Opening Night of The Little Mermaid Makes a Splash! #207Now #musical @mainewestdrama @mainewestfab

 
From the first notes of Part of Your World to the final bows, the Maine West Fine Arts Department's production of The Little Mermaid transported audiences under the sea with stunning performances, vibrant costumes, and breathtaking sets. Students brought Ariel, Ursula, and the whole cast of characters to life with incredible talent and energy.

Behind the scenes, our crew worked tirelessly to create dazzling lighting, seamless scene changes, and the perfect touch of Disney magic. The result? A show that left audiences humming the tunes and believing in the magic of dreams.

Bravo to our cast, crew, and directors for making this production unforgettable! 

Click HERE to enjoy many more pictures from the show!

There are three more performances of The Little Mermaid:

Friday, February 21, 2025 at 7:00 p.m.
Saturday, February 22, 2025 at 7:00 p.m.
and Sunday, February 23, 2025 at 2:00 p.m.

Secure your seats now at bit.ly/MWBoxOffice.

BONUS EVENT! Before Sunday's matinee, join us for an "Under the Sea" Carnival - a fun-filled event where kids can enjoy games, crafts and surprises inspired by The Little Mermaid!

"Under the Sea" Carnival Details:

Sunday, February 23 at 12:00 p.m.

Tickets to the carnival are $10 for children, and free for adults. 

Get tickets for the carnival here: https://mainewestfineartsboosters.square.site/under-the-sea-carnival 

Don’t miss this incredible opportunity to bring your little one into Ariel’s world for a day of fun, music, and magic! We can’t wait to see you there!

Maine West Visual Artist Earns the Silver Key Award in the 2025 Scholastic Art & Writing Awards! #207Now #excellence #scholastics @mainewestart @lahartanddesign2 @mainewestfab

 

District 207 is excited to share the results of the 2025 Chicago Region Scholastic Art Awards! District 207 student artists have earned an impressive 26 awards, including 11 Gold Key Awards, 8 Silver Key Awards, and 7 Honorable Mentions. All Gold Key recipients will have their work considered for national recognition.

Among the awards, Maine West's Luiza Szerszenowicz won a Silver Key Award in Drawing and Illustration!

The Scholastics Chicago Region awards ceremony and regional exhibition will be on display at the Columbia College Student Center, 754 S Wabash Ave, Chicago, IL 60605, on April 9, 2025.

CLICK HERE to see a portfolio of District 207’s award-winning artwork!

Scholarship Opportunities for Maine West Fine Art Students #207Now #scholarships @mainewestfab

There are a number of scholarship opportunities available to graduating seniors who have been involved in Fine Arts programs at Maine West. Please see the below scholarship opportunities. If you have any questions, please feel free to ask your Fine Arts teacher or Ms. Mullen, Fine Arts Department Chair. You are encouraged to submit application materials for consideration in advance of the due dates.

The MW Fine Arts Boosters scholarships will be awarded at the Senior Awards Night on May 13, 2025.

MAINE WEST FINE ARTS BOOSTERS SCHOLARSHIPS - Due March 21, 2025

Up to 5 scholarships of $400 each are awarded to college-bound seniors who have been active participants in one or more of the Maine West High School fine arts programs: Band, Choir, Orchestra, Visual Arts, West Side Dance Co., Drama, Speech and Broadcasting.

SCHOLARSHIP ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS:

All applicants for scholarships awarded by the Fine Arts Boosters must:

1) Have a cumulative weighted grade point average of 3.0 or higher through the end of the fall semester senior year.

2) Be active in the Maine West Fine Arts programs for a minimum of 2 years.

3) Complete the FAB scholarship online application in its entirety including the transcript copy by submission deadline.  

4) Provide intention of enrollment to a college or university.  Since this is before the commitment date for most universities, the specific school is not required.

Applications must be submitted by midnight on Friday, March 21, 2025.  Only electronic submissions will be accepted.  Late submissions will not be accepted.

HERE is a link to the scholarship application. (Please note, you must use a non-district email address to complete this form.)

If you have any questions, please email them to: MaineWestFineArts@gmail.com

 

Award decisions are made at the sole discretion of the Fine Arts Boosters Scholarship Committee.

SAMANTHA SCHOLARSHIP - Due April 1, 2025

The Samantha Scholarship is a scholarship for high school seniors that honors Samantha Spano, a young woman who lost her life to suicide. Samantha was very artistic and loved painting, drawing and music. This scholarship seeks students who exemplify outstanding character and asks for a submission in some art form (drawing, painting, a collage, poetry, song, photography, etc.) to answer the question: choose your favorite song and explain why it has a special meaning to you. 

For the full application and requirements, go to https://www.forsamantha.org/scholarship-information.

ICONIC LEGACY DANCE SCHOLARSHIP - Due March 31, 2025

The ICONIC Legacy Scholarship was established in 2022 by the Wastyn Family. To honor the senior dancers in the class of 2020, the ICONIC Legacy Scholarship is committed to helping the next dancer in line. The Scholarship supports a 4th year graduating West Side Dance Company member who will be going to a 2- or 4-year college or trade program, and who embodies the spirit that life isn’t about waiting for the storm to pass. It is about learning to dance in the rain!

The third annual Scholarship will be awarded this year to a 2025 West Side Dance Company 4th year member. The application will be open until 3/31/25. Fourth year West Side Dance Company members are invited to apply by clicking this link: https://apply.mykaleidoscope.com/program/2025IconicLegacy

Questions? Please contact IconicLegacyScholarship@gmail.com 

INTERNATIONAL THESPIAN SCHOLARSHIPS - Open February 1, 2025

The Educational Theatre Foundation, an organization related to the International Thespian Organization, of which many Maine West Drama students are members, sponsors a number of drama-related scholarships each year. For information about the scholarships offered by this organization this year, please go to: https://foundation.schooltheatre.org/scholarships/ 

SPEECH SCHOLARSHIPS - Various Deadlines

There are a number of speech-specific scholarship offered by colleges and universities around the country. If you are a senior Speech Team member, please see THIS LIST curated by the National Speech and Debate Association for speech scholarships!

District 62 & Maine West Band Programs Collaborate at the 2025 Band Festival #207Now #band @mainewestband @d62schools @mainewestfab

 

This morning, we had the pleasure of collaborating with 115 band students from District 62 at the annual D62/MW Band Festival! It was a fantastic celebration of music and collaboration, bringing together our high school and middle school band programs to connect, learn from each other, and showcase their talents in a supportive and inspiring environment. 

Events like these not only highlight the incredible work of our band directors but also foster a strong sense of community and excitement for the arts across all grades.

Thank you so the District 62 Band Directors - Ms. Legutki, Ms. Todd and Mr. Pisello - for your collaboration on this wonderful event!

Thank you to Maine West Band Director, Mr. Bernie Gerstmayr for your organization and leadership of today's festival!

More pictures from today's festival can be found HERE.

Dimensions "Perspectives" Concert #207Now #musiceducation @mainewestband @mworchestras @mainewestchoir @mainewestfab

What an unforgettable evening at Dimensions 2024: Perspectives! Our students from band, choir, orchestra, and music production delivered performances that showcased their hard work, creativity, and passion.

The theme of "Perspectives" came to life through their artistry, reminding us how music can open our minds to new ways of seeing and experiencing the world. From intricate harmonies to innovative compositions, every note reflected their dedication and collaboration. Students delivered powerful speeches that deeply connected to the theme, offering the audience meaningful perspectives to reflect on and inspiring new ways of thinking!

Thank you to everyone who joined us to celebrate these talented students. Their success is a testament to the power of the arts to inspire, connect, and transform. Bravo to all who performed—you’ve made your school and community proud!

HERE is the Dimensions Concert program.

HERE is a folder full of pictures.

A big thanks to the Maine West Fine Arts Boosters for supporting a pizza dinner for every student and staff member involved in the Dimensions Concert!

Dimensions "Perspectives" Art Reception #207Now #art @mainewestart @lahartanddesign2

Tonight, the Maine West lobby transformed into a bustling showcase and celebration of  student creativity, featuring works from ceramics, design, photography, drawing, painting, and digital art programs. The "Dimensions: Perspectives" exhibit invited visitors to explore the rich tapestry of artistic expression across multiple mediums and from different perspectives.

Thank you to the many family, friends and fans of our visual art students for attending tonight's reception and helping us celebrate the incredible achievements of the student artists at West!

Thank you to the Maine West Fine Arts Boosters for providing tonight's reception sweets and refreshments!

More pictures of the student work in the Dimensions: Perspectives exhibit can be found HERE.

Maine West Speech Team Finds Success at the Espresso and the UltiMUTT Dog Show Tournaments! #207Now #speech #forensics @mwspeechteam @mainewestfab

 

The Maine West Speech Team found success this weekend at two tournaments! 

The Varsity Speech Team participated in the Espresso Tournament at Elk Grove High School...

...where Elisha made it to the Finals and placed 5th in Informative Speaking!

Our JV Speech Team went to the UltiMUTT Dog Show at John Hersey High School...

...where Jimena placed 5th in Informative Speaking, Elisa placed 1st in Poetry and Sam placed 3rd in Original Comedy!

Congratulations to the Maine West Speech Team!!!