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Golf School District 67 9401 Waukegan Rd Morton Grove IL 60053 Ph 847 966 8200 Timeless teaching in a changing world Chalkboard Golf School District 67 Newsletter In this issue Superintendent s note Spotlight on Physical Education Technology Emergency Closing Information Feed My Starving Children Field Trip Happy Holidays Vol 1 2015 Dear Golf School District 67 Families and Community Members It is hard to believe that it is already December Before we know it winter break will be here with 2016 around the corner December Dec 6 PTA Barnes and Noble Book Fair Dec 10 Golf MS Winter Concert and Art Fair Dec 16 Hynes Holiday Program Dec 19 Winter break begins Jan 4 School resumes Subscribe I want to pause and acknowledge all of our employees who work together with one goal in mind educating our children and providing them with the best learning environment possible District 67 has its challenges and with careful planning and a positive spirit we will thrive I look forward to many more improvements over the coming years and know that we will realize our vision The hustle and bustle of this month is always exciting and our December music programs remind us of this festive time We come back to school on January 4th and then it will be full stream ahead for a busy spring schedule As always thank you for your ongoing support of our students and our schools I feel extremely fortunate to lead this district and am grateful for the parents and community members who support the work that we do I wish everyone the happiest of holidays and hope that the new year brings you great tidings Sincerely Dr Beth Flores Superintendent A publication of the Golf School District 67 Board of Education

2 Golf School District 67 Newsletter Vol 1 2015 We like to move it move it District 67 students like to move it build physical skills learn cooperative and team building skills and simply have fun Hynes Elementary We just finished one of our favorite units cooperative games The cooperative games unit is a great way to provide opportunities for all children to be actively engaged Students participate in activities that help them to build the skills of cooperation sharing compromise and encouragement all of which are essential elements for developing a sense of community In this unit we look for games with the following elements and characteristics a focus on cooperation rather than competition active roles for all participants in a non elimination environment and a common goal for children to work on together resulting in positive outcomes I want my students to understand the importance of participating in physical activities says Mrs Johnson The following says it all How you play shows some of your character how you win or lose shows all of it author unknown Cooperation through physical education fosters qualities like communication fair play leadership and teamwork During this unit our goal is to challenge students through developmentally appropriate activities that encourage problem solving and decision making Continued on page 3 A special thank you to District 219 for lending us their softball baseball equipment It makes our unit stronger and allows students to get a real sense of what team sports entail A publication of the Golf School District 67 Board of Education 2

3 Golf School District 67 Newsletter Vol 1 2015 We like to move it move it Continued from page 2 Parachute play is an example of a cooperative activity that our students absolutely love Parachute games encourage cooperative and non competitive play They strengthen students shoulder arm and hand muscles When the students work together to make the parachute billow they refine perceptual motor skills and develop a sense of rhythm Not only do I wish to play a role in improving my students movement skills but more importantly their social and emotional well being Ms Stephens Physical Education at Golf Middle School In the parachute activity students pull the parachute over their head behind their back and sit on the inside of the parachute While under the chute the students love telling stories and jokes The Golf Middle School Physical Education curriculum is designed to teach all students lifelong skills and the knowledge leading to a healthy and active lifestyle in a safe and enjoyable environment Students have already completed units in soccer volleyball flag football speedball team building cooperative games one round of fitness testing girls basketball boys health and weekly fitness days that include the mile run and Tabata workouts We will continue the year with more fitness testing fitness days girls health boys basketball floor hockey dance traverse wall jump rope step aerobics team handball badminton track and field and softball or baseball My vision is to have each individual have an enjoyable and valuable learning experience Each child may be at a different skill level but the goal is the same in that each child makes improvement from where they begin and that the student is able to work together with others in a positive way Mr Atwood A publication of the Golf School District 67 Board of Education 3

4 Golf School District 67 Newsletter Vol 1 2015 NEW CLASSROOM TECHNOLOGY FOR GOLF MIDDLE SCHOOL PHYSICAL EDUCATION Physical Education teachers Kris Vojack and Kevin Atwood are excited to receive new heart rate monitors for their P E program They believe that students should be aware of the benefits of cardio workouts and the new heart rate monitors will give each student insight into their physical conditioning Recently they attended the annual IAHPERD Illinois Association for Health Physical Education Recreation and Dance Conference and were most impressed by how middle school teachers use Polar Heart Rate Monitors in P E classes around the state Hynes STEM Leaders Attend NSTA in Philadelphia Hynes STEM LEADERS Casey Jacobs Amanda Levinson and Glenn Gutierrez joined the Classrooms First Leadership Team and thousands of science teachers from around the country to explore the very best science practices at the National Science Teachers Association NSTA Convention Session choices focused on the use of technology such as Integrating Chromebook with Vernier Technology Other sessions focused on literacy connections For example Teaching Science Through Integrating Children s Literature and Outdoor Investigations Many sessions highlighted the application of the new Next Generation Science Standards NGSS and provided ideas for our teachers to better understand and implement the new standards within our science curriculum For example session topics included scientific practices What Does Argumentation Look Like in an Elementary Classroom Using Engineering Design Process in the STEM Classroom and Meeting Standards through Citizen Science and Schoolyard Investigations Our teachers returned from NSTA with many exciting ideas new skills and camaraderie that will greatly benefit our students in science A publication of the Golf School District 67 Board of Education 4

5 Golf School District 67 Newsletter Vol 1 2015 EMERGENCY SCHOOL CLOSINGS We know that closing schools in bad weather has a big effect on families We also understand that students are better served both academically and socially by being in school whenever possible The safety of our students and staff is our top priority in making a decision to keep schools open or to close schools in bad weather HOW DO WE MAKE OUR DECISION We make the decision to close or delay opening schools in bad weather based on a many factors such as information on road conditions our ability to start and move buses amount of snow and ice accumulated whether snow ice is continuing building conditions and parking lot conditions temperature and wind chill weather predictions and what other Niles Township school districts are doing The Superintendent of Schools makes the final decision based on these factors NOTIFICATION Usually the decision about opening schools is made by 6 00 a m Notification is posted on our website at www golf67 net and Emergency Closing website as soon as the decision is made Our automated messaging service makes calls to notify families There are several other ways to find out if school is open or closed on a bad weather day Check your email make sure that the District has your current email address Visit www EmergencyClosings com Tune into TV CBS NBC ABC WGN Fox CLTV and local radio WGN AM WBBM AM and The Zone FM If the decision is to open schools please keep in mind that even if weather conditions worsen we cannot reverse our decision in the morning without endangering students Once we make the decision to open many parents leave for work If we then send students right back home many will return to empty houses INFORMATION ABOUT OUR AUTOMATED PHONE MESSAGING SERVICE Power Announcement is our automated phone messaging system Everyone will receive the same recorded message within minutes To receive a message you need only answer your telephone or cell phone or have an answering machine or voice mail to record your incoming message Calls will be sent to the phone numbers you have provided the school so be sure that you have updated your home and cell phone numbers and e mail addresses A PARENT S DECISION Although the District does its best to make the decision that is best for everyone we know that often no perfect decision exists If you do not feel it is safe for your child to attend school we respect your right to keep your child at home Extra days are not built into the District calendar therefore if the District closes due to weather each day missed will be made up at the end of the school year in June A publication of the Golf School District 67 Board of Education 5

6 Golf School District 67 Newsletter Vol 1 2015 Golf Middle School students parents and staff help feed the hungry Ms Karen Chvojka learned about the Feed My Starving Children organization from Mrs Conejo Golf Middle School teacher who attended a field trip with her daughter s school last year As she was describing what the organization was all about Ms Chvojka immediately thought about the giving spirit of our Golf family and how amazing this field trip would be for our students Building empathy and compassion within our kids is so important This concept is what helped drive our GMS Gives Back theme this year Kids knowing that they can make a difference is important and when it s kids helping kids it s even better The Feed My Starving Children organization has been absolutely wonderful to work with and I recommend it to anyone looking to volunteer in a family friendly environment where you can really make a difference They are a faith based organization but as they told our students you do not have to be religious to pack the food and you do not have to be religious to eat the food you just want to help kids be able to eat Each grade level will volunteer at some point throughout the school year The 8th grade volunteered in November and other grades will volunteer later this school year 5th grade in December 6th grade in February and 7th grade in April Feed My Starving Children is a nonprofit organization that provides nutritionally complete meals for starving malnourished and hungry people The prepackaged dry meals costing less than a quarter each to make are funded and assembled by donor volunteers in the United States FMSC food has reached more than 70 countries The 8th grade field trip was a huge success Students worked in teams to pack meals to be shipped to starving children around the world In an hour and a half they packed 124 boxes which is 26 784 meals enough to feed 73 children for one year Ms Chvojka looks forward to sharing this worthwhile field trip opportunity with each grade level at Golf Middle School A publication of the Golf School District 67 Board of Education 6

7 Golf School District 67 Newsletter Vol 1 2015 THE REVIEWS ARE IN The Class of 2016 receives For their performance in the theatrical performance of The Living Storybook Vol II Thank you to Jeanne Austria and the Golf School District 67 PTA volunteers BARNES AND NOBLE FUNdraiser Sunday December 6 from 11 00 am 8 00 pm at the Old Orchard location Get your holiday shopping started or completed while your children enjoy performances by Golf Students seeing their teachers at the store story telling a game area and cookie decorating You can even have your gifts wrapped Can t make it that day That s okay you can order online at BN COM bookfairs from 12 6 12 11 and Golf 67 PTA will receive up to 20 of all purchases made that day and online that Your PTA welcomes your week as long as you mention us participation and support as we partner to provide funds for our teachers and students in Golf School District 67 Join us at our next meeting Tuesday December 8th at 7 00 PM in the Golf Middle School Library Media Center A publication of the Golf School District 67 Board of Education 7

8 Golf School District 67 Newsletter Vol 1 Bringing school and community together OUR VISION Our vision is to champion a legacy of excellence at Golf School District 67 The Golf School District 67 Foundation is an avenue for enhancing and augmenting educational opportunities for students and teachers in Golf School District 67 Please contribute to the Golf School District 67 Foundation and support your schools Donate Now Golf School District 67 Foundation is an independent 501 c 3 non profit organization A special goes out to all who made the District 67 Foundation s such a success The Board and Administration wish all of our Golf School District 67 families and community members a healthy happy and safe holiday season We look forward to 2016 District 67 Board of Education Mr Richard Toth President Mr Thomas Sikoral Vice President Ms Samina Hussain Secretary Ms Nada Ardeleanu Member Mr Sam Barhoumeh Member Dr Guy Hollingsworth Member Dr Ashwini Kumar Member Administrators Dr Beth Sagett Flores Superintendent bflores golf67 net Mrs Carol Westley Principal Hynes ES cwestley golf67 net Ms Karen Chvojka Principal Golf MS kchvojka golf67 net Mrs Christine Hoffman Business Manager choffman golf67 net A publication of the Golf School District 67 Board of Education 8 2015