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District 64 eNews Vol. 9, No. 15
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Literary pumpkins show baseball fan spirit!
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Franklin School's literary pumpkin contest this year included two baseball-inspired entries featuring the Chicago Cubs! Hosted by the Learning Resource Center, the annual event invites families to work together to represent a children's book or character using seasonal pumpkins and gourds. See a gallery of more entries on Franklin's Facebook page here.
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Highlights of October 24, 2016 Board meeting
A video of the October 24, 2016 Board meeting held at Lincoln Middle School is now available on the
Board meetings page of the District 64 website. All videos are conveniently time-marked; simply slide the counter to any agenda topic to begin viewing.
Here are the highlights:
- Grants help transform classrooms into 21st century/future ready learning environments - New videos (see companion story below) capture the two areas seen in person by the Board of Education during the Committee-of-the-Whole meeting. The Board visited a standard Lincoln Middle School classroom transformed by an Elementary Learning Foundation grant into an active, flexible learning environment. The Board also visited the school's refurbished broadcasting studio and a redeveloped innovation lab and learning lounge, made possible by a furnishings grant from Bretford. The tour was part of a broader report on how District 64 recognizes the "Power of Place" in the way students learn and teachers teach. The District is working to respect the richness of the District's architectural history (with some buildings dating to 1928), while creating classrooms that ignite learning and innovation in the modern age.
- Teacher and student tech "maturity" grows - As monitored by the annual Bright Bytes survey, teachers and students progressed last year on a five-point scale that monitors growth from "beginning" to "exemplary" in four key areas: Classroom, Access, Skills, and Environment (CASE). The District moved from "emerging" to "proficient" in the Classroom domain, and saw a high, 13-point gain within the current "advanced" rating in the Skills domain. Overall, students are feeling more confident in their use of technology in District 64's 1:1 learning environment, and are being asked to use this technology more frequently in their learning. The Technology Department's focus areas in 2016-17 also were reviewed.
- School Health Services proposal carried forward - The District has recommended updating the staffing model for health services at the schools to better meet the changing medical needs of students. Additional research is being prepared for Board discussion at an upcoming meeting. If approved, the transition would occur for the 2017-18 school year.
- Facilities planning continues - As a follow-up to the October 11 COW, District 64 reported it was working intensively with Studio GC architects to verify and evaluate every item listed on the District's 10-year Health Life Safety survey and Master Facilities Plan. The work includes identifying any omissions, updating cost estimates, and adding replacement dates for major components at each school (roofs, HVAC, electrical, galvanized piping, parking surfaces, etc.). The updated projections will help identify the highest priority safety and critical infrastructure items to be addressed in summer 2017 as well as provide a comprehensive, long-term view of facility needs. An updated report is expected to be discussed in November.
- Public hearing planned - A public hearing will be conducted on November 14 at 6:45 p.m. prior to the regular Board meeting (see schedule below) regarding the District's application for a waiver of the annual administrative cost cap increase.The District's special education model was changed to provide more administrative leadership, which is expected to improve special education student performance in District 64 and is aligned with our Strategic Plan to provide a rigorous education for all students. The District 64 model for special education leadership now parallels the organization model used in similar suburban districts.
- Unpaid student fees decline from year-ago - The District reported that unpaid student fees had dropped from 277 students with an outstanding total of over $60,000 compared to the year-ago tally of 344 students and a more than $76,000 balance. Stepped-up communications included a comprehensive student fee study, providing an itemized list of what is covered by fees to all parents via the annual online registration system, and making a payment plan available.
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New middle school videos showcase transformed learning spaces
We invite you to visit our classrooms via videos showcasing 21st century learning. Two new videos created by Lincoln Middle School students and staff were shared at the October 24 Board of Education meeting to illustrate how spaces are being transformed as future-ready learning environments:
- Visit the newly refurbished Discover-Empower-Network (DEN) broadcasting studio, adjacent innovation lab, and learning lounge, which were updated with a $55,000 grant of furnishings from Bretford to help District 64 realize this vision.
- Room 211 was transformed into an active and flexible learning environment. Funded by a 2016 ELF grant, the standard classroom now offers multiple learning configurations to accommodate the many ways students today create, collaborate, communicate and engage in critical thinking in their learning.
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Red Ribbon Week helps students focus on making healthy choices
This year's annual observance took on a range of themes across District 64, as each school built its own daily campaign inviting students to show their support for making healthy choices and being drug free. Popular 2016 themes included sports days, such as Field School's "My Team is Drug-Free" with students wearing their favorite sports team gear, and elections, such as Carpenter's "Voting for My Future to Be Drug-Free" by wearing red-white-and-blue clothes.
(photo - Even Washington School's mascot sported a red ribbon bow this year!)
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A homecoming welcome for our retired staff
District 64 welcomed back about 50 retired staff members to share breakfast together yesterday and hear updates about the ways our 2020 Vision Strategic Plan is transforming student learning in our classrooms. Emerson's Jazz Band performed for the enthusiastic audience at this annual fall gathering. (
photo - Superintendent Laurie Heinz with our "alumni")
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Holiday food basket fundraiser November 9 will help District 64 families in need
Last year, 35 families from District 64 received a much-needed holiday food basket, thanks to the efforts of the Park Ridge Kiwanis Club. Help us serve even more families this holiday season. Simply
dine at Harp & Fiddle, 110 Main St., Park Ridge on Wednesday, November 9 from 4 p.m. - 10 p.m., and
tell your server you're with the Kiwanis/D64 benefit. 20% of your total bill will be donated to this great cause!
(Photo - Kiwanis members prepare food baskets in 2015)
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Donate "Maker" supplies at any school
District 64 is hosting its first family "maker" night on Wednesday, November 9 and is also planning to open maker spaces at the schools in coming months. To help students turn their ideas into reality, we are particularly looking for donations of rolls of duct tape and masking tape, and construction or colored paper. Markers, crayons, colored pencils, child-safe scissors, and miscellaneous craft supplies (such as glue, pipe cleaners, etc.) are also welcomed. Supplies may be dropped off during school hours at any school office or the District 64 Educational Service Center, 164 S. Prospect, Park Ridge.
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Calling all families for a hands-on evening of exploring together!
Mark your calendars for District 64's first-ever
"Family" University featuring a special hands-on night of
Making, Coding and Science-Technology-Engineering-Arts-Math (STEAM)-ing together!
on Wednesday, November 9, 2016 from 6-7 p.m. at Lincoln Middle School (Learning Resource Center), 200 S. Lincoln, Park Ridge. Grades K-8 families are invited to experience our first elementary and middle school MakerSpaces, try coding together, and learn the fundamental ideas behind our innovation and design mindset. Families will have the opportunity to learn and problem-solve through exploration and play. Bring your thinking cap and your imagination! Facilitated by District 64 Instructional Technology Coaches Megan Preis and Kevin Michael, the evening is free and
open to parents
and students together!
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An invitation to our local veterans
District 64 students will observe Veterans Day in school on Friday, November 11 and will mark the day in a range of ways. If you are a vet (or know one) who might be interested in participating in an assembly or visiting classrooms to speak with students, please contact Roosevelt School at 847-318-4235.
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Save the date!
10th Annual Casino Night Benefit
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"A Night of Good Fortune"
Saturday, January 28 @ Café La Cave
6:30 pm - 11:30 pm
Proceeds support innovative and imaginative education programming for all District 64 schools.
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Fall Board meeting schedule
- November 8, 2016 - District 64 Educational Service Center, 164 S. Prospect, Park Ridge: 2 p.m. Board Policy Review Committee
- November 14, 2016 - Field School (south gym), 707 N. Wisner, Park Ridge: 6:45 p.m. public hearing on administrative cost cap waiver, 7:00 p.m. regular Board meeting
- November 28, 2016 - Jefferson School (multipurpose room), 8200 N. Greendale, Niles: 6:00 p.m. special Board meeting
- December 12, 2016 - Jefferson School (multipurpose room), 8200 N. Greendale, Niles: TBD - public hearing 2016 tax levy, 7:00 p.m. regular Board meeting
The District 64 Board meets at the schools in rotation through the year. View the school-by-school list here. As the schedule is subject to change, please confirm meeting dates and times on the District 64 website.
School Board Election: If you missed the recent "A-B-C's of School Board Service" candidate information event, you may view the presentation and other helpful resources on our 2017 Board Election webpage. District 64 residents in April will be electing four individuals to serve 4-year terms; candidate filing is from December 12-19, 2016.
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Contact Board Members or District 64
Comments and questions may always be directed to the Superintendent or Board members through these links:
Email Dr. Laurie Heinz, Superintendent
Contact members of the Board of Education via email links.
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