TEACHING & LEARNING DEPT. NORTH CHICAGO COMMUNITY UNIT SCHOOL DISTRICT 187
MONDAY DECEMBER 16 2024
BI-MONTHLY NEWSLETTER
GREEN BAY EARLY CHILDHOOD CENTER
EVELYN ALEXANDER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL HRS Alignment: 1.2: Students, parents, and the community perceive the school environment as safe and orderly. 1.3: Teachers have formal roles in the decision-making process regarding school initiatives. Thank you to our fantastic staff, who conducted read-aloud sessions for our students and their families. Green Bay hosted a family reading night in November, One Book, One School. Before the event, all students received the book Pete the Cat: I Love My White Shoes by Eric Litwin and James Dean. Green Bay selected this book to align with our school-wide Student Learning Objective on patterning. The literacy focus of this book includes: Repetitive words and phrases Predictable sequences of events Engaging and enjoyable text
Alexander has been building strong connections with families as part of our HRS Level 1 initiatives. Our latest event was a Thanksgiving lunch hosted by NCCP and our fantastic food service team. Over 100 family members participated and joined their scholars for a traditional Thanksgiving feast. We are so grateful for the continued partnership with our families and the fantastic Husky community at Alexander!
TEACHING & LEARNING DEPT.
MONDAY DECEMBER 16 2024
BI-MONTHLY NEWSLETTER
NORTH CHICAGO COMMUNITY UNIT SCHOOL DISTRICT 187
FORRESTAL ELEMENTARY
NORTH CHICAGO HIGH SCHOOL
At Neal Math and Science Academy, our faculty engages in monthly vertical alignment meetings to develop pacing guides and proficiency scales focused on priority standards. This process is integral to guaranteed and viable. In addition, NMSA teachers consistently implement strategies from our instructional model, The NMSA Way, to promote engaging learning opportunities for all students. Teachers focus on elevating student discourse in November and December through higher-order questions and cooperative structures. HRS Level 3 work, ensuring that the curriculum is both NEAL MATH AND SCIENCE ACADEMY
Our high school recently hosted two teacher-led professional development sessions, showcasing our staff expertise. One standout session, “How Do I Help My ELLs?” equipped educators with strategies to better meet the needs of multilingual learners. Teachers explored practical ways to modify instruction and implement accessible scaffolds, with one participant noting, “These tools will help make lessons more inclusive for all students.” Another impactful session, “AI Assistants in Education,” introduced cutting-edge tools to streamline lesson planning and boost student engagement. Additional sessions, ranging from Scaffolding for Independent Learning to Health and Wellness for Staff, provided actionable strategies to support students and educators. These efforts reflect our ongoing commitment to enhancing instruction and fostering success for all learners.
Forrestal goes above and beyond to ensure engagement with our new Model of Instruction. One area of focus for Forrestal has been encouraging all students to participate in daily journal writing. We showcase student work during our morning announcements and share pictures throughout the school. Check out the work of our young writers when you visit!
A J KATZENMAIER ACADEMY AJK teachers and staff have been focusing on the following NASOT elements: Noticing and reacting when students are not engaged, Celebrating success, Motivating and inspiring students, and Chunking content. Teachers have intentionally planned “how” they will teach the content by focusing on engagement strategies and instructional scaffolds to support student learning. AJK celebrates student success during Friday Morning Meetings by handing out Lexia and ST Math certificates and identifying which classes are on the top 5 leaderboards for each program. AJK keeps monitoring the progress of the AJK Way, enhancing growth towards HRS Level 2!
TEACHING & LEARNING DEPT. NORTH CHICAGO COMMUNITY UNIT SCHOOL DISTRICT 187
FRIDAY OCTOBER 11 2024
BI-MONTHLY NEWSLETTER
NORTH CHICAGO HIGH SCHOOL
NEAL MATH AND SCIENCE ACADEMY At NMSA, teachers wrapped up September by establishing clear routines and procedures for students in their classrooms while consistently referencing our PBIS SOAR (Safety, Outstanding Attitude, Accountability, Respect) matrix. This month, our NMSA Way component focus is Small Group Instruction to closely instruction, and build stronger relationships with our students. Teachers from every department and grade level have received professional development on this component and are already implementing it in their classrooms! Go NMSA! monitor student progress, provide individualized
At the beginning of the year, we rolled out The Warhawk Way Model of Instruction to our entire high school staff, and our professional development has since aligned with its core principles. One of our exciting focuses has been establishing clear agendas and objectives, with teachers actively shaping the classroom board configuration to support our instructional goals. As a result, students now have a solid grasp of lesson objectives, essential questions, and daily agendas. This clarity not only helps them understand the purpose of each lesson but also provides a clear end goal, enhancing their awareness of the skills and knowledge they are developing along the way.
FORRESTAL ELEMENTARY
Forrestal is committed to ensuring that everyone is actively engaged with our Model of Instruction. At the start of this year, we introduced "Forrestal Writes," which encourages all students to participate in daily journal writing. We highlight student work during our morning announcements and display pictures throughout the building. Be sure to check out the amazing work our young writers are producing!
EVELYN ALEXANDER SCHOOL
At Alexander, our staff continues to share HRS Level 1 slideshows that explain evidence around our specific leading indicators. Our scholars participated in the PBIS rotations about the Husky Way expectations throughout the building. Through PAWS, our scholars understand and show participation, acting safely, working together and showing kindness, each and every day. Go Huskies!
A J KATZENMAIER ACADEMY In August/September, AJK focused on four key elements of the AJK Way: Establishing rules and procedures, organizing the classroom layout, encouraging students to share about themselves, and understanding their backgrounds and interests. Students have engaged in activities like community circles and bulletin boards to share their favorites and experiences. They have also contributed to defining what Commitment, Respect, Excellence, Safety, and Teamwork (CREST) look like in their classroom. As they display these values, students earn class shields and individual shillings for the Medieval Market. AJK Knights have laid a strong foundation for the 2024-2025 school year!
TEACHING & LEARNING DEPT. NORTH CHICAGO COMMUNITY UNIT SCHOOL DISTRICT 187
FRIDAY OCTOBER 11 2024
BI-MONTHLY NEWSLETTER
GREEN BAY ECC
DR. ANA FUHRER
CHIEF ACADEMIC OFFICER
Green Bay is excited to introduce “Cubbie” Buddy! Cubbie Buddy’s job is to acknowledge staff and students when he notices that they are meeting our school-wide expectations: We are safe, respectful, kind, and focused. This school-wide initiative addresses HRS indicator 1.7— The school acknowledges the success of the school as well as individuals within the school. We are safe by wearing our safety goggles and lab coats.
As educators, we’re constantly learning and evolving as practitioners. As a T&L Department, we’re working to ensure that when we plan PD sessions, we actively consider how the learners will receive the information and their learning experience. Similarly, when planning instruction, we should consider how our students will experience the learning and the best strategies to help them meet their learning objectives. When students experience success, we know they’re more engaged and willing to take risks, leading to meaningful learning. Thank you for engaging in learning and strengthening your skills to support the needs of our students.
THIS YEAR’S TEACHING & LEARNING TEAM
Assistant Director of T&L and ML
Assistant Director of T&L and New Teacher Development
Dr. Ana Fuhrer - CAO & Mimi Vargas - Executive Assistant
High School Slav Podraza
Elizabeth Arangure &Jackie Lekwa
Forrestal
Victor Reyes & Lauren Crowley
Amanda Jeffers
Rubina Datta
AJK
Alexander
NMSA
Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4Made with FlippingBook Annual report maker