inspired Ambriz to Earn UW-Stout Degree, Football Honors
Graduating construction major used time with family to gain new perspective on college, shine as a UW-Stout Blue Devil, and…
College News
Mitchell Allen, from New Lenox, graduated from Milwaukee School of Engineering (MSOE) in the Spring of 2023. Allen received a…
‘Christmas at Augustana’ Features Local Students
The Augustana College Department of Music recently presented Christmas at Augustana. More than 200 student musicians took the stage to…
USF Named a Top Midwest College for Diversity by WSJ/College Pulse
The University of St. Francis (USF) has been recognized as a top Midwest college for the diversity of its student…
College News
Honor Society Amanda McClellan, of Monee, recently was initiated into the Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi, the nation’s oldest…
USF Earns Hispanic-Serving Institution Designation/Grant
Earlier this year, the University of St. Francis (USF) earned the Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI) designation by the U.S. Department of…
Enjoy WCSF’s ‘Spirit of Christmas’ Programming
Starting at noon on Thanksgiving Day and running through 12 p.m. on January 2, the University of St. Francis (USF)…
Support USF’s ‘Francis Fund’ Giving Tuesday, November 28
If you ever wanted to support the pursuit of a higher education for students at the University of St. Francis…
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