Here is Good News Sunday, a compilation of some of the most upbeat and inspiring stories published by the Daily Herald recently:
The halls of the Lycée Palatine have been transformed this month into a kind of art gallery, thanks to the work of a unique club. In the corridors of the first and second floor, one can see life-size silhouettes created by the students themselves.
There are 40 silhouettes in all, each filled with phrases that describe the student’s identity and power. They also include a QR code that allows the viewer to find out more about the artist.
Over the past two weeks, tour guides have led groups of students down the hall, describing the silhouettes and their role in fulfilling the “See My Power” theme.
The public art display is the work of members of the ABL, or Advancement of Black Leaders, club in celebration of Black History Month. The club formed two years ago, but until this year their efforts to share their stories have taken place over Zoom.
Already, according to the administrators, this year’s powerful exhibition, or “artistic event”, has generated a lot of interest – and conversation.
“If we want to create an inclusive environment, we need to create a space where conversations can take place – about who we are individually and collectively,” says Palatine Deputy Director Michael Smith.
For the full story, click here.
Warrenville business owners launch charity to give roses to nurses and first responders
Kathy and Sid Fey started the charity LoveIsARose, which gave roses to nurses, healthcare workers, nursing home residents, first responders, teachers, grocery store workers and others whose work requires them to care about the well-being of others.
-Paul Valade | Personal photographer
Love is always in the air around Valentine’s Day. But Sid and Kathy Fey, owners of a Warrenville business that turns real roses into works of art, noticed another emotion in contention these days: anger.
Anger is everywhere on social media, but we also witness it in everyday interactions on the roads, in stores and restaurants, on planes, and even in schools, libraries and hospitals.
In an effort to promote healing and kindness, the Feys founded LoveIsARose.org, a nonprofit charity that distributed individual packets of fresh roses to approximately 20,000 nurses, other healthcare workers, residents of nursing homes, first responders, teachers, grocery store workers. and others whose jobs require them to care about the well-being of others.
They donated individually wrapped roses to Northwestern Medicine Central DuPage Hospital in Winfield, Friendship Village of Schaumburg, Forest Glen senior community in Carol Stream, Leyden Family Services in Forest Park, Amita Health Alexian Brothers Medical Center in Elk Grove Village, Northwestern Medicine Delnor Hospital in Geneva, postal workers in Warrenville and grocers in Wheaton.
Each rose includes a card that begins with “We love you for who you are and who you were”. The message thanks them “for all the wonderful things you have given to others” and urges them to keep being kind and spreading love.
“They were a little stunned by the kindness,” Sid said of the first group of nurses to receive the roses.
For the full story, click here.
Nine suburban teachers named Golden Apple award finalists
Otto Corzo, a foreign language teacher at McHenry Community High School, is one of the finalists for the 2022 Golden Apple Awards for Teaching Excellence.
Nine suburban high school teachers have been chosen as finalists for a prestigious education award.
Class leaders from Cook, DuPage, Lake and McHenry counties are among 30 finalists for the 2022 Golden Apple Awards for Teaching Excellence. The Chicago-based Golden Apple Foundation announced the list of teachers vying for the award on Tuesday, taking particular note of their resilience two years into the pandemic.
“Part of what stood out with these 30 finalists was their ability to persevere through it all while keeping students engaged, while advancing student learning within a high school setting,” said said Golden Apple president Alan Mather, a former English teacher.
The foundation has received more than 400 nominations for this honor.
The list of finalists includes not one, but two educators from Palatine-Schaumburg High School District 211: Schaumburg High School American History teacher Mary Lopez and Hoffman Estates High School business teacher Kerri Largo.
For the full story, click here.
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