Lakeview Jr. High School


Lakeview Junior High School is a junior high school in Unincorporated Downers Grove, Illinois.
Lakeview grades are 6th, 7th, and 8th grade, residing in Downers Grove, Woodridge, and Darien. Lakeview adopted a semester-based academic calendar after the appointment of Mr. Tim Arnold, superintendent. Lakeview is part of Center Cass School District 66.

History

Lakeview was built in 1974 and opened its doors in February 1975. The facility was an Eco-friendly, cheap to build, modern school. Money was saved by only having a few windows, also adding to the modern look. The top half of the building was clad in yellow corrugated paneling. Lakeview’s interior was designed as a single, large open space that contained the classrooms and the library. Open-plan classrooms were common in schools built during the 1970s. Classrooms were outfitted with folding accordion walls, which could be opened so as to connect to adjacent classrooms or the library.
In summer 2002, Lakeview underwent remodeling which resulted in a second gymnasium. A new science wing was also built to increase laboratory space. Additional interior walls were added during the 2004 summer remodel.
Starting during the winter break of the 2018-2019 school year, Lakeview started a renovation process that would continue until the summer of the year. The remodeling resulted in the office being relocated from the main lobby to where the band room was previously located. The area in which the office was converted to a commons space for students and is where the student council meets. Additionally, this caused the band classes to move to the music room, the music classes to take place in a smaller room in the building, and the Spanish room to move somewhere else within the building. Other rooms in the building also went over minor renovations with the classes on edges of the building have windows towards the outside. Also, a modern building front was built adjacent to where the current office is in now.

Sports teams

Lakeview offers many sports teams that play throughout the academic year. Fall sports include cross country running and volleyball. Winter sports include junior varsity and varsity basketball, as well as junior varsity and varsity basketball cheerleading. Spring sports include soccer, softball, track and field, and swimming. Lakeview is in the Southeast DuPage Elementary Athletics Association against Burr Ridge Middle School, Butler Junior High, Cass Junior High, Eisenhower Junior High, Gower Middle School, Jefferson Junior High, Lisle Junior High, Old Quarry Middle School, Westmont Junior High School, and Westview Hills Middle School. Lakeview did used to offer boys American football and girls football cheer before being removed from the SDEAA sports.

Athletic Championships

Lakeview teams have previously won championships in the following sports:
The 2009 boys varsity basketball team won the SDEAA Conference Basketball Championship for the first time in school history. The team was led by Downers Grove Nomads teammates John Bonk and Andrew Jovien. The championship was the first in head coach Tom Dodd's career.

Encore classes

Lakeview has many encore classes, including:
Applied Tech,
Art,
Computers,
Consumer Education,
Health,
Music,
Physical Education,
Spanish, and
RTI.
6th grade students attend all of the above classes.
For 7th and 8th grade students, encore classes are divided into two main sets: Applied Tech, Health and Music; and Art, Computers and Consumer Education. In a given year, students take classes from one of these sets, plus Spanish. RTI may also be included as a set. Students attend Physical Education class every day.

Lakeview clubs

Lakeview also has many student clubs, including:
Lakeview has five total student bands. The directors of the bands include Thomas Tedeschi and Brian Ohlsen. Three concert bands directed by both directors. Additionally, Lakeview offers two Jazz bands directed by Brian Ohlsen. Previous directors include Paul Windsor and Jay Tiede.

Concert bands

Lakeview does offer ILMEA audition preparation for those looking those interesting in participating in the ILMEA performances. Additionally, Lakeview does participate in the music in the parks programs and offers an out-of-state four-day trip every other year for both Symphonic Band and Wind Ensemble.