Between
January 1994 and June 1997, I attended Glenbrook North High School in
Northbrook, Illinois. The school's most famous graduate was filmmaker
John Hughes, who would later use the school as the setting of "The Breakfast Club" and "Ferris Bueller's Day Off".
Working in the media must have been in the air at Glenbrook North
because it was there I developed my love for broadcasting. For two
semesters I hosted a weekly shift on the school's radio station, WMWA
88.5FM (re-named WGBK in 1997). During my junior and senior years, I
worked for the school's cable access television station, GBN-TV Channel
27. With the help of teacher Vince Pinelli, I produced a number of
programs for the station dealing with current events, school
happenings, and school sports. I was probably best known for co-hosting
a monthly variety show called "Tabern Live" with
my best friend Alexander Rubinow. It remains the longest running live
show in GBN-TV history. Most nights you could find me working as late
as 10PM in the television studio. I graduated from Glenbrook North on
June 1, 1997. I usually return to Glenbrook North once a year to
participate in the annual Radio-thon that we started in 1994.
Niles West High School
Skokie, Illinois
August 1993 to January 1994
During
my first semester of high school (August 1993 to January 1994) I
attended Niles West in Skokie, Illinois. When I was a student the
mascot was the Indians, however that was changed to the Wolves in 2001
to be more politically correct. Also, since I left Niles West, there
have been several new additions to the school. However, as of 2011, the
exterior of the school looks pretty much the same as when I was a
student. I was active on the Freshman Student Council and the Spanish
Club during my short time at the school. I was also on the Math Team,
which visited different local area high schools for math competitions.
Niles West High School, which opened its doors in 1959, is part of
Niles Township Community High School District 219. Students from four
different northern suburbs of Chicago attend Niles West, including from
Morton Grove, Skokie, Niles, and Lincolnwood. I only attended Niles
West for a semester because in January 1994 my family moved to nearby
Northbrook, which was in a different school district and required me to
change schools.
Park View Junior High School
Morton Grove, Illinois
January 1990 to June 1993
Between
1990 and 1993 (second half of 5th grade through 8th grade), I attended
Park View Junior High in Morton Grove, Illinois. My teachers included
Mrs. Stalke (5th grade), Mrs. Porst and Mrs. Ramseyer (6th grade), and
several other teachers during 7th and 8th grades. During the last two
years at the school, students rotate classrooms for different subjects.
Some of my favorite memories at Park View included "Battle of the
Books" (a reading competition sponsored by the local public library),
the "Mall Project" (a program for computer class where you operated a
simulated store), producing various projects in Ms. Spevak's art
classes, and the Friday "News Game" in Mr. Dabriel's social studies
classes. It was also at Park View Junior High School that I co-produced
my first video project, a short program about the history of Morton
Grove. It was produced for students at a junior high in Coal City,
Illinois, a sister school of Park View. In June 1993, I graduated from
junior high and left Park View. As of 2011, two of my teachers are
still currently teaching there.
St. Lambert Catholic School
Skokie, Illinois
August 1989 to January 1990
For
the first half of 5th grade (August through December 1989), I attended
Saint Lambert's Elementary, a Catholic school located in Skokie,
Illinois. It hosted students between 1st and 8th grade. Even though it
was a change from public school, I enjoyed my time attending a
parochial school because I was able to get an education and learn more
about my Catholic faith. My 5th grade teacher was Mrs. Gaynor. Even
before attending Saint Lambert Elementary, I had a connection to the
Parish because I was Baptized there and also attended CCD and made my
First Communion there. St Lambert Elementary opened its doors to
students in the Fall of 1954. Unfortunately, due to falling enrollment,
it was forced to close in June 2003. Despite the school closure, St
Lambert remains and active Catholic church in Skokie. The building
housing the former St Lambert Elementary still stands and is rented out
to other organizations. I only attended St Lambert Elementary for four
months, returning back to public school when my family moved to Morton
Grove.
Middleton Elementary School
Skokie, Illinois
August 1984 to June 1989
Between
1983 and 1989, I attended John Middleton Elementary School in Skokie,
Illinois. Currently, the school hosts students from 1st through 5th
grade, but when I attended Middleton it was for kindergarten through
4th grade students. Some of my favorite memories from Middleton were
from the "after school programs" offered. Students who wanted to learn
more about a particular subject could attend extra classes taught by
the school's teachers. I enjoyed attending the after school art program
with Mr. Cox and the after school gym program with Mr. Tesnow. My mom
was really active at the school during my time there. She was in charge
of running the school store and was also a "picture lady" (someone who
would bring art in to the classrooms and explain the pictures to the
students). My teachers included Mrs. Pallas (kindergarten), Mrs. Meyer
(1st grade), Mrs. Dowman (2nd grade), Mrs. Lax (3rd grade), and Mrs.
Stone (4th grade). I "graduated" from Middleton at the end of 4th Grade
in June 1989. The last teacher from my time at Middleton retired in
2008.
