Toys for Tots

Another great example of GKMS kids contributing to their community is the Toys for Tots collection.  Scores of gifts in the $5 - $10 price range have been donated.  Other students have donated $5 to the cause.

Community members are welcome to drop off any contributions through the remainder of the week. 

Thank you Community Impact Club for coordination our efforts.  As always, all donations stay in DeKalb county to help local families. 

GKMS Food Drive - now through November 12th

GKMS will be collecting canned and packaged foods until November 12th.  While geared towards working with our students and community service, all members of our community are also welcome to donate items to our front office.

All items will be donated to the Genoa Food Pantry.  This is just one of the ways our students excel and contribute to their community.

Special thanks go out to student council for coordinating our efforts.

I want you to SAY it if you SEE it!

Many times, people misinterpret actions for bullying when they absolutely are not.  Unfortunately, sometimes actual bullying does occur - even in a great school like GKMS.  Our PBIS team, PTO and Community Impact Club are teaming up to help further establish GKMS as a place where bullying is simply not accepted.

PBIS and PTO are sponsoring a See it, Say it Halloween Dance to kick off a two month campaign including our anti-bullying message through the use of weekly "cool tool" activities.  The dance will take place during the school day - study hall times.

Community Impact Club has used student artwork to design a shirt we will be giving students across the district an opportunity to purchase,  "I want you to say it if you see it" along with artwork across the front of the shirt with "Only you can make a difference against bullying" on the back.

We thank all students for their ideas and submissions.  We look forward to everyone working together to make GKMS an even better place.

Leadership and Community Service - Special Guest

As part of Mrs. Hencken's Leadership and Community Service class (LCS), members of our community that serve and lead regularly come speak to our students.  Today, we were fortunate to have State Representative Bob Pritchard come speak to 7th and 8th grade students.  He also fielded questions ranging from $600,000 doors, the gold standard, "stand your ground" laws, what it takes to pass a bill, and more.  We greatly appreciate his time. 

ISAT and MAP results coming home

Families, in your students' Progress Report envelope, you will find MAP and ISAT reports.

ISAT testing was done last Spring.  This is a snapshot view of your student's performance at that time based on State Standards and the new Common Core standards.  All cut scores were changed this year for all students.  As a result, a direct comparison to previous years achievement is no longer valid.  Students will likely see a lower score than previous years.  This decision was made by the State of Illinois.

MAP testing has been in place in our district since 2008.  You will see a graph of your student's performance in an "apples to apples" comparison from year to year.  My opinion is that reading this graph is best done viewing general growth as a whole rather than focusing on one specific data point (test day).

Feel free to contact me with any questions.

MAP Testing

MAP testing is just wrapping up at GKMS.  Ask your student about it.  In MAP testing, all students take the computer based assessment in Math and Reading.  The test continuously monitors correct and incorrect responses and shapes the assessment to accurately assess your students' level of performance.  The results give teachers a clear understanding of each students' strengths and areas of weakness so we can better meet individual needs. 

Copies of results will be sent home with progress reports.  Thanks.

A New Year at GKMS

Welcome back everyone!  We are looking forward to a great year here at GKMS.

Classes are in full swing as we use best practice instructional strategies to deliver standards based curriculum.  Our students also have the opportunity to participate in extra curricular sports, clubs, and volunteer activities.  Feel free to contact me for additional information.

An excellent student and parent tool is Assignment Connection.  Log in to Powerschool, and you will have access to what your student experienced in all their classes each day.  Powerschool is generally up to date by 1:00PM each day.

We look forward to a great year helping students excel and contribute to our community!

Have a safe and happy Summer

Wishing all our GK families a great Summer! 

A few changes coming for next year: KES welcomes Ms. Hill as school principal.  I will be principal at GKMS, as Mr. McPherson moves to GKHS.   

We all look forward to a great 2013-2014 school year.

It's all mental from here ...

As you know, I don't do countdowns.  Don't think it is healthy.  But, at this time of the year, it reminds me of a story Lisa told me about the first time she ran the Chicago Marathon in 2001. Buckle in; this is the long version.

The Chicago Marathon is actually run in the exact opposite direction it should be... for the runners. It is this way because the North side neighborhoods have more clout and want the runners out earlier to get their roads back.

So, middling pack runners find themselves beginning the run through beautiful streets shaded by trees in the morning. Many cheering crowds.  As the day grows hotter they are on the South side of the course. Much of it is wide flat HOT pavement with no shade and industrial areas which translate to little spectator support.

Taking the turn up from Comiskey Park (around mile 23) is where my wife was on the verge of quitting her first marathon 11 1/2 years ago. She easily noticed a Rastafarian man on the side amongst the sparse spectators snapping his fingers.  As she got closer she heard him repeating, "It's all mental from here. It's all mental from here."  Of course, she knew he  was right and finished strong, revitalized from his simple encouragement and accurate observation.

It is the same with us now.  As we wrap up this year, we look at data for next year finding ways to be more effective and help students achieve. It is a time to reflect, evaluate, and plan.  Great opportunities for improvement lay at our feet.  For all of us and our students, it's all mental from here.  It is simply a matter of perspective.

Thank you for a great year at KES.  I look forward to a strong finish here in the last week helping all students succeed and be in a great position for a solid start next year.

Just Batty

Yes, Spring is here and a guest decided to hang out at the entrance of our playground door.  All the students got a good look.  Something tells me he will find a quieter place to sleep tomorrow.

No time for counting down...

I don't usually do countdowns.  Life is too short to be wishing away today waiting for tomorrow.  However, it is human nature to look forward to certain events, opportunities, or times of the year.

Recently, I have begun hearing whispers on the breeze.  Perhaps a student smiling and telling me only this many days to go.  A parent casually stating x number weeks left.  A teacher commenting on how quickly the year is flying by.  My son at home making plans for a sports camp the first week off of school.  Countdown time?  No way!

We are fortunate at GK schools to have been working diligently and continuously on mapping effective, standards base curriculum for all classes; for the entire year.  Skills taught and refined in the latter months of the school year are vital for student learning and preparation for what lies ahead this year and next.

When the time comes, we will wish all our families a happy and safe summer.  But, not now.  Too much important learning to do and great experiences for kids to have here at KES! 

Spring has Sprung?

Well, it's supposed to be Spring, anyway.  We hope all our KES families have an enjoyable Spring Break.  We look forward to all students coming back recharged and ready for learning.

As part of a grant proposal to the GK Ed Foundation, I have created a page to display some student iPad projects and activities.  Feel free to click the "iPads in Action" link at the top left of this page.  Also, please check out the GK Ed Foundation page.  The foundation is an invaluable asset to all our GK schools and is always looking for support and input.  GK Ed Foundation

ISAT Season!

This is a reminder to all 3^rd grade parents that your student will be participating in the Illinois State Achievement Test for the first time.  ISAT testing is THE measure for No Child Left Behind and school ranking within the state.  Students participate in ISAT from grades 3 to 8. 

The testing window is March 4^th to March 15^th.  Students perform best following a good night sleep and a healthy breakfast.  As testing occurs primarily in the morning, please help ensure students are present by scheduling all appointments in the afternoon or after school hours.  We thank you for doing all you can to help ensure your student’s success.

Shift Happens and Sock Puppets

"Shift Happens" is a video that first came out in the mid 2000's.  It brought to light how the present world reflects a very different picture than what we may have seen growing up in the United States.  Attached below is the 2012 updated version.  Even in those past 6 years, many things have changed - a lot.

As parents and educators, it is important for us to keep in mind that our kids face change at an ever increasing rate.  While we learned that change is the only constant, the pace is absolutely quickening.  Along with the core educational needs, higher level thinking, creativity, and flexibility are more essential than ever.  Technology is a vital tool in developing these skills.   

Below is a video from students in Mrs. Beckman's class.  After reading biographies on important people in history, students worked in pairs using the Sock Puppet app on our iPads.  The puppet shows were created, written, and recorded in one class period - on an app they had never used before.  How smoothly do you think this would go the second and third times they use the app?

Of course, the product's final appearance is secondary.  What I find very exciting about this product is that kids used technology in a collaborative setting to apply and synthesize information - and they were fully engaged throughout the process.

Testing, testing, 1, 2, 3...

Too much testing in schools today?  I think everyone has heard something to that effect said over the past 10 years.  There is no doubt that balance is key.  I also have no doubt that any testing is too much if nothing is done with the data!

January is the time for mid year assessments.  Students at KES participate in MAP testing for Math and Reading.  We also conduct AIMSWeb benchmarking and our Common Formative Assessments. 

All this - but is it worth it?  Yes, because we use the data. 

AIMSWeb benchmarking only takes a few minutes.  It is a screener - like vision or hearing.  A quick checkup to show that reading fluency is on track.  Should a student exhibit lower reading levels, interventions are put in place to specifically help that student improve.

MAP testing measures student growth from first grade through eighth.  The Winter assessment shows exactly where a student has grown this year compared to Fall and where, if any, areas show a lack of growth.  Each classroom teacher can tailor instruction to meet each student's needs.

Common Formative Assessments measure our programs and classrooms.  The results help teachers make sure they are teaching the specific skills prescribed by state standards.  A check in of sorts.

Our staff has always cared about students and learning.  The data we obtain from these assessments allows all of us to better meet individual student needs - better than any time in the past.