A Wish List for Morton West

Berwyn CARES had a small, but spirited, group meet on Thursday at the Library to discuss the book "How to Walk to School: Blueprint for a Neighborhood Renaissance". Our discussion kept coming back to Morton West. I've posted the following question on the CARES forum and was hoping you all would comment there. While not everyone can attend meetings in person, most readers of this blog have something to say on this subject. Let your voice be heard!

* When Nettlehorst school principal Susan Kurland asked parent Jacqueline Edelburg and her friend what it would take for them to enroll their children at the school, the women came back the next day "armed with an extensive wish list" (pp. 25-27). What would be on your wish list for a school for your children? Which items, if any, would be nonnegotiable?

Reply here: http://www.berwyncares.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=39

NBPD Names Best of Berwyn, Seeks Volunteers to Build Park.

Congratulations to the North Berwyn Park District on the 10th anniversary of the Best of Berwyn program, celebrated at an awards dinner last week. Few events make you feel better about local education than the Best of Berwyn. The caliber of all the kids in the competition this year was inspiring and a video should soon be available on their Web site.

The #1 Best of Berwyn for 2011 is a young man named Weisner Perez whose brother was a #2 BoB last year. All three middle schools were pretty evenly represented (7-8 kids each from Freedom, Lincoln, Heritage) and 2 from St. Leonard’s. Many were like Weisner in that they had siblings that preceded them in the BoB, reinforcing what we already know: that family support makes a big difference.

You can read more about the program and the candidate’s here: http://www.nbpd4fun.org/uploads/Download/BOB2011Candidates.pdf.

North Berwyn Park District has plans to build a park at 19th and Cuyler in ONE day (June 4, 2011) with support from KaBOOM! and Disney. They are seeking 150 volunteers (no skills/tools needed). Please email info@berwyncares.org if you want to join a CARES team or contact the NBPD at (708) 749-4900.

How to Walk to School: Blueprint for a Neighborhood School Renaissance Author Jacqueline Edelberg to Speak at Heritage Middle School

On May 19, 2011, Berwyn C.A.R.E.S. and the Heritage PTSA will host Jacqueline Edelberg, coauthor of How to Walk to School: Blueprint for a Neighborhood School Renaissance, who will share her experiences as a successful organizer of grassroots, community-led school reform.

When Edelberg and a friend ventured inside Nettelhorst, their Chicago neighborhood’s underutilized and struggling public elementary school, the new principal asked what it would take for them to enroll their children. Stunned by her candor, they returned the next day armed with an extensive wish list. The principal read their list and said, “Well, let’s get started, girls! It’s going to be a busy year...”

How to Walk to School is the story of eight park moms who galvanized neighborhood parents and then organized an entire community to take a leap of faith, transforming a challenged urban school into one of the city’s best, virtually overnight. It provides an honest and accessible blueprint for parents and administrators who are ready to step forward and take back their schools.

Please join us for this vital discussion of how to reclaim the public schools our children deserve.

Heritage Middle School
6850 31st Street
Thursday, May 19
7:00 p.m.

The event is free and open to the public. Onsite child supervision will be provided.

Copies of How to Walk to School will be offered for sale, courtesy of Magic Tree Bookstore.

The Nettelhorst story has been featured on Oprah & Friends, The Wall Street Journal, USA Today, Redbook, NPR, CNN, 60 Minutes, Education Weekly, and in the Chicago media. See below for highlights from the media coverage of How to Walk to School.

Video produced by Pearson Education:

NPR's Chicago Matters:

Chicago magazine:

The Chicago Reader:

Morton West Teacher Thanks CARES; Students Head to State Science Fair

Mrs. Stokes, a science teacher at Morton West was able to guide 5 students to the state level science competition thanks in part to CARES members generous donations at The Morton West Mini Challenge at Donors Choose. Here is a note of thanks from Mrs. Stokes to CARES members:

Dear Berwyn CARES:

Thank you all for giving to this project and for supporting the scientific process.
My students gain so many benefits from participation in the science fair that I can't image not providing them this opportunity. Your donations have made this a little easier.

We have 5 students that moved on to the state level of competition this year and we hope to increase that for next year. I can't wait to share my students' thank you notes with you next fall so you can hear about their ideas for their projects.
Science education isn't just about learning facts but about using information to solve problems and make our world a better place. It's also about using data to make well informed decisions. These are skills that everyone needs not just scientists. The science fair project helps my students hone these skills.

Thank you again, I'm so glad I found donorschoose.org. It's a heartwarming experience to find a community of wonderful, giving people like yourselves.
With gratitude,
Ms. S.

Berwyn CARES also helped fund a classroom set of high interest books for students to use during Silent Sustained Reading. Teachers give students time to read in class for pleasure, but many did not have a good book in which to get lost! Now they do, thanks to you.

There are still 3 unfunded project in the Morton West Mini-Challenge. Please consider making a small donation today!

There are classrooms in need of digital cameras, printers, calculators and other supplies that will make the learning environment rich and the lessons much more engaging for these deserving students! Together, we can make a difference!