The Foxes Den

Season 2 (Episode 1) Chris Palmisano

Listen in as Chris Palmisano, 8th Grade Social Studies Teacher, Head Coach for Boys Varsity Soccer Team, and Yorkville High School’s Activities Director, discusses all the great activities that will be happening during Homecoming Week 2023. Hear the passion in his voice as he shares his selflessness mentality and student first approach. Listen as he shares why that one student will always stay with him, and the tough career choice between becoming a teacher or meteorologist.

Episode 14 - Joe Blomquist (Director of Business Services): New Fresh Lunch Program for 2023/24 School Year

Listen in as Joe Blomquist, Director of Business Services for Yorkville District 115, discusses all-things-food regarding the new school lunch and breakfast program that will start at the beginning of the 2023/24 school year. Hear the passion as he shares his insights and feelings about student nutrition and the positive effects it has on their learning. Listen as we discuss how the food will be prepared, fresh, every day, and some of the menu items our students will have to choose from. Mr. Blomquist also talks about what his ideal lunch would be if he were in school today.

Episode 13 - Luke Engelhardt (Yorkville HS Associate Principal for Athletics, Activities, & Facilities)

Listen in as Luke Engelhardt, Associate Principal for Athletics, Activities, and Facilities at Yorkville High School discusses his athletic career as a Yorkville Fox and as a two-sport athlete at Aurora University. Hear about the educators in his family and the path he took to become the Athletic Director at Yorkville High School, how important the Yorkville summer camps are to our student athletes, and just how far the golf cart can go on a single charge. 

Episode 12 - Melinda Hafenrichter (Yorkville Grade School Principal)

Listen in as Melinda Hafenrichter, Principal at Yorkville Grade School, discusses the motto of her school and what it means to staff, students, and parents. Hear about where her love of teaching comes from, what she would change if she had to do it all over again, and how many state championships she won as a middle school athlete.  

EPISODE 11 - Student Services Dept. (Director - Melinda Lasky | Asst. Director - Emma McGuire)

Listen in as Melinda Lasky, Director of Student Services, and Emma McGuire, Assistant Director of Student Services for Yorkville District 115 discuss the types of support District 115 offers the students and staff. Hear what special education means to them, the most challenging and rewarding aspects of their roles, and why that one student always stays with them. 

EPISODE 10 - YMS 8th Grade Students (Makayla Bryant, Reese Benjamin, and Jaydin Kimont)

Listen in as Yorkville Middle School 8th Grade Students, Makayla Bryant, Reese Benjamin and Jaydin Kimont, discuss their thoughts about being freshmen in high school next year. Hear what activities they enjoy outside of class, the advice they would give to the incoming 7th grade class, and what grade they would give to the food in the school lunch program.  

EPISODE 9 - Cory Mehnert (District 115 Early Childhood Coordinator)

Listen in as Cory Mehnert, Early Childhood Coordinator, discusses the time she spent 5 months as an exchange student in Uruguay. Hear about the A-Ha moment in becoming an early childhood teacher, what advice she would give her 17-year-old self, and the one thing she asked for most while living in another country.

EPISODE 8 - Dr. David Travis (Yorkville High School Principal)

Listen in as Dr. David Travis, Principal of Yorkville High School, discusses the most challenging and most rewarding aspects of being a High School Principal. Hear about the path he took in becoming a teacher, who is that one student he remembers most and why, and the fall he took before joining the Air Force.