Casey-Westfield Students Excel in Academics and Community Service

Casey-Westfield students demonstrated exceptional achievement across academic competitions, community service, and educational experiences, according to administrator reports presented during Monday’s board meeting.

High school students showcased academic excellence through multiple venues. The ACES academic team reached the state competition at Eastern Illinois University, where Zoe Miller achieved remarkable success by placing fifth in biology and first in English. The achievement represents the culmination of months of preparation and competition.

Mathematics education received recognition through the “Math Madness” program, where eight students competed online for six weeks against schools from across the United States, including Georgia, Pennsylvania, and Washington, D.C. Students Lexi Boyd, Kolton Davidson, Alanna Clark, Peyton Birchfield, Corbin Easton, Chloe Taylor, Jack Mumford, and Gabriel Cornejo achieved a 2-4 record, described as “a significant accomplishment as most schools were private or charter.”

STEM education expanded through multiple initiatives. Biology II students attended a STEM event at Lake Land College, while 39 juniors participated in rotating sessions through Chemistry, Physics, Anatomy, Math, and Microbiology/Biology programs on April 3. Students discovered numerous STEM careers, used current laboratory equipment, and learned about Lake Land’s Engineering Pathways Program, which guarantees University of Illinois College of Engineering acceptance upon completion.

ACT preparation received special recognition, with Principal Jim Sullivan acknowledging Cheryl Johnson, Karla Waymoth, Sarah Richardson, and Jennifer Harris for their work preparing junior class students for the April 23 test.

Elementary education emphasized hands-on learning and community connections. Monroe Elementary’s successful IAR state testing was complemented by fundraising efforts that raised over $600 for a local family on April 4. The PTO Coin Wars generated $2,523.66 through student participation in placing coins in teachers’ bins.

Artistic programs thrived with the First and Second grade “Musical Telling of The Very Hungry Caterpillar” described as “a huge success.” The 5th/6th grade choir is preparing to debut “How Far I’ll Go” from Moana at the end-of-year awards ceremony.

STEM education at the elementary level expanded through partnerships with the University of Illinois Extension Office’s “Let’s Get Growing” lessons every Wednesday, focusing on plants and soil education. A special presentation on bees and beekeeping by David and Lisa Dhom from Newton provided curriculum enhancement, complete with honey tasting.

The Strong Girls program launched successfully with 22 fourth through sixth-grade participants, demonstrating the district’s commitment to comprehensive student development beyond traditional academics.

Senior mathematics students are concluding their studies with practical applications, beginning their final unit on budgets and taxes by creating spreadsheets and learning formula calculations for net income, preparing them for real-world financial management.