Please Note: District 31 does not include individual student names on its website.
Summer Office Hours
District 31 announces summer hours for the Administrative Office, Winkelman School and Field Middle School offices, effective from June 7 to August 13. The District 31 administrative office at 3131 Techny Road, Northbrook, as well as both school offices will be open Monday through Thursday, from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. All offices will be closed to the public on Fridays. For more information, call the District office at 847-272-6880; the Field School office at 847-272-6884 and the Winkelman School office at 847-729-5650.
Catherine Lauria Named Director of Business Services
 Catherine Lauria was named the new Director of Business Services for West Northfield School District 31 effective July 1. The appointment was approved by the Board of Education at its May 24 meeting. Mrs. Lauria is currently the Payroll Supervisor for Township High School District 214. Previously she was the Payroll Manager for the elementary Arlington Heights School District 25 for four years. She has a Bachelor of Science in Finance and is completing her Master’s in Educational Administration from Northern Illinois University. She is scheduled to receive her Master’s degree as well as her Illinois Educational Administrative Type 75 certificate and her Certified School Business Official certificate this August.
“We are pleased to have Catherine Lauria join our administrative team,” commented Dr. Alexandra Nicholson, Superintenendent. “She will be working along with Dr. Craig Schilling who has served as the District 31 Interim Director of Business Services since February. Dr. Schilling will remain with District 31 for the next two years as a financial consultant as well as a professional mentor for Mrs. Lauria. This team work will be a tremendous opportunity for District 31 as we move forward with planning for our financial future.”
“I am very excited about this opportunity to become a part of the District 31 community,” commented Mrs. Lauria. “I look forward to working with everyone!”
Winkelman After-School Foreign Language Program Available
Beginning with the 2010-2011 school year, Spanish language classes will be available after school for Winkelman students in kindergarten through grade 5 on a parent-paid tuition basis.
Based on parent interest from the recent foreign language survey, Spanish was the most popular language choice. Administrators and parents interviewed a number of private language services and selected Language Stars, a company that uses native speaking teachers who have extensive training in the Language Stars well-established curriculum.
Parents may enroll their children in classes either once or twice per week. To ensure your class/date selection, please register by the June 25 early registration date. Click on the following link to learn more about the program and registration information. Spanish language classes at Winkelman
Winkelman LifeSmarts Project Aids African School
A variety of colorful balls, frisbees, jump ropes and playground toys, as well as educational toys, puzzles and videos, are on their way to the O’Brien School for the Maasai in Tanzania, Africa, as gifts from the students of Winkelman School. The students raised $888 in conjunction with their “LifeSmarts Hands Help African Students” year-end fundraising effort to purchase the playground equipment and learning toys. To earn money for their donations, Winkelman students were encouraged to help at home with household chores. The students learned about the African school’s supply and playground equipment needs from two Winkelman teachers, Kathleen McNeela and Jessica Blair, who volunteered to teach at the school last summer.
“Our LifeSmarts program encourages students to show understanding and empathy for those less fortunate around the world,” commented Principal Maria Kalant. “Through this project, we want our children to learn that even at a distance, they can make a difference in the lives of others less fortunate.”
Teachers coordinating the LifeSmarts program included Kelly Couvreur, Allison Gebert, Quincy Jenkins, Demitria Lamprinakos, Kelli Levy, Jill O’Reilly, Courtney Plotsky, Sharon Stein, Nancy Tamillo and Shay Walk.
Field Service Learning Program for “Feed My Starving Children”
More than 32,000 meals were packaged for the “Feed My Starving Children” non-profit organization by Field Middle School eighth graders who participated in a service learning program at the charity’s Aurora warehouse in late May.
“Our students have been reading books and discussing human rights themes all year in their Integrated Language Arts (ILA) and Social Studies classes, and this project gave them the opportunity to expand that learning by getting involved and doing something to help children from around the world,” commented Nancy Kim, Field ILA teacher who coordinated the project for the students.
The students worked in teams for two-hour shifts measuring ingredients including rice, dehydrated vegetables, soy protein and vegetarian chicken flavoring with vitamins and minerals. These ingredients were sealed in plastic bags and packaged for shipment to countries in Africa, Central America, South America and India. In these countries the meals are prepared by mixing the packet ingredients with boiling water. These meals are credited with saving the lives of severely malnourished and starving children, and also improving the health, growth and physical well-being of children who are no longer in immediate danger.
In addition to their volunteer efforts, the students also sponsored fundraisers for “Feed My Starving Children” and donated $660 to help with the organization’s food distribution costs.
Field’s Trends Class Makes Blankets for The Cradle Adoption Agency
Field Middle School students in the Trends Family and Consumer Science class recently collaborated with The Cradle adoption agency and Jockey Corporation to create and construct 10 quilt-square blankets for newly adopted children using fabric donated by Jockey Corporation.
“This service learning project is an excellent example of how our students are involved and work with community partners for a worthy cause,” commented Kim Kiraly, Family and Consumer Science teacher. “Jockey Corporation’s CEO Debra Waller is a Glenbrook South graduate and is involved in doing work for children in foster care. The Cradle’s CEO Julie Tye has children at both Field and Glenbrook South and brought the partnership together. Through our interconnected network, we were able to come together and provide an opportunity for our students to use their newly developed sewing skills.” The hand-crafted blankets were presented to Julie Tye at Field’s Recognition Assembly on June 1.
Washington D.C. Trip
Field Middle School is offering a school-approved Washington D.C. Trip for eighth grade students next fall from October 9-11 through Educational Tours Inc. Registration for the trip in now being taken. The cost of the trip is $1,079 per student and includes airfare, hotel, all admissions, tours, guides, meals, sightseeing buses and more. A deposit of $200 is due by May 4. Some of the tour highlights include visits to the White House, Capitol Hill, Smithsonian Institution, National Archives, Mount Vernon, Washington Monument, Jefferson Memorial, World War II Memorial and United States Holocaust Memorial Museum. Special features include attending a wreath laying ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery and a performance of “Shear Madness” at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. Registration forms and the trip agenda are available online at the District 31 website at www.district31.net. For more information, contact Dave Del Boccio, tour moderator, in the District 31 Administrative Office at 847-313-4422.
"Be Seen Going Green" Bags
District 31 encourages everyone to “Be Seen Going Green” to create a culture of environmental responsibility in our community. The Parent Teacher Club is selling reusable grocery/tote bags with the District’s “Be Seen Going Green” logo. Order forms are available on the District’s website or call the PTC voicemail phone line at 847-832-2291.
District 31 Education Foundation Receives Grant from Allstate
The District 31 Education Foundation received a $10,000 safety grant from Allstate in March to upgrade building security including doors and locks. Allstate will be awarding an additional grant of $30,000 for safety and security later this year.
Field Middle School Achieves Illinois Horizon School Re-Designation
Field Middle School was re-designated as an “Illinois Horizon School: School to Watch" by the Association of Middle-Level Schools (AIMS) in conjunction with the nationwide recognition program co-sponsored by the National Forum to Accelerate Middle-Grades Reform.
Field earned Horizon School re-designation status after submitting a rigorous application and hosting a site visit for an evaluation panel of educators. Field was first designated for this recognition in 2007. According to Erin Murphy, Field School Principal, schools selected by AIMS as Illinois Horizon Schools are acclaimed for fully implementing the National Forum’s endorsed criteria for high-performing middle schools.
In its review of Field’s application and through a school site visit in February, the AIMS evaluation team recognized Field as “an exceptional middle school as it exemplifies the National Forum’s vision of academic excellence, social equity, developmental responsiveness, and organizational structures and procedures. Any visitor could not help but notice excellence virtually exudes from the school’s doors.”
AIMS evaluators commented that the implementation of best practices based on the most current literature and standards is evident at all levels. In their conversations with both students and teachers, reviewers noted that it was apparent that the curriculum was relevant to the lives of young adolescents and was frequently focused on critical, real-world issues. Evaluators also complimented administrators and staff for their comprehensive working knowledge of those theories that drive Field’s mission and how they model them for students and the community.
As part of the evaluation process, Field demonstrated that curriculum and instruction were at the forefront of team agendas, student rewards programs were planned and visible, and school-wide strategies are in place to educate the whole child and ensure that all learners are successful. Field students also met with evaluators to share what they are learning about citizenship and democracy through classroom and community service learning programs.
“We are very pleased that Field Middle School is continuing this history of excellence with our re-designation as an Illinois Horizon School," commented Principal Erin Murphy. "We look forward to continuing our role as a model and mentor for other schools seeking to improve, just as we continue to dedicate our efforts for even higher standards in school improvements.”
Congratulations to the Field Middle School Symphonic Band!
Congratulations go to the Field Middle School Symphonic Band for scoring a First Place, Superior Rating at the Illinois Grade School Music Association (IGSMA) Band Contest at Wood Oaks Junior High School on Saturday, March 13. The band competed along with 41 other bands from the Chicagoland area.
Field musicians played three selections for a trio of judges who rated the bands based on their performance. This year’s selections were “Hungarian March” by Hector Berlioz, “Siciliana” by Alfred Reed and “Slapstick” by Stuart Johnson. The band received a perfect score from all 2 of the 3 judges, and scored one point away from perfect from the third. Great job!
District 31 is now using Twitter
District 31 is now testing the use of Twitter to see how it can assist us in improving communication with parents and the community. Join by clicking on the blue Twitter button on our website homepage.
New Cell Phone Law
A new Illinois law went into effect on January 1 that prohibits cell phone use while driving in a school speed zone. The law provides exceptions for those using hands-free phone devices or the use of a phone for emergency purposes. Fines begin at $75. For more information, the full law – Public Act 096-0131 – is available at www.ilga.gov.
Second Graders Learn About Simple Machines
Winkelman second graders enjoyed hand-on learning at an in-school field trip with the Kohl’s Children’s Museum recently. The program was the culminating activity of their science unit on simple machines and featured fun activities with levers, wheels, gears, tubes and axles. The students attended the sessions with their teachers Deanne Chiganos, Allison Gebert, Karen Reyes, Carolyn Shoemaker and Shay Walk. The teachers noted that their students had a terrific time with the Kohl's museum visit. “The children were able to apply their knowledge of simple machines in a playful, hands-on way with each of the activities. It was a fantastic and meaningful program in conjunction with our science curriculum,” they commented.
(Click link for photo slide show)
Check Out Our New District 31 Weatherbug Link!
The latest weather information from District 31’s very own Weatherbug Reporting Station at Field School is available 24/7 via a link from our website homepage at www.district31.net.
Check it out!
District 31 Welcomes Suggestions
In an effort to further enhance communication in District 31, Dr. Alexandra Nicholson, superintendent, has announced several new ways parents and community members can offer suggestions.
New suggestion boxes have been placed in the vestibules of each school and District office. Items submitted via these locked boxes will be reviewed by the administration and Board of Education on a regular basis. Those who include their name and contact information will receive a direct response, however anonymous suggestions will also be taken.
A new dedicated email address has been created for students, parents, faculty and staff to submit suggestions. Items submitted via this e-mail will be reviewed by the administration and Board of Education on a regular basis. The e-mail address is suggestions@district31.net.
“Of course, these new communication opportunities are in addition to speaking to any District 31 administrators in-person,” noted Dr. Nicholson. “Everyone is welcome and encouraged to discuss concerns or suggestions with any administrator or me at any time.”
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Updated July 28, 2010
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