Community News
Joni Paine explains the high school life to Area Rotary
This is her 8th year at Gillespie High School
The guidance counselor of Gillespie High School, Joni Paine, along with Assistant Superintendent Joe Tieman informed the Rotary about the high school life and the preparation for college during a regular scheduled luncheon at Toni’s Family Restaurant in Benld on Tuesday, February 28.
Being her eighth year in the high school, Paine has a strict agenda that not only maps out her day, but also her year. “All students get individual counseling if needed,” Paine opened, “My door is open for anyone.” As a guidance counselor, Paine knows every student by name and some even by career path. Every day is different for Paine as she said, “I am never bored.” She works with a variety of students day in and day out and really enjoys her job.
Her job starts with students who are in eighth grade and she nourishes them until they get their diploma. As an eighth grader, she attempts to spark interest in what the student is interested in learning about or even doing as Gillespie High School offers numerous vocational education courses that many high schools are not able to offer. From their interest evaluation, the student is required to fill out a four year plan to map out their four years of high school classes.
Gillespie High School offers a wide array of classes from college prep to college credit courses to vocational education programs that include welding and electrician classes. “We have students graduate from high school and go on and get a job with just their diploma from utilizing the vocational education classes,” Paine boasted.
Over the course of the four years, students engage in multiple tests. As a freshman and sophomore, students take practice tests to prepare them for the ACT in the spring semester in their junior year. “We try and help them while encouraging them to do the best they can,” Paine stated. Gillespie High School tries to create the ACT style testing for the individuals to get them more familiar with the environment.
The school takes the students off-campus to take a practice ACT test to help prepare them for the actual test in April where they too take the test off-campus.”Research shows every time you take the ACT, you can raise your score by two points,” Paine noted, “Those two points could mean thousand of dollars in college.”
By this time in the school year, Paine is working on scheduling as students have already filled out their fall semester courses. “It is a process that takes the entire spring,” Paine noted, “But trying to make sure students are on the right path.”
On the right path meaning the student is ready to go to college if he or she is a senior. Paine tries to make sure that each senior is taking the right prerequisites for the program they wish to enter during their freshman year in college.
To help seniors, Paine schedules a senior conference with the student. The part of her job which enjoys most, Paine gets to go over their credits and their standing with the student and their parents. “I ask them what their plans are for the future,” Paine shed light, “And tell them that I can always help them out with that.” Other than the senior conference, the guidance office puts out a monthly deadline list of scholarships that are due. At the beginning of their senior year, students are issued a scholarship packet which was prepared by Paine and the guidance office.
Included in the packet is every scholarship in this area to Paine’s knowledge. She also gives the parent another packet when they are at the senior conference. From the packet, the student can refer to each scholarship and read the criteria needed to apply as well as view deadline dates and what information is needed. “Kids know about the scholarships and come in and ask for applications,” Paine stated, “They are only seniors once, so we really try and push the scholarships and remind them of deadlines while helping them out in any way.”
Other than being a guidance counselor, Paine also serves as the homeless liaison. “There is a federal law called the McKinney Vinto Act and students who do not live with their parents and live with other outside families are deemed homeless,” Paine explained, “They get some free things like lunch and breakfast and books.”
Paine also writes the individual a letter when they are a senior to help them get aid for the college years. More and more of this situation has erupted since Paine has been guidance counselor.
Comments
Meet Professors and Current Students, Learn about Opportunities, Tour Campus, and Get Instant Admissions Decisions at the Events
CARLINVILLE, ILL. — Interested students and families will have two opportunities to learn more about Blackburn College this fall. The Admissions and Financial Aid teams will host Open House events on Monday, October 14, and Monday, November 11, beginning at 8:30 am. These events allow future first-time and transfer students to gather important information about the college application process.
Throughout their time on campus, prospective students and their families will explore and tour the beautiful 80-acre campus, make personal connections with current students and professors, and get to know what life is like as a Blackburn student. They will also see first-hand Blackburn’s unique approach to education—where students earn their degrees while building impactful skills and gaining real-world work experience–giving graduates a four-year head start to launch their future careers.
For Justin Norwood, Vice President for Inclusive Enrollment and a Blackburn graduate, these opportunities are valuable for prospective students and families because nothing is more important than finding a school that will be the best fit. “Finding the right college is more than just academics; it’s discovering a place where students feel supported and inspired to thrive,” Norwood said. “At Blackburn, our open house events provide an opportunity to experience what makes our community unique – the close mentoring relationships with peers and professors, the ability to build critical skills and gain real-world work experience, and a personalized financial aid approach that goes beyond affordability and is designed to meet the specific needs of every student.”
Blackburn’s Admissions and Financial Aid team will be available throughout the event to answer all your questions, including about opportunities like the Macoupin Promise – where qualified graduates of Macoupin County high schools can attend Blackburn tuition-free. For more information and to register for an event, go to blackburn.edu/visit or email admissions@blackburn.edu.
Comments
Seven libraries in Macoupin County will welcome new visitors throughout October with a program sponsored by the region’s library system.
The 6th Annual Library Crawl invites patrons to explore new libraries throughout the Illinois Heartland Library System, which composes the southern half of the state. The Crawl also demonstrates the benefits of a library card, which allows users to check out materials from the libraries they visit.
Some 173 libraries across central and southern Illinois are taking part in the Crawl, including Gillespie, Staunton, Mount Olive, Carlinville, Brighton, Virden, and Benld. The event runs from October 1 through October 31.
The first Library Crawl was introduced in 2019 by the Bethalto Public Library, which continues to coordinate the event. The idea was designed to encourage library users to explore the resources of other libraries that are available to request and check out with a valid library card.
Twenty-eight libraries participated in that first year, a number that has now increased over six-fold.
Patrons may pick up a passport for the Crawl at any participating library, and try to visit at least five libraries during the event. A few enthusiastic individuals have actually visited every library on the Crawl in past years.
At each new library, visitors may stop at the main circulation desk to have their passports stamped. To complete the Crawl, patrons may simply return their passports to their home library.
Some libraries also offer special treats for visitors on the Crawl. After any visit to a participating library, patrons are invited to take pictures to post on social media, under the hashtag #IHLSLibraryCrawl2024.
Many libraries are closed in observance of Columbus Day on October 14, so anyone planning a visit should call ahead, to check on hours of operation.
For more information on the Crawl, visit www.illinoisheartland.org or call any of the participating libraries.
Comments
Proceeds benefit St. Francis Cancer Center
LITCHFIELD, Ill. — The HSHS St. Francis Hospital Auxiliary will sponsor their sixth and final drive-thru dinner for 2024 on Monday, Oct. 14 from 5 to 6:30 p.m. to support the hospital’s Cancer Center expansion project.
Dinners must be ordered by noon on Monday, Oct. 7. Online ordering will not be available for this final meal, but dinner may still be ordered in the hospital gift shop or by contacting Paula Endress at 217-324-8200.
The Oct. 14 drive-thru dinner pick up will take place in front of the main hospital entrance.
The meal will feature a grilled pork chop, loaded mashed potatoes, green beans, roll and a dessert. Cost per meal is $14.
For more information about HSHS St. Francis Hospital, visit stfrancis-litchfield.org.
Comments
Bunker Hill hosting Fall Festival this Saturday, Sept. 14
Gillespie Council votes to buy building for police department
Gillespie Council establishes penalty of late lake lot lease payments, green lights programs to display banners honoring local veterans
-
Community News3 weeks agoBunker Hill hosting Fall Festival this Saturday, Sept. 14
-
Community News3 weeks agoGillespie Council votes to buy building for police department
-
Community News3 weeks agoGillespie Council establishes penalty of late lake lot lease payments, green lights programs to display banners honoring local veterans
-
Obituaries3 weeks agoDeath of Beverly J. Katich