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4 | May 16, 2019 | the lockport legend news lockportlegend.com Homer 33C district leaders elaborate on curriculum, facility updates Thomas Czaja Contributing Editor Seventh- and eighthgraders bringing home Chromebooks, two new math programs being implemented and a number of facility and security updates taking place, a large chunk of them happening this summer, are main highlights as the school year winds to an end and preparations begin for 2019-2020 at Homer Community Consolidated School District 33C. Homer 33C district leaders, including Superintendent Craig Schoppe, Assistant Superintendent for Instruction Michael Szopinski, Assistant Superintendent for Business Aleksas Kirkus and Assistant Superintendent for Human Resources Michael Portwood, recently sat down with The Lockport Legend to share the latest on all these areas. Taking Chromebooks home Szopinski shared the School Board decided to move ahead with the decision that all seventh- and eighth-grade student will have the opportunity to LOCKPORT MOOSE Available for rent! Pavilion • Water •Electric Grilling •Picnic tables Newly remodeled! Seats 200 Guests • State of the Art Kitchen Catering Available Live Music Every Friday Night! Call Us! Let us Explain all the benefits of being a Moose member today! 118 E 10th Street Lockport, IL Call Us (815) 838-3944 bring Chromebooks home starting next school year. He said that aligns with the district’s vision of students being able to learn anywhere at any time. “We are making sure all children have the tools and the access to learning, wherever they are,” Szopinski said. “It something we are very proud of, moving forward in that direction.” He added it goes along with the notion of a flipped classroom, where children can go home and watch videos of direct instruction or the teacher explaining particular mathematical skills, for example. As a result, he said students can then come to class to focus mainly on a teacher giving more individualized attention versus spending more time with direct instruction in class. While Szopinski noted they are not necessarily advocating for that notion, he said some teachers feel it is a good instructional model that allows for more opportunities for teachers to try different learning techniques. Students will be able to access the Chromebooks at any time for what they need for school. Two new math programs In addition, Szopinski noted the School Board approved last month the implementation of the Eureka Math program for kindergarten through fifth grade and the Carnegie Learning math curriculum for sixth through eighth grade, both beginning next school year. The district feels the programs are good complements for one another that will be effective in teaching students going forward. With Eureka, a typical lesson will consist of 10 minutes of math fluency, with the teacher then going into concept development. “There will be a lot of opportunities for kids to take a math problem and have discussions on how to solve it, so a lot of analytical thinking and problem solving,” Szopinski said. Meanwhile for the upper grades, Szopinski said Carnegie’s math program was designed around “mathematical habits of mind,” with an emphasis on children dialoguing and problem solving for different mathematical problems. “[Carnegie] is a strong focus on active learning of mathematics,” Szopinski said. Szopinski said the program uses what is called an intentional blend of group and individual learning. There is a computer component called MATHia, math learning software that helps work on individual learning levels that if a student gets an incorrect answer for a problem, it does not just tell the answer, but prompts the user and maybe gives a small clue. “[Students] are continuing to be engaged in the learning process to try to work through it,” Szopinski said. “It’s a really nice blend, I would say, of student group work application that also has that technology piece where kids are able to work at their own mathematical levels.” Facility, security updates Kirkus spoke on the district being recognized for its financial prudence, saying Homer 33C tries to be as fiscally responsible as possible to maintain that status going forward. That said, the district is looking to work on a number of capital projects both this summer and next. In fall 2017, specific needs were identified in Homer 33C’s seven facilities through an intergovernmental security assessment, and another districtwide assessment was done last year. It was likewise announced last October that Homer 33C was the recipient of a $500,000 Community Oriented Policing Services grant to increase safety and security in the district. Total school improvements were budgeted as costing $1.3 million, with a goal to have them done in the next two years, per Kirkus. Already underway, the cost for the renovations for the district is considerably less, thanks to the grant. “[Improvements being made] also include upgrades that should probably be made over time that aren’t really problems, so to speak, other than we want to improve our facilities over time to accommodate students,” Kirkus said. That road map for this summer includes redoing all the heating, air conditioning and ventilation at Hadley Middle School, upgrading to modern equipment. Improving security, which will begin thoroughly at Hadley first and spreading in-depth to other district schools, will consist of new access control systems, new video security systems, installing access control systems to secure hallways and corridors for different facility usage scenarios, making vestibules more secure and putting secure film on some windows that would provide a layer of entry resistance and make it more difficult to smash the glass to get in. Eventually, the district plans to upgrade public address and entrance intercom systems, as well, Kirkus said. Because of the amount of renovation work yet to be done, it is expected to ramp up as soon as the current school year ends. All work is to be financed from the district’s Operation & Maintenance Fund, and the work being done this summer is expected to be complete by the start of the next school year, with the chiller at Butler being the only renovation item that might take longer. PowerSchool A new student information system called Power- School was implemented this past year. Wrapping up using it for the first time, Portwood said the implementation has gone well in the district. PowerSchool is the main database for all things for the students, including scheduling, gradebooks and report cards. “It was much needed and been very much appreciated by staff,” Portwood said. In closing Schoppe said he is appreciative of all the support he has received from staff since taking over and is proud of everything accomplished so far. “I’m very much looking forward to continuing to make strides to improve learning for our students,” Schoppe said.
lockportlegend.com news the lockport legend | May 16, 2019 | 5 New spring flower sale helps further Moose Lodge’s mission Amanda Del Buono Freelance Reporter As they say, April showers bring May flowers, but this past weekend, it was Lockport’s Women of the Moose bringing the flowers. On the morning of Saturday, May 11, the WOTM stood outside of the Lockport Moose Lodge selling a variety of flowers as part of its overall fundraising efforts. Just one of many of the WOTM’s fundraisers, Saturday’s flower sale proceeds went to benefit the Mooseheart and Moosehaven communities, which are dedicated to caring for foster children and seniors, respectively. The Moose Fraternity is an organization with a focus on caring for children in need and doing community work, according to Moose International’s website. This was core to the fundraising event on Saturday. “The Moose is a fraternal organization of men and women who come together to support Mooseheart, which is a child city in Mooseheart, Illinois, and Moosehaven, a senior living community for retired Moose members,” said Tammy Neff, a Mokena resident and Lockport Moose member since 1982. Last fall, the WOTM hosted its first mum sale. After that smashing success, the women decided to expand on the fundraiser by offering a springtime flower sale. “Last year, we started with a mum sale,” said Cathy LaMontagne, senior regent of the WOTM. “It was the first year we did it, and now, because it went so well, we decided to give this a try.” In fact, the flower sale went so well on Saturday that LaMontagne is already looking forward to next year and spotting areas for potential improvement. “It’s gone very well,” she said. “We want to say thanks to anyone who came out and made it a success.” Laura Eichhorn, chairperson for the WOTM, added that the event allowed the WOTM to spread the word to shoppers about the Moose organization and its efforts. “I think it’s bringing in new people to show them what the organization will do for Mooseheart and children, and the club itself just being in the community,” she said. “… We’re trying to build more awareness, and with the community, we want to be more involved in the community.” Community members were enthusiastic about the Please see sale, 15 FREE SMILE EVALUATION veneers, Invisalign or crowns No Insurnance? No Problem! 20% OFF PREMIER PLAN (when 2 or more household members sign up) PREM EMIE IER PLAN AN: $345 (for those without insur suranc ance) FREE IMPLANT SCREENING with Dr. Hoye includes CBCT 3-D imaging if necessary • in-office use only Our Premi emier er Plan is a preventa ntative program that will l incl nclude all l of your preve eventa ntativ tive serv ervice ices, for one cost. Plus, this plan will give you additi itiona onal savi avings of 25% on corrective servi rvices ces! No denieded claims ims, no wait aiting ing perio riods, and no hidden fees! What is included in the Premier Plan? Check it out! • (2) Basic Cleanings • ALL L X-rays • (2) Exams • Fluoride Treat eatmen ments • Oral Cancer Screenings • Sealants (children) • Carivu Imaging • Intra Oral Imaging Dr. Mary Ellen Hoye & Dental Specialists 708-301-3444 15927 S. BELL RD. | HOMER GLEN, IL 60491 (behind Bonfire) www.drhoye.com Elwood resident Kathy Aultz peruses the flower options Saturday, May 11, during the Lockport Women of the Moose’s flower sale. Bob Klein/22nd Century Media
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