April 15th “The Princess Bride” Movie Fundraiser Was A Hit!
Our screening of the classic, family movie “The Princess Bride” was a great success!
Inconceivable? Not all all!
The attraction of a movie liked by young and old, interactive audience participation during the showing, a costume contest, and horrible Spring weather combined to make this fundraiser a huge hit.
Many thanks to the Wilmette Theatre for generously donating the venue for the event! It was a great way to lead into their “Kid’s Klassics” movies they are showing on various Sundays now through June 3rd.
We appreciate all who joined us in this inaugural event that very likely will lead to more D39 Educational Foundation movie fundraisers in the future. Stay tuned next school year.
Six Fall 2017 Gripp Grants Awarded in November!
Six Gripp Grants were funded for the 2017 Fall grant cycle:
Mayaan Sloane and Samantha Sutton, Highcrest Technology Innovation Specialists, were granted the purchase of video and recording equipment to transition the weekly WHMS News into a live student written, directed and executed broadcast. Currently only two students per homeroom participate in the broadcast creation and all of the editing, filming, etc. is done by Ms. Sloane and Ms. Sutton. The new, student-led format allows one homeroom each week to write, prepare, film and star in the broadcast. Students will choose roles: scriptwriter, feature creator, anchor, editor, camera operator, sound mixer, meteorologist, or producer. Every student who desires to participate will have the chance to actively create a final live broadcast shared with their classmates and community.
The elementary school Differentiation Specialist Teachers, led by McKenzie’s Julie Garry, were awarded a grant to create individual recording studios. This inventive grant will fund the creation of sound-proof cubes to be used across all 4 elementary schools. The cubes will enable students to record assignments onto their laptops and iPads in a “soundproof booth”. The cubes will aid in the production quality of individual recordings and provide a private space for less confident learners. Thanks to this grant each school will have 12 recording studios available for use in their Learning Commons.
Rachel Frost, WJHS Technology Applications Teacher, will purchase 9 Cue the Cleverbots to augment the current Technology Applications courses with a more sophisticated hands-on coding experience. These robots bridge the gap between simplicity and complexity experienced by 8th grade students learning to code. When students are coding in Python, it is difficult for them to visualize what they’re creating, because they only see output of numbers and letters. This does not align with the advanced, flashy technology they know and use daily. By programming a robot using Python, students will be able to test and see the physical output of their program. This experience helps them actualize what they’re coding, build confidence and interest, and bridge the gap between the computer and physical worlds.
WJHS and Highcrest Library/Information Specialists, Daphna Neirick and Kristy Rieger, were awarded a grant to pilot a NewsELA Pro news subscription service providing quality news and article sources tailored to students’ individual learning abilities. This pilot will allow Highcrest and WJHS to evaluate the usability of NewsELA Pro, a high-quality, reliable reading subscription series that can be tailored to a student’s reading and understanding level, in relation to other subscription series currently used within the district.
Harper School’s art teacher, Katherine Robinson was awarded a grant to purchase materials to fund her school wide Only You art project. All children at Harper will read Only You by Linda Kranz. Following class discussion students will have the opportunity to paint a small rock inspired by the book’s message: There is only one you in this big world, make it a better place. Upon completion, the rocks will be used to create a pathway in the Harper School Outdoor classroom.
Central School’s Julie Mirabelli and Kathleen Peth partnered on a grant to purchase Kid Power Bands for Mrs. Mirabelli’s third grade classroom. The bands combine individual fitness tracking with the reward of assisting individuals in underdeveloped countries. As the students track their physical activity they will unlock charity funding for the country of their choice. In addition to directing charity dollars to their chosen country they will learn more about the part of the world they are assisting. The grant will help Mrs. Mirabelli’s third graders improve their fitness, set and achieve personal goals, and gain a broader global perspective.
2017 Bingo Night Packed The Masonic Lodge With Families!
Our 4th annual Family Bingo Night on Friday, October 20th filled the Wilmette Masonic Lodge with families and fun! After many rounds with multiple winners of all ages, we ended the night with a round of blackout for $100 in cash!
[Read more…] about 2017 Bingo Night Packed The Masonic Lodge With Families!Foundation Fine Arts Committee Funds Artist-In-Residence for WJHS Workshop
The D39 Educational Foundation and District 39 partnered to host visiting Swiss Artist Verena Brassel May 16 – May 25 at WJHS. This initiative provided students with an opportunity to make connections across curriculum and explore different world views. The program was financed by the Foundation through the Lydia Martin Memorial Fund.
10 Every Day Heroes Event Was A Night to Remember!
ComedySportz Improv Teaches Students Life Skills
On March 9th and 10th Highcrest Middle School 6th graders were treated to an afternoon of improv games, learning critical skills while laughing through fun individual and team games.
Science Olympiad Open House Wows!
Science Olympiad Open House Wows!
Over 50 families joined Science Olympiad students and teachers at the program Open House on Saturday, February 25th. All of the courses from Food Science to Crime Busters to Bottle Rockets to Hovercraft and more were represented. Students proudly displayed the work they completed during the courses. Current HMS and WJHS students plus 4th graders looking to learn what Science Olympiad is all about were treated to enthusiastic student presentations. Congratulations to all of the Science Olympians on their great work! Thank you to Starbucks on Green Bay for donating coffee and Jewel-Osco on Green Bay for providing food for the event.
Fall 2016 Gripp Grants Awarded!
The Foundation approved two Gripp Grants for the Fall 2016 grant cycle – Breakout EDU boxes and Google Chromebooks.
SPECIAL PARENT NIGHT: The Mindset Revolution
Teaching Mathematics for a Growth Mindset
The Educational Foundation and Wilmette Public Schools District 39 hosted a special Parent Night on Thursday, September 29, at WJHS.
Dr. Jo Boaler, Professor of Mathematics Education & Co-Founder of YouCubed at Stanford University and Cathy Williams, Co-Founder & Executive Director of YouCubed at Stanford University discussed what it means to teach math for a growth mindset and the implications for your child.
For more information about the speakers and YouCubed visit youcubed.org.
This event is made possible through funding from a Foundation Gripp Grant.
For more information about the event click HERE.
Questions? CONTACT D39 Department of Curriculum & Instruction. 847.512.6054
Spring 2016 Gripp Grants Awarded!
The District 39 Educational Foundation is thrilled to announce its Spring 2016 Gripp Grants and proud to distribute $12,502 to 3 D39 schools and the District’s Office of Curriculum and Instruction.
- Mobile learning in the Learning Commons (Harper): This grant will purchase two items to help with innovative learning in the new Harper Learning Commons. Teachers, Beth Cummo, Muffy Pinney, Sue Flachsbart, and principal Dr. Sue Kick requested the purchase of hanging whiteboards and 25 Google Expeditions View-Masters. The whiteboards will be utilized for group instruction and can be pulled down from the walls by the students when working on their own or in small groups. The Google Expeditions View-Masters are virtual reality tools that will transport learners to different learning platforms including space and foreign countries.
- Professional Development and Parent Training with Dr. Jo Boalar and Dr. Cathy Williams (District office of Curriculum and Instruction): The Educational Foundation is partnering with District 39 to bring Stanford University Professors, Dr. Jo Boaler and Dr. Cathy Williams to our Wilmette schools. Dr. Boaler and Dr. Williams are research leaders in the field of mathematics instruction and are coming to share their findings on applying a growth mindset to math. This cutting edge research is applicable across all disciplines and leads to students seeing their abilities as expandable and improvable, resulting in a decrease in classroom anxiety. In addition to working with the District 39 staff, the professors will conduct a parent education event. The events are scheduled for September 29-30, 2016.
- Lego Learning Walls (Central): Central School’s Differentiation Specialist, Bonny Skutch, and a group of dedicated 4th grade students submitted this grant to fund a Lego Learning Wall in their Learning Commons and two mobile Lego learning units that can be moved to classrooms. TheLego Learning Wall will be used in math instruction and in story development for language arts classes.
- Stride track for Mileage Club (Central): Several years ago Central school PE teacher Kathleen Peth started Mileage Club, an extremely popular recess activity. The Mileage Club is a wonderful activity for individuals or groups that encourages kids to stay active, and to set goals for their own physical fitness. The Stride track will allow Ms. Peth to automate the tracking of each child’s accomplishments. In addition, each child will have access to their individual data to track their goals and physical fitness. Ms. Peth has partnered with the Central School PTA to continue the ongoing success of this program following its pilot year.
- Ancient Greeks at the Field Museum (Highcrest): Alexandra Vastardis and her her 80 6th grade Latin students will attend the Field Museum to visit the special exhibit on ancient Greece, Agamemnon to Alexander the Great. This showcase event is a joint exhibit with the national Hellenic Museum showcasing over 500 ancient artifacts, many shown for the first time in North America. The students will each research an artifact and upon returning to school will create a virtual museum to share with 5th grade Latin students. The virtual museum will be available for future Latin students and for thee 6th grade social studies teachers to aide their study of ancient Greece. This grant was funded in partnership with the Highcrest PTO.
Foundation presents $40,000 to District 39 for the Learning Commons Initiative.
The District 39 Educational Foundation is proud to announce a gift of $40,000 over 4 years to the district, towards the learning commons initiative.
Our Science Olympiad Team Advances to States!
Congratulations to the JV & Varsity Science Olympiad teams for an outstanding performance at Regionals at Harper College! Varsity brought home a 1st place trophy & advances to States at U of I on April 16.
[Read more…] about Our Science Olympiad Team Advances to States!
Fall 2015 Gripp Grants awarded!
The Foundation is pleased to announce that we awarded four Gripp grants this fall totaling $5,802. Three grants were awarded to McKenzie school and one to the special education departments for Highcrest Middle School and Wilmette Junior High.
McKenzie School:
- Content Area Literacy and the Common Core Conference:
Second grade teachers, Jennifer Weil and Erin Schroeder are excited to participate in a forward thinking conference at Teacher’s College in New York. The Reading and Writing Project Conference is focused on innovative strategies for fully engaging students in the new English Language Arts curriculum under Common Core. Content material will be shared district wide among all elementary ELA teachers.
- Makey Makeys:
Funding from this grant enhances both the 4th grade science and technology curriculum, enabling Julie Garry and the technology to purchase 30 Makey Makeys. These innovative kits are sure to enrich the current 4th grade science unit on electricity. Working together in small groups, the Makey Makey kits will allow students to make their own musical instruments they can program themselves. Makey Makeys will combine their knowledge of electrical circuits with the coding there are learning in technology class.
- Marvel Focus Desks:
Lauren Siegel and Teresa Alfaro, 4th grade teachers, will be piloting the use of a state-of-the-art adjustable desk in their classrooms. The Marvel Focus Desks, are designed to adapt to the individual child and their learning environment, especially helpful to those with unique learning needs.
Highcrest and Wilmette Junior High
- Adaptive Musical Instruments:
The grant is a partnership between the music instructors and special education departments in grades 5 through 8. This grant will fund the purchase of seven types of musical instruments to be used by students with comprehensive learning needs and/or physical challenges. Teachers are thrilled that this equipment will allow students within the comprehensive learning center to fully participate in the High Five Choir and their related arts classes. Teachers leading this initiative include Arlene Frost, Jana Martin, Maggie Sacksteder, Stephan Spellman, Zach Sundeman, Kellie Truppa, and Sarah Whitaker.
2015 Science Olympiad First Competition of the Season
Our 7th & 8th grade Varsity Science Olympiad team participated at the Marie Murphy competition on December 12. The kids represented the district well. They supported each other, had positive attitudes & brought home some medals
Spring 2015 Gripp Grants Awarded
The 2015 Spring round of Gripp Grants were awarded on March 26th. This grant cycle the Foundation approved four grants for projects at four different schools.
8th grade teachers Beth Kalish and Beth Cummo will pilot transforming a classroom at WJHS into a flexible learning space. Node desks with swivel seats and built-in stands for tablets, and white boards will be purchased to create a fluid environment. The classroom will be adaptable to suit different learning needs such as small-group work, whole classroom discussions, debates, collaborative work, etc.
At HMS, 6th grade teacher Eric Resis will pilot differentiated seating options with new, adjustable-height desks. The goal is to provide movement to help maintain focus and attention.
The students at McKenzie will soon have reusable water glasses and pitchers to use in the cafeteria thanks to a grant awarded to the McKenzie PTA and principal Denise Welter. This grant teaches the impact of recycling on our environment and the nutritional importance of water.
The final grant this spring funds the Emmy Noether Project at Romona. This 3-year project aims to raise awareness of deeply rooted societal attitudes and practices related to gender bias as it relates to math. Through teacher training, parent education and programming for young girls, one of the goals is to encourage girls to view their math abilities as expandable and improvable.
Visit our Gripp Grant page to learn more.
3rd Annual Trivia Night has a winner!
On Saturday, February 7th, 2015 over 200 friends, neighbors, and trivia buffs formed teams and came to the Woman’s Club of Wilmette dressed according to their own creative theme.
[Read more…] about 3rd Annual Trivia Night has a winner!Fall 2014 Gripp Grants Awarded
The Foundation awarded 5 Gripp Grants this fall, totaling over $4,100. The 4th grade teachers at Romona will purchase automobile artifacts for students to examine during their inventions study using the 5 lenses of the new social studies curriculum. Romona’s Early Childhood Evaluation Team received a grant to create 3 new play scheme boxes to improve their assessment process.
WJHS Drama teacher, Dinah Barthelmess at WJHS will use her grant to conduct a Process Drama unit in her Improv Classes on “Us and Them” focusing on diversity and tolerance through a collaboration with Canadian teaching artist, Margaret Boersma. Also at WJHS, Yiyi Xu, the Mandarin teacher, will purchase an application to help students with reading proficiency and advanced vocabulary.
Lastly, Central’s 2nd grade teacher Susan Morris will use funds for technology to help with “fliperentiation” and cloned teacher mini lessons to reinforce concepts to accommodate the differentiation among students’ capabilities and learning styles. We look forward to seeing these grants in action and how our students will benefit from the innovative ideas of our talented D39 teachers!
Rack*It Public Art Project
The Foundation is excited to announce its plans for a Community Fine Arts Project funded through the Sam Mikaelian Fine Arts Fund during the 2014-2015 school year. With the help of District 39 students, the Foundation will facilitate the fabrication and installation of three artistic bike racks in the Village of Wilmette.
The Rack*It Project will begin in the art classes at all six District 39 Schools this Fall when the children are invited to design a bike rack that represents the community of Wilmette. For Highcrest and WJHS students, if your child does not have Art scheduled during the First Quarter, but wishes to participate in the Rack*It Project, he/she should contact your school’s Art Teachers.
All designs must be submitted by October 31st. Each school will review the designs submitted by the children and select five designs to submit for consideration. A Design Committee, comprised of teachers from the District 39 Art Department, Foundation members, cycling advocates and community stakeholders will choose three designs from those submitted by all six schools. After the bike racks are fabricated, we will host an “unveiling” presentation for the community in May.
Thank You for Your Donation
Thank you for your donation to the D39 Educational Foundation! Your gift is tax-deductible to the fullest extent allowed by law. You will receive an email confirmation of your donation and a letter from the foundation acknowledging your donation.