The student news site of Downers Grove South High School

Blueprint
Breaking News
  • April 22Girls varsity lacrosse at Carl Sandburg High School
  • April 22Class of 2024 Prom on April 27
  • April 22CLEAR Workshop on April 26
  • April 22Jazz concert on April 24
  • April 22Cap and gown delivery on April 23
  • April 22Senior awards night on April 25
  • April 15Musical at DGS on April 18, 19, & 20th
  • April 15DGS Principal-Parent Partnership on April 17
  • April 15Culture Week Food Trucks on April 16
  • April 8Mustang Trot on April 14
The student news site of Downers Grove South High School

Blueprint
The student news site of Downers Grove South High School

Blueprint
Nora Joy

Nora Joy, News Editor

Nora Joy is a junior at DGS in her first year on the Blueprint staff working as a News Editor. In addition to Blueprint, Joy is a member of the varsity cross country and track team which fosters her competitive spirit. When she is not running, other ways she gets involved at DGS include being a member of the ACE club, Bluecrew and peer tutoring in the literacy center.

In her life outside of school, Joy spends her time hanging out with friends, baking and spending time outdoors. Her family also often travels to their grandparents’ lake house on the weekends to enjoy boating, swimming and water sports during the summer.

As a student, Joy has made the honor roll every semester. She enjoys the academic challenge of all of her classes but no class can compete with her enjoyment of English classes. Joy cannot wait to use her passion for writing to inspire other students at her school.

All content by Nora Joy
The three new track coaches hope to continue the successful legacy of the track program.

[Photo] Girls track and field welcomes new coaches

Abigail Culcasi, Editor-in-Chief
January 27, 2023
Volleyball players respond to out-of-the-ordinary sport questions

Volleyball players respond to out-of-the-ordinary sport questions

Kristin Weidner and Nora Joy
June 9, 2022
The girls track team faces top Illinois teams at the Wheaton North Invite

The girls track team faces top Illinois teams at the Wheaton North Invite

Nora Joy, News Editor
May 4, 2022
Making detailed lists and using goals can help students stay productive and motivated even when it is difficult.

Students defy odds with their keys to productivity

Nora Joy, News Editor
April 22, 2022
The girls track team poses for a celebratory photo after winning the WSC Gold Indoor Conference Championship, all fashioning their braided hair.

The unexpected side of being the ‘braider’ of the track team

Nora Joy, News Editor
April 12, 2022
The first home meet of the season is on Apirl 6 at 4:30 against DGN.

Varsity boys tennis swings into season

Nora Joy, News Editor
April 2, 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
As of Feb 28. students have had the option to wear a mask while in school.

Student observations from the first week of mask optional

Nora Joy, News Editor
March 8, 2022
Throughout Respect Week, students will be passing out smiley face pins to promote respecting others and their opinions.

DGS ties Pass a Smile into Respect Week

Nora Joy, News Editor
February 28, 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
Key club will be selling three different flavors of soda, each associated with either friends, partners, or crushes.

Key Club brings the Crush can fundraiser back to DGS

Nora Joy, News Editor
February 3, 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

Parenting through the generations: How a parent’s upbringing affects how they raise their own children

Nora Joy, News Director
December 6, 2021
Between privacy, trust, and support, teenagers and their parents may never see eye to eye but they still share a bond of care.

Parents v.s. teens: Children’s critiques of their caregivers

Lily Myszak, Nora Joy, Abigail Durkin, Anika Brown, Emily Mordaunt, Faith Nelson, and Sydney Richardson
December 6, 2021
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.

Unseen consequences: The dangers of the gifted label

Nora Joy, News Editor
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
Teachers have began to incorporating more technology into their lessons after adapting their teaching to virtual classes last year.

The evolution of technology use in American education

Nora Joy, News Editor
November 20, 2021
Students with dyslexia often struggle to read due to brains inability to process text efficiently.

Why schools are failing students with dyslexia

Nora Joy, News Editor
November 4, 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
Operana poses in her Fillies uniform ahead of the 2021 dance season.

Operana dances her way through high school

Nora Joy, News Editor
September 29, 2021
Now that all DGS has returned to full 8-period days, students must adjust to more crowded hallways.

Why I changed my opinion on hallway crowds

Nora Joy, News Editor
September 27, 2021
Student board members and DGS state qualifiers address board at Sep. 13 meeting.

Sep. 13 board meeting recognizes DGS group interpretation cast

Nora Joy, News Editor
September 14, 2021
Seconds after the gun fires, the Mustangs charge to the front dominating the field at the Fenton Invitational.

DGS girls cross country competes at Fenton Invitational

Nora Joy, News Editor
September 9, 2021
Coach Doug Plunkett speaks to the junior varsity team before they make their way to the start line in hopes of a first place team finish.

[Photo]

Seniors Madi Sisson, Angie Hernadez and Jules Rossi share their final pieces of advice with underclassmen ahead of their first invitational cross country race.

[Photo]

Sophomore Fence Rodi along with other freshmen and sophomore runners pose as they excitedly await their race to begin.

[Photo]

Freshman Lilliana Jaeger pulls away from a pack of Oak Park River Forest runners just past the mile and a half mark.

[Photo]

Freshman Mikaela Cresse rounds the corner into the wooded area of the Fenton cross country course.

[Photo]

Seniors Madi Sisson, Alex Spang and Kelsey Casella pose with the trophy after the Mustangs ran their way to a first place finish at the Fenton Invitational.

[Photo]

Junior Madelyn Sumlin and seniors Renee Kowalski and Sarah Homberg form a strong pack as they continue to pull away from the rest of the field just past the first mile.

[Photo]

Senior Bella Lapacek and junior Anjaili Kota continue to work together in the final two-thirds of their race.

[Photo]

Junior Madelyn Sumlin sprints her way into the finishing shoot, walking away with a third place finish in the girls junior varsity race.

[Photo]

Senior Sarah Homberg recovers after finishing the three mile course in a time of 0:21:53 at Fenton High School.

[Photo]

The Varsity team (Kelsey Casella, Elizabeth Culcasi, Nora Joy, Madi Sisson, Alex Spang, Holly Johnson, Sophia McNerney, Arianna DeLeon, Lindsay Spear and Skyler Tomeki ) celebrate their team win at the Fenton Invitational by posing for a photo.

[Photo]

Senior Sarah Homberg and junior Madelyn Sumlin embrace after both placing in the top six at their first invitational of the year.

[Photo]

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