April 2021 Welcome to our Sports Edition! Earlier this month, Catherine Cook was able to finally welcome back sports clinics for our Middle School students and we are so excited. This month's newsletter highlights some of the amazing work of our school community in the field of athletics here at Cook and beyond.
As we look to the end of the school year and to more sporting events as well as upcoming graduations, we hope you will continue to update us on everything you are up to. If you have a class note or want to update your information, please do so and we may try to highlight you on our social media or in our upcoming newsletters. Kris Haines Physical Education Teacher
How many years have you been teaching at Catherine Cook? 20 years!
Are you a coach or facilitator? I am a lifetime football and basketball coach. I've also been a Karate instructor for ASA (After School Adventures) since 1998 - I am a 6th degree black belt.
Favorite piece of Catherine Cook apparel? My long sleeve charcoal gray shirt with a Cougar on the front.
Do you have a favorite assembly? The MLK Assembly is my favorite.
What is your favorite Catherine Cook tradition? I think my favorite Catherine Cook tradition would be the Middle School PE Games at the end of the year.
What is your best Catherine Cook memory? My favorite Catherine Cook memory would be when we won the girls basketball championship (2008, 2009, 2014, and 2020).
What is your favorite room/space in the building? The Gym!
Words of advice/encouragement for Alumni? Never stop dreaming of what you can accomplish.
Alexander Ditsch '19 Alexander, a sophomore at St. Ignatius, hit the field as quarterback on the JV Football team as they started up with sports again. Alexander helped to lead the school in a win over Joliet Central Catholic with 200 yards rushing, including a game-winning, 50-yard touchdown and around 50 yards passing. Way to go Alex and the Wolf Pack! Isabel Kapustka '17 Isabel, a senior at Walter Payton College Prep, was named to the Academic All-State Team, which honors students who excel in athletics and academics. Only 26 athletes, statewide, are recognized with this honor. Of the school's nominees, she was the only female nominee.
Dear Cook Alumni Community,
I hope you have found the increase in DEI opportunities this school year a purposeful step in our commitment to creating a more inclusive school community.
A recent such opportunity was a conversation I co-hosted with Brandie Melendez, Director of Equity and Inclusion at The Berkeley Carroll School (NY). Our presentation on Understanding Anti-Asian and Anti-Black Racism and the Interconnectedness within the BIPOC Community provided a space for adults to engage in their own anti-racist learning. We also came together to process and brainstorm in small groups what we might personally do to be anti-racist in light of the historical and current anti-Asian and anti-Black racism in the United States. Shared here are the slides from that conversation.
I am always open to learning what topics and types of engagements would be most beneficial to our alumni students and parents. One final opportunity for you to engage in an DEI-centered event this school year is through our Spring DEI Book Club. Our three-part conversation series will run Tuesdays, April 27, May 4, and May 18, from 6:00 - 7:15 p.m. over Zoom. We are featuring Young Adult Fiction and allowing participants to select one or both of the following books: King and the Dragonflies, by Kacen Callendar - a newer book just now getting introduced to our community, and The New Kid, by Jerry Craft - an older graphic novel, beloved by Cook readers of all ages. Please RSVP here.
Gratefully,
Motoko Maegawa Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Annual MLK Assembly This year's annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Assembly looked a little different due to COVID-19 precautions, but it was as powerful as ever. We were thrilled to be able to bring this amazing assembly to life for our school community. If you would like to see our MLK Assembly, please click here (password: Roar41#) Welcome Back Sports! Cougar sports programming has returned! On April 6, we welcomed back our Middle School student athletes to grade-level clinics. Participants are developing sport-specific skills, learning terminology and strategies, and boosting overall fitness levels. Currently we are offering programs in Running Club, Flag Football, Soccer, Volleyball, and Track & Field. Go Cougars! Community Cultural Celebration We have come together in celebration of our racial, ethnic, religious, geographic, gender, sexuality, and other cultural identities that make our community so wonderful. Alumni and alumni families are invited to enjoy the virtual exhibits presented by our diverse community members, which can include music, food, fashion, dance, and more. Click here to check it out! |