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3 - Report Cards - No School in PM Teacher In-Service!

7 - Teacher Institute - No Student Attendance

10 - No School - Holiday

13-17 - Spring Break

8 - Mid-Term - No School in PM

13 - District Spelling Bee

21 - All School Picnic

25 - No School - Memorial Day

5 - Last Day of School

Field-Stevenson and the Forest Park Middle School

now have a new way for parents to contact teachers:"

voice mail." When you call and ask to speak with a

staff member, we always try to put you in contact - if

it is possible.

However, we will not put a call through"to a person

who teaching class at that time." Also, teachers may be

in meetings or even out of the building.

You are always free to leave a message with the

secretary." Now, though, you have another option."

You can ask to be connected to the teacher's voice

mail." In this way, you can leave a detailed message for

that teacher.

Our teachers check their voice-mailbox several

times a day." So you should receive an answer in a day

or so.

Please take advantage

of another mode of

staying in close contact

with your child's teachers!

-Mr. Giovannoni

z Voicemail z

I S S U E 3! S P R I N G 2 0 0 9

F I E L D - S T E V E N S O N S C H O O L

Principal: Mr. GiovannoniAssistant Principal: Ms. Dwyer

SHARK Bytes

April

Field-Stevenson

708-366-5703

May June

Mark Your

Calendars!

The students at Field-Stevenson have been

making new friends at Betsy Ross even though the

two schools have not yet merged into grade level

centers." In February, Field students wrote to Betsy

Ross students of the same grade level." They told a

little bit about themselves and then asked the pen pal

to write back with

some personal

information. Betsy

Ross students then

wrote back in

March, answering

questions that Field

students had asked.

The children in

Grades 1-4

practiced standard

letter writing format." Fourth graders have recently

written a second letter to their pen pals at Betsy,

explaining some aspects of Field-Stevenson that

might be different from their school." Many of the

South Side Pen PalsBy: Ann Murray

Continued on page 2

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Field-Stevenson and Betsy Ross Elementary Schools held their first-ever south

side “Festival of Arts”. The Festival of Arts is a combination of products of the art

and music programs at the two schools. The choir, led by Ms. Dooley, was well

rehearsed for their performance of the night singing uplifting patriotic songs that

included rhythmic clapping.

The artwork, displayed by Mrs. Skelton’s art

classes, represented works from the two schools

(grades K-5). Art students created colorful images

using the distinctive technique

that children’s author, Eric

Carle, uses. They hand-painted

papers and then cut and

layered them to form a collage. Ms. Skelton worked diligently

to display the hundreds of pieces of artwork created by the

students over the course of the year. From the amazing big

bugs inspired by David Rogers’

sculptures at the Arboretum to the

interpretations of Van Gogh’s “Starry

Night” – each piece represents a unique

learning experience and a different

artistic technique.

Hooray for the Arts!

Continued from page 1

South Side Pen Pals

Our First South Side Festival of Arts

students already know the fourth graders at Betsy

Ross so sometime it’s more of a returning

connection than an introduction to new friends.

The kindergarten students dictated questions to

their teachers who

copied them onto

large sheets of

paper in a letter

format. Field

students wanted

to know what the

Betsy students do

for fun, as one

example." They

also reminded the Betsy kindergarteners that they

already share some of the same teachers (Miss

Dooley for music and Ms. Skelton for art). "These

children also sent pictures of themselves to their

counterparts at Betsy Ross." In return Field

kindergartners received a similar letter.

The Latin students in

both schools also wrote to

each other and sent pictures

of themselves." Many

students found that they

already knew their pen pals

from other activities in Forest

Park, such as sports, day

camp, or summer fun.

Both schools will be

meeting face to face with a

picnic at the end of the

school year." That will be the

end of writing to new

friends and the beginning of

knowing them face to face.

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Coming to Field Stevenson in the Fall: PBISPositive Behavior Intervention Systems

By: Cheryl Bussert

This fall, the intermediate attendance centers, Field Stevenson Elementary School, along with Grant White Elementary School, will join the Forest Park Middle School in a district wide initiative called Positive Behavior Intervention Systems (PBIS). PBIS focuses on improving the school’s ability to teach and support positive behaviors in all students. It is a proactive approach, the emphasis of which is on developing and maintaining a safe environment where teachers model positive behaviors, then teach them. Students learn and then demonstrate those behaviors. Motivators are put in place to help reward students for appropriate and positive behaviors. What is different about this approach? The emphasis on teaching behaviors instead of enforcing discipline.

Does it work? The Forest Park Middle School is completing their first successful year of implementation. Recently featured in the Forest Park Review, parents may wish to read from the following: Adams, J. (2009, February 19). Middle school: Kids responding to new tact. Forest Park Review [internet]. http://www.forestparkreview.com. Parents may also

wish to visit the PBIS Illinois website http://www.pbisillinois.org/ for more information. Key focus areas include “prevention-based” systems and “data-based decision-making.” In the February 2009 newsletter, the Illinois PBIS network notes that Illinois is on track to celebrate a major milestone during its eleventh year – 25%, or more than 1,000 Illinois schools will have initiated implementation. “The demand for PBIS continues because it is making a difference! Schools that implement PBIS with integrity have consistently shown reductions in the number of discipline problems, increases in academic test scores, higher measures of school safety, and improved school climate.” (Feb. 2009)

PBIS requires a commitment from staff. Staff training and professional development is taking place for administrators and teachers. The first tier PBIS committee includes our principal, Mr. Giovannoni, our assistant principal, Ms. Dwyer, teachers, Mr. Becker, Mrs. Bogdan, Mrs. Bussert, Mrs. Dooley, Mr. McElligott, and social worker, Ms. Maraviglia. All staff will be trained to create universal interventions that are effective and support the success of everyone at our school.

Visiting a Cardboard CityField-Stevenson Elementary’s 1st grade and 6th graders from Forest Park Middle School teamed up for a trip to the Exquisite City exhibit at the Chicago Tourism Center. "Led by Art teachers Ms. Norton and Ms. Skelton, the students experienced a unique visit to a fantasy city made of cardboard. "The exhibit was the work of over 70 artists and reflects the city of Chicago with buildings, parks, and neighborhood streets.

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Why catch a leprechaun? The answer is simple: if you catch a leprechaun, he will lead you to his pot of gold and give it to you as a bribe to let

him go. The not so simple part is actually catching one. Mrs. Farrington's kindergartners learned that a leprechaun can be very tricky and that they had to be creative when devising a way to try to catch him.

Knowing that leprechauns are very greedy, the students

designed their structures with enticing shiny gold coins,

rainbows, and four- leaf clovers. Each student created a unique trap to lure a leprechaun. Designs included trap doors, trick staircases, secret doors, pull traps, and falling traps. Each student took a turn explaining his trap to the class and answering questions relating to special design features. No two traps were the same because leprechauns can get suspicious and leave. The traps were set out on St.

Patrick's Day. The students went out for a walk and came back to find the room a mess with a

trail of gold coins!

STUDENTS OF

THE QUARTER

Jasmine DassGauri Jain Shalah RussellCarlos Craveiro Madison RostelloMary Barnett Joshua AlmawiMaria Garcia Miriam RosalesBianca Botello Jada RhodesTia Haire

Congratulations Students!

Sneaky Leprechaun Foils

Kindergartners!

Shalah Russell Fiona SatterfieldSonny Valdez

2nd Grade

(Hirsch)Bryanna BarkerMary BarnettSimone BirrielPerry CowanNayeli Garcia Julio Luna-PinaAllen Serrano

(Bork)Mikala BallardReyna CarreraLinda GoshiMayumi PascualMadison Rostello

3rd Grade

(Bente) Joshua AlmawiElena Buenrostro

Evelyn CarreraMaya HarmonAshley HenryRenen MaddiRebekkah MontanezAidan RemingtonElizabeth RojasCharlie Valdez

(Schreiner)Christopher AvnerAnaya BoydGerardo GarciaMaria GarciaRylee RiveraLelia Rodgers-YoungKarina ShelwoodJustin Taylor

4th Grade

(Randazzo Thompson)Bianca BotelloAdam ClarkeParis Cowan

Taviana DunlapBart GashiMohit JainDarien JonesJacob JordanBriana MingoAnthony MorrisGerardo PerezBrianna SpinelliArmand Vasquez

(McElligott)Jalen GraysonTheresa HoldenAlyssa ManceSydney MangiaracinaNichole MartinKyler Pacygan

5th Grade

(Bogdan)Jonathan AlmawiNoah BinionJesus Botello

Eboni DraneTia HaireArianna MullinsDeja SibbyAutumn SkelnikDayana SunilKristen Svoboda

(Becker)Maya BuenrostroChezlan DaggsZoephia LaughlinIsaiah MallettMary Gene MirafloresDeQuan PopeJada RhodesJarrell TownesKeyuna Wilson

3rd Quarter

Honor Roll

1st Grade

(Callahan)Adeodoyin AdereleJacob Almawi Samuel BonillaBryant BoydMagaly CarreraAkayhla DixonVaughn Jordan-WhitingMicah O’NealOlivia RemingtonSeymone Russell

(Boucek)Marcus BrownSamantha ClantonJulia FilimowiczLeron MaddiGavin OConnorEzekiel Rivera