Golf School District 67 Chalkboard
November 2023
MISSION STATEMENT
We embrace being a diverse community of learners who are dedicated to building an inclusive environment focused on growth, equity and success to inspire global citizenship.
A Message From Superintendent Dr. Susan Coleman
Dear Golf 67 Families,
As Thanksgiving nears, I am grateful for our Golf 67 community. This season reminds us to reflect on our journey together, celebrating our commitment to inclusivity, growth, and academic excellence.
This year has been significant in enhancing our educational environment. We have made strides with our Social Emotional Learning (SEL) initiative, including the CHAMPS program, and have seen substantial updates to our school facilities. These efforts have been crucial in creating a nurturing space for our students.
We have also seen remarkable academic achievements, such as introducing class novels at Golf Middle School, innovative science projects in 5th grade, and using decodable texts in our elementary grades. These are clear indicators of our dedication to fostering a love of learning.
Our community's spirit shines through in our service projects like "Socktober," "Share the Sweetness," and the "Giving Tuesday" food drive. These efforts highlight our values of empathy and community service.
As we head into the fall break, I want to express my heartfelt thanks to each member of our school community. Your dedication, resilience, and enthusiasm are the driving forces behind our success.
I am honored to be a part of a community that prioritizes education and shapes our community's future through shared values and goals. This Thanksgiving, take a moment to appreciate our collective efforts and the unique spirit of Golf 67.
I am wishing you a peaceful, joyous, and restful break.
Yours in service,
Dr. Susan Coleman
Superintendent
Student Achievement Report
In District 67, the ongoing educational journey is marked by a steady commitment to academic achievement and the overall growth of each student. The 2022-23 school year was a period of continued focus on data-driven decision-making and personalized learning, aiming to support every student effectively.
Consistent Achievement in Standardized Assessments
Students in the D67 have been performing well in Mathematics and Reading, as indicated by the results of the Illinois Assessment of Readiness (IAR) and NWEA MAP assessments. This performance is notably higher than state and national averages, showing a trend of improvement throughout their academic career.
Challenges and Responses: Balancing Achievement and Growth
Despite these achievements, a key challenge has emerged: not all students meet their expected growth targets, mirroring national trends, particularly in reading. This raises important questions about better-supporting student growth and tailoring learning experiences to individual needs.
Goals for Improvement
We have identified clear goals to address these challenges:
Math Goal: Increase the number of students meeting their Fall to Spring Growth Goal in Math MAP by 10% in the 2023-24 school year.
Reading Goal: Achieve a similar 10% increase in Reading MAP.
To support these goals, several strategies are being employed:
Data-Driven Decision Making: Emphasizing Tier 1 academic supports and using MAP instructional areas for targeted Tier 2 instruction.
Social Emotional Learning (SEL): Integrating SEL into the curriculum through programs like Morning Meetings, Second Step, and Digital Citizenship, along with implementing the CHAMPS system for consistent behavior management.
SEL Initiatives and Future Plans
Social Emotional Learning (SEL) is an integral part of our approach, with teams at Hynes and Golf developing school-wide expectations. These values, including kindness, respect, and striving for personal best, are reinforced across the district.
Future steps include:
Expanding CHAMPS Training: Continuing district-wide training to foster positive behavioral interventions.
Behavior Tracking and Reinforcement: Enhancing staff training in behavior documentation and focusing on recognizing and reteaching expected behaviors.
Instructional Environment Improvement: Aiming to increase instructional time and promote classroom environments that encourage self-management and responsibility.
In the face of challenges like the prolonged impact of pandemic learning, Golf School District 67 is dedicated to addressing the diverse needs of all students and refining instructional strategies to accommodate various learning styles.
We are committed to a balanced approach to education, where academic achievement and personal development go hand in hand, preparing students for academic success and responsible citizenship in their communities.
SOCIAL EMOTIONAL LEARNING (SEL)
During the 2022-2023 school year the District Wide SEL team implemented the following plan
- Districtwide team identified an SEL Goal
- Goal: Develop Framework for Behavioral Expectations
- District team developed a plan for Implementing Districtwide behavioral expectations
- District wide SEL team selected Safe and Civil Schools CHAMPS program to teach Tier 1
- Identified Tier 1 building based team to support implementation
- Established a professional development plan around District wide behavioral expectations
Developed Districtwide Expectations
Theme: Be Your Best Self
Districtwide Expectations Survey
Survey open to staff, students, and families from May 5th to May 18th
Districtwide expectations identified:
Be Kind
Be Respectful
Be Your Personal Best
- Professional Development for Tier 1 SEL implementation
- Summer 2023: Building SEL teams
- Implementing & supporting Tier 1 building practices
- Developed SEL lessons to teach students expectations
- Fall 2023: Building Staff
- CHAMPS Day 1 and 2
- Implemented Tier 1 SEL lessons for ALL students
- Next Steps
Continued use of Institute Days & Half Days for professional learning to support teachers’ professional growth and development
- CHAMPS Day 3
Develop and implement Behavior Tracking documentation tool
Implement SEL State and Districtwide lessons for students
- Bullying Prevention (PreK-8th)
- Anne Marie's Law (5th-8th Grade)
- Erin's Law (PreK-8th)
- Reteach District and Building wide expectations as needed and following Thanksgiving and Winter Breaks
FACILITIES UPDATE
August 2023
- Replaced 30 linear feet of sewer and the associated flooring in the south hallway at GMS.
- Installed new carpeting in the band and choir rooms, and new stair tread nosings at GMS.
- Hired a professional landscaper to clean up and maintain the bushes and shrubs at both buildings, clean up the Hynes courtyard, and add mulch to all the planting areas.
- Removed several dead trees on District property and trimmed back several trees hanging too low or growing into the buildings.
- Painted several classrooms and hallways at both buildings.
- Converted classroom and hallway lighting from standard fluorescent lighting to efficient LED lighting. The LED bulbs will reduce the amount of electricity the District uses for lighting by 56% while providing more light per bulb.
September 2023
Hynes has several areas of the roof that are leaking from heavy rains.
Hynes A/C unit has had bad circuit boards and faulty connections repaired.
GMS replaced circuit boards and other parts to improve the operation of the six rooftop units.
Johnson Controls will install the new control system upgrade/update on October 16, 2023.
October 2023
Hynes has had boiler issues since the beginning of the heating season.
Johnson Controls began the upgrade to the HVAC controls this week.
O’Hare Mechanical performed the winter rooftop inspection and preventative maintenance which included checking the condition of the heat exchangers, and belts, lubricating the motors, and the overall operation of the units.
Milieu Landscaping performed monthly service on October 14, 2023.
The Hynes replacement roof is being scheduled with the contractor.
The installer for the bike racks at Golf is awaiting a price from the concrete supplier.
November 2023
Health Life/Safety Inspections
The annual health life/safety inspections took place Tuesday, November 7, 2023, with a few minor violations which have since been corrected.
HVAC Update
Johnson Controls is working on the punch list.
Trane will replace several circuit boards on the GMS multipurpose room rooftop unit.
The roof top unit for the GMS second floor is overheating the space. O’Hare Mechanical will be out to look at the unit.
Hynes Cafeteria Heat
The heat was out in the old gym/cafeteria again this week. This is the second time in two weeks that this unit has failed, and the third time this season that one of the Hynes roof top units has failed.
Hynes Roof
Tremco completed the leak repairs at Hynes last week.
GOLF MIDDLE SCHOOL
CLASS NOVELS
ELA teachers at Golf Middle School recently chose one novel per grade level that the school will purchase for every student. The novels will be theirs to keep at the end of the unit. Since each student has their own novel, they can practice annotation strategies where they mark up the text and leave traces of their thinking as they read. Practicing these skills will help prepare them for high school and beyond. We believe that providing these novels will also help instill a love of reading in our Cardinals!
5th GRADE SCIENCE WITH DR. MALDONADO
The 5th graders have ended their unit covering the Earth's Place in Space.
They have built a model to explore and explain the concept of the Earth's rotation.
Using a sundial allows them to see how the movement of the Earth on its axis helped ancient civilizations tell time. Students reflected about the changing shadows and what it means for "Our Place in Space."
HYNES ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
DECODABLE TEXTS
Our partners with District 219's Collaborative for Curriculum recently provided decodable texts for students in grades K-2. These short, engaging texts help reinforce the specific skills students learn in the Sadlier From Phonics to Reading curriculum. Kindergarten teachers also received Dynamite Decodables. These vibrant texts build knowledge and reinforce phonics skills through fun elements including puzzles, mazes and riddles. Students were very excited to get their hands on these great new resources!
KINDERGARTEN WITH MS. OTTE
Authors at work!
1st GRADE WITH MS. KLODA
KINDNESS ROCKS!
Our Hynes and GMS Volunteer Service Clubs are off to a wonderful start with their mission of spreading kindness in our school and community! Golf Middle School students sponsored “Socktober" by collecting new pairs of socks that will be donated to Connections for the Homeless in Evanston, which will keep many feet warm this winter!
For the second year in a row, “Share the Sweetness” was a huge success at both Hynes and Golf. Halloween candy was collected by our caring students! We will be creating “sweet bags” to donate to those in need during the holidays.
Our “Giving Tuesday” donation drive was absolutely awesome! Students and families were so generous and brought many non-perishable food items for the Niles Township Food Pantry. Thank you for filling our hallways and boxes with much needed food and supplies that will help our local families enjoy a happy holiday this season!
~Mrs. Featherstone, Mrs. Sucherman
CALENDAR REMINDERS
11/20-11/24/2023 - Thanksgiving Break - No School
12/14/2023 - Half Day
Golf Middle School Dismissal Time: 11:22 am
Hynes Elementary School Dismissal Time: 12:00 pm
12/25 - 1/5/2024 - Winter Break - No School
District 67 Board of Education
Ms. Nada Ardeleanu, President, nardeleanu@golf67.net
Mr. Jermaine Lindsay, Vice President, jlindsay@golf67.net
Mrs. Shanna Yetman, Secretary, syetman@golf67.net
Mr. Alex Beck, Member, abeck@golf67.net
Mrs. Katherine Leslie, Member, kleslie@golf67.net
Mr. Noel Lorenzana, Member, nlorenzana@golf67.net
Mr. Digesh Patel, Member, dpatel@golf67.net
Administration
Dr. Susan Coleman, Superintendent, scoleman@golf67.net
Ms. Lynn Owens, Assistant Superintendent, lowens@golf67.net
Mrs. Tina Ewanio, Director of Business Services, tewanio@golf67.net
Ms. Karen Chvojka, Principal, Golf Middle School, kchvojka@golf67.net
Ms. Holly Harper-Kelly, Principal, Hynes Elementary School, hharperkelley@golf67.net