NT_031518

30 | March 15, 2018 | The Northbrook tower School
northbrooktower.com
Noted author shares advice with Northbrook students
Submitted by District 28
Roland Smith has traveled
to more countries than
he can count and written
more young adult books
than he can name.
During Smith’s visit
Thursday, March 8 to
Northbrook Junior High,
he did offer one number
for students to consider:
four. As in, there are four
steps to writing a book:
research, planning, writing
and revision.
Smith’s recent book on
the underground world of
New York City, “Beneath,”
is one of the most popular
books of the year among
students. After students
interviewed Smith through
social media, the school
arranged for his visit.
Smith visited for an
all-school assembly and
Smith addressed sixth-grade language arts classes
following an all-school assembly.
smaller group discussions
with sixth-grade language
arts classes. He explained
all books follow a similar
process: Research takes
twice as long as writing;
before you start writing,
plan out your story; start
writing a “sloppy copy”
rough draft; and, finally,
revise, revise, revise.
“The secret to writing is
revision,” he said. “Don’t
whine when your work
Author Roland Smith addresses Northbrook Junior High students during a visit on
Thursday, March 8, at NBJH. Photos Submitted
gets marked up (by editors
or teachers)” because they
make your work better.
For 20 years, Smith
was a biologist working
with endangered species
and building zoos before
becoming a full-time
writer. Smith visits up to
100 schools a year, and
whether he’s traveling to
schools or researching
his next book, he always
carries a notebook and
writes every day.
“I like how he said anybody
can be a writer, you
just have to work at it,”
said sixth-grader Anna
Guest after a workshop in
the library.
NBJH eighth-grader to compete in state Geobee
Submitted by Northbrook
School District 28
Tyler Karle has always
liked maps, which is a good
thing because he plans to
spend a couple hours every
day studying and memorizing
various maps until early April.
In just over a month’s time,
the eighth-grade Northbrook
Junior High student will travel
to Illinois State University
on April 6 to compete in the
Illinois State Geobee.
He knows he’s already
pretty good. Karle qualified
for state after besting
18 competitors in about 30
questions at the school-wide
Geobee and taking an online
challenge where he answered
70 questions in 60 minutes.
National Geographic sponsors
the school, state and national
events and provides all
the questions. The competition
is open to fourth- through
Eighth-grade student Tyler Karle will compete in the Illinois
State Geobee on April 6 after he qualified by winning the
school contest and an online challenge. Photo Submitted
eighth-grade students across
the country.
Karle worked with social
studies teacher Jason Piechowiak
to prep for the online test
and will continue working
with him up until state.
“It’s such a broad topic,
there’s a lot to learn,” Karle
said.
Paper maps, books by National
Geographic and videos
of past Geobees are his study
tools for success.
Karle said he has been interested
in geography since
his parents bought him map
games when he was little.
“I’m pretty good at memorizing
facts, especially when
it’s interesting to me,” he
said.
School News
Northbrook School District 28
Board to Approve Strategic Plan
The Ditsrict 28 Board of Education
is scheduled to approve a strategic
plan at its regular meeting March 20.
The Navigate 28 Strategic Planning
Committee proposed a new plan that
includes a new and refreshed mission,
vision, values, goals and strategies to
help guide the District for the next
five years.
The committee, made up of 30
members representing staff, parents,
community members, administration
and high school students, met five
times since September to formulate
the blueprint for continuous improvement.
In addition, surveys and public
forums gathered nearly 2,000 comments
and feedback along the way
that influenced the plan.
The plan was introduced at the
Board’s February 27 meeting and is
expected to be adopted at the March
20 meeting. After the plan is adopted,
the administration will create action
plans to accomplish the goals and
strategies, said Superintendent Larry
Hewitt, Ed.D. Monitoring the progress
of the goals will also be an integral
part of adopting the plan.
Colgate University
Student named to the dean’s list
Glenbrook North Graduate Rachel
Levy, of Northbrook, earned the
dean’s award for academic excellence
at Colgate University
Levy, a member of the Colgate
University Class of 2019, has earned
the dean’s award for Academic Excellence.
Levy’s current major is
neuroscience.
Students who receive a term grade
point average of 3.3 or higher while
completing at least three courses earn
the fall 2017 Dean’s Award for Academic
Excellence.
Colgate University is a highly selective
residential liberal arts institution
distinguished by its commitment
to global engagement, student-faculty
research, off-campus study, sustainable
practices, and utilizing technology
to enhance the teaching and learning
experience.
School News is compiled by Editor Martin
Carlino, martin@northbrooktower.
com