Thank you to all for helping us reach our goal for the 5 Essentials Survey. If you have not had the opportunity to provide feedback for the improvement of our school, the survey is open until March 31st and details are listed below!

~Ms. Nicasio, Principal

nicasim@unit5.org

~Mrs. Fitzgerald, Associate Principal

fitzgeke@unit5.org

The English Language Arts/Literacy (ELA) assessments will focus on writing effectively when analyzing text. Mathematics assessments will focus on applying skills and concepts, and understanding multi-step problems that require abstract reasoning and modeling real-world problems, precision, perseverance, and strategic use of tools. In both content areas, students will demonstrate their acquired skills and knowledge by answering selected response items and fill-in-the-blank questions.

You will receive information about your student’s individual performance on the state tests in the fall. These results assist us in action planning for our academic goals at each grade level.

Please help you student be successful by:

1. Making sure student laptops are fully charged;

2. Students should arrive to school by 8:35 a.m.;

3. Making sure your student goes to bed early;

4. Providing breakfast at home or making sure they eat breakfast at school; and

5. Motivating your student to do their absolute best.

In February, the eighth grade art classes were challenged to create a drawing to represent their vision of Black History Month. They were to choose an African American entertainer, activist, leader, public figure, etc. from the past or present, to draw and color. They all did research on the person they chose and then found a photograph of that person. Students were required to free-hand draw the person they chose to go with the theme of Black History Month. There were many different depictions entered.

Once all of the drawings were turned in, they were hung anonymously in the Chiddix Teachers’ Workroom for a week, so that the staff could vote for their top three favorite drawings. Once the top three choices were made, Ms. Nicasio and Mrs. Fitzgerald were asked to vote for their favorite drawing. Finally, all of the middle school art teachers in Unit 5 were asked to vote on their favorite drawing. This is how the winner was decided upon.

The winner of the Black History Month drawing contest is eighth grader Karlyshia “Karly” Downey. Below, please read Karly’s artist statement about her winning artwork.

Karly not only won the vote of best drawing, she also won $40 of Mrs. Vincent’s cash and $1,000 of Charger Cash. She was very humble and appreciative about winning. Her drawing was made into a large poster and will be on display in the Chiddix lobby display case for everyone to see. Please take a moment and stop by and see this display the next time you’re in our school.

Throughout History

“Before I started drawing my Black History Month assignment, I was thinking 'how can I show how racism has affected the black community and how much we’ve come together'. I love the example of the woman I chose to use as the main part of the drawing. She is pretty and her hair flows in such a beautiful way. Her eyes pierced me in a way that I knew she was the subject I had to draw. I think I have captured her piercing eye and beautiful hair in my drawing.

I also chose to section off a part of the woman I drew in the shape of two triangles. In the top triangle, I drew Doctor Martin Luther King Junior, because he was such a great Black activist in our country. His “I Have a Dream” speech helped so many people to have hope to get through some difficult times. I also chose a woman I read about, who most have never heard of. Her name is Claudette Galvin. She was an activist on a bus, refusing to leave or move to the back. Her story occurred before Rosa Parks’. However, Ms. Galvin was a single pregnant teenager and the Black community decided that she was not as good of an example of Black activism as Rosa Parks. She is in the bottom left triangle of my drawing, to give her some recognition for what she started.

I think my drawing was successful in coming together as one coherent person and that I have created something that is unmatched. My drawing is telling the story that even though we have come a very long way with racism, things that happened in the past still stay with us. I am honored to win this drawing contest!"

Congratulations to Aaliyah Mohapatra for winning 2nd place in the Annual Black History Essay Contest sponsored by the City of Bloomington and the Bloomington Human Relations Commission. She will receive the opportunity to read her essay on air with WGLT and will receive an award trophy and Visa Gift Card prize. We are so proud of our Chiddix Charger!!

Teachers, parents, and students across Illinois have an opportunity to participate in the Illinois 5Essentials Survey.

This survey is designed to generate a detailed picture of the inner workings of your child's school. Your participation in the parent portion of the survey will help us understand the environment at your child's school. Your identity and survey responses will be kept completely confidential and will never be connected to you or your child.

The Illinois 5Essentials Survey will be conducted through Friday, March 31, 2023.

To take the survey:

1. Visit https://survey.5-essentials.org/Illinois/

2. Click on "Start here" under the Parent category

3. You may enter your email address but that is not required. It is completely optional.

4. Enter "McLean" for the County

5. Begin typing your child's school name and you should see it pop up. Click on the appropriate school.

Please take a separate survey for each school where you have a child enrolled.

The survey is also available in Spanish.

The Illinois 5Essentials gathers data related to five indicators that can predict important student outcomes. These five indicators that affect and predict school success are

• Effective Leaders

• Collaborative Teachers

• Involved Families

• Supportive Environments

• Ambitious Instruction

Research in more than 400 schools has shown that schools strong on at least three of these indicators were 10 times more likely to improve student learning gains in math and reading than those that were weak on three or more Essentials.

Unit 5 students in grades 4th-12th will be given the opportunity to take this survey. Our CJHS students will be taking it during Advisory on Monday, February 13th. If you do not want your child to take the survey, please contact your child's principal by Monday, February 6.

Please be aware that under the Protection of Pupil Rights Act. 20 U.S.C. Section 1232(c) (1) (A), you have the right to review a copy of the questions asked of your student(s). Survey questions can be found on the Illinois 5Essentials Support Center ( Illinois 5Essentials Survey Questions).

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact 5Essentials Client Services at 1-866-440-1874 or impact-surveys@uchicago.edu.

Your student's freshman course selections are now in Infinite Campus. You can view them in the Academic Plan on your Parent Portal. If you have any questions, please contact your student's counselor. Changes can be made through Friday, March 24th, 2023.