IPSD 204 News Feed

Message on Feb. 13 Community Drug Forum

2/9/2012 8:25:00 AM

Dear Community Members,

We are sending this joint message to inform you of an important community meeting taking place on February 13. The topic will be drugs in our community. We are asking for parents to partner with us so we can help our young people who are struggling with substance abuse. Having just one adolescent in our community battle addiction is one too many.

We need parents to be part of the discussion. We encourage you to hear for yourself how substance abuse affects the whole community, listen to the facts regarding what is happening in our own backyards, and most importantly, learn how to keep your child safe.

Speakers will detail the extent of heroin's presence in our community, describe the signs and symptoms of drug addiction, and provide tips on how to seek help, offer treatment options and explain what parents can do. Speakers include Naperville Police Detectives and drug and alcohol addiction specialists.

We know parents share our concerns on this important issue. This is the third opportunity we have shared in the past five months for parents to hear this important information. If you did not attend one of the previous presentations, please plan on attending this one at 7 pm on Monday, February 13 at the 95th Street Library, 3015 Cedar Glade Dr., Naperville.

Sincerely,

Kathy Birkett, Superintendent, District 204
Mark Mitrovich, Superintendent, District 203
David Dial, Chief of Police, Naperville

District 204 Preschool Information

2/8/2012 3:34:00 PM

Indian Prairie School District 204’s Prairie Children Preschool is now accepting applications for the
2012-2013 school year.

Prairie Children Preschool offers early childhood education for children ages three and four. The Preschool serves District 204 children in two locations. The majority of preschool classrooms are located on the first floor of the Crouse Education Center in Aurora. Additional classrooms are located in the southern portion of the district in the Frontier building on 95th Street in Naperville.

The program is 2 ½ hours, 4 days a week, Monday-Thursday. Tuition is $235 a month.

For application information or to schedule a parent tour, please contact the Preschool at 630-375-3030 or visit http://preschool.ipsd.org.

Dist. 204 Schools Receive Academic Excellence Award

2/3/2012 11:16:00 AM

The Illinois State Board of Education and Northern Illinois University announced that 17 District 204 schools received the Academic Excellence Award as part of this year's Illinois Honor Roll. District 204 leads all other suburban districts in the number of schools receiving this honor. Across the state, District 204 is second only to Chicago Public Schools, which has 24 schools being recognized.

The Academic Excellence Award recognizes schools where at least 90 percent of students have met or exceeded state standards in both reading and mathematics for at least three consecutive years.

Academic Excellence Award winners in District 204 include: Brookdale Elementary School, Brooks Elementary School, Builta Elementary School, Clow Elementary School, Cowlishaw Elementary School, Fry Elementary School, Graham Elementary School, Kendall Elementary School, May Watts Elementary School, Owen Elementary School, Patterson Elementary School, Peterson Elementary School, Spring Brook Elementary School, Steck Elementary School, White Eagle Elementary School and Young Elementary School and Scullen Middle School.

A total of 438 schools in Illinois earned this distinction, including 204 elementary schools and 67 middle schools.

For more information, visit Illinois Honor Roll

Message from Health Services on Tdap Vaccine

2/2/2012 3:26:00 PM

The Illinois Department of Public Health recently informed school districts of a new requirement impacting next year's sixth and ninth grade students. Beginning this fall, all students entering sixth and ninth grades will be required to show proof of Tdap vaccination along with the school physical form required for these grades. Tdap is a vaccine recommended to protect against tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis (whooping cough).

District 204's Health Services Department brings this new requirement to the attention of parents now so they have ample time to check with their medical provider to meet this requirement. Your child will be subject to exclusion from school on or before September 24, 2012 without proof of the Tdap vaccine.

If you are unsure if your school has documentation of this requirement being met for your child, please contact your school health office.

More information is located on the Health Services webpage:

Illinois Department of Public Health Letter to Parents

FAQ on Tdap

Around the District: January

1/31/2012 11:17:00 AM

January, 2012 Edition

It adds up to fun at math night

The common denominator was fun at Family Math Night at Longwood Elementary School. More than 100 parents, first- and second-graders and siblings had an opportunity to try 22 innovative math activities provided by the DuPage Children’s Museum. The evening is so popular that third- through fifth-graders and their families attended the week before. Longwood Principal Laura Johnston said, “This is a nice way for families to support their children in math in fun ways.” From playing Twister to understand place value to creating three-dimensional objects from brightly colored paper, each station had a hands-on activity that reinforced math concepts children were learning in the classroom. Miriam Cancel and her daughter, second-grader Isabella, were creating patterns with fabric on geoboards. “Whenever the school has these events, it’s nice to have fun as a family,” Miriam said. First-grader Monisha was learning how many paper clips she could string together in a minute. Her dad said, “Activities like these help support logical reasoning and creativity. It brings numbers and real life together.”

Longwood students and parents enjoyed math activities provided by the DuPage Children’s Museum during Family Math Nights.

Doing it the Wright way

After touring a Frank Lloyd Wright home for inspiration, Waubonsie Valley High School students in the Architectural Drafting and Interior Design classes teamed up to design and decorate the perfect virtual home for a fictitious Habitat for Humanity family. Drafting Instructor Steve Skorup explained the exercise creates student-designed homes that are modeled after those used by the nonprofit. Gayle Thanepohn, who teaches Interior Design, said she was impressed with the professionalism of her students’ presentations. “They decorated a whole house, keeping within the parameters of the floor plan,” she said. “They can apply the skills they learned in this class to their future homes or apartments.” Junior Alex Hurst said that working on the plans and then with a designer helped him see what a career as an architect could be in the future. “It provides real world experience,” he said. The various material samples the students used in their presentations were donated by Gensler Architects and Solomon Cordwell Buenz.

Students in the Architectural Drafting class worked on plans to design a Habitat for Humanity house.

Beautiful music together

When the Neuqua Valley High School bands made a groundbreaking visit to China in 2006, Charles Staley, Music Department Chairman, hoped that one day a band from China could visit Naperville, so they could reciprocate their Chinese hosts’ kindness and hospitality. Seven years later, The Band of the Affiliated High School of Peking University, directed by Luo Tianru, participated in the United States & China Exchange Concert held in the Neuqua Valley auditorium. The first selection of the concert, “Variations on a Shaker Melody,” was performed by the NVHS Wind Ensemble, conducted by Staley. “We played the most American music we could play. That was our gift to you from America to China,” he said. When the Chinese band performed, their first number was the Piano Concerto Yellow River, a patriotic salute to the spirit of the Chinese people. The band also played the traditional march “Manhattan Beach,” written by America’s “March King,” John Philip Sousa. The concert featured the NVHS International Festival Band, directed by Mark Duker and William Jastrow, and the NVHS Jazz Orchestra, directed by Jonathan Lauff. Sheldon Poon, Director of Music Celebrations International, the organization that brought the Chinese band to Naperville, said, “This is the first time we were able to come to the United States. It is a dream come true.”

The United States and China Exchange Concert featured The Band of the Affiliated High School of Peking University and the Neuqua Valley High School bands. This was the first time the Chinese band visited the U.S.

All’s fair

More than 1,000 middle and high school students from throughout the district participated in the annual science fairs held at Neuqua Valley High School and Metea Valley High School. Close to 500 community members were recruited as judges for the event, which is co-sponsored by the Indian Prairie Educational Foundation. Jann Hawkins, a science teacher at Scullen Middle School, said, “Having students participate in a science fair is a true simulation of skills necessary in the 21st century workplace and an essential component of preparing our students for their future.” The oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico prompted Scullen seventh-grader Sarah to ask, “Does oil affect the height of pea plants?” Her sobering results found that only one plant grew out of 40 seeds and its growth was stunted. “It made me sad because (the oil spill) not only affected the animals, but also the farmers and their crops,” she said. Award-winning projects will advance to the regional science fair competition in March.

Students set up their science fair displays, which included all the information from their research, from hypothesis to conclusion.

Residency Verification Process

1/30/2012 2:52:00 PM

As part of Illinois School Code, school districts are required by law to ask parents for proof of residency. District 204 has recently placed a greater emphasis on this area and is taking a proactive role in ensuring students are residents of the district and enrolled in their proper schools. Currently, residency is verified for all preschool, kindergarten, fifth and eighth grade students. As time permits, some schools may verify additional grade levels.

This concerted effort has removed 85 students from our district this school year who did not reside within our boundaries. With the cost of educating each student at $10,426 per year, this represents a substantial savings for the district.

Parents of current fifth and eighth grade students will soon be contacted by their schools for residency verification. Parents will need to provide three different types of proof of residency to complete the process. A student's registration for the next grade level will not be processed until the proof of residency process is completed.

By making sure the law is enforced, the district is protecting the interests of its students and taxpayers. You can see the Residency Report from the November 7 Board of Education meeting at www.204tv.org.

For more information, contact Terri Drendel, assistant director of residency, at 630-375-3856 or terri_drendel@ipsd.org.

Where to Find School Closing Info this Winter

1/11/2012 12:31:00 PM

With the forecast calling for the arrival of the area’s first snowflakes, please be reminded of the ways District 204 announces weather-related school closing information throughout the winter. The announcement is made by 6:00 am through the following:

Information is posted first on the district's website at www.ipsd.org

A Connect-ED phone call to parents/guardians

Local television and radio stations

Emergency Closing Center's website at www.emergencyclosingcenter.com/ecc/search.jsp

A message on the district's information line at 630-375-3015 (Please do not call your individual school)

We will only announce when schools are closed. If schools are not closed, it is ultimately the responsibility of parents and guardians to decide if conditions safely allow for their children to attend school. If children are kept home due to weather conditions, it will count as an excused absence.

Points of Pride, 01.11.12

1/11/2012 11:31:00 AM

High Schools Named Grammy Semifinalists

The Grammy Foundation announced that Metea Valley, Neuqua Valley, and Waubonsie Valley High Schools are among the 125 schools nationwide that have been selected as Grammy Signature Schools semifinalists for 2012. Finalists will be announced in mid-March and the selected schools will receive a custom award and a monetary grant ranging from $1,000 to $10,000 to benefit their music program.

The Grammy Signature Schools program recognizes top U.S. public high schools that are making an outstanding commitment to music education. Both Neuqua Valley and Waubonsie Valley have previously won multiple Grammy awards, including Neuqua Valley being recognized as the top music program in the country.

The complete list of semifinalists is online at 2012 Grammy Signature Semifinalists.

Drafting Teacher of the Year

Neuqua Valley High School drafting teacher Corey Duzan has been named the Drafting Teacher of the Year by the Illinois Drafting Educators of America. His work in curriculum writing and his leadership position in bringing the Project Lead the Way program to District 204 helped him earn this honor. Duzan also taught Computer-Aided Design and Drafting (CADD) at Joliet Junior College, which gives him a unique understanding of the relationships that must be forged with higher education to help students succeed beyond high school.

SchoolSearch 2011 Bright A+ Award

District 204 was selected as one of only 59 Illinois school districts (out of 868) to receive the SchoolSearch 2011 Bright A+ Award. The award identifies the top 5 percent of Illinois school districts academically. Selection is based on student performance with the Illinois Standards Achievement Test (ISAT) and the ACT composite scores. SchoolSearch is an educational research and consulting firm that publishes rankings of school districts.

Students Selected for All-State

The Illinois Music Educators Association selected 56 Indian Prairie high school students to perform at this year's All-State conference. The student musicians are from all three high schools. In addition, the following groups have also been selected to perform: the Neuqua Valley Chamber Singers, conducted by Jay Kellner and Ryan Rimington; the fifth-grade choir from Fry Elementary, under the direction of Mary Whitney; and the third-grade choir from May Watts, under the direction of Cathy Dunafin.

Science Fair Judges Needed

1/10/2012 12:17:00 PM

District 204 needs judges for the 2012 District Science Fairs. Judges do not have to work in a scientific field, but it is helpful if judges understand how a Science Fair works. Having a degree in science isn't as necessary as having an understanding of kids. Judges are needed for the January 28 and February 4 science fairs. If you are interested in judging, please fill out the form on the district's website.

District 204 High Schools Named Grammy Semifinalists

12/22/2011 11:58:00 AM

The Grammy Foundation has announced that Metea Valley, Neuqua Valley, and Waubonsie Valley High Schools are among the 125 schools nationwide that have been selected as Grammy Signature Schools semifinalists for 2012. Finalists will be announced in mid-March and the selected schools will receive a custom award and a monetary grant ranging from $1,000 to $10,000 to benefit their music program.

Created in 1998, the Grammy Signature Schools program recognizes top U.S. public high schools that are making an outstanding commitment to music education during an academic school year. Both Neuqua Valley and Waubonsie Valley have previously won multiple Grammy awards, including Neuqua Valley being recognized as the top music program the country.

"The Grammy Signature Schools program sustains excellence in music education by granting awards to public high school music programs in communities across the country," said Neil Portnow, President/CEO of The Recording Academy and the Grammy Foundation. "Each of these semifinalist schools should be commended for their commitment to keeping the arts in their curriculum for the long-term benefits of their students."

The selection process for Grammy Signature Schools begins each year in August when the Grammy Foundation mails notification to more than 20,000 public high schools from districts large and small, urban, suburban and rural, requesting information about each school's music program. After the applications are scored, finalists are identified and asked to submit additional documentation, such as recordings of school concerts, sample concert programs and repertoire, which is then reviewed by an independent blue-ribbon committee of top music educators and professionals to determine the schools that merit Grammy Signature School status.

Complete list of 2012 Grammy Signature School Semifinalists

Important ACT Information

12/21/2011 11:25:00 AM

IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR STUDENTS TAKING THE ACT: Beginning this year with the Class of 2013, students taking the PSAE will no longer take the ACT writing section. Students seeking admission to universities and colleges that require a writing score (including University of Illinois and many other schools) must take the writing section of the ACT or SAT on a national test date. Students are encouraged to check with their specific colleges for requirements.

Please know that eliminating the writing portion of the ACT was not District 204's decision. When the ACT is administered as part of the PSAE, the test is paid for by the IL State Board of Education. The IL State Board of Education decided to eliminate the writing portion of the test due to fiscal reasons at the state level. District 204, along with other districts, approached ACT to ask if individual districts could pay for the writing portion, but ACT has not allowed school districts to fund for that portion of the test.

ACT National Test Dates
SAT National Test Dates

Around the District: December

12/20/2011 3:00:00 PM

December, 2011 Edition

Gingerbread Junction a treasured tradition

More than 800 people recently attended Gingerbread Junction, the popular annual craft show that was celebrating its 30th anniversary at Hill Middle School. The show has grown along with the school, which is also celebrating its 30th anniversary. Organizers Rose Baranyk, Lisa Gierczak and Laura Duguid are part of a volunteer committee, which begins planning the event over the summer. “It’s our biggest fundraiser for the Hill PTSA,” Baranyk said. Exhibitors Marge and Megan Daniele of Whimsical Designs, who design and create original and custom-made jewelry, have a personal connection to the show -- Marge is a retired Hill teacher. “This is the best show of the year,” Marge said. “It’s like coming home.” Longtime exhibitors Doug Zahery of All American D.Zigns and Jean Casano, who creates hand-painted Santas, said they enjoy seeing their loyal customers every year. “We just love it here,” Zahery said. Casano, who has been exhibiting for 17 years, is a former Hill parent, who lives in the neighborhood. In addition to the 70 exhibitors, there was a raffle and bake sale. “It’s more than a fundraiser, it’s a treasured tradition,” Baranyk said.

Marge and Megan Daniele were exhibitors at Gingerbread Junction. Marge is a retired Hill Middle School teacher.

Club Owen makes fitness fun

For some, winter means a decrease in physical activity because of cold and inclement weather, but not for students, staff members and parents at Owen Elementary School. Physical Education teacher Jared Folley started Club Owen in 2007 as a way to keep kids active throughout the year. “To see the students coming in and being active is great. To see an entire school community being involved in being active is awesome,” Folley said. Between 75 and 150 students attend each week before school from December through February to participate in a variety of exercises. The equipment is a varied as the exercises and can include exercise balls, steppers, jump ropes, agility ladders and more. During trainer days, parent volunteers, including Karen Kieronomos and Sue O’Neill, help students move through stations that each focus on a specific area of fitness, such as muscular strength, cardio, agility or flexibility. Fifth-grader Lily, who is one of the student leaders, said, “It’s fun to exercise. You can make friends when you’re doing it. There are a lot of different things to do so you don’t get bored.” Club Owen has received a grant from the Illinois Association of Health, Physical Education, Recreation & Dance.

Sue O’Neill leads a group in sit-ups during Club Owen at Owen Elementary School.

District 204 educators highlight STEM education

District 204 educators, Mike Kennedy and Matt Kirkpatrick, were the featured presenters during “The State of STEM Education,” held at Neuqua Valley High School. Speaking to an audience of about 150 parents, students, and District 204 staff members, they touched on issues affecting STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) education globally, nationally and locally. Kennedy, assistant science department chair at Neuqua Valley, spent 2010-2011 in Washington, D.C. as an Einstein Distinguished Educator Fellow, advising the Department of Energy's Office of Science, on programs for students and teachers. During his yearlong experience, he offered a teacher’s perspective to policymakers. Kirkpatrick, science department chair at Metea Valley High School, said he was in college before he discovered that he loved science and found his future career as a teacher. As founder of the Inspire-STEM Clubs, he said that students should have authentic learning opportunities to investigate real world problems in a collaborative atmosphere working with STEM mentors. Two iSTEM students also presented their work during the meeting. One student is working with Stanford University to collect data on solar flares using an antenna she built and another team is working on a diesel hybrid engine regenerator.

Matt Kirkpatrick and Mike Kennedy were the featured speakers during a presentation on STEM education.