The Spartan Standard 2026-2027 BACK TO SCHOOL EDITION
Focused on the Future!
Class of 2026 graduate Munya Yasin addresses her classmates during commencement. Munya is heading to Saint Xavier University this fall to major in psychology, with plans to earn her master’s in school counseling to support future generations of students.
A Message from our District Leaders Dr. Shahe Bagdasarian Superintendent Welcome to another exciting year at Oak Lawn Community High School District 229! It is an honor to serve as your superintendent and to be part of a community built on tradition, excellence, and Spartan pride. Our District Strategic Plan continues to guide our work, ensuring we remain focused on providing every student with opportunities to learn, grow, and succeed. This is an exciting time for District 229. We look forward to opening our state-of-the-art Fieldhouse, celebrating some of our strongest Advanced Placement (AP) results in years, and recognizing the continued success of our students in athletics, fine arts, clubs, and activities. These accomplishments are made possible through the dedication of our students, staff, families, and community. Thank you for your continued partnership and support as we work together to create new opportunities and advance excellence for every Spartan.
Dr. Lauren May Principal As we begin another school year, I want to extend a warm Spartan welcome to the entire Oak Lawn community. At Oak Lawn Community High School, we believe we are Better Together. That belief reflects the partnership between our students, families, staff, alumni, local businesses, and community members who work together to ensure every Spartan student can succeed. There has never been a more exciting time to be a Spartan. Our students continue to excel in academics, athletics, the arts, and extracurricular activities while benefiting from outstanding opportunities in Advanced Placement, Dual Credit, Career and Technical Education, including our nationally-recognized Project Lead the Way engineering courses. Our work is guided by our Portrait of a Spartan, which challenges students to become confident learners, flexible thinkers, contributing community members, and productive teammates. Combined with our tradition of Spartan PRIDE—Personal Responsibility, Respect, Integrity, Dedication, and Excellence—we are preparing graduates who are ready to make a positive impact both here in Oak Lawn and beyond. Thank you for your continued support of Oak Lawn Community High School. We are proud to serve our community and remain committed to providing exceptional opportunities for every student while investing in a bright future for Oak Lawn.
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Spartans Making an Impact
The Oak Lawn Community High School “Spartans Without Borders” organization saw their dream become reality this past June as they traveled to Amachuma, Bolivia on a service trip. Five recent graduates spent their senior year raising over $25,000, just to give it all back in the hopes of making a difference overseas. Bolivia is one of the poorest countries in the southern hemisphere.With an inflation rate nearing 15%, and shortages of food, fuel, and medical supplies, the country is in desperate need of assistance. A small number of compassionate and dedicated Spartans answered the call. Their mission: to learn about the culture and provide support to a local community. These students spent two weeks engaging with the people of Amachuma. Besides continuing construction of Bethel Hospital, they also had the opportunity to play soccer with local youth, visit the US Embassy in La Paz, travel to Machu Picchu in Peru, and learn more about what it means to be a servant leader. The impact they had on the community will last for years to come! Their memories will last a lifetime. The members of “Spartans Without Borders” are Isaac Bayas, Marco Budzak, Eli Kulpinski, Emiliano Lopez, and Belal Moutaouakkil. “Spartans Without Borders” is a student-led service group at Oak Lawn Community High School in Oak Lawn, Illinois. It was established in 2004. To date, the club has raised over $275,000 to help fund service trips overseas for compassionate students. All of the money collected has contributed to the construction of rural hospitals in both Kenya and Bolivia.
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Spartan Scholars on the Rise
Over the past five years, Oak Lawn Community High School has seen extraordinary growth in its Advanced Placement (AP) program, reflecting a deep commitment to academic excellence and student readiness. Since 2022, both participation and performance have surged, proving that our students are rising to the challenge of rigorous, college-level coursework. By achieving scores of 3 or higher, OLCHS students are actively earning college credit before they even step foot on a university campus. This translates to thousands of dollars saved in future tuition costs and the flexibility to graduate college early or pursue double majors. Furthermore, navigating the rigor of AP classes equips our students with the critical thinking, time management, and deep study skills necessary to thrive in higher education and the modern workforce. The numbers are clear: Oak Lawn Community High School is not just encouraging students to aim higher—we are giving them the tools and support to actually get there.
By the Numbers: A Five-Year Trajectory of Excellence Expanded Access: The number of students enrolled in AP courses has grown significantly, increasing from 336 students in 2022 to a record 447 students in 2026—a 33% increase in just four years.
Increased Ambition: Not only are more students enrolling in AP courses, but they are also taking more AP exams. The total number of AP exams administered increased dramatically, rising from 578 in 2022 to 891 in 2026—a remarkable 54% increase in just four years.
Unprecedented Achievement: Perhaps the most impressive measure of success is our AP exam performance. In 2026, 72% of AP exams earned a score of 3 or higher— one of the best rates in District history and the benchmark most colleges recognize for credit. This represents a remarkable increase from 55% just two years ago, with 322 students earning qualifying scores this year. *Data provided by College Board
The Class of 2026: A Future Full of Possibilities Shining Bright at Top National Universities! Sara Abdelrahman Brown University
Moataz Farraj Columbia University
Rawan Sharfi New York University
The Class of 2026 continues to set new standards of academic excellence! We are incredibly proud to spotlight Sara Abdelrahman, Moataz Farraj, and Rawan Sharfi for earning admission to some of the nation's most prestigious institutions—Brown University, Columbia University, and New York University. Adding to these remarkable achievements, Rawan was also named a recipient of the prestigious Amazon Future Engineer Scholarship—a highly competitive national honor awarded to top STEM talent that includes financial support toward tuition and a guaranteed paid internship. These monumental accomplishments reflect years of dedication, ambition, and Spartan pride. Please join us in celebrating Sara, Moataz, and Rawan as they prepare to leave their mark on these premier campuses!
Next-Level Athletes: Division I Bound Spartan Athletics is proud to celebrate two exceptional studentathletes who are taking their talents to the NCAA Division I level! Both Justin Canvin and Maryam Hussein have officially committed to continue their academic and athletic careers at the University of Illinois Chicago (UIC). Recognized as this year’s Male and Female Athletes of the Year, Justin (Baseball) and Maryam (Volleyball) leave behind historic legacies at Oak Lawn, with both standout Spartans holding multiple school records in their respective sports. Their incredible work ethic, leadership, and relentless drive have set a new standard for Spartan Athletics. Please join us in congratulating Justin and Maryam as they take the next big step in their athletic journeys!
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The New Spartan Fieldhouse The Spartan Fieldhouse is quickly becoming a reality! With a tentative opening in late October, this exciting new facility will provide our students and community with expanded opportunities for athletics, fitness, wellness, and physical education. The Fieldhouse will feature a state-of-the-art fitness center, indoor track, multiple multi-purpose courts, and a modern interactive lobby showcasing Spartan achievements. More than a new building, the Fieldhouse represents a significant investment in our students and the future of Oak Lawn Community High School. We can’t wait to welcome you inside this Fall!
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Get to Know Our New Teachers! Kelly Grba Q: What inspired you to become a teacher? A: The excellent music teachers I had throughout my K-12 public education inspired me to pursue teaching. I want to give back and pour into my students the way my teachers poured into me.
Hannah Isenmann Q: What are you most excited about as you begin your first year at Oak Lawn? A: I’m very excited to be back! I was an instructional assistant and student taught here, and I missed the amazing community and environment at OLCHS.
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Jacob Abeja Q: What's something fun or interesting about you that our Spartan community might not know? A: My last name in Spanish means bumblebee.
Robert Neylon Q: What is one thing you hope your students take away from your classroom? A: I hope my students take away the importance of treating others with respect and being willing to learn from their mistakes.
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Spartan Parent Academy Teams Up With Glenbard Parent Series Oak Lawn Community High School’s Spartan Parent Academy is proud to partner with the Glenbard Parent Series (GPS), providing District 229 families with free access to nationally recognized experts and research-based guidance on today’s most important parenting topics. Programming covers youth mental health and resilience, digital wellness and screen time, academic success and executive functioning, and college, career, and life readiness. Designed for busy families, virtual sessions are offered at 12:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. Central Time with no advance registration required. Select presentations will also include live Spanish translation. Scan the QR code to explore the upcoming schedule, learn about featured speakers, and join a session directly from your phone or tablet.
OAK LAWN COMMUNITY HIGH SCHOOL DISTRICT 229 9400 SOUTHWEST HIGHWAY OAK LAWN, ILLINOIS 60453 PHONE: 708.424.5200 FAX: 708.424.5263
LEARN, GROW, SUCCEED
OAK LAWN COMMUNITY HIGH SCHOOL DISTRICT 229 BOARD OF EDUCATION
Robert Loehr President
John Hickey Vice President
Vernon Zumhagen Secretary
Dave McFee Member
Glenn Smith Member
Safaa Zarzour Member