The Creative Warrior
News from the Maine West Fine Arts Department
December, 2013
Maine West Fine Arts Department
Patrick S. Barnett, Department Chair
Joy Klarkowski, Administrative Assistant
Instructors
Benan Avci, Music
Christine Baldwin, Assistant Speech
Team Sponsor
Joseph Baumgartner, Head Speech
Team Sponsor
Bobby Bonslater, Drumline
Richard Cammarata, Art
Amy Claus, Orchesis Assistant
Director
Emily Dykema, Assistant Marching
Band Director
Britnee Fierro, Art
Bernie Gerstmayr, Music
Lisa Jacob, Orchesis Director
Christopher Jensen, Drama,
Auditorium Manager
Melissa Lloyd, Art
Mary Miller, Art
Michael Poehler, Art
Gregory Regalado, Art
Barbara Rieger, Speech/Drama/Broadcasting
Britnee Ruscitti, Winter Play Director
Brent Shaphren, Speech/Drama/
Broadcasting, WMTH, Fall Play Director
Carla Skiba, Speech/Drama, Musical
Director, V-Show Director
Lauren Specchio, Flag Corp Sponsor
Daniella Valdez, Music
Andrew Waters, Musical Choreographer
Erin Wilen, Art
Administration
Dr. Audrey Haugan, Principal
Mr. Dave Matkovic, AP, Instruction
Dr. Rose Garlasco, AP, Students
Dr. Claudia Rueda-Alvarez, SPS Director
The Creative Warrior is a
bi-monthly publication of the
Maine Township High School West
Fine Arts Department. Questions or
comments should be directed to
Patrick Barnett,
Fine Arts Department Chair,
1755 S. Wolf Road, Des Plaines, IL, 60018
or by Email at Pbarnett@maine207.org.
Prism Concert Comes to Maine West
The 14th annual Maine West Prism Concert will be performed on Sunday,
December 15, at 2:00pm and 4:45pm in the Maine West Auditorium.
Tickets cost 6 dollars and are available at the door or by purchasing them in
the bookstore. The concert features the Maine West Bands, Choirs, and Orchestras under the direction of Ben Avci, Choir; Bernie Gerstmayr, Band; and
Daniella Valdez, Orchestra. A light reception will ocurr in between the two
concerts in the Maine West Student Cafeteria.
The Prism Concert is a 90-minute interactive event in which different
participating ensembles rotate songs throughout the concert, allowing the
audience to encounter each group on several different occasions. The music
is continuous and there is no clapping until the entire concert has ended.
In addition, the stage is beautifully adorned with poinsettia plants which
are sold by the Maine West Fine Arts Boosters. Information on purchasing
them can be found on the Maine West Fine Arts Booster Page on the school’s
website.
We hope that you will consider joining us for this impressive and
inspirational concert during the holidays.
Meet Benan Avci
1. Where did you go to high school?
I am an alumnus of Hinsdale South High School in Darien, Illinois. I was very active in the music department, playing
trombone in band, piano in the Jazz Combo, singing in the choirs, and participating in the musicals and variety shows.
2. Where did you go to college?
I attended the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign. I sang in the Concert Choir and University Black Chorus,
accompanied the Woman’s Glee Club on piano, sang in a jazz acapella group called No Strings Attached, and played
keyboards in a number of rock bands and cover bands.
3. What did you study?
I graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Music Education. I spent my four years of study focused on being a choral director.
4. Where have you taught before Maine West?
I have only taught in Maine Township. Before Maine West, I taught for two years at Maine East.
5. What is your personal favorite style of music?
This is a tough one. I honestly enjoy every style of music. My favorite style changes and often depends on my mood.
Lately I have been listening to a lot of folk and bluegrass music.
6. Why do we want students to become creative life-long consumers of the arts?
The arts are such a huge part of our society. Having a deeper understanding and respect for the arts makes our students
more prepared for a number of jobs and careers that are both directly and indirectly related to the arts, such as
marketing or entertainment. The arts also give these students a sense of identity. They take pride in the music they listen
to, or the movies and paintings they own, or the style of dance they enjoy. Having these interests and the understanding
of these art forms gives them a community. The arts allow for self-expression. We try to give these students a healthy way
to express their feelings. We want our students to leave our programs with the ability to create and enjoy our areas of the
arts. And we hope that the experiences we provide for our students here at Maine West, give them a sense of pride and
accomplishment.
7. Your hobbies?
I have always been a performer. I spent a year performing for Howl at the Moon, which is a franchise of dueling piano
clubs, and I have worked with a number for local bands. I no longer have any regular (weekly or monthly) gigs, but I am
still performing a lot with bands and with dueling piano companies.
8. Your family?
I am very fortunate to have my parents and girlfriend in the Chicago area. My dad is from Turkey and my mom is from
Wisconsin. My mother is a piano teacher, so I have been playing piano since I was toddler. My younger brother and sister
are students at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, and my older sister is an opera singer and just received her
Doctoral Degree from Indiana University in Vocal Performance.
We Are The Fine Arts Boosters!
The Boosters were off and running this year with several important projects. We purchased a tower of
portable speakers that allow Orchesis, Band, Orchestra and Choir to hold rehearsals or performances anywhere in Maine West. We helped fund the drumline instruction for Marching Band and the construction of a
new brick-design stage backdrop for dance and drama. Each year we contribute bringing in a Raku Firing
Instructor for our Design & Material students, as well as other guest artists and instructors. Your membership
helps sponsor these and other projects that impact ALL of OUR Fine Arts students at Maine West.
If you want to become a part of what we do, please join today!
http://west.maine207.org/departments/fine_arts/boosters/
Meet Mike Poehler
Where did you go to high school?
Libertyville High School (Class of 1981)
Where did you go to college?
Northern Illinois University (Class of 1985) Graduate School - Governors State University
What did you study?
Art Education (Bachelor of Science in Education)
Where have you taught before Maine West?
Frankfort Junior High, 1 year and Hawthorne Junior High/Libertyville High School (part-time) 1 year.
What is your personal favorite medium in art?
Watercolor
Why do we want students to become creative life-long consumers of the arts?
It's the arts that enrich and enliven our lives. Look at the amount of time each of us spends listening to music, viewing
others creative endeavors on TV or in galleries or even hanging in our own homes and places of work.
Your hobbies?
Field Trials with my Brittanys. Field Trials are competitive hunting off horseback and foot, where the dog is judged upon
the manner in which it hunts the cover in front of it, speed and manner of running, and it's style and intensity on point.
One of my dogs, Maisy, won the 2012 American Brittany Club National Amateur Gun Dog Championship.
Your family?
My wife of 13 years, Stacy, 8 year old daughter Madison, 21 year old son Jacob, and 23 year old daughter Alexa, along
with 3 Brittanys.
Anything else you'd like to mention?
I’ve been teaching at Maine West since 1987, and it's a GREAT high school where we do wonderful things for kids and
offer them opportunities to learn and grow in a safe and challenging environment. This is a wonderful building to work in
with a faculty and staff who genuinely care about each other and the students we work with. This is a great community to
work for!
Students working in the WMTH Studios.
Congratulations to Annie M., Kayt W., Sebastian H., and David S. for making the Illinois Music Educator
Association’s District 7 Senior Division Honor Choir.
Bravo to the Maine West Marching Warriors and Color Guard for an amazing fall season of marching band!
150 students continued to represent Maine West with pride and excellence both at home football games and
competitions. Thank you to all of these students who put in roughly 150 hours of work outside of school in three
months.
Congrats to Nichole G., Keith K., and Emily N. for being accepted into the lllinois Music Educator
Association Senior Band and Orchestra Honors Festival. They were accepted after auditioning against students
from high schools across Lake and Cook County.
Congratulations to Anna H. and Vincent W. for their participation in the Illinois Music Edcuator Association, District 7 Senior Division Honor Orchestra.
During the second quarter all orchestra students have been wokring on their chamber music unit. Students
will also be coached by a professional string quartet as they prepare for the performances at the Maine West
Solo and Ensemble Festival on January 28, 2014.
Guitar I and Guitar II students will perform on the Classical Guitar Concert on Thursday, December 7 at
7:00 pm in the Auditorium. Admission is free and a light reception will follow the concert.
Thursday, November 21, students in Design Materials 1 attended a field trip in downtown Chicago at the
Museum of Contemporary Art. This was our first visit to the MCA and the students saw new and inspiring
works of art.
Congratulations to all the students that have artwork in the Des Plaines Library collaborative Middle School
and High School Art show! The show’s opening reception was on November 21st and will be on display during
normal library hours till December 6th.
Congratulations to Colleen O.,
a Photography 4 student, for having her artwork
selected to be part of the permanent art collection in
the Principal's Conference Room.
The SOFA Show was field trip was a great success! The students had a wonderful time and got a lot of good
ideas for their future independent projects. A special thank you to Mrs. Brennan and Mrs. Langlois for being
our chaperones on the trip!
The Drama Club will have a holiday cookie fundraiser from December 11-20. Look for delicious, iced,
sugar cookies from Central Continental Bakery. The students can apply the funds from this sale to field trips,
Drama Club activities, or the upcoming Illinois High School Theatrefest weekend at Illinois State University.
The Advanced Drama students in Drama 2, 3, and 4 are preparing a production for performance at the
District 62 middle schools. Ten student directors are working hard, rehearsing their peers in selected scenes
from Jonathan Rand’s How to Succeed in High School Without Really Trying and Check Please!
WMTH 90.5 FM Radio is on the air! West broadcasts every Monday and alternate Wednesdays and Fridays.
Click the “streaming Radio’ link on the left side of the MWHS homepage and tune in. WMTH is the oldest
continuously bradcasting educational radio station in the Country. A brand new tower was just installed at the
Maine East transmitter location, providing for live radio broadcasting experience for generations of Maine
students to come. See you on the air!
The Tech Crew did a great job behind the scenes for the V-Show, the Life of Games. Thanks to Katy S.,
Nikko P., Nikodemus B., and Sam C. for leading the way for all the new members of tech crew.
This year, Speech Team has been exciting as we have a brand new set of teammates and we are picking up
speed as we go along. A special congratulations to Kevin M. and Dana M. for winning awards in Radio
Speaking, Impromptu Speaking, and Oratorical Declamation.
Congrats to the following 12 students who were cast in this year’s winter play, Rumors, by Neil Simon:
David S., Kayt W., Kevin M., Serena V., Kyle R., Catherine G., Nick S., Summer K., Dana M., Mary S.,
Kevin G., and Isabelle G. We are off and running on our rehearsals and tech preparation as of December 2nd
and we cannot wait to bring lots of laughs to the Maine West stage on January 30-31, and February 1!
Ms. Rieger’s Oral Communication students have given several wonderful “Gripe” and “Personal
Experience” speeches. Next, we will be performing our Demonstration Speeches. “I’m really looking forward to
seeing the students demonstrate their many talents, as they explain each step to the class. This speech gives each
student in the class a chance to show their expertise in art, music, sports and culinary arts,” says Ms. Rieger.
Upcoming Events
Thursday, December 5
7:00 pm
Friday, December 6
6:30 pm
Tuesday, December 10
6:00 pm
Sunday, December 15
2:00 pm
4:45 pm
Tuesday, December 17
12:30 pm
Wednesday, December 18
2:00-6:00
Thursday December 19
In Classes
Thursday, December 19
12:00
Friday, December 20
12:58
December 21-January 5
Tuesday, January 7
6:00 pm
Wednesday January 8
3:30 pm
Wednesday, January 8
6:00 pm
Thursday, January 9-11
All Day
Monday, January 13
3:30 pm
Tuesday, January 14
3:30 pm
Wednesday, January 15
6:00 pm
Wednesday, January 15
6:30
Thursday, January 16
3:30
Friday, January 17
3:30
Monday, January 20
Tuesday, January 21
Wednesday, January 22
Wednesday Jan 22-25
Thursday, January 23
Friday, January 24
Tuesday, January 28
3:30 pm
Classical Guitar Concert
Des Plaines Tree Lighting Ceremony Featuring
the Choraliers and Band-Metropolitan Square
Fine Arts Booster Meeting
Prism Concert
Warrior Strings Community Performance
Music Department Cheeskcake Distribution
Illinois State Constitution Test in Government Classes
Choraliers Community Performance
All-School Assembly
Winter Break
Fine Arts Booster Meeting
Musical “Aida” Vocal Audition Clinics
Musical “Aida” Dance Audition Clinics
Illinois Theatre Fest at Illinois State University
Musical “Aida” Auditions
Musical “Aida” Auditions
Elmhust College Art Show at Elmhusrt College
Des Plaines Area Music Festival Concert
Musical “Aida” Call Back Auditions Clinic
Musical ‘Aida” Call Back Auditions
No School-Martin Luther King Day
Final Exams (Periods 3-2-6)
Final Exams (Periods 1-9-5)
ILMEA Conference in Peoria
Final Exams (Periods 7-4-8)
No School-Teacher Institute Day
Maine West Solo and Ensemble Festival