News & Notes2005-2006 July 26, 2006 The College of Education's Joliet Professional Development School (JPDSP) partner elementary schools, Farragut & A. O. Marshall, have earned "Spotlight School" recognition from ISBE as high performing schools, overcoming the achievement gap. The criteria is to have at least 50 percent of students qualify for free or reduced lunch and to have 60 percent of students meet or exceed standards in reading and math on state tests. This is a significant achievement and honor for the schools and JPDSP. Full Story: By Catherine Ann Velasco JOLIET - Despite the obstacles of teaching students who live in poverty, five Joliet Grade Schools and Rockdale Elementary School made the third annual Illinois Honor Roll announced Monday by the Illinois State Board of Education and Northern Illinois University. "These kids are showing you don't have to be from an affluent school district or an affluent home to do it. All kids can do it and these kids are proving it," said Marilyn McConachie, coordinator of the Illinois Honor Roll for Northern Illinois University. In total, nine Joliet Grade schools were put on the 2004-05 Illinois Honor Roll for their successes, including Eisenhower Academy for its continued achievement. More than 90 percent of Illinois Honor Roll schools made Adequate Yearly Progress as defined by the No Child Left Behind Act. The Illinois Honor Roll acknowledged 683 schools with three kinds of awards: • Spotlight Schools: Farragut, T.E. Culbertson, Forest Park Individual Education, A.O. Marshall, Taft and Woodland elementary schools in Joliet Grade School District and Rockdale Elementary School were honored as high performing schools, beating the achievement gap. The criteria is to have at least 50 percent of students qualify for free or reduced lunch and to have 60 percent of students meet or exceed standards in reading and math on state tests. There were 316 schools in this category. Conventional wisdom is that student performance reflects demographics so students living in high poverty will do poorly academically, but these schools prove otherwise, McConachie said. "These schools have very high expectations for all kids," she said. "They do not believe that some students aren't going to make it. They believe everyone is. The proof is in their performance." First-rate principals, remarkable educators and supportive families are the common threads among Spotlight Schools, she said. There is a focus on making sure everyone is ready to read prior to first grade. Spotlight schools also make sure students have mastered reading skills in first- and second grades, and they often pay attention to nutrition and health. McConachie said sometimes students who are not meeting the standards have eyesight or dental problems and the pain interferes with learning, which sometimes is mistaken as a behavior problem when it is really a health issue. • Academic Improvement Awards: Gompers Junior High School and Edna Keith Elementary School were two out of 306 schools to show substantial gains over three years. Criteria included an upward trend in test results, 7.5 points gain in scores above last year or 15 percent over two years. Gompers and Edna Keith were two of seven Joliet Grade schools that didn't meet annual yearly progress last fall. But the schools made such strides that they deserved to be recognized for those efforts, McConachie said. • Excellence Awards: Eisenhower Academy was one of 101 schools that have sustained high performance over at least three years with 90 percent of its students consistently meeting or exceeding state standards in reading and math. "We have many schools in the state that consistently perform at high levels year after year," McConachie said. "They are some of the best schools in the nation. They are some of the best schools in the world." Rockdale Superintendent Keith Ashcraft has already framed the certificate and hung it in the hallway of the school. He credits his teachers, students and parents for all the hard work. "I think it just good old-fashioned teaching. So much goes back to classroom teachers and the climate of the school," he said. "There is no substitute for quality of teaching, but you have to create an environment for teachers and students to succeed. Create a great environment for learning and our teachers take off on it." Phyllis Wilson, superintendent of Joliet Grade School District, was delighted with the district's success. "We're thrilled nine of our schools made the list," she said. "Our teachers and staff have been working so very hard with our studenOctober 24, 2006 level is extremely impressive." March 1, 2006 This year the College of Education will again honor the recipient of the "Amy Lynn D’Amico Outstanding Student Teacher Award". The award will be presented to the University of St. Francis student teacher that exhibits the personal and professional qualities exemplified by Amy Lynn D’Amico – as a student, professional, and a member of the campus community. Please use the form provided to nominate student teachers from this academic year that you feel demonstrate the criteria described. All nominees should have combined their unique talents and abilities to create a superior student teaching experience. Do not feel that you must have specific knowledge of the candidate for each criterion. A selection committee will review each nomination and the winner will receive a monetary award that will be presented at the USF academic convocation in May. In addition, in Amy’s memory a plaque bearing the name of each year’s recipient is on display in the College of Education office. Please return all nominations to Dr. John Gambro at the University of St. Francis, College of Education 500 Wilcox, Joliet, IL 60435 April 3, 2006. November 8, 2005 Another successful Scholastic Book Fair was held the first week of November at USF for the benefit of the JPDSP partners. At the JPDSP Leadership Team, Dr. Donna Metlicka presented both schools with an award of $236.27 to be used to purchase books from Scholastic. Thank you to all those supporting in the book fair. November 1, 2005 The Joliet Professional Development School Partnership (JPDSP) will hold a Bilingual Seminar for Farragut Elementary and A.O. Marshall Elementary teachers and USF College of Education teacher candidates. Date: November 1, 2005 If you would like to attend, please RSVP to Cathy Nelson. September 28, 2005 Press release printed in the Herald News... Experiment with science Fourth-graders from Farragut Elementary School visited the University of St. Francis on Sept. 28 to participate in science activities with USF elementary education majors. The science projects were conducted from 1:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. in the library. Students' science projects included using materials to design and build a bridge; an online computer simulation to create a roller coaster and study the effects of gravity; and static electricity experiments, among others. The USF instructor involved in the project was Cathy Nelson. Shane Johnson, a USF alumnus, brought in his Farragut School fourth grade class. Our PDS partner, Farragut Elementary (across from the Wilcox campus), is looking for playground aides. This would be excellent experience for teacher candidates early in the teacher education program. Starting pay is $8.02. Time: 11:40 - 12:50 Interested candidates should contact principal Wes Russell. September 26, 2005 Congratulations to PDS Advanced Field Experience Teacher Candidates, Ms. Denise Baro recognized by the The Joliet Police Department for their outstanding service and professionalism. Ms. Baro, Ms. Kandell, and Ms. Sobkowiak were commended by the Police Department for performing in an "exemplary manner" and keeping the "safety and welfare of the students" a top priority during a recent school evacuation caused by a natural gas leak. Open Houses to Celebrate the PDS A.O. Marshall School: August 24, 2005 Farragut School: August 25, 2005
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