Expect a new staff member in town

Expect to see a new staff member around next week in classrooms.

This upcoming Monday, November 1, there will be an addition to the staff. Ms. Thuy Ngo (pronounced Twee No) will arrive at Vanguard. There’s not much information on her as of now, but every one seems to be excited about the change.

Dr. Koralik had the pleasure of being on the interview committee for this job spot. He says, “She was the best candidate. She has experience at a Chicago school (North Side Prep on the northwest side) that has an outstanding academic reputation, and also at an alternative school.”

From the information I have gathered, Ms. Ngo will be an academic coach for staff at Vanguard and FVAS. “I’m open to any suggestions in order to improve classes, and students' education. It’s part of being a teacher. We’re always looking for change. Good change, that is,” states Koralik.

Although you may not know it, Vanguard staff meets quite frequently to discuss the curriculum. They usually meet seven times per week to discuss what's best for students in terms of curriculum. Another phrase they use for this is called "best practice."

Mr. O’Brien says, “Ms. Ngo will be improving teacher practice, and student learning here, and also at Forest View (alternative school).” He has made it very clear that her position is adjustable, and open to fit to students, staffs, and her needs.

“The reason we are getting this instructional coach is because the federal government approved a 10 billion dollar bill to save and add teacher jobs across the nation. District 214 received a grant because of this, and in return we hired her,” says Associate Superintendent for Educational Services Rosemary Gonzalez-Pinnick. Dr. Pinnick also went on to say that this will hopefully help students succeed.

Without much information, it’s hard to tell what Ms. Thuy T. Ngo will be like. So when she arrives, Meet the Staff 3 will be in full effect so we can get to know her a little better. Be sure to give her a warm welcome on Tuesday, Vipers!

If you have any questions for Ms. Ngo, please leave a comment below!

Story by Annemarie Schaefer

Spirit Week

It's that time of year again!

Spirit week launched off with pajama day on Monday. Today is Twin Day!

Mr. Kosirog and Lukasz Maj

Also, Ms. DeMeo is hosting pumpkin carving/painting/sculpting this Tuesday and Wednesday in Room 4.

Emily is hard at work sculpting the Mad Hatter



Spirit week is going great. Don't forget to wear your Chicago sportswear tomorrow, and enter the Pumpkin Seed Throw Down on Thursday. Have a Happy Halloween!

Story and pictures by Annemarie Schaefer

Meet the Staff! 2

An interview between Annemarie Schaefer and Natalie DeMeo took place in room 4.

Ms. Natalie DeMeo is our talented Integrated Studies and art teacher. Her Tim Burton obsession and distinct, bellowing out of control laugh are two characteristics that set her apart from the rest of the wacky staff. This expressive woman can turn any Joe-Schmo into an artist. There’s a reason why there are over 10 students who attend yoga every day. She’s part of what makes Vanguard, Vanguard. And we thank her for that.



AMS: What is your most embarrassing moment?
ND: I have one every day. I live for them, I like feeling uncomfortable.


AMS: If you could time travel, what year would you go to?
NSD: I'd go to 1999. It was the best time of my life. I was in the dating scene, I had freedom, a job, and went clubbin’!


AMS: If you were stranded on a tropical, island what are 3 things you would bring with you?
NSD: I'd bring Johnny Depp, Steven King, and a knife.


AMS: What is your best high school memory?
NSD: Going to the mailbox and finding out I got a scholarship to Western Illinois. It was such
great feeling.


AMS: What’s your dream job?
NSD: I want to own a storefront in downtown Glen Ellen that I co-own with Dr. Koralik and Ms. O’Neill. We’ll cater to babies designing their rooms, taking photos, and painting murals of them. In the back room, we’ll have a sports talk show on the radio, which Ms. O’Neill and my husband will run. Dr. Koralik will play harmonica on the front stoop. We’ll also have a bar, readings, shows by local bands, and stuff like that.


AMS: What’s your dug out song?
NSD: "Sad But True" by Metallica. Yeah, every thing is sad but true in my life.


AMS: Who would play you in a movie of your life?
NSD: Sigourney Weaver. She’s a bad ass, and was the first woman action hero in horror film in America.


AMS: What dance describes you?
NSD: Belly Dancing. I can’t tell you why; it’s not appropriate for school…


AMS: What would be your last supper if you were on death row?
NSD: I’d have a ceaser salad, good bread, rigatoni, and red wine.


AMS: Do you have Bieber Fever?
NSD: NO!!!

Vanguard unites against bullying

Lately, Vanguard has been focusing on educating students about bullying. With the suicides that have taken place recently along with all the media attention, the Culture Captains thought it a good idea to inform fellow classmates on the harms of picking on someone.

Director Mr. O’Brien says, “As a staff of almost 20 with only 100 students, we are aware of what’s going on at school most of the time. If we do notice bullying, we take action right away. Last year we even removed a student from Vanguard.”

Students are getting very involved with this issue. Some students are using their pens as weapons against the bullies. Junior Nick Strelak wrote a poem titled ‘Bullying is Pushing the Limit.’ The poem is plastered all over the halls. An anti-bullying poster made by the Culture Captains, along with signs saying ‘NO BULLY ZONE’, have been hung up all over the school. Some have even chosen to wear these signs on their backs.

Wednesday morning, the whole school watched the documentary, “Bullied,” which told the story of high school student Jamie Nabozny. Nabozny was taunted and beaten throughout his life because of his sexual preference. “If you don’t help some one that’s being bullied, then you’re just as guilty as the bully,” says Cris Richardson. He was very inspired by the film. Many students across the nation, including students Val Carley and Matt Beutel, wore purple to support the end of anti-gay bullying.

Obviously, we are all on the case about bullying. Ms. Medina-Perez states, “Bullying is a big deal to the staff. We believe that school should be a safe place, and it’s our job to keep it that way.” Well, we are all working on it!

“I’m real proud of students and their honesty about bullying. One powerful result of this campaign from the culture captains is all the courageous conversation going on around here,” said Ms. O’Neill.

Senior Julia Sovcik is spreading the word about bullying. She befriended and contacted Jamie Nabozny on the Facebook, and ended up getting a note back from him. Students can also help prevent harassment by learning more about the pain and dreadful consequences of bullying by seeing “The Laramie Project” this weekend. This is a play about Matthew Shepard who was kidnapped, brutally beaten, and murdered because he was gay during the 1990s. It will be playing October 21 at 7:00 pm, and October 22 and 23 at 7:30 pm at Buffalo Grove High School. It is highly recommended you see this passionate, timely, and moving act.

Story by Annemarie Schaefer

a walk in the woods

Integrated Studies Classes took off to Starved Rock State Park to embrace the beauty of fall colors and the crisp autumn air with a nice hike. They will return this evening at 7 in the pm. Don't forget, open house tomorrow.

love, the phantom b-logger

photos by Koralik and DeMeo

Meet the staff!

A Vanguardian interview with Annemarie Schaefer and Joseph Impastato took place on October 14, 2010, in the tech center. This is the first interview in the latest weekly blog segment called "Meet the staff".

Mr. Joseph "Pasta" Impastato is a very well-known man around Vanguard. He is very busy, and hard working at what he does. There's hardly a free minute in his day. In the 10 minutes it took to interview him, three students interrupted us to ask him for help. Pasta's job includes working with students one-on-one with assignments, coordinating and recruiting students for Music Club, soothing students and staff with the horrific printer catastrophes, charming the lunch ladies, and going on long rants about music and movies. If you see him, say hi and he'll talk your ear off.

AMS: What is your most embarrassing moment?

JVI: In junior high, a magician came to my school for an assembly. When he asked for a volunteer, I raised my hand and was called up on stage in front of everyone. He held up a dictionary and told me to close my eyes and point at a word while he flipped through the book. After that, he held up a banner that had the word I picked in bold letters. It said, ”MENSTRUATION”. The whole school laughed at me, and I think I peed my pants a little.

AMS: If you could time travel, what year would you go to?

JVI: I’d go to 1968 because that period of time changed the world. It was the biggest year in American history for movements and civil rights. Something revolutionary happened every single month of ‘68.

AMS: If you were stranded on a tropical island, what are three things you would bring with you?

JVI: I would bring an umbrella, sunglasses, and a swiss army knife.

AMS: What is your greatest high school memory?

JVI: During the prom fashion show, I was modeling a tux. I moonwalked across the entire stage and every one cheered for me.

AMS: What is your dream job?

JVI: My dream job is working here as a real teacher.

AMS: Where do you see yourself in 15 years?

JVI: In fifteen years, I want to have a house with a dishwasher, central air conditioning, a washer, a dryer, and a backyard.

AMS: What is your dug out song?

JVI: We will rock you/We are the champions - Queen. This really was my dug out song. I played baseball from ages 10 to 18. My team and I would play this song in the dug out, but then we were told to stop. So we would sing and clap our hands to the song instead.

AMS: Who would play you in a movie of your life?

JVI: Mathew Lilard, Ethan Embry, or Daniel Tosh

AMS: What dance describes you?

JVI: The white boy shuffle!

AMS: What would be your last supper if you were on death row?

JVI: Kampai. Every thing there is just awesome, dude.

AMS: Do you have Beiber Fever?

JVI: Only for Jordan.