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Academy for Urban School Leadership January 2014 Network News
Phillips Achieves
Level 1 Status
Phillips Academy
High School
achieved
a Level 1
rating based
on Chicago
Public Schools’
performance
policy after
years with
a Level 3 rating.
Phillips leadership, staff, and
students worked hard to attain the
highest performance rating, making
improvements in nearly every metric
measured as part of the current
performance policy. Congratulations
to the entire Phillips community on
this enormous accomplishment!
Solorio Achieves
Excellent AP
Scores
Solorio Academy High
School celebrated
another year of
high AP
scores.
Solorio had
the highest
AP pass rate
among all
neighboring
high schools in the 2012-13 academic
year. Fourteen students scored
perfect 5’s in AP Spanish, and the
class achieved a 100% pass rate!
The four other AP classes offered
also reached high scores and passing
rates.
) (773) 534-0129 New AUSL Turnaround
Elementary Schools Off
to an Excellent Start
Carter,
Chalmers,
Dewey, Lewis,
and O’Keeffe,
AUSL’s
newest
turnarounds,
are hitting
their stride.
After opening on August 26, the
schools are establishing strong climate
and culture, and families are noting the
difference. According to Chrissy Powell,
a mother at Dewey School of Excellence,
“this is a good turnaround. My kids are
doing so much.” Kokob Ghebrezghi, also
a mother at Dewey School of Excellence,
can tell the difference. “The building is
warm and inviting.”
During the summer, the school staff
participated in community walks going
door to door to introduce themselves
and to invite the community to Back
to School Cookouts. More than 2,500
people attended the cookouts at the five
new turnarounds. The cookouts offered
students, families, and communitiy
members a great opportunity to meet the
schools’ staff, participate in games, and
enjoy great food. Each new turnaround
also hosted Family Appre ciation
Breakfasts in the fall.
8 auslchicago.org Facebook.com/AUSLChicago @AUSLChicago
Now Offering Full-Day Pre-K
at Herzl and Chalmers
Chalmers and Herzl Schools of
Excellence were bustling with
excitement at the start of school
this year. Both schools now offer
full-day Pre-K. Herzl has the largest
full-day Pre-K program in Chicago
Public Schools with 7 full-day Pre-K
classrooms enrolled to capacity.
Chalmers doubled its programs and is
fully enrolled.
Solorio Students Extend their
Learning through Summer
Solorio Academy High School senior
Haydee
Ramierz
attended
Northwestern
University’s
exciting
Oncofertility
Summer
Academy.
Haydee spent
her summer
studying
cancer and
fertility with doctors, researchers,
and medical students. She learned
about ethical decision-making in the
medical field, viewed cadavers, and
participated in lab experiments. This
summer, Haydee plans to apply to
Northwestern’s Infectious Disease
Summer Academy.
While Haydee was studying
Oncofertility at Northwestern, five
Solorio students participated in the
Chicago Debate Summer Institute.
Sophomore Miguel Flores and Seniors
Roxana Cejeda, Ernesto Delgado,
Sandra Fernandez, and Lesley Salazar
spent two weeks at Westinghouse
College Prep, working with top debate
coaches and students from all over the
country. In this intensive program, the
students researched Latin American
topics and participated in practice
debates against students from other
schools. After their summer of
research and preparation, the students
entered their first tournament of the
school year confidently.
Dulles Joins Mayor Rahm
Emanuel at Ribbon Cutting
The principal of Dulles School
of Excellence, Kesa Thurman, along
with Dulles Tigers football team and
cheerleading squad, joined Mayor Rahm
Emanuel at the ribbon-cutting ceremony
of the Parkway Gardens renovations.
Emanuel was excited about improving
the area for students, saying, “This is an
opportunity to have recess and sporting
events outside for the first time in the
school’s history.” Thurman was equally
enthused, calling the new Parkway
Gardens “a field of dreams.”
AUSL Schools Do Welcoming Well
The Harvard School of Excellence
proudly welcomed 95 students from Yale
Elementary which closed last year. Harvard
was one of four AUSL elementary schools
that served as official welcoming schools
for nearby closed schools. Jahalla Holmes,
a 7th grade student from Yale, was excited
about her new school, saying, “It’s new to
be in a different school, but I like Harvard
because it has a lot of cool things that you
can learn and that you can do. I am going
out for the volleyball team.”
Harvard held a Back to School Fair
to help build strong bonds between the
students, parents, and staff from both
schools. The event was well attended,
fostering a feeling of unity that carried into
the school year. The unity continues to
grow with the planting of a Harvard garden
and additional grade-specific events.
AUSL’s Dulles, Johnson, and Curtis
Schools of Excellence also served as
welcoming schools this year. Each of these
schools hosted similar events and are
continuing to build a sense of community.
Top Ladies of Distinction
Partners with Phillips
AUSL Residents Moving to
the Front of the Classroom
The AUSL Chicago Teacher Residency
Class of 2013-14 is already six months into
their yearlong residency. Residents have
just completed their six day lead teaching,
where residents are responsible for six full
days of teaching.
According to Charlotte Piwowar, a
Resident at Solorio Academy High School,
“What surprises me – in a good way –
is how quickly we’ve been thrust right
into the teaching role. I knew from the
beginning by reviewing our expectations
matrix that we would hit the ground
running.”
At the end of October residents
stepped away from their training sites and
spent a day at one of the new
turnarounds: Carter, Chalmers, Dewey,
Lewis, and O’Keeffe. By shadowing a
teacher, residents got a glimpse into what
teaching life will be like post-residency.
Residents made connections with other
teachers and coaches in the AUSL
network. Residents visit other classrooms
again in January.
Right before Thanksgiving break,
all residents participated in a two day
professional development led by their
Mentor Resident Coaches. Residents dove
deep into Bloom’s Taxonomy and Critical
Thinking as well as practiced fostering
Academic Conversations in the classroom.
AUSL is now accepting applications for
the Chicago Teacher Residency Class of
2015.
Deneen Student Chosen
as Princess of the Bud
Billiken Parade
Maliya Riddle, a 4th grader at Deneen School
of Excellence, was awarded the honorable title
of “Princess of the Bud Billiken Parade.” As the
oldest African-American parade in the United
States, the Bud Billiken Parade celebrates
education and the start of the school year.
Maliya earned her title from an eloquent essay
about her family’s road trip to Las Vegas. She
was asked to present her essay at the DuSable
Museum of African American History along with
10 other finalists in front of an audience and a
panel of judges, where her graceful presentation
won her the title. Not only was she crowned
princess, but she was also able to meet Governor
Quinn and go to his house. It was truly a thrilling
day for Maliya and Deneen!
The Phillips Young Women’s
Academy Leadership Department
is partnering with Top Ladies
of Distinction, an international
humanitarian organization geared
toward enhancing the quality of life of
all people. The Lincoln Park Chicago
Chapter began providing a variety of
workshops in November, with titles
such as:
• Resume Writing
• Dress for Success
• Taking Care of Your Mind,
Body, and Spirit
• Career Exploration
• DIVA Expressions
• Etiquette
Sherman Earns Multiple
Awards
Sherman’s students and staff rejoice
in the accomplishments of their
award-winning
teachers,
who have
strengthened
programs
and earned
meaningful prizes
for Sherman.
Vivian Redwood
and Stephanie
Thill won the
“Rochelle Lee
Boundless
Readers” Award,
which brought
new books to
the school.
Art Instructor
Jennifer Johnson
won over $9,000
in Koldyke
grants for new
art supplies.
Coach Harold
Arnold, Physical
Education
Instructor, won the “Go for the Gold
Healthy Schools” silver honor level,
which included a $1,000 donation to
the school.
Two AUSL Schools Selected for
The Fund’s Summer Design Program
Ten AUSL Schools Start
MOUSE Squads
Elementary Schools Bradwell,
Herzl, Marquette, Morton, NTA and
Tarkington and High Schools Chicago
Academy, Orr, Phillips, and Solorio
started MOUSE Squads. MOUSE
Squad is a youth development
program that empowers students
to transition from savvy users of
technology to improvers and creators
of technology. Participating students
have the opportunity to become
a tech support resource for their
school, while engaging their capacities
for leadership, innovation, and
community involvement.
Quontavia Furguson, a student
at Orr, said, “MOUSE Squad’s first
project was amazing. I learned that
working as a group is more beneficial
considering the level of energy the
room had. Teaching teachers gave me
the ability to put myself in the position
of a teacher. The experience was
great. We all did a great job.”
Chicago Academy High School and
National Teachers Academy were 2 of
16 schools selected to participate in
The Fund’s Summer Design Program,
a 6-week effort where more than 70
educators worked alongside other
education experts to identify how to
better use talent, technology and time
in their schools.
Chicago Academy High School
was one of five schools selected to
receive up to $10,000 to implement
an “Individualized Learning Plan”(ILP)
designed for students to take
ownership of their own learning and
path to college. CAHS will roll out this
innovative design on a small scale
this year with the idea of eventually
providing every CAHS student their
own ILP.
Bradwell Students Take the Lead
Sixth grade students from Bradwell
presented their iPad expertise at the
CPS iPad Academy last summer. They
presented to
approximately
80 CPS
teachers and
administrators
seeking
professional
development
on using the
iPad in the
classroom.
The presentation was titled, “Letting
Students Take the Lead: Standards
for Mathematical Practice in the
iPad Classroom.” They shared their
experience solving complex problems,
sharing their thinking, and getting
feedback from peers using the iPad.
AUSL Hosts Chicago Ideas Week
On October 17th, AUSL hosted
a Chicago Ideas Week Lab at NTA
highlighting AUSL’s approach to
technology inside the classroom and
professional development. Students from
the AUSL Student Innovation Club led
the sold out event in the form of small
group sessions that focused on the use
and importance of specific educational
apps. AUSL students have also used
this “App Speed Dating” approach
during the 2013 Chicago Public Schools
Tech Talk and AUSL’s Digital Learning
Summit. Participants had a chance to
tour classrooms to explore how NTA is
leveraging 1:1 iPads, Chromebooks and
collaborative online tools.
Dewey Holds
Inaugural
Literacy Night
On September 25th, the Dewey School
of Excellence, in conjunction with the
Chicago Reading Alliance, held its
inaugural Family Literacy Night. Over 100
parents and students enjoyed a night of
reading and activities for all grade levels.
Parents were given passports, which
guided them on a journey through Dewey
that included a Story Bus in the parking
lot, a book giveaway provided by Open
Books and Rock for Reading, and a sign-up
in the gymnasium for the Eagle Experience
(an after-school academic and sports
enrichment program). Teachers, parents,
and students enjoyed the successful night.
The Chicago Academy Mighty Acorns
© 2013 by John Zich
The 4th and 5th graders from The
Chicago Academy participated in Mighty
Acorns again this year. Through Mighty
Acorns, a program sponsored by the Cook
County Forest Preserve, students visit
the same ecosystem three times per year
(fall, winter, and spring). The Chicago
Academy students visited Schiller woods,
where they participated in an educational
activity and a conservational activity.
The students also enjoyed exploring the
woods, gathering seeds for dispersal and
removing invasive plants.
Herzl Students Attend Red
Carpet Screening
When
Toronto
attorney and
documentary
producer
David Matlow
discovered
the Herzl
School of Excellence in Chicago, he
was thrilled to visit the school in
preparation for the U.S. premiere
of his and director Eli Tal‑El’s film,
My Herzl. Matlow talked to the
students about how to dream like
their school’s namesake, a heroic
Jewish leader who said, “If you
will it, it is no dream.” Herzl’s 8th
graders were thrilled to attend the
red carpet screening of his film
at the Chicago Festival of Israeli
Cinema.
Solorio Students Prepare for
Careers in Medicine
Beginning this spring, Solorio
Academy High School teams up
with Rasmussen College to provide
a select group of students with
the opportunity to take college
coursework, during the school
day, which results in a Patient
Care Specialist Certificate. As
part of the program, 11 Solorio
seniors will also participate in
summer lab classes at Solorio and
begin internships in the fall at the
University of Chicago Medical
Center to turn their knowledge into
practice. All participating students
are guaranteed the opportunity to
interview for full-time positions at
the hospital.
PLAYS Students Attend Chicago
Fire Game
Phillips Golf Team Makes
History
For the first time in Phillips’ 109 year
history, the golf team defeated Lake
View and Von Steuben High Schools.
Congratulations!
Herzl Staff Participates in 5K
Teachers and Principals from Herzl
participated in North Lawndale’s
6th Annual 5K in September, a day
that promoted health, community
participation and activity for Herzl’s
staff.
As part of the PLAYS
program offered
in Spring 2013 at
participating schools, the
Chicago Fire Foundation
sponsored teams from
eight AUSL schools at
a Chicago Fire game.
Students from Bradwell,
Casals, Chalmers, Curtis,
Deneen, Herzl, Piccolo,
and Sherman were
thrilled to cheer on the
Fire in their win.
Tarkington Trains for Girls on the Run
Girls on the Run is a non-profit
organization whose mission is to inspire
girls to be healthy and confident. This
fall, Tarkington girls participated in this
exciting training program. Using the buddy
system, each girl selected a partner to run
with during the 5k which took place along
Chicago’s lakefront in November.
First Annual Fuller Family
Reunion
Fuller School of Excellence started
the school year off with the first-ever
Fuller Family Reunion, a day of food,
fun, family, friends, and of course,
face-painting.
Century Tile Donation
AUSL thanks Century Tile for their
generous donation of 82 comfortable
area rugs that furnished reading
nooks in classrooms in eight AUSL
elementary schools, as well as
music room group space in four
new turnaround schools. A special
thanks to Ms. Kathleen M. Boyle, Vice
President at Century Tile, and her
team for being “simply the best.”
Dodge and Morton Come
Together as the “DMZ”
With the co-location of Dodge
Renaissance Academy and Morton
School of Excellence, the schools
joined forces on the football field as
the Dodge Morton Zone or DMZ. The
DMZ brought together key players
from both schools, resulting in the
strongest performance yet for either
school. After impressive play all season,
the DMZ took on Harvard at the AUSL
Championship game. The DMZ won the
hard fought game (DMZ 25 to Harvard
24) and were crowned the AUSL
Champs.

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