August 22, 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

SJO third-quarter high honor roll

March 30, 2022

March 30, 2022

FreshmenBeckett, EJBenoit, AudreyBesson, WillBonny, SarahBrown, LandonClampitt, MadisonDavenport, AerolynDietiker, EllaDitchfield, LukeEnnis, JacksonFranzen, SavannaFunk, AddisonGerdes, TaytonGetty, OliviaHamilton, MakennahHarris, LaurenHesterberg, HaleyHouston, MaebreeKearney, SaraKindle,...

St. Joseph Middle School Announces 7th Grade Honor Roll

April 16, 2019

April 16, 2019

7TH GRADE HIGH HONORS Logan Allen Owen Baltzell Addisyn Barclay Samantha Beetz Kyler Brown Chloe Burkhalter Rachel Divan Joseph Frasca...

More than a coach: SJO to honor Duval with field dedication ceremony Friday night

August 19, 2021

August 19, 2021

An educator. A coach. A friend. A husband. A father. A community icon. On Friday night the community and high...

St. Joseph Grade School updates parents on COVID concerns

August 31, 2021

August 31, 2021

Fifty-five students from St. Joseph Grade School are in quarantine for exposure to COVID-19. Forty-two of those students are related...

SJO 4th quarter high honor roll

June 2, 2022

June 2, 2022

Our Honor Rolls are sponsored by Appl Sanitary. FreshmenAllinger, OliviaBeckett, EJBenoit, AudreyBonny, SarahBrown, LandonClampitt, MadisonDavenport, AerolynDietiker, EllaDitchfield, LukeEnnis, JacksonFranzen, SavannaFunk,...

School making changes to parking lot availability

July 4, 2024

July 4, 2024

St. Joseph Grade School is making some changes to the availability of its parking lot. The district recently placed letters...

Pence hired as full-time superintendent once again

September 2, 2022

September 2, 2022

Todd Pence is a full-time superintendent once again. On Wednesday, the St. Joseph Grade School Board of Education voted to...

SJO FFA holds petting zoo

February 21, 2019

February 21, 2019

An annual tradition is taking place at St. Joseph-Ogden High School today—the SJO FFA petting zoo to celebrate National FFA...

SJO fourth quarter honor roll

June 2, 2021

June 2, 2021

Freshmen Alewelt, EdwardAllinger, KadenArmstrong, AdenBott, MyaCarter, PaytonChahine, MayaDenhart, GarrettFrasca, JosephGoldenstein, GraceHayes, JayciMaroon, CarsonMcBride, SethSantiago, DanielWilson, SpencerWright, Mitchell Sophomores Adams, MadisonAlwes,...

SJO announces academic letter winners

September 30, 2022

September 30, 2022

Class of 2022 (Graduates) Addison Allen Tyler Altenbaumer Kailyn AndersonNicolas Anzelmo Ella Armstrong Abigail BehrensAlanna Bensyl Ella Besson Andrew BeyersBrandie...

Live at SJO school board, August 22, 2022

August 22, 2022

August 22, 2022

I am here at school board! Greg Smith has volunteered to drive extracurricular. There’s a super long list of personnel...

‘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...

PVO Junior High Second quarter honor roll

January 13, 2023

January 13, 2023

7th Grade Highest Honors (3.7-4.0)Tyler BonnyIsabella FrerichsCasen GoffGaby GomezGeorge HaleRoyce LoschenLane McKinneyAtleigh MillerAirin RashKeegan RobertsKorinne TravisEvelyn ValentineLucas WatersAdyn Westerfield 7th...

St. Joseph Middle School 6th Grade High Honor Roll

November 14, 2023

November 14, 2023

FIRST NAME LAST NAME Jovie Anderson Adalyn Bacon June Barnhart Elijah Bronowski Ethan Burnett Bowen Crackel Kolton Cruz Cameron Daly...

SJO 4th quarter honor roll

June 2, 2022

June 2, 2022

Our Honor Rolls are sponsored by Appl Sanitary. FreshmenAltenbaumer, JaredBarton, RylieBesson, WilliamBirt, EliBirt, MilesBrazelton, HoldenChristians, PresleeFrerichs, LylaGaines, KaidenGriebat, JoeGuido, MasonHarms,...

Comments
Leave a Reply