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ISAT tests show state educators are
"raising the bar"
[OCT.
30, 2000]
Parents
of students in Lincoln District 27 will see the results of the new
Illinois Standards Achievement Tests (ISATs) in social studies and
science for the first time when report cards are sent to parents at
the end of October, according to Superintendent Robert Kidd. The
scores will show how the individual students performed compared to
other students statewide.
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The
tests, mandated for all students in public elementary schools in the
state of Illinois, replace the old Illinois Goals Assessment Program
(IGAP) tests and, according to several teachers and administrators,
are more difficult than the IGAP tests were.
Last
spring was the first time the ISAT social studies and science tests
were given, although public school students have taken ISAT reading,
writing and mathematics tests for the past two years. Science and
social studies tests were given to fourth and seventh grade students
last spring, so the reports will actually go to fifth and eighth
grade students this fall.
Reports
on the math, reading and writing tests, taken by third, fifth and
eighth grade students last spring, were received by the school
district and sent to parents before school was out, Superintendent
Kidd said.
In
general, the tests showed that District 27 elementary students are
doing better in science than in social studies, while junior high
students are doing better in social studies than in science, at
least according to the state’s guidelines.
Districtwide,
last year’s fourth grade students in regular classes (not
including students in special education) were all above the warning
level in science. While 40 percent were below expectations, 60
percent met or exceeded expectations. In seventh grade (again not
counting special education students) 11 percent were at the warning
level in science, 18 percent were below expectations, while 71
percent met or exceeded expectations.
In
social science, 13 percent of those fourth grade students not in
special education were at the warning level, 30 percent were below
expectations, while 58 percent met or exceeded expectations. Only 1
percent of the seventh grade students were at the warning level in
social science, 41 percent were below expectations, while 58 percent
met or exceeded expectations.
A
breakdown of the elementary school figures show that at Central
School, 53 percent of the fourth graders not in special education
met or exceeded the goals in science, 62 percent of Northwest
students met or exceeded goals, and 65 percent of Washington-Monroe
students met or exceeded goals in science. In social studies, 61
percent of the Central fourth graders met or exceeded the goals, 45
percent at Northwest met or exceeded, and 63 percent at
Washington-Monroe met or exceeded.
![](../images/ads/gcs/GCS-ad.jpg)
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top of second column in this article]
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"Overall,
our scores are not very dissimilar from the statewide results. At
the junior high level we are very close to the state results in both
areas," Superintendent Kidd said. He noted that in comparison
to other schools in the state with a similar number of students at
poverty level, District 27 also scored about the same.
"Districtwide,
we had about 40 percent of our students eligible for free or reduced
lunches last year. Family income is the factor that has the most
influence on children’s test scores. The education level of the
parents also has a big influence, but that and the income level
usually go together," he explained.
He
also said the district is starting a new science curriculum in the
elementary grades and is in the second year of using new science
materials at the junior high. "I would estimate that it will
take a couple of years to see significant improvement in our results
in science. The social science is something that we are going to
have to review."
Superintendent
Kidd noted that the standards are higher for the new ISAT than for
the IGAP tests students used to take. Rebecca Cecil, principal at
Washington-Monroe, agreed.
(To
be continued)
![](../images/ads/prairie_years/prairie.jpg)
[Joan
Crabb]
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Click
here for detailed charts of ISAT scores for Logan County by grade
level
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Anti-violence
skits presented at schools
[OCT.
30, 2000]
Every
family has arguments, but these arguments do not have to end in
violence. That is AmeriCorps’ theme in "Hands are Not for
Hitting, Words are Not for Hurting." Elkhart Grade School
students saw the presentation Thursday morning. Mount Pulaski Grade
School students and Central School students saw the presentation
Thursday afternoon. Lincoln Daily News visited Elkhart Grade
School to see the presentation.
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The
skits are presented by Logan County AmeriCorps members and Sojourn.
These two anti-violence groups also pass out posters and cutout
hands to remind students not to resort to violence. The presentation
offers a violent and non-violent way to solve the same problems. The
narrator highlights the different methods used by the actors, and in
between the skits, asks students for more suggestions of non-violent
solutions.
![](../images/103000pics/americorps2.jpg)
The
first set of skits involves a family at dinnertime. The son does not
like the menu, and dad is late coming home. Family number one refers
to everything as stupid: food, each other and dad’s tardiness.
When dad does arrive home, he complains that the food is cold, and
mom complains that dad is drunk. This quickly escalates into harsher
words, punching and kicking. Family number two handles the same
problems differently. Mom accepts that the son does not like peas,
but needs to eat them anyway because they are healthy. Dad arrives
late, and mom is upset. He apologizes to the whole family and admits
that he should have called, "because 30 minutes is a long
time to worry." At this point, the narrator reminds the
audience that all families have arguments, but that does not mean
the arguments must end in violence.
![](../images/ads/maple/maple092500.jpg)
The
second set of skits centers around TV-time. The sister wants to
watch her television show, and the brother wants to play video
games. The individuals in family number one again refer to
everything that they do not like as stupid. The skit ends as mom
yells, "You’re both stupid. Get out of here before I smack
both of you." When the sister and brother from family number
two begin to argue, mom reminds both of them that they must do their
homework, so no one has time for television or video games.
[to
top of second column in this article]
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The
final skit took place at school the next day. Brother number two
heads toward the lunch line, but brother number one cuts in front of
him. Brother number two is very upset, but it is brother number one
who aggravates the situation with name calling and pushing. Both
boys are sent to the office. The narrator asks the audience who
might have helped these two boys solve this argument.
![](../images/103000pics/americorps3.jpg)
Then
the actors remind the students of some of the things that hands should
be used for: shaking, hugging, waving, tying one’s shoes, making
things, and scratching one’s head. Before dismissing the students,
the group asks the students to pledge, "I won’t hit anybody
for one whole month." The idea is that if one can develop an
anti-violent habit in a month, the habit will last a lot longer. The
students were then dismissed to work on an anti-violence project in
their own classrooms.
For
more information on AmeriCorps and violence prevention, call their
local office at 735-4985, or visit AmeriCorps’ national website www.americorps.org
or state website www.nationalservice.org/stateprofiles/il_intro.html.
[Jean
Ann Carnley]
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A
day of living history
Area veterans teach students what it
means to be a free American
[OCT.
28, 2000]
Stories
were swapped and even a few tears were shed Friday as area veterans
spent the day educating West Lincoln-Broadwell students about what
it means to be a veteran.
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Regular
classes were suspended for the day as students participated in the
eighth annual "Veterans for a Change" day. Today’s
presentations at West Lincoln-Broadwell School marked the final
event in a month-long acknowledgement of U.S. veterans.
![](../images/102800pics/vet_1.jpg)
[Chris Cliburn shows students how World War II soldiers would
have fixed their guns.]
Area
veterans of World War II, the Korean War and the Vietnam War who
participated in today’s Veterans for a Change event included Kenny
Davison, Denny Eveland, Kenneth Kasebier, C. Wayne Schrader, Rich
Luttrell, Hal Fritz, Thomas Proctor, Arnie Haak, Glenn Kniss and
Larry Spialek.
![](../images/ads/kids%20first/Kids1st.gif)
"The
Veterans for a Change program has brought a lot of important people
here to visit throughout the years," said Gordon Lanning,
junior high social studies teacher and organizer of the event.
"We do this for the kids so that they can appreciate the
sacrifices veterans have made."
Students
brought in pocket change throughout the past month to be given to
various veterans organizations. Also, the students completed a
multitude of special projects that now adorn the school’s halls.
Mrs. Phillis Read, junior high language arts teacher, assigned her
students to write a diary as if they were soldiers. "These
projects are helping the students learn and appreciate the living
history of these folks," said Read.
![](../images/102800pics/vet_2.jpg)
[Many veterans shared poems, stories and thoughts
about what freedom and the American flag mean to them.]
That
certainly was the case for Shawn Pettit, a 1997 graduate of West
Lincoln-Broadwell School, who came back today dressed in fatigues as
a member of the Illinois National Guard. The Lincoln Community High
School senior became interested in military service while talking
with veterans at one of the first "Veterans for a Change"
days. "The first few years I was mostly interested in the
weapons and medals they displayed. In about fifth grade I began to
understand what the veterans did for me," said Pettit. This
summer Pettit will attend a 15-week boot camp. Thereafter he will
commit one weekend every month and two weeks out of the year to
National Guard in exchange for full college tuition. He will study
criminal psychology in hopes of one day joining the FBI.
![](../images/ads/iga/iga.gif)
Students
rotated around 10 "camps" listening to messages from local
veterans.
Korean
War veteran Wayne Schrader of Lincoln reminded students about the
importance of the American flag and how it should be displayed. He
also explained how it is folded to present to the family of a
soldier who has died. He encouraged the kids to say "thank
you" to anyone they meet who was in the service.
![](../images/102800pics/vet_3.jpg)
[Glenn Kniss of Springfield recounted stories of
his time as a German POW.]
[to
top of second column in this article]
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Glenn
Kniss of Springfield had been a prisoner of war near Neubrandenberg,
Germany. He explained that cigarettes were a measure of wealth even
for those who didn’t smoke. The prisoners had very small rations
of food, but the cigarettes could be used to trade for fresh bread
and meats. In exchange for having his picture taken when he entered
the POW camp, Kniss even gave cigarettes to a German guard. "We
(the prisoners) taught each other how to best cooperate with the
Germans to stay alive," recalled Kniss with a tear in his eye.
"I don’t know how we would have survived without the Lord’s
Prayer and ‘God Bless America.’"
![](../images/102800pics/vet_4.jpg)
[1997 West Lincoln-Broadwell graduate Shawn Pettit
poses with students. Pettit, who is a senior at LCHS. has recently
enlisted in the Illinois National Guard.]
Thomas
Proctor of Springfield reminded the students that despite all the
high-tech planes and weapons in war, "The cheapest defense you
have in war is prayer." The 83-year-old veteran was lucky not
to be one of the 125 Illinoisians killed on Dec. 7, 1941, at Pearl
Harbor. A Japanese plane came within a few feet of Proctor on that
fateful day. On another occasion, Proctor came face to face with an
enemy soldier but was not shot. He said, "I think he must have
been out of ammunition, or else I would have been dead."
Proctor
was adamant when he said, "This is gruesome, but I’m not
going to cover anything up. I want you young people to know what war
is like." He went on to vividly tell several stories about his
experiences in Guadalcanal and Bougainville in the Soloman Islands.
![](../images/ads/Edward_Jones/JimSparrows.gif)
He
also reminded the students not to stare at veterans who have been
disfigured by war injuries. "Always remember that nothing is
free. It’s got to come from your back, your brain and your
heart."
Rich
Luttrell of Rochester worked as a tunnel rat during his yearlong
Vietnam tour in 1967-68. This is the third year that he has
participated in the Veterans for a Change program at West Lincoln-Broadwell
and he knows to be on his toes when students ask questions.
"The last thing you want to do is traumatize them,"
Luttrell said of some of his difficult memories from Vietnam.
![](../images/102800pics/vet_6.jpg)
[Seventh graders Danny Palmer and Amy Behle try their
hand at properly folding the American flag under the watchful eye of
Korean War veteran Wayne Schrader.]
Although
not a veteran himself, Chris Cliburn of Springfield led students in
an interesting discussion of his collection of World War II
uniforms, weapons and accessories displayed on the school lawn.
Cliburn also participates in Civil War and 1830s re-enactments and
has traveled to Europe for World War II re-enactments. He speaks to
school students about six times a year. "It’s important that
students have an awareness of history, because much of this stuff
doesn’t make it into history books anymore," he said.
[Marty
Ahrends]
|
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Announcements
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School menus
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Carroll
Catholic School
Lunch
menu
October 2000
Monday |
Tuesday |
Wednesday |
Thursday |
Friday |
2
Nacho supreme Corn
Bread and butter
Pears
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3
Bologna sandwich
Cheese slice
Potato chips
Peas Applesauce
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4
Cheeseburger Macaroni Green
beans Bread and
butter Pineapple
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5
Lil Smokies in barbecue sauce Baked beans Bread and
butter Fruit cocktail Apple slices
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6
Veggie soup Crackers
Peanut butter sandwich Pickle
sticks Peaches
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9
Columbus Day
No school
|
10
Hamburger on
bun
French fries
Peas
Fruit cocktail
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11
Corn dog
Pretzels
Carrots
Pears
|
12
Sausage gravy and biscuit
Hash browns
Peaches Apple slices
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13
Meatless spaghetti Green beans
Garlic bread
Applesauce
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16
Ham slice
Au gratin potatoes
Carrots Bread and butter
Pineapple
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17
Chicken and noodles
Green beans Bread and butter Applesauce
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18
Beef stew Lettuce salad
Cornbread Peaches
|
19
Mr. Rib Cheese sticks
Carrots Fruit
cocktail
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20
Skroodles and
cheese Peanut
butter sandwich
Peas
Pears
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23
Lasagna helper
Corn
Bread and butter Applesauce
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24
Cream chicken on biscuit
Carrots
Pineapple
Pudding
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25
Chili with crackers
Peanut butter
sandwich Shredded cheese Fruit cocktail
|
26
Ham sandwich Potato chips Green
beans Peaches
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27
Potato soup with crackers
Lettuce salad Cheese sticks
Pears
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30
Barbecue chicken
Cottage cheese
Carrots Bread and butter
Pineapple
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31
Halloween
Witches' broomsticks Baked
eyes Ghost goo Cake
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Lincoln
Elementary Schools
Breakfast menu
October/ November 2000
Monday |
Tuesday |
Wednesday |
Thursday |
Friday |
23
Cereal
Cinnamon toast
Juice
Milk
|
24
Silver dollar pancakes
Sausage
Fruit
Milk
|
25
Cereal
Toast with jelly
Juice
Milk
|
26
Breakfast pizza Orange wedges
Milk
|
27
Teacher Institute
No school
|
30
Cereal
Pop Tart
Juice
Milk
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31
French toast sticks with syrup
Fruit
Milk
|
1
Cereal Peanut
butter and jelly sandwich
Juice
Milk
|
2
Trix yogurt Rice Krispie treat
Banana
Milk
|
3
Parent/ Teacher Conferences
No school
|
6
Cereal
Toast with jelly
Juice
Milk
|
7
Oatmeal Toast
Fruit
Milk
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8
Cereal
Cinnamon toast
Juice
Milk
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9
Iced pastry Fruit
Milk
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10
Cereal Peanut
butter and jelly sandwich
Juice
Milk
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Lincoln
Elementary Schools
Lunch menu
October/November 2000
Monday
|
Tuesday
|
Wednesday
|
Thursday
|
Friday
|
23
Hot dog on bun Hash brown Carrot sticks
Fruit cocktail
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24
Salisbury steak Mashed potatoes Bread and butter
Broccoli and cauliflower with cheese
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25
Tacos with lettuce and cheese
Peas
Tortilla chips with
salsa Peaches
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26
Chicken and noodles Green
beans Peanut butter sandwich
Apple crisp
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27
Teacher Institute
No school
|
30
Chicken strips with sauce Mashed potatoes
Bread and butter Strawberry applesauce
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31
Hamburger on bun with cheese French fries
Rice Krispie treat Peaches
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1
Pepperoni pizza
Corn
Carrot sticks Pears
|
2
Chili with crackers Peanut butter
sandwich Dill
spear Whipped dessert
|
3
Parent/teacher Conferences
No school
|
6
Smokies in barbecue
Mashed
potatoes Bread and
butter Green beans
|
7
Max cheese sticks with sauce
Corn
Carrot stick Pears
|
8
Chicken and biscuit
Peas
Celery sticks Applesauce
|
9
Sloppy Joes Coleslaw
Pretzels French fries
|
10
French toast sticks with syrup
Hash browns Sausage patty Peaches
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Milk
served with all meals
Web
surfers!
www.familyfoodzone.com
is a family site with
a tip of the day, an art contest and recipes for kids
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West
Lincoln-Broadwell Elementary School
Lunch menu
October 2000
Monday
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Tuesday
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Wednesday
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Thursday
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Friday
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2
Hot ham and cheese on bun French fries Baked
beans Applesauce
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3
Tenderloin Potatoes and
gravy
Peas
Bread and butter Fresh fruit
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4
Soft tacos
Salsa
Lettuce Chips with
cheese
sauce
Corn
Jell-O
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5
Turkey tenders Mexican potatoes Green beans Bread and butter
Blueberry crisp
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6
Cheeseburger on
bun
French
fries
Raw veggies Pears
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9
Columbus Day
No school
|
10
Ham horseshoe French fries Veggie
sticks Pineapple
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11
Chicken nuggets Cheesy potatoes Lettuce salad
Berry applesauce
|
12
Cream chicken on biscuit
Potatoes
Peas
Jell-O
|
13
Meat and cheese
pizza
Potato coins Green
beans M&M bar cookie
|
16
Cheeseburger on
bun
French fries
Corn
Peach cup
|
17
Chicken filet on
bun Potatoes
and gravy Broccoli
cheese
bake
Apple slices
|
18
Tenderloin on bun French fries Baked beans Jell-O
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19
Breadsticks with meat sauce
Salad
Green beans Mixed fruit
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20
Chicken noodle soup
Crackers Combo sandwich Veggie sticks
Fruit ice
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23
Chicken enchilada Sour
cream Green beans Lettuce
Applesauce
|
24
Cream turkey on biscuit
Potatoes
Peas
Jell-O
|
25
Turkey tenders French fries Cheesy
vegetables Cherries and cream
|
26
Cheese pizza Potato coins
Corn Oranges
|
27
Corn dog Chips with cheese
sauce
Raw veggies Fruit cup
|
30
Chili
Crackers
Cheese toasty Raw veggies
Fruit ice
|
31
Breadsticks with meat sauce Green beans
Salad
Fresh fruit
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