Summer is more than just fun in the sun. While most students are enjoying a much-appreciated breather, administrators at local schools use these months as an opportunity to implement improvements to the schools, both in terms of the physical premises and to scholastic programming.
Darrell Schaver, director of operations and maintenance for Springfield School District 186, has his hands full this summer with various construction projects aimed at improving the condition of the buildings and hence the overall learning environment. Many of these changes involve renovation of heating and cooling systems in the schools, which are funded through Health/Life Safety bonds. He reports that Sandburg and Wilcox Elementary, along with Washington Middle School, will be receiving new, energy-efficient geothermal heating and cooling systems, along with new fire alarms, improved lighting and fresh air ventilation.
Meanwhile, Marsh Elementary will say goodbye to its antiquated pivoting wall system, with new walls and doors installed to enhance the security of the building, according to Schaver. Even more dramatic, this fall Matheny-Withrow Elementary students will be attending classes in a completely new building, replacing the previous, 1950s-era edifice. “The students were able to watch the construction of the new building and will now have the opportunity to learn in the new facility,” says Schaver. In addition, Enos Elementary will begin utilizing a newly completed two-story classroom wing, with new administration, gymnasium and kitchen portions of the building still under construction. West Side Christian Church’s volunteer program, Sharefest, will be providing interior finish work along with some playground improvements for both McClernand and Addams Elementary.
One of the biggest physical changes for District 186 comes with the closings of two elementary schools, Wanless and Pleasant Hill, which are being consolidated into Feitshans. “Students will be in a different building but with familiar faces in the teaching staff,” says Schaver, who points out that, in addition to these kinds of large-scale projects, the District 186 custodial and maintenance staffs work hard throughout the summer to provide a clean and maintained facility for the returning students.
According to Kathy Crum, director of teaching and learning for District 186, the biggest curriculum changes will be a result of alignment with the new Common Core Standards set by the state of Illinois. She describes three Instructional Shifts for literacy and also new Math Practice Standards, which she describes as “a guiding force in how students are taught, in preparation for meeting the standards and preparing for the PARCC (Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers) assessment that is coming up in 2014.”
The three Instructional Shifts in question are building knowledge through content-rich nonfiction; reading, writing and speaking grounded in evidence from text, both literary and informational; and regular practice with complex text and academic language. “These shifts will require students to read lots of nonfiction and complex text,” says Crum. “Using evidence from text will be critical. Parents can help with this.” She goes on to describe the new math standards as focusing on student perseverance and use of appropriate tools and strategies.
Other changes include many more classrooms integrating the use of iPads and other technology, along with the training of district teachers in an instructional model called the Gradual Release of Responsibility in which “students are much more engaged and in charge of their learning while the teacher facilitates and guides.”
Changes at SHG
Jennifer Bettis, director of advancement for Sacred Heart-Griffin High School, says that SHG is expanding its dual-credit program with Lincoln Land Community College to include calculus, adding to a program which already includes U.S. history and biology at LLCC as well as Spanish, English and physics through Benedictine.
Some special opportunities offered to SHG students include the Sangamon CEO class, which emphasizes real-world learning, where five students will connect with business owners in the area; a St. John’s Hospital Shadowing and Mentorship Program which provides sophomores the opportunity to learn about career opportunities in the medical field by shadowing professionals in a variety of areas; and the Broadcast Media class, launched in the 2012-2013 school year, which enables students to create and distribute digital video in a variety of formats, including live sports broadcasting, documentary, short film and news coverage.
Also on the technological front, SHG is officially pursuing a program called BYOD (bring your own device). “We recommend Chromebooks to be used by individual students for any class,” says Bettis. The students purchase and are responsible for the technology they bring, with student workshops provided to help with proficiency.
In other parochial schools, Christ the King elementary will be incorporating a new “gen H” health and wellness initiative, as well as adding two new preschool rooms for a total of four, in order to keep up with swelling demand for pre-kindergarten Catholic education. Meanwhile, Concordia Lutheran welcomes new principal Mark Ploss, along with Alissa Mercier, the school’s first new first- and second-grade teacher in 40 years. St. Patrick Catholic School is currently preparing to announce the results of its own search for a new principal.
Montessori gardens
The changes at Montessori Children’s House school are largely centered around the horticultural, according to executive director Sue Harris. “We have installed decorative pots, filled with plants, at our entrance and exits,” she says. “We are now proceeding into increasing the size of our parking lot across the road from the school – and also doing landscaping, planting both trees and shrubs.” The new landscape design was devised by Massie Massie and Associates landscape architects.
In terms of curriculum, Harris accents the school’s “indoor and outdoor” education component. “We have beautiful gardens that we have cultivated on the grounds – and students can be involved in planting and harvesting.” The gardens have both edible and flowering plants and the plentiful rainfall this season has resulted in a fine yield. “Children can take things home if they choose to,” say Harris.
As summer kicks into high gear, so do the improvement efforts of the many area schools. Before students know it, the bell will toll, bringing classes back into session. School officials are hoping all the changes will add to students’ opportunities for a better education in a safe, comfortable and stimulating learning environment.
Scott Faingold is a longtime contributor to IT. He blogs about the arts for illinoistimes.com as “Faingold at Large.”
This article appears in Capital City Parent July 2013.
