Z-Downers Grove
Saint Joan of Arc Catholic School
Celebrating nearly a century of faith-based education, Saint Joan of Arc Catholic School in Lisle continues to honor its Benedictine roots while embracing the best of modern instruction. Founded in 1927 as a parish school, St. Joan of Arc opened its current building in 1957 and has grown into a thriving community of 380 students…
Read MoreSt. Joseph School
Established in 1910, St. Joseph School provides excellence in education founded on the Catholic faith to Downers Grove and neighboring communities. For the eighth year in a row, St. Joseph School was voted the Finest Grade School and Preschool in Suburban Life’s 2025 Reader’s Choice contest. Over the years, the school has grown from a…
Read MoreTimothy Christian Schools
Partner with a school that aligns with your family’s values—and is recognized at the highest level for academic excellence. Timothy Christian Schools, a PS–12th grade, nondenominational, college preparatory school, is proud to be a 2025 Illinois Governor’s Award recipient and U.S. Department of Education Blue Ribbon School, an honor awarded to only a small number…
Read MoreOn the Road with Ava Rose Doty
Downers Grove’s young star shines in the Mrs. Doubtfire national tour By Maureen Callahan Ever wonder if the actors in a Broadway national tour get tired of show business? Not for nine-year-old actress and Downers Grove resident Ava Rose Doty! Since September, Doty has been on the road playing Natalie Hillard on the Broadway National…
Read MoreCONDUCTING COMMUNITY
Volunteer music group brings classical music to the western suburbs BY ANNA HUGHES | PHOTO CREDIT: DAVE NAPRSTEK Over 15 years ago, a passionate group of local musicians, vocalists, and volunteers came together with a shared vision: to bring an elite musical experience to the western suburbs. In July 2010, Sinfonietta Bel Canto (SBC), a…
Read More14 Minutes Later
Cupial claims DGN’s first cross-country title BY JEFF VORVA It was 14 minutes and 3.2 seconds of greatness. And it took nearly a lifetime to achieve. Downers Grove North senior Philip Cupial won the Illinois High School Association Class 3A boys state cross country meet on Nov. 8 at Detweiller Park in Peoria. He became…
Read MoreFrom Classroom Lessons to Recording Sessions
Students at Henry Puffer Elementary School take learning to the next level through their after-school podcast club BY VALERIE HARDY When Lilla Bethell was in third grade, she was a self-described “quiet kid” who “didn’t like talking to new people – or people in general.” However, this all changed, thanks to the new club her…
Read MoreIsrael Larry Blackburn
A Soldier, Settler, and Village Founder BY HINSDALE MAGAZINE GROUP STAFF In the mid-1800s, a man named Israel “Larry” Blackburn made a journey few could have imagined—one that began in slavery in Kentucky and ended in Downers Grove, Illinois, where he became one of the village’s early founders. Born into bondage, Blackburn’s life…
Read MoreReviving the Silent Screen
A new generation tackles silent filmmaking with annual festival By Anna Hughes In a world where advanced technology defines modern filmmaking, one local festival is going back to the basics. The Student Silent Film Festival is an annual competition for Chicago-area high school students that puts their skills to the test with the ultimate challenge:…
Read MoreRed Devil Redemption
Hinsdale Central’s Lauren Panveno and Sophia Virmani take second in state after tough draw in 2024 BY JEFF VORVA In 2024, the Hinsdale Central tennis doubles team of Lauren Panveno and Sophia Virmani had the worst luck of the draw as you possibly could have. The Illinois High School Association follows a format in which…
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