District 97 Awards / Recognition

big red appleD97 AWARDED BRIGHT RED APPLE

Placing us among the top ten percent of school districts in Illinois, District 97 is one of only 91 Illinois school districts (out of 871) to be honored with the 2008 Bright Red Apple award by SchoolSearch, an educational and consulting firm that works with major companies by providing their relocating families school information. The award is based on five key factors: Academic Performance, Pupil/Teacher Ratio, Expenditure Per Pupil, Educational Level of Teachers, and Average Teacher Salary. District 97 ranked strong in all five family-favored areas. All school districts in Illinois are considered for the award and award criteria are based on objective factors found in the 2007 Illinois report card data. The award, typically given in the fall, is given now in springtime to better reflect the latest school report card data.

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT GAIL CRANTZ, 524-3000

Sandy Noel honored

by National Association for Sport & Physical Fitness

DISTRICT 97 STAFF RECEIVE AWARDS IN PRESTIGIOUS THOSE WHO EXCEL AWARDS PROGRAM
We are delighted to announce the following individuals have received awards for excellence in education in Illinois:

Paul Manus Classroom -Teacher- Award of Recognition
PTO Council -Lunch Initiative -Award of Recognition
Sarah Chilton- Early Career Eductor- Award of Merit
Rene Ferguson -Ed. Service Personnel- Award of Excellence
Catherine Hamilton Administrator Award of Excellence

BROOKS WORM COMPOSTING WINS NATIONAL AWARD

Brooks reports that its worm composting program has received a national award from Keep America Beautiful. The program started at Brooks with about 200 worms eating lunchroom refuse. After raising about 2000 worms, they have shared the program with other classrooms at Brooks and also Hatch, Whittier, and St. Giles. They intend to be in all Oak Park elementary schools soon!

HATCH SCHOOL AND SANDY NOEL IN THE NEWS

Hatch School is featured on the School Nutrition Association website for its kick-off celebration of National School Lunch Week. Sandy Noel was recognized for being selected as Physical Education Teacher of the Year by the Northeastern District of Illinois Association of Health, Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance at that time for her "Tastings" and her "Epicurean Tour Around the Globe" in the gym.

MANN AND BROOKS WIN ISBE RECOGNITION

Mann School has earned an Academic Excellence Award from the Illinois State Board of Education's Honor Roll. The Illinois Honor Roll celebrates the accomplishments of Illinois public schools that are providing high quality education for all their students. To receive the award, 90 percent of students must have met or exceeded state standards in both reading and mathematics for at least three consecutive years. Brooks Middle School earned an Academic Improvement Award for showing an upward trend in test results and/or at least a 7.5 point improvement in state test scores in both reading and mathematics.

JULIAN RECEIVES AWARD FOR PHYSICAL EDUCATION PROGRAMMING

Julian Middle School is only one of the nine schools for the year 2007 to receive the Blue Ribbon Program Award for outstanding physical education programs by the Illinois Assoc. for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance. The criteria used to evaluate our program reflects the state and national professional standards and those of the Ill. State Board of Ed., Julian is providing a model in the state for excellence and encouragement to all Illinois schools for program development and best practices. They were awarded a banner at the IAHPERD convention and recognized at the convention dinner in November and will be presenting a session at the 2008 convention. Their evaluation showed their curriculum and teaching practices met the highest criterion for all categories. A binder was put together to showcase how staff at Julian meet and/or exceed state standards in curriculum, instruction,co-curricular programs, facilities/equipment/financing, safety and administration of their program.

Supported Education Association (SEA)

SEAstar awards for 2006-07 go to: Sue Diehl, Bruce Harken, Kelly Hart, Ashley Kannan, Donna Middleton, Lauren Saliny, Denise Seibert, and Cathy Wrobel.

The BRAVO! staff and the BRAVO Advisory Board at Gwendolyn Brooks Middle School are pleased to announce that the Oak Park Area Arts Council has awarded BRAVO! a $3,000 grant for the next school year.

In addition, we are extremely excited to announce that the Oak Park Area Arts Council has also selected the BRAVO program, and Tina Reynolds, BRAVO Artistic Director, to receive a special award, The Community Bank of Oak Park and River Forest Best of Class Award.

This prestigious award is limited to three organizations each year, and in their letter to BRAVO! announcing this award, they specify that: Every year when the Committee reviews the supporting material such as CDs and DVDs that are submitted by BRAVO!, we are overwhelmed by the number of Brooks Middle School students who participate and who display exceptional levels of artistic talent. Of course, getting the students to develop, and in many cases discover their talent does not happen by accident. That is largely the work of Tina Reynolds, the Artistic Director and Program Manager of BRAVO! This award is also a tribute to her enthusiasm, talent, devotion, and persistence.

The award will be presented at the OPAACs March 14th Annual meeting at Pleasant Home, 217 Home Avenue, Oak Park, IL.

For more information contact
Julie Foley, Co-Secretary
BRAVO! Advisory Board

Stnaomi and her awardilgebauer Award - March 1, 2007

Julian Music Teacher Naomi Copeland Wins The Stilgebauer Award!
This award is given for the innovative use of Technology advancing Teaching and Learning. The committee looked at her 7th grade general music program and the completely new way in which she integrated Garage Band into the student's study of music form and different kinds of world music.

big red appleDistrict 97 winners of the 2006 Bright Red Apple Award

Based on the primary areas of concern of most of their relocating families. (Academic Performance, Pupil/Teacher Ratio, Expenditure Per Pupil, Educational Level of Teachers & Average Teacher Salary.) Based on most recent "IL Report Card Data" information available on date of announcement.

Outstanding Teachers

Jarvia Thomas was honored by Danny Davis' office at an "Outstanding Teacher Award in Education" on Saturday, Dec. 30, 2006. The award was given to individuals who have demonstrated extraordinary leadership, commitment and dediation as an educator.

Sandy Noel is featured in today's issue of USA Today. Sandy was selected as a member of the USA Academic and Teacher Teams earlier this school year, honoring creativity and innovation in education.
http://www.usatoday.com/news/education/2007-01-09-ill.-noel_x.htm

Those Who Excel

Lincoln teacher Jarvia Thomas and Brooks crossing guard Melvyn Townsend, are both recipients of the Award of Merit from the Illinois State Board of Education Those Who Excel awards program.

Jarvia and Melvyn have been invited to the awards banquet on October 7 in Decatur to receive their award.

Congratulations to Jarvia and Melvyn on this well-deserved recognition for your excellent contributions to the children of the Oak Park Schools. Thanks for representing your colleagues and our district in this prestigious awards program!


USA Today's - Teacher Team

Sandy Noel: named one of 20 winners in USA Today's ninth All-USA Teacher Team; named Physical Education Teacher of the Year by the Illinois Association of Health, Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance.