Glen Grove Intermediate Schoolserves grades third through fifth. Over the years, many basic characteristics and values of the school and school community have remained constant. At the same time, the school faculty and community have worked steadily to remain responsive in addressing the uniqueness of each year, each family, anhd each child.

Community

A primary and highly valued characteristic of the school continues to be its diverse population. Students of varied socioeconomic, racial, ethnic and residential backgrounds attend the school. Our neighborhoods include the Glen (former Naval Air Station), single family homes and various apartment complexes.

Though the majority of Glen Grove students are white non-Hispanic, approximately 37% of our students are Black, Hispanic or Asian. Bilingualism among students is also a common characteristic, with well over 18 languages, in addition to English, spoken by students and their families. The most common of these languages are Korean, Spanish and Russian. In responding to the challenge of this diversity, a particular focus of the school has always been to promote acceptance and appreciation of diversity throughout the school and community.

Learning Program

This school fully implements the standard district curriculum. Copies of the specific expectations can be found on the district web page. All students at Glen Grove fully experience the district curriculum. At the same time, students are grouped in teams, each of which develops its own unique personality and approach. While our teams approach instruction differently, in keeping with our belief that children learn best in different ways, it is to be noted that the specific goals and objectives for the children are uniform throughout the school, regardless of the team. Further, all classrooms are equally equipped with technology.

EXPLORER TEAM
All third graders are placed in this team, except those who are in the TREE team. We are eager to begin this year and have already planned many exciting units and activities including rotations for the human body, Native Americans, and weather. We are planning several engaging field trips to support these units, as well as projects that incorporate technology in our classrooms.

We are all looking forward to a fun and productive year in the third grade!

KALEIDOSCOPE TEAM
The Kaleidoscope Team is a fourth/fifth grade looping team that celebrates and recognizes our differences. Like a real kaleidoscope, the Kaleidoscope Team encourages students to express and explore their own unique views.

We are a flexible team, where students' needs, interests, and learning styles are respected and viewed individually. We cultivate an academic community that encourages students to work independently, work collaboratively, take risks, and learn about themselves.

TREE TEAM
Students in third, fourth, fifth grade comprise the student community in this team. Students in this multi-age setting work in advisory groups and remain with this team for three years at Glen Grove.

VOYAGER TEAM
The Voyager team is a team of students and teachers journeying through the learning experience that began in the fourth grade and continues on its educational course through the fifth grade.

Throughout the primary years of their education voyage, skill development has been a key component of student education. As students venture into fourth grade, finding their educational bearings, their scholastic journey begins to deepen as they engage in the application of their acquired skills. Throughout the fifth grade, students both hone and refine their scholastic abilities, independently applying themselves, as the horizon of their next scholastic voyage comes into view.

Ahoy Voyager! We’re ready to set sail for the year.

Fine Arts
The Fine Arts Team at Glen Grove consists of weekly General Music, Visual Art, and Drama classes. Dance is integrated through the P.E. and Music curriculum. The curriculum for the fine arts program reflects the Illinois State Goals and Standards for Fine Arts, as well as the National Standards for Art Education.
In addition, Instrumental Music instruction, Chorus, Art Club, and Grade Level Music/Drama programs are strong components of the Fine Arts program.

Whole School Programs and Services

Instructional and other support services are provided within and outside of the regular classroom as appropriate. These include programs such as the library-media center, speech and language, health services and services for students whose growth needs further attention. Students receive 90 minutes per week direct instruction in Art, Music-Drama and Health. Other voluntary programs in the school include Chorus, Student Council, Instrumental Music and Art Club. Many special programs occur throughout the year. Typically, these fairs and celebrations provide opportunities to showcase the unique accomplishments of students. Others enable students to benefit from the larger community. We actively participate in Character Counts and support efforts to foster student learning through service.

Social Skills

Providing the appropriate educational experiences and support to assure appropriate social interaction is an important aspect of school. Over time this has been a priority at Glen Grove School. Efforts to improve our program and approaches have changed as we learn more about brain research, emotional intelligence and the various social challenges facing youth today. Last year we placed a greater emphasis on the social development of our students.

Closing Statement

As the educational component in the mid-years of a child's elementary schooling, the faculty and staff remain acutely aware of their unique obligation to continue the nurturing of the primary years while preparing students for the challenges of later education, all in the context of helping each student find great joy in a present time of learning and exploring. Our faculty strives to foster growth in student independence and responsibility for self, the maintenance of a strong self-image in these early years of peer consciousness, the birth of interest in more specialized study and cooperative, constructive relationships with others.