DISTRICT 62 IN THE SPOTLIGHT

DISTRICT 62 IN THE SPOTLIGHT
]une2or4
Compliments of Community Relations
Mindy Ward, Director of Community Relations
[email protected]
The Des Plaines Journal, Wednesday, June 4, 2014
Pouring Out Feelings At Poetry Slam
Algonquin Middle School eighth graders lent a critical ear and held up signs to rate their classmates' poems Friday morning. The school held a poetry slam in the library as a fun end of the school year activity.
Each student was asked to memorize and recite their piece in front of the class.
Molses Victor (right) rattles off a poem while Angel Godinez (left)
waits for his turn. (Tim O'Connor; Journal photos)
Jenny Arenas works to remember
her words for the poetry slam
contest.
The Des Plaines Journal, Wednesday, June 4, 2014
Iroquois Students Join
Jung National Junior
Honor Society Branch
21 Seventh Graders Eye Recognition For Next Year
Fifteen Iroquois Community School (ICS)
students from Des Plaines and Rosemont were
inducted in the Paul W. J~mg chapter of the
National Junior Honor Society (NJHS) on Thursday, May 22. New members, students, friends,
family, faculty, administrators and school board
members, attended the evening candle-lighting
ceremony.
Following welcoming remarks by ICS principal Michael Admadei, ·and introductions
by Manuel Bustos, NJH~ Faculty Advisor,
five students spoke about the standards of
the National Junior Honof. Society. Bhagirith
Mehta, Neli, Peeva, Alex!mdra Meyer, Destiny Onyeise, and Kevin Castilla spoke about
scholarship, character, leadership, service, ~md
citizenship, respectively. ~n addition to the
students mentioned previqusly the following
were inducted into the NJHS : Wiktoria Kusek,
Willis Le, Madeleine Mirza, Christa Niewinski,
Taylor Palacios, Allison Pearson, Sachin Pillai,
Amada Rahana, Armando Rodea, and Monica
Walaszek.
.
Supt. JaneL. Westerhold and James Poskozim
of the Dist. 62 Board of Education, presented
certificates and medallions to the inductees.
The ceremony concluded with each student
P!esenting a rose to his/her family.
Sara Heiman introduced 21 seventh graders
who fulfilled scholarship requirements of the
Paul W. Jung chapter of the NJHS. They earned
a grade point average of 3.60 or higher during
sixth and seventh grades. Sierra Brannan, Grace
Carlino, Patricia Evangelou, Nick Hernandez,
Pavani Jairam, Gabriella Kic, Michal Kwiecien,
Sarah Lane, George Lesiak, Suha Lim, Sona
Lukose, Marina Orrico, Zaul Perez, Anthony
Ramos, Max Romza, Madeline Rappel , Danica Rogue, Stefan Stojanovic, Capri Stricker,
Kamila Szwedo, and Riley Whittenhall received
certificates. If.they maintain the required grade
point average and meet standards in the areas
of character, leadership, citizenship, and service
through the first three quarters of their eighth
grade year, their names will be submitted for
·
induction into the ICS NJHS.
The National Junior Honor Society is a national service organization, designed to "create enthusiasm for scholarship; to stimulate a
desire to render service; to promote leadership;
to encourage responsible citizenship; and to
develop character in the students of secondary
schools."
The late Paul Jung served as Dist. 62 superintendent for many years and later was elected
mayor of Des Plaines.
The Des Plaines Journal, Wednesday, June 4, 2014
"Iroquois Students Join Jung National Junior Honor Society Branch ,, (Continued)
Iroquois Community School honored several of its students last week who were named to the National
Junior Honor Society. Each of the 15 inductees was awarded a medallion.
The Des Plaines Journal, Wednesday, June 11 , 2014
Fashion Prodigies
A long standing 34-year tradition, the forest School kindergarten hat show in Des
Plaines, displays hobbies and interests of the pint-sized bonneVhat designers, who
model-them. Forest AM & PM kindergarten students transform Chinet bowls, plates,
cardboard, and lace, coins, etc into works of art that they proudly model for family and
friends in a full-blown fashion show and music performance. Showing off their creations
are hat designers Nelko Dragulski, Jonathan Yantchev, Maija Varjavandi, lauren Capper,
and lynn Abramson.
The Des Plaines Joumal, Wednesday, June 11 , 2014
Chippewa Students Named To
National Junior Honor Society
Chippewa Middle School
(CMS) students in Des Plaines
were recently inducted in the
James A. Roy chapter of the
National Junior Honor Society
(NJHS). New members, family, facu1ty, administrators and
school board members, attended
the candle-lighting ceremony.
Following welcoming remarks by NJHS advisor Matthew Mylinksi, and introductions by Dr. Leah Kimmelman,
Chippewa principal, five students spoke about the standards
of the National Junior Honor
Society. Ali Chaus, Elanor
Kurutz, Zayna Hai, Ahtziri Alviso and Jennifer MacDonald
spoke about scholarship, character, leadership, service, and
citizenship, respectively. Tianna
Lavelle presented a tribute to the
parents of the inductees.
In addition to the students
mentioned previously, the following were inducted into the
NJHS: Jessica Martin-Ranft,
Olena Andrushko, Treshur
McDonald, Katelyn Aragon,
Jordan Meo, Julie Brizzolara,
Emily Modloff, Victoria Capasso, Matthew Montanile, Sara
Centineo, Michael Montanile,
Gamwo, Darelys Rivera, Henry
Grant, Charles Rodd, Daniela
Grimaldi, Connor Ryan, Mary
Schafer, Catherine Hickey, Cory
Scholler, Darius Hong, Tina
Shah, Katlyn Johnson;·Elizabeth Sofinet, Catherine Johnson, Greta Sorensen, Samantha
Kedziora, Emily Sprague,
Casandra Kopec, Sandra Stasiak, Emily Tao, Sabrina Larbi,
Jenna Temple, Anjaly Thomas,
Natalie Trytko, Bianca Manda,
Caitlin Chan, Daniel Nach, and Natalia Wolny.
Varun Nair, Alecia Corey, Nicole Palarz, Tatsu Comegan,
Meghan Paluch, Lianntzeitel
David, Alec Paschos,Julio Diez,
Juhi Patel, Allison Eby, Maggie Pegoraro, Dennis Gaitan,
Anthony Ponce-Sidlo, Almond
Board ofEducation President
Brenda Murphy and Dr. Kimmelman, presented certificates,
pins, and stoles to inductees.
The ceremony concluded with
students presenting carnations
to their parents.
The Des Plaines Journal, Wednesday, June 11 ,2014
"Chippewa Students Named to National Junior Honor Society " (Continued)
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Chippewa Middle School National Junior Honor Society inductees (back row) Ahtziri Alviso, Ofena Andrushko, Katelyn Aragon, Julie Brizzolara, Victoria Capasso, Sara Centineo,
Caitlin Chan, Ali Chaus, Alecia Corey, Tatsu Cornegan, Lianntzeitel David, Julio Diez, Allison Eby, Dennis Gaitan, Almond Gamwo, Henry Grant , Daniela Grimaldi, Zayna Hai, Catherine
Hickey, and Darius Hong, (middle row) Katlyn Johnson, Catherine Johnson, Samantha Kedziora, Casandra Kopec, Elanor Kurutz, Sabrina Larbi, Tianna Lavalle, Jennifer MacDonald,
Bianca Mando, Jessica Martin-Ranft, Treshur McDonald, Jordan Meo, Emily Modloff, Matthew Montanile, Michael Monanile, Daniel Nach, Va run Nair, and Nicolo Palarz, (front row)
Meghan Paluch, Alec Paschos, Juhi Patel , Maggie Pegoraro, Anthony Ponce-Sidfo, Darelys Rivera, Charles Rodd , Connor Ryan, Mary Schafer, Cory Scholler, Tina Shah, Elizabeth
Sofinet, Greta Sorensen, Emily Sprague, Sandra Stasiak, Emily Tao, Jenna Temple, Anjaly Thomas, Natalie Trytko and Natalia Wolny.
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Christina Scripps, Discovery Education
Announcements
240-662-6502
chnslona_scnpps@doscovery com
Leaders hop
Curroculum Team
ILLINOIS' DES PLAINES CONSOLIDATED SCHOOL DISTRICT 62 DRIVES DIGITAL TRANSITION WITH
EXPANDED DISCOVERY EDUCATION PARTNERSHIP
- New Professional Development Program Develops Teacher Leaders to Actively Participate in the Di stticrs Digital
Transition Silver Spring, Md. (June 11 , 20 14)- Illinois' Des Pia ones Consolidated School Distncl 62 today announced an
expanded partnership with Doscovery Education, the leading provider of d igital con tent and professional development
for K-12 classrooms. The expanded partnershrp will include an extensive professio nal development program w hich will
develop teacher-leaders to serve as change agents powering the d istrict's digital transition. District 62 educators are
participating in Discovery Education's recently launched Dtgrtal Leader Corps (DLC), a new multi-year profess io nal
development program that builds and n urtures a network of teacher-leaders to design and implement successful and
innovative teaching strategies that can be shared with therr peers.
This new collaboration will support educators as they drive a d igital transition that is transforming teaching and learning
in the school system and providing d ynamic learning opportunities for all students. In 2013, the district created an
ambitious plan to increase use of digital devices and content in K-12 classrooms ove r a three year period. Through
DLC, Discovery Education will support this plan by building the capacity of District 62 teacher leaders to effectively
integrate digital content into instruction and prepare students to be globally competitive, 21st-century citizens.
Featuring a unique combination of professional learning, pedagogy and tools, the DLC offers participa ting educators
proven strategies for integrating educational technologies and digital media into classroom instruction. A new
rnnovation included rn the DLC is educator created, student-centered Learning Labs. In these labs, teachers bring to life
new teaching strategies, and practice and adapt their skills in a classroom setting befo re sharing their successes
broadly with their colleagues. The DLC program provides teachers w ith continuous customized, job-embedded
consultation throughout the process with on-going modeling, coaching and feed back from Discovery Education DLC
experts in the pre-planning, stakeholder communications and implementation phases.
"To truly transform teaching and learning and ensure a successful digital transition, ou r teachers need a supportive
environment where they can continuously improve their skills, knowledge and instructional practices," said District 62
Superintendent Dr. Jane Westerhold . · we are thrilled to partner with Discovery Education to support our educators in
becoming digital leaders and agents tor change within their schools."
Since 2012, Des Plaines School District 62 and Discovery Education have partnered to bring digital resources to
classrooms to empower teachers, enhance curriculum and inspire students. Students d istrict-wide currently have
access to D•scovery Educatoon Stream1ng Plus, a comprehensive digital library of over 150,000 teaming objects aligned
to state and national standards.
In addition, the Dtscovery Educator Network (DEN) will support District 62 educators in their efforts to transform
students' learning experiences with d igrtal media. A global community of education professionals , the DEN connects
members across school systems and around t he wortd through social media, virtual conferences, and in-person events.
foste ring valuable networking , idea sharing and inspiration. Over 20 Des Plaines educators a re currenUy participating in
the Discovery Educator Network (DEN) Ambassador program. Each DEN Ambassador makes a commitment to attend
a series of in-person professional learning experiences, participate in on-line discussions, a nd share what he or she
teams with colleagues a nd administrators.
"We are excited to collaborate with District 62 to continue to support their digital transition by b uilding the capacity of
nf?
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their teachers to make a pos1tive impact on student achievement." said Jason Barnes, vice president at Discovery
Education. "Digital leader Corps will prepare District 62's educators to not only bring their own classrooms alive with
innovative digital resources, but to also play a central rote in creating tasting change within their school system.·
For more Information on Digital leader Corps, Discovery Education Streaming Plus, and other Discovery Education
services, v1sit www d1scoveryeducat'on com.
About Discovery Education
Discovery Education is the global leader in standards-based digital content and professional development for K-12,
transforming teaching and learning with award-winning digital textbooks, multimedia content that supports the
implementation of Common Core, professional development, assessment tools, and the largest professionalleaming
community of its kind . Available in over half of all U.S. schools and primary schools in England, community colleges
and in 50 countries around the world, Discovery Education partners with districts, states and like-minded organizations
to captivate students, empower teachers, and transform classrooms with customized solutions that accelerate
academic achievement. Discovery Education 1s powered by Discovery Communications (NASDAQ: DISCA, DISC B.
DISCK), the number one nonfiction media company in the world. Explore the future of education at
www d1scoveryeducat1on com.
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The Des Plaines Journal, Friday, June 13, 2014
Art Scholars Appear At City Council
This year's Des Plaines Arts Anna Holubecki, Maine West
Council scholarship winners High School, Magical Strings
willberecognizedduringMon- European Tour.
day's (June 16) city council
Others being honored inmeeting.
elude: Nichole Goumas,Maine
Honorees include: Rose WestHighSchool,privatebasKurtz, Central School. Dans:;e soon lessons; Kathryn Moro,
A1llenca; lesstca Schneider, Resurrection College Prep,
South School, Musical The- dance, GalinaStudio; EliseAdatre Camg; Amanda Garcia. ams, Maine West High School,
Algonguin Middle · School, ...acting classes at Metropolis
guitar lessons at Des Plaines_ Perfonning Arts Center; MeS"chool of Music; Natasha gan Hitch, Maine West High
Sevilla, Devonshire School, School, college tuition, creative
private instrumental and vocal writing, literature; and Linnea
lessons;Ma!}ssaParcell F es Grooms, Maine West High
School,
phonelessons; and School, voice lessons.
The Des Plaines Journal, Friday, June 13, 2014
Touring Kinder
Children Receive Dose Of Des Plaines
History On Downtown Walk
By DENISE FLEISCHER
Lifestyle Editor
T hey walked toward Kinder
House single file, water bottles
in hand. Navigating the North
School third graders across
Pearson Street in downtown
Des Plaines were Andrea
Clifton, their teacher, two
AmeriCorp volunteers and a
very organized and in-control
curator named Philip Mohr.
The historic tour was an
opportunity to experience the
city's past through age-appropriate narration. The students
were both excited and well
behaved and listened intently
to their teacher and Mohr's
directions.
Mohr told the Journal on
May 2 1, the day before the tour
through the downtown area,
that Clifton had emailed him
right after the Kinder House
at Prairie and Pearson was
reopened for tours.
"She talked about the possibility for a field trip to the
history center," recalled Mohr.
"She mentioned walking from
the school to the museum."
Call it good timing as Mohr
had been mapping out the fine
details of a walking tour of
downtown Des Plaines. This
was a chance to set the project
in motion.
"We set up a schedule and I
met them at the school," Mohr
added. " On the way to the history center, we looked at the
historic buildings on Miner
and Lee streets; the former
Brown's department store on
the northwest corner of Miner
and Lee. There are now three
shops there."
They scanned the train station and learned of its past,
then moved to more recent
buildings from the ' 80s. They
stopped at the Sugar Bowl,
which opened in 1921, went by
the Des Plaines Theatre, which
opened in 1924. They moved
on to Ellinwood Street to view
a picture from the early 1900s
with Spiegler' s department
store and other storefronts.
Mohr showed them a picture
of the former parking garage
and the Des Plaines Mall.
They then moved on to the
Kinder House around the
corner. After a photo of the
students was taken on the
Kinder House stairs, the group
was divided in two. Half would
participate in a craft at the
history center while the rest
would take a narrated tour of
the Kinder House.
Benjamin F. Kinder, a longtime Des Plaines hardware
store owner, moved into the
Queen Anne with his family in
1907. It was originally located
at 777 Lee St. Kinder wanted a
modern house with electricity.
The tour took place on the main
level of the house.
Mohr explained to students
that the parlor was off limits
to children their age. It was
regarded as a formal entertaining area. In the sitting room, a
checkerboard was set up for
the children to play. Popular
books of the time awaited selection in the family's bookcase.
Children were expected to read
every night. Their dolls were in
buggies waiting to be picked up
by little girls in the house.
The students were introduced
to a stereoscope, where you can
view an image of two things
happening at the same time.
In the dining room, the table
was set for dinner. According to
Mohr, dinner every night was
a forrnal occasion. Young men
may have worn their suits.
In the kitchen, the maid spent
most of the day preparing every
meals from scratch as there
was no refrigeration. She even
ground coffee beans daily. The
students enjoyed taking turns
with this task.
In the history center, they
viewed various period quilts
and participated in a quilt craft.
The session was narrated by
two history center volunteers.
The Des Plaines Journal, Friday, June 13, 2014
"Touring Kinder" (Continued)
On the stairs of the Kinder House (standing at top) Kacper Nedza,
Jubille Kim, Diamond Esquivel, (seated from top, I. to r.) Nicholas
Kaniuch, Alpha Kane, Nick Wernick!, Gia Bekatashvili, Mario Guerrero,
Eduardo Garcia, R.J. Catalan. Second row: Usayd Ahmed, Nathan
Bonilla, Andrew Sabo, Bryan Brito, Christopher Topor. Third row: Dean
Causevic, Isaiah Barragan, Akbar Aman, Steven Frausto. Fourth row:
Jarelytzi Reynoso, Angelina Bakewell. Bottom: Karol Derezinski, Emily
Terlecki and Saniyah Rahman.
View inside a first floor room of the Kinder House.
Students also viewed century-old quilts in the Des Plaines History
Center next to the Kinder House.
.'
Kinder House at Prairie Avenue and Pearson Street in Des Plaines.
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Article pos ted : 6/13/2014 1:26PM
2014 Election College Column is
Dist. 62 Forest kindergartners strike a pose
Article
Ph otos (1)
1 of 1
Showing off their creations are hat
designers Nelko Dragulski, Jonathan
Yantchev, Maija Varjavandi, Lauren
Capper and Lynn Abramson.
View other
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Continuing a 34-year tradition, the Forest kindergarten had their hat show, where students
use hats to express their hobbies and interests.
Forest morning and afternoon kindergarten students transform Chinet bowls, plates,
cardboard, and lace, coins, etc., into works of art that they proudly model for family and
friends in a fashion show and music performance.
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Each year, this event becomes more
powerful and moving than the previous
year. I n fact, parents of former
kindergarten students (college-age or
older) responded to a district Facebook
posting stating that they still have their
adult child's kinder creation.
The show is planned and staged by
kindergarten teachers Gigi Breitzman and
Kathie Anderson. Dist. 62 retirees also get
into the act. Former Forest t eachers,
Richard Marecek and Peggy Klein, lend
More videos
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Cook of the Week
Hunter tracks down recipes for growing daughters
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Chippewa Middle School vocal music teacher Kenneth Hommowun conducts the eighth grade
Chippewa Chorus during the school's promotion ceremony. (Posted By MELINDA WARD, Community
Contributor I June 13, 2014)
Posted By MELINDA WARD, Community
Contributor
2:53 p.m. COT. June 13, 2014
Promotion from middle school to high school marks an
important part of the transition into adulthood. While high
school graduation celebrates a student's completion of
basic education and introduces him or her into a world of
adult decisions and growth. promotion from eighth grade
celebrates a student's journey through elementary and
middle school. Thursday, May 5\h, 513 District 62 middle
school students were promoted. The evening featured two
ceremonies in the Maine West Spectator Gym, and one at Iroquois Community School. Music,
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PHOTOS FROM THE COMMUNITI
Your photos: Des
Plaines
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speeches, and the final walk of each student to receive their promotion certificate from school
board members and administrators were the highlights of each ceremony.
Backya rd wildlife
Algonquin Middle School
• 228 students were promoted.
• 17 students earned Presidential Academic Excellence Awards.
• 36 students were inducted into the National Junior Honor Society.
;
Chicago sights
,,.~
-~ - "-~ .
• Students participated in the 12th Annual Academy Awards.
• The District 62 Board of Education honored four students as Middle School Students You
Should Know.
.. . .-
.
..
,
Your photos: Pets
• 25 girls attended the Futures Unlimited Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math
Conference at Oakton Community College.
• 100% of the students passed the constitution test.
Photo challenge:
Summer break
• Eleven 8th graders auditioned and made it into the Honors Orchestra Ensemble.
• Students participated in the You Be the Chemist Challenge sponsored by UOP.
• Many students played in intramurals. Des Plaines Park District sports. and Junior Warriors
football and basketball.
Your photos in
print
• Students supported Philippine Relief, Nothing by nets for Malaria Prevention, and Relentless
for Hope Kids fundraisers.
Chippewa Middle School
• 239 students were promoted.
• Three students were selected as Middle School Students You Should Know.
• 14 students were in chorus; 22 students were in band; and 20 students were in orchestra.
• Eight students contributed to and reported for Chippewa 411 .
• Students participated in the Prairie Lakes, Des Plaines Public Library, Maine East and Maine
West art shows.
• 52 students were inducted into the National Junior Honor Society.
1 2 next I single page
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Friday, June 20,2014 9: 14am
At the end ofthe fo urth quarter ofthe 2013-2014 school year, the following students in sixth, seventh, eighth grade at Algonquin Middle
School in Des Plaines, made the Honor RolL
To qualify for the High Honor Roll a student must receive a grade point average of3.61 or greater with no grade lower than a "C" in any
subj ect
To qualifY for the Honor Roll, a student must have a grade point average benveen 2.9 to 3.60 with no g rade lower than a "C" in any subject
High Honor Roll
Stephanie Acuna, Arsalan Afshar, Camille Ang, Alan Arizmendi Almaraz, Adrian Banat, Maeve Bemero, Olivia Bitcon, Epifani Blangeva,
Alyson Block, Sarah Borgman, Kathryn Branick, Catherine Buchaniec, Andrew Budnik, Dylan Budn ik, Brett Candra, Ann Janel Canlas,
Cheyanne Chiero, Joshua Conte, Jaelynne Contreras, Manuel Contreras, Ashley Cruz, Josselyn Cruz, Caitlin Curtin, Kamila Czerlonko,
Kimberly Decape, Yesenia Del Rio, Edgar Delgado, Natalia Duda, Reilly Duellman, Alyssa Duty, Ashley Dwy, Taras Dzhul, Neveen
Elmajdoub, Joseph Engel, Sara Engel, George Espinoza, Karina Estrada, Blazej Ezlakowski , Olivia Feldkamp, Sara Forystek, Michael
Framke, Justin Freko, Leonardo Galindo-Frias, Amanda Garcia, Angel Gomez, Jennifer Gomez, Yoselin Gomez Gomez, Brianna Gonzalez,
Raha Goodarzi, Romar Harayo, Stephen Harayo, Xiao He, Megan Howard, Katherine Hudson, Griffin Huetter, Spencer Huetter, Alishia
Hussain, Jennifer Jiman, Heta Joshi, Alexandra Juszczyk, Jakub Juszczyk, Madison Kallio, Cole Kelly, Rachel Kent, Michael Keo, Sheryar
Khan, Veronica Kleinschmidt, Tomasz Kmiotek, Alexander Kociolek, Maja Kozerski, Leah Kuhn, Robert Kulanda, Claudia Kupczyk,
Skylar Kustra, Matthew Lach, Myla Ledezma, Michael Liston, Sarah Liston, Jessie Long, Jessica Lopez, Elena Lozano, Carlota Macias,
Alexandra Malewicz, George Markakis, Jaime Martinez, Marisabel Martinez-Mata, Abigai l Mi lovancevic, Ashwini Modi, Claudia
Morrison, Garrett Morrison, Maria Mraz, Jennifer Muhr, Valeria Murillo, Nicole Niedzielski, Sara N iedzielski, Stephania Nutu, Nestor
O'Brien, Robert Ochoa, Marycruz Olague, Paul Oliva, Grace Olsen, Andrew Orlowski, Margaret Packard, Nina Palmer, Anne Jazmine
Panganiban, Samantha Parcell, Shaira Pascua, Kesha Patel, Nancy Patel, Shivam Patel, Shree Patel, Jelena Pejovic, Daniel Perez, Nicole
Powell, Jose Quintana, Vanessa Reyes, Christopher Rios, Jenna Robbins, Mason Robbins, Stephanie Rodriguez, Alicia Sanchez, lvonne
Sanchez, Liliana Sanchez, Martylinette Sanchez, Alexis Santos Melchor, Kevin Schill, Zoe Schmidt, Sydney Schroeder, Josthel Sebastian,
Jacqueline Sepulveda, Kristen Sevcik, Aaron Smeya, Kacper Sobotka, Nicholas Stathis, Hilton Steele, Jessica Steingard, Chase Stephen,
Peyton Sturgeon, Justin Subovitz, Mary Jane Sullivan, Lauren Szeszol, Nicole Taneva, David Thacker, Jaco b Thvedt, Jlia Tomov, Eyzel
Torres, Jasmin Torres, Jizelle Torres, Norris Tran, Alondra Trejo Diaz, Arline Vargas, Willy Vargas Velazquez, Andrea Vavrinek, Vanessa
Vazquez, Salomon Vazquez Gomez, Cecelia Vergil, Grasiela Victor, Teresa Villalobos Rivera, Julissa Villegas, Amber Ward, Zachary Ward,
Joshua Wastyn, Teresa Wastyn, Andrew Willett, Nicholas Wojtan, Joseph Wright, Alexis Yacobucci, Tiana Ynocencio and Yvette Zalewski.
Honor Roll
Zachary Abero, Megan Adamowski, Maraya Adams, Darla Alanis, Cody Albrecht, Obada Almassri, Yesenia Aparicio, Anela Arapovic,
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Jenny Arenas Salas, Daniela Aristeo, Jhonette Balingit, Caroline Barnett, Jonathan Barragan, Nicholas Basista, Natalia Brazkowski, Lindsy
Brito, Gustavo Cabrales, Juan Cabrales, Vanessa Campos, Eduardo Can·illo, Mariano Castro-Nava, Glenda Ceja, Salvador Ceja, Marcelina
Chaidez, Esmeralda Chavez, Nayel i Chavez, Steve Chrisovitsiotis, Zak Chrisovitsiotis, Olivia Collins, Kassandra Connor, Demarion Cooley,
Jonathan Cortes, Emily Cortez, Jeidy Cruz Rodriguez, Allan Curea, Girolama D'Ugo, Kristian Dankov, Eric Dankowski, Yesica Del Rio,
Boyan Djurovic, Nicole Dragosh, Dorin Drimboi, Paola Espino, Osvaldo Espinoza, Martin Esquivel, Stanislaw Ezlakowski, Gabriella
Faraone, Jaime Fernandez, Cazandra Femandez-Soto, Coral Fierro Chavez, Gemma Fierro Chavez, Kathryn Fitzpatrick, Jason Flores,
Jennifer Flores, Olivia Forystek, Patricia Forystek, Jake Freko, James Ganza, Krystian Garbicz, Daniel Garcia Eustaquio, Jessica Garibay,
Greystonn Geib, Peter Giannopoulos, Nikko Gomez, Brenda Gomez Garcia, Crystal Gonzalez, Jonathan Gonzalez, Kielle Anais Gorospe,
Jose Graciano Pinedo, Cynthia Grim aldo, Jareli Grimaldo, Irene Gudino, Hannah Gutstadt, Erik Guzman, Tyler Helgesen, Miguel
Hernandez, Hector Hernandez, Acevedo, Nicholas Horcher, Arianna Hom, Cody Howell, Gwendolyn Hudson, Alexis Huerta, Lionel
Huerta, Alexandra Ibarra, Kevin Jacob, Dayanne Jacome, Jordan Johann, Javon Johnson, Matthew Johnston, Ruth Joides, Cannen Jordan,
Matthew Jordan, Sabina Jurczyk, Tina Karajic, Sophia Katsikaris, Atakan Keceli, Deena Khoury, Michael Kleszczewski, Margot Koenig,
Jakub Kozak, Logan Krol, Andrew Leon, Joshua Lim, Jessica Lima Lezama, Julia Litman, Delmi Lobo, Caylah Lopez, Jorge Lopez, Martin
Lopez, Natal ie Lopez, Patricia Lopez, Carlos Luna-Cano, Jaime Luna-Cano, Hannah Lund, Joel Magana Cante, Lizbeth Maldonado, Marisa
Maya, Joseph Mcinerney, Carolina Melesio Felix, A lejandro Mendez Pimentel, Fernando Mendoza Pimentel, Yvette Michael, Kaitlyn
Mimp, Jacqueline Miranda, Pablo Montes, Karina Moreno, Yasmin Muniz, Brandon Murillo, Daniela Murillo, Valeria Murillo, Denise
Muro, Matthew Mustari, Redir Nanakaliy, Jose Narez, Zachary Nelson, Melissa Nim, Abigail Nunez, Sarah Nuscher, Theodor Nutu, Caleb
Olmeda, Derek Pace, Nikko Pancho, Patryk Pasierbek, Neel Patel, Raju Peddada, Braulio Perez Ibarra, Julio Pereznegron, Anastasia Peric,
Collin Peters, Akash Pillai, Dian Poremba, Sarah Powell, Belen Ramirez, Raul Ramirez, Victor Ramos, Emily Redzic, Noelia Reyes Marin,
Eli Reyna, Skye Ri sden, Ashley Rivera, Fernando Rodea, Juan Rodea, Anthony Rodriguez, Karen Rodriguez, Maribel Rodriguez, Eva
Rodriguez Reyes, Alejandro Rojas, Isabel Rojas, Edwin Roman , Maria Romero, Pedro Romero Flores, Yol ianette Royal, Jada Rugnone,
Josephine Ruiz, Jessika Ruzga, Ivan Sanchez, Jasmine Sanchez, Stephania Sanchez, Margarita Sanchez Garcia, Benjamin Sanfilippo,
Anthony Saucedo, Brianna Schetter, Matthew Schnabel, El izabeth Serrato Romero, Thomas Sevcik, David Siek, Angel Soria, Daniel Soto,
Michelle Starczewski, Abigail Straessle, Feriba Sultani, Sam Suriano, Emma Tamillo, Marlene Tapia, Susana Tecalero, Jalyssa Thomas,
James Thomas, Betsy Tobon, A lejandro Torres, Brianna Torres, Karina Torres, Vanessa Torres, Manuel Toscano, Angel Trejo, Daniel Trejo,
Jesus Trejo, Rebecca Troncoso, Vanesa Urbano, Alexander Urdov, Jocelyn Uribe, Jacinth Valera, Elizabeth Vallejo, Marcus Varga, Lydia
Varghese, Brandon Velazquez, Britney Velazquez, Liliana Vences, Victoria Venetsanakos, Petrus Venter, Felipe Victor, Nataly Victor,
Andrea Villegas, Nicole Voss, Sebastian Walkosz, William Weiner, Danielle Wendtland, Carlos Wims, Jared Workman, Jason Ybarra,
Magda Zarebski, Stephanie Zepeda, Pavols Zimbrakos.
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The Des Plaines Jownal, Wednesday, June 25, 2014
Passionate Artists Honored
Des Plaines youths who have a passion for the arts were honored at Monday night's (June 16) city council meeting by the city and Des Plaines Arts Council. The students were
presented scholarships for their recent work. At presentation were (from left, front row) Des Plaines Mayor Matt Bogusz, Arts Council President Linda Traina, Linnea Grooms, Megan
Hitch, Elise Adams, Nichole Goumas, Anna Holubecki, Marissa Parcell, Natasha Sevilla, Amanda Garcia, Jessica Schneider, Rose Kurutz and Christy Piszkiewicz. (Not pictured: Kathryn
Moro). Back row, from left, Ald. John Robinson (2d), Ald. Denise Rodd (3d), Ald. Dick Sayad (4th), Ald. Mark Walsten (6th), Ald. Joanna Sojka (7th) and Ald. Mike Charewicz (8th).
The Des Plaines Journal, Wednesday, June 25, 2014
D62 Expands
Partnership
Des Plaines Elementary
School Dist. 62 has announced
an expanded partnership with
Discovery Education, the leading provider of digital content
and professional development
for K -12 classrooms.
The expanded partnership
will include an extensive professional development program,
which will develop teacherleaders to serve as change agents
powering the district's digital
transition. Dist. 62 educators
are participating in Discovery
Education's recently launched
Digital Leader Corps (DLC),
a new multi-year professional
development program that
nurtures a network of teacherleaders to design and implement
· teaching strategies that can be
shared with their peers.
The Des Plaines Journal, Friday, June 27, 2014
Dist. 62 Adopts Interactive
History Program In Classes
More Des Plaines students
will experience through their
own eyes what it was like to
cast a vote to rebel against the
British and live during other
historical events thanks to a
new program.
Des Plaines School Dist.
62 piloted two social studies
programs at the middle schools
during the past school year.
One was through McGraw,
Discover Education and the
other TCI History Alive.
After a year of review, Dist.
62 ·staff is tec·om.tnelltling the
adoption of the TCI materials:
The school board heard details
of the program June 16 and is
expected to vote .on whether
to adopt it during their July
meeting.
· TCI History Alive instruction
implements a variety of learning styles to encourage students
to interact with what they are
learning, according to Dist.
62 documents. The program
includes simulations in which
students embody various roles
in history, like participating in
c·otonial town meetings. Les-
sons start with a question and
utilize group work and inquirybased learning.
Mindy Ward, spokesperson
for the district, said the new
instruction included a switch to
l'ligitallearning. That coincides
with one of the district's goals
while ensuring all materials
will be automatically kept up
to date.
Ifapproved, the TCI program
would cost $94,000 and includes six years of teacher and
student subscriptions to materials- and content updates: · ·
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FEATURE
Early childhood re-energized
Amid renewed pre-K push, a look at districts that have established
robust preschools
By: Monica Rhor
District Administration, June 2014
As New York City Mayor Bill de
Blasio neared his 1ooth day in
office, he could already boast of
an achievement that may not only
shape his legacy, but also take
part in transforming the nation's
largest school system: universal
prekindergarten.
De Blasio, who entered office
Pre-K students in Tulsa Public Schools work
promising to make full-day pre-K
at a sensory table.
available for all4-year-olds in the
city, pressured the state legislature to allocate funding for programs statewide.
After much tussling, New York lawmakers approved $300 million for the city, some
$40 million shy of what de Blasio estimated pre-K programs would cost.
At-risk readers
and writers
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This September, de Blasio plans to
expand the city's pre-K program to
include 53,000 students. By 2015,
full-day pre-K will be available to about
73,000 students- all ofthe children in
the city who need it, according to a
report from the mayor's office.
De Blasia's efforts to expand pre-K are
part of a nationwide trend, with dozens
of cities and states, governors and city
council members considering ways to
boost early childhood learning
programs.
Obama 's p ush
The recent focus on pre-K has been spurred, in large part, by President Barack
Obama, who has made early childhood education a centerpiece of his administ ration.
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In the White House budget proposal, Obama seeks money fo r his "Preschool for All"
plan t o expand early childhood education to low- and middle-income 4-year-olds.
The 10-year, $76 billion program would be funded with a t obacco tax increase.
A1J Obama noted in his January State of th e Union address, "Research shows that
one of the best investments we can make in a child's life is high-quality early
education."
But exactly what defines a "high
quality" program? And, in an era of
tight er budget s and shrinking
resources for education, how do
strapped-for-cash school districts
carve out such programs? Tulsa Public
Schools, the so-called "Abbott
distr icts" in New J ersey and Des
Plaines Community Con solidat ed
Sch ool District 62 in the Chicago
suburbs stand as models of early
childhood instmction and funding.
Tulsa Public Schools
Even in a state given high marks for
early childhood education, the Tulsa
Public Schools stands out. Oklahoma,
which in 1998 started one of th e first
state-funded preschool programs for
al14-year-olds, now serves over
40,000 children.
In Tulsa, the largest district in
northeastern Oklahoma, there are
ab out 2,900 students in pre-K and
about 4,ooo kindergarten students,
comprising about 75 percent of eligible
4-year-olds in the area. The child-staff
ratio is 10:1, and all teachers must b e
certified and have a bachelor's degree
in early childhood education.
Growing support for pre-K
The expansion of early childhood education
is becoming the go-to imperative for some
states and districts to improve overall
student success.
"This is a parade I t hink you all want to be
in front of, not behind," U.S. Secretary of
Education Arne Duncan told members of
the National Governor's Association at a
meeting last February.
In Seattle, City Councilman Tim Burgess
wants to make preschool available to the
city's 3- and 4-year-olds. In San Antonio,
Texas, Mayor Julian Castro succeeded in
getting voters to approve a sales tax
increase that will help fund preschool for
more than 22,000 4-year-olds in the next
eight years.
And in Texas, pre-K has emerged as a
leading issue in the state's gubernatorial
race between Republican Gregg Abbott and
Democrat Wendy Davis.
In California, a $1.5 billion proposal to
expand free preschool t o all California
4-year-olds was approved by a senate
education committee in April. In Hawaii,
meanwhile, Gov. Neil Abercrombie is
seeking $4.5 million to open 32 preschool
classrooms to serve 640 children.
Oklahoma preschools, including Tulsa,
follow a st ate-mandated curriculum that contains standards for core subject areas
and is align ed with the K12 curriculum.
"Our 4-year-old classroom is considered the same as any oth er class. We h ave
standards for 8-year-olds and we have academic standards for 4-year-olds," says
Andy McKenzie, assistant to the supe rintendent for early childhood services.
Researchers at Georgetown University, who have been studying Tulsa's initiative for
more t han a decade, have fo und that students enrolled in preschool were better
prepared in reading, writing and math.
Tulsa developed its program with a mix of stat e, federal and local funding. A $33.6
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teachers' desks were placed near student work areas so they could easily help and
monitor students. Cubbies also were installed, and more space was added to store
games and puzzles.
In addition to about $4,000 per pupil in state funding, the district also receives
about $3.2 million in Title I money to help fund full-day pre-Kin eligible schools,
which include 51 of Tulsa's 55 elementary schools, McKenzie says.
Community patinerships with local day care providers, including faith-based and
non-profit organizations, are another pivotal part ofthe puzzle, McKenzie says. The
partnerships allow parents to have more choice in where their child goes to a school.
Some might prefer smaller early childhood centers while others might be interested
in choosing a faith-based provider or a program located inside a larger elementary
school, Mckenzie says.
Abbott districts
The landscape of early childhood education in New Jersey changed with the state
Supreme Court's "Abbott decisions." Those rulings, issued over a period of 30 years
beginning in 1985, declared New Jersey's school funding method as unconstitutional
because it left 31 poor districts unable to provide quality education for students.
The court ordered New Jersey lawmakers to revamp funding methods and to provide
remedial measures-including high quality early education- in those districts. Now,
15 years after preschool was implemented in Abbott districts, children in the statefunded programs show significant gains in literacy, language, math and science that
continue into fourth and fifth grade, according to a recent study. The gains are larger
for children who spend two years in preschool.
According to the study, conducted b y the National Institute for Early Education
Research (NIEER) at Rutgers University: "The Abbott Preschool program's effects
on achievement and school success are larger than has been found fo r less
well-funded programs with weaker standards."
It took several years for the programs to get onto the righ t footing, says Ellen
Wolock, director of New Jersey's Department of Education's Division of Early
Childhood Education.
Only 6,000 children attended the program in its first year, with roughly 20,000
children enrolled by 2003-2004. Next school year, officials expect to serve
45,600-90 percent of eligible students. In the fiscal 2015 budget, the state has
allocated about $614.5 million, or just under $13,500 per child, for the Abbott
preschool programs.
Wolock attributes the slow start to a lack of facilities, staffing and standards. "We
didn't have any set of standards for programs to follow. People didn't know what to
do," Wolock says. "People were scrambling to figure out how to set up a high-quality
program, but didn't know what that looked like."
The full-day preschool, which is open to al13- and 4-year-olds in the Abbott districts,
now follows a comprehensive state-required curriculum aligned with K12 standards.
Class size is limited to 15 students, with a certified teacher and a teaching assistant. A
"master teacher" or coach also visits classrooms to provide support and guidance.
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sense of familiarity and continuity for students used to going to community childcare
facilities, Wolock says.
Child care teachers who were not certified were given a scholarship to a local college.
Those who did not meet a deadline for certification were offered a teaching assistant
position.
~
Des Plaines commnnity district
With its painted gold and red swirls, crawl spaces that resemble hollowed-out tree
trunks and a curving, turquoise-colored slide, the Des Plaines Community
Consolidated School District's Early Learning Center looks more like an amusement
park than a school. Structured around this colorful courtyard playground, the
building is spacious and light-filled thanks to oversized windows.
Classrooms feature learning centers and vivid colors, while separate math,
nature/science and literacy centers provide space for hands-on projects.
The Early Learning Center opened in August 2011 and houses all 6oo of the K8
district's early childhood students. It was designed to be as child-friendly and
student-centered as possible, says Superintendent Jane Westerhold.
It houses special needs and bilingual preschools as well as the state-funded Services
to At-Risk Youth, better known as STAR. It also contains tuition-basedjunior
kindergarten for 4-year-olds and extended-day kindergarten. All instruction is
aligned with the district's curriculum.
The decision to consolidate the programs in one space was the result of a master
planning process, which brought in 400 to soo school and community stakeholders
who agreed that combining programs under one roof would benefit students. The
51,000 square-foot facility was constructed using $13 million from a $109 million
bond issue designated to upgrade all the buildings in the district.
"Most of the times when serving these kids you are just trying to use space you have
and make it work," says Westerhold. "We were able to build it to make it more
appropriate and more efficient." The Early Learning Center, which has a waiting list
for students, recruits teachers "who just believe in early childhood education and
love little kids and, who can deal with all the complications that come with working
with little kids every day," Westerhold says.
Another important element to success is parental involvement, Westerhold says. For
example, "Baby Book Time" sessions give parents a ch ance to play games, read
stories and sing songs with kids 2 and under.
"We believe strongly that parents and the school district need to work together to
support the child," she says. "It's good to start the concept very early on."
Monica Rhor is a freelance writer based in Texas
preschool
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