"J. Sterling Morton High School District 201 educates all students to meet or exceed the standards of learning by providing educational experiences that challenge, engage, and empower them to be productive members of the global community."
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
District 201 Superintendent Search
At the November 11, 2009 School Board meeting, The Morton High School District 201 Board of Education announced that interim superintendent Larry Senters will review resumes submitted for the Superintendent position which has been vacant for 20 months. Mr. Senters will interview superintendent candidates and make a recommendation. Mr. Senters is currently reviewing internal applications. If Mr. Senters decides there are no qualified candidates among the internal candidates, then the board will involve a search firm. There was no discussion or mention about the board involving the Illinois State Board of Education in the superintendent search or validating the candidate qualifications with the ISBE. The hiring of a superintendent is, perhaps, the most important responsibility of a local school board. 20 months is a long time for a district of our size to be without a leader. Berwyn CARES is hopeful that a qualified candidate with excellent skills and experience will be found to help our district realize the stated vision.
Monday, December 7, 2009
Thank You
Below is a letter of gratitude from a Berwyn teacher whose Donors Choose proposal was funded in part because of the generosity of Berwyn CARES members. Click here to read about other Berwyn projects that need funding.
Dear Donors:
I'm writing to express how happy and grateful I am for your generous donation. ...I would like to share with you what you have done for my students. A lot of my students are struggling readers who need to be exposed to literature. My students are motivated to read, but they have limited exposure to genres such as science fiction, fantasy, and graphic novels to name a few. ... The students in my school and community are becoming more and more interested in these genres. Because of this growing interest, I decided to ask for specific books that would match the interests of my students as well as meet their various cognitive, and social emotional needs.
Because of your donation, my students are excited to read again. They are excited to read books they normally wouldn't choose. My boys are thrilled to read The Olympian series by Rick Riordan and my girls are ecstatic to read the series books by author Sharon G. Flake. My students really enjoy the classroom library and have completely made it their own by sharing the responsibility of cleaning it, organizing the books, and sharing them.
With gratitude,Ms. H.
Dear Donors:
I'm writing to express how happy and grateful I am for your generous donation. ...I would like to share with you what you have done for my students. A lot of my students are struggling readers who need to be exposed to literature. My students are motivated to read, but they have limited exposure to genres such as science fiction, fantasy, and graphic novels to name a few. ... The students in my school and community are becoming more and more interested in these genres. Because of this growing interest, I decided to ask for specific books that would match the interests of my students as well as meet their various cognitive, and social emotional needs.
Because of your donation, my students are excited to read again. They are excited to read books they normally wouldn't choose. My boys are thrilled to read The Olympian series by Rick Riordan and my girls are ecstatic to read the series books by author Sharon G. Flake. My students really enjoy the classroom library and have completely made it their own by sharing the responsibility of cleaning it, organizing the books, and sharing them.
Most importantly, I want to thank you for helping my students feel appreciated and noticed. A lot of them couldn't believe that someone like you would helpYour donation has proven to them that reading is powerful and that genres such as science fiction should not be forgotten. You have given them hope and motivation to become independent readers and thinkers, and you have helped me to continue instilling the power of reading. For all of this I thank you.
them grow as readers.
With gratitude,Ms. H.
Sunday, November 22, 2009
Berwyn CARES Rocks!
Our 4th annual Kids' Concert was a HUGE success! It was a sold out show and the energy and enthusiasm of the crowd was inspiring. A big thanks to local performers/artists The Pocket Circus, The Atomic Gumdrops and The Boogers. ALL proceeds from the show will go toward mini-grants for Berwyn teachers.
If you were not able to attend the show, but would still like to support Berwyn teachers via The Berwyn Challenge, you may do so by making a direct donation to Donors Choose. Just click here and choose a project!
If you were not able to attend the show, but would still like to support Berwyn teachers via The Berwyn Challenge, you may do so by making a direct donation to Donors Choose. Just click here and choose a project!
Thursday, November 19, 2009
Kids Concert - November 21
For BerwynCARES, the start of a new school year means a renewed commitment to supporting innovative classroom projects through the Berwyn Challenge.Last year we donated more than $3500 to fund projects in local schools. This year, we hope to do even more. Please join us at Fitzgerald's Nightclub on Saturday November 21 for this kid-friendly FUNdraiser.
Doors open at 2:00 PM with live entertainment from Berwyn's own Pocket Circus. Starting at 3:00 PM, enjoy local sensations The Atomic Gumdrops and The Boogers! Tickets are $10 and can be purchased online or in person at Over the Rainbow Ice Cream Shop (6836 Windsor).
Thursday, November 12, 2009
District 100 Open House - Nov 18
November 18 - 9:00 AM-10:30 AM
South Berwyn School District 100
Do not miss this great opportunity for prospective parents and students to
tour local classrooms and to meet principals and teachers.
For more information call 708-795-2300.
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
Do You Need a "New" Computer?
Technology Sale
November 21, 2009
(9:00 AM-3:00 PM)
Visit the LaVergne Education Center (3401 South Gunderson) to purchase surplus computer systems, monitors, laptops, keyboards & more! Proceeds benefit the South Berwyn Education Foundation.
All sales are final, cash and checks only.
Thursday, October 22, 2009
Mayor Lovero on Education
At the All Berwyn Committee's Meet the Mayor program, BerwynCARES submitted 3 questions. Below are the 3 questions and a summary of Mayor Bob Lovero's answers.
1. One of your first actions as Mayor of Berwyn was to abolish the Education Committee. Why?
The mayor answered, "Because they didn't do anything." He went on to add that the "more important" issue of where the revenue comes from (economic development) will be addressed by his administration partially through the reinstituted Business, License, and Taxation Committee.
2. The Cermak TIF district contract is up for renewal in 2010. It is unclear whether Morton College and Morton HS District 201 support its renewal. If it is not renewed, will you support the re formation of a TIF district given the dire funding situation for our schools?
The mayor answered that this action is "already done." He indicated that the TIF will expire and then will be re-created allowing taxing bodies (including school districts) to begin getting tax revenues from the TIF properties at 2010 EAV rates, as opposed to the 1990 rates. Mayor Lovero indicated that both the Morton College and Morton High School Boards would support creating a new TIF district for Cermak Road, possibly extending it to include more businesses. This means that the property tax revenue of those properties in the TIF would be frozen at the 2010 EAV levels and all incremental increases during the life of the TIF (20 years) would be reinvested in the TIF district rather than added to the general city fund and other taxing bodies such as school districts and park districts.
3. In 1995, the city of Madison, WI set out to eliminate the 3rd grade reading achievement gap between minority and white students. Their efforts were successful, and involved the entire community, including students, parents, schools, the school district, civilian volunteers, local universities and social service agencies, as well as the chamber of commerce, government and the mayor. Given that Berwyn has similar educational challenges, what are your feelings about involving city government – as well as yourself – in educational improvement efforts for our students?
Mayor Lovero answered, "I don't tell the school districts what to do." He added that if they asked for his help in such an effort, that he would help. "I most definitely would," said the mayor.
Berwyn CARES will continue to engage our public officials in our efforts to unite ALL residents to improve educational opportunities in Berwyn. We are encouraged by Mayor Lovero's answer that if asked, he would help. We'll definitely be asking! We hope that our elected School Board officials will ask, too, and collaborate with Mayor Lovero and his administration to make the vision of excellence in education IN BERWYN a reality.
1. One of your first actions as Mayor of Berwyn was to abolish the Education Committee. Why?
The mayor answered, "Because they didn't do anything." He went on to add that the "more important" issue of where the revenue comes from (economic development) will be addressed by his administration partially through the reinstituted Business, License, and Taxation Committee.
2. The Cermak TIF district contract is up for renewal in 2010. It is unclear whether Morton College and Morton HS District 201 support its renewal. If it is not renewed, will you support the re formation of a TIF district given the dire funding situation for our schools?
The mayor answered that this action is "already done." He indicated that the TIF will expire and then will be re-created allowing taxing bodies (including school districts) to begin getting tax revenues from the TIF properties at 2010 EAV rates, as opposed to the 1990 rates. Mayor Lovero indicated that both the Morton College and Morton High School Boards would support creating a new TIF district for Cermak Road, possibly extending it to include more businesses. This means that the property tax revenue of those properties in the TIF would be frozen at the 2010 EAV levels and all incremental increases during the life of the TIF (20 years) would be reinvested in the TIF district rather than added to the general city fund and other taxing bodies such as school districts and park districts.
3. In 1995, the city of Madison, WI set out to eliminate the 3rd grade reading achievement gap between minority and white students. Their efforts were successful, and involved the entire community, including students, parents, schools, the school district, civilian volunteers, local universities and social service agencies, as well as the chamber of commerce, government and the mayor. Given that Berwyn has similar educational challenges, what are your feelings about involving city government – as well as yourself – in educational improvement efforts for our students?
Mayor Lovero answered, "I don't tell the school districts what to do." He added that if they asked for his help in such an effort, that he would help. "I most definitely would," said the mayor.
Berwyn CARES will continue to engage our public officials in our efforts to unite ALL residents to improve educational opportunities in Berwyn. We are encouraged by Mayor Lovero's answer that if asked, he would help. We'll definitely be asking! We hope that our elected School Board officials will ask, too, and collaborate with Mayor Lovero and his administration to make the vision of excellence in education IN BERWYN a reality.
Saturday, October 17, 2009
Are You Up To The Challenge?
Support these TEACHER Projects by donating as little as $10. Besides the financial support, our teachers will know that our community supports their efforts at giving the children of Berwyn the resources, high expectations and exceptional education that they deserve! There are currently 24 projects submitted, but more are added every week, so keep checking! ALL donors to funded projects will receive a personalized thank-you packet from the teacher and students who benefit from your generosity. It is a rare chance to see clearly the direct impact that your gesture has on the lives of many young minds! Minds like these:
We See Your True Colors of Light
This middle-school drama club hosts plays, an improv team, speech team and Thespian society for free, but they need new lights.
You Mean....That's Poetry?
Inspire middle-school students to study and write like poets.
Becoming Beethoven
Help students pursue their music dreams in the classroom through the purchase of new keyboards.
Definitely Definitions!
Provide illustrated children's dictionaries to low income students.
Literature for Literacy
Introduce 60 students to the life-long experience of good literature.
Power & Picks
Sometimes it is the ‘little things’. This music room has guitars and keyboards, but needs more guitar picks and batteries.
To read about many more BERWYN classrooms that need your help, please visit The Berwyn Challenge page at Donors Choose and donate!
Morton West Student gets perfect ACT score
A student from Morton West got a perfect score of 36 on his ACT!! This is an incredible accomplishment by a student in our community! Congratulations to Anthony Bruno! There is no question that he is a well-educated young man who received an exceptional education from your local public school and his family. Congratulations to all of his teachers and his family for the part they played in his success!
Thursday, September 24, 2009
District 100 School Board Meeting Summary
This is a summary of the District 100 board meeting that occurred on September 23, 2009.
1. Education improvement - District superintendent Stan Fields talked about the investment in technology the district has made to improve education in the district. The district created a vision statement in March of 2009 that stated the district wants to rank within the top 25% of the districts of the state of Illinois as evidenced by testing. Currently, District 100 is ranked in the top 66%. The district has invested in new technologies. Last year, the district purchased 750 new workstations at a cost of $565,000. This year the district has budgeted $270,000 for more technology purchases. Federal stimulus money will be used to purchase some of this technology. Last year, the district piloted 19 classrooms using Smart Boards and has budgeted $625,000 this year to purchase more smart boards. 80% of the budget of the South Berwyn education foundation will be used to purchase more Smart Boards. The district has also hired 28 new certified staff and invested in 726 hours of professional development for certified staff. The district has implemented a program where they have two certified staff teaching in the same classroom at the same time in an effort to reduce class size. It was stated that, with this investment, the district will be holding teachers and principals more accountable and that teachers and principals clearly understand that the district expects an improvement in test scores.
2.Performance Dashboards - D100 will be deploying a reporting system to the public that will graphically depict test scores, attendance and district performance, similar to the NIU Education website. It has graphs that can be filtered in a variety of ways to depict the district's performance on attendance and tests and can drill down to school level data and daily attendance data. All data will be aggregated data and will not be down to the student level. The dashboard is expected to be available to the public on October 15, 2009 throught the district website.
3. STI - STI is a system that allows parents to log in through the internet and find out about their children's grades and attendance. The district expects all student information to be available on STI by November 2, 2009. The district has also implemented an EAI-like system interoperability software package to automate the exchange of data between its various systems rather than transfer data manually from one system to another. The district expects this to save time and cut down on errors. The district expects to deploy the interoperability software by the summer of 2010.
4. THINKLINK - The district has installed and is deploying a new technology for assessments called THINKLINK. It is an online assessment tool that is based on Illinois standards and can be tailored to a particular child. It provides immediate quantitative data on what areas a child is strong in and where a child is weak. The greatest advantage of THINKLINK is that teachers can immediately spot areas to help a particular child rather than wait 6 months for test results. The assessments are very detailed in matching up with ISBE standards and the reporting features are impressive. It was stated that in previous years, teachers and principals could only give qualitative information about how they felt a student was progressing. With THINKLINK, teachers and principals have accurate quantitative data that is up to date and can be used for predictive analysis.
5. Enrollment - Enrollments have held steady over the previous year. There has been a total increase of 8 students in the distrct. Enrollment for the district this year will be 3,657 students. There are 436 students enrolled in the 7th grade - 220 students at Freedom Middle School and 216 students at Heritage.
6. Financials - As of August 31, the district has received $3 million dollars in revenue (10% of budget) and incurred $5.1 million in expenses (14% of budget). The district has $4.7 million in its fund balances. Most of the revenue has come from the state. Most of the expenses have come from summer construction projects and the purchase of new computers ($276K for the computers). It was stated in the meeting that the state of Illinois has passed a new law requiring that all employee salary and compensation be listed on a website by October 1. District 100 expects that they will meet that deadline. It was also stated that the state "suspended" the usual state rules on funding and sending money to the districts because of the financial situation that Springfield is in with its budget.
7. Building and Lifesafety - The board was presented a report by Green and Associates about building and maintenance issues that the district needed to address. The report categorized problems as high, medium and low priority. High priority items should be addressed in the next 12 months. Medium priority items in the next 5 years and low priority items in the next 10 years. The cost of the high priority items was $84K; the cost of the medium priority items was $776K; the cost of the low priority items was $746K. Jim Swicionis made the suggestion that the board ought to do a building plan and cost out what it would take to either build new buildings or re-vamp existing ones. Hiawatha was used as an example of a building that was getting very old and would need a lot of maintenance in the next 10 years. The construction project at Pershing to address the flooding problem and the installation of new windows at La Vergne has been completed.
8. AYP - AYP is the way the state measures how well a district is doing in terms of meeting state education standards. District 100 is on the state's education watch list because the district has failed to meet the state's standards for 2 years in a row. Last year, the district did not meet the state's standards in 4 categories. It was reported that this year, the district is meeting the state's standards in all categories except for the category of educating physically and mentally challenged students.The district has a 34% rating where as the state standard is 37%. A district must meet the state standard in ALL AYP categories in order to be taken off of the watch list.
9. South Berwyn Education FOUNDATION - The South Berwyn Education FOUNDATION made $8,000 on the circus. The FOUNDATION is having a fund raiser at the Skylight restaurant on Friday, October 17. The South Berwyn Education FOUNDATION also had a presence at OktoberFest. Board President Joanne Zendol stated that the South Berwyn Education FOUNDATION has been in existence for almost 20 years and has raised $660,000 dollars for District 100.
10. District Improvement Plan - The board approved the District Improvement Plan, as required by state law. Some highlights from the plan included the use of new technologies such as SMART boards, addressing special education problems and hiring new reading specialists.
11. Board meeting schedule - The board approved a new meeting schedule that would include having more than one board meeting per month.
12. Usual business - The usual business of approving the minutes of the last board meeting; approving personnel decisions; approving payroll and payables; approving the teacher assistant unit negotiation agreement; approving the custodian unit memo of understanding; formally voting to recognize that there are 8 schools in the district (several board members questioned the state's rationale for this requirement); attending meetings and conferences; met with the mayor to talk about traffic problems; met with the "Clean Green Berwyn" committee on educating kids about litter; attended ABC meeting to discuss the H1N1 virus; DCFS training; DACEE is working on best practices. The district received a letter from the state of Illinois stating that the Regional School District for suburban Cook County has been abolished and that all correspondences that went to the regional office should now go to the state.
The next board meeting will be on October 28 at the Pershing School.
1. Education improvement - District superintendent Stan Fields talked about the investment in technology the district has made to improve education in the district. The district created a vision statement in March of 2009 that stated the district wants to rank within the top 25% of the districts of the state of Illinois as evidenced by testing. Currently, District 100 is ranked in the top 66%. The district has invested in new technologies. Last year, the district purchased 750 new workstations at a cost of $565,000. This year the district has budgeted $270,000 for more technology purchases. Federal stimulus money will be used to purchase some of this technology. Last year, the district piloted 19 classrooms using Smart Boards and has budgeted $625,000 this year to purchase more smart boards. 80% of the budget of the South Berwyn education foundation will be used to purchase more Smart Boards. The district has also hired 28 new certified staff and invested in 726 hours of professional development for certified staff. The district has implemented a program where they have two certified staff teaching in the same classroom at the same time in an effort to reduce class size. It was stated that, with this investment, the district will be holding teachers and principals more accountable and that teachers and principals clearly understand that the district expects an improvement in test scores.
2.Performance Dashboards - D100 will be deploying a reporting system to the public that will graphically depict test scores, attendance and district performance, similar to the NIU Education website. It has graphs that can be filtered in a variety of ways to depict the district's performance on attendance and tests and can drill down to school level data and daily attendance data. All data will be aggregated data and will not be down to the student level. The dashboard is expected to be available to the public on October 15, 2009 throught the district website.
3. STI - STI is a system that allows parents to log in through the internet and find out about their children's grades and attendance. The district expects all student information to be available on STI by November 2, 2009. The district has also implemented an EAI-like system interoperability software package to automate the exchange of data between its various systems rather than transfer data manually from one system to another. The district expects this to save time and cut down on errors. The district expects to deploy the interoperability software by the summer of 2010.
4. THINKLINK - The district has installed and is deploying a new technology for assessments called THINKLINK. It is an online assessment tool that is based on Illinois standards and can be tailored to a particular child. It provides immediate quantitative data on what areas a child is strong in and where a child is weak. The greatest advantage of THINKLINK is that teachers can immediately spot areas to help a particular child rather than wait 6 months for test results. The assessments are very detailed in matching up with ISBE standards and the reporting features are impressive. It was stated that in previous years, teachers and principals could only give qualitative information about how they felt a student was progressing. With THINKLINK, teachers and principals have accurate quantitative data that is up to date and can be used for predictive analysis.
5. Enrollment - Enrollments have held steady over the previous year. There has been a total increase of 8 students in the distrct. Enrollment for the district this year will be 3,657 students. There are 436 students enrolled in the 7th grade - 220 students at Freedom Middle School and 216 students at Heritage.
6. Financials - As of August 31, the district has received $3 million dollars in revenue (10% of budget) and incurred $5.1 million in expenses (14% of budget). The district has $4.7 million in its fund balances. Most of the revenue has come from the state. Most of the expenses have come from summer construction projects and the purchase of new computers ($276K for the computers). It was stated in the meeting that the state of Illinois has passed a new law requiring that all employee salary and compensation be listed on a website by October 1. District 100 expects that they will meet that deadline. It was also stated that the state "suspended" the usual state rules on funding and sending money to the districts because of the financial situation that Springfield is in with its budget.
7. Building and Lifesafety - The board was presented a report by Green and Associates about building and maintenance issues that the district needed to address. The report categorized problems as high, medium and low priority. High priority items should be addressed in the next 12 months. Medium priority items in the next 5 years and low priority items in the next 10 years. The cost of the high priority items was $84K; the cost of the medium priority items was $776K; the cost of the low priority items was $746K. Jim Swicionis made the suggestion that the board ought to do a building plan and cost out what it would take to either build new buildings or re-vamp existing ones. Hiawatha was used as an example of a building that was getting very old and would need a lot of maintenance in the next 10 years. The construction project at Pershing to address the flooding problem and the installation of new windows at La Vergne has been completed.
8. AYP - AYP is the way the state measures how well a district is doing in terms of meeting state education standards. District 100 is on the state's education watch list because the district has failed to meet the state's standards for 2 years in a row. Last year, the district did not meet the state's standards in 4 categories. It was reported that this year, the district is meeting the state's standards in all categories except for the category of educating physically and mentally challenged students.The district has a 34% rating where as the state standard is 37%. A district must meet the state standard in ALL AYP categories in order to be taken off of the watch list.
9. South Berwyn Education FOUNDATION - The South Berwyn Education FOUNDATION made $8,000 on the circus. The FOUNDATION is having a fund raiser at the Skylight restaurant on Friday, October 17. The South Berwyn Education FOUNDATION also had a presence at OktoberFest. Board President Joanne Zendol stated that the South Berwyn Education FOUNDATION has been in existence for almost 20 years and has raised $660,000 dollars for District 100.
10. District Improvement Plan - The board approved the District Improvement Plan, as required by state law. Some highlights from the plan included the use of new technologies such as SMART boards, addressing special education problems and hiring new reading specialists.
11. Board meeting schedule - The board approved a new meeting schedule that would include having more than one board meeting per month.
12. Usual business - The usual business of approving the minutes of the last board meeting; approving personnel decisions; approving payroll and payables; approving the teacher assistant unit negotiation agreement; approving the custodian unit memo of understanding; formally voting to recognize that there are 8 schools in the district (several board members questioned the state's rationale for this requirement); attending meetings and conferences; met with the mayor to talk about traffic problems; met with the "Clean Green Berwyn" committee on educating kids about litter; attended ABC meeting to discuss the H1N1 virus; DCFS training; DACEE is working on best practices. The district received a letter from the state of Illinois stating that the Regional School District for suburban Cook County has been abolished and that all correspondences that went to the regional office should now go to the state.
The next board meeting will be on October 28 at the Pershing School.
Sunday, September 20, 2009
What Has CARES Accomplished This Year?
Many of you received our recent mailing and have renewed your annual membership with BerwynCARES. Thank you! We appreciate your interest and could not have existed without the support of people like you. Over the course of the last year, we have continued working toward our mission of uniting residents interested in renewing and sustaining an enthusiasm, interest and passion for the education system in Berwyn.
Some of our Efforts and Accomplishments Over the Past Year:
*Donated over $3,500 to fund projects in Berwyn schools via "The Berwyn Challenge" with Donors Choose
*Awarded five $1,000 scholarships to students graduating from Morton West
*Sponsored and organized children's activities at Berwyn's OktoberFest
*Hosted two children's concerts at Fitzgerald's to raise money for school projects and college scholarships
*Continued the BerwynCARES blog, which addresses educational issues relevant to Berwyn
*Regularly attended school board meetings to make our voices heard on issues of importance to the school districts
*Publicly addressed the District 201 board when students were asked by teachers and coaches to work for the campaign of a local politician. CARES recommended that the board implement electioneering guidelines.
*CARES members actively participated in focus groups with District 201 on the search for a new school superintendent and new principal at Morton West
*CARES board members participate in District 100 advisory committees to help the District 100 create and execute its long term strategic vision
If you haven't already, we hope that you will renew your membership for this coming year! Please consider pledging at a higher level, knowing that BerwynCARES is committed to our mission.
Together we can make a difference!
Renew your membership today!
Very truly yours, The BerwynCARES Board of Directors
Sandy Cervenka Ted Korbos
Stacey Cortez Vicki Ledajaks
Susan Crowe Robert Pauly
Debbie Durrer Mark Titzer
Diego Estrella Shelley Titzer
Bridget Juister
Some of our Efforts and Accomplishments Over the Past Year:
*Donated over $3,500 to fund projects in Berwyn schools via "The Berwyn Challenge" with Donors Choose
*Awarded five $1,000 scholarships to students graduating from Morton West
*Sponsored and organized children's activities at Berwyn's OktoberFest
*Hosted two children's concerts at Fitzgerald's to raise money for school projects and college scholarships
*Continued the BerwynCARES blog, which addresses educational issues relevant to Berwyn
*Regularly attended school board meetings to make our voices heard on issues of importance to the school districts
*Publicly addressed the District 201 board when students were asked by teachers and coaches to work for the campaign of a local politician. CARES recommended that the board implement electioneering guidelines.
*CARES members actively participated in focus groups with District 201 on the search for a new school superintendent and new principal at Morton West
*CARES board members participate in District 100 advisory committees to help the District 100 create and execute its long term strategic vision
If you haven't already, we hope that you will renew your membership for this coming year! Please consider pledging at a higher level, knowing that BerwynCARES is committed to our mission.
Together we can make a difference!
Renew your membership today!
Very truly yours, The BerwynCARES Board of Directors
Sandy Cervenka Ted Korbos
Stacey Cortez Vicki Ledajaks
Susan Crowe Robert Pauly
Debbie Durrer Mark Titzer
Diego Estrella Shelley Titzer
Bridget Juister
Sunday, September 13, 2009
CARES Unites Residents at Oktoberfest
BerwynCARES participated in this year's Depot District Oktoberfest with a membership booth and a craft table for young children to enjoy. There are many parents of young children who are eager to learn about the public school system in Berwyn and we were so glad to share information about our work.
Our mission of uniting residents interested in renewing and sustaining an enthusiasm, interest, and passion for the education system in Berwyn includes a balance of two main focuses:
1. An activism role that includes reporting on the major decisions made by our school boards and acting as a watchdog organization on behalf of taxpayers.
2. A supportive, fundraising role that provides grants to teachers and scholarships to deserving students.
If you are interested (and I hope you ARE!!) in joining our efforts on either or both of the above roles, please consider joining Berwyn CARES. Thanks to all who came out yesterday to learn more about BerwynCARES. It really was a great day!
Our mission of uniting residents interested in renewing and sustaining an enthusiasm, interest, and passion for the education system in Berwyn includes a balance of two main focuses:
1. An activism role that includes reporting on the major decisions made by our school boards and acting as a watchdog organization on behalf of taxpayers.
2. A supportive, fundraising role that provides grants to teachers and scholarships to deserving students.
If you are interested (and I hope you ARE!!) in joining our efforts on either or both of the above roles, please consider joining Berwyn CARES. Thanks to all who came out yesterday to learn more about BerwynCARES. It really was a great day!
Thursday, September 3, 2009
Get Schooled
I saw this video and thought about the 25% of kids
IN OUR COMMUNITY
that don't graduate from Morton West on time. I thought of the 70%
AT MORTON WEST
who did not meet the Illinois learning standards on the Prairie State Achievement Test. We've got to do something about it.
Is There an Acheivement Gap In Berwyn?
The achievement gap in our country is well documented and so it goes here in Berwyn. The term "achievement gap" refers to the difference in achievement between groups of students, especially those groups defined by race, gender and socioeconomic status. For example, in one Berwyn Elementary School District, the state report card for 2008 shows that 65% economically disadvantaged 3rd grade students meet or exceed state reading standards compared to 75% for their non-disadvantaged peers. This achievement gap is also evident when comparing students by race/ethnicity with white students outperforming their non-white peers and Asian students outperforming all groups (87% of Asian students in the Berwyn district meet or exceed expectations!). The real story, though, is in the number of students exceeding standards. When you separate out this group, indicated by a 4 on the report card charts starting on about page 8, you'll see the percentage of economically disadvantaged students EXCEEDING expectations is about half that of the non-disadvantaged peers.
We KNOW there is an achievement gap. What educators and communities don't seem to know is what to do about it. Well, that is not entirely true.I've referenced the article, "What It Takes To Make a Student" , before and continue to reread it whenever I am considering what solutions exist for Berwyn's challenges. Hey, Berwyn! Do we REALLY want to eliminate the achievement gap? Take the time to read the 2006 New York Times article and then Ask YOUR school officials what efforts are being made to eliminate the achievement gap. Ask YOUR school officials what support is needed from the community to ensure that ALL students reach their potential.
Open Play @ the Library
A new program at the Berwyn Public Library called Open Play @ the Library aims to address the importance of early literacy. Come join other families with young children for an opportunity to socialize, play and read age appropriate books with your child. There will also be two 15 minute music/storytime sessions given by Josephine Tucci. The program is open to families and/or caregivers with children ages birth to 3 years, it will be held from 10-noon in the Community Room every Friday starting September 4th. No registration is necessary and you can come and go as you please. If you have any questions, please call Josephine at 708-795-8000 ext. 3020 or email josephinet3@ berwynlibrary. net. Hope to see you there!!!!!
Thursday, August 27, 2009
Swine Flu (H1N1): How to Keep Our Kids Virus Free
As usual, the new school year brings about lots of anxiety for kids and adults alike. But this year, there is extra stress for parents worried about the swine flu. Experts report to expect a major outbreak this fall (right now!) based on past flu outbreaks in the past. Here are some recommendations that IF EVERY BERWYN FAMILY follows, may mean a more mild flu season for our school children:
1. If your child is sick, KEEP THEM HOME! Now, we know that many families struggle to find childcare. It is terrible to have to choose between staying with your sick child and keeping your job. If possible, arrange with a relative, neighbor or friend ahead of time so that when/if your child is sick, a plan will be in place to have care available at home.
2. Teach (or reteach) your child to wash hands. Stand at the sink and instruct your child to be sure to "make bubbles" for 20 seconds BEFORE rinsing. It helps to turn off the faucet while using the soap and to count or sing a song to keep kids washing for an adequate amount of time. Remind your child to wash hands before coming to school and often during the school day.
3. Teach (or reteach) your child to sneeze into their elbow rather than into their hands. This prevents germs from speading to others through touch.
Please do what you can to help keep your child and the children of Berwyn flu free! To learn more about the H1N1 virus, attend the free All Berwyn Committee program on September 17th at 7:00 pm at City Hall, 6700 W. 26th Street.
1. If your child is sick, KEEP THEM HOME! Now, we know that many families struggle to find childcare. It is terrible to have to choose between staying with your sick child and keeping your job. If possible, arrange with a relative, neighbor or friend ahead of time so that when/if your child is sick, a plan will be in place to have care available at home.
2. Teach (or reteach) your child to wash hands. Stand at the sink and instruct your child to be sure to "make bubbles" for 20 seconds BEFORE rinsing. It helps to turn off the faucet while using the soap and to count or sing a song to keep kids washing for an adequate amount of time. Remind your child to wash hands before coming to school and often during the school day.
3. Teach (or reteach) your child to sneeze into their elbow rather than into their hands. This prevents germs from speading to others through touch.
Please do what you can to help keep your child and the children of Berwyn flu free! To learn more about the H1N1 virus, attend the free All Berwyn Committee program on September 17th at 7:00 pm at City Hall, 6700 W. 26th Street.
Saturday, August 22, 2009
Free School Supplies at the Library
From the Berwyn Public Library:
Join the librarians for a quick tour of the Berwyn Library and find out where we keep the materials you will need for this year's assignments on Saturday AUgust 29th between 10am and 2pm. All students who participate will recieve a lunch bag filled with school supplies. Please register in advance at the number below.
Berwyn Library
2701 S. Harlem708-795-8000 x 3088 (Youth Services)www.berwynlibrary.net
Join the librarians for a quick tour of the Berwyn Library and find out where we keep the materials you will need for this year's assignments on Saturday AUgust 29th between 10am and 2pm. All students who participate will recieve a lunch bag filled with school supplies. Please register in advance at the number below.
Berwyn Library
2701 S. Harlem708-795-8000 x 3088 (Youth Services)www.berwynlibrary.net
Sunday, August 16, 2009
Time to Get Ready
It feels like summer started and ended at the same time. The weather warmed up just in time for the Back to School season! But, as cheated as we might feel, we need to drum up some enthusiasm for the new school year if we hope to help our kids to have a successful learning experience.
Start moving bedtime back! According to WebMD, children 7-12 years old need 10-12 hours of sleep. Move bedtime back in small increments (10-15 minutes) for several days until you get to the target bedtime. Choose the target bedtime by counting back 10-12 hours from the time you wake your child for school. Start your bedtime routine there.
7:30 pm – bath/shower, pajamas, brush teeth, do chores, layout clothes/books for AM, make lunch.
8:00 pm – Read to your child. What a wonderful lifelong habit to encourage. This is a great time to talk. Some of the most important conversations I’ve had with my children have occurred at bedtime. If you have 2 or more kids, this is a great time to spend 5 or 10 minutes of 1:1 time with each one.
8:30 pm – Lights out! This is the hard part. The absolute limit because, let’s face it, most kids don’t immediately fall asleep when you want them to. This is when they’ll bargain (just one more book!), need something (I’m thirsty!), or find any number of ways to continue to engage. Be firm, consistent and COMMITTED to the schedule. Just continue to repeat the message: “It’s time to go to sleep! WE ALL need sleep to be healthy!” It could take a week or more before your kids stop fighting the schedule but it will be worth it!
9:00 pm – With any luck, your kids are sleeping and you can enjoy some quiet time for yourself!
7:00 am – Wake up! Time for a GREAT school day for your happy, healthy child.
In his book Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child, Marc Weissbluth, MD, sums up what you may find in children who routinely do not get the sleep they need:
We need to get ready, and though your mind might immediately go to shopping for school supplies, for our kids, being ready means being rested!
Start moving bedtime back! According to WebMD, children 7-12 years old need 10-12 hours of sleep. Move bedtime back in small increments (10-15 minutes) for several days until you get to the target bedtime. Choose the target bedtime by counting back 10-12 hours from the time you wake your child for school. Start your bedtime routine there.
7:30 pm – bath/shower, pajamas, brush teeth, do chores, layout clothes/books for AM, make lunch.
8:00 pm – Read to your child. What a wonderful lifelong habit to encourage. This is a great time to talk. Some of the most important conversations I’ve had with my children have occurred at bedtime. If you have 2 or more kids, this is a great time to spend 5 or 10 minutes of 1:1 time with each one.
8:30 pm – Lights out! This is the hard part. The absolute limit because, let’s face it, most kids don’t immediately fall asleep when you want them to. This is when they’ll bargain (just one more book!), need something (I’m thirsty!), or find any number of ways to continue to engage. Be firm, consistent and COMMITTED to the schedule. Just continue to repeat the message: “It’s time to go to sleep! WE ALL need sleep to be healthy!” It could take a week or more before your kids stop fighting the schedule but it will be worth it!
9:00 pm – With any luck, your kids are sleeping and you can enjoy some quiet time for yourself!
7:00 am – Wake up! Time for a GREAT school day for your happy, healthy child.
In his book Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child, Marc Weissbluth, MD, sums up what you may find in children who routinely do not get the sleep they need:
"School achievement difficulties were found more often among poor sleepers compared to good sleepers.... Young children who have difficulty sleeping become older children with more academic problems.”YIKES! This really is important. Even if you follow the above schedule, your child will likely only get 10 hours…the lower end of the range that is considered healthy! Only one week left to get your child on a healthier sleep schedule and off to a good start for the school year in Berwyn! Good luck!
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
Chicago Schools Face A "Pension Tsunami"?
This article is about the Chicago Public School plan to raise property taxes in order to deal with a growing deficit. Our Berwyn school districts face many of the same financial issues mentioned in the article including lost tax dollars due to Tax Increment Financing Districts (TIFs), pension obligations, and union contracts that include pay raises unmatched by additional revenue. Chicago Public School CEO, Ron Huberman, admits it may take more than a property tax increase to fill the budget hole in Chicago. From the article:
"...even worse news is ahead. The next budget deficit, in fiscal year 2011, could top $900 million — a hole so big the system would have to increase class sizes and eliminate teachers unless “cost containment on the pension and wage fronts’’ is achieved, Huberman said."
Sunday, June 14, 2009
CARES to Award Scholarships
Guided by our interest in promoting stronger involvement in our schools and investment in our children, each year Berwyn C.A.R.E.S. awards scholarships to Morton West High School students headed to college. This year, Berwyn CARES will award 5 $1000 scholarships at this month's District 201 Board of Education Meeting. Thanks to all who so generously support the students of Berwyn through your time, talent, energy and DOLLARS! If you'd like to attend, you are welcome! The meeting will be at 7:00 this Wednesday June 17th at Morton East, 2423 S. Austin Avenue.
Click here to read about the impressive and deserving recipients.
Click here to read about the impressive and deserving recipients.
Friday, June 12, 2009
Nachos, AGAIN??
I read this article with interest regarding the quality of school lunches served in our country. I suspect it is consistent with the lunches served here in our Berwyn schools. For now, I'll continue to make my child's lunch.
Straighten up and FLY RIGHT!
And for our Berwyn kids, that means READ THIS SUMMER!
I bought this product for a few kids in my life. It is a summer reading journal that will help keep them reading (and writing) this summer. The journal will encourage active reading with several pages of engaging activities and questions for each book. Available at Fly Right Gifts in Berwyn for about $12 (much less expensive than that video game!).
Another extremely motivating way to keep kids reading is the Summer Reading Program at the Berwyn Public Library. I signed my kids up yesterday and they are already working toward their goals. It is pretty amazing how the simple act of keeping a reading log will motivate kids to read. Kids are naturally competitive and the Summer Reading Program at the library is one way to turn the competitiveness inward by setting a personal goal and offering prizes for points earned. Sign up TODAY!
Lastly, be a role model. Make sure your kids see you reading EVERY day!
I bought this product for a few kids in my life. It is a summer reading journal that will help keep them reading (and writing) this summer. The journal will encourage active reading with several pages of engaging activities and questions for each book. Available at Fly Right Gifts in Berwyn for about $12 (much less expensive than that video game!).
Another extremely motivating way to keep kids reading is the Summer Reading Program at the Berwyn Public Library. I signed my kids up yesterday and they are already working toward their goals. It is pretty amazing how the simple act of keeping a reading log will motivate kids to read. Kids are naturally competitive and the Summer Reading Program at the library is one way to turn the competitiveness inward by setting a personal goal and offering prizes for points earned. Sign up TODAY!
Lastly, be a role model. Make sure your kids see you reading EVERY day!
Monday, June 1, 2009
Summer Reading for High Schoolers!
Last week I wrote here about Summer Learning Loss. Most of us probably think about the primary grades when considering lost skills, but middle school and high school students are just as much at risk. I was uplifted to read about this effort by District 201 to require students to read over the summer. The program as described is for the Freshman Center in Cicero and includes an interactive blog for students (and parents) to post questions, answer questions or comment on the literature! What a fabulous use of the internet! The article mentions that a similar program is in place at Berwyn's Morton West for incoming freshman.
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
SCARY!
One of the biggest threats to academic excellence in Berwyn is Summer Learning Loss. Research tells us that ALL kids are at risk of losing months of progress over the summer, but that low-income kids are particularly vulnerable when it comes to reading skills. Consider that a 3rd grader who leaves school in June at a 3.9 level will likely return in September at a 3.8 level leaving the 4th grade teacher to spend precious weeks reviewing before even starting the grade level material in the curriculum. Also, while middle income and wealthy kids usually show some gains in reading over the summer, low-income kids LOSE an average of 2 months over the summer.
So what is Berwyn CARES doing to help? Last spring, I wrote this blog about the risk of summer learning loss for our Berwyn students. The statistics are alarming and several people contacted me to see how we could make a difference. As a result, BerwynCARES held its first Book Drive last month. We've collected hundreds of books appropriate for summer reading for kids up to 5th grade.
We have prepared 10 Summer Reading Kits for each elementary school. The kits are simply a canvas bag of books grouped by grade level. Principals, librarians or reading specialists will distribute to students at their discretion.
In the article Bridging the Summer Reading Gap, McGill-Franzen and Allington present one solution to the problem of Summer Learning Loss.
Think of it in terms of running. If a person can run a 5K in June and then takes the summer off from running, how far might they be able to run on September 1st? It is the same with reading. Without practice, kids LOSE SKILLS.
So what is Berwyn CARES doing to help? Last spring, I wrote this blog about the risk of summer learning loss for our Berwyn students. The statistics are alarming and several people contacted me to see how we could make a difference. As a result, BerwynCARES held its first Book Drive last month. We've collected hundreds of books appropriate for summer reading for kids up to 5th grade.
We have prepared 10 Summer Reading Kits for each elementary school. The kits are simply a canvas bag of books grouped by grade level. Principals, librarians or reading specialists will distribute to students at their discretion.
In the article Bridging the Summer Reading Gap, McGill-Franzen and Allington present one solution to the problem of Summer Learning Loss.
"Children need to read outside of school. Research clearly shows that the key to stemming summer reading loss is finding novel ways to get books into the hands of children during the summer break."It is our hope that giving kids books to take home with them on the last day of school will result in continued progress over the summer. Check back on this blog next week for more information about Summer Learning Loss in Berwyn and what is being done to prevent it.
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
Fine Arts Showcase TONIGHT!
The Berwyn Arts Council presents the 2nd Annual Student Fine Art Showcase! The Arts Education Committee of the BAC announces its 2nd Annual Student Fine Art Showcase to be held on Wednesday, May 20th at the Berwyn Cultural Center, 6420 W. 16th Street.
This annual event features the talent of our elementary and Jr. High School students from South Berwyn School District 100, and North Berwyn School District 98. Beginning at 6:00, come and enjoy student dramatic performances, artwork, and music!Parents, students and the community are invited to this evening featuring the artists, actors and musicians of the future!
This annual event features the talent of our elementary and Jr. High School students from South Berwyn School District 100, and North Berwyn School District 98. Beginning at 6:00, come and enjoy student dramatic performances, artwork, and music!Parents, students and the community are invited to this evening featuring the artists, actors and musicians of the future!
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
Berwyn CARES Suggests Adopting New Policy: Keep Political Campaigns out of Schools
An Open Letter to the District 201 School Board and Local Political Leaders:
Berwyn C.A.R.E.S. (Citizens Aligned to Renew Education for Students) is a 501c3 organization created to unite residents interested in renewing and sustaining an enthusiasm, interest and passion for the education system in Berwyn. Like you, our Members share a commitment to ensuring the best education for local students.
We would like to bring your attention to a recent situation in the District that raised the concern of parents and community members alike and to encourage you to consider new policies which strictly prohibit student recruitment by teachers, coaches, school staff and district officials for political campaigns.
In late February our organization was contacted by numerous parents who shared that high school teachers and coaches had recruited students to participate in what was portrayed as a ‘Community Service Project’ on Election Day in Cicero. Students were advised that they would be transported to various locations in Cicero, and would be provided lunch, dinner and $50 for their ‘work’. Concerned parents shared that their children who subsequently participated were asked to pass out campaign literature at polling places and were directed to go door-to-door on behalf of a specific candidate with ties to the District 201 School Board.
If true, this situation created unnecessary and inappropriate conflict for parents, teachers, students and coaches and has the appearance, if not reality, of intimidating those, who may fear retribution for non-participation in what was without question a political campaign.
By addressing this issue publicly, we hope to bring positive change that benefits students and removes tension from the learning environment. We encourage the District 201 School Board to evaluate whether influence was used to mislead or coerce students and faculty and to move quickly to denounce such activities. To prevent such a situation from occurring in the future, we urge you to create and adopt a policy that strictly prohibits teachers, coaches, school staff and district officials from engaging in any type of student recruitment for political campaigns. We strongly suggest that parents and community members be involved in drafting such policy and are willing to work together on such an initiative.
Thank you.
Berwyn CARES Board of Directors
Berwyn C.A.R.E.S. (Citizens Aligned to Renew Education for Students) is a 501c3 organization created to unite residents interested in renewing and sustaining an enthusiasm, interest and passion for the education system in Berwyn. Like you, our Members share a commitment to ensuring the best education for local students.
We would like to bring your attention to a recent situation in the District that raised the concern of parents and community members alike and to encourage you to consider new policies which strictly prohibit student recruitment by teachers, coaches, school staff and district officials for political campaigns.
In late February our organization was contacted by numerous parents who shared that high school teachers and coaches had recruited students to participate in what was portrayed as a ‘Community Service Project’ on Election Day in Cicero. Students were advised that they would be transported to various locations in Cicero, and would be provided lunch, dinner and $50 for their ‘work’. Concerned parents shared that their children who subsequently participated were asked to pass out campaign literature at polling places and were directed to go door-to-door on behalf of a specific candidate with ties to the District 201 School Board.
If true, this situation created unnecessary and inappropriate conflict for parents, teachers, students and coaches and has the appearance, if not reality, of intimidating those, who may fear retribution for non-participation in what was without question a political campaign.
By addressing this issue publicly, we hope to bring positive change that benefits students and removes tension from the learning environment. We encourage the District 201 School Board to evaluate whether influence was used to mislead or coerce students and faculty and to move quickly to denounce such activities. To prevent such a situation from occurring in the future, we urge you to create and adopt a policy that strictly prohibits teachers, coaches, school staff and district officials from engaging in any type of student recruitment for political campaigns. We strongly suggest that parents and community members be involved in drafting such policy and are willing to work together on such an initiative.
Thank you.
Berwyn CARES Board of Directors
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
Should Politicians Be Running Schools?
Mayor Richard Daley took control of the Chicago Public School system 13 years ago, creating a controversial model that would soon be duplicated in other large cities across the country. I read with interest this article about the newest appointment to the CEO position at CPS, Ron Huberman, who replaced outgoing Arne Duncan. Duncan was named Secretary of Education by President Obama.
The title question of this post is relevant in Berwyn where some feel our city leaders should take a more active role in the education systems and others feel strongly that politicians should leave our schools in the control of elected school board members and educators. Politically, it would seem risky for any mayor to become involved in an underfunded, failing school district. It seems to have worked out for Daley, though.
The title question of this post is relevant in Berwyn where some feel our city leaders should take a more active role in the education systems and others feel strongly that politicians should leave our schools in the control of elected school board members and educators. Politically, it would seem risky for any mayor to become involved in an underfunded, failing school district. It seems to have worked out for Daley, though.
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
Spring Fundraisers
I am thrilled to report that due to the dedicated efforts of BerwynCARES and the Berwyn Jaycees and the generosity of our supporters, BerwynCARES will be able to award FOUR scholarships this year to deserving Morton West graduates headed to college!
Thanks to the donors of all of the great silent auction and raffle items. Top items included:
*Lunch with Mayor Lovero
*Dinner at the Firehouse
*Weekend in Lake Geneva
*Cubs/Sox tickets
*Framed sports art
*Many items/services donated locally
Thanks, also to Tiger O'Stylies, Goose Island, Tonini's, Tamale Hut and Goat Rodeo for their contributions to a successful evening! I hope everyone had a great time. Together...WE made a difference!
Let's make it FIVE!! Contribute to the scholarship fund by clicking here.
Thanks to the donors of all of the great silent auction and raffle items. Top items included:
*Lunch with Mayor Lovero
*Dinner at the Firehouse
*Weekend in Lake Geneva
*Cubs/Sox tickets
*Framed sports art
*Many items/services donated locally
Thanks, also to Tiger O'Stylies, Goose Island, Tonini's, Tamale Hut and Goat Rodeo for their contributions to a successful evening! I hope everyone had a great time. Together...WE made a difference!
Sunday, April 26, 2009
State of our Berwyn Schools by Mark Titzer
Here’s a quick recap of the State of the Schools presentation hosted by the All Berwyn Committee (ABC). Many thanks to the ABC for hosting this. 26 people were in the audience. I was hoping for around 26,000. Maybe next year…
DISTRICT 98: Mr. John Belmont, Superintendent of North Berwyn District 98 began by showing a thought provoking video clip on world demographics and education trends. Mr. Belmont provided some interesting historical perspectives on district 98 (including that the district has been in existence since 1899 – longer than Berwyn itself). He reviewed some of the recent trends in demographics, and provided some points on the financial state of the district. He commented on the 6 year rotating curriculum review cycle in place, and stressed that parental involvement is the single most important factor in educational success. The district runs an annual surplus on its roughly $30M budget, and anticipates being debt free by 2012. Impressive.
Dr. Stan Fields, Superintendent of South Berwyn District 100 followed, with a similar overview of district statistics. He reiterated the recently adopted strategic vision of the district to place in the top 25% of Illinois schools in terms of meeting/exceeding state standards. He admitted this will take some time and a lot of hard work, but exuded confidence that, by establishing a stretch goal, changes and improvements will be immediate. (I agree.) He talked about the very generous donation by the South Berwyn Education Foundation, which has enabled 19 classrooms to be outfitted with ‘smart board’ technology. (If you haven’t seen these smart boards, find an opportunity to visit a Dist. 100 classroom – they are amazing.)
Finally, Dr. Victoria Parkinson, Asst. Superintendent for Support Services for District 201 provided a presentation on the curricular approaches that the District is employing. She talked fairly candidly about the low test scores and graduation rates within the district and the strategies the district is implementing to address them.
Dr. Navarro, head of Morton College, was apparently unable to attend.
Elected officials in the audience included Mr. Tony Laureto, District 98 President and 2 fellow board members Brian Swade and Stephen Lancsak, Dist. 100 President Joanne Zendol, Alderman Skryd and Alderman-elect Laureto.
DISTRICT 98: Mr. John Belmont, Superintendent of North Berwyn District 98 began by showing a thought provoking video clip on world demographics and education trends. Mr. Belmont provided some interesting historical perspectives on district 98 (including that the district has been in existence since 1899 – longer than Berwyn itself). He reviewed some of the recent trends in demographics, and provided some points on the financial state of the district. He commented on the 6 year rotating curriculum review cycle in place, and stressed that parental involvement is the single most important factor in educational success. The district runs an annual surplus on its roughly $30M budget, and anticipates being debt free by 2012. Impressive.
Dr. Stan Fields, Superintendent of South Berwyn District 100 followed, with a similar overview of district statistics. He reiterated the recently adopted strategic vision of the district to place in the top 25% of Illinois schools in terms of meeting/exceeding state standards. He admitted this will take some time and a lot of hard work, but exuded confidence that, by establishing a stretch goal, changes and improvements will be immediate. (I agree.) He talked about the very generous donation by the South Berwyn Education Foundation, which has enabled 19 classrooms to be outfitted with ‘smart board’ technology. (If you haven’t seen these smart boards, find an opportunity to visit a Dist. 100 classroom – they are amazing.)
Finally, Dr. Victoria Parkinson, Asst. Superintendent for Support Services for District 201 provided a presentation on the curricular approaches that the District is employing. She talked fairly candidly about the low test scores and graduation rates within the district and the strategies the district is implementing to address them.
Dr. Navarro, head of Morton College, was apparently unable to attend.
Elected officials in the audience included Mr. Tony Laureto, District 98 President and 2 fellow board members Brian Swade and Stephen Lancsak, Dist. 100 President Joanne Zendol, Alderman Skryd and Alderman-elect Laureto.
Thursday, April 23, 2009
Is School Funding in Illinois Discriminatory?
I read with interest a recent e-mail newsletter from the State School News Service. Before reading the article, consider that while Berwyn elementary schools spend thousands less per pupil than neighboring suburban districts, our minority population rate is much higher.
State Board soon to be busy with Urban League suit
By Jim Broadway, Publisher, State School News Service
Not much has been written about the Chicago Urban League's suit challenging Illinois school funding system since a circuit judge gave the go-ahead last week allowing the litigation to proceed. The major Chicago newspapers gave the story just four paragraphs each online. A writer for the Chicago Catalyst (a school reform publication) provided more detail. Was last week's ruling a big deal?
As we told you last August when the suit was filed, it has the potential to be a major deal statewide. Last week's ruling, allowing the challenge to proceed as a civil rights action (in contrast with past failed attacks on our school funding system) raises that potential considerably. We'll know more on May 5, when lawyers for the Urban League and for the Illinois State Board of Education gather for a "status hearing" and argue over what's "discoverable" in this dispute.
Here's some background. In 2003, the legislature passed HB 2330 (now Public Act 93-0425) prohibiting the state, any county or unit of local government from discriminating against any "person or activity" on the basis of race, color or national origin. The more significant paragraph of that law makes a governmental entity vulnerable to charges of such discrimination if it uses "criteria or methods of administration that have the effect of subjecting individuals" to such discrimination.
The "method" ISBE uses to implement school funding policy is prescribed by law. The question will be, does that method "have the effect" of discriminating against those on whose behalf the Urban League has filed the suit - African-American and Hispanic citizens? The disparities of resources from one school to another - and the fact that property taxpayers in poorer communities pay far higher tax rates for education than are paid in more affluent communities - are points of contention.
It is not ISBE's fault that Illinois' communities of abject poverty are not racially heterogeneous, nor does the ISBE control the law on how schools are funded. Those issues are not in question. But if the court finds ISBE's methods discriminatory and orders the agency to stop using them, what would happen? No schools would get any state funding until the legislature enacts school policy that does not have the effect of being discriminatory.
As Catalyst writer John Myers reported last week, the ruling by Circuit Judge Martin Agran has stimulated some legislators to action. Rep. David Miller (D-Dolton), one of the more active school funding reform advocates in the legislature, is trying to get the issue on the 2009 agenda. The suit "puts pressure on the legislature to do the right thing," he told Myers. Sen. James Meeks (D-Chicago), who chairs the Senate Education Committee, is taking similar action in his chamber.
Immediate policy change seems unlikely. Lawsuits drag on. Resolution of this one may be two years away. Whatever remedy the court would order would be a radical change in the status quo. Legislatures tend not to want to make such changes. Most probably believe they have enough "tough" decisions to make this year already, with a budget deficit of historic proportions staring them in the face, mounting deficits and calls for "ethics reform" in their own chambers.
But this lawsuit is one to be watched. Even Judge Agran has observed effects of the current school funding mechanism that might be considered discriminatory. The Chicago Urban League has the momentum now, and it is represented pro bono by some of the nation's most credible lawyers.
State Board soon to be busy with Urban League suit
By Jim Broadway, Publisher, State School News Service
Not much has been written about the Chicago Urban League's suit challenging Illinois school funding system since a circuit judge gave the go-ahead last week allowing the litigation to proceed. The major Chicago newspapers gave the story just four paragraphs each online. A writer for the Chicago Catalyst (a school reform publication) provided more detail. Was last week's ruling a big deal?
As we told you last August when the suit was filed, it has the potential to be a major deal statewide. Last week's ruling, allowing the challenge to proceed as a civil rights action (in contrast with past failed attacks on our school funding system) raises that potential considerably. We'll know more on May 5, when lawyers for the Urban League and for the Illinois State Board of Education gather for a "status hearing" and argue over what's "discoverable" in this dispute.
Here's some background. In 2003, the legislature passed HB 2330 (now Public Act 93-0425) prohibiting the state, any county or unit of local government from discriminating against any "person or activity" on the basis of race, color or national origin. The more significant paragraph of that law makes a governmental entity vulnerable to charges of such discrimination if it uses "criteria or methods of administration that have the effect of subjecting individuals" to such discrimination.
The "method" ISBE uses to implement school funding policy is prescribed by law. The question will be, does that method "have the effect" of discriminating against those on whose behalf the Urban League has filed the suit - African-American and Hispanic citizens? The disparities of resources from one school to another - and the fact that property taxpayers in poorer communities pay far higher tax rates for education than are paid in more affluent communities - are points of contention.
It is not ISBE's fault that Illinois' communities of abject poverty are not racially heterogeneous, nor does the ISBE control the law on how schools are funded. Those issues are not in question. But if the court finds ISBE's methods discriminatory and orders the agency to stop using them, what would happen? No schools would get any state funding until the legislature enacts school policy that does not have the effect of being discriminatory.
As Catalyst writer John Myers reported last week, the ruling by Circuit Judge Martin Agran has stimulated some legislators to action. Rep. David Miller (D-Dolton), one of the more active school funding reform advocates in the legislature, is trying to get the issue on the 2009 agenda. The suit "puts pressure on the legislature to do the right thing," he told Myers. Sen. James Meeks (D-Chicago), who chairs the Senate Education Committee, is taking similar action in his chamber.
Immediate policy change seems unlikely. Lawsuits drag on. Resolution of this one may be two years away. Whatever remedy the court would order would be a radical change in the status quo. Legislatures tend not to want to make such changes. Most probably believe they have enough "tough" decisions to make this year already, with a budget deficit of historic proportions staring them in the face, mounting deficits and calls for "ethics reform" in their own chambers.
But this lawsuit is one to be watched. Even Judge Agran has observed effects of the current school funding mechanism that might be considered discriminatory. The Chicago Urban League has the momentum now, and it is represented pro bono by some of the nation's most credible lawyers.
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
State of the Schools
If you wonder what is going on in Berwyn Public Schools...wonder no longer!
When: Thursday, April 23rd, 7 p.m.
Where: Berwyn City HallCouncil Chambers
Speakers include the Superintendents and The Boards of Education from:
*North Berwyn School District 98
*South Berwyn School District 100
*Morton High School 201
*Morton College 527
Questions and Answers to follow!
Refreshments Will Be Served
The All Berwyn Committee presents
"State of our Berwyn Schools"
When: Thursday, April 23rd, 7 p.m.
Where: Berwyn City HallCouncil Chambers
Speakers include the Superintendents and The Boards of Education from:
*North Berwyn School District 98
*South Berwyn School District 100
*Morton High School 201
*Morton College 527
Questions and Answers to follow!
Refreshments Will Be Served
Friday, April 17, 2009
3rd Annual Spring Fundraiser for Scholarships
The 3rd annual BerwynCARES Spring Fundraiser
Saturday May 2nd at Tiger O'Stylies, 6300 W. Ogden, 7pm.
Local Band Goat Rodeo will rock out for scholarships! Tickets are $15 which includes food and entertainment with a cash bar. Silent Auction and raffle items include theater and restaurant gift certificates, a 2 night stay at a Lake Geneva condo, sporting event tickets, spa services, piano and voice lessons and much more! Something for everyone!
You'll pay at the door, but we strongly recommend that you reserve tickets at info@berwyncares.org.
ALL proceeds go to award scholarships for Morton West students headed to college in the Fall. This year especially, THE NEED IS GREAT! Please support our scholarship fund by:
1. Attending the event. Reserve your tickets at info@berwyncares.org
2. Sponsoring a scholarship in honor of someone or making a monetary donation.
3. Donate an item or service to our silent auction.
4. Spread the word. This will be a fun opportunity to get together for a GREAT cause. Call your friends and plan a night out. Alumni, plan a reunion with your old classmates!
Together we can make a difference.
Saturday May 2nd at Tiger O'Stylies, 6300 W. Ogden, 7pm.
Local Band Goat Rodeo will rock out for scholarships! Tickets are $15 which includes food and entertainment with a cash bar. Silent Auction and raffle items include theater and restaurant gift certificates, a 2 night stay at a Lake Geneva condo, sporting event tickets, spa services, piano and voice lessons and much more! Something for everyone!
You'll pay at the door, but we strongly recommend that you reserve tickets at info@berwyncares.org.
ALL proceeds go to award scholarships for Morton West students headed to college in the Fall. This year especially, THE NEED IS GREAT! Please support our scholarship fund by:
1. Attending the event. Reserve your tickets at info@berwyncares.org
2. Sponsoring a scholarship in honor of someone or making a monetary donation.
3. Donate an item or service to our silent auction.
4. Spread the word. This will be a fun opportunity to get together for a GREAT cause. Call your friends and plan a night out. Alumni, plan a reunion with your old classmates!
Together we can make a difference.
Saturday, April 4, 2009
Don't Forget to VOTE!
Monday, March 30, 2009
District 100 Open House
All District 100 elementary schools welcome prospective parents and students to an Open House on Wednesday April 8th, 9:00-10:30. Please consider attending this important event if you have young children. A school visit is the single best way to evaluate your educational options. Each Open House includes a Question and Answer session with the principal. Here is a checklist that a reader of this blog suggested as a resource for evaluating a school.
Sunday, March 29, 2009
YOUR input requested!
Morton High School District 201 Board of Education Seeks Public Input on Morton West Principal Search
Berwyn, Illinois... The Morton High School District 201 Board of Education is seeking input from the local community as the district continues its exhaustive, wide-ranging search for the right person to serve as principal of Morton West High School. read more...
Monday, March 23, 2009
District 100 Vision Statement by Bob Pauly
To those of you interested in improving our schools, and ultimately our community, I would like to extend an invitation.
First, some background: In December 2008, Dr. Stan Fields, superintendent of Berwyn South School District 100, formed a committee called "DACEE" - District Advisory Committee for Educational Excellence. This committee consists of board members, District 100 staff and teachers, community members and parents. I am a member of the DACEE committee.
The first order of business for DACEE was to develop a vision statement for the district. A vision statement outlines what an organization wants to be. It defines the desired or intended future state of an organization in terms of its fundamental objective and/or strategic direction.
First, some background: In December 2008, Dr. Stan Fields, superintendent of Berwyn South School District 100, formed a committee called "DACEE" - District Advisory Committee for Educational Excellence. This committee consists of board members, District 100 staff and teachers, community members and parents. I am a member of the DACEE committee.
The first order of business for DACEE was to develop a vision statement for the district. A vision statement outlines what an organization wants to be. It defines the desired or intended future state of an organization in terms of its fundamental objective and/or strategic direction.
The vision statement for District 100, as proposed by DACEE, is as follows:At present, our district ranks at the 67th percentile, meaning that 67% of Illinois elementary and high schools rank higher than District 100 in terms of testing. This ranking, relative to DACEE's vision for the district, presents a big challenge for our community. On Wednesday night at Piper School, Dr. Fields will present this vision statement to the school board for approval. I plan on attending this meeting to offer support to Dr. Fields and the vision statement. I invite you to do the same - northsiders and southsiders alike - whether you are a parent like me, or someone who is just interested in building a better Berwyn. The school board meeting begins at 7:00 pm, and Piper School is located at 2435 Kenilworth Avenue. I hope to see you there.
"Berwyn South School District 100 will rank within the top 25% of schools in the State of Illinois, as evidenced by state testing."
A Last Chance: The Final Candidates' Forum
The Morton PTO is sponsoring a candidates' forum this Wednesday, April 25th at Morton West at 7pm for those running for the Morton High School District 201 School Board. This will be the last chance to see and hear the candidates in person answering questions about their vision for the district. You can view candidate profiles on our website, www.berwyncares.org. Hope to see some of you there!
Sunday, March 22, 2009
How Long is Recess in Your School?
I listened with interest to this NPR news report featuring an Oakland school that re-prioritized recess. Click "listen now" to hear the story about what kids learn during recess and why it matters. Two statements that are probably as true here in Berwyn as in Oakland:
"Some (kids) don't know what to do with themselves at recess."
"During recess...students wandered aimlessly or thrashed about...they returned to the classroom "keyed up".
Sound familiar to you teachers out there?
"Some (kids) don't know what to do with themselves at recess."
"During recess...students wandered aimlessly or thrashed about...they returned to the classroom "keyed up".
Sound familiar to you teachers out there?
Yoga in Berwyn Schools
Check out this article from the online U.S. News and World Report about the benefits of practicing yoga and other relaxation techniques in schools. The article mentions Jefferson School in Berwyn! There are a few other schools in Berwyn with formal yoga programs and this article seems to validate the idea. This year, BerwynCARES awarded a mini-grant to a Berwyn school for yoga mats and we're proud to be a part of some progressive programming to help Berwyn children. Click here to read the thank you letter from the classroom teacher.
Thursday, March 19, 2009
25,000 Chances to Show Who We Are
School Board Elections are April 7th. There are about 25,000 registered voters in Berwyn, yet sadly very few of those voters are engaged in the lively public debate about education in our town. Indeed, voting for School Board may have a much more direct impact on the quality of life in Berwyn than a vote for president, yet statistics show that our residents are extremely apathetic when it comes to getting minimally involved by voting on education issues. According to Voterinfonet.com:
*over 17,000 Berwynites voted in the last Presidential election!
*over 10,000 Berwynites voted for mayor in April 2005.
*about 3,000 Berwynites cast a ballot for school board in 2007.
What is worse is that many voters who show up to vote in School Board elections are frustratingly uninformed about the candidates running.
*over 17,000 Berwynites voted in the last Presidential election!
*over 10,000 Berwynites voted for mayor in April 2005.
*about 3,000 Berwynites cast a ballot for school board in 2007.
What is worse is that many voters who show up to vote in School Board elections are frustratingly uninformed about the candidates running.
In an effort to get information out to the residents, BerwynCARES sent a questionairre to candidates in the District 98, 100 and 201 School Board elections. You can read the profiles of those candidates that responded here.We MUST change Berwyn from a culture of apathy to a culture of civic involvement when it comes to education. Are we a community that values education? Let's show our committment to excellence in education at the polls. Please be an informed voter on April 7th!
Sunday, March 8, 2009
Why Vote for School Board Elections
Your local school board makes the decisions that determine how your community's children are educated and how your tax dollars are spent. What could be more important??
So what decisions rest with your local school board?:
From the Center for Public Education website:
*The school board hires the superintendent, the "chief education officer" responsible for managing district staff and operations.
*The school board sets the priorities and adopts the budget that determine how millions in federal, state, and local tax dollars are spent.
*The school board sets goals for student achievement and evaluates progress toward those goals.
*The school board decides how school boundaries are drawn and whether schools are constructed or closed.
*The school board sets the policies that determine which courses and programs are offered and what texts, tools, and technology are purchased.
And what are the results when the right decisions are made?:
*Good schools are good business. They attract employers, strengthen the local economy, and enhance property values.
*Good schools ensure our students will be prepared to keep our nation competitive in a global economy.
*Good schools keep the American Dream alive with an opportunity for every child to receive a world-class education.
*Good schools keep the quality of life in a community high by producing citizens who pay taxes and obey the law.
*Good schools teach students from all backgrounds how to live and participate in our democracy.
Please get informed about the upcoming April 7th school board elections. There are 2 candidate forums listed at the right. Find out about the candidates and VOTE ON APRIL 7th!!
Over 50% of your local property tax bill goes to YOUR public school system!Voting for school board members is a simple but powerful way to support student success and strengthen your community. The overall quality of your local schools, both now and in the future, rests with decisions made by the board of education.
So what decisions rest with your local school board?:
From the Center for Public Education website:
*The school board hires the superintendent, the "chief education officer" responsible for managing district staff and operations.
*The school board sets the priorities and adopts the budget that determine how millions in federal, state, and local tax dollars are spent.
*The school board sets goals for student achievement and evaluates progress toward those goals.
*The school board decides how school boundaries are drawn and whether schools are constructed or closed.
*The school board sets the policies that determine which courses and programs are offered and what texts, tools, and technology are purchased.
And what are the results when the right decisions are made?:
*Good schools are good business. They attract employers, strengthen the local economy, and enhance property values.
*Good schools ensure our students will be prepared to keep our nation competitive in a global economy.
*Good schools keep the American Dream alive with an opportunity for every child to receive a world-class education.
*Good schools keep the quality of life in a community high by producing citizens who pay taxes and obey the law.
*Good schools teach students from all backgrounds how to live and participate in our democracy.
Please get informed about the upcoming April 7th school board elections. There are 2 candidate forums listed at the right. Find out about the candidates and VOTE ON APRIL 7th!!
Saturday, March 7, 2009
GO MUSTANGS!!
Morton Mustangs win! The league champions beat York last night 61-52 and will play Whitney Young this Tuesday night at Morton East in a rematch from last year's playoff loss. These kids are really fun to watch!
As one fan said, "Might you meet MJ in line for some loaded nachos?" Michael Jordan's son plays for Whitney Young. GO MUSTANGS!
If you are really into high-school basketball, join these super fans in an ongoing discussion.
If you want to go to the Tuesday night game, it will be a packed house. Get tickets in advance at the East or West ticket office starting Monday at 9:00am.
As one fan said, "Might you meet MJ in line for some loaded nachos?" Michael Jordan's son plays for Whitney Young. GO MUSTANGS!
If you are really into high-school basketball, join these super fans in an ongoing discussion.
If you want to go to the Tuesday night game, it will be a packed house. Get tickets in advance at the East or West ticket office starting Monday at 9:00am.
Thursday, February 12, 2009
Morton West Principal Resigns, Parents Speak Out
The District 201 School Board accepted the resignation of Morton West principal, John Lucas. Members of the Morton West PTO spoke out in the open forum during last night's school board meeting, praising Mr. Lucas for improving attendance and test scores during his short time at MW. The parents accused the Cicero dominated school board (6 of the 7 members are Cicero Residents) of forcing the Morton West principal to resign without any input from the Morton West communities of Berwyn, Stickney, Forest View, McCook and Lyons.
Monday, February 9, 2009
Everything you Always Wanted to Know About Kindergarten...
A friend of mine recommended this book for anyone who is facing the decision about where to send a child to kindergarten:
Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Kindergarten But Didn't Know Whom to Ask by Ellen Booth Church.
The book gives answers to 20+ questions/answers like:
Here is a link to a website that includes the book's questions and answers.
What strikes me, in general, about that list of questions and answers is how creative play is favored over formal reading and writing instruction. I wonder if this is really the reality in kindergarten classes given the ever increasing emphasis on standardized testing. It seems to me that kindergarten has become the new 1st grade, with an expectation that kids will be reading and writing rather than getting ready to read and write. Best practice tells us that play-based learning is the way to go in kindergarten and most programs will describe themselves that way, but I'm interested in what is actually happening in kindergarten. In my son's kindergarten class there was daily time for free play, but there were also lots of worksheets. There were crafts and coloring, but maybe not enough. I fear that 1/2 day kindergarten creates the perception that educators/schools must prioritize academics and play and play just isn't a priority. Maybe it should be. From the book:
What has been your experience? Do you have a kindergartener? What do they spend most of their school time doing?
Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Kindergarten But Didn't Know Whom to Ask by Ellen Booth Church.
The book gives answers to 20+ questions/answers like:
What is the real purpose of kindergarten?
*Developing Self-esteem
*Emphasis on cooperation
*Fostering children's natural love of learning by building on curiosity
Here is a link to a website that includes the book's questions and answers.
What strikes me, in general, about that list of questions and answers is how creative play is favored over formal reading and writing instruction. I wonder if this is really the reality in kindergarten classes given the ever increasing emphasis on standardized testing. It seems to me that kindergarten has become the new 1st grade, with an expectation that kids will be reading and writing rather than getting ready to read and write. Best practice tells us that play-based learning is the way to go in kindergarten and most programs will describe themselves that way, but I'm interested in what is actually happening in kindergarten. In my son's kindergarten class there was daily time for free play, but there were also lots of worksheets. There were crafts and coloring, but maybe not enough. I fear that 1/2 day kindergarten creates the perception that educators/schools must prioritize academics and play and play just isn't a priority. Maybe it should be. From the book:
There is a wide range of reading abilities in any one kindergarten class—some children may be fluent readers while others can’t read at all. Parents of non-readers need not worry, as research clearly indicates that children who are formally taught to read in kindergarten have no significant advantage over their peers by the end of second grade.
What has been your experience? Do you have a kindergartener? What do they spend most of their school time doing?
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
Bloggers Challenge Final Plea
As you have read here, the Berwyn CARES Blogger Challenge 2008 was quite successful. Unfortunately, however, 2 of the 9 proposals are still not funded and they will expire in less than 35 days on DonorsChoose.com. This means that the money already given will be sent back to the donor to be applied to a different proposal.
Please read the following proposals. If you find one you like, please consider giving a small donation to see the proposal’s fulfillment.
Proposal #1: Show Me The Art
Proposal #2 : Getting Ready To Read
Thank you for considering our schools!
Please read the following proposals. If you find one you like, please consider giving a small donation to see the proposal’s fulfillment.
Proposal #1: Show Me The Art
Proposal #2 : Getting Ready To Read
Thank you for considering our schools!
Monday, January 26, 2009
Check your Property Tax Bill...
...and then check your calendar. There is a great opportunity to meet and question the candidates running for open school board seats in District 98, District 100 and District 201 THIS THURSDAY NIGHT.
All Berwyn Committee Candidates' Forum
Thursday January 29th at 7:00pm
Berwyn City Hall, 6700 W. 26th Street
Refreshments will be served!!
Before deciding if you should attend, check your property tax bill. It is likely that over 50% of your tax dollars go to fund public schools.At the elementary level, school boards directly influence the spending of about $30 million dollars per year. District 201 has about an $80 million dollar yearly budget. School Boards may arguably have more of an impact on our quality of life in Berwyn than any other elected official! Here are the details:
All Berwyn Committee Candidates' Forum
Thursday January 29th at 7:00pm
Berwyn City Hall, 6700 W. 26th Street
Refreshments will be served!!
Morton West Open House
On Thursday, February 5, 2009, District 201 will be holding its 2nd Semester Parents Night at all 4 building locations (Morton West, Morton East, Freshman Center, Alternative School). Here is the announcement for Morton West:
J. STERLING MORTON HIGH SCHOOLS
MORTON WEST HIGH SCHOOL
2400 S. HOME AVENUE, BERWYN, IL 60402
PHONE 708.222.5901 FAX 708.222.5903
Second Semester Open House for Parents
Thursday, February 5, 2009
6:00 – 6:30 p.m. Pick-up student schedule and school maps in the student cafeteria.
Follow the schedule below for your classroom visits.
6:30 – 8:30 p.m. Go to class:
• 12 minutes of class time, schedule below
• Experience your student’s schedule
• Meet your student’s teachers
• Obtain course information
• Learn what you can do at home to help your son/daughter progress
Special Room Locations:
Physical Education: Main Gym
Counselors: Student Cafeteria/Sundeck
Deans: Student Cafeteria/Sundeck
0 Hour 6:35 – 6:47
1st Hour 6:52 – 7:04
2nd Hour 7:09 – 7:21
3rd Hour 7:26 – 7:38
4/5/6th Hour 7:43 – 7:55
6/7/8th Hour 8:00 – 8:12
9th Hour 8:17 – 8:29
End of Open House 8:30
Complimentary refreshments are available in the student cafeteria sundeck.
J. STERLING MORTON HIGH SCHOOLS
MORTON WEST HIGH SCHOOL
2400 S. HOME AVENUE, BERWYN, IL 60402
PHONE 708.222.5901 FAX 708.222.5903
Second Semester Open House for Parents
Thursday, February 5, 2009
6:00 – 6:30 p.m. Pick-up student schedule and school maps in the student cafeteria.
Follow the schedule below for your classroom visits.
6:30 – 8:30 p.m. Go to class:
• 12 minutes of class time, schedule below
• Experience your student’s schedule
• Meet your student’s teachers
• Obtain course information
• Learn what you can do at home to help your son/daughter progress
Special Room Locations:
Physical Education: Main Gym
Counselors: Student Cafeteria/Sundeck
Deans: Student Cafeteria/Sundeck
0 Hour 6:35 – 6:47
1st Hour 6:52 – 7:04
2nd Hour 7:09 – 7:21
3rd Hour 7:26 – 7:38
4/5/6th Hour 7:43 – 7:55
6/7/8th Hour 8:00 – 8:12
9th Hour 8:17 – 8:29
End of Open House 8:30
Complimentary refreshments are available in the student cafeteria sundeck.
Thursday, January 1, 2009
District 201 Superintendent Search
A strong turnout for 2 public meetings could make a big difference in the future of our high school district. District 201 is seeking input from residents in the search for a new superintendent. Click here to read the online newsletter for details.
These two public forums are scheduled for
Jan. 7 at 7pm, Morton West High School, 2400 S. Home Ave.
Jan. 21 at 7pm, Morton East High School, 2423 S. Austin Blvd.
The hiring of the Superintendent of a district is, perhaps, the most important decision a school board will make. It is a great opportunity for our community. Our high school district has struggled to address the needs of students as demonstrated by low academic achievement and low graduation rates. Many blame the state of District 201 on community apathy, given the low voter turnout for school board elections. Let's show District 201 that Berwyn cares!! Please plan to attend one of the meetings!
To participate in an interactive discussion about the Superintendent search, click here.
These two public forums are scheduled for
Jan. 7 at 7pm, Morton West High School, 2400 S. Home Ave.
Jan. 21 at 7pm, Morton East High School, 2423 S. Austin Blvd.
The hiring of the Superintendent of a district is, perhaps, the most important decision a school board will make. It is a great opportunity for our community. Our high school district has struggled to address the needs of students as demonstrated by low academic achievement and low graduation rates. Many blame the state of District 201 on community apathy, given the low voter turnout for school board elections. Let's show District 201 that Berwyn cares!! Please plan to attend one of the meetings!
To participate in an interactive discussion about the Superintendent search, click here.
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