Glenwood Middle School - Ball Chatham CUSD #5

On the CoverThe eighth grade students at GlenwoodMiddle School had a chance toexperience the real world on April 5th,through participation in the “Welcometo the Real World!” program, providedby the Sangamon-Menard ExtensionOffice. Read more at the right!“One man practicingsportsmanship is farbetter than a hundredteaching it.”—Knute RockneGMS Library NewsThis year, 7th and 8th grade GMS studentsparticipated in the state-wideRebecca Caudill Young Readers’ BookAward Program. This award focuseson outstanding literature for studentsfrom 4th to 8th grades. Students werechallenged to read books from a list oftwenty recommended by the RebeccaCaudill Young Reader’s Book AwardSteering Committee. Once studentsread three books, they were allowedto vote for their favorite. Voting for thisyear was held during the month of February.Here at GMS, students selectedRaina Telegmeier’s book Smile andGlenwood Middle School8th Grade “Life AfterGMS” Event Held in AprilOn Friday, April 5th, GlenwoodMiddle School (GMS) providedan opportunity for eighth grade studentsto look toward to their futures asstudents at Glenwood High School asthey heard from high school studentsIsaac Albrecht, Ryan Connor, Tyler Jones,Sophie Lunzer, Christina Thomas andRachel Woerner with support fromPam Barris (GHS Staff) Presentationsthat focused on post-secondary educationwere made by Nada Broderick,Glenwood High School, Chad Burtonfrom Benedictine University, and CaitlinMcLaughlin from Illinois Student AssistanceCommission.The eighth grade students also had achance to experience the “real world”through participation in the Welcometo the Real World! program, provided bythe Sangamon-Menard Extension Office.The program is an active, hands-onactivity which gives young people theopportunity to explore career opportunitiesand make lifestyle and budgetchoices similar to those adults face on adaily basis. In this simulation of the realSharon Draper’s Out of My mind as theirfavorites from the list. Overall, 27,311Illinois school students voted. Statewide,Telegmeier’s book was chosenfirst with 5,324 votes.School librarian, Noel Clevenger,promoted this book list and voting challengeto all language arts classes and receiveda great response. Sixty studentsread at least three titles so they couldvote. Clevenger’s additional challengewas to get the majority of the studentsin their language arts classes to read atleast one of the books on the list. Theresponse was amazing. Some studentsworld, participants are to assume theyhave completed basic educationalrequirements for their chosen careerand are single, 25 years of age, livingon their own with no financial supportfrom family or others. Participantschoose an occupation, for which theyreceive a monthly salary. They thenproceed through the Real World activity,deducting taxes, determining asavings amount, and spending their“salary” on the necessary and luxuryitems that reflect the career and lifestylethey have chosen. The engagingsimulation let our students learn aboutmoney management and career choicesand support the Illinois State Goals forLearning in language arts, mathematicsand social sciences.The organizers of GMS’ 8th Grade CareerDay appreciate the support provided byGMS staff, GMS PTO, GHS, Marine Bank,and the Sangamon-Menard ExtensionOffice. The financial support providedby Marine Bank and the ElementaryCareer Grant was much appreciated andmade this day possible.read just one title and others read all 20.Classes that had over 50 percent participationearned an ice cream party. Sofar, nine parties have been held. Eachtime a student read one of these titles,library staff hung a star on the wall withtheir name and picture of the book. Ihave 385 stars hanging in the library. Asthe year winds down, students continueto read books from their list. Close tothe end of the school year, Clevengerplan to put all of the stars in a drawingand give away posters from the bookfair. Due to the success of this program,she plans to promote it again next year.