Mrs. Washburn instills a love of the arts in many students. Thanks to her for believing in kids and their artistic abilities. This video features one of her former students that shared her passion for creativity.
Friday, July 29, 2011
Wednesday, July 27, 2011
Report finds 2 of 4 tests in ACT poor predictors of college success
07/19/2011
Report finds 2 of 4 tests in ACT poor predictors of college success
If you are among the growing number of students who have taken or plan to take the ACT college entrance test, pay attention. An independent analysis of results in Ohio has concluded that two of the ACT’s four subject tests — Reading and Science — are lousy predictors of college success and should be ignored by admissions officers.
Monday, July 25, 2011
Makes Us Wonder
Goodbye and good luck to Ms. Collins...
After one short year, Pleasantdale Middle School is looking for another gifted teacher. Does it make you wonder why new teachers don't last very long at Pleasantdale?
After one short year, Pleasantdale Middle School is looking for another gifted teacher. Does it make you wonder why new teachers don't last very long at Pleasantdale?
| Gifted/Language Arts Teacher Grades 5-8 | JobID: 108 |
| Position Type: | |
| Middle School Teaching/Language Arts | |
| Date Posted: 7/21/2011 | |
| Location: Pleasantdale Middle School | |
| Date Available: 08/24/2011 | |
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
PFA Still Going Strong
State Board of Education to help fund more than 900 preschool programs
State awards $269.7 million to serve 77,500 children across the state
SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) announced today it has awarded $269.7 million in preschool grants to help fund about 936 programs serving 3- to 5-year-olds across the state in Fiscal Year 2012. The state funds, part of the Early Childhood Block Grant, will help prepare about 77,500 children for kindergarten and beyond.
“A good early childhood program gives children, especially those from low income families, a better chance to succeed in the classroom and in life,” said State Superintendent of Education Christopher A. Koch. “We know that young children are eager to learn and these funds will go a long way toward developing their innate love for learning.”
Chicago Public Schools receives 37 percent of the Early Childhood Block Grant and determines which district schools and local agencies to approve for funding. This year, CPS approved 478 schools or agency centers to serve about 24,500 children.
Members of the ISBE staff and outside experts reviewed and scored 554 proposals from agencies and districts outside Chicago and approved 458 for funding in FY 2012. Reviewers took into consideration each program’s performance on previous grants and student demographics. In addition to considering programs of high quality, priority was given to those sites that serve a largely low-income population as well as those that serve a high percentage of Hispanic and African American children.
“Research shows that investment in our youngest learners is paying off by giving them a solid educational foundation, which they do carry forward,” said Illinois State Board of Education Chairman Gery J. Chico. “As we are challenged financially, we have to ensure that our investment in early childhood learning is targeted appropriately, focusing on children who need this extra preparation.”
Preschool grants have previously been awarded through a re-application process but for the first time in more than 20 years, the ISBE requested competitive bids for all programs in Fiscal Year 2012 to ensure that declining state resources serve the children most at risk of academic failure. Such at-risk children can include English Language Learners and children from low income families. The Early Childhood Block Grant has seen a decline in state funds of about $23 million since Fiscal Year 2008.
In addition to the preschool programs, funds from the Early Childhood Block Grant go toward services for the families of newborns to 3-year-olds.
The following districts have been awarded funds under the state’s Early Childhood Block grant for preschool programs in 2012:http://www.isbe.net/news/2011/pdf/12_PFA_3-5_RFP_Recommendations.pdf
Friday, July 15, 2011
Pleasantdale School District 107 Board of Education Meeting 06-15-2011
Parts 1 through 5 of 18. More to be posted later.
Wednesday, July 13, 2011
It's Part Of The Family
Congratulations to Pleasantdale alumni John and Tony Scaletta on their award winning commercial titled "It's Part of the Family" that aired on national television during the Major League Baseball All-Star game earlier tonight!
This commercial is the latest in a string of award winning commercials written and produced by Motion Source Video Solutions of LaGrange, IL.
This commercial is the latest in a string of award winning commercials written and produced by Motion Source Video Solutions of LaGrange, IL.
Thursday, July 7, 2011
America's Future: The Inside Story: This Week: Bubble-Torture for the Kiddies
America's Future: The Inside Story: This Week: Bubble-Torture for the Kiddies: "As we all know, last week was the dreaded State ELA exam. My observations were as follows: *Students were completely whacked out right bef..."
Friday, June 24, 2011
Thursday, June 16, 2011
Saturday, June 11, 2011
Thursday, June 9, 2011
Board Member Wants Personal Email Address on School Site
“It is my experience that constituents are more comfortable when in direct contact with me—rather than having to rely upon an intermediary system outside our control...."
Wednesday, June 1, 2011
Today is your day!
Congratulations!
Today is your day.
You’re off to Great Places!
You’re off and away!
You have brains in your head.
You have feet in your shoes.
You can steer yourself any direction you choose.
You’re on your own. And you know what you know. And YOU are the person who’ll decide where to go. ~ Dr. Suess
Congratulations to Pleasantdale's Class of 2011!
Today is your day.
You’re off to Great Places!
You’re off and away!
You have brains in your head.
You have feet in your shoes.
You can steer yourself any direction you choose.
You’re on your own. And you know what you know. And YOU are the person who’ll decide where to go. ~ Dr. Suess
Congratulations to Pleasantdale's Class of 2011!
Friday, May 20, 2011
Quote of the Day...
"More people would learn from their mistakes if they weren't so busy denying them."
~ Harold J. Smith
Thursday, May 19, 2011
Pleasantdale Superintendent Highest Paid Per Student
The New Math: Adding up a Superintendent's Salary
Patch explains all the elements that go into a school superintendent's compensation.
Education funding remains one of the singularly most debated public policy issues of the day, with salary and benefits headlining the discussion. Patch surveyed 12 local school districts to shed some light on just how much our superintendents are being paid.
Gratitude and Honor
Park Jr. High
LTHS
LTHS
Gurrie Middle School
St. Francis Xavier
St. Francis Xavier
St. Francis Xavier
St. John of the Cross
Girl Scouts
St. John of the Cross
Highlands Middle School
Tuesday, May 17, 2011
Friday, May 6, 2011
April 28, 2011, Pleasantdale Board of Ed. Organizational Meeting and Questions
Questions from this meeting:
1. Does the district need a communication committee?
2. Should the district stakeholders be informed in some way of the district's proposal to house a LADSE (LaGrange Area Dept. of Special Education) preschool program for out-of-district students?
Tuesday, May 3, 2011
To all our teachers out there...
Happy Teacher Appreciation Day!
Thank you for doing one of the toughest jobs there is! You are appreciated for all you do.
“Teaching is the profession that teaches all the other professions.” ~ Anonymous
"If a doctor, lawyer, or dentist had 40 people in his office at one time, all of whom had different needs, and some of whom didn't want to be there and were causing trouble, and the doctor, lawyer, or dentist, without assistance, had to treat them all with professional excellence for nine months, then he might have some conception of the classroom teacher's job." ~ Donald Quinn
“A good teacher is like a candle: it consumes itself to light the way for others.” ~ Anonymous
"Education's purpose is to replace an empty mind with an open one." ~Malcolm S. Forbes
"A teacher affects eternity; he can never tell where his influence stops. " ~ Henry Adams
"The task of the excellent teacher is to stimulate "apparently ordinary" people to unusual effort. The tough problem is not in identifying winners: it is in making winners out of ordinary people. " ~K. Patricia Cross
"The art of teaching is the art of assisting discovery." -Mark van Doren
"The mediocre teacher tells. The good teacher explains. The superior teacher demonstrates. The great teacher inspires." -William A. Ward
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