Travis Myers:
Prior to coming to South: Myers spent three years counseling and coaching football and baseball at Sterling High School in Sterling, IL.
On his experience so far at South: “It’s definitely a big change. There’s a lot going on here that we didn’t have at Sterling. So, it’s different, but it’s been awesome. It’s a great learning experience. It’s been great working with the kids. Everybody here has been so helpful.”
What he would like to accomplish at South: “I’d like to be a great resource for kids, whether it be socially, emotionally, academically, preparing for college—just that resource that students can come to, can learn from, and hopefully feel like I was able to help them.”
Favorite food: “Lasagna.”
Favorite movie: “Gladiator.”
Favorite thing about South: “Probably the students…It’s such a diverse population. All the kids seem so excited to be here. There’s a lot of school spirit. I like that there’s definitely that community feel about Glenbrook South.”
Matt Topham:
Prior to coming to South: Topham taught fifth grade at Highcrest Middle School in Wilmette, IL and counseled students at Taft High School in Chicago and most recently Niles North High School.
On his experience so far at South: “It’s been really fantastic. It’s been really welcoming. I think one of the best parts was when students emailed me before school even started, not to ask for schedule changes but just to say welcome. That was really nice…. [The] last month has been a whirlwind of activity, but it’s been very welcoming, and so far, so good!”
What he would like to accomplish at South: “I would like to help guide my students toward a life path that meets their hopes and personal expectations. President Obama recently addressed a group of college graduates and said, ‘Persevere because nothing worthwhile is easy.’ I believe this is a powerful statement and a message that I would like to pass along to my students. Life can be hard at times, but if we persevere, we get to see all the great opportunities life has in store.”
Favorite food: Thai food and peanut butter.
Favorite movie: “The Goonies.”
Favorite thing about South: “I love the school spirit. I think it’s fantastic. The school spirit, the athletics, the student organizations and everything really reminds me of my high school experience. I loved high school, so it’s really nice to get back into an environment that the kids are excited about being here.”
College and Career Center:
New this year: Renovated College and Career Center in Guidance
The guidance department relocated and renovated College and Career Center, according to college coordinator Ann LePage.
Location
“We always had a College and Career Center, and if I would survey students, no one ever knew where it was,” LePage said.
According to LePage, many students did not even know the old college and career center existed. LePage thought a more accessible center would be more beneficial to students as they began to investigate colleges and other post-high school opportunities.
“So…when they decided to do some remodeling down here in the guidance department, and when they asked us what our needs were, the first thing we said was, ‘We need to be on a main hallway’ so students have good access, and so that’s why we’re here kind of in the middle,” LePage said.
LePage said that another inspiration involved more efficient interaction within the guidance department.
“We wanted to have all the surrounding offices around us guidance counselors, so it was quick and convenient for a student that was coming to see their counselor or had a question about college and needed their counselor to participate—everybody was close by.”
Senior Chloe Coletta says the new organization of the center has made it much more appealing to her.
“It’s really helpful,” Coletta said. “Last year when I was a junior it was a little disorganized, but this year since they have the new center everything’s organized, everything’s where it should be, so if I ever need help for college or if I ever need any resources I can just go there and all my questions will be answered.”
The old College and Career Center now serves as a conference room for the Student Services area, according to LePage.
Technology
The College and Career Center now has five new computers, a resource that LePage encourages students to take advantage of in their free time.
“I think anybody can come down here, number one, even if you want to use some time to use your Naviance account or maybe a college website or learn some more information about a career that’s interesting to you, we can help hook you up with good sites to help you find information about that,” LePage said.
Coletta said she and other seniors have found many of these resources to be helpful.
“Some of my friends choose to explore their college options on their own, but I like to get help from other people just because when I’m doing stuff on my own I get really stressed, so to get like a resource here to help me is really convenient,” Coletta said. “I know a lot of people in the senior class are using it, because I see a lot of people like, strolling through there in my free periods and stuff like that.”
According to LePage, the computers can also be used for application work or to schedule an appointment electronically with guidance counselors, social workers, school psychologists or the college counselor.
Also new to the Center, a television serving as an electronic bulletin board helps to keep visitors informed of news such as college visits at South or dates for application tutorials in the TLC.
The new turf is a positive addition to South’s facilities, according to Mikael Noll, head football coach, who brought his team onto the turf for the first time in practice the second week of August.
Noll said he feels that the new turf has benefited his team.
“Well, we’ve had a mixed experience, but I’d say overall that it enhances our practices,” Noll said. “The surface is better. It’s softer, so it’s easier on your legs, and your back, so I think it’s better for the kids and coaches in that respect. All the lines are marked and everything’s clear out there, so we can be really precise and detailed in practices.”
Varsity quarterback Max Cohen agreed.
“My experience on the turf has been great,” Cohen said. “It looks good and it’s fun to mix up the turf and grass for practices.”
Football isn’t the only sport that gets to use the turf, either. According to Noll, the football team shares the turf equally with other athletic teams such as the boys’ soccer team, the field hockey team and the marching band.
Greer Heinzen, Varsity defensive midfield for field hockey, said she loves playing home games on the turf.
“It’s nice to be in the stadium because we’re a varsity sport, and it’s nice to have an announcement and actually have a [newer] scoreboard.”
Heinzen said that the turf is more usable in rain than the old field.
“If it rained a tiny bit we would never be able to play and now we can play…almost any day, I don’t think we’ve had any non-practices because of weather,” Heinzen said.
According to Cohen, playing on the new surface has its benefits and drawbacks.
“At least for football we play significantly faster when playing on turf,” Cohen said. “The one thing I liked about having a grass field was when you get tackled it was kind of soft when you hit the ground, but the turf isn’t nearly as hard as I thought it was going to be.”
Heinzen said that on the turf, certain field hockey maneuvers are easier than others.
“It’s a lot harder to move the ball up in the air—it’s a lot easier to have the ball on the ground and do like stick work, moving around people, but when you’re trying to go above them it’s harder to lift up,” Heinzen said.
Noll said that nearly all of the schools the football team travels to also have turf, and Cohen said that being able to practice on the turf at home really helps the team prepare for games.
“And so I think, when we’re on the grass and then we go on the turf, things get faster and the traction’s better and it does work out pretty good.”
“It’s a surface that you can count on regardless. So in other words when it rains, it’s really difficult to practice on grass, because you’re basically in the mud. Now when you’re out there, you can just practice.”
Noll said that nearly all of the schools the football team travels to also have turf.
“I think it’s a positive upgrade for the whole athletic department,” Noll said.
