Nettelhorst Community Group April 2008

ProposalThe to NettelhorstBaxter International, School Inc. NettelhorstFive-Year Science Vision Vision – Summary Laboratories aboratories

“Nettelhorst is a shining example of what a school with a strong vision for the future can accomplish.” Alderman Tom Tunney

“Mayor Daley should be proud…” Kate Grossman Sun Times educational reporter, in reference to Nettelhorst

“We were impressed the moment we walked into the school…” Steven Anixter Anixter Foundation

Nettelhorst Community Group

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Executive Summary ...... 1 Science ...... 2 Science Objectives ...... 3 Arts ...... 4 Auditorium Objectives ...... 5 Music Objectives ...... 5 Performance Objectives ...... 5 Arts Objectives ...... 5 Health and Wellness ...... 6 Physical Education Objectives ...... 7 Health Education Objectives ...... 7 Organic Food Objectives ...... 7 Community Kitchen Objectives ...... 7 Reading and Language Arts ...... 8 Reading Objectives ...... 9 Handwriting Objective ...... 9 Computer Integration Objectives ...... 9 Foreign Language Objective ...... 9 Math ...... 10 Math Objectives ...... 11 Social Sciences ...... 12 Social Science Objectives ...... 13 Special Education and ELL Students ...... 14 Special Education and ELL Students Objectives ...... 15

Appendices Appendix I: The Nettelhorst School Quick Facts ...... 16 Appendix II: Press Quotes ...... 19

Nettelhorst Community Group 1

Executive Summary Nettelhorst has established itself as a success story in the public education system, pioneering and rolling out programs for students and community alike. To sustain and supercharge this momentum, the school has established long-term visions and goals for each and every discipline, and will create partnerships with organizations that share in the promise and power of these visions and their positive impact on both children and adults.

While this brief document includes examples of specific programs and tactics, it is our hope that the visions themselves will inspire conversation, collaboration and commitment as we work together to create new and better models for education in the new millennium.

“If all my schools were like Nettelhorst, I'd have fewer gray hairs. Nettelhorst has hit a home run.”

Arne Duncan, CEO Public Schools

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Science Vision: Inspire students to become stewards of the earth by becoming scientists in the classroom, through inquiry and application of scientific concepts and methods.

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Science Objectives

Build a new K - 3rd grade lab with age and size-appropriate equipment and furniture.

Bring current 4th - 8th grade lab up to standard and supply with new furniture, table space, and equipment.

Incorporate “green” initiatives and literature into the school curriculum, including: - Installing solar panels and driving use of alternative energy. - Installing green roof to reduce energy usage and costs.

Incorporate computers into science through the use of computer software, probes, and graphing capabilities.

Offer Mad Science after-school activity to multiple skill levels.

Create team-based competitions (e.g., robotics, Lego).

Create a family science night that would increase interest in science and provide information for families.

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Arts Vision: Inspire students to appreciate all art forms with performance participation, exposure to all art media, and learning fine arts in all subject areas.

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Auditorium Objectives

Replace existing outdated and damaged seats and flooring; create mixed-use space.

Improve acoustics and purchase sound system.

Install additional seating and lighting.

Music Objectives

Purchase band instruments and hire a director.

Establish a choir program and hire a director.

Performance Objectives

Enhance dance program with additional forms.

Produce several plays a year, including set production.

Arts Objectives

Incorporate computers into the arts, including: - Videography - Digital Photography - Image Manipulation

Offer more arts-based after school activities. Provide additional funding for family programs during after-school hours.

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Health and Wellness Vision: Inspire students to understand the impact of life-style choices on their bodies and make wise decisions that will lead to their social, emotional, and physical well-being.

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Physical Education Objectives

Purchase basic team equipment.

Build and equip fitness room.

Purchase physical fitness analysis for all students.

Offer more opportunities for students to participate in after-school sports.

Health Education Objectives

Partner with specialists for age-appropriate education, including: health, relationships, sexual education.

Offer nutritional-based programs that include cooking and nutrition to establish healthy eating patterns.

Develop family programs for healthy eating.

Organic Food Objectives

Initiate organic gardening project on school property.

Purchase organic food curriculum.

Introduce more nutritious options for school lunch.

Involve student council in the process of researching various food service programs for nutritional content.

Community Kitchen Objectives

Purchase new appliances, cabinets, and other necessities.

Install new HVAC system.

Upgrade plumbing.

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Reading and Language Arts Vision: Inspire students to develop a lifelong love of and advocacy for reading and be able to comprehend, interpret, and analyze a variety of literature.

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Reading Objectives

Develop a supply of fiction and non-fiction reading books for all levels in K – 3rd grades to promote integrated reading.

Replenish supply of age-appropriate novels, trade books, and other literature for lower and upper grades.

Continue to offer opportunities to appreciate literature through provider programs.

Develop a family reading night which would include providing materials for families to foster reading.

Handwriting Objective

Offer handwriting course across lower grades.

Computer Integration Objectives

Develop and upgrade computers in library and computer lab for: - Research - School Newspaper - Web Development - Informational Literacy

Foreign Language Objective

Offer foreign language programming before and/or after school for multiple languages and levels.

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Math Vision: Inspire students to understand the daily and greater value of math concepts and application.

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Math Objectives

Provide new Trailblazer Program for K – 5th grades.

Provide new Math Thematics Program for 6th – 8th grades.

Introduce algebra for advanced math students as well as acquire necessary specialized training and textbooks.

Utilize technology such as excel spreadsheets, graphing components, and software to enhance math instruction.

Create competitive math team.

Develop a program to bring professionals that use math in their occupations to guide students in solving real world math problems.

Develop a family math night which would include providing materials for families that will foster home math activities.

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Social Sciences Vision: Inspire students to understand the world at large, past and present, and their role as active citizens in their community and the world.

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Social Science Objectives

Acquire new flat maps, globes, terrain maps, and other manipulatives to aid in the educational process.

Partner with local companies to bring experts to classrooms and give students real-life perspective.

Provide non-fiction and fiction materials to promote integration between language arts and social science. Include primary source and secondary source materials for students to analyze.

Utilize technology in research-related projects, including databases, presentations, and reports.

Incorporate tutor program with professional tutors and student tutors.

Fund Student Council activities to include civic-related projects such as clean up campaigns, and introduce students to local government.

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Special Education and ELL Students Vision: Provide opportunities to include students in the regular education setting, and participate in programming with the least restrictive environment.

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Special Education and ELL Students Objectives

Acquire new manipulatives and literature for the classrooms.

Acquire additional staff to support the existing teachers.

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Appendix I: The Nettelhorst School Quick Facts

The Nettelhorst School 3252 N. Broadway Chicago, IL 60657 773.534.5810 www.nettelhorst.org

Principal: Cindy Wulbert Joined Nettelhorst this year with 20 years of combined teaching and principal experience. Graduate of Bill Gate’s funded New Leaders for New Schools Program type: Pre-K through Eighth grade School hours: 8:50am -3:00pm Dress code: Uniforms, navy blue and white Preschool: Tuition-based preschool program; Preschool for All Class size: Average 27 students per class Open House: Every Tuesday: Story Time with Unabridged Bookstore at 9 am, followed by tour at 9:45 am Facilities: Science lab, dance room, three art studios, auditorium, two new playgrounds, state of the art gymnasium, access to LPAC’s swimming pool and climbing wall

School Description The Nettelhorst School is a CPS International, Fine and Performing Arts Magnet Cluster School and one of the inaugural six Community Schools in Chicago. In just six years, Nettelhorst has become a vibrant, academically successful neighborhood school with broad-based community support. The Nettelhorst renaissance has been celebrated in the New York Times, the , the Sun Times, Chicago Magazine, Chicago Parent, 60 Minutes, NPR, CNN, PBS and CBS.

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Diversity The school serves a racially and economically diverse student body from preschool through eighth grade: 40% White; 25% African-American; 23% Hispanic; 8% Asian; 3% Multiracial; 1% Native American. At our annual international festival, one can hear students and staff members converse in over 22 different languages. 21% of Nettelhorst students have special needs.

Entrance Requirements Entrance requirements: CPS Neighborhood entrance requirements.  Tuition-based PreK (TBPK): Age 3 or 4 by Sept 1, ongoing admissions at principal's discretion.  Preschool for All (PFA): Age 3 or 4 by Sept 1, selected through a screening process.  Kindergarten: Age 5 by Sept 1.

Curriculum Nettelhorst is an international fine and performing arts school that is committed to the highest academic standards and integrating the arts across all disciplines.

Our science curriculum and labs were a particular area of focus in 2007. While fewer than 3% of CPS schools raised over $50,000 in any of the last three years, the NCG (Nettelhorst Community Group) raised over $120,000 in individual and foundation funds solely to support the science effort. The initial phase of the project includes rolling out a K-8 hands-on science program in 2009 to augment our current curriculum.

Under the Chicago Reading Initiative, children spend at least two hours a day engaged in interactive reading and writing activities, including Junior Great Books Read Aloud, daily journaling and phonemics, and Accelerated Reader programs.

Nettelhorst utilizes the Trailblazers Math Program for lower grades, and Math Thematics for the upper grades. Teachers integrate science throughout the curriculum through thematic units culminating in science fair competitions.

Technology Nettelhorst is fully networked with wireless internet accessibility, at least three computers in every classroom, and a computer lab with over 30 computers. The library media center is fully automated with Online Public Access Catalog (OPAC) that provides resources to teachers, students and parents. Nettelhorst’s library/media specialist holds a Masters Degree in her field.

Fine and Performing Arts Nettelhorst has a community trust grant that integrates fine and performing arts throughout the curriculum. Students receive discipline-based instruction in at least three of the four art

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Community School Enrichment Jane’s Place at Nettelhorst is a nationally recognized community school partnership between the Hull House Association, The Nettelhorst School and many of Chicago’s finest community-based arts, cultural, recreational and educational organizations all conveniently assembled under one roof. Extensive programming includes Chess Wizards, Mad Science, H.M.D. Tae Kwon Do, Hoops the Gym, Fairytale Ballet, Lill Street Art Center, Sister Arts, Emerald City Theater, just to name a few.

Before and After School Care Nettelhorst offers Happy Start (before-school paid childcare) which is available everyday from 7:30-8:50am through Jane’s Place at Nettelhorst.

JCC Kids’ Klub at Nettelhorst is a perfect complement to Jane’s Place at Nettelhorst. Children may come to Kids’ Klub before and/or after their “special” classes at Jane’s Place. Children may do creative art projects, play games or just get a head start on their homework.

Nutrition and Exercise Nettelhorst is the only CPS elementary school to be part of the Healthy Choice Pilot School. During an extended lunch period, Nettelhorst students enjoy a salad bar in an inviting lunchroom that plays jazz and classical music. In addition to daily outdoor recess, our full-time gym teacher supervises physical education in a brand new, fully air-conditioned state-of-the-art gymnasium, equipped with ropes, rings, climbing wall, scoreboard, spring-floor, and basketball court.

Parental Support In 1996, parents and community leaders established the 501(c)(3) Nettelhorst Community Group (NCG) dedicated to supporting all areas of the Nettelhorst school community. Please visit: www.nettelhorst.org/dreams.

Community Support Six months out of the year, Nettelhorst hosts the weekly French Farmer’s Market. The Lakeview East Chamber of Commerce holds all neighborhood events in the play-lot, including the annual Halloween Hoopla, Egg Hunt, and Fine Arts Festival. The school is the mile-eight water station for the Chicago Marathon. In the last five years, neighborhood merchants and artisans have donated over a half a million dollars in goods and services to improving their neighborhood school.

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Appendix II: Press Quotes

“A Chicago public school has gone from one of the worst to one of the best…”

“The Nettelhorst School is a vibrant and dynamic school, but just a few years ago, it was far from being a school of choice… in four years, test scores have more than doubled…”

“Over the last year… local parents have overseen a remarkable transformation at Nettelhorst…”

October 2003

“…the 110 year-old school is in the midst of a renaissance…”

March, 2003

“The {Nettelhorst} Parent Co-op is an excellent example of what concerned neighbors can do when they put their heads together and serves as a model other needy schools should emulate…”

…”this 110 year-old public school – largely forsaken by residents of its white, middle-class area north of downtown – is experiencing a rebirth…

“It’s a success to make Mayor Daley proud…”

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“Alderman Tom Tunney, State rep. , and US Senator Dick Durbin watch as {students} get a fresh lunch from the salad bar at Nettelhorst School. Officials toured the salad bar as part of a push… to expand such programs into other schools.”

“If we don’t do the kinds of things that we’re seeing at Nettelhorst, we will be faced with an entire generation of children who will not be productive adults”, said Dr. Terry Mason, the city’s Health Commissioner…”

“I’ve seen such a resurgence of energy in the school”

State Representative Sara Feigenholtz

“The salad bar at Chicago's Nettelhorst Elementary School… is one way the school is promoting healthier choices for students. It also teaches nutrition, has an after-school cooking program, has reinstituted recess, and has dance and physical education classes - the sorts of programs needed at far more schools, children's health advocates say, given the rise in childhood obesity.”

http://www.futureofchildren.org/newsletter2861/newsletter_show.htm?doc_id=371349

Nettelhorst Five-Year Vision Summary • April 2008 • File: NettelhorstFiveYearVision042108.doc • Nettelhorst Community Group