G.R.E.A.T. PROGRAM OFFERED AT SHERWOOD

Introduction
The G.R.E.A.T. elementary curriculum is a skills-based curriculum designed as a precursor to the middle school curriculum. This component establishes the foundation that prepares children for the intensified content and cooperation exercises taught in the middle school curriculum, while developing a positive bond between law enforcement and youth. Reaching children at an earlier stage of development allows for a better transition into the middle school curriculum. The elementary curriculum has integrated National Learning English Language Arts Standards and National Health Standards and is based on effective research practices.

Goal
To prevent violence while developing a positive bond between law enforcement and youth during their early developmental years. The curriculum can be used in conjunction with and reinforcement of other prevention programs and as a precursor to the G.R.E.A.T. middle school curriculum.

Program Structure
The G.R.E.A.T. elementary curriculum was designed for fourth and fifth grade students. Children who have aggressive behavior in the elementary school years are more likely to display antisocial and violent behavior as adolescents and young adults. By providing prevention programs to students in elementary and middle school, it is believed that such programs have a better chance of affecting the developmental course of the problem behavior.

The Lessons
The G.R.E.A.T. elementary curriculum consists of six 30- to 45-minute lessons designed to be taught in sequence. Each lesson is accompanied by a parent letter that the student takes home explaining the lesson and encouraging parent/student interaction.
1. G.R.E.A.T. Beginnings
o Program Introduction
o Ground Rules
o Bullying, Victim, and Bystander
2. To Do or Not to Do
o Decisions and Outcomes
o Identifying Adults When We Need Help
3. Loud and Clear
o Clear Messages
o Practicing Different Ways of Communicating
4. Staying Cool When the Heat Is On
o Identifying When We Feel Anger
o Practicing Controlling Anger
5. We're All in This Together
o Similarities and Differences
o Respecting Others
o Golden Rule G.R.E.A.T.
6. Days Ahead
o Program Review
o Being a G.R.E.A.T. Citizen
o G.R.E.A.T. Promise

Holiday Assembly December 17

The Annual Holiday Assembly will take place Thursday, December 17 at 9:30 a.m for primary students and 11:30 a.m. for our intermediate/upper cycle students. We encourage our Sherwood families to attend and support our children. Have a safe and wonderful holiday.

Congratulations

Congratulations to the Boys Flag Football Team and the Girls Volleyball Team. They both won Area 13's Championship and made the entire school community so PROUD!

On behalf of Commander Keith Calloway and the entire 007th District Office

Operation Rainbow Push will be issuing turkeys to families for the Christmas Holiday. In order to receive the turkey, the individual must go to PUSH headquarters(950 E. 50th Street - 773-373-3366) to register to receive the turkey. Registration begins NOVEMBER 30, 2009. Office hours are 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.(bring some form of state ID). On Saturday, December 5, 2009, at 9:00 a.m., the person can pick up their turkey at OPERATION PUSH after the Saturday morning broadcast program.


To help address the issue of gun violence, UCAN will host it’s
Second Annual Urban/Suburban Youth Summit on Gun Violence
on December 5, 2009 from 9:00a.m. to 4:00p.m.
at George Westinghouse College Prep High School,

3223 W. Franklin Blvd, Chicago, IL 60624.



The Summit will unite youth, community leaders, policy makers, and advocates in a solution-focused agenda to improve the public’s understanding about the effects of gun violence, to engage community support in reducing gun violence, and to educate on the issues critical to America’s youth. The main goal of the Summit is to foster youth civic activism and leadership, with youth attendees identifying the most significant issues pertaining to their age groups on gun violence and working with community and business leaders to identify and implement solutions and strategies to end gun violence.



Register your group:



Chevelle Bailey

312 738 5913

bailec@ucanchicago.org



If somebody knows a family or somebody that needs a warm meal for thanksgiving this is the place to send them for thanksgiving. If anybody will like to volunteer to serve you could contact me at 773-890-0555 ext 266 my Name is Gustavo Arellano

You are invited to

Thanksgiving Day Lunch

St Pius Basement

Thursday, November 26, 2009

Start Serving 12:30pm



Gustavo Arellano

Income Support Specialist

Instituto Del Pregreso Latino

773-890-0055 ext 266



Good Afternoon,



I am reaching out on behalf of the Housing and Public Safety Task Force. We are planning a Conference for Monday, December 7th and I would like your attendance to talk about Public Safety in the Englewood Community. Please see attachment and let me know if you can make it.



When: Monday, December 7th



Where: Park National Bank

815 W 63rd Street

4th Floor



Time: 10am-1pm





If you have any questions please feel free to contact me.



Thanks!



Jimi Orange, Project Coordinator

Englewood Safety Net Works

Children's Home + Aid Society/Earle Elementary

6121 S Hermitage Ave.

Chicago, Illinois 60636

(312) 615-6751 Cell

(773) 776-7398 Fax

Working together to end violence in our community



Children’s Art Group



Who: Significant others & Survivors of sexual abuse, with English fluency, ages 9-11



What: An opportunity to create artistic expressions within a supportive group environment



When: Saturdays from 10:00a.m.-11:30a.m.

Starting on January 9th, 2010

Ending on February 27th, 2010



Where: YWCA RISE Children’s Center

300 S. Ashland Ave

Suite 301

Chicago, IL 60607



This group is offered at no charge.

All materials are provided.

Space is limited!

RSVP is required to attend group.



For more information, please contact:

YWCA, please visit us at www.ywcachicago.org.



Lauren Schmidt: 312.733.2102 x 413

WANTED

Minimum Requirements
-CHICAGO YOUTH
-AGES 18-21
-CHICAGO RESIDENT
-OUT OF SCHOOL
-LOW INCOME

NO COST FREE SERVICES!!!

LOOKING FOR EMPLOYMENT OR TRAINING (TRAINING THAT LEADS TO IMMEDIATE EMPLOYMENT)

NO COST!!!! FREE SERVICES!!!!

CONTACT CHICAGO WORKFORCE CENTER-SOUTHWEST
MS. ALBERT or Youth Dept.
7500 S. PULASKI RD
CHICAGO, IL 60652
773-884-7000 EXT 221




--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

http://www.thinkfinity.org

On behalf of the Verizon Foundation, I’m pleased to invite you to Thinkfinity.org, a Web site that offers outstanding educational resources developed by the most respected educational organizations in the country.

There is no cost, log in, subscription, or advertising. Funded entirely by the Verizon Foundation, all resources are available for free.



What you’ll find: Tens of thousands of free, timely, standards-based K-12 resources
Engaging lesson plans, videos, podcasts, interactive games and more
Core subject content is aligned with state standards and with 21st century learning
Quality materials designed by trusted partners like the NEH, IRA, AAAS, the Smithsonian, National Geographic, and more
Free professional development opportunities


http://www.thinkfinity.org

Illinois Prevention Symposium: Building Healthy Communities

Monday, November 16, 2009

Northwestern University – Thorne Auditorium

8:30 a.m. ~ Onsite Registration

9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. ~ Program



Mental Health America of Illinois (MHAI) in collaboration with the Illinois Children’s Mental Health Partnership & the Illinois Department of Human Services, Division of Mental Health, are proud to present the Institute of Medicine’s (IOM) newly released, ground-breaking report entitled Preventing Mental, Emotional, and Behavioral Disorders Among Young People: Progress and Possibilities.



Join key stakeholders to learn more about the findings of the report and their exciting implications for Illinois.



Return Registration to: Mental Health America of Illinois



EMAIL to: intern@mhai.org



FAX to: (312) 368-0283



Questions? Call (312) 368-9070 ext. 24 OR Email intern@mhai.org

NCWIT Award for Aspirations in Computing

Sponsored by Bank of America



We’re looking for young women with outstanding achievements and aspirations in computing and technology. Are you the future of technology?

What do winners receive?



Each qualified National winner receives:

» $500 in cash

» a laptop computer, provided by Bank of America

» a trip to attend the Bank of America Technology Showcase and Awards Ceremony, held in Charlotte, North Carolina on March 27, 2010

» an engraved award for both the student and the student’s school

Who is eligible?

» Applicants must be high-school level girls (grades 9-12).

» Applicants must reside in the United States of America.

» Applicants should have a demonstrated outstanding aptitude and interest in IT/computing, and demonstrated leadership ability.

» Applicants should have good academic history, typically a GPA of 3.0 or better.

» Applicants should have post-secondary education plans.

» Students from groups underrepresented in computing and current Juniors/Seniors are strongly encouraged to apply.

» Past applicants including semi-finalists are encouraged to apply, however, previous award-winners are not eligible to reapply or receive any awards.

» Relatives of employees or board members of NCWIT are prohibited from receiving the award.

Howdo Iapply?



Visit www.ncwit.org/award. Applications open on October 7, 2009 for the 2010 National award call. Applicants have until November 15, 2009 to complete their application. Email any questions to aspirations@ncwit.org.

New this year – Affiliate awards

There will be Affiliate Award programs in Illinois, Texas and Florida to recognize even more young women. The application period is the same and young women in those states will automatically be entered into both Affiliate and National competitions. Affiliate Award prize packages will vary. The Affiliate Awards are possible through a generous grant from the Motorola Foundation.



National Center for Women & Information Technology

www.ncwit.org | info@ncwit.org | 303.735.6671

The Englewood Community

In conjunction with

The Chicago Police Department and 311

Invites you to find the resources you need at the

Englewood Community Direct Service Fair



Some of the resources & services include:

~Housing ~Community Safety

~Health care ~Immunization

~Workforce Development ~Dental Care

~CAPS ~City Services

~Financial Matters ~Education

~Chicago Police Department Resources



DATE: Saturday, November 14, 2009

TIME: 9:00 A.M. – 1:00 P.M.

LOCATION: Harper High School



For more information please contact

P.O. Earlene Spaulding or P.O. Joseph Clark 312-747-6722

In Support

Precious Blood Ministry of Reconciliation

invites your participation in a ...

Memorial Mass for Victims of Violence



EVERYONE IS WELCOME



Celebrated by

Bishop Gustavo Garcia-Siller



Thursday-November 12- 7:00 P.M.

Immaculate Heart of Mary Church,

4500 South Ashland St.



A Mass and Ritual for Healing and Reconciliation for:



 Survivors of violence

 Families or friends of a victim of violence

 the community affected by violence



Let us come together and pray for peace.

Bring photos of lost loved ones.



For more information call Fr. David Kelly—773-562-8861

JOB FAIR

This message is authored by Monica Crofton, Coordinator of Placement Services at Daley College. 773-838-7597 or mcrofton1@ccc.edu

Career Planning and Placement Services at Daley College and Arturo Velasquez Institute Present:
Fall 2009 Job Fair

Please Note: Professional Attire is Required for Admittance!
If you have questions regarding acceptable attire please contact Monica Crofton, Coordinator of Placement Services, at 773-838-7597 or mcrofton1@ccc.edu

Thursday, November 5, 2009
Daley College: Main Lobby
12:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.

All Students, Alumni and Community Members are Welcome!
Bring plenty of resumes

Some of the Participating Employers Include:
UPS
Verizon Wireless
Frito Lay
Aspirations of Life
Northwestern Mutual Financial NetworkAflac
Cook County GovernmentTCF Bank
FedEx
Family Dollar
U.S. Cellular
National City/ PNC Bank
Travelers Insurance
Primerica Financial Services
University of Phoenix
T-mobile
Lawndale Christian Health Center
CH Robinson/ Transportation Management Center
Home Depot
Illinois Department of Corrections
Hilton Hotels
Avon
Comcast Cable
Federal Aviation Administration
MB Financial
Standard Bank & TrustSTO Security
Illinois Army National Guard
Cook DuPage Transportation Company
Bartlett Police Department
Security Solutions

Message From Representative Robert Steele

October 1, 2009



Dear Friends,

My thoughts and prayers go out to Derrion Albert's family, the mild-mannered CPS student who was brutally attacked last week outside of a community center. And, I hope the attached information will INSPIRE CPS students whose lives have become paralyzed by fear. I also my hope that you will remind the students in Cook County's 2nd District that we love them, that we remain undaunted and will continue to WORK TOGETHER to help them realize their dreams.

The attached information outlines a free program that is offered on Saturdays, to help CPS students in 6th -12th grade who are looking for opportunities. The program begins Saturday October 17th and it provides a stipend to students in the 11th and 12th grades, along with ACT test prep.

Also, please remind these students that they can find an extensive list of scholarships and summer programs in the Skinny College Resource Guide, which we developed this summer and posted on my website at: http://www.robertsteele.org/resources_additional.php.

It is truly my privilege to serve this community, and I hope that you will let me know if your organization finds this type of information to be useful.


Sincerely,


Robert Steele, Commissioner
Cook County - 2nd District

Attachment

FREE Program

High school juniors and seniors get stipend$Health Careers Opportunity Program for
6th-12th Grade Students
October 17, 2009
9:00 AM - 3:00 PM

The Health Careers Opportunity Program (HCOP) at the UIC School of Public Health is accepting applications for its Public Health Sciences Saturday College Program (PHSSC).

The PHSSC is a program for students in grades 6th to 12th who are interested in the health careers. The entire program is FREE. It is designed to increase awareness of careers in public health and better prepared for college. Students are engaged in a thirty week academic enrichment program that includes math, science, reading, research, writing, social development, enhancement skills and field trips.

The PHSSC also includes ACT preparation with courses that are taught by Kaplan and valued at $799. 11th and 12th grade students will be paid a stipend for their full participation. Students attend classes from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. every Saturday from October 17th, 2009- May 29th, 2010. Classes are held at the UICSPH (University of Illinois Chicago - School of Public Health), which is located at 1603 W. Taylor, Chicago , IL .

Priority is given to students who attend a CPS Public Health Partner School. Applications are accessible through the UIC School of Public Health. To print an application or learn more about the program, go http://www.uic. edu/sph/ and scroll down to Current SPH Initiatives.
Sponsored by the Bureau of Health Professions U.S. Department of HHS-HRSAAmerican Recovery and Reinvestment Act Health Professions Program and Division of Health Careers Diversity and Development


Location:
TBA SPHPI School of Pub. Hlth and Psy. Inst.
Fee:
Free
Audience:
General public/Campus community/Faculty/ Staff/Students/ Alumni
Contact:
dwashi5@uic. edu (312) 355-2951
Category:
Alumni Events/Special Campus Events/Other
Department:
Health Careers Opportunity Program
Updated:
Last updated on 09-04-2009.

HEALTH FAIR

Dear Community Member:

I would like to invite you to a Health Fair I am hosting in association with Senator Mattie Hunter and the Institute of Positive Living on Saturday, September 19 at John Hope College Prep High School, 5515 S. Lowe Ave from 9:00a.m. to 3:00p.m.

This event is open to the public. There will be free back-to-school physicals, immunizations and dental exams.

Please feel free to copy and pass out the attached flyers, both English and Spanish versions, to businesses and individuals in your communities. I look forward to seeing you there.


Very sincerely,
Esther Golar
State Representative, 6th District

COMMUNITIES MOVING FORWARD TOWARD HEALTHY HOMES

Why is Lead Still a Problem?
What is a Healthy Home?
A Summit on Where We Are and
Where We Go From Here
September 22, 20098:45 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
Plus, information on loans and grants for repairs, landlord–tenantrights/responsibilities, home inspections, and more
This program is convened in partnership with Corazon Community Services, Lawndale Christian Health Center, Near Northwest Neighborhood Network, Teamwork Englewood, and Westside Health Authority
Bye, Bye, Lead Poisoning, Mold, and Pests!
Registration deadline: September 14. For more information and to register contact: Loyola University Chicago’s Civitas ChildLaw Center at leadsafeillinois@luc.edu or 312.915.6481

DO YOU NEED GAS & LIGHTS ASSISTANCE?
LIHEAP/INTAKE
September 1, 2009
ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS:
SERVING ONLY IN SEPTEMBER
1. HOUSEHOLD 60 & OLDER
2. DISABLED & SSI
3. DISCONNECTED
Documents Needed:
· 30 day Income
· S.S. Card for entire household
· Current Light & Gas Bill
· If your Utilities are Included in Rent
Lease or (Rent Verification Form –Intake will furnish form)
INCOME GUIDELINES:
# Of people Living in Household Gross income for 30 Days Prior to Application

1 $ 1,354
2 $ 1.821
3 $ 2,289
4 $ 2,756
5 $ 3,224
6 $ 3,691
7 $ 4,159
8 $ 4,626
9 $ 5,094
10 $ 5,561

Churches, Block Clubs, Organizations and Groups
For More Information or To Schedule a Date
Call Deborah Turner @ 312-636-0553
(Hope Organization)

Evening High School Programs

NCLB EVENING HIGH SCHOOL PROGRAMS

Who is Eligible?
Currently enorolled students who need additional credits to meet graduation requirements (Grades 9-12)
Students 17-21 years of age returning to school after an interruption in their education
Gage Park (2600W)
5630 South Rockwell St.
773 535 9230
S1 Registration: Sep. 8-21
S1 Classes: Sep. 16-Dec.9
Contact: Mr. Keith

Harper (1800W)
6520 S. Wood St.
773 535-9150
Q2 Registration: Nov.2-10
Q2 Classes: Nov. 9-Jan.25
Contact Mr. Gettings

For more locations and information go to:

http://www.cps.edu/Programs/Pathways_to_success/GraduationpPathways/Pages/EveningHighSchool.aspx
or call 773 535-4777

YES IT'S FREE!!!

The Chicago Odyssey Project . . .

… a Bard College Clemente Course, sponsored by the Illinois Humanities Council and the University of Chicago Civic Knowledge Project, offers a college level introduction to the humanities (philosophy, literature, U.S. history, art history, and critical thinking and writing) to low-income adults, all expenses paid (tuition, books, CTA fare, and on-site baby-sitting).

The class meets Monday and Thursday evenings, 6:00-8:00 p.m. from September to May, at Donoghue School, 707 E. 37th St. (Classes are also available on the North Side and in Spanish on the West Side.)

Students who successfully complete the course earn 6 hours of college credit from Bard College, a prestigious liberal arts college in New York, transferable to virtually any college or university.

We are now accepting applications for fall. Candidates should be highly motivated and committed, 18 years of age or older, able to read a newspaper in English, and living in a household with income no more than 150% of the Federal poverty level.

It’s about education . . .
It’s about empowerment . . .
It’s about changing your world.

For more information contact Amy Thomas Elder, 312-422-5585, ex. 223 or amythomas@uchicago.edu

The 007th District
Domestic Violence Sub-Committee
is proud to host,
"The Yellow Dress"

This play addresses the seriousness of
Teen Dating Violence.

DATE: Wednesday, September 16, 2009
TIME: 6:00p.m. (SHARP)
LOCATION: Paul Robeson High School
6835 S. Normal

FREE Admission
Compliments of the 007th District C.A.P.S. Office

For additional information, please contact: Officer Claudette Knight (312) 747-6722
*Service Learning Hours will be awarded*

Classroom Opportunities

Grants available for field trips to Abraham Lincoln Presidential Museum
Grants for field trips to the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Museum in Springfield are available to certain Illinois schools and youth organizations with a high enrollment of low-income children. The application deadline is Sept. 11.
Midwest Generation, an Edison International Co., and the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library Foundation are offering field trip grants to teachers of grades 4 through 12 in public and private schools that have a low-income enrollment of greater than 30 percent. Not-for-profit youth organizations that serve economically disadvantaged children are also eligible. The grants provide funding to visit the museum at no or reduced cost by deferring the cost of transportation, lunch or educational materials. School groups do not pay a museum admission fee.
Grant applications are available at www.alplm.org/education/grant_application_packet.pdf, and must be postmarked by Sept. 11. The grant awards will be announced in October. In 2008, a total of $20,000 was awarded to 17 schools. For more information, call 217-558-9016 or e-mail randy.wiseman@illinois.gov.

BACK TO SCHOOL RALLY

Rainbow PUSH Coalition and PUSH Excel
Annual Back to School Rally
Saturday August 22, 2009
10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Doors open at 8:00 a.m.
Theme: WE BELIEVE
Book Bags and School Supplies for Grades K-12
will given out on this day at the Push Headquaters
930 East 50th StreetChicago, IL 60615-2702ph: 773-373-3366fx: 773-373-3571
For more information please call 773.256.2762

Reverend Jesse L. Jackson, Sr. will deliver the keynote speech on school readiness.

Itty Bitty Basketball Camp

In The Paint Basketball has launched an Itty Bitty Basketball camp

for 4 to 8 year olds boys and girls on Saturdays.
Our "Itty Bitty" basketball program will give your kid a head start on learning the simple skills of the game such as dribbling, passing, and shooting. The primary focus is to create a fun learning environment for your child's development. This is a year round camp. The time is from 11:00am to 12:30 pm each Saturday. The camp is for boys/girls ages 4 to 8 years.
The camp's location is Morgan Park Methodist Church 11030 S. Longwood Drive, Chicago, Chicago. Please enter at the rear of the church near the handicap entrance. SPECIAL RATE: The cost is $199.00 for 10 weeks or a weekly pay as you go plan for $25.00 per Saturday. A $10 non-refundable fee is required.On site and ongoing registration available at the camp site. The cost includes basketball fundamentals,on the court mentoring sessions and a t-shirt.

Link to School Calendar

http://www.google.com/calendar/embed?height=600&wkst=1&bgcolor=%23FFFFFF&src=4l4ldml51i4sqekkqv829dd6go%40group.calendar.google.com&color=%230D7813&ctz=America%2FChicago

Summer School

Sherwood has a summer filled with exciting activities. The school will be open from 8:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. with Summer Bridge for 3rd and 6th grade. There are also programs for our Kindergarten through 7th grade students. Please call the school to sign up your children or feel free to stop by.

Student Welcome Mike Durkin at Dewey and Sherwood

he students at Chicago’s Dewey Academy of Fine Arts spent time in the classroom learning about countries that participate in the Olympic Games. On Monday as they kicked off Olympic Week in America, it was time to show what they had learned to a special visitor: Olympian Mike Durkin, a member of the U.S. Olympic Track & Field teams in 1976 and 1980 and one of the best U.S. middle distance runners in the late 1970s. Carrying handmade flags representing the various countries, students lined up outside in the bright sunshine and marched around Union Street to 54th Street and back, led by two students Destiny and Dederick, carrying the Chicago 2016 banner. Some began chanting the name of their assigned country, “Ja-pan!, Ja-pan! Ja-pan! Ken-ya, Ken-ya! Ken-ya, USA, USA!” Once inside the school gymnasium, the group leaders marched across the stage pausing to share with Durkin some key facts about their country. It was also an opportunity for Durkin to give them a little spot quiz and share some Olympic facts and memories that he knew about their perspective country like, who is one of the most famous Romanian gymnasts? Nadia Comaneci. What famous body of water is associated with Panama? The Panama Canal. And what about Brazil? The Amazon River.Durkin spoke about becoming involved in athletics back in 7th grade. “I wasn’t very good at baseball or football, so I went out for track,” he said. While his goal was to be a sprinter, it wasn’t quite his calling so he kept running a little further until he found his event: the 1500 meters.When asked if it was hard to run track, Durkin responded truthfully, “Yes,” but he shared this advice to the eager listeners, “It got easier the harder I worked.” Durkin spoke of the importance of setting goals and to not get discouraged. I was never a state champion in high school,” he was beaten twice at the Illinois State Championships but he didn’t let that discourage him. An athletic scholarship to the University of Illinois led to several Big 10 track championships. After competing in the 1976 Olympic Games in Montreal in the 1500 meters he went to law school but soon re-discovered his passion for the sport and set a goal of making the 1980 Olympic team. He made the team against most odds, but unfortunately that was the year that the United States boycotted the Olympic Games in Moscow. “I was very, very disappointed.”Having grown up here, Durkin, shared his excitement to have the Olympic Games in Chicago and described the various ways the Dewey Academy students could be a part of the games either as an athlete, volunteer or as a spectator. Durkin recalled what a thrill it was to travel to Atlanta for the 1996 Olympic Games with his three sons and watching U.S. Basketball “Dream Team” compete. As the assembly drew to a close Durkin thanked the two special helpers, Destiny and Dederick for holding the Chicago 2016 banner such a long time. And it was appropriate that a girl named Destiny would play that role . . . as Chicago hopes it is indeed our destiny to get the 2016 Olympic Games.Durkin was also a guest Olympian at Chicago’s Sherwood Elementary School and Betsy Ross Elementary School on Monday for Olympic Week in America.

SHERWOOD MIDDLE SCHOOL CADET UPDATE

On Saturday, April 18, 2009 Middle School Cadet Corps teams competed in the 2009 MSCC Drill and Color Guard Championship and it also included a "Knock-Out Drill". The teams looked great and performed in an outstanding manner. The attendance and support by family, friends and supporters was awesome. The cadets worked long and hard and it showed that they are all winners. A special thanks to Carver Military Academy for hosting the event, to SFC Garrett for great competition planning/execution and to all that supported the conduct of the competition.

Overall Drill and Color Guard Competition Winners: 1st Place - Harold Washington, 2nd Place - South Chicago,
3rd Place - Eberhart

Drill Competition: 1st Place - Harold Washington, 2nd Place - Lowell, 3rd Place - South Chicago

Color Guard Competition: 1st Place - South Chicago, 2nd Place - Harold Washington, 3rd Place - Eberhart

The names of the Knock-Out winners and other scoring information will follow in separate email.

LTC Harrell

Community Play Workshops at the Children's Museum

FREE WORKSHOPS FOR PARENTS AND EDUCATORS

Please have people register by e-mail to gracielar@chicagochildrensmuseum.org. Note the workshops are specifically designed for parents as well as for educators.

OLYMPIC WEEK UPDATE

Chicago 2016's Olympic Week Partnership Program

Chicago 2016 has established partnerships with multiple cultural organizations throughout the city to enhance your Olympic Week. The events below will also have Olympians and Paralympians in attendance! If you are interested in taking advantage of the partnerships below, please contact Sara Mouw at smouw@chicago2016.org and 312-784-6041. We'll also be announcing several sports partnerships this week!

The Peace School

3121 N Lincoln Avenue

Chicago, IL 60657-3111

May 4-8, 2009

Each day the Peace School will offer a variety of activities that all relate back to peace. On Tuesday the school will conduct a Peace Circle Art project that takes place at a participating school and lasts for 45 minutes. On Wednesday, there will be hour long classes on Peace breathing and Olympic Values at the Peace School for groups of 50 students. On Friday, they will have hour long sessions on Peace Martial Arts at The Peace School for groups of 50 students.


Swedish American Museum

5211 North Clark Street

Chicago, IL 60640

May 4-8, 2009

The Swedish American Museum will offer guided tours through museum with a teamwork theme and Chicago's ethnic communities. They will also teach the students the history of activities that become professional sports in Sweden and offer an Olympic-themed craft and a Swedish Meal. The program will last 2.5 hours and the cost would be $5 per student. Monday the program will be offered at 9:00 am and 12:30 pm. Tuesday through Friday at 10:00 am. The group size would be 45 students plus chaperones.

Bronzeville Historical Society

11431 S. Forrestville Ave. #1

Chicago, IL 60628-5901

May 4, 2009

The Bronzeville Historical Society will be talking about the value of working in teams in a morning presentation. They will celebrate three Chicago Black Olympians: Jesse Owens, Muhammad Ali, Ralph Metcalfe. A park district volunteer will be present to do a basketball demo on teamwork. Ralph Metcalfe, Jr. will also be doing a presentation.


American Indian Center

1630 W. Wilson Ave.

Chicago, IL 60640

May 5, 2009

The American Indian Center will be giving a tour of the center and conclude with a craft project. The program will last 1.5 hours and start at 9:30 am and 12:15 pm. The price will be $5 per student.


Balzekas Museum

6500 S. Pulaski Road

Chicago, IL 60629

May 6, 2009

The Balzekas Museum will allow students to tour through the Museum Exhibits such as the history of Lithuania, Children's Museum and the Art Gallery. The program would wrap up with a documentary about contemporary Lithuania. The program will last 1.5 hours and will start at 10:00 am and 1:00 pm. The group size would be 30 students plus chaperones. The price will be $4 per student.


Mitchell Museum of the American Indian

3001 Central Street

Evanston, IL 60201

May 6-7, 2009

The Mitchell Museum of the American Indian will start with a presentation by an American Indian, John Low. The students will then be able to view the exhibits, play a game and do a craft based on the American Indian Heritage. The program will be 1.5 hours long will start at 10:00 am and 12:00 pm. The cost will be $2 per student. The group size would be 45 students plus chaperones.


Irish American Heritage Center

4626 N. Knox Avenue

Chicago, IL 60630

May 8, 2009

The Irish American Heritage Center program will offer a short Irish history lesson complete with music, dance and art. They program will be 1 hour long starting at 10:00 am and 1:00 pm. The cost would be $1 per student. The group size would be 50 students plus chaperones.

Urban Gateways

Urban Gateways Center for Arts education can make your arts and culture day come alive! Let them help you embrace the Olympic Movement by creating customized programming for your school. Contact Naomi Sheridan at 312-922-0440 at ext. 2757 or nsheridance@urbangateways.org with questions.

3) Scheduling Your Olympian and Paralympian School Visits

Gold medal schools have earned the right to host an Olympian or Paralympian! As stated earlier in the email, please provide us with your schedule of events for Olympic Week. Also, please provide us your top three preferred times for the Olympian/Paralympian to visit. We will do everything in our effort to find an Olympian or Paralympian who can visit during these preferred times. This visit will last no longer than 90 minutes.

4) Alderman Visits to Your School

Chicago 2016 wants to showcase your hard work for Olympic Week to your local government leaders. We are currently working with the aldermanic offices to coordinate aldermen school visits during Olympic Week. If you are hosting an Olympian/Paralympian, the visit will be scheduled for then. For other schools, it will be during the Opening Ceremony.

5) What is your local community newspaper?

Do you have a local community newspaper that often covers school events? If so, please tell us the name and contact and we'll spread the word about your activities to them!


6) Chicago 2016 Merchandise Discount

From now until May 8, Chicago 2016 is offering a 40% discount on T-shirts and Hats at its online store, Chicago2016.org. At the checkout, where it says Gift Vouchers/Discount Coupons insert the CHVOL109 code.

7) Olympic Kits Go Out Friday!

Chicago 2016 will be shipping out your Olympic Kits on Friday. Expect to receive them by the Wednesday before Olympic Week!

ITS Focus Group at Sherwood

In an effort to outline specific strategies to ensure the successful implementation of the Customer Relationship Management (CRM) group, CRM is forming a focus group comprised of our stakeholders. ITS Customer Relationship Management (CRM) is seeking the input on developing this most valuable service. Principals and other CPS Administrators will be having a meeting in the library on May 12th from 9:30 a.m. until 11:30am. Please limit the noise in the hallways. Thank you for your support!

BLACK STAR PROJECT REMINDERS...

Four Days Left until Founder's Day! Join The Black Star Project on Saturday, April 25, 2009, at 3509 South King Drive, Chicago, Illinois, as we celebrate 13 years of serving children, families and communities, 2:00 pm to 5:00 pm!

Dear Friend of Children,

More than ever, The Black Star Project needs your help as we work to educate and save our children with some of the best student, parent, male-involvement and community-support programs in the country.


Some of the programmatic highlights for The Black Star Project this year include:
The Toyota/Black Star Parent University, where we have provided more than 450 parenting courses, since the beginning of the program in 2004, in English and Spanish.
Parent Resource Fairs, where we have connected parents to more than 50 parent-improvement resources.
Parent of the Year Awards, where we honored more than 75 top parents in Chicago.
The Golden Parent Awards, where we honored the three top parents in Illinois.
The Fathers Club, which helps thousands of men bond with their children at educational and recreational venues.
The Million Father March in 475 cities with 600,000 men taking their children to school last year.
The Door-to-Door Parenting Campaign, where we distributed educational and child developmental materials in low-income, high-violence communities.
The League of Black Parents, an advocacy group working to create better Black parents.
The Black Star PTA, the first community-based PTA in Illinois.
Levels at which you may invest in the Founder's Day are:
$100.00 as a Friend of Progress
$250.00 as a Supporter of Progress
$500.00 as a Sponsor of Progress
$1,000.00 as a Champion of Progress
Please become a supporting member of The Black Star Project today and your gift will be doubled thanks to the Circle of Service Foundation's commitment to match it. You can become a member online through our website. Please visit our membership page
HERE for more information about membership levels and click HERE to become a member now!
Or you may mail your membership contribution to:

The Black Star Project
Attn: Membership
3509 South King Drive, Suite 2B
Chicago, Illinois 60653

For more information, please call 773.285.9600, email us at
blackstar1000@ameritech.net or visit our website at www.blackstarproject.org.

May You Realize Your Best,

Phillip Jackson
Executive Director

Please call 773.285.9600 for more information or to volunteer your time, talents or treasure to the cause of educating Black children, and all children.

You may send your investment in the future of children to:

The Black Star Project
3509 South King Drive, Suite 2B
Chicago, Illinois 60616
or click here to invest in our work on-line

The Black Star Scholars Educational Services
is offering
a Mandarin Chinese Language Class, a Math Masters Boot Camp and
a Reading Warriors Boot Camp

Education never stops in the world in which we live, and effective parents never stop giving their children opportunities to learn.

Most American schools do not prepare Black children to be globally competitive. The Black Star Project does! We can help ensure that your child is exposed to world-class information and skills and is ready to compete globally.
Black children who learn only Monday through Friday between 9:00 am and 2:45 pm are at a severe, competitive disadvantage compared to their international counterparts who study longer, harder, more purposefully and who get additional support from their families, schools and communities.

Black children will not be able to compete in the new global educational arena unless they are supported to match the effort and intensity of their global classmates.

Register your child for:

Class One - Mandarin Chinese Language -Students from 3rd to 8th grade will be introduced to Chinese language, culture and history from 6:15 pm to 7:45 pm, one day a week, for 6 weeks, every Thursday, beginning April 16, 2009. This class needs a minimum of 6 students and will have a maximum of 10 students. This class will end with a dinner at a popular Chinese restaurant. The cost for 6 sections is $150.00 per student.


Class Two - The Mathematics Boot Camp - This class will be offered on Sunday afternoons between 2:00 pm and 4:00 pm with a 3rd-, 4th- and 5th- grade section and a 6th-, 7th- and 8th-grade section. Each section needs a minimum of 6 students and will have a maximum of 7 students. Classes will consist of grade-level and above grade-level materials with a major focus on mastering basic mathematical operations. Classes begin Sunday, April 19, 2009. The cost for 6 consecutive 2-hour sessions is $150.00 per student.

Class Three - The Reading Warriors Boot Camp - This class will be offered on Saturday mornings between 8:00 am and 10:00 am with a 3rd-, 4th- and 5th- grade section and a 6th-, 7th- and 8th-grade section. Each session needs a minimum of 6 students and will have a maximum of 7 students. Black Star reading classes are designed to help students become aggressive, independent, successful and confident readers who are able to read, write and think critically while comprehending a vast array of materials from prose to poetry, politics to Plato. Classes begin Saturday, April 18, 2009.
The cost for 6 consecutive 2-hour sessions is $150.00 per student.
http://www.google.com/images?q=tbn:Vyfb5op70-DUWM::a.abcnews.com/images/WNT/abc_wn_black
All of the above classes will take place at:

The Black Star Project
3509 South King Drive, Suite 2B
Chicago, Illinois

To register your child or for more information, please call:

The Black Star Project
773.285.9600

Students will register on a first-come, first-served basis. The Black Star Project would like to expand our educational services to the North Side, the West Side, the Southern Suburbs, the Western Suburbs and to other parts of Chicago and Illinois. Parents are invited to stay during each class.

EARTH DAY ACTIVITIES

In honor of Earth Day, Communities In Schools of Chicago reminds our school partners that plenty of green programs are available for students at no cost. Here are 3 ideas to consider:

Cook County Farm Bureau: CCFB offers 4th graders “Ag in the Classroom,” a one-hour session in which students learn about agriculture and agribusiness. To learn more contact Haley Loy at (708) 354-3276 to schedule.

Green City Market: Are you looking for an outdoor education program for students? Green City Market offers “Edible Gardens,” a field trip which provides hands-on experience in the following areas: soil preparation, planting, compost-making, harvesting, weeding, etc. To schedule a Wednesday or Thursday field trip contact Jeanne Pinsof Nolan at (847) 636-2720.


The University of Illinois Extension offers urban gardening and horticulture programs for students, parents, and school staff. Topic areas include: urban youth gardening, bare branch detectives and pine tree detectives, worm composting, live insect petting zoo, houseplants, carnivorous plants, community gardening and water quality. To schedule contact Matt Kostelnick at (847) 818-2901 x 202 to schedule.

ATTENTION MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS

ATTENTION ALL 5th THRU 8th GRADE TEACHERS
ENCOURAGE STUDENTS TO ENTER THE
2009 MONEY SMART KID ESSAY CONTEST

In the spirit of directly promoting and recognizing students’ knowledge of important personal finance concepts, Chicago Public Schools and its city-wide partners are launching the 2009 Money Smart Kid Essay Contest. The annual competition is open to students in grades 5 through 8, offers expanded learning opportunities, and the eligibility to win a $5,000 scholarship or a $2,000 scholarship, and a laptop computer to each of six finalists.

The deadline to submit essays is March 23. For details, please see attached essay topic, guidelines, timeline, and application form. Please post a copy of this educational and financial opportunity where it may be easily viewed by staff. To view an electronic copy of the contest entry form and details, visit www.moneysmartweek.org or contact Norma Ghaben in the Department of Finance at nghaben@cps.k12.il.us or via telephone at 773/553-2725.

Thank you for your continued efforts to educate, inspire and transform!

LINK TO CAPS

https://portal.chicagopolice.org/portal/page/portal/ClearPath

Deep River Waterpark Reading Incentive

Deep River Waterpark has a new reading incentive program for 2009. Basically, your students (14 and younger) read for 4 hours and they will receive a FREE Deep River Waterpark one day admission ticket (valid for one use between 5/22/09 and 6/19/09)...up to a $21.95 value! Additionally, as a thank you for your work associated with this program and the work you do with students everyday, if you get a minimum of 8 students to complete the program, you will also receive a free 2009 daily admission ticket. Individual teachers must register their classes on this web site http://campaign.constantcontact.com/render?v=001vMjkt8WH1wh9oXPA0nfNPsGuUSS6G8mDyriVY7eVSFHYGL6KaNcG1FBBx7sfESWpyHY03fD0MUiPrBRgtpc_AyHQsgZjpRzL7nsX8HuNRJQk4fYpnAIOr12Lszs9rDjIJfNG5ByJ_n3Favx4CE2AXfdUgmM4yX_0MjDW-3HZH3NnKgY-wWNJXQOoyuidWgB-xshX4WTHg-ydSvz3lC6rcms-uS2l6nb8G41tHlEwrhYmrv4vY16-JxNbvEYb7sRahn9nm-k6X0I%3D This is wonderful opportunity for students to read their way to summer fun!

Sherwood on You Tube!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cP3MvmIxekg

Computer Lab Closed

The computer lab will not be available for the next couple of days, beginning Thursday, February 26 and Friday, February 27. We will be looking at computers that need maintenance and on Friday, the Area 13 Principals will be in the building receiving training.

WE MADE IT TO THE TOP!

Our theme this year for the African American History Assembly is: We Made it to the Top! Our assembly will take place Friday, February 27, 2009 -9:30 a.m. Primary and 11:30 a.m. Intermediate/Upper. Please join us in celebration for the great achievements.

Progress Reports Due Friday!

Teachers and Parents...Friday the Progress Reports will be generated for students and parents. Please expect your child to bring home their progress reports Tuesday, March 3, 2009. Progress Reports will be generated on Friday, and distributed to the students on Tuesday.

HOMEWORK CENTER

Chesterfield Community Council
&
St. Marks’ Lutheran Church

Reading, Writing & Math
for
Grades 3rd-8th

START DATE: MARCH 18, 2009
END DATE: MAY 23, 2009

Class Sessions: Wednesday, 2:30-5:30 p.m.
Saturday,10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Located at St. Marks Lutheran Church, 655 East 88th St. (88th & Langley)

ALL SESSIONS ARE TAUGHT BY EDUCATION PROFESSIONALS

Price: FREE

Registration Dates: Feb. 28 & March 7, 10:00 a.m.-12:00 (noon),
St. Marks Lutheran Church, 655 East 88th Street (88th & Langley)

For more information: 773-651-3958 or e-mail us at: chesterfield@ameritech.net

SPACE IS LIMITED

INTERACTIVE ISAT Tests

Please have your children take the INTERACTIVE ISAT tests...follow the link below...

http://metacat2.com/iltestlinks.html

Writing Program for 7th and 8th graders

Program Mission:
The Do the Write Thing Stop Youth Violence Program has been a part of the Chicago Public Schools as well as the Catholic Archdiocese schools for the past 10 years. The program focus is to encourage students to take personal responsibility in the reduction of youth violence and currently engages over 150,000 students and teachers across the United States.

Succinctly, Do the Write Thing is a writing program for 7th and 8th graders which engages students in a teacher led writing lesson in which students take a personal stand to stop youth violence. Students are motivated to write about how violence has affected my life, the causes of youth violence and lastly, what can I do to stop youth violence.

How the Program Works
Students can write an essay, poem or play which their teachers submit to us, the local Do the Write Thing Program chairs (Latham & Watkins). Please note, that the deadline for the submission of student writings is due 5:00 P.M. on Friday, March 6, 2009. Please, designate one person in your office to be the contact person for your school.

Summit essays to:

Joyce Simon
Latham & Watkins
233 South Wacker Drive
Sears Tower, Suite 5800
Chicago, IL 60606

The program is structured whereby the teacher determines how best to approach the writing initiative. As a local resource, we would be willing to work with teachers that request our support to provide them with articles or news about violence or help them find a speaker to come to their classroom. The submitted entries are then read by a group of 'readers' that we've organized from our office staff, the business community and our pro bono partners. Essays are selected based on content, originality and how well the students express their views (not grammar and spelling). The attached file contains ISAT focused lessons that teachers can use with the students. We understand it is 'crunch' time and felt the lesson plans on the topic of violence would fit into the teachers' priorities at this time.

From the large group of writers, readers will select a student ambassador from each school to attend a Chicago recognition ceremony in May.

Program Honors:
Local: A Chicago awards ceremony dinner will be held in early May to recognize all the student ambassadors, teachers, principals and parents. The writings of all the participants will also be published in a book and distributed to policy makers in Illinois. Finally, at the Chicago celebration two students will be named as national ambassadors and they will represent Chicago at the National Do the Write Thing Challenge Ceremony in Washington D.C..

National: In July 2009, the national student ambassadors, their teacher's and parents/guardian will be flown to Washington D.C. to take part in a week of activities and attend the National Do the Write Thing Recognition Ceremony. In the past, activities have included a reception at the Kuwait embassy, meetings with the Attorney General, the Secretary of the Interior, the Secretary of Education and various members of Congress. In addition, a book of their writings will be placed in the Library of Congress. Importantly, the trip is funded through the National Do the Write Thing Challenge funds that are provided by the Kuwait government and there is no expense to the families or teachers.

I invite you to learn more about National Recognition Week at http://www.dtwt.org/multimedia or http://www.dtwt.org/multimedia/multimedia/videos/michael-nelson


If you find this program of interest, we will messenger information packets to you. It is not too late to participate. www.dtwt.org

Feel free to call Marielee Macapagal with questions, 312/520-1816.

Gilda’s Club Chicago’s

Friday, March 27th, 2009
8:30a.m. – 12:00p.m.

This seminar is a FREE, unique program providing school and healthcare professionals with the necessary information to support children, families, and friends who have been touched by cancer

A light breakfast will be served beginning at 8:30am

*2.5 CPDUs will be provided free of charge*

This year’s presentations are provided in collaboration with the Midwest Palliative and Hospice Care Center:
.
The Grieving Child
Presented By: Nicole Araujo, LCPC
Nicole is a counselor with the Families with Children program at the Midwest Palliative and Hospice Care Center.

Palliative Care; support and comfort for the family from diagnosis through treatment
Presented by: Judy Barry, LCSW
Judy is the palliative care services social worker for the Midwest Palliative and Hospice Care Center.

Please RSVP to:
Christine Hazelett, LCPC, ATR-BC, Noogieland Coordinator,
at christinehazelett@gildasclubchicago.org
or 312-464-9900 x34
by Wednesday, March 25th

The Seminar will take place at Gilda’s Club Chicago:
537 N. Wells St.
Chicago, IL 60610

Parking is available at:
224 West Ohio or 212 West Illinois
$6.00 with Gilda’s Club validation

Gilda’s Club Chicago is a free, non-profit support community for anyone touched by cancer

16th Annual "Heroes in the Hood" Awards Program – NOMINATIONS DUE BY FEBRUARY 20th, 2009

Do you know a teenager who is making a profound difference in his or her community? Or, do you know a principal or teacher who has taken steps to deter the violence that is devastating Chicago neighborhoods and schools? If so, we want to know about them.Please join us in recognizing and rewarding outstanding Chicago teens and educators at the 16th annual “Heroes in the ‘Hood” awards program.Heroes, developed 16 years ago by GO Airport Express, has honored more than 400 Chicago youths who have donated their time and talents to make a positive difference in their communities. This year, Heroes is adding a “Stop the Violence” award. It will be awarded to a principal, teacher, counselor or administrator who has demonstrated extraordinary effort in making the community a safer place.To accomplish our goals, we need your support. The program sponsors would greatly appreciate it if you and your staff would help identify potential “Heroes in the ‘Hood” and “Stop the Violence” nominees.We ask that you help by distributing the enclosed materials to individuals or groups at your school. “Heroes in the ‘Hood” nominees must be between the ages of 12 and 18 and live in the city of Chicago to qualify. Winners will receive, a trip to Springfield, Ill. to visit our state capitol; a plaque or certificate honoring their achievement; Media coverage in the Chicago Crusader and other media outlets; and a T-shirt and “goodie bags.”The “Stop the Violence” award will be awarded to a principal, teacher, counselor or administrator who is reaching out to today’s youth with violence prevention, education or outreach projects. The winner will receive a prize of $1,000. Applications for the awards can be downloaded at www.airportexpress.com/community.html .If you have any questions or need more information, please contact Robyn Velasquez at (312) 666-6662 or via e-mail at rvelasquez@hodgeschindler.com.

Bookshare

Bookshare (www.bookshare.org) is the worldʼs largest accessible digital library for persons with print and learning disabilities (such as dyslexia). Students with qualifying disabilities get FREE access to over 43,000 digital books, textbooks and teacher recommended reading, as well as assistive reading technology to help them read and study independently. Membership for students and schools is free thanks to an award from the U.S. Department of Educationʼs Office of Special Education (OSEP). Parents and teachers can sign up their children by going to registration (http://www.bookshare.org/signUpType).
Contact info:
480 California AvenueSuite 201Palo Alto , CA 94306Local Telephone: (650) 644-3400www.bookshare.orgEmail for Parent questions: parents@bookshare.org
General E-mail: info@bookshare.org

*Poetry Contest*

Commander Keith Calloway is hosting an Antiviolence poetry contest between schools that are located within the 7th District. The participants must be in the 7th or 8th Grade and the poems will last for duration of 1 minute. Each School will conduct an internal competition to determine the school’s champion. The school’s champion must be submitted to the 7th District C.A.P.S. Office by 5:00PM April 17, 2009. A panel of Judges will then select the best 10 Poems by April 24, 2009. The 10 students who are selected will be invited to compete in a live poetry slam on May 1, 2009.

v FIRST PLACE PRIZE******** $400
v SECOND PLACE PRIZE *****$200
v THIRD PLACE PRIZE *******$100

NO VULGARITY!
NO PROFANITY!
ORIGINAL POETRY ONLY!

For additional information contact Sgt. Hawkins 7th District C.A.P.S at (312) 747-6722 Monday – Friday between the hours of 12PM and 6PM

*Remember the theme is Antiviolence!*

Academic Olympics Speech Competition

Academic Olympics Speech competition is March 18, 2009. Also, representatives of the Coordinators meeting to be held Thurs. Feb. 19th, 12:00 pm at Dewey.

Thank you to our REAL MEN READ Volunteers

We wish to thank the REAL MEN READ group of wonderful men who have been visiting our children this year...you are the BEST!


Theodore Collins

John Sterling

Jeff Dortch

Andrew Jones

Richard Miles

Kevin Moore

Our children and staff appreciate your commitment to Sherwood School!

CPS Real Men Read Calendar (Arrival Time: 8:50 a.m.)

· Thursday, February 19, 2009 – Reading Day at Your School
· Thursday, March 19, 2009 – Reading Day at Your School
· Thursday, May 21, 2009 – Reading Day at Your School

Announcing A Day in Our Neighborhood Project!

The Northwestern University Collaboratory Project invites all K-12 students to participate in the A Day in Our Neighborhood to learn more about the communities around us. In the project, students and teachers from around the world will share information about their communities will discuss this information through the iCollaboratory web site.A Day in Our Neighborhood -- Cybrary!After registering for the Project, students and teachers will place information about their school and community in an online template at the iCollaboratory called the Neighborhood Cybrary. All students and teachers participating in the project will be able to see information about each others' schools and communities.A Day in Our Neighborhood -- Survey!On March 3 and/or 4, 2009, students take an online Survey and then review the results to learn more about each other and their schools and communities.The Day in Our Neighborhood -- Gallery!During the first week of March, students take photographs and record video and audio (optional) of the locations in their school and community.During weeks two and three of March, students share these digital materials with other participants, along with descriptions of what their photographs and/or recorded clips feature. Participants come back and comment on each others work.The Day in Our Neighborhood -- Interactive Map!The student work in this project will be accessible through an online interactive map that will mark the different areas where the data, photographs, audio clips and captions were collected for this project.Notes: Please check with your school's Internet privacy policy before posting any material.Please visit http://www.icollaboratory.org to complete the registraiton form and view the project.For more information or help please email icollaboratory@gmail.com

Need Homework Help?

What: New Program! Students receive homework help from
Chicago Cares volunteers

Who: Sherwood students grades 4-6

When: 1st & 3rd Tuesday of the month
3:00 – 4:00 pm
Dates: 1/20, 2/3, 2/17, 3/3 & 3/17

Where: Sherwood Elementary Library

CARA Conference

Mark your calendars for the CARA Winter Conference presenting:
Dr. Richard Allington
Former IRA President, researcher, lecturer and author

Wednesday February 4, 2009
Marriot Hotel
6520 S. Cicero Ave.
4:30 Registration

ATTENTION Pre-School Teachers and ESPs

The South Area Operations meeting scheduled for Friday, February 6, 2009 at Johnny
Coleman has been canceled. Instead, CreativeCurriculum.net training for teachers only,
will be held at the South Area Office, located at Doolittle West, 521 East 35th Street from
8:30 A.M. - 11:30 A.M.
Please contact Ava Haji, South Area Manager at (773) 535-8618 or afhaji@cps.k12.il.us if
you have any questions.

St. Bernard Van to Visit Sherwood

St. Bernard Van will visit Sherwood on April 2nd in order to give students immunizations and physicals. For more information, contact Ms. Buzanis at 773/535-0829.

NEW ERA OF RESPONSIBILITY

In his inaugural address, President Barack Obama has called for Americans to participate in “a new era of responsibility.” He went on further to say, “For as much as government can do and must do, it is ultimately the faith and determination of the American people upon which this nation relies.”

The need for individuals everywhere to act and serve is surely great. Especially hard hit though, are families who have lost their housing during this economic crisis. Referrals to the Chicago Public Schools Homeless Education Program are 45% ahead of last year. As of December, more than 9,000 students were identified as homeless in the Chicago Public Schools. This number will continue to grow as the crisis deepens.

If you have heard President Obama’s call to serve and would like to answer it, we would invite you to serve with Chicago HOPES. Whether it is volunteering as a tutor in a homeless shelter or donating money to our program, it is the support of community members like you that makes our program possible. For more information, check our Web site www.chicagoHOPES.org/, email ChicagoHOPES@cps.k12.il.us or call our Volunteer Coordinator Ebonie Tillmon at (773) 553- 2066.

Community Announcement

A special coat give away for Elementary School Age Children, takes place:
Sunday February 1, 2009 in the St. Thomas the Apostle School Gym
5467 South Woodlawn Avenue, Chgo Ill. 60615.

PARENTS MUST PRESENT WITH THEIR CHILDREN TO BE FITTED FOR THEIR FREE COAT" between the hours of 9: 00 a. m. - 2:00 p. m.

Volunteers flood King Day projects

Many heed president-elect Obama's call for public service
By Lauren R. Harrison and Robert Mitchum Tribune reporters
January 20, 2009
On the eve of the inauguration of a president who ran on assurances of hope, Connie Williams found a dose of her own Monday in the selfless actions of strangers. Sorting through a table at the University of Chicago Medical Center that overflowed with homemade knit hats, Williams tried to find the best one to warm her head—hairless since treatment began for her breast cancer last fall."To receive a gift from a friend is one thing, but to receive gifts from someone who doesn't even know you . . . it's unimaginable," Williams, 50, said of the donated hats. "It gets you through it, it's just a remarkable thing."As Barack Obama spent part of his day refurbishing a teen homeless shelter in Washington, D.C., Chicagoans young and old chose Monday to heed the president-elect's call for public service on Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
Many organizers said they had never seen such a huge turnout, suggesting that the excitement surrounding Obama's inauguration, as well as the organizational power of Internet social networks, led to a surge in participation.Robyn Hall, board member of Wilmette-based The Kindness Connection, said that she had to add workshops for children and parents to craft items such as medals for Special Olympians."We opened up a second time slot because so many people wanted to sign up," she said. "That got filled up in four hours."At Sherwood Elementary School in Chicago's Englewood neighborhood, more than 200 people painted murals of smiling fruit and book characters. "There's just an influx of volunteers," said Johnny Barr of City Year, which organized the project. Elsewhere, students and faculty from Prairie State College in Chicago Heights delivered 150 bags of food and toiletries to two south suburban charities, the Chi Sigma Omega sorority collected donated clothing in Bolingbrook, and 55 volunteers from Our Savior's Lutheran Church in Burbank packaged food to feed starving children.The Corporation for National and Community Service, a federal government group that coordinates King Day service efforts, reported that more than 12,000 projects were to take place Monday, twice the total as in 2008. The group worked with the inauguration committee and Web sites."The energy around service has been growing dramatically. The president-elect obviously has tapped a vein in this country," said Stan Soloway, a member of the corporation's board of directors. Knitters for Obama, which provided hats for University of Chicago Medical Center patients along with the hospital's own Forefront Stitchers, grew online to more than 4,000 members, said co-founder Kristen Rengren."For a lot of people, this is their first time doing public service," Rengren said. "I think that's one of the great things about Obama—that he's inspired people to do service for the first time."Freelance reporter Carmen Greco contributed to this report. lharrison2@tribune.com

Volunteers heed Obama's call on King holiday

January 19, 2009 1:32 PM
Responding to President-elect Barack Obama's "call to service" on Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day, people across the Chicago area today were taking part in efforts to help others.

Students from Kenwood Academy work on a mural at Martin Luther King Jr. College Prep High School in Chicago. (José M. Osorio/Chicago Tribune)
At the University of Chicago Medical Center, more than 200 colorful knit hats made by a national group called Knitters for Obama and hospital employees were handed out to cancer treatment patients. The 4,000-member group was started in support of Obama's presidential campaign, said Chicagoan Kristen Rengren, one of the group's founders.
"For a lot of people, this is their first time doing public service," Rengren said. "I think that's one of the great things about Obama -- that he's inspired people to do service for the first time."
Connie Williams, 50, who was diagnosed with breast cancer last year, was one of those trying on some of the knit hats on display. She said it was "phenomenal" to see the commitment of people helping strangers.
City Year, a non-profit group that enlists young people for a year of full-time community service, decided to lend a helping hand today to Sherwood Elementary School in the Englewood neighborhood.
Students who were out of school today for the national holiday will likely be surprised when they return Tuesday to a building with freshly painted hallways and classrooms, and murals of the food pyramid in the lunchroom and children's book characters in the library.
Volunteers were using 100 gallons of paint, 250 paint brushes and rollers, and 100 rolls of tape for the five-hour job today, said Taylor Finchum, the group's logistics coordinator. More than 200 volunteers donned latex gloves and masks to help, she said.
City Year usually does service projects at locations around the city on the King holiday, said Johnny Barr, the group's director of external relations. But this year there appeared to be more volunteers than projects.
"We've had to turn people away, unfortunately," he said. "It's an amazing day to see people who want to come out and do service."
-- Robert Mitchum and Lauren R. Harrison

CITY YEAR TO PAINT SHERWOOD!

On Monday, January 19, 2009, City Year Chicago corps members will join community volunteers alongside over 200, newly inducted Young Heroes and City Heroes. Service will include painting murals, painting interior spaces, light construction and organizing donations for Jesse Sherwood Elementary. City Year Chicago along with youth and community volunteers will perform service and celebrate the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. This event continues the tradition of corps members, youth and volunteers making Martin Luther King, Jr. Day a “Day-On,” to commemorate the legacy of Dr. King through community building, service and reflection.

CPS LAUNCHES THE 2009 MONEY SMART KID ESSAY CONTEST!

In the spirit of directly promoting and recognizing students’ knowledge of important personal finance concepts, Chicago Public Schools and its city-wide partners are launching the 2009 Money Smart Kid Essay Contest. The annual competition is open to students in grades 5 through 8, offers expanded learning opportunities, and the eligibility to win a variety of prizes and scholarship awards.

The deadline to submit essays is March 23, 2009. For details, please see attached essay topic, guidelines, timeline, and application form. Please post a copy of this educational and financial opportunity where it may be easily viewed by staff. If you have any questions regarding the essay competition, contact Norma Ghaben in the Department of Finance at nghaben@cps.k12.il.us or via telephone at 773/553-2725.

Thank you for your continued efforts to educate, inspire and transform!

Indoor Soccer Program!

007th District Commander Keith Calloway
U.N.I.O.N. Impact Center and
The Salvation Army

invite you to
The International Indoor Soccer Program
“Let’s keep our children learning, healthy and safe”

The goal is to develop your child’s skills and talents in a positive and focused atmosphere.
Classes are designed for youth ages 7 and up.
Every Saturday
Time: 1pm-4pm
Location: The Salvation Army
945 West 69th Street

For More Information Call:

007 District Community Policing Office
Officer Rafael Yañez 312 747 8489

CPS Employees!

Dear CPS Employees:

MARK YOUR CALENDARS. It is with great pleasure that we announce the CPS/UNCF campaign kick-off to be held on Thursday, Jan. 29th at the Hyatt Regency-Chicago.

AREA 13 Science Fair

There will be THREE students representing Sherwood at the Area 13 Science Fair. Thank you to Ms. Ciambrone, Mr. Gilbert and Ms. Kendrick for helping our children SHINE on the 26th of January.

THANK YOU TO OUR REAL MEN READ MEN

Evan Moore

Theodore Collins

Victor Easley

John Sterling

Jeff Dortch

Andrew Jones

Richard Miles

Thank you for your dedication and support you so graciously give each month.

We love having you part of our family!

AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAM FOR HOMEWORK HELP IS IN THE HOUSE!

Need Homework Help?


What: New Program! Students receive homework help from
Chicago Cares volunteers

Who: Sherwood students grades 4-6

When: 1st & 3rd Tuesday of the month
3:00 – 4:00 pm
Dates: 1/20, 2/3, 2/17, 3/3 & 3/17

Where: Sherwood Elementary Library

CITY YEAR PAINTING ENTIRE SCHOOL

We will be opening our school doors on Martin Luther King Day to CITY YEAR. This wonderful group of young people will be painting the school. Thank you to City Year for this generous and most needed project. I am looking forward to a beautiful and bright school!

BULLS GAME ATTENDED BY TEACHERS, STUDENTS AND PARENTS

Students and parents attended a Bulls game tonight. Ms. Buzanis received a generous donation from KIA Motors for her students, parents and teachers to attend an exciting game! Thank you to all the teachers who volunteered to attend the game and monitor the children. Your after-school dedication is greatly appreciated by me and more importantly, the children. I hope you had a great time!

Happy New Year!

I wanted to begin by wishing everyone a HAPPY NEW YEAR! It has been an outstanding school year so far, and I hope that our momentum continues. Our school year began with a BACK TO SCHOOL RALLY sponsored by KIA MOTORS and the CHICAGO BULLS. We have had school supplies and toy donations by KIA Motors and Hope International and have had generous donations from Alderman Cochran's Office during the Thanksgiving Holiday. This has truly been a fantastic year for our school community. I am very excited to announce that we have had another outstanding group come forward to help us. CITY YEAR has generously offered to paint our school. More details will follow regarding this exciting event. We anticipate the school being painted on January 19th. The school is closed on that day in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, but we will open our doors to this generous group of young people who want to make our school beautiful! Please visit daily for updates. Have a beautiful 2009 with all of the very best and please have your children focus on preparing for the ISAT each and everyday. I know that 2009 will bring us the BEST ISAT SCORES in the CITY! YES WE CAN!