Registration Opens March 1 for 2012 District 64 “Worlds of Wonder” Summer Program

btramm — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 04:23:36 +0000

Park Ridge-Niles School District 64 will begin registration on Thursday, March 1 for its popular “Worlds of Wonder” summer program. Tuition is the same as last year, and priority is given to any child who resides within District 64 and who enrolls on or before Friday, April 20.

The program will be conducted at the same locations as last year: Washington School, for students completing grades K-3, and Lincoln Middle School, for students completing grades 4-7. Two sessions are offered: Tuesday, June 12 – Friday, June 29 and Monday, July 2 – Friday, July 20 (no school July 4). Students may register for one or two, 90-minute classes per each morning session. The program offers an extensive array of fun and stimulating choices, such as science, arts, crafts, cookery, movie-making, sports, music, and theatre. Skill-building classes in reading, language arts and math also are offered. Spanish review is available for students completing grade 7.

A course catalog and registration forms are available on the District 64 website: www.d64.org.

School District 64 Science Olympians Put Ingenuity to the Test

btramm — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 18:41:20 +0000

Park Ridge-Niles School District 64 students put their scientific ingenuity to the test on Saturday, February 4 at the annual Science Olympiad. The Olympiad was held at Emerson Middle School, 8101 N. Cumberland, Niles.

About 175 enthusiastic students competed in a series of Olympic-type team events. The Olympiad is an extracurricular program that challenges students in grades 3-5 to stretch the science skills and technology design they learn in the District 64 curriculum in fun ways.

“The Science Olympiad lets students encounter problems in science and engineering, and become actively engaged in solving them. In the process, they develop skills and dispositions important for 21st century learners, including reasoning, critical thinking, creativity, and teamwork. It’s the type of education we provide across the curriculum, but in a special way at this annual event,” explained Dr. Tony Clishem, District 64 Curriculum Specialist for Science. District 64 has hosted the Olympiad for more than 20 years.

Students registered in November for one of five events. Each event is co-sponsored by District 64 and one of the elementary school PTO/As. Volunteer parents work as coaches for students organized into teams and coordinate the events.

Five competitions were held simultaneously beginning at 9 a.m.: Aerodynamics – design a paper airplane and fly it to a target; Mystery Box – identify the properties of the contents within various boxes using all senses other than sight; Rubber Band Catapult – design and construct a catapult to shoot a rubber band at a target placed within a given range; Structures – build tall, free-standing structures with drinking straws and straight pins; and Egg Drop – design and build a “catcher” from paper and tape to cushion the drop of an egg from increasing heights.

The 2012 Olympiad winners in the five events are:

Aerodynamics

1st Place/Gold Medal: Jack Dombro & Owen Mech, Grade 5, Field Elementary School;
2nd Place/Silver Medal: Mason Conrardy & Nicholas Walczak, Grade 3, Carpenter School;
3rd Place/Bronze Medal: Billy Peck & Cole Schmeisser, Grade 5, Field School.

Mystery Box

1st Place/Gold Medal: Jack Massari, Liam Cannon & Will Stonebridge, Grade 4, Field School;
2nd Place/Silver Medal: Erin Converse, Sarah Biagi & Madeline Biagi, Grade 5, Washington School;
3rd Place/Bronze Medal: Emma Winckler & Sophie DiMaso, Grade 3, Field School.

Rubber Band Catapult

1st Place/Gold Medal: Billy Buerk & Ethan Rich, Grade 3, Field School;
2nd Place/Silver Medal: Stephen Pontikes & Damien Emmer, Grade 5, Franklin School;
3rd Place Tie/Bronze Medal: James Lawrin & Joey Sagmeister, Grade 4, Field School; Victoria Pontikes & James Keefe, Grade 5, Franklin School; Molly O'Brien, Grade 3, Emily Schneider, Grade 4, & Karen Van Den Eeden, Grade 4, Washington School.

Structures

1st Place/Gold Medal: Emily Buerk & Sabrina Nash, Grade 5, Field School;
2nd Place/Silver Medal: Madison Purtell & Katy Harms, Grade 5, Roosevelt School;
3rd Place/Bronze Medal: Matthew Asson & Alex Gonzalo, Grade 3, Field School.

Egg Drop

1st Place Tie/Gold Medal: Nichole Botello & Trisha Warren, Grade 3, Field School; Brian Farrell & Everett Bochat, Grade 3, Washington School;
2nd Place/Silver Medal: Raymond Menarik, Grade 4, & Charles Monical, Grade 3, Franklin School;
3rd Place/Bronze Medal: Bridget Stonebridge, Olivia Sivore & Rhiannon Sites, Grade 3, Field School.

Additional information about each event can be found on the Science Olympiad page on the District 64 website: www.d64.org.

School District 64 Announces 2012 Spelling Bee Winners

btramm — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 17:51:40 +0000

The Park Ridge-Niles School District 64 Spelling Bee was a hive of activity again this year as more than 200 students participated in the extracurricular activity for students in grades 3-8, according to Meghan Keefer, District 64 Language Arts Curriculum Specialist. “We are very pleased to have such a continuing high level of interest, as the bee offers a competitive opportunity in our District unlike any other, sparking excitement for language and vocabulary skills that promote life-long literacy connections,” Ms. Keefer noted.

For the second year, each school conducted its own spelling bee earlier this month to select representatives at large to participate at the District 64 competition. The winners of the individual school bees were: Carpenter – Grace Gallery, grade 5; Will Harter and Georgia Penesis, grade 4; Emerson – Anna Benuzzi and Darragh Dolan, grade 8, Christo Fosse, grade 6; Field – Jessie Beck and Justin Kim, grade 3, and Gabby Galiciano, grade 4; Franklin – Fallon Adams and Deliah ElBekkali, grade 4, and Ethan LaVacarre, grade 5; Lincoln – Julia Araneta, grade 8, and Ned Converse, Anastasia Dalianis and Abigail Ekstrom, grade 7; Roosevelt – Luke Burkum, Jensen Genyk and Anna Sealund, grade 4; and, Washington – Zoe Berthold and Elizabeth Gorney, grade 4, and Catherine Sernel, grade 3.

The District 64 Spelling Bee with these 22 students was held January 30 at Roosevelt School. It lasted 20 rounds, with the two final spellers – both from Lincoln Middle School – dueling during the final seven rounds. In the end, Lincoln grade 7 student Anastasia Dalianis spelled ”imam” correctly to capture the championship over Julia Araneta, grade 8. Third place went to last year’s champion, Anna Benuzzi, a grade 8 student from Emerson.

The District 64 winner now moves on to the North Cook regional spelling bee on February 8 at Sears School in Kenilworth, as part of the Scripps National Spelling Bee for 2012.

Franklin School speech pathologist Jane Tufts was the pronouncer for the District Bee; judges were Franklin School Principal Dan Walsh, Roosevelt School Assistant Principal Andy Petroline, and Field School teacher Anne Ham.

District 64 Schools Ready for February 7 & 9 Kindergarten/New Student Registration

btramm — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 18:53:21 +0000

Park Ridge-Niles School District 64 will conduct registration for the 2012-13 school year for students who will be entering kindergarten or transferring to a District 64 school as follows: elementary grades K-5 from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Tuesday, February 7 (all elementary schools) and Thursday, February 9 (all elementary schools except Carpenter). 2012-13 registration for transfer students in grades 6-8 is now ongoing at Emerson and Lincoln middle schools. Call your neighborhood school or the District 64 office at 847-318-4300 to receive a registration packet; materials also may be downloaded from the District 64 website: www.d64.org.

Volunteers Invited to District 64 Community Finance Committee Preview Meetings

btramm — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 00:08:30 +0000

Park Ridge-Niles School District 64 is reconvening its Community Finance Committee (CFC) and is inviting interested community members to attend a one-hour preview meeting in January to meet the new leaders, learn more about the five topics to be studied this spring, and hopefully sign on to participate in one of the study groups, according to Superintendent Philip Bender.

Interested volunteers may attend a 7:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. session, either on Tuesday, January 17 or Wednesday, January 25 at the District 64 Educational Service Center, 164 S. Prospect Ave., Park Ridge.

Newly appointed CFC Community Coordinators Ares Dalianis and Genie Taddeo will present an overview of the five subject areas slated for this spring. These include: enhancing taxpayer education tools; reviewing assumptions in the District’s 10-year financial model and developing alternate scenarios; increasing financial transparency by enhancing the District’s financial reporting; refreshing a CFC student fees study from 2009 that adjusted the District’s fee structure; and identifying borrowing options and budget impact as the District develops its maintenance priorities and new facility master plan.

The Board of Education created the CFC in 2004 to operate as a standing committee, available to provide research, analysis and advice to the Board on financial issues.

“Volunteers do not need a financial background,” Dr. Bender stressed. “The only requirement is to contribute time this spring to help develop these reports and recommendations,” he added. “This is a great opportunity for local residents to learn more about how education finance works and make an important contribution to our schools,” he noted.

Interested volunteers are invited to RSVP to Dr. Bender’s office at 847-318-4302, although a response is not required to attend.

Celebrate the Season with District 64 Students at Holiday Sings and Concerts

btramm — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 02:59:45 +0000

Families of students and members of the Park Ridge-Niles community are invited to enjoy the upcoming traditional holiday sings and concerts at District 64 schools to celebrate the festive season.

At the elementary schools, performances begin on Wednesday, December 21:

At Franklin School, prelude players will perform at 9:45 a.m. leading to a 10:00 a.m. performance by students in grades AM Kindergarten, 1, 3 and 5. The afternoon prelude will begin at 12:45 p.m. leading to a 1:00 p.m. sing for students in grades PM Kindergarten, 2 and 4.
Field School will split its concerts across two days. Students in grades Kindergarten, 1 and 2 will perform on Wednesday. Families of students whose last names begin in A-L and all Kindergarten AM families are invited to hear a prelude beginning at 9:15 a.m. leading to a 9:30 a.m. program. The afternoon program will feature a 12:45 p.m. prelude leading to a 1:00 p.m. performance for families of students in those grades whose last names begin in M-Z and all Kindergarten PM families. On Thursday, December 22, the same schedule will be followed for grades 3-5, with families of students whose last names begin in A-L attending in the morning and M-Z in the afternoon.

Three schools have scheduled performances exclusively on Thursday, December 22:

The north gym at Carpenter School will feature students in AM Kindergarten and grades 1-3 performing at 9:30 a.m.; students in PM Kindergarten and grades 4-5 along with the chorus and D.R.U.M. Club will perform at 1:00 p.m.
Roosevelt School will hold four sings in the south gym. Morning performances are scheduled for families of students whose last names begin in A-L: at 9 a.m. for grades AM Kindergarten, 3 and 5, and grade 5 chorus; and at 10:15 a.m. for grades 1, 2 and 4, and grade 4 chorus. Afternoon performances are set for families of students whose last names begin in M-Z: at 1:00 p.m. for grades 1, 3 and 5, and grade 5 chorus; and at 2:15 p.m. for grades PM Kindergarten, 2 and 4, and grade 4 chorus.
Washington School will celebrate the season in the gym at 9:15 a.m. for grades 2, 4-5, and at 10:15 a.m. for grades Kindergarten (AM/PM), 1 and 3.

District 64 middle school students will present an array of evening musical performances this holiday season, too. All will begin at 7:00 p.m., either in the school gym at Lincoln Middle School or the multipurpose room at Emerson Middle School:

On Wednesday, December 7, Emerson’s String Ensemble and Chamber Orchestra will perform, while Lincoln’s Beginning Band, Percussion Ensemble and Symphonic Band are scheduled to play.
On Thursday, December 8, Emerson’s Symphonic and Jazz bands will hold a concert, while at Lincoln, the Beginning and Chamber orchestras will play.
Choral performances also are planned for Lincoln’s vocalists on Wednesday, December 14 and on Thursday, December 15 for Emerson's.

District 64 “All-Star” Musicians Shine at Regional Events

btramm — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 22:33:29 +0000

Top student musicians from Park Ridge-Niles School District 64 middle schools were selected to participate recently in two annual regional events sponsored by the Illinois Music Educators Association (IMEA).

The IMEA District Festival was held on Saturday, November 4 at Wauconda High School. More than 700 of the finest band and orchestra students from over 50 junior high schools in the north suburban area auditioned for seats in this all-star group.

“The district programs present an extraordinary opportunity for our top band and orchestra students to meet and perform with talented students from other schools. Students also have the opportunity to work with nationally known conductors and be inspired to reach for a higher level with their music,” according to Brian Jacobi, District 64 Curriculum Specialist for Instrumental Music.
 District 64 students at the festival included: Emerson – Anthony Dare, bass clarinet; Gillian King and Alec Wojda, cello; Fritz May, violin; and, Lincoln – Emily Donahue, clarinet; Bonnie Millener, flute; Isabella Goldman, French horn; Jacqueline Murphy, violin; Kathryn Gaertner, viola; and, Robby Reinhard, bass. Donald Shupe from Libertyville High School conducted the band, and Charles Abplanalp from Evanston Township High School conducted the orchestra.

The second regional event was the IMEA Jazz Festival, which was held on Saturday, November 19 at Evanston Township High School. District 64 students selected to participate included: Emerson – Max Anderson, drums; Colin Besetzny, bass; Johnny Maltese-Miller, baritone sax; and, Lincoln – Wesley Dziedzic, piano; Jason Giblin, trumpet; and Robert Reinhard, bass. Christopher Madsen from Northwestern University conducted Band 1, and Terry Guynes from Lundahl Middle School in Crystal Lake directed Band 2.

District 64 teachers who instruct these students include: Jacobi, Eric Bachmann, Natalie Jacobsen, Dallas Klytta, Mary Ciccotelli, Jamie Hestead, and Erica Charous.

District 64 Sets Registration Dates for 2012-13

btramm — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 22:15:16 +0000

Park Ridge-Niles School District 64 will conduct registration for the 2012-13 school year for students who will be entering kindergarten or transferring to a District 64 school as follows: elementary grades K-5 from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Tuesday, February 7 (all elementary schools) and Thursday, February 9 (all schools except Carpenter); and, middle school grades 6-8 from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. on Thursday, January 19 at Lincoln and Thursday, January 26 at Emerson. Call your neighborhood school or the District 64 office at 847-318-4300 to be placed on a mailing list for a registration packet; materials also will be available in early 2012 on the District 64 website: www.d64.org.

District 64 to Announce Community Finance Committee Coordinators

btramm — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 22:00:47 +0000

Park Ridge-Niles School District 64 Superintendent Philip Bender will announce at the Board of Education meeting on November 14 the selection of Ares Dalianis and Genie Taddeo as Community Coordinators to lead the District’s Community Finance Committee (CFC).

The Board of Education created the CFC in 2004 to operate as a standing committee, available to provide research, analysis and advice to the Board on financial issues. The CFC has been on hiatus since early spring 2011 as it transitions to new leadership, members and topics for study.

In selecting Dalianis and Taddeo, Dr. Bender noted that: “Both are extremely strong candidates who have a long record of interest in District 64 schools evidenced by years of service." He also pointed out that both have a broad network of contacts among fellow Park Ridge-Niles residents, which will be crucial in recruiting other volunteers. “Mr. Dalianis and Ms. Taddeo are both skilled leaders and together, they will make an outstanding team to guide CFC as we begin a new chapter in its history,” he stated.

The new CFC community coordinators are:

Ares Dalianis – A Park Ridge resident for 11 years, Mr. Dalianis is an attorney specializing in education law, school finance and property assessment issue. He has been a resource for CFC since its inception in 2004 regarding his areas of expertise. He also served on the Board of Education in 2003-04. Mr. Dalianis has two children who are currently enrolled in District 64 schools.
Genie Taddeo – A Park Ridge resident for 19 years, Ms. Taddeo is a local realtor. She was a member of the Board of Education from 2005-11, serving as Vice President and Secretary. She also was the Board’s liaison to the Middle School Program Review, the Curriculum Council, the Facilities Committee, and the Elementary Learning Foundation among other assignments. In addition, she helped develop the District 64 Strategic Plan as a member of the Strategic Planning Team in 2009-10. Ms. Taddeo has a child currently enrolled in District 64, and one who has graduated from the District’s schools.

Also on November 14, Dr. Bender will seek the Board’s go-ahead on a list of study topics that he and the coordinators jointly recommend to be of most immediate interest. These include: identifying borrowing options and budget impact as the District prepares a facility maintenance plan and overall facility master plan; refreshing a student fees study the CFC completed in 2009 that adjusted the District’s fee structure; reviewing assumptions in a long-range financial model and developing alternate scenarios; and expanding taxpayer education tools and enhancing the District’s financial reporting.

District 64 will be working with the new community coordinators to recruit interested community volunteers to reconvene CFC in mid-January 2012.

District 64 Reports Students Achieved at Very High Levels in 2010-11; Performance Levels Rising Over Time

btramm — Tue, 18 Oct 2011 19:43:32 +0000

Park Ridge-Niles School District 64 students achieved at very high levels of performance in 2010-11 and achievement levels have been rising over time, according to Diane Betts, Assistant Superintendent for Student Learning. Ms. Betts reported to the Board of Education on October 17 at a Committee-of-the-Whole meeting focusing on Student Achievement. Board members heard a comprehensive, blended review of three types of assessments that collectively give a panoramic view of student learning in District 64.

District 64 Superintendent Philip Bender noted that: “Taken together, the reports give a full view of the many positive indicators that demonstrate District 64 students are learning successfully in our schools, that student performance has been growing over time, and that we are meeting our Strategic Plan goal of maintaining a very strong level of student performance,” he added.

Ms. Betts focused her report on three guiding questions: defining what District 64 wants students to learn; measuring achievement and growth toward these ends; and using the data to improve educational opportunities for students.

The report included a detailed analysis of student performance on: the Illinois Standards Achievement Test (ISAT) administered in March 2011; Measures of Academic Progress (MAP) testing; and District 64’s unique Educational Ends assessments and District scorecards.

ISAT – measuring how students meet state standards
This was the sixth year that the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) administered the current ISAT assessment. As required by the ISBE, all students in grades 3-8 took the tests in reading and math; only students in grades 4 and 7 were tested in science.

Ms. Betts reported that: “Strong scores are continuing in 2011. As reported on the 2011 Illinois Report Card, District 64’s overall 2011 ISAT performance moved upward to 94.9% of students ‘meeting or exceeding’ the Illinois Learning Standards for reading, math and science, from 93.7% a year ago.”

Separately, 94% of all students met or exceeded standards in reading, and 95% of students did so in math. Overall, students achieved at a minimum of 92% or higher at the meets or exceeds level on all tests at all grade levels, Ms. Betts announced.

She pointed out several “positive trends” from the results over time, including:
   ▪   More students are scoring in the top “exceeds” level. Ms. Betts noted that in math, the percentage of students in the top category had risen at all grade levels in 2011, and had risen in four of six grades tested in reading.
   ▪   More students are scoring in the combined meets or exceeds levels, too. The percentage of students scoring in this range in science improved at both grades tested, as did four of six grades in reading and in math.

“We believe this upward trend in ‘exceeds’ scores in math and reading might be attributed to the District’s emphasis on examining and using test data to plan more differentiated instruction and to be more aware of what level of performance is needed for students to score in the ‘exceeds’ range,” she added.

Another ISAT measure is adequate yearly progress (AYP) under the federal No Child Left Behind Act. By 2014, 100% of the students in every school are to meet or exceed their state’s learning standards. Ms. Betts reported that the ISBE uses only reading and math scores to determine whether each school and the District overall is making AYP, along with figures on attendance and student participation in testing.

In 2011, the ISBE set the goal that 85% of all students must score in the combined “meets or exceeds” category on both the math and reading ISATs to achieve AYP. To meet AYP, ISBE also tracks performance of students in special subgroups of 45 or more students; one subgroup is for students with disabilities.   This subgroup must meet the AYP target relying on several specific “safe harbor” calculations.

Reporting on the District level, Ms. Betts announced that District 64 as a whole did make AYP for 2011. At the school level, all but two schools also made AYP. Emerson Middle School and Washington School did not meet AYP for 2011 based on scores in the Students with Disabilities (IEP) subgroup. “Even with safe harbor provisions, it can be difficult for these students who we know have learning difficulties to meet the increasing demands of AYP,” Ms. Betts stated. “We predict that increasing numbers of schools – many of them in our commonly used comparison group – did not make AYP this year for similar reasons.”

Individual test results have already been shared with parents throughout the District.

MAP tests – measuring personal student growth
District 64 also utilizes a unique kind of standardized testing, called MAP, to provide data on reading and math performance. MAP tests are taken on a computer, which adapts the questions asked each student based on how the child answered the previous question. “This captures a child’s current knowledge and what the student needs to learn next,” Ms. Betts said.

Scores are reported as a “RIT” number. “It is an equal interval scale, like feet and inches, so a student’s educational growth can be measured from year-to-year similar to how a child’s height can be measured from year to year,” Ms. Betts noted. Students in grades 3-8 are given the test twice a year, with students in grade 2 tested mid-year.

For 2010-11, Ms. Betts noted that District 64 students scored well above national averages. Looking at data over time, she reported scores had reached a five-year high. “The mean RIT scores in both reading and math are the highest they have been at all grade levels since MAP testing began in fall 2006 here in District 64,” she announced.

Educational Ends and Scorecard – measuring how District 64 educates the “whole child”
“District 64 recognizes that to educate a well-rounded child who is capable of achieving excellence and who can thrive in and contribute to a rapidly changing world, we must emphasize academics but also higher order thinking and problem-solving skills, social-emotional development, physical development, exposure to a wide range of experiences in the arts, and development of a positive attitude toward learning,” Ms. Betts stated.

“This is what we mean when we say that we ‘educate the whole child’ in District 64,” she added.

District 64 about 10 years ago began developing its own, unique set of “Ends” statements that capture this full view of what students need to learn as a result of their total educational experience.

“Because we are interested in this broader view, we actually collect data from more than 100 different sources – standardized tests and local assessments, student performance activities, student surveys and report cards – and compile it into a summary scorecard to give us a better overview,” Ms. Betts noted.

She reported that for 2010-11, 78% of the assessments were at or above their targets, compared to 56% in 2006-07, the first year the scorecard was prepared. “Overall, we are maintaining strong performance in all curricular areas and experiencing growth on some assessments, such as reading fluency in our ‘benchmark’ third and fifth grades,” she added.

Assessment data used to improve instruction
Ms. Betts told the Board that this rich data from the trio of reports would be used extensively to analyze instruction to better meet student needs and make decisions about instruction.

“Teachers and administrators will be looking collaboratively at data at every level – for each child, groups of students, grade levels, buildings and District-wide – to seek patterns and trends and plan improvement strategies,” Ms. Betts stated. “By looking at the data closely, we can identify areas of strength as well as specific areas for improvement, and take action to redirect our instructional focus, adjust our pacing and plan staff development to support these efforts,” she said.

“The valuable data gained from all these measurement tools – ISATs, MAP and our Educational Ends – is used to help us continuously improve the educational opportunities we are providing and help all students achieve at their level of personal excellence,” Ms. Betts added.

District 64 website – “on demand” reports and meeting video
The student achievement reports, the Board meeting video and further information on the Educational Ends are available on the District 64 website (www.d64.org).

The 2011 Illinois Report Card for each school as well as the District will be available on the website and in school offices prior to the official ISBE release on Monday, October 31.

District 64 Community Preschool Has Openings Now for 3- and 4-Year-Olds

btramm — Fri, 30 Sep 2011 21:45:31 +0000

Openings are available for 3- and 4-year-old children at Park Ridge-Niles School District 64’s community preschool program at Jefferson School, 8200 N. Greendale, Niles. The program has several blended classrooms where students with special needs and community students attend preschool together. Class sizes are small. Children are accepted throughout the year once they turn 3 years of age. The curriculum is research-based and developmentally appropriate, emphasizing language, motor, social, independence and pre-kindergarten skills. Community students pay tuition on a monthly basis and must be District 64 residents or children of District 64 employees. For schedule and registration information, call 847-318-5360 or visit the Jefferson School website at this link: http://www.d64.org/jef/

School District 64 Board Meeting Videos Now Available

btramm — Mon, 29 Aug 2011 19:11:28 +0000

Park Ridge-Niles School District 64 now is providing videotapes of Board of Education meetings for viewing on demand from its website. Full-length tapes of the Board’s most recent regular meeting of August 22 along with the Committee-of-the-Whole session are available.

“Videotaping meetings is one of the new ways the Board of Education is enhancing the transparency of its operations and engaging stakeholders about Board decision-making, District goals and educational programs,” according to District 64 Superintendent Philip Bender. “Using technology to inform and communicate with the community also meets one of the District 64 Strategic Plan goals of accelerating the use of advanced technology in our educational program and in our operations,” he added.

The “viewer-friendly” page for each meeting provides a video player, lists the agenda topics and has a direct link to Board reports, Dr. Bender noted. The District offers current and archived agendas, reports, minutes, and now videos, on its website at: www.d64.org.

School District 64 Invites Parents to Curriculum Nights for 2011-12

btramm — Fri, 12 Aug 2011 22:09:51 +0000

Parents of Park Ridge-Niles School District 64 students are invited to head back-to-school themselves to attend Curriculum Nights at each school. Traditionally held during the first weeks of the new year, these popular evening events are an easy way for parents to meet their child’s teacher and find out what their child will be studying at a new grade level.

“Curriculum nights help build strong connections between home and school by creating a partnership between parents and teachers to support students in their learning,” according to Superintendent Philip Bender. “District 64 teachers and parents alike look forward to this special opportunity to establish the good communication and cooperation that create an environment for students to succeed in the year ahead,” he added. “Parents will have an opportunity to preview the curriculum with teachers, and learn about expectations for homework and other classroom routines,” Dr. Bender noted.

While at the Curriculum Night, parents receive a Learner Objective booklet for the new grade level that details the educational program, along with other school announcements.

The schedule for the 2011-12 parent evenings is:

Carpenter School – September 1 from 6:00 p.m. to 8:15 p.m.
Field School – grades K, 1 and 5 on August 25 from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. and grades 2-4 on August 30 from 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Franklin School – August 30 at 6:00 p.m.
Roosevelt School – at 6:00 p.m., grades K-2 on September 13 and grades 3-5 on September 15
Washington School – September 8 at 6:30 p.m.
Emerson Middle School – August 31 at 6:30 p.m. grade 6 and 7:00 p.m. grades 7-8
Lincoln Middle School – September 1 at 7:00 p.m.

In addition, Jefferson School will conduct a parent orientation on August 25 at 1:00 p.m.

District 64 Has Record 5 Schools Named to 2010 Illinois Honor Roll

btramm — Mon, 14 Feb 2011 23:59:31 +0000

Park Ridge-Niles School District 64 announced at the February 14 Board of Education meeting that for the first time five schools have been named to the 2010 Illinois Honor Roll sponsored by the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE). District 64 is one of only 25 school districts across the state to have five or more schools earn this award.

The five schools received an “Academic Excellence Award” for sustaining very high academic performance over at least three years. Overall, 90 middle schools and 363 elementary schools were recognized in Illinois.

Lincoln Middle School is one of only 21 schools in Illinois to receive an excellence award for the fifth consecutive time. Carpenter, Roosevelt and Washington elementary schools were named to the distinguished roster for a third straight year. In addition, Emerson Middle School joined the list for the first time in 2010.

“These awards are a reflection of the District’s culture of high expectations, since the awards recognize strong student achievement sustained over a three-year period,” according to District 64 Superintendent Philip Bender. “We take pride in this recognition, because it demonstrates the impact that teachers, students and their families working together can have on student learning and growth over time,” he added.

To earn the excellence award, at least 90% of students at these schools “met or exceeded” state standards in both reading and math assessments for three consecutive years on the Illinois Standards Achievement Test (ISAT). The schools also made “Adequate Yearly Progress” for the past two years.

District 64 noted that Field and Franklin schools also had very high performances overall, but failed to make AYP in one of the prior years due to rising standards for subgroups.

The Board of Education acknowledged for their leadership: Carpenter Principal Marcy Canel; Emerson Middle School Principal Vicki Mogil and Assistant Principal Tim Benka; Lincoln Principal Joel Martin and Assistant Principal Tim Gleason; Roosevelt Principal Kevin Dwyer and Assistant Principal Andy Petroline; Washington Principal Kim Nasshan and Assistant Principal Dan Ophus; and, the teachers and staffs at the five schools.

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