maverickfall2011

Fall 2011

Maverick

Come One, Come All

The Traveler’s Gala Presents

A Night

Under the

Big TopBenefiting the Greatest

School on Earth

school.stjames-lutheran.org/auction

Drake Hotel

4.27.12

Want To Know More?Scan the code with your smart phone to take you directly to our website. Here you’ll find more information about St. James programs as well as up-to-date calendar information.

ContactsSenior Pastor Rev. Robert B. Donovan Jr.

[email protected]

Principal Joy [email protected]

Education Counselor Warren [email protected]

Communications and Admissions Kate [email protected]

Tuition and Billing Catherine [email protected]

Youth Ministry Rev. James [email protected]

Children’s Ministry Jennifer [email protected]

St. James Lutheran School2101 N. Fremont St.

Chicago, IL 60614

Phone 773.549.1615Fax 773.326.3645

www.stjames-lutheran.org

Special thanks to Vision Integrated Graphics Group for printing our magazine. www.visionps.com

Welcome to the annual education issue of Maverick. Every year in the fall we devote this space to giving you important information about our education program. This year’s theme emphasizes the importance of a parent, school and church partnership for success. Each of these three plays an important role in providing the best opportunity for your child to grow.

To understand why all three are necessary let’s examine a few facts. First, parents are chosen by God to care for the nurture and growth of their child. You love them. You provide healthy food and a safe environment. You watch them learn as they explore their world and you discipline them when they trespass the boundaries that threaten them. God has entrusted you to raise that child to be able to care for him or her self. Your motivation is simply that God has wired you to see your child through the lens of love.

Second, you know that you cannot be successful without help for certain aspects of their development. Great care goes into choosing a school that works with you to support the development of your child. Most of you visit multiple schools to evaluate their programs and find the best fit for your family. Issues like culture, community, cost, access to the classroom, communication with the teacher, all combine to inform your decision of which school will best manage the growth of the whole child.

There are many choices in the City of Chicago for your child, but there are few that promote the interconnection

between the home, the school and the church. This is necessary in order for the whole child to emerge physically, socially, cognitively and spiritually.

In the same way that the school provides expertise in areas that parents require for their child to grow, churches offer something that cannot be found anywhere else. Most importantly is the opportunity for a child to learn that God loves them through the atoning work of His Son. This is more than a knowledge-based exercise. It is learned through the repeated pattern of weekly worship with other believers celebrating God’s grace.

The local church is also instrumental in providing the place to organize the Bible stories that children learn in school or at home into a framework for their faith. Each church has its own construct of what it believes. As parents you are entrusted by God to make sure that your son or daughter knows who God is, knows that God loves them, and knows the importance of remaining close to God’s love throughout their lives.

Pastors and church professionals are as important to your child’s development as teachers and as parents. The three work together to make certain that every need of your child is considered. As we move into the season of thanksgiving and Christmas let’s work together to commit ourselves to the development of the whole child and make certain that all three pillars of this important partnership are working successfully together.

Early Childhood Students at Vacation Bible School

Preparing Students for Success 1

Equation for SuccessBy Rev. Robert B. Donovan Jr., Senior Pastor

By Joy Mullaney, Principal

On October 24, United Nations Day, students in first through eighth grade began their world language study. Students, with their parents, got to choose one of 23 world languages to study this school year. While some choose to continue Spanish (which our early childhood students take), others are trying their hand at exploring a new language. Take a look at the pie chart to see what they are studying.

World Language Program off to a Great Start

We use the word “gifted” in relation to a child’s education to identify a student who appears to perform at a high intellectual level. Students who demonstrate creativity, have advanced vocabulary skills, show unusual curiosity and possess an ability to generate original ideas and solutions are often labeled “gifted.” But do we use the term correctly, and most importantly, what do we do at St. James when one of our students falls into the category described above?

What we don’t do is label them. No student should be labeled. We want each child to believe that they can be different and valued at the same time. Labels tend to do more than describe. They tend to define.

Do we have a program designed to challenge gifted and talented students? Yes! And we do it in ways to build social interaction, mutual respect and a healthy education process.

Because we believe each child is a unique person created by God we know that every child has certain gifts. These may not be defined by specific intellectual ability or other learning type behaviors, but we are certain that God has your student in His plan to fulfill their purpose as it unfolds. We are devoted to identifying and nurturing every child’s giftedness as we teach and develop the whole person.

When a child needs a more stimulating education experience to reach their full potential we employ a variety of approaches to help them be successful. This is why a differentiated approach to education is so useful. Our teaching staff employs many tools to promote continuous student improvement.

For example, in early childhood, teachers look for a child’s advanced interests and behaviors through learning stations

Language Percentage of StudentsChinese (Mandarin) 7.45% 7.45%English (American) 1.06% 1.06%French 18.09% 18.09%German 2.13% 2.13%Greek 1.06% 1.06%Italian 4.26% 4.26%Japanese 4.26% 4.26%Latin 11.70% 11.70%Polish 1.06% 1.06%Portuguese 2.13% 2.13%Spanish (Latin American) 45.74% 45.74%Spanish (Spain) 1.06% 1.06%

World Language Breakdown

1

7.45%

1.06%

18.09%

2.13%

1.06%

4.26%

4.26%

11.70%

1.06% 2.13%

45.74%

1.06% Chinese (Mandarin) 7.45%

English (American) 1.06%

French 18.09%

German 2.13%

Greek 1.06%

Italian 4.26%

Japanese 4.26%

LaHn 11.70%

Polish 1.06%

Portuguese 2.13%

Spanish (LaHn American) 45.74%

Spanish (Spain) 1.06%

2 Fall 2011

Gifted and Talented

and interactive games. Each classroom creates opportunities for children to develop early reading skills, number sense and the basics of communication through writing when they are ready.

Sometime in the early elementary years a child’s developmental potential is more easily determined. We use the MAP assessment to provide valuable data for a teacher to determine what resources and level of challenge is best for each child. Through flexible content options a talented or gifted child will receive more challenging instruction while still working with the other students in that subject area. For example, when the math class is learning about addition, a few students may be learning to add with negative numbers.

The process of meeting a talented and gifted student’s needs requires that we use different instructional strategies within the lesson. While some students may be learning about addition on a number line the more advanced student is challenged using more innovative applications such as problem solving.

In middle school, our students take courses that will horizontally enrich their thinking in science, English and social studies. The objective is to provide greater and deeper knowledge of the content area. However, math requires a different approach. Students advance vertically by course level due to the sequential nature of mathematics.

Our talented and gifted middle school students are additionally guided in learning the “tools of thought” which include skills in research, organization, thinking and communication. The objective is to develop independence in learning, understanding and creating, which prepares students for courses leading to advanced placement in high school in preparation for college.

Finally, teachers and administrators regularly monitor our students’ academic progress. While we expect our talented and gifted students, and all students, to develop their academic abilities, we do not loose sight of the value of each student for who they are as a child of God, and not merely on their performance in school.

Each student is encouraged to embrace who they are and challenged to the use their full potential.


Check Gradebook

Send Your Student with a Healthy Lunch

Come to School on Time

Create a study routine for your children. A good rule of thumb is to have them do their homework right when they get home. See the article about homework on page 8 for St. James’ homework philosophy and tips for parents.

Be Positive About Homework

Stay in the Loop

Don’t miss any information from administration or your child’s teacher. To stay informed remember to read the weekly eTempo and classroom newsletter, check your child’s take home envelope daily, refer to the website calendar for upcoming events and read your favorite magazine, Maverick!

It has been shown that there is a positive relationship between regular attendance, punctuality and school success. It is the parents’ responsibility to make sure that their student is at school on time and ready to learn. Classes begin at 8:25 a.m. for middle school, 8:30 a.m. for grades K-4 and 8:45 a.m. for preschool.

To make the morning easier and avoid being tardy, have children prepare all of their things the night before from uniforms to homework assignments.

Keep on top of assignments, progress and grades by checking your student’s gradebook daily. When you log-in to fellowshipNet, click on your student’s name. You’ll see the following tabs: Recent Grades, Open Assignments and All Grades. This tool helps parents keep their students accountable and on track. All classes will be on gradebook by the end of the second quarter.

Good nutrition is important for learning. A healthy lunch keeps students’ minds sharp and helps them concentrate for an afternoon of learning and/or play.

Involve your students by giving them healthy options to choose from. This way, they’ll take ownership and be excited about their healthy lunch.

Encourage Reading

Pray

Read to younger children and encourage older ones to read for fun. This will help instill a love for reading and help expand vocabulary and literacy skills.

Your child needs to have you model prayer in your and their lives. You should pray for your child every day. You can pray together before morning drop-off for a safe and happy day. And you can pray nightly in thanksgiving for the day past and in anticipation of the day ahead.

4 Fall 2011

Parents’ Role in Success

OverviewThe 2011 Admission Season begins with an Open House on November 15 for prospective families. Hosted by Admissions Ambassadors, our Open House is an important element of matching St. James to future members of our community. Parents will hear from Rev. Robert Donovan, Senior Pastor; Joy Mullaney, Principal; and two of our teachers. Additionally, they will have an opportunity to tour the school with an ambassador and ask questions.

Please pay careful attention to the dates and deadlines included on this page.

Re-enrollmentCurrent St. James parents will receive an e-mail at the beginning of January with a re-enrollment link. Requests for re-enrollment must be completed before January 13, 2012 to secure a place for your child and defer the $400 deposit until June. Otherwise, the deposit is needed with the late re-enrollment to be considered for admission.

Dates and Deadlines

November 15Open House

Applications are Released

December 16Early Decision

Application Deadline

January 13Re-enrollment Deadline

Application ProcessApplications for new student admissions will be released on November 15. To apply we need a completed application, a copy of the prospective student’s birth certificate, a report card (if applying to grades 1-8) and a $400 deposit. The deposit will be applied to tuition when a student is accepted into a program, returned if a child is not accepted and forfeited if acceptance is declined for any reason. To be considered for Early Admission please turn in all materials before December 16. Early admissions applicants will receive notification in January.

St. James Lutheran School enrollment is open to students of any race, color and ethnic or national origin. Acceptance to a class is determined by the Admission Committee on the basis of the optimum class profile. Members of the St. James fellowship, returning students and siblings of current students are given priority in the admission process. Admission is subject to St. James being able to meet the educational needs of a student.


Admissions and Re-Enrollment

Our mission is to provide an outstanding Christian education to our students as well as to care for the spiritual needs of all the constituents of our community. To do this we need more than quality teachers, professional staff and competent administration. We need you, the school families, to participate in meaningful ways to lighten the burden, foster good stewardship and receive the joy of a job well done.

Stewardship

We believe that it is every parent’s responsibility to commit to some aspect of service in support of the school. We further recognize that serving is in response to what God has done for us so we do not mandate any amount of service

hours. We prefer to encourage each parent or family to be good stewards of their time and find an appropriate place to use their gifts.

Ethics

Standards for serving are based upon our understanding of the Bible’s ethics. Consequently when committed to a task we agree to:

• Be dependable in fulfilling all the responsibilities associated with a task or project, including being on time for scheduled service opportunities. • Be respectful of the people God has placed here in the offices of pastor, principal, faculty and staff and other parents.• Be honorable in maintaining confidentiality particularly of student and staff information.• Be objective in recognizing that the organization’s goals supersede any personal agendas.

• Be considerate of all school rules, policies and procedures, particularly when serving in the classroom or school building.

Requirements

A Volunteer Registration Form must be on file for any task that puts a volunteer in contact with a student. This form certifies that the volunteer has been screened and is qualified to work with

children.Parents helping with last year’s graduation celebration

6 Fall 2011

Get Involved!

The Principal’s Curriculum Advisory Council (PCAC) was formed this fall for the purpose of acquiring feedback from parents and teachers on curriculum and holding discussions for input and construction of curriculum related topics. The council is made up of our Education Counselor, two teachers and three parents. We’re pleased to introduce the members for the 2011-2012 academic year:

Warren Gast has been an integral part of the St. James community since 1975. Mr. Gast is currently serving as the Education Counselor to assist the Principal by coordinating MAP testing and assessing services as well as acting as liaison to the city high schools for placement of St. James students. Mr. Gast, along with the council, is set out to capitalize on the Common Core Standards to better use progressive curriculum to drive purchases for educational materials as we continue to strive for an even more differentiated and challenging middle school program. He earned his masters degree in Curriculum and Instruction from Concordia University, Chicago.

Lynda Adams has served the St. James community for eight years, currently as a kindergarten teacher. Growing up in a Lutheran School, she strongly believes in achieving academic excellence while simultaneously teaching strong Christian values. Ms. Adams is pursuing a master’s degree in Early Childhood Education from the Erikson Institute in Chicago.

Krissy Cornelius teaches second grade at St. James. She is committed to creating a stronger connection between teachers, parents and administration in regards to curriculum. Ms. Cornelius earned her master’s degree in Language, Literacy and Specialized Education from DePaul University.

Steve Cortes is a parent of four St. James students from preschool through middle school. He has been active in the community since his oldest daughter began preschool here ten years ago. As a member of the PCAC, Mr. Cortes brings his experience as a board member for the St. Procopius School, a mission on the south side of Chicago. His goal is to see a cohesive curriculum implemented from early grades through graduation ensuring that St. James graduates are prepared for high school and beyond both academically and spiritually.

Meg Greve is the parent of kindergarten and seventh grade students at St. James and has been involved in the community for nine years. Mrs. Greve brings 18 years of experience in education - as a teacher, writer and editor - to the PCAC. Today, she teaches first grade at Dr. Jorge Prieto Math and Science Academy. Mrs. Greve is excited to contribute her experience as an educator and believes that St. James will prove to be as academically rigorous as any other school in the city.

Jon Jurva is a St. James parent of preschool and second grade students and works as a corporate lawyer at Schiff Hardin LLP. Prior to becoming an attorney, Mr. Jurva taught history for five years at Francis Parker School here in Chicago. As a former history teacher, he is particularly interested in assisting with the further development of our school’s social studies curriculum.

Training

Each supervising staff person is responsible for training any volunteer supporting the task they are responsible for.

Opportunities

There are many different ways a parent or guardian can be involved. Some tasks are a low time commitment or ad hoc in nature while others require a greater commitment and may feel like a part-time job. Every opportunity is important and contributes to the well being of the students and the organization.

Traveler’s Gala

Supporting our annual Traveler’s Gala is a great way to get involved. This spectacular event raises funds for our education program and supports education expenses including technology, scholarships, staff development and classroom materials.

This year’s Traveler’s Gala is lead by Lynn Clary, Nan Mortell, Holly Cortes and Kate Donovan. They will need your help in locating donations for the live and silent auctions, organizing mailings and providing support.


Meet the Principal’s Curriculum Advisory Council

At St. James, homework is given to students in kindergarten – eighth grade. Homework serves several purposes including: providing practice for worked learned in class, checking for understanding of concepts taught over time, applying knowledge and skills to authentic or created situations, and promoting ownership, responsibility and accountability to build solid habits for future success in school.

St. James students should expect ten minutes of homework times the grade level they are in. For example, first grade should expect 10 minutes, fifth grade should expect 50 minutes, etc. In middle school, if students are taking advanced level coursework, such as algebra, more time should be devoted to homework than the typical 70 or 80 minutes per night.

Homework for younger children requires parents to oversee the process. In kindergarten, students receive five to ten minutes of homework, which serves as an introduction to the routine. Kindergartners could be practicing writing, reading readiness or math home links. As students progress through the years, parents should be aware of the homework they bring home. Parents should monitor homework time, while balancing helping their child without completing it for him. As always, if children express much difficulty in completing work, contact the teacher.

Read through the tips on the next page from the U.S. Department of Education to help your student be successful in homework completion.

8 Fall 2011

Homework

Homework Tips for Parents from the U.S. Department of Education

• Make sure your child has a quiet, well-lit place to do homework. Avoid having your child do homework with the television on or in places with other distractions, such as people coming and going.

• Make sure the materials your child needs, such as paper, pencils and a dictionary, are available. Ask your child if special materials will be needed for some projects and get them in advance.

• Help your child with time management. Establish a set time each day for doing homework. Don’t let your child leave homework until just before bedtime. Think about using a weekend morning or afternoon for working on big projects, especially if the project involves getting together with classmates.

• Be positive about homework. Tell your child how important school is. The attitude you express about homework will be the attitude your child acquires.

• When your child does homework, you do homework. Show your child that the skills they are learning are related to things you do as an adult. If your child is reading, you read too. If your child is doing math, balance your checkbook.

• When your child asks for help, provide guidance, not answers. Giving answers means your child will not learn the material. Too much help teaches your child that when the going gets rough, someone will do the work for him or her.

• When the teacher asks that you play a role in homework, do it. Cooperate with the teacher. It shows your child that the school and home are a team. Follow the directions given by the teacher.

• If homework is meant to be done by your child alone, stay away. Too much parent involvement can prevent homework from having some positive effects. Homework is a great way for kids to develop independent, lifelong learning skills.

• Stay informed. Talk with your child’s teacher. Make sure you know the purpose of homework and what your child’s class rules are.

• Help your child figure out what is hard homework and what is easy homework. Have your child do the hard work first. This will mean he will be most alert when facing the biggest challenges. Easy material will seem to go fast when fatigue begins to set in.


Students in seventh and eighth grade used The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros as their inspiration for writing some semi-autobiographical vignettes. Each student wrote a 10-chapter book, using prompts such as “your name,” “your neighborhood,” “going to work,” etc. Students could interpret these prompts in many ways. Some chose to express themselves through prose, others through poetry, some with poetic prose. Here are a few samples of the students’ work.

My Brother by Madison Greve, Seventh Grade

My brother is annoying. He is too violent and produces too much saliva. He is sweaty when he sleeps and kicks the wall at three in the morning. He is snotty and steals my jokes and tells them wrong, he thinks he is good at karate and tests it on me. He shoots me with nerf guns, steels my nail polish, throws things at me, refuses to wear his glasses when I tell him to, and tells me I am not the boss of him even though I am.

My brother is cute, he is sweet. He is my buba. He gives me hugs when I am sick and lets me play Wii with him. He looks cute in his Scooby Doo costume, gets excited when I let him play on my iPod, eats my apples when I don’t want to, and has a much cuter nose than me. My brother is my brother always no matter what. I may not always like him, but I will always love him.

Christmas Time by Julia Andrus, Seventh Grade

The smell of pine and stains of wineThe sight of white and a silent nightLights on a tree loved ones close to meSleds whipping down upon the snowOh Christmas please don’t goWinter storm huddled together warmThe snow storm blowingThe candles glowing inside our warm homeThe roads are silent

No one is violent We gaze up at the lights Hoping we won’t sleep tonight Sleigh bells ring We know Jesus is our king The nativity scene stands still But is mentally moving in our hearts This time of year moves like a speeding dart heading for the board We all love our Lord

10 Fall 2011

Middle School Musings

The Cheese Store by Rachel Miller, Eighth Grade

My neighborhood is like a cheese store. There are all different colors, flavors, ages, and smells. My next-door neighbor to the left of us is about ninety years old and is a true Italian character. She still dyes her hair and stills puts on makeup, and when she goes out she wears three-inch heels. Everyday at about noon she takes the bus downtown to the beach, to the Macy’s tea room or, just out to each lunch. “I am a poet, a musician, and an artist,” she says. To the right of us is a Latino family. They’ve lived in the neighborhood for about thirteen years. They have two kids. One of which is my age and stays inside all day and plays video games. The other one is a ball of energy. She is the complete opposite of her brother. She has so much energy she plays about five different sports and when she gets home she wants to play outside or run. This is a taste of my neighborhood but there is also a chef, the immigrants from Jordan, the baby whose name is

Birdie, and the drunks. You know what my neighborhood is? It is a cheese store.

My Favorite Toy from Childhood by Anthony Pena, Eighth Grade

My dad bought me an expensive train set before I was born. The train was made out of heavy metal and it had a special liquid that you would pour into it, and smoke would come out of it like a real train. My dad had set this train up in my room before I was born because he loved trains and he wanted me to love trains too. This train had a track that went all around my room and it had a remote control to maneuver its every move.

When I was old enough to play with this train set, my dad and I would always spend time playing with this train set. This train was the only toy I would want to play with. I spent many hours playing with this train set.

This train set has a special place in my heart. It reminds me of many play times I had with my dad and later in life with my brothers. I know that some day in the future I will also spend time with my children, playing with this train. The memories I have with this train are unforgettable.

Go Mavericks!We had a spectacular fall sports season! Our mascot, Marty Maverick, is happy to report the following: • Over 60 St. James athletes in preschool - eighth grade ran cross country• Middle school students Anthony Pena, Bella Mullaney, Maggie Larson and Anna Heyse participated in the state cross country meet in Bloomington, IL•Our middle school volleyball team started off strong by winning a tournament and ended the season undefeated

Get excited for a great basketball season as our elementary and middle school teams take on their competitors!


Check out some favorite apps from St. James faculty and staff:

App: DabbleAppropriate for: 9+, but any proficient reader should give it a whirlRecommended by: Ms. Lauren Monticello, Fourth GradePrice: $0.99Description: A combination of Scrabble and Boggle, this app is a fast-paced word game for building vocabulary, spelling skills and quick thinking.

App: Sky SafariAppropriate for: Middle SchoolRecommended by: Mrs. Becky Gorcyca, Middle School SciencePrice: $2.99Description: This app allows you to explore and animate the night sky. More than a sky chart, it allows the user to identify stars and planets that they are seeing in the night sky. Great for St. James Middle School students as they learn about astronomy during the second quarter.

App: Math BingoAppropriate for: preschool - early elementary Recommended by: Pastor DonovanPrice: $0.99Description: Who doesn’t like Bingo? The object is to get a set of BINGO bugs in a row by answering math problems.

Site: Storybird.comAppropriate for: All AgesRecommended by: Mrs. Kim May, Middle School Language ArtsPrice: Completed books can then be stored online for free, downloaded as a pdf for $1.99, or purchased as a paperback or hardcover book for a fee based on the number of pages.Description: We’re cheating a bit - this website isn’t iPad specific, but you have to check it out! Storybird.com is a bookmaking/story writing site. Thousands of illustrations are available to drag and drop into a book, then the child (or adult) can write a story inspired by the illustrations. Completed books look great on the iPad and can be stored in iBooks.

12 Fall 2011

APP Recommendations

The emergence of tablet devices challenges education professionals in ways they haven’t faced in the past. More than an entertainment device, tablets promote a window into the world for learning and exploration.

The iPad is convenient for students to “look up” information they are learning about in class. The recording function makes it possible for students to tell their stories and hear them played back. A teacher can also record a conversation with a student as a tool for tracking progress. And, of course, there are educational “games” that make learning fun.

Currently three classrooms - both kindergarten classes and second grade - are exploring how iPads may be an important part of the education process at St. James.

As we research other uses and explore more apps, we hope to make the tablet an important tool within the education experience.

App: ABC TracerAppropriate for: Preschool - Kinder-gartenRecommended by: Ms. Liz Koehneke, Preschool

App: Puzzle PlanetsAppropriate for: Fifth GradeRecommended by: Mrs. Becky Gorcyca, Middle School SciencePrice: $0.99Description: This app, by the National Geographic Society, is a game that allows players to create new worlds by assembling a planet’s tectonic plates. Players must smash the plates together, creating massive seismic activity. Great for St. James fifth grade students as they learn about plate tectonics during the second quarter!

App: Star WalkAppropriate for:Elementary - Middle SchoolRecommended by: Pastor Donovan

Price: $4.99Description: This is an interactive look at the cosmos as if you were in outer space. The best part is that you can point your iPad at the sky and it shows you in stunning detail what is up there.

Price: $1.99, a free version is also available Description: This app shows you how to write letters and trace words using fun activities and songs. ABC Tracer is a great tool because children learn best when things are fun; and this is an interactive app with appropriate feedback.

iPads in the Classroom


2101 N. Fremont Street + Chicago, IL 60614773.525.4990 + www.stjames-lutheran.org

Christmas FestivalSaturday, December 3

10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.

Sunday, December 411:30 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.

•Shop at Santa’s Workshop - All Items $1.00!

•Eat lunch at the Christmas Cafe

•Listen to live music from St. James ensembles

•Bring your camera for pictures with Santa!

If you have any gently used items

you don’t want anymore donate

them to Christmas Festival! Some

“hot” items in the past have been

picture frames, jewelry, note cards,

vases, candles and Christmas

ornaments. Items can be dropped off

in the school office.

Documents

maverickfall2011