December 7, 2025 Local Stories in and Around St. Joseph, Illinois

SJO student tests positive for COVID-19

A student at St. Joseph-Ogden High School has tested positive for COVID-19.


On Oct. 2, Superintendent Brian Brooks emailed parents to let them know that the student recently tested positive.


“As we have done with each positive case, we are working closely with the CUPHD to do contact tracing in regards to the last time that the student was at school,” Brooks said. “If there are students who are believed to have been in close contact for a prolonged period of time either Principal Gary Page or Athletic Director Justin Franzen will be in contact with those families.”


Brooks told parents he was thankful for their corporation during the pandemic.


“We are sincerely appreciative of our families being so diligent this year in communicating potential COVID-19 exposures to the school,” he said. “This has been very helpful in trying to avoid any type of outbreak at SJO. “

The district had two other confirmed COVID cases in September.


On Oct. 1, Page announced that the district will be revisiting its no locker policy mainly to accommodate students wearing a coat to school in cooler weather.

At the start of the year, the district banned students from using lockers to help encourage social distancing. Students will be allowed to use lockers on a limited basis starting Oct. 13.


“After observing our students for nearly two months of school and how they have consistently demonstrated respect for their fellow students by adhering to health and safety guidelines necessary for us to be in school, there is no doubt that we can begin to make limited use of lockers and still stay within the COVID 19 guidelines,” Page said.


At the end of next week, the district will be sending students their locker assignments and combinations via their school email address with the idea they can begin using lockers on Oct. 13.


“We will be staggering locker assignments to encourage social distancing and students will only have access to their lockers before school, at lunch, and after school,” Page said. “Students will not be allowed to use their lockers between classes. It will also be imperative that students do not loiter around the lockers; rather they put their coat in their locker and carry on to class or lunch. Because the use of the lockers will be limited, students will not be allowed to decorate lockers or use locker accessories for the time being.”

VILLA GROVE
Mayor Cassandra Eversole-Gunter has announced that the Villa Grove Plaza will be open Saturday morning so families can take fall photos if they want to. The decorations include a fall prop designed and donated by Denise Lewis in honor of her father. Photographer
Terry Miller Brown will be at the plaza at 10 a.m. to do mini sessions. For more information on the mini sessions contact Brown on Facebook.

in Schools
Banner
Related Posts

Maxey named to SJO Board of Education

June 23, 2020

June 23, 2020

The St. Joseph-Ogden School Board has a new member. The Board of Educated voted to fill a vacant position with...

PVO to honor beloved teacher

March 13, 2019

March 13, 2019

Prairieview-Ogden will have a new award to honor one of their most beloved teachers. Kathy Klauda, the mother of Jennifer...

5 questions with Mallory Wagner

April 16, 2023

April 16, 2023

Mallory Wagner plays Jay in St. Joseph-Ogden’s “The Descendents”. We asked Mallory five questions before the final show today at...

Senior Homecoming Court Spotlight… Bailey Dowling

September 27, 2019

September 27, 2019

St. Joseph-Ogden Senior Bailey Dowling is honored to be on the Homecoming Court. “It’s pretty cool being on homecoming court...

Madrigals return to St. Joseph-Ogden

December 1, 2024

December 1, 2024

A Christmas tradition is coming back. The St. Joseph-Ogden Music Department is hosting a Madrigal Dinner on Dec. 7. 2024...

St. Joseph Middle School 6th grade honor roll

November 14, 2023

November 14, 2023

FIRST NAME LAST NAME Cali Argo Avery Bigelow Bristol Brown Avery Carter Kinley Dalton Dominick Fletcher Addyson Friese Vincent Gagich...

Wentzloff brings Lurch to life in Addams Family

April 3, 2022

April 3, 2022

Lili Wentzloff knows how to portray a character with few words. She is portraying Lurch, the butler of the creepy...

SJO 2021-2022 1st Quarter Honor Roll

October 29, 2021

October 29, 2021

Freshmen Allinger, OliviaAltenbaumer, JaredBesson, WilliamBirt, EliBirt, MilesBowlin, ChazBrazelton, HoldenButts, LandenChatterton, SarahChristians, PresleeFrerichs, LylaGriebat, JoeGuido, MasonHesterberg, HaleyIdeus, TinleyJohnson, KendrickJohnson, SethKindle, AmilliyaKnap,...

SJO HONOR ROLL SECOND QUARTER

January 11, 2021

January 11, 2021

FreshmenAlewelt, EdwardAllen, ChloeAllinger, KadenBrown, KylerChahine, MayaDenhart, GarrettDressen, CameronGoldenstein, GraceGrant, BriannaGula, AmayaHayes, JayciLannert, LaurenLeVeck, JakeMcBride, SethMcMahon, ShannonSweet, ZoeyWaller, BraxtonWilson, SpencerWright, Mitchell...

Hallett is new SRO in place at St. Joseph, PVO schools

September 10, 2019

September 10, 2019

Champaign County Sheriff’s Deputy Shawn Hallett has always held the police in high regard. “As a child, I remember having...

White reflects on time at PVO

May 26, 2020

May 26, 2020

By DAVE HINTONRantoul Press editor ROYAL — Earlier in the week, Vic White, retiring superintendent of Prairieview-Ogden school district, said...

Get to know Dan Thompson

March 21, 2025

March 21, 2025

Dan Thompson is running for St. Joseph Grade School Board. What motivated you to run for school board? I was...

PVO Junior High 7th grade honor roll

November 8, 2023

November 8, 2023

7th Grade Highest HonorsSydney AbernathyJebb AdenKolbie BusboomElla GerdesElla MohrAlea RashEaston RayCaylah RobertsRyan Schmitz 7th Grade High HonorsAllie BottAvary BuhrMax BuhrChase...

‘Helping them reach their potential is humbling and rewarding at the same time’

January 26, 2023

January 26, 2023

A performance today will culminate one of the most powerful artistic and personal experiences Justin Lee has had in his...

Comments
Leave a Reply