CATCHIN' UP !!!!!!!!!!!!

DID EVERYONE ENJOY THE CELEBRATION OF DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING!!!!!!! I for one did, and very much enjoyed the documentary on the HISTORY CHANNEL!!!!!!

First off, I want to congratulate Our Varsity Girls' Basketball squad, and their coaches (Little, Kukulski, Holakovsky, and Nyhlen) on the Consolation Championship in the Westmont Rotary 33rd Annual Tournament. After a tough first round loss to Jefferson, the Lady Spartans came back with two wins on Saturday to take the award!!! In addition, Shannon S. was named to the all-tournament team!!!!!

Our Boys squad has had a rough start in many ways. Besides losing their #1 inside player (Joey W.) to a severely broken leg, and team leader Jacob A. to a sprained ankle, the Spartans have faced the five toughest teams on their schedule. Following an opening round Westmont loss to Jefferson, they bounced back to defeat Gower before losing in the Consolation Championship game to St. Mary's of D.G.. Regular season action has pitted Lakeview vs. Old Quarry, Westview Hills, and Eisenhower. Yesterday, at Westmont, the Spartans lead by seven going into the 4th quarter, only to be shutout 9-0, allowing Westmont to win the game at the buzzer!!!!!

I would like to take this opportunity to publicly say THANK YOU, on behalf of the entire Boys Varsity Basketball team, to Mr. Jay Baum, the new Boys Varsity Basketball coach at Downers South. Coach Baum, with the cooperation of DGS Athletic Director Todd Cassens, setup a conference basketball game between Lakeview and Eisenhower last Friday afternoon at South. Aside from the score (45-18..Eisenhower), a great time was had by all participants. What a difference between playing on a jr. high floor, and one the size of DGS!!

BUT..........................the Spartans have many more games, with the hope that they keep "Playing Hard"!!!!!! If so, some success should be on the horizon.............as well as some healthy bodies back!!!!!!!!!!!!!

ROLLERBLADING HAS COME AND GONE, WITH EVERYONE LIVING TO TELL ABOUT IT!!!!! It appeared that our students at Lakeview enjoyed the annual activity, and to that, did a great job......with and without protective pads!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Our units currently in operation include WEIGHT TRAINING and BASKETBALL (with the 3rd sixth grade activity being Floor Hockey)!!

Have a great week, stay warm, and..........................

GO SPARTANS.........................PLAY HARD!!!!!!!!!!!

Coach Dodd

HAPPY NEW YEAR !!!!!!!

Hey Spartans.....

WELCOME BACK!!!!! I hope all of 66 had a great break, and were able to recharge for 2010!!!!

Much has transpired since my last publication, so I'll just start in no specific order !!!

The 8th grade ballroom dance.....What a great afternoon we all had........kids looked great........Mrs. Garvey ONCE AGAIN did a great job with the unit......Megan V. and Brett C. put on an outstanding performance demonstrating what talents our 66 kids have that are rarely seen........PTO moms and dads provided our festivities with treats for all (yours truly included)........attendance by many other parents once again proved that our parents truly enjoy and care about what their kids are doing in school..........and........above all..........all our 8th graders demonstrated what they learned during the three weeks of instruction in a unit that they had never participated in before!!!!!!! GREAT JOB!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

ROLLERBLADING to start the new year!!!! All three grade levels will be rollerbalding this week (Jan. 4-8), polishing the moves and techniques they have learned during previous years!!! Our students are very lucky to have the opportunity to participate in this "life skill" activity!!!!

VARSITY BASKETBALL rolls into high gear this week with our participation in the Westmont Rotary Tournament (Jan. 4-9) at Westmont Jr. High. Both Girls and Boys squads start tonite (Jan. 5th) at 4:00 PM and 5:15 PM respectively vs. Jefferson Jr. High. Teams return to action Thursday evening with 2nd round games. Tipoff times will depend on results from Tuesday games. A win on either or both nights will place a team into a third game on Saturday with tipoff times yet to be determined. Good luck to Coach Little, Coach Kukulski, and the Lady Spartans!!!!!

To get an update later this week regarding tournament play and starting times, please shoot me an e-mail, and I will reply with necessary information! tdodd@ccsd66.org

Our annual "Varsity / Alumni Scrimmage" during break was once again a big success. Former team members currently in high school and college returned to battle our Boys varsity team. Alums Michael Mascitti (LV '05..DGS '09..NIU '13), Seth Carson (LV '05..DGS '09..Central Coll. of Iowa '13), Alex Gorniak (LV '05..DGS '09..Indiana U. '13), John Holakovsky (LV '07..DGS '11), T.J. Dodd (LV '07..DGS '11), Erik Thate (LV '07..DGS '11), and Christopher Eberhart (LV '08..DGS '12) gave the varsity a great workout in preparation for many of the battles with big and physical teams they will face this season. GOOD LUCK to these great guys as they return to their schools for the second half of this year!!!!

As a side note regarding our alumni, I would like to congratulate another Lakeview and Downers Grove South graduate Zack Bell. Air Force Academy Cadet 3rd class Bell has completed his third year as a member of the Falcons football squad that soundly crushed the University of Houston (47-20) in the BELL HELICOPTER / ARMED FORCES BOWL in Ft. Worth, Texas on New Years Eve. Upon graduation in 2011, Zack looks forward to qualifing for flight training, and ultimately Fighter Weapons School. Best of luck to #94 !!!!

A big "THANK YOU" goes out to all the members of the District 66 community who attended the Downers South - Lyons Twp. basketball game at the United Center on Dec. 19th. Even though the Mustangs came up a little short (71-66 L.T.), a great night was had by all. The Bulls put on one of their best performances of the season, coming back from being down 17 to tie the game and eventually winning in overtime. Downers South sold over 1200 tickets to the game, and look forward to possibly being invited back during a future season!!

Have a great week...stay healthy...and..... GO SPARTANS.......PLAY HARD!!!!!!

Coach Dodd

THE CLOCK IS TICKING!!!!

Hey Spartans..............

Hope your day and week is going well......ALL is good at this end!!!!

Ballroom dancing is progressing smoothly in 8th grade, while 6th and 7th get into the swing of square dancing!!!!! Don't forget that gala 8th grade "formal" on Friday; December 18th beginning at approximately 1:15 PM.

I would like to announce the 2009-2010 Lakeview Spartans Boys Varsity Basketball team. As always, "cuts" were very difficult, and something I feel is the hardest part of coaching. As someone who has been totally at both ends of the spectrum......out on the first cut and starter on a team, I can relate to what it is like to be in both positions!!! To those of you who did not make our club, I hope you take my individual discussions we have had, and work at your areas of improvement need.


2009-2010 SPARTANS:
Jacob A.
Michael A.
Adam A.
Joey B.
Ryan B.
Wesley D.
Tom J.
Jack M.
Louis M.
Michael M.
Christopher P.
Kovas R.
Daniel T.
Antonio T.
Joe W.



Practices have begun, with our first games scheduled for the Westmont Tournament during the second week of January.

Had the pleasure of going to the Bears game Sunday, and thoroughly enjoyed a great defensive show by both teams? ! ? ! ? ! A COUPLE of good drafts, and both the Rams and the Bears will be "Back-in-the-Hunt"!!!

Looks like the Holiday Bowl Season will be competitive as well. How many "blog-viewers" think 'Bama's defense can shutdown Colt McCoy and the Longhorns?????? The Tide "chomped" on the Gators vaunted machine in good fashion!

On a final College Football note, three Downers Grove South football alums will be involved with post-season bowl games...........

STEVEN SLAYDEN (Lakeview '04....DGS '08) is a key component in the University of Minnesota SPIRIT SQUAD. The Golden Gophers (Big 10; 6-6 overall) will oppose Iowa State University (Big 12; 6-6 overall) in the Insight Bowl on Thursday; December 31st; Tempe, Az. The game kicks off at 5 PM C.S.T. (NFL Network TV--subscription) As a "base", it is Steven responsibility to "hoist", "hurl" or "throw" a diminutive teammate many feet in the air, while making sure that he is also there to "catch her on her re-entry"!!! As an honor of being one of the best on his "squad", Steven was chosen to carry the Minnesota 45 foot high flag as the Gophers entered the field for the first game in their new stadium!!!!!

ZACK BELL (Lakeview '03...DGS '07) will travel to Ft. Worth, Tx. as a member of the United States Air Force Academy football team (#94) as they prepare to take on the University of Houston Cougars (10-3) in the Bell Helicopter-Armed Forces Bowl (Thursday; 12/31/09; 11:00 AM (CST); ESPN). The Falcons (7-5) come into the game as the representative of the Mountain West Conference.

ANDY SCHULZE (Eisenhower '02...DGS '06) will take part in the Orange Bowl in Miami, Fl. (Tuesday; 1/5/10; 6:30 PM (CST); FOX SPORTS-National). The #10 ranked University of Iowa Hawkeyes (10-2) will oppose the Atlantic Coast Conference champion Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (11-2 / #9 ranked) in a B.C.S. contest!!! Andy (#65) handles all the center snaps for Iowa field goals, extra points, and punts.

GOOD LUCK TO ALL THREE OF THESE OUTSTANDING STUDENT ATHLETES!!! HIT HARD!!!!!

As a BONUS event this week, the first LAKEVIEW student who e-mails me with the names of the three student-athletes listed above will win "Lunch With The Coach" (Mr. Dodd) during a lunch period mutually agreed upon at Lakeview! Please e-mail me tdodd@ccsd66.org

Have a great week.....GO SPARTANS!!!!!!.................PLAY HARD!!!!!!

Coach Dodd

ONE, TWO, THREE.....CHA..CHA..CHA !!!

Hello Spartan Fans......

Our rebound from Thanksgiving vacation is rolling along with the beginning of Ballroom Dancing for our 8th graders. Under the direction of Mrs. Anne Garvey, our students are getting into the fundamentals, with nine more days till our "formal" on Friday; December 18th. 99.5% of this years' graduating class are working very hard to learn this "lifeskill" activity, and as is always the case, that .5% will catch on ......hopefully sooner than later!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

At this date, Boys Varsity Basketball has completed one day of tryouts with a conclusion coming tomorrrow (Dec. 2nd). The final roster for the 2009-10 season will be posted on Thursday morning (Dec. 3rd). Practices will be scheduled during the remaining two weeks in December, with game action scheduled to start in January. Please check this site for a roster and a game schedule. On behalf of my club, I would like to once again invite the members of 66 to attend games whenever possible!! 2008-09 was quite a "fun ride", one that will never be forgotten. On that same vein, I will post a list next week of our '08-'09 squad, and where they are playing in high school this season!!

GOOD LUCK to all our Lakeview girls who will be trying out for the Varsity Cheerleading squad under the direction of Mrs. Jennifer Maass. The excitement and enthusiasm of last years squad was one of main reasons for our teams' success in their tournament run!!!

On a serious note, it is my understanding that the Chicago Bears' practice was stopped on Tuesday when a player spotted a "white, powdery substance" on the field. D.E.A. and A.T.F. were called in to investigate the finding. After complete analysis, forensic experts determined that the white substance, unknown to players was the GOAL LINE!! Practice was allowed to continue after agents determined that players would not encounter the substance again this season!!! (Thanks to Coach Slayden for this F.Y.I.)

Have a great week, and

GO SPARTANS........PLAY HARD!!!!!!

Coach Dodd

HAPPY THANKSGIVING !!!!!!!

Hey Spartan Fans.....

WOW.....It's Thanksgiving already!!!!! Once again.....is this year flying by!!!!!

On a short week, there are still important things taking place in and around "66"!!!

BOWLING and VOLLEYBALL are moving along in all three grade levels, with WEIGHT TRAINING going on in 6th grade!! The 7th and 8th graders did a GREAT JOB last Thursday and Friday at the "BOWL in BOLINGBROOK"!!!!! Great bowling and MUCH food!!

BALLROOM DANCING with Mrs. Anne Garvey starts for our 8th graders when we return from Thanksgiving vacation on November 30th. This gala unit will conclude with our "formal" dance on the last Friday (Dec. 18th) before Christmas break. I know our current 8th graders will follow in the tradition of past classes and do an outstanding job....FIRE UP!!!!!

BOYS VARSITY BASKETBALL TRYOUTS will be held on Monday, Nov. 30th and Wed., Dec. 2nd at Lakeview from 3 - 5 PM. Boys trying out have returned signed parental permission slips, and seem ready to go!!

On a final note, I would like to take this opportunity to promote the BONFIELD EXPRESS 5K Walk/Run this coming Thursday morning in Downers Grove. Jim Bonfield was a teacher, dean, and coach at both Downers North and Downers South High School. Before passing away after a long battle with cancer, Jim touched the lives of thousands of students at both schools. Over the course of 30 plus years, Coach Bonfield was a guiding light for students of all types, colors, abilities, beliefs, and a person who made a mark on this young coach as I started my career at the high school level!

The 5K walk run has raised scholarship money for 52 graduates of both Downers Grove high schools, and again this year will provide funds for ten more graduates of the class of 2010. The run/walk starts off from Main and Curtiss in Downers Grove at 8:30 AM. To find out more on how to participate in this outstanding event, please log-on to www.bonfieldexpress.com

I hope to see many 66ers at this event!!!!!!

Have a great Thanksgiving, and .........................

GO SPARTANS.......PLAY HARD!!!!!!!!

Coach Dodd

SPARTAN NEWS !!!!!!

HELLO SPARTAN FANS!!!!!!

Time to catch up on various "happenings" at Lakeview:

BOWLING and VOLLEYBALL games continue in all P.E. classes, with Strength Training also being covered in 6th grade.

BOWLING trips to the lanes in Bolingbrook take place this week.....7th graders go Thursday (19th) morning, while the 8th grade goes Friday (20th) morning. A great time is always had by our students, both on the lanes, and at the concession stand.

J.V. BASKETBALL swings into high gear with a pair of games for both Boys and Girls.......Coach Dvorak's club plays Westview Hills tonight (16th) at Lakeview, while Mr. Little's team hosts Eisenhower here on Wednesday (18th). All games tipoff at 4 PM......."Be a Fan....Support the Spartans!!!!"

CONGRATULATIONS to the following students on making the respective J.V. Basketball teams......GIRLS >> Rebecca A., Tiffany B., Megan S., Sydney D., Jacky J., Jill K., Jeannie L., Antionette Z., Rebekah O., Taylor J., Miyax., Dana K., and Ava P..
BOYS >> Jason D., Cody B., Eddie L., Braxton B., Caleb K., Matt B., Joe E., Matt S., Anthony M., Sam D., Conner M., Patrick M., and Zain R.

MANY of our current Lakeview students and parents have followed the Downers Grove South Varsity Football squad this past season. After two thrilling playoff victories over Waubonsie Valley and Bolingbrook, the Mustangs season ended last Saturday night at Glenbard North. The Mustangs and Panthers battled to the very end with Glenbard North hanging on to a 7-3 victory. On behalf of the entire varsity, I would like to say "Thanks" for the great support in 2009. 2010 looks promising, as the Mustangs return 13 starters from this past season........HIT HARD!!!!!!

On a final note, check this site Tuesday; November 17th for information regarding 8th grade Varsity BOYS basketball tryouts!

Have a great week, and.............

GO SPARTANS......PLAY HARD!!!!!

Coach Dodd

IT'S BOWLING and VOLLEYBALL

Hello Spartan Fans,

The BAD Fall weather has been victorious, so our P.E. classes will be moving on to Volleyball and Bowling (and Weight Training in 6th grade). Our classes did do a great job during the Fall units, and as well on their written tests for those activities!!

Our Junior Varsity Basketball teams, as well as the J.V. cheerleaders have been chosen, and a big "GOOD LUCK" goes out to those teams and their respective coaches!!

VARSITY BOYS basketball tryouts will be announced shortly, with a written permission slip necessary for all players wishing to tryout!!! An e-mail and this blog site wuill have more information as the days pass....Stay Tuned!!!!

Great job by the Downers South Football, Cheerleading, and Dance teams on their performances last Saturday night at Benedictine U. vs. Waubonsie Valley. A thrilling game came down to the last :20 seconds as the Waubonsie kicker was "Wide Left" assuring a Mustang victory!!!! Another outstanding performance by the Marching Mustangs as well!!!

This Saturday night, the Mustangs travel to Bolingbrook for a rematch with the Raiders....Kickoff is 6 PM, with all tickets at $5.00. The Raiders defeated Downers South the first week of the season (16-14), so the Mustangs will be looking to get even!!!

Have a great week, "Play Hard!!!", and..............Go Spartans!!!!!

Coach Dodd