I've had several requests for both the power point and also the study group application from our ASCD session on Saturday (3/16/13). Both are included in this post and you can find the links below. 

Thanks for attending and thanks for your interest! Best wishes! 

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UPDATED WITH STATE OF THE SCHOOLS ADDRESS! VIDEO! Every year in January, I deliver the District 69 State of the Schools Address. Part of this address is also designed to celebrate our successes. This year we have worked to make a video presentation. We hope that you take an opportunity to watch and be proud of District 69. We should be proud of what we have accomplished, the effort that is put forward every day and the success of our kids. We have tried to celebrate many aspects of the District 69 organization. We’ve done this because anytime just one student succeeds it is often because of the work of so many.

We celebrate our finances and operations because we know that a more efficient organization is one that can invest resources on kids.

We celebrate our Board because we know it is a commitment to vision and governance that allows us to see the way forward.

We celebrate our Staff, because that is where the instructional work happens and students succeed.

We celebrate our kids, because… frankly, they are worth celebrating!

"You Should Know" video: http://youtu.be/o06ph5232NA

"State of the Schools" address: http://youtu.be/Hhv4ZCGkLAU

Very truly yours in Education,

Quintin Shepherd, Ph.D.
Superintendent, Skokie District 69

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District 69 Families,

A break from School is fun and I hope you will all take time to enjoy yourselves, but it is also important for our students to keep their minds active during the long break. Please encourage your children to read (or read with them!) a little bit each day.

Also, below you will find a list of great web resources (all free!!!) to explore in the next two weeks. There are enough websites below that you can explore a new one each and every day. Maybe you've seen some of these before and maybe there are some you've never seen. Have fun and learn something new!

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Edison Intermediate Band, Choir and Orchestra had a great concert this morning! What a terrific way to start the day. I've attached a few pictures of the event below. As I listened to our begnning ensemble groups this morning I want to echo the words of Mrs. Bulzoni - these groups of students show that a lot of hard work can lead to a LOT of fun! Congratulations to our students and their conductors on the start of a great Holiday season of music. The next concert on my calendar is this Saturday at Barnes & Noble (http://www.skokie69.net/index.php/info/skokie-69-calendar/all-district-calendar/event/5/6ud065gdio11kh9q9q8tseko74)

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The District 69 community is going to hear a lot more about Y.O.U. in the next few weeks, as we just found out that the Illinois State Board of Education has awarded Youth Organizations Umbrella (Y.O.U.) and Skokie/Morton Grove School District 69 a grant of $150,000 per year for five years to support free afterschool and summer learning programs at Lincoln Junior High School!!! The newly funded programs, which will offer students a wide array of activities that promote academic, social, and emotional development, are set to launch by February of 2013.

Students will gain critical supports, such as social-emotional enrichment and homework assistance, and will have the opportunity to participate in fun, enriching activities and field trips. Meanwhile, working parents will now have a safe, structured, supportive program for their children to go to each day after school and over the summer. 

The idea for this partnership came from leaders at Northwest Suburban United Way, who identified a gap in services in Skokie and connected Y.O.U. and District 69 to address that gap. “We’re thrilled to have seeded this partnership and to be moving the community forward with this news,” said Marcia McMahon, Chief Professional Officer at Northwest Suburban United Way.  “Our LIVE UNITED 2020 community impact plan seeks to help 50,000 underperforming middle school students enter high school ready to succeed. Today’s news moves us yet one step closer to that vision.”

The Y.O.U. afterschool program will operate from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. every week day. Homework assistance will occupy the first 75 minutes of the day; the rest of the day will be focused on exciting hands-on activities, including poetry workshops, science experiments, team sports, and art lessons, that build students’ skills. Youth will also be invited to participate in Y.O.U.’s high-quality mentorship program, which pairs youth with caring adult mentors.

“We know these afterschool and summer programs are life-changing for participating youth, and we look forward to offering these programs at Lincoln,” said Seth Green, Executive Director of Y.O.U. Indeed, Green said that 71% of youth who actively participated in Y.O.U.’s afterschool and mentorship programs increased their GPAs, and 91% improved their social skills based on pre- and post- evaluations.

Y.O.U. and District 69 said they plan to collaborate with a number of Skokie agencies, including the Village of Skokie, the Skokie Police Department, and the Skokie Public Library, to ensure the success of the new program.

“I'm excited for the youth of Skokie and particularly for District 69,” said Skokie Mayor George Van Dusen. “This program will provide additional invaluable social and academic opportunities for our students to succeed. I very much look forward to continuing to work with our partners in this important project.”

To submit an application for the newly created Director of Out-Of-School-Time Programs, apply here: http://www.idealist.org/view/job/7HCf6ppS5dFP/ 

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The link below is a .pdf file of the power point slides shown at the DuPage County IASB Fall Dinner meeting held on 10/2/12. 

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On Thursday, August 23, 2012, Lincoln Junior High hosted the Big Brother / Big Sister Kick-Off event. What a great evening for our Bigs and Littles alike as we had an opportunity to come together with Village Mayor Van Dusen; the Skokie Park District President of the Board Mike Reid and Executive Director Ohrlund, the CEO of Big Brothers Big Sisters Arthur Mollenhauer, and Jeremy Foster, the Vice President of Community Development. Skokie District 69 Board President, Mrs. Terri Lefler, Principal Bleuher and I were extremely grateful to the members of our parternship (Village, Park District, and Big Brothers Big Sisters) to see the program "up and running". We are also extremely grateful to the Bigs and Littles for participating. Lastly, we are grateful to Maureen Murphy (Skokie Village Director of Human Services) for coordinating all of the organizations! The future of this program looks bright!
Enjoy the pictures-

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For the past several years, District 69 has used Niles Township information from the other elementary districts for comparitive purposes as we begin to turn our attention from the Budget season to the Tax Levy season. Here, you will find an attachment with those comparisons presented in chart and graphic form. This will be disucssed verbally at our next Board meeting (scheduled for Sept. 24, 2012). 

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What a great night last night! Thanks to all students, parents, teachers, administrators and Board members who showed up. Thanks also to the community who showed up to cheer Matt on. Matt Wilhelm delivered a great message and performed an awesome show. 

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Dear District 69 stakeholders-

On July 1, 2012, the Chicago Tribune released an insert in the Sunday edition. This insert had a series of tables and numbers with no explanation. In an effort to provide some information and put these tables into context, please see the attached narrative. Also attached is the table itself (found in the Tribune) for those who didn’t see it. If you have question, don’t hesitate to contact the District Office at 847.675.7666.

Yours in Education,

Quintin 

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