2008 State Assessments Results
ISAT Reading results show that D62 fifth and eighth grade student performance mirrored State results. Learn more...
At Orchard Place Elementary, students are college bound. Orchard Place is working with the No Excuses University program to inspire all students to go to college. Every classroom has a college sponsor. In Ms. Santiago’s 3rd grade class, we are sponsored by DePaul University. On May 11, 2010 we went to DePaul as part of the NEU program.
When we arrived at DePaul, we met Ms. Martinez. She is a student at DePaul and the assistant director for the Community Outreach Program. She introduced us to more students who gave us a tour around the campus.
On the tour we saw different buildings. We got to see the science building. Each subject at DePaul has its own building. DePaul has a colossal library. It has four floors and its own museum. If a student can’t find the book they need, a librarian will contact another library that has it and it will be delivered to DePaul. Then we saw the gym.
DePaul’s gym is humongous. On the first floor there are racquet ball courts, a swimming pool and exercise equipment. On the second floor are basketball courts. There are curtains that hang from the ceiling that separate it into different sections. The second floor also has a balcony that has a track to run on. At the gym we played some games.
The games we played were shark, battlefield and parachute. Shark is a tag game. Everyone starts at one end of the gym except one person who is the shark. The shark is in the middle and when they say “go” everyone else runs across to the other side. The shark tries to tag the people running across. If a person gets tagged, they become a shark too.
In the game battlefield, everyone gets a partner. One partner is blindfolded. The blindfolded partner goes into the field to grab soft toys to throw at other players blindfolded in the battlefield. Their partner yells directions to them from the edge of the battlefield. If a person in the battlefield is hit, they are out.
In the game parachute, everyone stands around the parachute and shakes it. In the middle are stuffed animals. Everyone shakes the parachute to try and pop the animals off. These were really fun games.
Last, we went to the food court for lunch. We all a ham or turkey sandwich, chips, a cookie and a drink. It was delicious. The food court was gigantic.
Seeing the DePaul campus was an awesome experience. This field trip let us see how exciting college is. Trips like these are good for the NEU program because seeing DePaul is inspiring us to go to college. We thank Ms. Martinez and the Community Outreach Program for making this trip possible.
This month, forty-two students from Orchard Place School in Des Plaines visited Concordia University Chicago in River Forest as part of the partnership between the two schools in encouraging all students to set goals for college. Orchard Place School is part of the No Excuses University network of schools. Concordia–Chicago and OP are also connected through the seven CUC alumnae and two current graduate students among the OP staff.
This was the second year that OP students were invited to be guests of the university and tour their campus. Mary Pontikes, coordinator of enrollment marketing communications for the undergraduate admission office, organized the day with staff and students from CUC.
The students participated in many activities during the visit. All students started out in the largest classroom on campus to see a presentation. Several students were selected to hold up letters while Evelyn Burdick, vice president for enrollment and marketing, described the five characteristics – character, leadership, activities, studies and service (CLASS) – that CUC looks for in their students.
The day continued with Concordia–Chicago students leading the visitors on tours of a dormitory, two libraries, the track and field, the art gallery and art studio, a music room, the chapel, the pool, a workout room, two gymnasiums, and the Cougar Den where the students had lunch provided by CUC. During lunch a CUC student provided musical entertainment for the Orchard Place visitors. After lunch, the OP students had a chance to play on the football/soccer field for their recess. An art class was even held outside on the Triangle with Charlie T. Cougar, the university mascot, posing for the students.
Before the day ended, the Orchard Place students got together with the staff and students from Concordia–Chicago to talk about what they learned and what they liked about their visit. Each visitor was given a backpack or tote bag filled with CUC items. Since that day, the OP students continue to talk about the awesome day they had at Concordia University Chicago.
For the second year, Rebecca Whittaker, Outreach Facilitator, from the University of Iowa, returned to Orchard Place Elementary. Rebecca shared with the 5th grade students what is available in the field of Engineering. She also shared a few U-Tube presentations about the university from its early beginnings to present day. Students were able to view the college campus, see some clips of sporting events, and some outreach work done by the engineering students.
This year Rebecca was able to bring Katie Mitchell, a current engineering student to share her experiences, and the projects she and the other students created. Katie explained that projects were sometimes decided by her professors, and other times she and her fellow students would need to come up with a project.
Following the presentations there was a question and answer sessions. The students were very curious about tuition costs, dorm life, other careers, and what students do for fun. After all the educational information the students had an opportunity to make and play with glurch, oobleck, and slime. As you can see from the pictures the students had an educational, fun, and messy time. Our time together was ended by sharing our college cheer written by Stephanie Guataquira.
Por Segundo año, Rebecca Whittaker, Contacto, de la Universidad de Iowa, regresó a la Escuela de Orchard Place. Rebecca compartió con los estudiantes de 5to grado acerca de lo que está disponible en el campo de Ingeniería. Ella también compartió algunas presentaciones en U-Tube acerca de la Universidad desde sus inicios hasta la actualidad. Los estudiantes pudieron observar el colegio, algunos eventos deportivos y algunos trabajos hechos por los estudiantes de ingenieria.
Este año Rebeca tuvó la oportunidad de traer a Katie Mitchel, una estudiante actual para compartir sus experiencias y los proyectos que ella y otros estudiantes crearon. Katie explicó que algunas veces los proyectos eran decididos por sus maestros y otras veces ella y sus compañeros de estudio tenian que hacer sus propios proyectos.
Después de la presentación hubó una sesión de preguntas y respuestas. Los estudiantes estuvieron muy curiosos acerca de los costos de la matrícula, la vida en los dormitorios, otras profesiones y lo que los estudiantes hacian para divertirse. Después de toda la información educativa los estudiantes tuvieron una oportunidad de hacer y jugar con “glurch”, “oobleck”, y “slime”. Como usted puede ver en las fotos los estudiantes tuvieron un momento educativo y divertido. Nuestro tiempo juntos terminó compartiendo nuestro canto de la Universidad de Iowa escrito por Stephanie Guataquira.
GOOOOOOOOOO Iowa!
Orchard Place No Excuses University Quilt Square
Mrs. Donoghue's 5th Graders were given the challenge of creating a quilt square for the No Excuses Quilt Project. One square from each No Excuses
University will be represented on the quilt. Students worked separately or in a pair to create their square on how Orchard Place is a No Excuses School. The students brought their eagle designs to Mrs. Moravec's Art class. The students voted on their favorite square and were very excited to make it out of fabric. The winning quilt square was designed by Dianne Mabansag and Juliana Tullis. We used fabric, felt, and puffy paint on our finished square and sent it off to Michigan to become part of the quilt. Our Orchard Place Students showed how proud they were to be Eagles!
Un Cuadro de Manta de No Excusas para ir a la Universidad de Orchard Place
Los estudiantes de 5to grado de la Sra. Donoghue se les dio la oportunidad de crear mantas cuadradas para el Proyecto de Mantas de No Excusas para ir a la Universidad. Un cuadrado de cada universidad será representado en la manta. Los estudiantes trabajaron separados o en par para crear su cuadrado sobre como Orchard Place es una escuela con No Excusas para ir la Universidad. Los estudiantes trajeron su diseño de una águila a la clase de Arte de la Sra Moravec. Los estudiantes votaron por su cuadrado favorito y estuvieron muy emocionados de haberlos hecho manualmente.
El cuadrado de manta fué diseñado por Dianne Mabansag y Juliana Tullis. Nosotros usamos tela, fieltro y pintura en nuestro cuadrado de manta y lo enviamos a Michihan para que sea parte de la manta. ¡Nuestros estudiantes mostraron lo orgullosos que están de ser Águilas!
On Friday, March 12, 2010, the 5th graders at Orchard Place went to visit Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois. The trip was made possible because of a generous grant received from the District 62 Education Foundation. This trip supports our belief that every child has the right to be prepared to attend college. The hope is that the memory of this trip will last well beyond their days at Orchard Place; leaving an impression upon them that will help drive their academic journey towards college and beyond!
The day began in an auditorium where a student group, Promote 360, engaged the students in different activities. The activities all revolved around student life on campus. They ranged from activities such as managing money to discussing majors to a student favorite: a lesson on how to breakdance! The day ended with a short tour around campus. Students saw parts of campus that included the library, a computer lab, a classroom, and some even got to see a dorm room!
We can’t thank enough the District 62 Education Foundation and all those individuals at Northwestern who made this trip possible! We need to truly thank Miss Amy Cleveland, Co-Mentorship Chair of Promote 360, and numerous members of that organization who spent the day with us. We also need to thank Ms. Caitlin Smith, Assistant Director of Undergraduate Admission for her help in securing some memorable items. Orchard Place looks forward to continuing their relationship with Northwestern University!
Help for Haiti
El Consejo Estudiantil de Orchard Place decidió ayudar a las víctimas de Haití para su recaudación de fondos este año. Durante la reunión semanal se decoraron botes con letreros que dicen: “Ayuda para Haití”, junto con fotos del periódico y los colores de la bandera de Haiti. Después los botes fueron distribuidos a cada salón de clases y en otras locaciones del edificio. Muchos estudiantes en el comite ya habian empezado a ahorrar su “cambio” y lo trajeron en bolsitas para ponerlo en los botes de su salón de clases. Los Estudiantes Oficiales del Consejo Estudiantil y los representantes de los salones de clases seguirán recordandole a los estudiantes de su clase que continúen donando durante el resto del año escolar. Está colecta va a continuar hasta finales de mayo. Luego, todo el dinero se va a colectar, contar y enviar a una organización benéfica que este trabajando en ayudar al pueblo Haitiano. Los Estudiantes del Consejo Estudiantil como siempre agradecen el apoyo que les dan en la recaudación de fondos.
Orchard Place Student Council selected to help the victims of Haiti for their fundraiser this year. Cans were decorated with signs that read, "Help for Haiti" along with photos from the newspapers and the colors of the Haitian flag during their weekly meeting. Then the cans were distributed to every classroom and other locations throughout the building. Many students on the committee had already begun to save their "spare change" and brought them in baggies to place in the cans from their own classrooms. Student Council officers and classroom representatives will continue to remind their classes to donate throughout the rest of the school year. This collection will continue until the end of May. All money will then be collected, counted and sent on to a charity that is working to help the people of Haiti. Student Council always appreciates your support in their fundraisers. Thank you.
Parenting with Love & Logic provides you with an approach to raising your child
with limits while providing loving support from YOU and at the same time expecting
your child to be RESEPECTFUL & RESPONSIBLE.
Two separate groups will be offered at the same time; English & Spanish.
WHEN: Wednesdays, starting on Feb. 3, 2010 - March 10, 2010
(2/3, 2/10, 2/17, 2/24, 3/3, 3/10) TIME: 6:30-8:30 WHERE: Orchard Place School, 2727 Maple St., Des Plaines, Il. WHO: ORCHARD PLACE & PLAINFIELD PARENTS. COST: Your time & some energy. This parent education group is FREE!
- FREE TRANSPORTATION AND DAY CARE WILL BE PROVIDED
- INCLUDES LIGHT SNACKS
El Dia de los Muertos (the Day of the Dead), a Mexican celebration, is a day to celebrate, remember and prepare special foods in honor of those who have departed. On this day in Mexico, the streets near the cemeteries are filled with decorations of papel picado, flowers, candy calaveras (skeletons and skulls), and parades.
It is believed that the spirit of the dead visit their families on October 31 and leave on November 2.
In celebration of this event, students of Lindsay Santiago and Stephanie Hajdu made altars and placed ofrendas (offerings) of food such as pan de muertos baked in shapes of skulls and figures, candles, incense, yellow marigolds known as cempazuchitl (also spelled zempasuchil) and most importantly a photo of the departed soul is placed on the altar. Deceased celebrities and American presidents were among the many that were honored.
It might sound somewhat morbid, but Mexicans react to death with mourning along with happiness and joy. They look at death with the same fear as any other culture, but there is a difference. They reflect their fear by mocking and living alongside death.
Living alongside death means that Mexicans have to learned to accept it within their lives. Death is apparent in everyday life. It is in art and even in children's toys. Death is a celebration in Mexico.
On Friday, October 23, 2009, the 4th graders at Orchard Place went to visit Loyola University Chicago. The trip was made possible because of a generous grant received from the District 62 Education Foundation. Orchard Place has recently been accepted into a network of schools called No Excuses University. Our belief is that every child has the right to be prepared to attend college. The hope is that the memory of this trip will last well beyond their days at Orchard Place; leaving an impression upon them that will help drive their academic journey towards college and beyond!
As a result of the grant, the 4th graders spent a day touring Loyola’s lake front campus in Rogers Park. The visit consisted of a tour that took students around the campus, visiting buildings such as the Information Commons, the Student Union, the Gentile Center, and the Halas Sports Center. With the help of Dr. Dorothy Giroux, Dr. Jane Hunt, and Dr. Ernestine Riggs, students from Kappa Delta Pi (an International Honor Society in Education organization) broke the students into 4 groups as they toured the campus. Students were also shown a video about Loyola and played a college trivia game designed by their tour guides. Each student was given a t-shirt and a Loyola bag that had a small plastic basketball inside to remember their college visit to Loyola University Chicago.
We can’t thank enough the District 62 Education Foundation and all those individuals at Loyola who made this trip possible! Beyond the individuals already mention, we also need to thank Ms. Carolyn Vellos O’Connell (Senior Associate Athletic Director) and Ms. Karen Laguatan (Assistant Director of the Alumni Association) for their help in securing some of the memorable items for the students. Orchard Place looks forward to continuing their relationship with Loyola University!
Rebecca Whitaker, The Outreach Facilitator for the University of Iowa, visited Orchard Place 5th grade classroom to discuss the school campus and the college of Engineering. Students were shown a video of campus life. She also showed a video of Santos a human-like robot. While the students were excited about the campus video they were in awe when they saw how life-like Santos looked and moved. Students also receive several brochures on the field of engineering to share with their parents. After the presentation the students were able to experiment with making Oobleck, Slime, and Glurch which are products made from corn strarch, Borax powder, glue, and laundry starch. From the pictures you can see the students had an educational and fun experience.
Rebecca Whitaker, la facilitadora de la Universidad de Iowa, visitó los salones de clase de 5to grado de Orchard Place para discutir las facilidades de la escuela y la universidad de Ingeniería. A los estudiantes se les mostró un vídeo de la vida en la escuela. Ella también les enseño un vídeo de Santos un robot parecido a un humano. Mientras los estudiantes estaban emocionados con el vídeo universitario, ellos también estaban asombrados cuando vieron como Santos se veía y se movía tan real. Los estudiantes también recibieron muchos folletos sobre el campo de ingeniería para compartir con sus papás. Después de la presentación los estudiantes tuvieron la oportunidad para experimentar haciendo Oobleck, Slime y Glurch productos hechos de almidón de elote, polvo de bórax y almidón de ropa. En las fotos usted puede ver que los estudiantes tuvieron una experiencia educativa y divertida.
Escrito por los alumnos de primer grado en el salon de Ms. Branick / Written by 1st grade students in Mrs. Branick's class
En Estudios Sociales hemos estado aprendiendo de la comunidad y sus alrededores. Nuestra clase tuvo la oportunidad de ir al acuario Shedd. En el acuario, vimos muchos animales. Unos de los animales que vimos fue una tortuga grande. También vimos un tiburón que tenía un pico grande. El cangrejo de araña era enorme. Las estrellas del mar se pegaban en las ventanas. El caballito del mar estaba nadando en el agua. Nos gustaron muchos ver los diferentes pescados. Nuestro favorito fue el pescado payaso. El pez de payaso era de color anaranjado y blanco.
En nuestra clase, tuvimos la oportunidad de tocar muchas cosas que se encuentran en el acuario. Cosas como una concha, diente de tiburón, y un pescado en un vaso de agua que estaba preservado. Nos gustaron los dientes del tiburón La concha tenia el sonido del mar. El pescado tenía un diente. Fue muy divertido y aprendimos mucho.
In our Social Studies unit, we learned about our communities its surroundings. Our class took a trip to the Shedd Aquarium. At the aquarium, we were able to see many ocean animals. We saw a big turtle. The shark had a huge mouth. The crab spider was enormous. We enjoyed seeing the starfish swimming in the water. The many types of fish were also beautiful to see. Our favorite was the clown fish. The clown fish was orange with white stripes.
In our class, we were able to be scientist. We touched various ocean artifacts. We were able compare shark teeth, a seashell, and a fish preserve in a glass with water. Our favorite was the shark teeth. Inside the seashell, we could hear the ocean. The preserved fish in a glass had only one tooth. We had fun learning about our communities.
Orchard Place Students Go To College
On Friday, April 17th forty-five ELL (English Language Learners) students from Orchard Place School, in grades K through 5, went to visit the Concordia University Chicago campus in River Forest. These students were invited by CUC back in October during an assembly that the university gave on explaining what the college experience is all about. This partnership was established by ELL Resource teacher, Theresa Straub as part of the process towards becoming a part of the No Excuses University. This program is part of the TurnAround Schools that was developed by Damen Lopez in 2006. TurnAround Schools is based on the following principles: Every child has the right to be prepared to attend college and it is the responsibility of adults in the school to develop exceptional systems that make that dream a reality.
The students were divided into four groups which were led around campus by the CUC staff and students. Fridays visit included stops in a classroom, dormitory, gym, pool, band room, art gallery, chapel, post office, library, track, bookstore, the Cougar Den, admissions, cafeteria, patio and theatre (where fifth graders were able to observe a class). The three remaining groups had the opportunity to draw Charlie T. Cougar (their mascot) out on the lawn. In addition, not only was lunch provided by Concordia, they also surprised all 45 students, 3 parents and 4 OP staff with their own CUC tote bag filled with merchandise and a letter personally addressed to them. To remember the day, a group photo was taken in front of the Concordia University sign.
DePaul Blue Demons Game Written by OP 4th grade students
On Saturday Feb 7th, Ms. Santiago's 4th grade class went to the Allstate Arena to see our university play. Our university’s name is DePaul University, “Depaul Blue Demons” wow!!! We had posters. Some of the posters said “Sink it’’some others said “Lets go Demons”. Before the game started we saw the Blue Demon’s mascot. He looked awesome. Do you know that they played vs Pittsburgh? They are a good team.
Even though we lost we had a lot of fun. When the game ended we went to get autographs from the players .They signed our posters and some papers that had with their pictures in it. Can you believe we met them? Well if you don’t, we did. It was so fun.
Escrito por alumnos de 4to grado de OP - El sábado, 7 de febrero la clase de Ms. Santiago fue al “Allstate Arena” a ver a nuestra universidad jugar. Nuestra universidad se llama “Depaul University” wow!!! nosotros teníamos carteles, 3 de ellos decian “Sink it” otros decian “Lets go demons”. Antes de que empezara el juego nosotros vimos la mascota de los Demonios Azules. Se veía bien “cool”. ¿Tu sabias que jugaron contra Pittsburgh? Son un buen equipo.
Aunque perdimos nos la pasamos muy bien. Cuando el juego terminó fuimos a qpedir el autografo de los jugadores. Ellos firmaron nuestros carteles y algunos papeles que tenian sus fotos. ¿Puedes creer que conosimos a algunos de los jugadores? Pues si no lo crees, es cierto. Estaba muy divertido.
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