District 90 Primer Newsletter

River Forest District 90 Primer

April 2016

Superintendent's Message

Dear Parents, Staff, Students, and Community Members,

Spring has certainly begun for students, faculty, and families. Its signs show up on the clock, the calendar, and even our backyards with the return of Day Light Savings Time, the sight of early flowers peeking about the soil line, and the calendar marking the vernal equinox. Spring also signals Spring Break for the District as students and faculty take a well-deserved interlude before the final push to the school year's end.

Students, faculty and staff, and administrators have been very busy and have made notable progress on many academic and educational fronts. With the approval from our Board of Education, Dr. Alison Hawley was selected as our new Director of Curriculum and Instruction. She starts July 1 and replaces the well-regarded Martha Ryan-Toye, Director of Student Services. Please join us in welcoming Dr. Hawley to District 90 at an Open House on Tuesday, April 12 from 3:30 p.m. - 5 p.m. in the Roosevelt Multi-Purpose Room.

Congratulations go to Anthony Cozzi, Director of Finance and Facilities, and his staff for receiving the Certificate of Excellence in Financial Reporting from the Association of School Business Officials (ASBO)! This is the 23rd time the District has received this honor, which recognizes District 90's Comprehensive Annual Financial Report and efforts to make financial reporting easier to understand and transparent to the community.

The Roosevelt Exterior Project is slated to begin construction in June after the end of the regular school year. Even with its several postponements and revisions, the initial objective of the renovation project remains: to improve student safety, campus aesthetics, and site functionality. You can learn more about the details of the improvements below. The major portions of the Project are expected to be completed before school starts on August 25.

District 90 is getting ready for the upcoming round of PARCC assessments. While each school determines its own assessment timetable, the D90 window for the PARCC assessment is between April 18 and May 6. The scheduling change coincides with other changes in the assessment this year. Most students will find the assessment for math to be about 60 minutes shorter and the English/Language Arts portion about 30 minutes shorter than last year, for a total of 90 minutes eliminated from the total assessment time. PARCC continues to be aligned with the Common Core State Standards, of course.

Lastly, author and speaker Erin Walsh will present an evening discussion on Mind Positive Parenting. Jointly sponsored by the Special Education Advisory Committee and the District's PTOs, the presentation is designed for all parents. The presentation will be on Thursday, April 14 at Roosevelt from 6:30 p.m. - 8 p.m. I hope to see you there.

With warm regards,

Ed Condon, Ph.D.

Superintendent

District News

Dr. Alison Hawley, D90's New Director of Curriculum and Instruction

Board of Education members recently approved the selection of Dr. Alison Hawley as the new Director of Curriculum and Instruction for the District. She will begin in her role on July 1, following the resignation of Martha Ryan-Toye, Director of Student Services.

Dr. Hawley was selected after an extensive search process that included interviews by stakeholder groups of faculty, staff, administrators, parents, and Board of Education members. Prior to this position, Dr. Hawley served as the Director of Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment for the Winnetka Public Schools in Winnetka, Ill. She has also served as the Assistant Principal and a sixth grade Language Arts/Social Studies teacher at the Skokie School in Winnetka. Before working in Winnetka, Dr. Hawley held several positions at the Academy of Environmental Science in East Harlem, N.Y. serving as a seventh grade Humanities teacher, Administrative Intern, and Middle School Coordinator. Her widespread experiences with curriculum and instruction, equity and diversity, and her commitment to collaborative professional growth for faculty made her stand out among other candidates.

District 90 is hosting an Open House to welcome Dr. Hawley to the River Forest community. The "meet and greet" will be Tuesday, April 12 from 3:30 p.m. - 5 p.m. in Roosevelt Middle School's Multi-Purpose Room. Please stop by to welcome Dr. Hawley to District 90!

District 90 Receives Financial Reporting Award

District 90 has been awarded the Certificate of Excellence in Financial Reporting by the Association of School Business Officials (ASBO) International. The award is in recognition of District 90's Comprehensive Annual Financial Report for the fiscal year 2015. It is the 23rd time the District has received this recognition. The Certificate of Excellence acknowledges that District 90's financial reporting has met or exceeded the ASBO's standards for financial reporting and accountability. The Certificate of Excellence award also confirms the school business office's commitment to financial accountability and transparency. Congratulations to Anthony Cozzi, Director of Finance and Facilities, and his staff for their notable efforts!

Roosevelt Renovations Update

After several postponements and revisions, work on the Roosevelt Exterior Project is scheduled to begin in June after the end of the regular school year. The original purpose of the Project remains the same: to improve student safety, campus aesthetics, and the functionality of the school site. The current plan maintains many of the project's initial elements, including the location and configuration of proposed playground improvements, the installation of bicycle racks and pedestrian paths, and the development of a "through block" walkway that provides for easy and safe access from Jackson Avenue to Lathrop Avenue. Included in the plan are modifications that will improve pedestrian safety in the North Lot while retaining 36 parking spaces and keeping 50 off-street parking spaces situated across the entire campus. Updated landscaping, improved lighting and signage, and the introduction of shade and ornamental trees are part of the plan's campus improvements. Improved storm water management will also help limit rainwater run-off and mitigate the impact of flooding on the campus. The major portions of the Roosevelt Exterior Project are expected to be completed before the start of school on August 25.

Roosevelt Readiness for 4th Graders

How can you help your fourth grade student get ready to move into Roosevelt Middle School next year? Consider registering him or her for the upcoming Roosevelt Readiness sessions. The dates for online registration are April 7 - April 14. The Roosevelt Readiness program is holding two sessions to help fourth grade students ease their transition into middle school. The hour-long classes specifically focus on organizational skills, approaches to success, fostering positive relationships with teachers and students, and learning about clubs and other extracurricular activities. All sessions will be held at Roosevelt. The cost for Roosevelt Readiness is $45. Financial assistance scholarships are available for eligible students by contacting the Roosevelt Main Office at 708-366-9230.

The two sessions will be held on:

April 18 - May 4, 2016, Monday/Wednesday, 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
April 19 - May 5, 2016, Tuesday/Thursday, 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.

To register online, visit the District's website www.district90.org. Select Web Pay, District Store, Roosevelt, Roosevelt Readiness. For more information about Roosevelt Readiness sessions, please click here for the Roosevelt Readiness flyer!

Summer School Registration Opens Soon

It's time to start thinking about how students will spend their summer hours. Consider sending your student to Summer School in District 90. All classes are specially designed to enrich and support students, and will be held at Lincoln School. Summer School starts on Thursday, June 9 and ends on Friday, July 8. There's no school scheduled on Monday, July 4. This year, the District is also offering two-hour afternoon camps in crafts, volleyball, and engineering. Registration for summer school will begin on Tuesday, April 5 at 7 a.m. and will close on Friday, May 27 at midnight. To register, visit the District 90 website, click the web pay link on the lower right hand side of the home page, then follow the directions for registering for Summer School. The web pay link is also available on each school's web page. Financial assistance scholarships are available for eligible students. Families interested in financial assistance scholarships should contact Josephine Ribaudo at 708-771-8282. For more information about Summer School classes, click here for the brochure!

Every Student Succeeds Act of 2015

With the recent passing of the Every Student Succeeds Act of 2015, the state of Illinois and local school districts assume increased oversight of school accountability, funding, and the quality of education provided to students. For more information, click here to see the Illinois State Board of Education's helpful overview on key elements of this important legislation.

PARCC Assessment Schedule

District 90 has scheduled the Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers (PARCC) assessments. Each school determines its own PARCC assessment timetable, but the overall window for the PARCC assessment is April 18 - May 6.

The PARCC assessment has undergone several changes this year. It will be shorter with a simpler format. Most students will find that the total assessment will be about 90 minutes shorter than last year: 60 minutes shorter for math and 30 minutes shorter for English/Language Arts. The PARCC assessment continues to focus on critical thinking, concept mastery, and writing skills and remains aligned with Common Core State Standards (CCSS). Click here for more information on the anticipated changes to the PARCC assessment.

Mind Positive Parenting by Erin Walsh

District 90's Special Education Adivsory Committee and the District's PTOs are hosting an afternoon with speaker and author Erin Walsh on Mind Positive Parenting. Audience members will learn about the effect of media and technology on a child's growing brain and why children learn and behave the way they do. The event will be on Thursday, April 14 at Roosevelt Middle School from 6:30 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. Click here to view the flyer!

Science Expos Showcase Fun for All

Lincoln and Willard recently hosted separate Science Expos for their students. The junior scientists at both schools used the science fairs to become familiar with the discovery process that helps explain our natural world.


Photo courtesy of Tamara Irwin

Lincoln's Science Expo showcased the experiments and results of student science projects. The Kiwanis Club of River Forest & Oak Park sponsored raffle prizes for students. Instead of a competitive science event, the raffle enabled the participants to celebrate their scientific discoveries and results.

Willard's multi-part Science Festival featured programming through the

Science Alliance, the results of students' science experiments, and an interactive science museum where students were enthralled with hands-on science demonstrations. Often using common household ingredients, Willard graduates and parent volunteers worked with students on how to create items such as neon gak, mini lava lamps, perfume, and super balls. Both expos helped students experience the fun in science.

Roosevelt's 8th Grade Shakespeare Festival


Photo courtesy Courtney Yungerman & Abby Travis

The 8th Grade Shakespeare Festival was a great success. Student presentations and performances brought the Bard's words alive to the delight of other students, parents, and volunteers. Adorned in period costumes, students performed scenes from Shakespearean plays or presented research on the Elizabethan Era.

International Film and Culture Festivals Spark Curiosity

Willard and Lincoln students sampled the foods and culture of regions around the world through the schools' International Festivals.

With nearly 250 participants and guests in attendance, this year's Willard's International Film and Culture Fest was one of the school's largest events. Students and families sampled music, food, and films from regions around the world, while students from FLIP classes demonstrated their growing language skills.

Lincoln's International Festival was the school's first and encouraged students and parents to sample refreshments and snippets of culture from regions around the world. With students acting as tour guides, guests could "visit" more than 15 countries. Interactive activities included making soap in France and learning common phrases in several languages.

Willard and Lincoln students' curiosity was certainly sparked by these events that helped them better understand their roles as global citizens.