education briefs
What started off as a small idea from one team of eighth grade teachers at the school, quickly escalated to a school-wide initiative.
"The first day we launched the idea, we had 112 students who had signed pledge cards," Timber Ridge eighth grade teacher Matt Haubert said. "It started in the morning and within a half hour it had spread like wildfire."
The pledge sheets challenged the staff and students to show Timber Ridge pride by honoring the five core values of respect, responsibility, integrity, teamwork and excellence.
For each signed pledge sheet, the students and staff members received a ribbon in their team color of green, orange or white. They also signed a huge signature mural that was placed in the cafeteria for all to see.
Those who pledged then acted as ambassadors of the program, encouraging others to also make the pledge.
After five days, nearly 1,000 people had made the commitment, and all were proudly wearing their ribbons to show their support.
The activity coincided with the school's homecoming spirit week, but the pledge is a commitment the students and staff made for the entire year, to show pride for their school and community by promoting how they would like to act.
"The pledge is in the interest of everyone's success," Haubert said. "And it doesn't discriminate based on gender, race or age."
The famous explorers--actually fifth grade students in Tracy Kazmierczak's class--will explain how their explorations were important and eventually led to the formation of the 13 United States colonies.
The "Explorer Museum" will begin at 9:30 a.m. on Friday at the school, 2001 Wesmere Parkway, Plainfield.
The fifth grade students will dress up as their explorer for the museum. They'll also "become" their explorer by presenting their projects to visitors and answering questions.
Students, staff and parents will walk through Kazmierczak's classroom to discover all types of visual and interesting facts about early explorers.
The fifth grade students also conducted research and wrote a paper on an early explorer. In their papers, the students had to explain the early life of the explorer, the exploration that made him or her famous, and the important contributions they made as a result of the exploration.
"I have been really impressed on the research skills of the students, and I look forward to seeing their final reports, projects and costumes," Kazmierczak said.
The campaign is designed to assist the school's families during the current economic downturn.
"I have just been burdened by the amount of students, and their younger siblings who aren't school age yet, that do not have coats, gloves or hats for the winter," Peterson said. "So I want to do something to encourage these families who are struggling in our learning community."
Peterson decided to set up a giving tree at the school. He sent home letters to every Creekside family asking for donations of new or gently used coats, mittens, hats and gloves. The letter also asked families to respond if they need help supplying their child or children with any of the mentioned items.
"The letters are kept strictly confidential, because I am just trying to help and make sure kids are warm this winter," Peterson said.
For each donation, the Creekside students or staff members color a picture of the item they donated and hang it on the tree.
Peterson is also asking local businesses for donations.
The "Warmth for Winter" campaign will run through the beginning of Parent Teacher conferences on Nov. 18. During the conferences, Peterson will have tables set up for Creekside parents to stop by and pick up any items they may need for their children. Creekside is located at 13909 S. Budler Road, Plainfield.
Any items left after the conferences will then be donated to families in the larger District 202 community who have shared a need for winter items at their schools.
If the campaign is successful, Peterson plans to continue and expand it.
"My hope is that all students at Creekside, despite the economic struggles, will be dressed with the appropriate gear to stay warm," Peterson said.
The band was invited to perform after submitting an audition CD last winter.
Fifty-six Plainfield South pep band students will perform some of the pieces they played for the audition tape.
"We will be performing a variety of popular music ranging from early rock 'n roll hits like 'Shake Rattle and Roll,' to 80s punk hits like, 'Rock and Roll High School,' by the Ramones, to swing tunes like, 'Jump, Jive an' Wail!' and everything in-between," PSHS Director of Bands Jerrod Cook said.
The band will play for about 30 minutes prior to the first volleyball game, while fans are entering the arena and while teams are warming up. They will also play during time outs and in between periods.
"The students are very excited about the opportunity to play for such a large crowd, and to show the state just how talented they are," Cook said.
Almost every band in Illinois is eligible to apply to perform. Twelve bands were selected to play at either the boys or girls basketball tournaments last spring or the girls volleyball tournament this fall. Four bands were selected for each tournament.
61 students named AP Scholars
Sixty-one District 202 high school graduates and current seniors have been named AP Scholars based on their performance on the AP exams given during the 2009 school year--a 25 percent increase in AP Scholars over last year.
The news mirrors recent data that show District 202 high school students' scores rising significantly on state standardized tests, and inching up steadily on the ACT college entrance exam.
These improvements all follow major initiatives implemented over the last several years to improve high school achievement, by raising the number of more challenging courses, making it easier for more students to take such courses and eliminating some lower-level classes, among numerous other systemic upgrades.
"This is great news for our high school students, staff and families who are working together to help all of their students challenge themselves and improve academically," said Glenn Wood, director for high school curriculum and instruction.
The AP Program lets motivated and academically prepared high school students take challenging, college-level courses and get college credit, advanced placement or both for successful performance on the AP Exams. About 18 percent of the 1.7 million students who took AP exams worldwide were named AP Scholars.
Last year, 49 District 202 students were named AP Scholars.
This year, 14 Plainfield High School-Central Campus students; 23 Plainfield South High School students; and 24 Plainfield North High School students were named AP Scholars.
The AP Scholar Awards are given at three levels.
• AP Scholars earned at least a 3 (out of a possible five) on three or more AP exams. This year, District 202 had 26 AP Scholars, down from 28 last year.
• AP Scholars with Honor earned an average grade of at least 3.25 on all AP exams taken, and grades of 3 or higher on four or more of these exams. This year, District 202 had 15 AP Scholars with Honor, up from 11 last year.
• AP Scholars with Distinction earned an average grade of at least 3.5 on all AP exams taken, and grades of 3 or higher on five or more of these exams. This year, District 202 had 20 AP Scholars with Distinction, up from 10 last year.
Among this year's AP Scholars:
• Three PSHS students and two PNHS students each took nine AP exams - the most among all of the Scholars: from PSHS, Ashley Mytnik, Samuel Amelio and Kevin Supple; and from PNHS, Travis Herrick and Sahithi Kalidindi.
• PNHS senior Christopher Reimer earned the highest average AP score - a 5 out of a possible five. He also received the most "5's" - four scores of 5 out of four tests taken. six tests taken
• PNHS earned the highest school average score of 3.94, followed by PSHS's average of 3.79. PHSCC students averaged a 3.39.
In 2006, District 202 had only five AP courses. This year, there are 21, with plans to add at least two more in coming years, which will put District 202 in line with some of the most academically prestigious districts in Illinois.
The district has also increased access to more challenging courses, including AP-level classes.
Preliminary data from this fall shows about 2,300 students enrolled in one or more AP course this year, up from about 1,200 in 2007-08. As well, historically about 50 percent of students enrolled in AP courses have also taken at least one AP exam in the spring.
"We want to increase the number of students taking the related AP exams for their courses," Wood said. "It is very important that students follow through and take the AP exam so that they can obtain college credit for their efforts and achievement."
2009 District 202 Scholars Plainfield North
AP Scholars: Aric Acius, Andrew Karas, Adam Krause, Denis Kurtovic, John Lim, Alfonso Macias, Arsal Manzoor, Daniel Marsiglio.
AP Scholar with Honor: Rishi Charate, Justin Hish, Michael Markwell, Jonathon McCann, Christopher Riemer, Spring Siaw, Rebecca Williamson.
AP Scholar with Distinction: Ryan Arnold, Gabriela Busse, Kyle Deininger, Travis Herrick, Sahithi Kalidindi, Laura Simon, Sarah Strom, Richard Wozniak, Benjamin Yu.
Plainfield South
AP Scholars: Christopher Albert, Christopher Eurich, Alexia Harris, Michael Holler, Lisa Janasik, Cody Langlois, Zachary Le Duc, Samantha Lucheck, Ashley Mytnik, Chad Thornburg.
AP Scholar with Honor: Brian Amelio, Benjamin Magolan, Karina Weis.
AP Scholar with Distinction: Samuel Amelio, Kelly Bishop, James Hicks, Jordan Jeske, Miranda King, Jeremiah Lennox, Margaret Maddox, Bridgette McGuire, Dario Romero, Kevin Supple.
PHSCC
AP Scholars: Christopher Bates, David Gloria, Juan Gonzalez, Michael Leonard, Matthew Maser, Carmel Nichos, Holly Reed, Chelsea Roberts.
AP Scholar with Honor: Efrain Bahena, Sarah Juhant, Sumaiya Saad, Eric Sipe, Alayna Soehlke.
AP Scholar with Distinction: Ala Salameh.
"This experience will give the students an opportunity to perform for a very large audience, which always adds a little more pressure than performing for your own home fans," Cook said.
"The students will also be performing to support both teams, neither of which may be from PSHS," Cook added.
"This aspect of performance is one of the most important from a musical perspective. The students will potentially not have the motivation of playing for their own team, but still have to perform their best," Cook said. "This is an important lesson to learn as a musician."
Carson placed third in the poster contest last year for her grade level, and was eager to do even better this year. Here dedication paid off.
This year, Carson placed first in her grade category. To honor her accomplishments, Carson and her family and teacher were invited to the annual Exchange Club Firefighter of the Year Luncheon on Oct. 6.
At the luncheon, Carson received her poster in a frame as well as a first place blue ribbon, which she plans to hang in her room.
Carson divided her poster into a story board to help explain her idea for this year's theme, "Call 9-1-1."
"My mom was cooking dinner when I was drawing the poster, so I decided to draw a picture of a mom cooking dinner," Carson said.
"The mom (in the picture) goes to answer the phone, and when she comes back, the food has caught on fire. Then the house catches on fire, but she calls 9-1-1, and the firemen come and save everyone," she said.
Carson was also honored at school when her accomplishment was read over the intercom.
"It made me really happy to hear my name and to win," Carson said. "I worked really hard."
The Joliet Fire Department annually hosts the poster contest in conjunction with Fire Prevention Week, the first full week of October.
Nearly 5,000 first through fifth grade students throughout Joliet annually participate in the contest.
