Curriculm tool maps student achievement,
creates stronger partnership with elementary schools
West Campus auditorium closed for repairs
P.E. program a textbook model for state
Board recognizes fall achievements
Curriculm tool maps student achievement,
creates stronger partnership with elementary schools
A new web-based curriculum mapping program developed by Lake Park High School has increased the collaboration between the high school and sender school districts and aims to improve achievement for all students, from kindergarten through 12 th grade.
Created by Director of Curriculum Mike Wojtowicz and Associate Superintendent Lynne Panega in collaboration with the Curriculum and Staff Development Council, the program allows teachers to plug in every unit taught in every class and identify which state learning standards are covered and how they will apply to standardized tests.
It is common practice for teachers to map out what they are teaching in each course, what skills they hope their students learn and concepts that are linked to state standards. But the onslaught of high-stakes standardized tests that have become part of No Child Left Behind have increased pressure on districts to make sure what the students learn in class is linked to what is on the tests.
The stakes are high not only for schools, but students too as college officials increasingly rely on ACT and SAT scores to determine which students to accept into their schools.
While old school curriculum was usually compiled in a binder that not everyone had a copy of and may have varied from teacher to teacher, this new web-based system is accessible to all teachers, can be easily updated and modified. The learning standards are already loaded by subject, so teachers can easily peruse and link to their curriculum.
“We wanted consistency and an electronic format. Curriculum documents existed before but were in different places and different formats,” Ms. Panega said.
Lake Park teachers began entering their course work into the system last year and are finishing up this year, looking for areas to improve and determine which standards need more emphasis.
The five elementary districts that feed into Lake Park, Itasca District 10, Roselle District 12, Medinah District 11, Bloomingdale District 13 and Keeneyville District 20, have signed onto the system. This will allow educators to more closely monitor what students should know and when, eliminating overlap and duplication.
“Kudos to Lake Park for leading this initiative. What’s important is we’re viewing children as ‘our’ children,” said District 20 Superintendent Carol Auer, who attended the Nov. 27 board meeting to discuss elementary-high school district cooperation. “We will save time, money and effort. We won’t duplicate efforts so the students hear the same thing in ninth grade that they were taught in eighth grade. It should allow more students to advance to higher academic levels.”
Once all of the teachers have entered information about their various class curriculums, the real discussions will begin, Ms. Panega said, as they identify what standards may be duplicated across the subjects and what needs more emphasis to improve student scores.
West Campus auditorium closed for repairs
“Repairs to the West Campus auditorium will begin next week after a structural defect was found where the interior walls meet the roof decking. The auditorium was closed to all students, staff and the public earlier in November after a small piece of cinderblock fell from the ceiling. No one was injured from this incident, but the facility was closed until a complete building inspection could take place.
“A structural engineer determined that interior concrete walls are separating from the roofing deck because they were not properly anchored when the structure was built 32 years ago. Foundation settling exacerbated the problem, which reached an unsafe condition and closed the auditorium earlier in November. The Board of Education Monday authorized a contract of just over $49,000 to Piazza Masonry to make the necessary repairs in hopes of being able to re-open the auditorium for the beginning of the second semester.
“The holiday concerts scheduled for December in the West Campus auditorium have been moved to the East Campus auditorium. Classes held there have been moved to other rooms, but the district wants to get the auditorium repaired and back in use as soon as possible.
“The work was not put out for bid because of the emergency nature of the repair. Assistant Superintendent for Business Services, Dr. Jeff O’Connell, did seek proposals from three vendors for the work, however. Piazza’s furnished a bid proposal that most closely met the needs of the district. Work should begin by Dec. 4 and the goal is to have it open when students return from winter break Jan. 3.
P.E. program a textbook model for state
The physical education department is a textbook model for high school lifelong health and wellness education. They have three blue ribbons and are featured in a college textbook on writing physical education curriculum to prove it.
Teachers Debra Vogel, Cathy Patzner, Donna Alexander and Lance Murphy presented to the board of education the Blue Ribbon award the school received from the Illinois Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance. This is the third straight Blue Ribbon recognition for Lake Park P.E., the only high school in the state to receive the award three times.
“This award is given only after a careful evaluation of a school’s curriculum, facilities, staff, funding and support from inside and outside of the learning community,” Ms. Vogel told the Board.
Gym class is more than playing basketball or lifting weights. During freshman and sophomore years, students have a set program of health and wellness lessons in their physical education classes. Juniors and seniors get to pick their physical education activities to begin pursuing lifelong recreational interests.
The curriculum is identified as a model curriculum in the college textbook published by Human Kinetics, “P.E. 4 Life.”
“Imagine a world with no obesity, no diabetes, no cardiac diseases. We as physical educators see this as part of our mission,” Ms. Vogel said.
Board recognizes fall achievements
Members of the Girls Cross Country team, Assistant Soccer Coach John Gouriotis and the Lancer Marching Band were recognized for their achievements this past fall at the Nov. 27 Board of Education meeting.
Athletic Director Pete Schauer presented plaques to the cross country team, coach Harvey Braus, and assistants Brian Hesik and Brooke Kafka for the team’s record-breaking season. The team is the first cross country team in school history to capture the “ triple crown” of interscholastic competition by winning the Upstate Eight Conference Championship, the IHSA Regional Championship and IHSA Sectional Championship while advancing as a team to State Finals for the second straight season. At the State Finals, the team placed highest in school history by placing fifth in the state.
Team members include: Lindsay Flanagan, Trisha Ehrhardt, Sangeeta Hardy, Elizabeth Riggio, Ashley Prochazka, Juliet Vogel, Yazmin Gutierrez, Sara Sanchez, Adrienne Ryba, Becky Kohles, Pam Rahman and Colleen Briscoe.
John Gouriotis, dean of students, has been the assistant varsity boys soccer coach at Lake Park for the past ten years. John was named the Illinois High School Soccer Coaches Association Assistant Coach of the Year. Head Coach Norm Hillner credited Mr. Gouriotis with having an in-depth knowledge of the game and great ability to communicate that knowledge to his players. He also serves as head coach of the girls varsity soccer team, and last year led the girls program into its first-ever birth into IHSA Sectionals.
"> The marching band was honored for its season, which included a third place in the finals competition at the State of Illinois Invitational High School Marching Band Competition in Normal. The band started its season with first-place finishes at the Wheaton Invitational and the Prospect Knight of Champions competitions. The band also placed sixth out of 41 bands at a Bands of America regional in Indianapolis and placed 18 th out of 92 bands at the Grand National Championships.
"> Drum majors Liz Hutchinson, Cristie Munoz and Karen Martindale, along with band director Michael Chiodo were presented with the Awards of Excellence, which will be given to each of the 146 members of the band.