BULLDOG REPORT
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Old Orchard Parent
Newsletter
Skokie School District
68...........................................................April/May,
1999
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Vesty and Katherine |
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From the Desk of Mr. Smith, Principal
Dear Old Orchard Parents,
I feel it is very important to address the tragedy in Colorado with you. Individually and collectively we are so concerned about all of the issues. Our teachers in Advisory classes and Social Studies classes have spent time discussing the tragedy with our students. All teachers, as always, continue to observe our students’ behaviors and identify concerns to both Mr. Cebrzynski and myself as well as Ms. Nieman and our social worker interns. A combination of prevention and intervention actions are imperative in keeping our students safe and informed.
Our Skokie Youth At Risk Task Force meetings monthly to work together with the Police, Park District, Village, Mental Health Agencies, Schools, and Community Businesses to help keep our community safe and healthy. Ms. Nieman and I represent Old Orchard at these meetings. If you have any concerns or items you would like me to discuss at the committee, please contact me.
This year, members of our staff have been trained in a program called PEACE EDUCATION which includes school climate, conflict resolution, and peer mediation components. Our Advisory teachers have begun to teach the curriculum to our students. Our goal next year will be to continue this curriculum (which is provided for all three grade levels), and to train peer mediators as well. We will keep you informed regarding the progress of this program.
In addition, our PTSA Parent Education Committee works hard each year to develop opportunities for parents to learn and discuss important issues that effect our lives. If you have any suggestions for programs to help our parents discuss violence, please contact Mrs. Helene Levine, PTSA president.
Our hearts go out to the Littleton, Colorado community.
Sincerely,
Jay Smith
Old Orchard Principal
(Letter from Sandra Bast, Space Explorers, Inc.)
Space Explorers, Inc. is very proud to announce Old Orchard Junior High as the official Space Explorers, Inc. Beta School. As such, they will be trying out new space exploration educational programs (internet based, online resource) before they are released.
Recently before spring break, Old Orchard Junior high conducted 10 simulated launches of NASA's 3rd Discovery mission to the moon, the Lunar Prospector. Last year, they had five classes participate and this year they opted to make Moonlink (http://www.moonlink.com for grades 6-12) a continuous program for their 8th graders. They will be researching their spot on the moon for quite some time. Old Orchard Junior High received a NEARlink (http://near.space-explorers.com for grades 3-12) mission from Illinois Space Grant Consortium. They will be starting this program after
break. Their students will be researching the asteroid Matilde and Eros in the NEAR spacecraft.
In September, they will be the first school nationwide to conduct MARSlink (web site not unavailable for grades 3-12). And yet in January, they will also be conducting SpaceStationLink (web site unavailable for grades 3-5).
Aside from Old Orchard Junior High, there are many schools in Illinois as well as worldwide that are participating in these exciting programs. NASA sponsored 1/2 of a Moonlink mission in each Congressional District nation wide. Northbrook District 28 - Maple School was one of the 22
recipients.
Regards,
Sandra Bast
Space Explorers, Inc.
http://www.K-3Space.com for grades K-3
http://www.moonlink.com for grades 6-12
http://near.space-explorers.com for grades 3-12
PTSA PARENT EDUCATION UPDATE
READING EXPLOSION. This was a wonderful evening for so many students and families. Many thanks to our excellent readers, Mayor George Van Dusen, Dr. Thomas Kersten, Superintendent and Mrs. Sylvia Kraft - Walker, Asst. Dept.
Head of Youth Services of the Skokie Public Library. The teacher's skit was directed by Ms. Amy Levin, Olympian 6th grade teacher. Helene Levine and Susan Van Dusen - Great job! Yummy ice cream!
NILES NORTH COUNSELORS GUESTS AT APRIL
Parent Connections Meeting!
What a fabulous turnout. Counselors from Niles North, Mary Murphy and Trish Finnerty provided excellent information ,wisdom and humor. They were joined by Liz Nieman, social worker, and intern Michelle Feingold. The LMC was a perfect setting for parents and professionals to gather and talk about "transitions". Good conversation . Ideas for next year? Want to participate in the planning? Drop a note in PTSA mailbox attention: Carole Kern
Congratulations! Zach(OL8) State Honorable Mention, Rebecca (OR8) and Ariela (OL8) for getting to state division. Honorable Mentions at schoolwide districts went to Hilary (OL8), Alison(OL8), Michelle(OL6) and Mari (OL8). Students in 259 PTAs across the state of Illinois participated by creating 10,613 Literature 328 Music 1,475 Photography 194 Visual Arts. The number of entries making up the Reflections Touring Exhibit are 177 Literature, 105 Music, 149 Photography, 194 Visual Arts. The exhibit will tour for a year. A "Celebration of Stars" Awards program will be held April 30 at the Ramada Hotel Plaza O'Hare in Rosemont. This is part of the Illinois PTA Convention.
TO EVERY STUDENT WHO TOOK THE TIME TO CREATE AND ENTER THEIR WORK - WAY TO
GO! We sincerely appreciate the encouragement of the following teachers: Mr. Boundy, Mrs. Fuller, Ms. Grbavac, Ms. Levy and Mrs. Martin.
P.S. You can get started early on the National PTA 1999-2000 Reflections Theme: "ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE..."
Carole Kern - Reflections Chair
Old Orchard PTSA Purchases BINGO Game
Our Bingo/Raffle evening is Old Orchard's PTSA major fund raising event. The Old Orchard PTSA Board decided that we should invest in purchasing our own BINGO game. last Year Highland School PTA let us use their game. We are happy to report that we now have our own BINGO game, which includes everything from basket, balls, and 400 window BINGO cards. We hope that on Thursday, May 6, 1999 7:00pm-9:00pm, you will support this "fun" evening. Bring friends, family, all are welcome.
The Artwaxer Arrives at Old Orchard
The Artwaxer is a wonderful machine that places an even amount of wax on all materials that need to be mounted on surfaces, no matter what the surface is. Now staff will be able to easily display artwork, newsletters, posters, etc. without fear that they will not adhere to the mounting surface. The Old Orchard PTSA purchased the Artwaxer for our school. The machine is located in the B level office. The PTSA is happy that we can add this beneficial tool to our school.
When the Science Department's refrigerator stopped working a request was made to the PTSA for the purchase of a new one. Through the assistance of L and L Appliance Mart in Chicago the PTSA was able to purchase a refrigerator. Our thanks to Mr. Chalaqua, Manager, whose two children attended Old Orchard for his assistance. Now items that need to be kept cold can be kept in our newer refrigerator. The PTSA would not be able to make these gifts to our school without your continued support. It is greatly appreciated.
Easy Ways to Earn Money for our School
If you use General Mills cereals or snacks PLEASE save the BOXTOPS for EDUCATION and bring them into the school office. We earn 15 cents for each cereal box top and 10 cents for each snack box top!
When you shop at Target and use your Target Charge Card to please go to the Customer Service Desk and ask to have credit given to Old Orchard Junior High School for “Take Charge of Education Credit”. We receive 1% credit for purchases made using your Target charge account. Every little bit helps your PTSA to provide our students with additional enhancements to the curriculum. Thank you for your support!
End of the Year Band Concerts!
We have two band concerts for May. Ensemble Fest winners will perform on 18 May 99 with the 4/5 Bands, and the Intermediate & Concert Bands will play on 19 May 99. Both of the concerts will take place in the B level gym at 7:30.
Hearing a vast variety of poems written by Old Orchard students, was a wonderful experience! At the third annual Old Orchard Poetry Night at Barnes & Noble on April 26, the poems ranged from humorous content to deeply moving, personal moments to which everyone could relate. Besides hearing poetry, many people also looked at the original poems written by some Oracle Seven seventh graders, on display in one of Barnes & Noble’s windows. Thank you to the talented writers who shared their poetry!
Enthusiasm and cooperation were overwhelming as Oracle Seven students were involved in a participatory mystery theater experience! Culminating a two-week, interdisciplinary mystery unit, students watched The Mystery Shop perform “Murder in Three Acts” at Old Orchard. Between acts students worked in teams, to solve the two mysterious murders and determine the culprits, motives, and methods. They interviewed characters in the play, examined evidence, and purchased autopsies and other reports with their “mystery bucks.” Before the third act, each team completed their investigations and wrote their solutions to the mysteries. Students and teachers agree that it was a wonderful experience, enjoyed by all!
High Score for First Battle of the Books Team
Old Orchard’s very first Battle of the Books team scored a new high of 88 points at their meet on April 21! After four meets the Old Orchard Bulldogs have earned a total of 320 points, putting them in third place among the six teams. Their last competition for the year will be on Wednesday, April 28.
Since December the six team members have been reading books on this year’s list of fifty books and giving reports to the team. The weekly meetings have been relaxed times to discuss books, answer questions about books already covered, and enjoy being together.
Teams from two schools compete at each meet, which includes questions about forty of the books. One team of four members is asked a question, requiring a correct answer and, for a bonus point, the name of the author. Team members discuss possible answers and decide on their answer. If incorrectly answered, the other team is then asked the question.
The hard-working team members are Arda Paylan, Nima Sheth, Laila Signe, Michal Strick, and Christopher Taylor. Sixth or seventh grade students who like to read, should consider being a part of next year’s Battle of the Books team. The 1999-2000 list of fifty books will be available from Language Arts teachers in late May, so interested people can read one or more books over the summer. With more team members, there will be less books for each person to read and even more fun!
Teen Health is now online. Mr. Olson annouces a new website dedicated to Milddle school health and using technology in education. Also on the site are digital pictures of school activities and more. Some of the pages have been created by students in Mr. Olson's advisor class. The site is located on the Old Orchard home page under academic teams or go directly by using the URL www.timolson.com. Mr. Olson would love your comments or suggestions.
Students in Physical Education are nowparticipating in the Track and Field and Fitness units. All students are invited to attend After School Sports to have fun, continue working on conditioning, improve class scores, or make-up missed work due to absences from class. In May, we will host the 6th, 7th and 8th grade Interhouse Track Meets, Oracles vs. Olympians. Student captains will be selected to organize their respective teams. The dates for those meets are as follows: 8th grade - Tuesday, May 4th; 7th grade - Friday, May 7th; 6th grade - Tuesday, May 18th. All meets will begin at 3:30 p.m. and will conclude by 4:20 p.m.
Again, the President’s Challenge for physical fitness will be administered. This test is given in the fall and spring of each year. Outstanding performance, as well as improvement, in this area will be recognized at the end of the year awards assemblies.
Old Orchard’s Track and Field teams are now underway. This is a chance for all those who wish to be a part of a team to join, as there are no tryouts. Four dual or triangular meets have been scheduled. The culminating event is the Niles Township track meet, scheduled for Wednesday, May 19th at Niles North High School at 1:00 p.m. There will be eight schools competing from our conference. If Old Orchard wins again, it will be the 42nd consecutive year that we have done so.
The last unit for the school year is an elective choice for 7th and 8th graders. They can choose Softball or Tennis. All 6th graders will take Softball.
Finally, the girls’ volleyball season will end April 28th. Boy’s Volleyball tryouts will be held on April 27th, April 28th and 29th.
Congratulations to Vesty and Katherine
Vesty and Katherine were selected from an audition pool of 8000 students in the United States and England to take part in the Disney Youth Orchestra for ten days in New York City. The accepted only 85 children, and the final concert will be at the Lincoln Center on June 30, 1999. It will be televised in the United States and England in August. We congratulate the entire family on this honor, and look forward to watching the concert in August. Way to go!
Henry, an eighth grader, received 38 out of 40 possible correct answers on this year’s Illinois Mathematics League Competition. Henry is the first Old Orchard student to do so well in this yearly competition! In addition, his score qualified him as the NUMBER 1 Regional Winner in our area of Cook County! Congratulation, Henry! Thanks to all Math teachers for sponsoring the event!