Lemont's FBLA to Host 'Winter Wonderland' Event to benefit STEM project

With frigid temperatures having settled over the Chicagoland area weeks ago, winter already is in full force. Instead of trying to avoid the winter blues, younger students in the Lemont area soon can enjoy an afternoon of winter fun. Lemont High School’s chapter of the Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) will host a “Winter Wonderland Carnival” in the school’s gymnasium from 1 to 4 p.m. on Saturday, December 13.

Proceeds from the event will benefit a unique program at the school that focuses on STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) education for the some of the school’s special needs students.

Admission for the Winter Wonderland Carnival is $5, and includes unlimited games. A variety of activities will be available for young attendees, including a bake sale, face painting, “Santa Buckets,” bean bag toss, bowling and ring toss, among others. A variety of prizes will be available through a prize wheel and raffles. Fun contests—including a “Snowman Wrap,” “Christmas Card Cliffhanger” and “Present Hot Potato”—also will yield prizes.

While the carnival will be staffed with numerous FBLA students, seniors Emma O’Leary and Bansi Padalia have spearheaded planning for the event. They can be reached via e-mail at fblacommunityservice2014@gmail.com.

Last spring, the Lemont High School Educational Foundation awarded a grant to Special Education teacher Michael Beranek and Science Chair Tim Leffler to fund “Summer, Science, STEM - Oh My!” The project brought together special education and general education students in the study of STEM topics during the “Extended School Year” program in June and July. General education students coached and mentored their peers, while the special education students benefitted through hands-on activities and field trips.

The program proved to be very popular in just its first year, and had a wonderful impact on all of the students who participated. With the program in its pilot stages in 2014, the FBLA is looking to provide additional funding to ensure that it is able to impact students in 2015 and beyond.

Lemont High School is located at 800 Porter Street in Lemont. Parents who are attending the Winter Wonderland Carnival with their children are encouraged to enter through the school’s Performing Arts Center entrance. Parking is available in the Performing Arts Center lot, the West Lot or the Parking Garage; all are accessible off of Julia Street.

The FBLA is the largest business career student organization in the world, and includes 215,000 students worldwide in its high school division. Illinois’ chapter of the FBLA may be found on the Web at www.fbla.gen.il.us. Lemont’s FBLA chapter is sponsored by teacher John Aspel.