Chester Community School District 139

CHS FIRST PBIS CELEBRATION (2 of 2): Chester High School held our first PBIS celebration, Friday, September 27th. Students participated in a variety of activities culminating in a whole school assembly with the student vs. teacher dodgeball, perfect attendance awards, students of the month, staff members of the month, PBIS qualifying raffles where students either won a prize directly or spun our wheel of prizes. The students concluded the day with one of their favorite lunches and reported it was a great celebration of our Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports system.

CHS FIRST PBIS CELEBRATION (1 of 2): Chester High School held our first PBIS celebration, Friday, September 27th. Students participated in a variety of activities culminating in a whole school assembly with the student vs. teacher dodgeball, perfect attendance awards, students of the month, staff members of the month, PBIS qualifying raffles where students either won a prize directly or spun our wheel of prizes. The students concluded the day with one of their favorite lunches and reported it was a great celebration of our Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports system.

CHS wins “2024 Mud Bowl” at Trenton-Wesclin YellowJackets manage to shut out Warriors, 20-0, in spite of terrible field and weather conditions (2 of 2) BY JIM BEERS In the win, CHS ran 55 plays vs Wesclin’s 44 plays. The Jackets accumulated a total of 225 yards, 14 passing and 211 running. Wesclin recorded 74 yards, 45 passing and 29 rushing. Chester had 9 first downs compared to Wesclin’s 2. The YellowJackets turned the ball over one time on a fumble. Wesclin turned the ball over four times, all on fumbles. CHS committed 10 penalties. Trenton-Wesclin committed 9. For the wet, slippery, rainy night, Chester quarterback, Zain Al-Jassim completed a season-low 1-of-3 passes for a total of 14 yards. Wesclin completed 2-of-6 passes for 45 yards. Kolton Jany led the Jackets rushing with 15 attempts and 127 yards and 1 touchdown. Ethan Colvis ran 7 times for 27 yards and Tray Peters ran five times for 27 yards. The final key runner for the Jackets was quarterback, Zain Al-Jassim who ran 10 times for 21 yards and a pair of touchdowns. Chester’s Brenden Malley caught Chester’s only pass and it was for the Jacket’s 14 yards of receiving. Wesclin had 45 receiving yards on two passes. The Chester defense was tough all night with 30 solo tackles, 12 tackle assists, 5 quarterback sacks, and 7 tackles for a loss. Ethen Colvis led the defensive effort with 6 solo tackles, 3 tackle assists, 1 sack, and 3 tackles for a loss. Nate Maes had 4 solos, 1 assist, 1 sack, and 1 tackles for a loss. Kolton Jany recorded 3 solos, 1 assist, 2 sacks, and 2 tackles for a loss. Alex Williamson had 3 solos and 1 assist. YellowJacket Devante Palacio led the team in fumble recoveries with two. Kolton Jany and another CHS player (unidentified) both had a recovery apiece. With the win, Chester remained undefeated with an overall record of 5-0 and a Cahokia Conference record of 2-0. Wesclin remained winless at 0-5. Next up for the Jackets will be a home matchup this Friday October 4 when CHS hosts Carlyle. Kickoff is 7 P.M. Pre-game will feature a performance by the 2024 CHS Dance Camp participants. PHOTO 1 Zain Al-Jassim (1) CHS quarterback Zain Al-Jassim (1), a senior, scored two of Chester's touchdowns Friday September 27 in the 20-0 shut=out of the Trenton Wesclin Warriors. Al-Jassim scored the first TD of the game at the 4:35 mark of the first quarter on a 3-yard scamper into the end zone. He then scored Chester's final touchdown of the game with 8:17 to play in the game. This time on a 2-yard run to the end zone. That TD gave the Jackets a 20-0 win. Jim Beers Photo PHOTO 2 Nate MAES (55) Senior Nate Maes (55) played a huge roll in the 20-0 win at Trenton-Wesclin Friday September 27. Maes helped lead the defensive shut-out of the Warriors with 4 solo tackles, 1 tackle assist, 1 sack of Wesclin's quarterback, and 1 tackle for a loss. His efforts helped seal the m20-0 shut out of the Warriors. Jim Beers Photo

CHS wins “2024 Mud Bowl” at Trenton-Wesclin YellowJackets manage to shut out Warriors, 20-0, in spite of terrible field and weather conditions (1 of 2) BY JIM BEERS Hurricane Helene flooded much of the area on Friday September 27. Some local teams decided to play their games on Thursday evening as a precaution. Those that didn’t and waited to play Friday night faced terrible playing conditions, especially if the fields were traditional grass surfaces. Trenton-Wesclin had a grass surface, and that was the location and surface of the “away game” on which the Chester YellowJackets had to play Friday night. Coach Billy Belton said, “It was raining throughout most of the first quarter, but the final three periods were free from any major rain.” That fact was good, however, by game time the damage had already been done and the field was soaked. The middle of the field was extremely muddy and slick. After the first several plays, running was equally difficult for both teams. Passing games were almost non-existent and running games were greatly hampered. Both teams suffered! The Warriors chose to receive to start the game and they fumbled on the first play from scrimmage. Chester recovered and ran six plays before turning the ball over on downs. On Wesclin’s next possession, they ran four plays and turned the ball over on downs. The YellowJackets took advantage of that turnover and scored on their third play from scrimmage. At the 4:35 mark of the first quarter, Zain Al-Jassim scored on a 3-yard quarterback- keeper. Junior Tray Peters ran for the 2-point conversion after the ball was snapped too high for Karim Landeros’ extra-point kick. Chester led, 8-0. The Warriors were plagued with penalties throughout the first quarter. They were called for a delay of game and four false starts before the quarter ended. On their third possession, they managed five plays before they had to punt with 1:14 remaining in the first frame. On the punt, Chester’s Brenden Malley caught the ball, but it slipped out of his hands and became a loose ball. Wesclin recovered. Chester made a tackle for a 1-yard loss on Wesclin’s first run of the new possession. The clock ran out with Chester leading, 8-0 to end the first quarter. To start the second quarter, the Jacket defense held the Warriors on their next three plays causing them to face 4-and-11 and punt. Tray Peters took the punt and managed to hold on to the ball in spite of slick conditions. On Chester’s first play from scrimmage, Kolton Jany broke loose for a 65-yard touchdown run. Tray Peters attempted his second 2-point conversion run of the game, but fell 3-yards short. The Jackets extended their lead to, 14-0 with 10:03 to play in the first half. Wesclin managed seven plays on their 6 th possession before turning the ball over on downs at 5:50. The Warriors then held the Jackets to four plays and forced a punt. On the punt, a Wesclin defender got a piece of the ball, creating a loose ball. Chester recovered and re-took possession with 4:00 to play in the half. To end the first half, both teams were forced to punt and Chester had possession as the ball as the clock ran out to end the first half. Chester took a 14-0 lead into the locker room at halftime. The entire 3rd quarter was a wash, both literally and figuratively. Neither team scored, and both teams were wet, muddy, and frustrated, with very poor field conditions and foiled attempts to create offensive success. Chester had four possessions and Wesclin had two full possessions and one extremely short possession that lasted just one play. Chester turned the ball over on downs, had to punt twice, and had the ball as the clock ran out to end the quarter. Wesclin turned the ball over on downs, had to punt, and fumbled the ball on the first play from scrimmage. Chester recovered. A very unproductive 3rd quarter ended with CHS ahead, 14-0. The YellowJackets had the ball to start the 4 th quarter. They started on the Warrior’s 37 yard line and ran eight plays in four minutes to get a 1 st and 10 on the Warriors 10 yard line. On the next play, the Jackets ran for 8 yards to the Warrior’s 2 yard line. Facing 2 nd -and- goal at the 8:17 mark, Chester’s quarterback, Zain Al-Jassim scored Chester’s third touchdown, his second of the game. The 2-point conversion failed. Chester led, 20-0. On Wesclin’s next possession, the Warriors were moving the ball well, partly because Chester had a 15-yard pass interference penalty, and a 5-yard off sides penalty. Wesclin was on their own 45-yard line with just 5 yards to go for another 1 st -and-ten. On the next play, the YellowJackets caused a Warrior fumble and recovered the ball. CHS had the ball for five plays and were forced to punt. Wesclin had the ball for four plays and had to punt with just 1:43 left in the game. The Jackets ran the clock out to win the game, 20-0.

Chester High School Lady Jackets place 5th at 2024 Cahokia Conference golf match BY JIM BEERS The Chester High School Lady Jackets Golf Team traveled to the Roland Barkau Memorial Golf Course in Okawville Thursday September 26 to compete in the 2024 Cahokia Conference Golf Tournament. The event featured teams from both the Illinois and Kaskaskia Divisions including Carlyle, Chester, Dupo, Marissa, Okawville, Red Bud, and Sparta. Carlyle, Okawville, Red Bud, Chester, and Sparta are from the Illinois Division. Steeleville, Dupo, and Marissa are from the Kaskaskia Division. The team results include: 1st Carlyle 335 strokes 2nd Okawville 352 strokes 3rd Red Bud 364 strokes 4th Steeleville 384 strokes 5th Chester 414 strokes 6th Marissa 462 strokes 7th Dupo 507 strokes Sparta + 154 strokes The top-4 scores from each team were included in the team score for each team. Six golfers from each team were illegible to compete in the 18-hole match. This was Chester’s first 18-hole match of the season, thus a challenge for the Lady Jackets. Chester’s top-4 golfers included junior Macy Bert, junior Riley Lochhead, junior Rylie Myers, and junior Jessica Stumpe. Macy Bert finished 11th overall with a score of 94 strokes. Riley Lochhead finished 19th overall with her score of 101. Rylie Myers finished 22nd overall with a score of 106 strokes, and Jessica Stumpe finished 26 th overall with her match of 114 strokes. Other Lady Jacket golfers included Mallorie Homan (34 th , 124 strokes) and Rylie Conley (37th, 132 strokes). Head Coach Meg Schnoeker said, “For our first 18-hole match of the season, it went well. The girls pushed through and I am incredibly proud of them. The amount of improvement I have seen from each one of them from last year to this year is amazing!” “It was a competitive field at the Conference match. Al-Conference players are selected based on the top-25% at the match. There were six chosen this year, but unfortunately, no Lady Jackets made the top six All-Conference rankings.” Senior Night for Lady Jacket Golf will be Monday September 30 at the Chester Country Club. Regionals will be Tuesday October 1 at the Franklin County Country Club.

CGS SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT: See attached graphic. It's time to nominate CGS Faculty Member of the Month for the Month of October! Use the link provided or go to the Chester Community Unit District website to submit nominations until October 20th at 3:00 pm! https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdQLPJLI5_7IJC40jpmjUnv9ntrKIjICEjwppDEXIoOSVt1sA/viewform?usp=sf_link

CGS & CHS MONDAY 30TH, SEPTEMBER  No school tomorrow, Monday, 30th September 2024 All special schools will not be in attendance. Including Menta, Perando, and CCSI.

Chester CUSD 139: Our district has experienced a great loss with the passing of a beloved staff member. Sonya Wingerter, a dedicated paraprofessional at Chester Grade School for 32 years, passed away yesterday. She was a cherished member of our school community and will be profoundly missed by students, staff, and all who knew her. Chester CUSD 139 extends our deepest condolences and heartfelt sympathy to Sonya's family. In honor of Sonya Wingerter's memory and to allow our staff to attend her services, Chester CUSD 139 will not have school on Monday, September 30. We appreciate your understanding during this difficult time. https://www.wilsonsfuneralhome.net/obituary/sonya-wingerter With deepest sympathy, Chester CUSD 139

Grades 5th-8th attended a pep rally this afternoon to wish our Lady Jr Jackets GOOD LUCK today at their championship game!!! GOOOOO JR JACKETS!! 🧡🥎🖤

CGS & CHS 9/27/24 SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT: Friday 9/27/24 is an 11:30am Dismissal for School Improvement Bus Drop Off & Parent Pick-Up Times Adjust NO Jacket Care on 11:30am dismissal days.

Way to go to our Lady Jr Jackets!! The CGS softball team won their first round of Regionals today! They will play at home tomorrow, September 26th at 4:15pm for the Championship!!! 🧡🥎🖤 Let's gooooooo!!!

CHS: Thank you, Coach Toledo for dropping off some delicious doughnuts!

CHS HOMECOMING PHOTOS by JIM BEERS) PHOTO 1 Band at Coronation The Chester High School Band performs walking music for the 2024 CHS Homecoming Queen Coronation Friday September 20 at halftime of the CHS vs Sparta game. The band played, "ME! ME! from its 2024 football field show, titled, The Eras of Taylor Swift". Jim Beers Photo PHOTO 2 National Anthem The Marching YellowJacket Band, under the direction of Steve Colonel and Drum Majors Jaden Lopez, Will Welge, and Addy Gottschammer, plays the National Anthem, "The Star Spangled Banner" during the pre-game of the 2024 CHS Homecoming game vs the Sparta Bulldogs. Jim Beers Photo PHOTO 3 CGS Band at HOCO parade The Chester Grade School Marching Band, under the direction of Sue Colonel, performs in the 2024 CHS Homecoming Parade. Jim Beers Photo PHOTO 4 CHS Band in Parade The Chester High School Band, under the direction of Steve Colonel, marches in the 2024 CHS Homecoming Parade. Jim Beers Photo PHOTO 5 Dance Team The Chester High School Dance Team leads the CHS Marching YellowJacket Band in the 2024 Homecoming Parade. Jim Beers Photo PHOTO 6 Class of 1974 The CHS Class of 1974 ride in the 2024 Homecoming Parade. The group was celebrating its 50 year reunion. Jim Beers Photo PHOTO 7 Class of 2009 The CHS Class of 2009 rode in the 2024 CHS Homecoming Parade Friday September 20. The class celebrated its 15th Class Reunion over the weekend. Jim Beers Photo PHOTO 8 Senior Class Photo The CHS Senior Class of 2025 won 1st Place in the float decorating contest this year. That float appeared in the beginning of the 2024 Homecoming Parade. Jim Beers Photo PHOTO 9 Color Guard The Chester VFW Color Guard led the 2024 Chester High School Homecoming Parade Friday September 20. Jim Beers Photo PHOTO 10 GOLF The CHS Lady Jacket and YellowJacket Golf Teams rode in the 2024 CHS Homecoming Parade. Jim Beers Photo

CHS Homecoming Week concludes with crowning of King and Queen (2 of 2) King is Kolton Jany with Runner-Up Max Blechle; Queen is Elaina Lutman with Runner-Up Mirra Krieg BY JIM BEERS Court members and their escorts included Junior Candidate Maggie Caby, daughter of Eric and Adrianne Caby. Her escort was Eric Caby. The other junior candidate was Callie Davis, daughter of Justin Davis and Haley Davis. She was escorted by Kross Jany. Senior Candidates included Mirra Krieg, daughter of Jeff and Krista Krieg. She was escorted by her brother, Kendall Krieg. The second Queen Candidate was Elaina Lutman, daughter of Dave and Carrie Lutman. Her escort was Max Blechle. The final senior Queen Candidate was Sadessa Sellers, daughter of Richard and Tonia Sellers. She was escorted by Alex Maes. The retiring 2023 Homecoming Queen was Bethany Baughman, daughter of Michael and Andrea Baughman. Bethany was escorted by Trentin Eggemeyer. The 2024 CHS Homecoming Queen was Elaina Lutman. The Runner-Up was Mirra Krieg. The 2024 Parade Float winners included: 1st Place, Seniors; 2nd Place, Sophomores; 3rd Place, Juniors, and 4th Place, Freshmen. There were six former Chester High School classes that attended the 2024 Homecoming game, parade, and other events including, Class of 1964 (60 years); Class of 1974 (50 years); Class of 1984 (40 years); Class of 2004 (20 years); Class of 2009 (15 years); and Class of 2014 (10 years). Each group held other reunion activities throughout the weekend. The Class of 1969 did not hold an official 55-year reunion this year but will meet Friday September 27 at the Chester Eagles at 11:30 a.m. for a class luncheon. Saturday September 21 was the Homecoming Dance. The Juergens Gym was decorated in a “Tangled” theme. The event began 7:00 p.m. and ended at 10:30 p.m. Music was provided by Aidan Blechle better known in his music format as, “D.J. D’TALE”. The gym was opened to the public at 8:45 p.m. for parents and non-dance students and interested parties to come and witness the coronation of the 2024 Homecoming King. Voting for King and Queen took place during school. The King Coronation took place at 9:00 p.m. The first Junior King Candidate was Ethan Colvis, son of Matt and Carrie Colvis. His escort for the evening was Junior Queen Candidate, Maggie Caby. The second Junior King Candidate was Trayton “Tray” Peters, son of Jarrod and Casey Peters. He was escorted by Junior Queen Candidate Callie Davis. There were three senior King Candidates. The first Senior King Candidate was Max Blechle, son of Chris and Valerie Blechle. His escort was Senior “Queen Runner-Up” Mirra Krieg. The second Senior King Candidate was Kolton Jany, son of Pete and Trisha Jany. He was escorted by Senior “Queen” Elaina Lutman. The final Senior King Candidate was Alex Williamson, son of Jeremy and Heather Williamson. His escort for the event was Senior Queen Candidate Sadessa Sellers. The retiring 2023 King was Garret Hopkins of the Class of 2024.He was unable to attend Homecoming 2024 due to the fact that he a student at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C. In his place to crown the 2024 CHS Homecoming King was Trentin Eggemeyer. His escort for the evening was Retiring 2023 Homecoming Queen Bethany Baughman. Mistress of Ceremonies for the coronation was Student Council Co-Sponsor, Amy Miller. Mrs. Miller introduced each King Candidate and read his biography. The 2024 Chester High School Homecoming King was Kolton Jany. The 2024 King Runner-Up was Max Blechle. Following the coronation there was time for close up photos on the dance floor and on the stage. At the conclusion of the photo opportunity, parents and other guests left the gym and the rest of the evening was spent by the dance participants enjoying the music, dancing, eating refreshments, and enjoying the fellowship of classmates and friends. The Homecoming Dance was the final event in a huge series of events and activities planned by the CHS Student Council and the “HIVE” Pep Club. Co-Sponsors for the Student Council are Amy Miller and Sara Hammel. The “HIVE” Pep Club sponsor is Cheri Diercks.

CHS Homecoming Week concludes with crowning of King and Queen (1 of 2) King is Kolton Jany with Runner-Up Max Blechle; Queen is Elaina Lutman with Runner-Up Mirra Krieg BY JIM BEERS A very busy week of 2024 Homecoming activities at Chester High School came to a close with the Homecoming Parade, Football game and Dance. Along with many other events, the unveiling of the 2024 Homecoming King and Queen topped the list of activities. Wednesday September 18 the entire school was involved in decorating the school and town for homecoming. At school, hallways, floats, and classrooms were decorated to create Homecoming atmosphere. Float and hallway themes included freshmen, “Snuggly Duckling”; sophomores, “Rapunzel’s Toured”; juniors, “Lake with Lanterns”, and seniors, “The Town”. Winners of the decorating contest included, 4th Place: juniors; 3rd Place freshmen; 2nd Place, sophomores, and 1st Place, seniors. Throughout the City of Chester students spent to day going from business-to-business painting windows with various YellowJacket themes and football messages to encourage home town spirit and support for the Homecoming Game vs the Sparta Bulldogs. Wednesday was also, “At last I see the light day” at CHS. Students and staff were encouraged to wear lights of various sorts to complement their apparel for the day. Tree lights, glow sticks, flash lights and other types of lights were encouraged. Thursday September 19 the CHS Student Council decorated Juergens Gymnasium for the 2024 Homecoming Dance. The theme for 2024 went along with the “Tangled” theme of the Disney movie, “Tangled”. Thursday was also “Conceal yourself like a chameleon day”, when students and staff dressed in all types of camouflage to help them blend in with the environment. To end the day, the entire student body, staff, and teachers converged on W.O. Smith Field for the 2024 Homecoming Spirit Games in which each class competed against each other in a variety of contests, both athletic and creative. This tradition is always a Homecoming Week favorite. Spirit Games winners included: 1st Place, Seniors; 2nd Place, Freshmen; 3rd Place, Sophomores; and 4th Place, Juniors. Friday September 20 was Homecoming “Football Friday”. It was, titled, “Find Your Jacket Pride Day” and everyone was encouraged to wear orange and black to help build spirit to help the YellowJacket Football Team beat Sparta. The 2024 Homecoming Parade took place at 4:00 p.m. and was one of the biggest and best in recent history. The parade featured a total of 27 entries including both the Chester High School Marching YellowJacket Band under the direction of Steve Colonel and the Chester Grade School Junior Jacket Marching Band under the direction of Sue Colonel. Other entries included a VFW Color Guard, City of Chester Police and Fire units, CHS class floats, six CHS Class Reunion groups, Football, Volleyball, Cross Country, and Golf teams, the Little Stingers Players and Cheerleaders, and 2024 Homecoming Queen Candidates and Retiring Queen. The Homecoming Football game vs Sparta was a huge success with the YellowJackets defeating the Bulldogs, 48-2. The event included a nearly 2-hour lightning delay and a brief rain shower, but in the end, the game was completed with a great Homecoming victory. At halftime, the CHS Band accompanied the Homecoming Court across the W.O. Smith Football Field for the Queen Coronation. (photos by Jim Beers) PHOTO 1 COURT The CHS Homecoming Court poses for a photo following the crowning of the 2024 Homecoming Queen Saturday September 21 at the Homecoming Dance. Pictured (left to right) are: Junior Queen Candidate Maggie Caby and Junior King Candidate Ethen Colvis; Senior Queen Runner-Up Mirra Krieg and Senior King Runner-Up Max Blechle; Senior Queen Candidate Sadessa Sellers and Senior King Candidate Alex Williamson; Retiring Queen Escort Trentin Eggemeyer and Retiring 2023 CHS Homecoming Queen Bethany Baughman; 2024 CHS Homecoming Queen Elaina Lutman and 2024 CHS Homecoming King Kolton Jany; and Junior Queen Candidate Callie Davis and Junior King Candidate Tray Peters. Photo 2 King and Queen The 2024 Chester High School Homecoming King and Queen are Kolton Jany and Elaina Lutman. Photo 3 Runners-Up The 2024 CHS Homecoming King and Queen Runners-Up are Mirra Krieg and Max Blechle.

CHS FALL SPORTS SENIOR NIGHT: FRIDAY 10/18/24 FALL SPORTS SENIOR NIGHT FOOTBALL, CROSS-COUNTRY, GOLF, CHEER, DANCE & BAND W.O. SMITH FIELD 7:00 PM

CHS VOLLEYBALL PINK OUT: Attached is the the t-shirt order form for our 2024 Annual Pink Out Volleyball game. All directions are listed on the attached form. The Pink Out game is set for October 10th against the Okawville Lady Rockets. There will be a bake sale, silent auction and 50/50. I hope you all can attend! Basic T Shirt information $20 a shirt (XXL and up have extra charges) Money and form due by September 24th. Thank you!

CGS Faculty Member of the Month

CGS ATHLETICS: Today's regional game @ Red Bud has been rained out and rescheduled for tomorrow at the same time, 4:15.

CHS ATHLETICS: Varsity Girls Gold today in Carlyle is CANCELED