Glen Grove Elementary School

January 16, 2007

Present: Mary Riley, Lisa Antzis, Jodi Kay, Kelly Konrad, Julie Wrona, Lisa Berg, Jackie Edelson, Gretchen Schnarr, Lori Samataro, Julie Revello, Mindy Schloss, Mary Zenzola, Placida Palillaro, Betsy Chisholm, Caryl Desserich, Sue Thompson, Julie Bruch, Patty Patt, Heidi Burke, Pauline Poulakos, Joan Loeb, Merryl Brownlow, Kathy Cameranesi, Kathy Karavidas, Jean Thompson, Lori Hinton

Meeting called to order at 6:31 PM.

Presentation on Early Release/Shortened School Year: Presented by Phil Collins and Jill Engels
• Possible plan is to shorten year by 5 student contact days. There will be a two year phase in early release for students. 2007-2008 could have 9 early release days from Jan-June (1.3 student contact days). 2008-2009 would have 18 early days from August-June (2.8 student contact days).
• During full implementation there would be 7.6 fewer student contact days.
• This would create 36 hours of planning for learning time for teachers over the course of the year during full implementation.
• This would build time for staff to integrate and work together to fullfill the new strategic planning.
• A significant impact would allow teachers to provide personalized instruction by taking into account individual learners’ needs and plan accordingly through a collaborative approach.
• Provides time for teachers to meet across grade levels to discuss the outcomes across grade levels and provide for a smoother continuum of learning maximizing instruction across the three grade levels.
• Kindergarten classes are still being discussed as on how to schedule early release where it doesn’t affect the afternoon classes.
• The state law requires 176 days of student attendance. This plan will not affect the law because currently the students are in school for 181 days. The length of the staff year stays the same.
• The district has not made any decisions. The meetings will be held at each cluster to present the information and gather feedback by the community.
• Once all the feedback is gathered there will be internal conversations with the administration and staff to determine what will be presented to the board.
• More detailed information can be found at the District 34 website. Please go to the website and give your comments.

Facilities Presentation: John O’Connor
• An overview of the upcoming addition at Glen Grove was discussed.
• The addition will be completed for the 2008-2009 school year.
• There will be separate bus and car traffic, additional parking, additional 7-8 classrooms, 4 resource spaces, space for Social Worker, Speech, Psychologist and extra janitor and building storage.
• The new plan will free up space in the existing building to allow for a reading room, more lunchroom space and an instructional music room.
• Construction will begin in the summer. The foundation will be finished by August 2007.
• The entire construction area will be fenced off and work will be done during the 2007-2008 school year.
• During construction the playground will be relocated in a temporary area and the hard black top will not be available for play.
• Parking will be limited during the construction period.
• Please be patient and understanding during the construction.

Treasurer’s Report: Julie Wrona reported.
The current balance is $75,773.74. The profit for Potbelly’s was $670 which brings the total for Dining for Dollars to $817. January’s Market Day was $114 for a total of $885.

Principal’s Report: Westbrook Lori Hinton reported.
• Enrollment: K-153, 1st-187, 2nd-186 Total – 526
• January is the time of year when we review our students’ progress in reading. Kindergarteners take a phonemic segmentation assessment to identify whether or not they are beginning to hear sounds in words. First graders take a similar test in addition to a simple decoding assessment. Both first and second graders read to an adult for one minute to determine their rate of reading errors. The results are used to plan for instruction and monitor school wide goals in literacy.
• We have created a Westbrook Wall of Citizenship in the hallway outside of the front gym. The wall is filling up with “Panda Paws” – examples of students demonstrating the pillars.
• LSC had developed a school wide reading project to promote literacy and Character Counts. In collaboration with the Glenview Public Library, students will earn Character Counts badge for accomplishing this goal. Students will be invited to continue to participate in the GPL Book Badge Program for the remainder of the year and throughout the summer.
• Mad Cap Puppets perform on Monday, January 22.
• This month the Character Counts pillar is “caring”. We are learning how to use “I” messages to resolve conflicts.
• Several members of the Kindergarten Team received a GEF grant to explore the Project Approach with their students. The Early Childhood Speech/Language Pathologists also received a grant for a new program.

Principal’s Report: Glen Grove Merryl Brownlow reported.
• Enrollment: 3rd-136 4th-129 5th-125 NSSED-8 Total – 398
• Thank you to the PTA for our cultural arts assembly on Leonardo DaVinci that incorporated art, science, math and social studies last week. Child’s Play, a writing workshop program, will be at the end of January.
• The winner for the Geography Bee is Lydia Lutz. She took a written test to try to qualify for the national competition.
• The 5th grade musical, Of Mice and Mozart, will premiere on Tuesday, Jan. 23.
• The school spelling bee will follow classroom bees and take place on Monday, Feb. 5. The winners will compete in the Intermediate Spelling Bee hosted at Hoffman on Tuesday, Feb. 6. The top 5 winners will go to the District Bee, which will include middle school students on Feb. 8.
• The transition process for middle school has a new timeline this year, giving students the opportunity to make appropriate instrumental music selections and choose their global language classes in a timely manner. The 5th graders will visit middle schools for a morning session only on Thursday, Feb. 15. More information will follow at the end of January.
• With the help of Mrs. Salkover, the Social Worker, and a committee of staff members, I am working with a group of 10 5th graders (2 reps from each class) on developing a school wide student recognition system for acknowledging students who serve as role models through the choices they make and the actions they take. We are putting this in the hands of our students, as we know they are the ones impacted by such a program. We hope to have a recommendation to the Building Climate Committee by early April for implementation next school year.
• The January monthly assembly will be held January 26 and will feature the Explorer Team. The will present a program that reinforces our vision to support students in becoming citizens of character who value diversity.

Committee Reports:

Dinner Dance: There will be a meeting Feb. 2 at 9:00 at Michelle Kryscio’s home, 1532 Buckingham, to work on last minute details. Please contact Michelle at michellekryscio@comcast.net if you are interested in attending. Please mark your calendars for Feb. 9 for a fun and exciting night out.

Glen Grove Movie Night: Feb. 2 at 6:00. The movie will be Barnyard. This night is only for Glen Grove students. Volunteers are needed. Please contact Michelle Kopley at 998-1428 or Helena Lee at 657-0023.

Market Day: Feb. 6 at Glen Grove. Pick-up time is 2:45 – 3:45. Volunteers needed. This month is cookie month. The school makes more profit for each cookie order placed.

Yearbook: Cover deadline is Friday, Feb. 24. More information is in the newsletter. Please submit any pictures you have taken to the yearbook chairs.

Class Size Survey: Please go to the website and offer comments on the smaller class sizes. http://surveymonkey.com/sasp?u=311333061198

District 34 News: There will be roughly 100 students redistricted from Attea to Springman. Incoming 6th graders will be going to Springman residing in the boundaries of Shermer / Harlem and Glennview / Central.

Meeting adjourned at 8:09. Submitted by Lisa Antzis