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JILG Featured School:
Belleville West HS
Jobs for Illinois Graduates (JILG) is proud to feature Belleville West High School, home of the Maroons! Belleville is located in Southern Illinois approximately twenty minutes southeast of St. Louis and one and a half hours south of Springfield. Belleville West serves approximately 2,250 students and has a long-standing tradition of academic and athletic honors. Belleville West is one of two schools in the #201 district.
Belleville Township High School District No. 201 consists of two campuses that each has a rich tradition of providing educational excellence to its students. Graduates from District 201 are highly prepared to enter the workforce and/or continue their educational pursuits.
District 201 students will find a full range of curricular offerings along with more than 80 co-curricular groups. In 2004, District 201 was selected to receive the “What Parents Want” award given by School Match, a nationwide service that helps corporate employees and their families find schools that match the needs of their children. Only 14% of the nation's 15,576 public school districts earn this designation annually.
Belleville West has many feeder schools and serves two main communities; the west end of Belleville and Millstadt. Schools feeding into Belleville West are Central Jr. High, West Jr. High, High Mount, Emge, Millstadt Grade School, and Signal Hill Elementary. The JILG Program served 39 students during the 2006-2007 school year and has 39 for the 2007-2008 school year. The JILG program at West spends a great deal of time working on community service projects. So far this year they have helped out with the Swansea Kingdom Playground Project, partnered with a local nursing home in the area, and are hosting a Halloween party for the Latchkey after school program at Roosevelt Grade School.
The focus of the first triad has been on researching careers that interest the students. After choosing a career, students researched finding the college or vocational school that they can attend to earn their degree and pursue their chosen occupations. Students have practiced filling out college applications and researched the requirements for admission.
We have had guest speakers from the military, colleges, and technical schools such as The Art Institute and Universal Technical Institute. We have also had guest speakers from a variety of careers including Mr. Robert Haida, St. Clair County States Attorney.
One of the highlights this year has been our class trip to the YMCA Outdoor Adventure Course. The students got to know one another when they were faced with the challenges of the day. Teamwork really kicked in as they worked together to solve problems and learned to rely on each other. They learned just how important it is to listen to each other. During the day’s activities, some of the students realized they had the ability to lead while others felt more comfortable in the role of a follower.
Some of the activities we are responsible for this year include:
- Swansea Kingdom- helped build a ¾ acre playground with other volunteer groups
- Adopt–A–Soldier- cards/letters/food/toiletries sent to a specific soldier adopted by each class
- Calvin Johnson Nursing Home Buddies-students are partnered with a resident
- After school Halloween party for the Latchkey kids at Roosevelt
- Annual Coat Drive-coats donated to a local shelter
- Reading at Roosevelt—JILG students spend time with K thru 2nd grade and read to them
About the Specialist
Roxane Dinga received her Bachelor of Science degree from Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville. She started her teaching career in Highland Illinois, then took time off to raise her three daughters while she continued to substitute teach. She recently came back to teaching full time with the JILG Program. Roxane is also involved in coaching. She is presently the Varsity Cheerleading Coach for the Basketball/Competitive Squad at Belleville East High School.
“The best moment in JILG is when you see students reach the realization that they can succeed in life, that they can go to college and have a better life. I think JILG has opened their eyes and minds to the multitude of possibilities life has to offer. It has given them the confidence to pursue their dreams and know that with hard work and determination, anything is possible. Shoot for the Moon, Even if you Miss, You will be Among the Stars.”