CUSD 201 Newsletter

2016
ar
hool Calend
c
S
December 21, 2016........................... Winter Break Begins
January 4, 2017......................................... Classes Resume
January 16, 2017........................ Martin Luther King Day
February 20, 2017......................................Presidents’ Day
August 29, 2016 ...........................................Classes Begin
March 3, 2017......................................... Teacher Institute
September 5, 2016............................................Labor Day
March 23 & 24, 2017........... Parent/Teacher Conferences
October 10, 2016....................................... Columbus Day
March 27, 2017..................................Spring Break Begins
November 3 & 4, 2016......... Parent/Teacher Conferences
April 3, 2017............................................. Classes Resume
November 8, 2016..........................................Institute Day
May 29, 2017..............................................Memorial Day
November 23, 24, & 25, 2016.........Thanksgiving Holiday
June 6, 2017........................................ Last Day of School
(if no emergency days are used)
From the
Superintendent’s
Desk
Dear CUSD 201 Resident:
This summer our focus is on improving
the safety, security and learning
environments of school district
buildings. At Miller Elementary, a
vestibule will be created at the main
entrance. The main office will be moved
to the first level and will have direct line
of site with the main entrance. The art
room will be relocated to the second
level.
Once the renovations are complete,
visitors will be required to have their ID
scanned with the Lobby Guard in the
vestibule before individuals are buzzed
into the building.
The main office is also moving at
Manning where it will be relocated to
the Linden side of the school. A small
addition on the front of Manning will
create a vestibule to receive visitors.
The main office staff will be able to see
visitors as they arrive and visitors will
need to scan their ID in the vestibule
prior to being allowed into the school.
These changes at Manning and Miller
will create entrances that are more
secure.
The needs at Westmont Junior High are
slightly different. Westmont Junior High
already has a secure entrance. The
goal at the junior high is to improve the
educational environment and security.
There, some classrooms spaces do not
have four walls or a door. The open
classrooms will be enclosed this summer
Online Pre-Registration Procedure. See page 2
to create teaching spaces free of outside
distractions and rooms that can be
locked in the event of an intruder.
Westmont High School provides the
greatest challenge because it does not
have a secured visitor entrance. There
are several open classrooms that are
a source of distraction for teaching
and learning and cannot be secured
in the event of an emergency. This
summer, all of the open classrooms will
be enclosed. A new secure main office
will be created with a secure entrance
similar to the Junior High. In addition,
Continued pg. 2 *
From the
Superintendent’s
Desk
continued
the student entrance will be modified
to enhance security.
The work at Manning, Miller and
Westmont Junior High will be
completed by the start of the new
school year. The main office, student
entrance and many of the classrooms
at Westmont High School will be
completed by then as well, with the
remaining classrooms finished by
the end of December. A special link
on the District website will provide
construction updates throughout the
summer.
Our schools continue to excel.
Congratulations to Westmont
High School. In the Washington Post
America’s Most Challenging High
School ranking, Westmont High
School is ranked eighth in the State of
Illinois. CUSD 201 was also notified
by Newsweek Magazine that Westmont
High School has been identified for
inclusion in their ranking of America’s
Best High Schools, which features the
top 10 percent of Illinois high schools.
The official rankings will not be
available until the fall of 2016.
Manning, Miller and Westmont Junior
High continue to improve and rank
in the top 20 percent in the State
of Illinois. All day kindergarten at
Miller and Manning provide a great
foundation for young learners. The
dual language program continues
to grow at Miller Elementary, as
does the early childhood program at
South. The Junior High continues to
raise the bar by being one of the few
junior highs to have a service learning
requirement.
Sincerely,
Kevin M. Carey
Superintendent
Registration for 2016/2017 School Year
Online Pre-Registration
Procedures
Online pre-registration eliminates
the packet of paper forms that
families previously received in the mail
prior to registration. Forms are now
completed online, thereby reducing
paper use and saving time. Families
must complete online pre-registration
PRIOR to attending one of the
registration dates for the 2016-2017
school year: August 11 or August 18,
2016. Online pre-registration opens on July
19 and will remain open through
August 10, so that families can
complete the online registration
forms. Online registration will reopen
on August 11 at 2:00 p.m. and will
close on August 17, 2016. Online fee
payment is also available at this time
for those that would like to pay their
registration fees using a credit or debit
card. For clarification, online preregistration and fee payment is only
viewable through Skyward Family
Access parent/guardian accounts,
not through student accounts. For
more information on how to complete
the online pre-registration process,
please visit http://www.cusd201.org/
registration/ or contact Chris Springer
at 630-468-8158 or cspringer@
cusd201.org.
District-wide Registration
All CUSD 201 families will register
for the 2016-2017 school year on
either Thursday, August 11, or
Thursday, August 18, 2016, from 2 - 7
p.m. Registration will take place at
Westmont Junior High School, 944
North Oakwood Drive, Westmont,
Illinois.
As part of Community Unit School
District 201’s registration process, ALL
students are required to provide two
proofs of residency within the School
District boundaries. This requirement
applies even if you currently have
proofs of residency on file for the
previous school year.
Proofs of residency include
the following:
Homeowner
3
Original title or sales contract or
closing statement or 2015 tax bill
(payable in 2016) 3 Current Utility Bill also required
Renter
3
Original lease agreement or
current rent receipt (July or August
2016)
3 Current Utility Bill also required
The following utility bills will be
accepted as proofs of residency: electric, gas, phone, or water for the
months of June or July 2016 only.
The following will NOT be accepted
as proofs of residency: driver’s license,
cell phone bills, paycheck stubs or
personal checks.
If your child lives with someone
other than the custodial parents
OR if the custodial parents are not
the homeowners, please contact the
District Office (630-468-8000) to
obtain the required residency form for
completion.
Your child CANNOT be registered
in CUSD 201 without the required
proofs of residency. If you have any
questions regarding the registration
process, please contact the District
Office. n
2
2016
South School: Year in Review
Linda McCarthy-Klawitter, Director of Student Services
Go, Cubs, Go!
W
hat an exciting year it
has been for the South
School Cubs! These
preschool-aged students
participated in a year of activities
designed to build skills and to facilitate
ongoing growth and development in
academic and social domains.
Many of these activities incorporated
music. Our students were very
fortunate to have Mr. Troyer and Mr.
Urlaub visit each week to encourage
the appreciation of music and to
establish a foundation for future
musical pursuits.
Our partnership with the Salt
Creek Ballet provided our children
with the opportunity to combine
movement with music and to develop
their listening skills, their ability to
follow directions and their motor
development.
Our visits with Angel, the Comfort
Dog, and our experience raising
chicks also gave our children an
appreciation for the cycles of life and
an understanding of the ways that we
demonstrate kindness and respect to
all.
The students welcomed community
helpers to our school this year,
and greatly benefitted from caring
connections through the Westmont
Police and Fire Departments.
We solidified our relationships with
our families and have shown our
appreciation to them for sharing
their most precious gifts with us by
welcoming our parents to special
classroom events and evening
presentations.
It has been a memorable year
characterized by individual successes
and personal achievements for each of
our “Cubs.” We can’t wait to see what
the next year will bring! n
t
SPECIAL SERVICES
CUSD 201 has a history of providing comprehensive
services to students with special needs requirements. As
a charter member of the School Association for Special
Education in DuPage (SASED), residents also have access
to a broad range of specialized programs and services. District residents with children in apparent need of special
education should contact their local school principal for
specific information on testing, case study evaluations and
available services. 3
Calling All
Three- and
Four-Year-Olds
The CUSD 201 preschool
screening team would appreciate
your assistance in spreading the
word that we are inviting all
three- and four-year-olds residing
within the boundaries of CUSD
201 to join us for one of the
preschool screenings scheduled
for the 2016-2017 school year.
Parents should call 630-468-8015
to schedule an appointment
for one of the following dates:
September 8, 2016; October
13, 2016; February 9, 2017; and
April 13, 2017.
All screenings are held at
Manning School and will take
approximately 60-90 minutes.
Parents should be prepared
to wait at the school while
the screening is taking place.
There is no charge for this
valuable service, which will
provide information on a child’s
development in cognitive, motor
and speech areas.
Manning Elementary School:
Year in Review
Kristin L. Krestel, Principal
There was a lot going on at Manning School this year.
Once again, Manning students were afforded many
learning opportunities, whether it was through grade level
teachers, extracurricular activities, or assemblies, students
had many ways to show what they learned. Manning students also had opportunities to learn
through the PTO-sponsored assemblies and enrichment
opportunities held during the year. These assemblies were
used to teach students about good character, becoming an
author, art, community, nature, music, monthly MinuteTo-Win-IT competitions against Manning staff members
and Erin’s Law, a prevention-oriented child sexual abuse
program required in all public schools. These were
wonderful opportunities to extend learning beyond the
walls of the classroom!
In addition to assemblies, a number of special events
occurred throughout the year that offered great learning
opportunities. The Manning Read-A-Thon, Red Ribbon
Week, Reading Week, Jump Rope for Heart, Book Club,
Hall of History, Rainforest Projects, Junior Achievement,
Barnes and Noble Family Read Night, Shark Tank/
Cardboard Carnival, Science Fair and Kane County
Cougars, to name a few.
Students were also able to learn and explore individual
interests by participating in one or more of the clubs or
teams offered at Manning. Available clubs included the
Local police volunteers participated in Game Club
Drama Club, Environmental Garden Club, Just Say No
Club, WE CAN Club, Art Club, Choir, Student Council,
Bricks 4 Kidz Club, Chess and Basketball. These clubs met
before school, during lunch or after school, giving students a
chance to extend their learning outside the school day.
This year, Manning hosted a Game Club. Twenty students,
teacher volunteers and local police volunteers met for an
hour after school every Monday for approximately six
weeks. Students loved coming to Game Club to see friends
as well as make new friends! The kids partnered with new
people every week or formed small groups to play team
games. Our students looked forward to Mondays and this
club will definitely be back again next year!
The Manning Study Club was once again brought to us
by the IEA SCORE grant program. This was our second
year with the club that ran from January through March.
Students stayed after school two days a week for 75 minutes.
They enjoyed a healthy snack to power up their brains,
worked in small groups or individually with Manning staff
on academics, and then engaged in Genius (half) Hour, a
time to pursue and explore personal passions.
Staff members continued their collaborative group work,
supporting the ongoing district professional development
initiatives: Small Giants and PLCs. Teachers continue to
work on curriculum maps aligned to the Common Core,
common assessments and project-based lessons, guided by
implementation of high quality teaching standards. Manning Elementary School was proud to be the recipient
this year of three IEA SCORE Grants. Manning reading
specialists Kari Bauerlein and Meagan Seaver and
Instructional Coach Karen Niemeyer applied for the grants
as part of the IEA’s Schools and Community Outreach
by Educators program. In all, more than 70 grants were
continued 1
4
Manning Elementary School
Continued
2016
much to our school. The Naperville Area Humane Society
has partnered with both elementary schools through their
Paws for Tales reading program which brings a dog team
to the schools one day a week to meet with and “read” to
students. Mary Onorad and her four-legged friend Garrett
are now in their second year at Manning.
awarded to educators’ projects across the state; all of them
benefitted students, students’ families and the community.
Manning Elementary School had the opportunity to partner
with the NIU STEM Outreach Program for an engaging
science afternoon. Karen Niemeyer, Instructional Coach
at Manning School,
received a grant from
IEA (Illinois Education
Association) to fund this
event. NIU’s STEM
Exploration Labs brought
hands-on demonstrations
and interactive displays to
Manning School. Twelve
Westmont High School
Students assisted in the
event. It was a great way
for the older students to
take on roles as facilitators
and encourage a love of
learning with interactive science activities. The SCORE
grant enables schools and communities to collaborate and
create projects and learning opportunities while working
together. A huge thank you goes out to PTO members Liz
Rathburn and Courteney Templeton for assisting with the
event and to photographer Roxanne Engstrom from HAWA
Images for capturing some great moments. Also this year, Manning and Miller Schools, along with the
Naperville Area Humane Society (NAHS), hosted Paws
for a Cause Week, a humane awareness and fundraising
event held from May 23 to May 27. Each day, special
activities were planned for the entire school by students
who have worked with our visiting dog Garrett. Events
raised awareness about animal shelters and pet adoption
and encouraged staff and students to donate to the shelter.
Students wanted to give back to the shelter that has given so
5
Our partnership began with opportunities created by the
2014-2015 Manning Study Club, an IEA SCORE Grantfunded club. Students at Manning started the week with
our Hot Diggity Dog Kickoff Assembly, which featured
special guests from NAHS, Mary and Garrett, and one
additional dog team Gail and Brody! Other events were also
held, such as “Man’s Best Friend Day,” in which students
were able to dress like a twin and participate in grade level
buddy reading. For Dog Days of Summer Day, the entire
school stopped everything to read and each class heard a pet
adoption story read aloud by a special student guest reader.
Other events included the Dog Ate My Homework Day,
where a donation earned students a free homework pass,
and a special Bark-fast with
Books Event where we invited
students and families in for
a light breakfast and family
reading time with special
guests Mary and Garrett.
This past October, fifth grade
teacher Patrick Padilla ran
in the Chicago Marathon.
One of his main objectives
was to raise money for autism
research. Manning students
supported Mr. Padilla’s run
and fundraising efforts by
participating in a Penny War that brought in more than
$1,500 in one week, well surpassing their goal of $500. As
a reward, students were selected from each grade level to
throw whipped-cream pies at Mr. Padilla. As we say good-bye to 2015-2016, we also say farewell to
Paula Rath, third grade, and Mark Carrier, second grade,
who retired at the end of the year. We wish them well and
thank them for their dedication and years of service!
I want to express my thanks to the many parents and
community members who have supported Manning School
throughout the past school year. We are so proud of our
students and the academic progress they have achieved. Our teachers have invested themselves in the students’
ongoing success and I am extremely grateful for all they
do! As we look ahead to next year, our pledge is to continue
to provide students with an abundance of opportunities to
learn, explore and achieve! n
Miller Elementary School:
Year in Review
Tim Wyller, Principal
Miller bids
goodbye to
longtime
teacher Jan
DeWolf
Students participate in Westmont's 20th Anniversary as a Tree
City by planting a tree for Arbor Day
Arbor Day
T
his year the Village of Westmont is celebrating its
20th Anniversary as a Tree City USA recipient. To
commemorate this honor, Village Forester Jon Yeater,
with the help of the Garden Club, directed Miller School
students on the proper way of planting a tree for Arbor Day.
During the event, the importance of trees to the immediate
environment, as well as entire ecosystem was discussed.
Goodbye to Jan DeWolf
I met Jan in 1996 when she applied for the part-time
resource teaching position and I was thrilled that she got the
job. After being the only resource teacher at Miller for three
years, I finally had a teaching partner, and she was one
that was upbeat, friendly and passionate about her job. I
remember walking into Jan’s room in the early years, which
was bright and colorful, full of rainbows hanging from the
ceiling. Back then, Miller was known as the rainbow school. During our three years together in the resource department,
we spent countless hours collaborating about learning
strategies, behavior plans and working on the yearly budget.
As the years passed, we both switched positions. Jan
became a reading specialist and I taught third grade and
now kindergarten. Although our positions have changed,
our collaboration has not. We often continue to discuss
ways to assist our shared students. Jan is always available
to answer one of my questions, share a resource or assist
with assessments. I don’t ever remember her saying that she
wasn’t available to lend a hand when needed. She gives 100
percent to everything she does professionally and personally
and I have so appreciated her input for the past 20 years.
Breakfast and Lunches with Moms
and Dads
The PTO sponsors many awesome events at the school.
This year we focused on bringing families into the building
more frequently. Staff members and the PTO worked
together to plan and fund four new events at Miller School.
Moms and Grandmas were invited to eat breakfast with
their students, and two other days were dedicated for Dads
and Grandpas. It was great to start the day off eating
breakfast as a family, as well as have some extra support
during lunch and recess when the parents were in the
building. Thank you for all you do to make school fun and
exciting for your students. Lunch with the Principal
As the new principal of Miller Elementary School, Mr.
Wyller wanted to get to know all the students at Miller on
a more personal level and scheduled time to eat lunch with
each student at least one time throughout the year. This
year Mr. Wyller focused on having the children get to know
one another and describe some of their favorite memories
while at Miller. They also played Pictionary as the game
of choice. Mr. Wyller will incorporate this fun activity as a
reward and incentive next year to students.
continued 1
6
2016
Miller Elementary School
Continued
Building Construction
Miller Elementary is being remodeled in two areas this
summer. The main office will be relocated to the main
entrance of the building and is being remodeled to include
office space for support staff and teachers. The main
office reconfiguration will allow for a more safe and secure
entrance to the building and allow traffic to flow more
efficiently. It will be nice to walk into the building and be
greeted by a staff member from the main office.
Patrick Gunn Memorial
In May, the BPAC (Bilingual Parent Advisory Committee) held the
first annual Multicultural Celebration. Cultures from four different
continents and seven different languages were represented!
District BPAC Multicultural Night
In May, the BPAC (Bilingual
Parent Advisory Committee)
held the first annual
Multicultural Celebration,
an event for all families
and cultures represented in
CUSD 201. Cultures from
four different continents and
seven different languages
were represented! Over sixty
people attended the twohour event.
On Friday, May 20, the students and staff of Miller School
celebrated the life of Mr. Patrick Gunn, who passed away
last December. The staff put together a memorial in the
form of a picnic table and plaque. His immediate family,
numerous other staff members from the district, and
parents from Miller families came to memorialize our
friend and colleague. His children and grandchild released
balloons in his honor.
Thanks to so many who helped organize all parts of the
memorial including the
Miller PTO and Becky
Thompson, teachers
Tracy Billie and Joanne
Slott, grounds crew Mr.
Mayoros, Mr. Cooling,
Mr. Fink, and Mr. Smith,
our administrators Mr.
Wyller and Mr. Carey,
and especially to everyone
who made donations
to make this memorial
possible. We will always
remember our friend
Patrick Gunn.
Some of the cultural items
shared included food,
clothing, games, toys,
PAWS for Tales
music, dance, books, flags
and art work. Everyone in
Week
attendance was able to learn A plaque and new picnic table were dedicated in memory of Miller staff
member Patrick Gunn who passed away last December.
Miller Elementary
about the many different
School had the wonderful
cultures that represent
opportunity
to
welcome
the
Paws
for Tales program into
District 201 and we look forward to including even more
our
school
this
year.
Thirty-five
students
who participated in
cultures and families next year.
continued 1
7
Miller Elementary School
Continued
this program had
the opportunity to
read to our Paws
for Tales dog,
Garrett, and his
owner, Ms. Mary,
every Thursday
throughout the
year.
This program
has benefitted
our students in
numerous ways. It provides an
opportunity for
individualized
attention and
for students to
practice their
fluency skills while
reading aloud to
Garrett. Garrett
never interrupts
and always lends his ear to the students, which also builds
confidence in our readers. During our last week of school, Miller
and Manning decided to host a Paws for
a Cause fundraiser for the Naperville
Humane Society and the Paws for Tales
programs. The class with the most
donations won a Barkfest with Garrett.
Miller’s winning class was Mrs. Kadela’s
class with a whopping 155 donations!!
Great job!!!
Garrett is known to come into our school
with a new bandanna around his neck
every time he visits. We also hosted a
“Garrett Bandanna” contest. The students
who won the contest will have their art
design made into a bandanna for Garrett. Our special winners were Lily Kaestner
(fifth grade) and Rowan Shirley (first grade). Students help pack groceries at the Northern Illinois Food Bank
It was a great year working with Ms. Mary and Garrett. We
thank them for their time and we look forward to another
year of building friendships through Paws for Tales.
Community Service Day
Ms. Slott organized the second annual Community Service
Day on Tuesday, May 31. Students were given opportunities
to visit places in the community such as
Village Hall, a pet store, the Naperville
Humane Society, the Northern Illinois
“During our
Food Bank, an urban farm, and a Karate
last week of
Dojo. In the afternoon, community
members provided enrichment activities
school, Miller
for the students. Areas covered included
presentations about the Humane Society,
and Manning
Whole Foods Market, Phillips Flowers,
decided to host a
the SCARCE recycling facility, ballet
and scuba instruction. Attendees
Paws for a Cause class
also participated in student-led activities,
gardening with Mr. Rudey, cupcake
fundraiser for
decorating with Mrs. Garcia, scrapbooking
the Naperville
with Mrs. Spaargaren, and arts and crafts
and woodworking with Mr. Andrus. The
Humane Society
day was eventful and enabled us to make
strong connections with the community. n
and the Paws for
Tales programs.” 8
2016
Westmont Junior High School:
Year in Review
John K. Jonak, Principal
Student Leadership Team (SLT)
T
he Student Leadership Team, led by our Social
Worker Amanda Winter, is actively making a
difference for our students throughout the year. The team welcomes new students and shows them
the "ins and outs" of the junior high. The club meets and
brainstorms ways to improve our school culture by leading
activities during Red Ribbon Week and Bullying Awareness
Week. The kids participated in the #hashtaglunchbag
movement by making sack lunches for local homeless
shelters throughout the year and also made no-sew blankets
for Project Linus, which provides children who are ill or
have been traumatized with a sense of love and security.
The student leaders also worked to promote mental health
awareness with the intent to reduce the stigma on mental
illness. As part of this initiative, we invited speakers from
NAMI to make presentations to our students about mental
illness. Student-created posters and announcements were
designed to educate
the school about
different types of
mental illnesses. IESA
Solo and
Ensemble
Contest
On April 9, twentythree of our
students volunteered
to perform at the
regional IESA
Solo and Ensemble
Competition
in Bradley, IL, with several of them playing in multiple
events. These students put in extra practice time and
rehearsed with accompanists to prepare to represent WJHS. Westmont received 27 Division One (Excellent) medals and
3 Division Two (Very Good) ribbons!
Professional Learning Communities
Our staff continued with Professional Learning
Communities (PLC) at the department and team
9
Our staff continued with Professional Learning Communities (PLC)
at the department and team levels levels. Creating and aligning curriculum maps, assessments,
and working with student achievement data to set team goals
were emphasized. As something new,
we looked at trend
data from the past six
years through a Data
Carousel process and
determined areas of
focus for the rest of
the year and beyond. This year, WJHS
also pre-assessed
student writing with
a school-wide rubric
and witnessed vast
gains at the end of
the school year.
Early Act
Our Early Act students, together with Ms. Kosin,
were especially busy in their tenth anniversary year! They volunteered their time at the Westmont Food Pantry,
the Lion’s Club pancake breakfast, Holly Days breakfast
with Santa, the Polar Express train, Westmont's Winter
Wonderland, the Whoville Jubilation and Rotary Basketball
Tournaments. Their Hats off for Cancer event raised over
$400 towards children’s cancer research and they painted
continued 1
Westmont Junior High School
Continued
faces for $5 each to assist with the St. Baldrick’s event held
at Papa Passero’s in March. Other philanthropic activities
included the collection of two big garbage bags of pop tabs
for Ronald McDonald House and a large box of Campbell
soup labels for St. Jude’s.
These hard working students also filled one SUV with
food for the pantry from the Westmont Stuff-a-Truck Food
Drive. They collected and wrapped four boxes of books for
children in need during the holidays and they donated $115
by charging WJHS staff $5 to wear jeans for a day. The
highlight of the year was when Early Act Club members
hosted a "Sponsor My Grades Fundraiser." They raised
$600, purchased two 40" flat screen televisions and donated
them to Mayslake Village to use for their Wii Bowling
League, an idea the kids thought of after their tournament
with Mayslake last fall. Other volunteer opportunities
include working the lemon shake-up booth at the Red,
White and BBQ this May, as well as the Taste of Westmont
in July.
Outdoor Environmental Club (OEC)
The Westmont Junior High Outdoor Environmental Club
(OEC), led by Mrs. Goodell & Mrs.
Meyer, continues to lead our school in
environmental efforts, such as recycling,
composting and celebrating Earth
Day. An additional focus is getting our
students outside (away from digital
screens!) as much as possible. The OEC began meeting in September
and started the 2015-2016 school year
with its first ever OEC bake sale during
Curriculum Night. The event was a
huge success and it enabled the junior
high to purchase a new compost bin
and tool storage cabinet. We use two
compost bins here at WJHS to recycle
our fruit and vegetable scraps at lunch.
In March, we combined our love of
technology with being outdoors and
tried Geocaching. Geocaching is an
outdoor activity in which participants
use a GPS receiver or mobile device
to hide and seek containers called "geocaches" or "caches."
We were successful in our first three attempts and found all
of the caches in Ty Warner Park. We hope to expand our
efforts next year, and may even create a cache of our own!
In May, students shared their Decades Projects with parents,
grandparents and seniors
In April, our focus was on Earth Day and Arbor Day.
On Arbor Day, April 29th, our own OEC member, Jazib,
planned a school-wide tree planting event to celebrate. Willow Crest Golf Course was our
community partner and purchased a
Silver Linden tree that we planted in
front of the school. In May, we were
out beautifying WJHS with the help of
our PTO. Our members weeded and
planted the south garden, the inside
light court, and the beds and pots near
the front entrance of school. Come
over and take a look at our hard work! Days to Remember
Decades Fair
In May, Ms. Bartosz and Ms. Walsh
invited parents, grandparents, senior
citizens and influential adults from
the community to provide eighth
graders with valuable feedback on their
decades' projects. It was an interactive
afternoon of sharing memories and fun
for all. TCD Field Trip
In April, our seventh graders visited the Technology Center
of DuPage to learn about a variety of careers. Students
prepared beforehand in STAR classes where they chose
continued 1
10
2016
Westmont Junior High School
Continued
those careers they would like to learn more about. Following
this trip, the junior high Media Center was converted into
a “Maker Space” and DIY lab. Here students were able
to create models that mirrored their learning for the day. It was quite a sight to see our students’ creative minds
diligently at work!
Walk-a-thon and WJHS PTO
Dancing, walking, running and neon-orange shirts! The
PTO hosted its third Annual Walk-a-thon on September 30.
With pledges from friends and family, the PTO raised nearly
$3,500 to help support student programs at the Junior High.
An additional $2,100 was raised through restaurant nights,
surpassing the $5,500 mark. Nice job, WJHS PTO!
The grand opening of the café took place during parent
teacher conferences and was a resounding success! Not only
were the students able to show off their hand-painted décor
and sell their signature-made coffee blend, they were also
able to share their mission for the café profits — to support
the Sprouting Seeds Café, which is run by an orphanage in
Kalaw, Myanmar.
The new café was opened to welcome our incoming sixth
Sprouting
Seeds Jr. Cafe
This year, Ms. Bartosz
led a "Create a Café"
e-period enrichment
class. It was amazing
to see how far the
students took this
idea! They worked
throughout the year
to design a fully
functioning café that is
now a vibrant addition
to the Junior High
Media Center balcony.
11
The café was opened to welcome our incoming sixth
graders at fifth grade Step-Up Night and was also used
during a breakfast for a District Administration meeting.
Thanks to a variety of business partners, multiple guest
speakers (including one who discussed the proper protocol
and procedures for managing café finances) and field trips
to Chicago cafés, students were able to learn important
business practices and strategies for implementing academic
skills into life outside of school as they designed this exciting
new collaboration space.
continued 1
Westmont Junior High School
Continued
Each morning, students can visit the
café to share snacks, homework and
games with friends, and they continue
to impress us with their evolving
ideas for the its future. Beyond all
others, this e-period blossomed into
many invaluable real life lessons for
our students that go far beyond their
classroom teachings. We are looking
forward to the café becoming a favorite
staple of the junior high for many years
to come, inspiring the endless creativity,
charitable giving and entrepreneurial
spirit of our students!
Student Service Learning
Commitment (SSLC)
The Student Service Learning Commitment (SSLC) was
a new graduation requirement this year for all students
earning a Westmont Junior High School diploma. Students
performed community service with an approved nonprofit
organization, and were required to include the phases of
preparation, action and reflection. Students at WJHS were
required to earn anywhere between nine and 15 SSLC
hours, which could be earned starting in the summer after
fifth grade and must be completed by junior high school
graduation.
Students were encouraged to find a variety of SSLC
activities to broaden their horizons. The idea was for our
students to find a way to
help others, especially if the
student chose a responsible
action to meet a need.
Helping the environment,
an animal, a special habitat
or a community constitutes
community service. As part
of this program, we hosted
three field trips this year, one per grade level, to Feed My
Starving Children in Aurora, IL, where each student earned
two service hours. Altogether, WJHS served 4,528 service
hours to its local and global communities in the 2015-2016
school year. n
The Board of Education
The Board of Education consists of seven elected members
from the CUSD 201 community who serve in a volunteer,
non-paid basis. Acting as true civic servants, the Board of
Education has the primary responsibility of establishing the
policies and philosophy that govern the day-to-day activities
of all School District employees and students. During their
four-year terms, Board of Education members also serve on
the Buildings and Grounds, Climate, Finance, and Policy
Committees, and serve as CUSD201 representatives on the
SASED Board of Control.
Regular meetings of the Board of Education are typically
held the fourth Tuesday of each month. All meetings
are open to the public and take place at 7 p.m. at the
Westmont Village Hall, 31 West Quincy Street, Westmont,
Illinois, unless otherwise announced. Regular discussion
meetings generally occur on the second Tuesday of the
month. The schedule of regular Board of Education meetings is
available on the CUSD 201 website at www.cusd201.org/
boardofed/meetings/.
12
2016
Westmont High School:
Year in Review
Jack Baldermann, Principal
T
his was an exceptional year for Westmont High
School and we thank our entire school community for
your support. Our year ended with an outstanding
graduation ceremony featuring inspirational student
speeches. The entire year, however, was filled with positive
accomplishments.
In her book “Supporting New Teachers: A How to Guide
for Leaders,” author and researcher Lynn Howard wrote at
length about Westmont’s “positive culture” and significant
“accomplishments in student achievement.” Dr. Yasayuki
Oda, researcher and author from Japan, selected Westmont
High School as a model school and visited in March 2016.
Following his visit, Dr. Oda told us that “Westmont High
School is one of the best high schools I have ever seen.”
Newsweek ranked Westmont in the top two percent of high
schools in America. The Washington Post ranked Westmont
H.S. in the top one percent in the country and number eight
in Illinois, out of 670 high schools. We also earned a Silver
rating from U.S. News and World Report and were ranked
in the top 10 percent of Illinois schools. The information
they used for their ratings was culled from scores that were
over two years old, so our ranking will increase when they
consider more recent data.
For the third year in a row, only one student that entered
our school in ninth grade did not meet all graduation
requirements within four years. One hundred percent of our
Latino and African-American students graduated on time.
This was an entire team effort, and Westmont High School
continues to have one of the best graduation rates in Illinois
and the nation.
Our Band earned Super State recognition again as one
of the top programs in the state. This makes eight years
in a row. We enjoyed our students' beautiful artwork and
many wonderful fine arts performances. Our Girls Track
team won their first Sectional Championship in school
history. Annie Carlson earned All-State recognition in
multiple events for the third year in a row. Girls Soccer,
Softball, Cross-Country, Volleyball and Basketball all
earned Regional Championships. We had several Regional
Wrestling Champions and over a dozen track athletes
competed at the state championships. Our Scholastic Bowl
13
team also won a Regional Championship. We are grateful to
our coaches and proud of all of our student-athletes.
The positive culture that our students and teachers establish
each day is also a source of pride. Our number one goal is
to develop compassionate citizens who will give back in a
positive way to our community. Our work is never done, but
this was another excellent year at Westmont High School.
The support of everyone in the CUSD 201 is greatly
appreciated.
P.A.C.K. a Fruit
or Vegetable
t
P.A.C.K.is all about packing more colorful fruits and
veggies into children's diets. We asked parents that if
they packed a snack or lunch for their child, to pack a
fruit or vegetable based on the color of the day!
Monday — Blue/Purple Day Tuesday—White/Tan/Brown
Wednesday—Red Day Thursday—Yellow/Orange Day
Friday—Green Day
P.A.C.K. Week was celebrated throughout the
district this school year. Students sampled a variety
of fresh fruits and vegetables; items served included
jicama, kiwi, cauliflower, sweet potatoes and green
grapes. Students were excited to try the varieties
served and we are looking forward to continuing this
program next year. n
2015 Retirees
A
t the May 17 meeting of the Board of Education,
CUSD 201’s 2016 retirees were recognized for
their many years of dedicated service to the
CUSD 201 community. Retirees included Ron
Neurauter, Westmont High School English teacher, 40 years
of
service; Mark Carrier, Miller School fourth grade teacher,
35 years of service; Paula Rath, Manning Elementary
School teacher, 34 years of service; Linda Zimmerman,
Westmont Junior High School teacher assistant, 29 years
of service; Peter Trojan, head custodian, Westmont High
School, 24 years of service; Janice DeWolf, Miller School
Reading Specialist, 20 years of service; Ruth Nast, Miller
School teacher assistant, 13 years of service; Sue HillmanHinckley, Westmont High School Library/Media Aide,
20 years of service; Pam Van Spankeren, Food Service, 17
years of service; Randi Gallagher, Manning Elementary
and Westmont Junior High School library aide, 29 years of
service.
We applaud their dedication and service and wish them the
very best in their well-deserved retirement. n
Fall Activities
Below are just a few of the activities occurring this fall in each of CUSD 201’s buildings. These are
events that are of interest to individuals of all ages – whether or not you have students in the school. Because changes in scheduling are sometimes required, please double-check the dates of any event
you wish to attend. Since athletic contests occur on a near daily basis at the Junior and Senior High Schools, they are
not listed and can be obtained on the CUSD 201 website. August 29
a.m.
First day of class for students
October 30
2:00 p.m. High School Fall Play
September 6 6:00 p.m. Miller School Curriculum Night
November 13 7:00 p.m. Parent/Teacher Conferences
September 7 6:30 p.m. High School Open House
November 14 8:00 a.m. Parent/Teacher Conferences
September 8 6:00 p.m. Manning School Curriculum Night
December 8
7:00 p.m. Junior High Winter Band Concert
(at WHS)
December 9
6:30 p.m. High School Winter Concert and
Student Exhibit
September 9 5:00 p.m. Manning School Ice Cream Social
September 14 7:00 p.m. College Information & Financial Aid
Night
September 15 6:00 p.m. Junior High Curriculum Night
September 23 6:30 p.m. Homecoming Parade
October 12
7:00 p.m. High School Choral Concert
October 19
6:30 p.m. High School Jazz Café
December 13 7:00 p.m. Manning Winter Choral Concert
December 15 7:00 p.m. Junior High Winter Choir Concert
(at WHS)
December 19 6:00 p.m. Manning & Miller Schools Fifth
Grade Winter Band Concert (at
WHS)
October 28-29 7:00 p.m. High School Fall Play
14
PROUD TO BE
SERVING
Thank you for your service!
CUSD 201 proudly recognizes the following staff
members that have reached various stages of service to
the School District:
30 Years of Service: Cathy McCrory
25 Years of Service: Rainy Kaplan, Laura Riley and
Meg Ensalaco
20 Years of Service: Don Milton, Frank Cyrus,
Carrie Frank, Tracy Mullane, Jeremy Bautista,
Lynda Bazata and Nancy Sibrava
2016
15 Years of Service: Matthew Lamich, Francesca
Canzoneri, Alice Reilly and Liz Greenwood
10 Years of Service: James Carrera, Kathy Kienzle,
Colleen Walsh, Julie Johnson, Larissa Zelisko,
Jamie Mahmoud, Deidre Dunbar, Eileen Saksa
and Amy Stobl
5 Years of Service: Deidra Roberson, Lisa Grippo,
Karen Niemeyer, Sue Pacelli, Ashley Ritter and
Amanda Winter
Financial Facts and Figures
A
s the accompanying charts indicate, the vast majority
of the District’s revenues come from property taxes
and other local sources. This profile is fairly common in
Where does it
come from?
the suburban Chicago area. Besides a small amount of
general state aid provided on a per pupil basis, most state
and federal revenue is targeted for specific programs, such
as the lunch program or special education. The year-round
budgeting process begins at the local building level in the
month of December and the Board of Education at-large is
responsible for final budget approval. n
Other Local - 5.0%
General State Aid - 2.5%
Other State - 5.6%
Federal - 3.5%
Property Taxes 83.4%
Benefits - 12.1%
Purchased Services - 11.3%
Tuition - 7.3%
Salaries 55.4%
Other Objects - 5.0%
Capital Outlay - 2.6%
Supplies & Materials - 5.6%
Non-Capital Equipment - 0.6%
Termination Benefits - 0.1%
15
Where is
it spent?