4.05.2022

Five Maine West Student Filmmakers Nominated for National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Crystal Pillar Awards #207Now #studentfilmmaking #studentemmys @wmth_west @mainewestfab


Five Maine West student filmmakers had works nominated by the Midwest Chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (NATAS) for Crystal Pillar Awards in four categories of filmmaking. This distinguishes these students' projects among the top 3 or 4 films in each category in the region.

The NATAS organization sponsors the Emmy Awards, and similar to the Emmy Awards, after being nominated, the next step will be for the NATAS to announce winners in each category. Winners are invited to attend the Silver Circle Dinner on May 13th to receive the Crystal Pillar Award. Winners will be announced at the Midwest Media Educators Association (MMEA) Festival on April 29th.

Enjoy the films nominated this year below!

News Report- Light News: Brooke Capper for The Hope Wall

Short Form Non Fiction: Ben Pluta for Libraries of the Past: Terry Blue's Honor Flight

Sports Program: Nitya Nair and Lindsey Kulesza for Girls Talk Sports

Commercial: Abby Wilson for Goldfish Cheeze-It® War

Congratulations to these students for their excellent work and for earning this recognition! A huge thanks to Ms. Orr for making this opportunity available to the students at Maine West!



4.04.2022

The Maine West Film Showcase Highlights the Tremendous Work of Broadcasting and Film Students #207Now #mediaarts #mediaartseducation #studentfilmmakers #filmshowcase @wmth_mainewest

Tonight's Maine West Film Showcase celebrated the tremendous achievements of the students in the Broadcasting and Advanced TV & Film classes, as well as the students involved in WMTH. The films featured tonight were impressive and varied, exhibiting the creativity and technical ability of all of the students in the program. Special congratulations were extended to the seniors in the program for their contributions.

Congratulations to all of the students involved in West's Broadcasting program! Thank you to the family, friends and fans who came out to the Film Showcase! A huge thanks to Ms. Orr for your vision and efforts in organizing tonight's event!

More pictures from tonight's Film Showcase can be found HERE.












4.01.2022

Join Us for the MAINE WEST FILM SHOWCASE on Monday, April 4th at 6:00 p.m.! #207Now #mediaarts #mediaartseducation @wmth_mainewest @mwactivities @mainewestfab

 

Join us for the Maine West Film Showcase presented by students in the Broadcasting and Advanced TV and Film classes!

Monday, April 4th at 6:00 p.m. in the Lower Commons

Admission is free, and concessions will be for sale - cash only. 

See you there!

3.29.2022

Maine West Music Student, Sophia Luong, Accepted into Prestigious Carnegie Hall Summer Program #207Now #excellence #musiceducation #creativityfuelsthefuture @mainewestband @mainewestfab

Sophia Luong, a junior percussionist in the Maine West Band, has been accepted into a prestigious summer music program, Carnegie Hall NY02. The NY02 program offers outstanding young American instrumentalists selected from a national pool of talent a free summer orchestra program in which participants collaborate with the National Youth Orchestra of the United States of America (NYO-USA) and the NYO Jazz programs for intensive training and performance opportunities. Musicians in the program have the opportunity to work with top performers and pedagogues from the nation's most respected orchestras and conservatories. 

Sophia was recently featured in the Daily Herald for her accomplishment. You can read the article HERE

Congratulations, Sophia! All of us at West are so proud of you!

3.14.2022

Congratulations to the WEST SIDE DANCE COMPANY on Successful Performances of "ELEMENTS!" #207Now #dance #westsidedanceco @westsidedanceco

Congratulations to all of the dancers involved in the West Side Dance Company's show, "ELEMENTS!" Each dance was captivating and inspiring!

A special recognition to all of the student choreographers for your impressive work in creating creative, beautiful, and entertaining dance numbers!

PROGRAM
Opening - Choreographed by Lindsey Kulesza
Earth, Wind & Fire - Choreographed by Ava Williams
Fire Stages (Juniors)
Iron Man (Sophomores)
Singing in the Rain (Seniors)
Edge of the Water - Choreographed by Mrs. Lisa Jacob
Pani - Choreographed by Sharon Thomas
Hanging Tree (Freshmen)
Burn - Choreographed by Makayla Allen
Gold - Choreographed by Jessica Mueller
Tap Water - Choreographed by Lauren Roskoske
Air - Choreographed by Jadyn Chelberg
Sparks - Choreographed by Sofia Vincent
Desi Dhamaka (Special Guest Performance) - Choreographed by Feyona Baiju, Ann Biju, Shanette Ellickal & Alaina Thirunelliparambil
Fireball - Choreographed by Ashlinn Demonte
Crazy Weather - Choreographed by Ms. Lisa Jacob
Sun - Choreographed by Kailynn Ritti & Ava Williams
Elements - Choreographed by Ashlinn Demonte & Bianca Noonan
Helium - Choreographed by Lindsey Kulesza & Kiley White
Natural - Choreographed by Jadyn Chelberg
Formula - Choreographed by Katie Delaney
Sunshine - Choreographed by Mrs. Lisa Jacob
H2O - Choreographed by Adriana Lee & Kiley White
Mercury - Choreographed by Samantha Sukosol
Hurricane - Choreographed by Lindsey Kulesza
Rain On Me
Wind - Choreographed by Fiona Fowler
The Scientist (4th Year)
It's Not The Water - Choreographed by Mrs. Lisa Jacob
Closing - Choreographed by Lindsey Kulesza

Thank you to the Maine West Fine Arts Boosters and all of the parent volunteers for helping to make this event happen!

More pictures from the show can be found HERE











3.09.2022

Maine West Art Students Receive Recognition and Scholarships at Regional IHSAE Exhibition #207Now @mainewestart #art #creativityfuelsthefuture

The 9th Annual Illinois High School Art Exhibition brings the best student artists from 100 Illinois suburban, public and private high schools to compete and celebrate the power of art in their lives. Four Maine West students will have have art in this prestigious art exhibit and competition. The students representing Maine West this year are: 

Laura Grahn, Mixed Media
Weronika Kmieć, Acrylic Painting 
Gabby Szewczyk, Photo
Natalia Habczyk, Drawing
Zensanna Yost, Digital Art

These students' works will be on exhibit, along with the works of over 500 students artists from across the Chicago region, at the Bridgeport Art Center (1200 W. 35th Street, Chicago, IL 60609) from March 13th-April 28th.

The work of these students will be adjudicated, with the potential of receiving special awards and recognition at the IHSAE Awards Ceremony and Reception Event, which is open to the public, and is on Sunday, March 13th, 2022 from 11:30 a.m.-3:00 p.m. at the Bridgeport Art Center. Come out to see the incredible work by all of the student artists, and to cheer on our Maine West artists in the show! HERE is the schedule of events for the day.

SENIOR SCHOLARSHIP EXHIBITION

Four Maine West senior artists submitted portfolios to the Senior Scholarship Exhibition, an exhibit of some 300 senior artworks and a scholarship program that offers college tuition scholarships totaling over $119 million dollars. 

The students from Maine West who were offered art scholarships for a combined amount of $1,156,000 are: 

Mya Caceres
Joanna Contreras
Jack Dinse
Kyra Harrington

Representing West at the Senior Exhibition is:

Kyra Harrington


Lastly, the IHSAE Art Throwdown is an in person Art Competition with approximately 30 students competition to showcase their creative talents in front of a live audience. Representing West in the Throwdown Challenge is:

Kyra Harrington
Zensanna Yost

Enjoy the submissions by West artists below:

Weronika Kmieć (Painting)

Laura Grahn (Mixed Media)

Natalia Habczyk (Drawing)

Zensanna Yost (Digital Art)

Gabriela Szewczyk (Photography)

Kyra Harrington (Senior Exhibition)




Congratulations to the Maine West Choirs on Their Inspiring Spring Concert! #207Now @mainewestchoir #musiced #choir #sing #useyourvoice @desplainesparkdistrict #prairielakes

Congratulations to the students in the Maine West Choirs, as well as their directors, Mr. Jim Schiffer and Ms. Shayna Lee (student teacher)! Last night's concert was absolutely inspiring, and lifted the spirits of everyone in attendance! 

Thank you to the Des Plaines Park District for hosting us in the Prairie Lakes Theater! Your beautiful space was a perfect venue for our choral concert, and your staff was amazing!


Tuesday, March 8, 2022 
PROGRAM

Choraliers
M.L.K by U2, arr. Marty Sirvatka
White Winter Hymnal by Robin Pecknold, arr. Alan Bilingsley
Good Old A Capella by L. Carter & O. Nevada, arr. Deke Sharon 

Mixed Chorus
Come Travel With Me by Scott Farthing
Nine Hundred Miles by Philip E. Silvey (guest conducted by student Ali Krieger)
Shine On Me by Traditional, arr. Rollo Dilworth

Vocal Solo Night - Best in Room
Someone Else's Story by Benny Anderson, Tim Rick & Bjorn Ulvaeus (soloist Dulf Vincent Genis)

Concert Choir
What Happens When a Woman? by Alexandra Olsavsky
Seal Lullaby by Eric Whitacre
Didn't My Lord Deliver Daniel? by Traditional, arr. Moses Hogan

Chamber Choir
Tshotsholoza! (Go Forward!) by Traditional, arr. Jeffrey Ames
Flight Song by Kim André Arnesen
He'll Make A Way by Byron J. Smith

Combined Choirs
The Awakening by Joseph M. Martin

More pictures from the Spring Choir Concert can be found HERE

A video from the concert can be found on the WMTH YouTube Channel HERE.