The student news site of Downers Grove South High School

Blueprint
Breaking News
  • March 20Girls varsity soccer vs Lyons Township on 3/21 at 6:30 p.m.
  • March 20Girls varsity softball v.s. Lyons Township on 3/23 at 4:30 p.m.
  • March 20Boys varsity baseball vs Metea Valley on 3/25 at 11:00 a.m.
  • March 20Freshman track conference on 3/23 at Morton
  • March 20Boys varsity volleyball vs Wheaton Warrenville South 3/20 at 5:30 p.m.
  • March 20One act plays on 3/24 and 3/25 at 7 p.m.
  • March 20Orchestra concert on 3/22 at 7 p.m.
  • March 20DGS and DGN vocal recital on 3/21 at 7 p.m.
  • March 5Proviso West Track and Field meet canceled due to weather. March 3
  • March 5D99 community celebrates girls gymnastics state championship. March 1
The student news site of Downers Grove South High School

Blueprint
The student news site of Downers Grove South High School

Blueprint
Abigail Culcasi

Abigail Culcasi, Editor-in-Chief

Abigail Culcasi is a senior at DGS and an Editor-in-Chief in her second year on Blueprint staff. She competed in the IHSA Journalism State Series in 2022, where Culcasi placed third in Photo Storytelling at sectionals and qualified for state.
In addition to journalism, Culcasi enjoys dancing and is a four year member of the dance team at DGS. She is also a choreographer and officer for Orchesis in addition to competing outside of school.
Culcasi loves to volunteer as the Vice President of Key Club at DGS and a Chapter Head for Letters for Rose. She is also a Blue Crew Leader, Class Board Member, member of Spanish Honors Society, NHS member and is a peer tutor for both English and Spanish.
Outside of school, she enjoys spending time with her friends and twin sister, Elizabeth. Culcasi enjoys traveling and visiting her family in New England. She also is an avid baker and can always be found in the kitchen whipping up a fresh batch of chocolate chip cookies.

All content by Abigail Culcasi
The DGS Speech Team, or the “Mouth of South,” placed 14th at the IHSA State Speech Tournament.

Speech team performs at state

Abigail Culcasi, Editor-in-chief
March 10, 2023
Lucas Edie, Tyler Havle and Suleyka Mejia practice their routine for their upcoming competition on March 12 at Naperville North High School.

Winter guard prepares for the ‘Applause’ with competition routine

Abigail Culcasi, Editor-in-Chief
March 6, 2023
The combined DGS and DGN girls gymnastics team placed first as a team in the Illinois High School Association(IHSA) state gymnastics meet. This is DGSs first athletic state championship in 10 years.

D99 community celebrates girls gymnastics state championship

Abigail Culcasi, Editor-in-Chief
March 1, 2023
The Oreos and Opinions Intergenerational Learning event allows for students and staff to connect and compare ideas on how to improve the school.

Staff and students share perspectives through Oreos and Opinions

Abigail Culcasi, Editor-in-Chief
February 24, 2023
Freshman Sandra Swierzb and sophomore Laura Manelis pose for a photo after winning first place.

Swierzb leaps to success as rhythmic gymnast

Abigail Culcasi, Editor-in-Chief
February 4, 2023
In most cases, concerts create a sense of community and enjoyment within individuals. However, consumers are currently finding themselves frustrated with the current state of live entertainment.

The show must go on: Concerts shape live entertainment culture

Isabella Shin, Lauren Miranda, Taylor Neal, Amanda Despres, Emma Fudacz, and Abigail Culcasi
January 27, 2023
The three new track coaches hope to continue the successful legacy of the track program.

Girls track and field welcomes new coaches

Abigail Culcasi, Editor-in-Chief
January 27, 2023
Statistics from Axios.com and Pollstar.

[Photo] Concert culture changes after Covid-19

January 25, 2023

World Language Week celebrates diversity among student body

Abigail Culcasi and Emma Fudacz
January 11, 2023
Sophomore Sarah Rashid studies for her math class in the library.

New finals schedule released for first-semester exams

Abigail Culcasi, Editor-in-Chief
December 9, 2022
Abby Infographic

[Photo] Anonymous accounts create anxiety

December 7, 2022
The spread of social media accounts is amplified by students around South.

Micro-Influencers shape DGS

Lauren Miranda, Amanda Despres, Allison Scherquist, Ava Lafin, Isabella Shin, and Abigail Culcasi
December 7, 2022
Participants, leaders and directors smile for a photo at the 2021 fall Snowball event.

Keeping the snowball rolling: First two-day Snowball event since 2020

Abigail Culcasi, Editor-in-Chief
November 18, 2022
Here is some helpful data for teens related to their sleeping habits.

[Photo] Harmful sleep habits interfere with daily life

November 1, 2022
Teens can fall victim to bad habits. Some of these explored in this article include phone dependency, lack of sleep and caffeine addiction.

Teenage Traps

Emma Fudacz, Maya Homberg, Isabella Shin, Gabriel Gowen, Amanda Despres, NB Bandera, and Abigail Culcasi
October 31, 2022
Students discuss their weekend plans with their friends on their half day of school.

Top ten ways to spend your day off of school

Abigail Culcasi, Editor-in-Chief
October 6, 2022
Many students and teachers are fluent in more than one language.

Students and teachers reflect on benefits of bilingualism

Abigail Culcasi, Editor-in-Chief
October 3, 2022
Seniors and Orchesis officers Hanna Rodeck and Leiana Abraham explain what orchesis is to prospective dancers. Orchesis is a club that puts on a dance showcase in the spring that highlights the talent of dancers of all levels in all styles of dance.

DGS encourages student involvement with Mustang Fury

Abigail Culcasi, Editor-in-Chief
September 12, 2022
Jason Trejo plays catch with a tennis ball every day during his study hall in the commons.

Trejo spends his study hall in the DGS Commons

Annie Metherd and Abigail Culcasi
June 2, 2022
This year, thirty seven students were awarded the Bonfield Express Foundation Scholarship. Jim Bonfield was a former teacher and dean at Downers Grove South. This scholarship is in memory of his life and contributions to the Downers Grove South community.

DGS celebrates Class of 2022 at senior awards night

Abigail Culcasi, Photo/Graphics Editor
May 17, 2022
All 36 seniors who received the Jim Mizener scholarship at this year’s senior award night.

[Photo] Where in the world are our seniors going?

May 5, 2022
The DGS Speech Team smiles for a picture after placing second in individual events at state.

DGS Speech Team places second at state

Abigail Culcasi, Photo/Graphics Editor
March 25, 2022

March 2022

Anika Brown, Kassem Ossman, Gwendolynne Royle, Emma Fudacz, Owen Atseff, Sydney Richardson, Samantha Bachara, Faith Nelson, Michael Piotrowski, Casey Muzykansky, Abigail Culcasi, Nora Joy, Sally Lichner, Ema Paskevicius, Savanna Martinez, Claire Valenti, Jake Hahn, Kristin Weidner, Annie Metherd, Allison Scherquist, Lily Myszak, Abigail Durkin, and Ava Lafin
March 24, 2022
Senior Alexander Soja returns the ball. Soja has been a member of the varsity tennis team for two years.

DGS boys tennis practices for upcoming matches

Abigail Culcasi, Photo/Graphics Editor
March 24, 2022
Seniors Gabrielle Hewawissa and Sara Homberg encourage each other before they race. Both are members of the sprinting team.

DGS girls track competes during indoor season

Abigail Culcasi, Photo/Graphics Editor
March 18, 2022
As of Feb 28. students have had the option to wear a mask while in school.

[Photo] Student observations from the first week of mask optional

March 8, 2022

February 2022

Anika Brown, Kassem Ossman, Gwendolynne Royle, Owen Atseff, Sydney Richardson, Samantha Bachara, Michael Piotrowski, Emma Fudacz, Faith Nelson, Ema Paskevicius, Sally Lichner, Nora Joy, Abigail Culcasi, Casey Muzykansky, Annie Metherd, Kristin Weidner, Claire Valenti, Savanna Martinez, Jake Hahn, Abigail Durkin, Ava Lafin, and Allison Scherquist
February 25, 2022
Starting on Monday, Feb. 28, DGS students will have the option to not wear a mask to school for the first time in two years.

[Photo] District 99 goes mask optional Feb. 28

February 25, 2022
Senior Bella Chlada sits in front of the Key Club table to sell Cupid Notes during sixth period lunch.

Chlada creates community of caring at DGS

Abigail Culcasi, Photo/Graphics Editor
February 17, 2022
District 99 will move to a mask optional policy on Feb. 28.

[Photo] DGS moves to mask optional policy Feb. 28

February 15, 2022
Key Club holds Cupid Notes fundraiser for Valentines Day

Key Club holds Cupid Notes fundraiser for Valentine’s Day

Abigail Culcasi, Photo/Graphics Editor
February 14, 2022
On Jan. 31, DGS initiated a shelter-in-place to investigate a potential danger to school safety; it was determined that there was no threat present.

[Photo] DGS initiates a shelter-in-place to investigate a potential threat

February 1, 2022
The Pintos hold their opening pose at the conference championship. They won the West Suburban Conference Championship with a performance of their jazz routine to ‘Bottom of the River’ by Delta Rae.

A look back at the Pintos competition season

Abigail Culcasi, Photo/Graphics Editor
January 31, 2022

January 2022

Anika Brown, Kassem Ossman, Gwendolynne Royle, Emma Fudacz, Nora Joy, Abigail Durkin, Ava Lafin, Sydney Richardson, Faith Nelson, Sally Lichner, Annie Metherd, Michael Piotrowski, Claire Valenti, Jake Hahn, Casey Muzykansky, Allison Scherquist, Ema Paskevicius, Savanna Martinez, Abigail Culcasi, Lily Myszak, Kristin Weidner, Owen Atseff, and Samantha Bachara
January 24, 2022
Illinois will begin to implement media literacy lessons in fall of 2022.

Illinois to require media literacy unit in public high schools

Abigail Culcasi, Photo/Graphics Editor
January 22, 2022
IMG_4275

Meet the twins of mustang country

January 14, 2022
According to The National Association for Gifted Children, approximately 10% of children in the United States are considered gifted. For those students, the classroom can be a place of anxiety due to high rates of perfectionism among gifted students.

[Photo] Unseen consequences: The dangers of the gifted label

December 2, 2021

November 2021

Anika Brown, Kassem Ossman, Gwendolynne Royle, Emma Fudacz, Lily Myszak, Nora Joy, Ava Lafin, Abigail Durkin, Sydney Richardson, Faith Nelson, Sally Lichner, Annie Metherd, Michael Piotrowski, Claire Valenti, Jake Hahn, Casey Muzykansky, Allison Scherquist, Ema Paskevicius, Savanna Martinez, Abigail Culcasi, Kristin Weidner, Owen Atseff, Samantha Bachara, Emily Mordaunt, and Justin Muller
December 1, 2021
This is a sample for the types of questions that can appear on the Otis-Lennon School Ability Test, referred to as OLSAT, which is one of the two tests that four year olds must currently complete to gain admission to the gifted and talented program in New York City.

Let’s look to lady liberty and revise gifted programs

Abigail Culcasi, Photo/Graphics Editor
November 17, 2021
The Morton Arboretum, located approximately 10 minutes from Downers Grove, is the perfect place to go on a relaxing walk over Thanksgiving Break.

Top 10 activities to do over Thanksgiving Break

Abigail Culcasi, Photo/Graphics Editor
November 15, 2021
Ysabel Pakowski, a midfielder for the DG Girls Lacrosse Team, made her verbal commitment to play lacrosse at The University of Detroit Mercy in July of 2021.

Mustang to Titan: Pakowski commits to play Division I lacrosse at Detroit Mercy

Abigail Culcasi, Photo/Graphics Editor
October 20, 2021

October 2021

Anika Brown, Kassem Ossman, Gwendolynne Royle, Emma Fudacz, Lily Myszak, Justin Muller, Nora Joy, Ava Lafin, Abigail Durkin, Sydney Richardson, Faith Nelson, Sally Lichner, Annie Metherd, Michael Piotrowski, Claire Valenti, Jake Hahn, Casey Muzykansky, Allison Scherquist, Ema Paskevicius, Savanna Martinez, Abigail Culcasi, Kristin Weidner, Emily Mordaunt, Owen Atseff, and Samantha Bachara
October 20, 2021
Holly Johnson smiles before her race at the Fenton Cross Country Invitational.

Holly Johnson runs into her high school cross country career

Abigail Culcasi, Photo/Graphics Editor
October 14, 2021
The DGS football field where the 2021 homecoming dance will take place.

DGS to host outdoor homecoming Sept. 25

Abigail Culcasi, Photo/Graphics Editor
September 17, 2021
The packed home stands during the fourth quarter of the Downers Grove North v. Downers Grove South football game on Sep. 10.

Sep. 10 Downers Grove South v. North football game

Abigail Culcasi, Photo/Graphics Editor
September 15, 2021
The Mustang offensive line gets ready for action during the fourth quarter.

[Photo]

Trumpet players for the Marching Mustangs perform their competition show entitled, “The Arena” during halftime.

[Photo]

Downers Grove North football players huddle up before the start of the game.

[Photo]

Junior Stephanie Gaspari and senior Adreana Duarte pose for a photo before the start of the game. Gaspari is glad to be performing again and enjoys,“being surrounded by people that love to show their school spirit!”

[Photo]

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Blueprint
Blueprint
Downers Grove South High School
1436 Norfolk St.
Downers Grove, IL 60516
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