Illinois School Report Card - 2011
District 62 students consistently perform at or above the state average in science and writing. Reading scores are consistently above the Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) target of 77.5% meeting or exceeding standards, and above the state average. Students in grades 3, 5, 6, and 8 made gains from 2010 to 2011. Scores in grades 4 and 7 remained consistent. Hard copies are available in each school office.
Kinder and First Grade DuPage Children's Museum Field Trip - February 24th, the kindergarten and first grade students went on an exciting field trip to the Du Page Children's Museum. They participated in many interactive science, music and art activities.
The children enjoyed learning about liquids and buoyancy as they placed rubber ducks, foam mats, and heavy plastic toys at the top of a water fall and watched them cascade down, float in the currents, or sink to the bottom of the pool and stay at the top of the falls. They also made gigantic bubbles that covered them from head to toe.
Then they ran to the wind tunnel where they donned safety goggles to experience first-hand the power of air as it blow-dried their hair and clothes. Next, they raced to the plastic air transport tubes where they harnessed the power of air to move colored scarves and balls from one side of the room to the other by placing them in eight inch clear plastic tubes, opening baffles to divert the air and changing the direction of the air flow and the path of the objects.
A few paces away the workshop awaited their eager hands. They learned how to safely use tools such as hammers, screw drivers, saws, sanding blocks and vices to build houses, crosses, artwork or cars to take home and show to their families.
Around the corner from the workshop, they constructed series of ramps, roads, and mazes. They observed the motion of the balls and cars they placed on these paths as gravity pulled them from the top to the bottom of their paths.
Finally, the students explored light, color, art and music before they left the museum. They made their own rhythm in the museum percussion studio. Also they took snapshots of their shadows in the darkroom. They made colored imprints of their hands with fluorescent pegs and viewed distorted images of themselves in the house of mirrors. They created their own luminescent drawings on the black light room walls.
It was clearly a fun and educational field trip to the DuPage Children's Museum. As a result, the kindergarteners and first graders wrote many details about their learning experience when they arrived back home to Plainfield School.
Cheering for the Underdog – 40 students, 8 parents, and Principal Ray Ruiz cheered Loyola Ramblers to a close, and exciting game against Bulter. Students took pictures with the Loyola Ramblers cheerleaders, and danced to the music during timeouts and intermission. The students were inspried, and stayed on to watch and compare the chracterstics of Loyola Woman's Basketball team's game.
Students toured the major buildings of the Loyola University including the newly renovated state-of-the-art Cudahy Library. In these pictures are Fernando Zaldivar, Sebastian Walkosz, Yesenia Aparicio, Rosalia Faraone, and Angelica LaGioia holding a Loyola sign she made specially for this event.
Wolves Howl for Good Behavior – Good behavior for 45 Plainfield students resulted in a trip to a Chicago Wolves hockey game, where the Wolves beat the Rockford Icedogs. Three parents and several Plainfield teachers accompanied the students and Principal Ray Ruiz. The students' seats were near the glass, and they met Skate, the Chicago Wolves mascot.
First Grade Parents Participate in Technology Workshop December 21st, the first grade parents from Mrs. Haase and Mrs. Riportella's class participated in an after school technology workshop. They learned their children's passwords, how to log into Plainfield School's educational websites with their children and explored learning activities. The parents experienced how these websites challenge students at their level of ability to raise their reading, writing, and math skills while engaging them in fun educational activities. They familiarized themselves with the first grade math textbook online, learned math vocabulary by using the e-glossary in English and Spanish. They also used electronic manipulatives to practice addition, subtraction and algebra. They navigated the Education City Website and played games that teach, science, reading and math. The students logged into Reading Eggs to show their parents how the activities challenge them at their level of reading to help them increase their reading fluency and comprehension.
This workshop was sponsored by District 62's Enhanced Compensation Grant to encourage parent-school involvement.
ROLLOVER IMAGE
Club Photos Imitate Originals – If imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, then professional photographers, Iain Macmillan and Charles C. Ebbets, would be impressed if they had attended the recent Plainfield Elementary School Photography Club Photo Gallery Exhibit.
Multi-purpose room walls were dotted with photos of camera parts and features, along with definitions. Words such as "tripod" "zoom," and "close-up" caught your eye, but the work of the Plainfield Photography Club showed how fourth and fifth grade students could imitate a famous photograph from decades before with a current "staged" version captured with digital cameras. Most copied was the Abbey Road photo of the Beetles, the front cover design, of the group traversing a zebra crossing taken by Iain Macmillan. Following in popularity was Lunch atop a Skyscraper (New York Construction Workers Lunching on a Crossbeam), which is a famous black-and-white photograph taken by Charles C. Ebbets during construction of the RCA Building (renamed as the GE Building in 1986) at Rockefeller Center in New York City. Plainfield fourth and fifth graders proudly displayed their photos along side the originals and provided explanations of the techniques used to capture the newer versions. The club, which meets after school, is co-sponsored by Plainfield staff Erica Siguenza and Kelly Nichele.
Plainfield Welcomes NED – The NED SHOW®, a high energy, 45-minute motivational assembly featuring the character NED, recently stopped by Plainfield Elementary School. It included lots of active participation for kids. Presented through storytelling, humor, visuals and audience participation, The NED Show utilizes a multi-sensory learning model to motivate, encourage, INSPIRE students to become champions at school and in life.
Three critical skills that bring out the champion in every kid by sharing the story of NED, whose name is also an acronym, are taught:
Never give up (focus and persistence)
Encourage others (kindness and shared learning)
Do your best (diligence and excellence)
These three simple principles make a profound difference in every student, as well as create a strong impact on the culture of the entire school. By the time the assembly dismissed, students knew that there is a champion inside of everyone!
Kinder Parents Return to School
Plainfield parents experienced a special night of games, food, crafts, and fun with their kindergarteners, as they focused on the joy of literacy and learning as a family!
During Family Literacy Night, students and families learned how to sequence events, match sentences to pictures, categorize by matching vocabulary words to a topic, made picture dictionaries and word association books.
The benefits for parents and students ranged from students exhibiting an increasing excitement for literacy learning and witnessing their families' support for their learning and school environment. Families experienced the fun of learning alongside their child; developed greater awareness of ways to assist their child in acquiring and strengthening literacy skills; and gained insight into the kindergarten level literacy program.
Erica Siguenza (Kindergarten Teacher), Jaclyn Fuentes (Bilingual Teacher), Karen Higginson (Instructional Resource Support), Mimi Solt (Reading Resource Teacher) and Kati McGowan (Teacher Assistant) coordinated the Family Literacy Night.
Ronald McDonald Takes Students on an Anti-Bullying Journey
On Thursday, November 10, 2011 Ronald McDonald guided Plainfield Elementary School students on a Friendship Adventure. Ronald demonstrated and taught students how to be good friends and how to deal with bullies. The children participated in role-playing with Ronald. After the show, Principal Ruiz discussed what students learned. At the end of the show Ronald McDonald made Principal Ruiz an honorary clown. The children were thrilled to meet Ronald McDonald!
This event was courtesy of the Schenk Family, local Des Plaines McDonald's owner/operators.
Plainfield celebrates Halloween 2011
Run Funds Field Trips
It takes a special event to get more than 300 children eagerly jogging around a track for 10, 15, or even 20 laps. Plainfield Elementary School did just that, when they sponsored a Fun Run that involved every student and a majority of the school's PTSO. Students ran in 45-minute shifts per grade level throughout the day. "This successful run not only raised $2,708 to fund field trips, it also built school spirit, promoted physical education, raised school pride, and was a fabulous, fun whole-school event," said Ray Ruiz, Plainfield's principal.
Students solicited pledges of financial support from friends, relatives, and neighbors. After the run, students received prizes depending on their performance or level of financial support. The school was named Georgina School in honor of student Georgina Moore, who collected the most pledged dollars. Another student, Mary Jane Sullivan, came in second in the most pledged dollars category. Deanne Riportella's first grade class collected the most pledged dollars from a classroom. Twenty students won prizes, which included Principal of the Day, PE Teacher of the Day, and front row tickets to the orchestra.
Second Grade Teacher Receives A DAY MADE BETTER Surprise from OfficeMax
Nominated by Rebecca Acosta, Mahjabeen Patel was Honored with Award and $1,000 in School Supplies as Part of A Day Made Better National School Advocacy Program
Today, Mahjabeen Patel, a second grade teacher from Plainfield Elementary School, received a surprise visit from OfficeMax and a school assembly where she was honored and recognized with an award and $1,000 worth of much-needed classroom supplies as part of the retailer's A Day Made Better national cause event. One day each year, the nationwide program honors 1,000 teachers for their extraordinary efforts in the classroom.
Because teachers spend $1,000 out-of-pocket annually on essential classroom supplies, OfficeMax and Adopt-A-Classroom founded A Day Made Better to lead the fight to end teacher-funded classrooms. Today, 1,000 teachers across the nation received surprise deliveries of school supplies from OfficeMax worth a total of $1 million dollars. Winning teachers were nominated for this award by their school staff for demonstrating passion, dedication and innovation in the classroom.
Since 2007, OfficeMax's A Day Made Better and its nonprofit partner, Adopt-A-Classroom, have funded more than 4,500 classrooms with more than $4.5 million in grants and school supplies and helped secure funding for more than 66,000 classrooms annually through donations to Adopt-A-Classroom. Learn more at adaymadebetter.com or adopt a teacher at adoptaclassroom.org.
Several Plainfield Elementary School students, parents, and staff experienced a college sporting event at the recent Northwestern VS. Eastern Illinois football game. The field trip supports the school's "No Excuses University" program.
Forty-five students, six parents, and five teachers attended. Besides cheering for Northwestern, student Peter Giannopoulos thought it was, "…the best day of my life," as the group sat in their seats. Teacher Nicole Griffin tried to sway students to cheer for her alma mater, Eastern Illinois. When that didn't work, she gave in and took them to meet the Northwestern mascot, Willie the Wildcat.
Teachers Erica Siguenza, Ramiro Juarez, Carlos Rojas, and Robin Fabian, Principal Ray Ruiz and his family, PTSO President Mary Jane Sullivan and Vice President Sadie Torrez, and four other parents accompanied students on their trip.
Olweus Bullying Prevention Program
During the 2011-2012 school year, Des Plaines School District 62 will be implementing the Olweus Bullying Prevention Program. This research-based program has been approved by our Board of Education and supports a safe and respectful learning environment for all students.
2011-12 School-wide Expectations
Camp Duncan
Upon returning from Spring break, 55 Plainfield 5th Graders embarked on an exciting 3 days at Camp Duncan in Ingleside, Illinois. A long serving camp with pristine grounds and beautiful vistas. The classes led by camp counselors and accompanied by Plainfield staff in team building, archery, wall climbing, environmental issues, and volcanoes. A long night hike where deer exposed the students to the hilly, wooded area. A lively camp fire, the last night, with songs and skits got everybody in a great mood. Students look forward to this culmination experience yearly. D62 Foundation and our PTSO assisted with the finances.
Make and Take – Family Literacy Night
On April 12th, Plainfield School held a “Make and Take” Family Literacy Night. Parents and students were given language expander tools to use at home. Teachers showed parents how to increase the length and complexity of their child’s speech and writing by asking questions, such as how? why? when? where? Parents and students also learned how to fold paper to make “fortune tellers”. The students enjoyed reading and spelling poetry words as they found their fortune. All students went home with a handmade game board and reading comprehension questions. Everyone who attended received a free book.
Intramural – Indoor Soccer
Plainfield intramural and supplementary programs provide experiences for students to develop skills and sportsmanship while having fun at school. The soccer intra-mural competition drew over 75 boys and girls to Friday indoor soccer. We complement our academic program with strong supplementary activities. It is everybody’s “goal” to develop mind, body and spirit!
Family Literacy Night
On November 30th Plainfield held another Family Literacy Night. During the first half hour, students played Koosh Ball. Koosh Ball was a Smart Board game developed to practice reading strategies and skills with both nonfiction and fiction text. Parents were sent home with questions that they could use when reading with their child at home. During the second half hour, students and parents were given a list of free websites and encouraged to explore two sites, Education City and Tumbleweed Books, with their children. All families were invited to attend the Book Fair, sponsored by the PTSO. Every student in attendance went home with a free book!
Soccer brings schools together
As part of the Extended Day program, South and Plainfield students met for some friendly soccer inter-school competition. Students demonstrated a strong sense of sportsmanship. The event encouraged health, wellness, and as a way to boost school spirit and community involvement for parents.
On September 21st, Plainfield’s students and their families were invited to school for a fun-filled Literacy Night. Everyone enjoyed investigating authors’ websites on the computers. Families also played Wheel of Fortune. Points were earned when students answered questions about text organization, background knowledge, author’s viewpoint, genres, and reading strategies. All students went home with a set of pre-reading and post-reading questions, a small Wheel of Fortune, and a free book! The Des Plaines librarian was also present so families could learn about available programs that are free of charge to residents.
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