Computer Coding, Online French & Spanish For Fifth-Graders, Along With New Reading And Writing Material Greet Students This Fall

New classes in computer programing, international languages, and health, as well as new reading and writing programs, along with improved safety additions, laptops for sixth-graders, renovation to Rockland School, and some new carpeting are greeting Libertyville School District 70 students this fall.

During library time, District 70 kindergartners through fifth-graders will spend some time with Learning Center directors learning computer programing, or coding, as it is known, said Erik Youngman, the district's director of curriculum, instruction, and assessment. Learning the technical language of coding is an extension of writing, he added.

"The ability to code allows students to "write" interactive animations, stories, games, and simulations," Youngman said. "In the process of learning to code, students learn mathematical and computational ideas, such as variables and conditionals, and learning strategies for solving problems, designing projects, and communicating ideas. Coding transcends languages. Ultimately, there is a shift in mindsets, to see coding not only as a pathway to a career, but as a new context for learning, form of expression, and language. As Steve Jobs said, "Everyone should learn to code ... because it teaches you how to think.""

Meanwhile, fifth-graders will spend the first half of the school year learning French and the second half learning Spanish through an online program available at school and at home. The weekly 30-minute time slot spent learning an international language through the "Rosetta Stone" program will replace keyboarding, which will continue to be taught in second through fourth grades. The program itself, which requires keyboarding, will continue to help develop students' keyboarding skills.

"Feedback gathered from previous surveys and during the Strategic Plan process indicated world languages are important to parents of Libertyville District 70," Youngman said. "Research suggests that learning international languages can enhance students' mental focus, reading and writing abilities, critical thinking skills, and perspectives about different cultures."

District 70 also is introducing new language arts and literature programs, using "Collaborative Classrooms" for kindergarten and first grade, and "Journeys" for second through fifth grades. Both programs were in the mix last year during extensive field-testing by teachers. An in-depth review of both programs is being offered to District 70 parents from 6:15 to 7:45 p.m. on Aug. 22 at Copeland Manor School, 801 S. Seventh St., Libertyville. This is a parents-only meeting to learn about and discuss the new reading, word study, vocabulary and writing materials.

It's been 13 years since District 70 adopted complete language arts programs because it took awhile for textbooks to reach and meet the Illinois Standards, Youngman noted. Through the years, teachers have been adding their own material to assist them in teaching.

"Collaborative Classroom builds foundations for reading success while also integrating reading instruction with the social learning needed to build a caring classroom community," he said. "This research based curriculum teaches foundational skills in the context of rich literacy experiences that foster students' growth as responsible, caring, and collaborative people. Collaborative Classroom combines the strengths of the whole class and small group instruction to develop confident readers who love to read, understand what they read, and can discuss their ideas and opinions with others."

Journeys is considered one of the most widely used Reading/ELA programs in the country, Youngman said.

"From the first day of each lesson, Journeys uses authentic, complex texts to ensure students are always engaged with high-quality text worth reading closely. The Journeys close reading routine-Think Through the Text, Analyze the Text, Independent Reading-is practical and powerful because it provides students the time and support they need to dig deep and build lifelong habits of close reading."

This year, elementary physical education teachers also will teach health once a week for a trimester. To meet the Illinois Enhanced Physical Education Standards, students will learn about such topics as nutrition, hygiene and body systems. "The enhanced health education will help students learn skills they will use to make healthy choices throughout their lifetime," he said.

Meanwhile STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, and math) is still very much a part of the curriculum at District 70.

"Language and science, technology, engineering, arts, and math (STEAM) skills are becoming more necessary to succeed in careers that continue to evolve. By introducing Libertyville District 70 students to world language, coding, and STEAM skills early on, students will be equipped with a skill set necessary to be innovative, succeed in their careers, and learn tools to shape the future."

Last January, District 70 purchased a new science curriculum for kindergarten through eighth grade - STEMscopes. Teachers were trained on the new material after field-testing it and implemented it into their classrooms in the new year. STEMscopes will continue to be a part of the science curriculum at the four elementary schools.

Also begun last year and taking root again this year with more enhancements are innovation opportunities in makerspaces, also a growing part of STEAM.

"Adler, Butterfield, Copeland and Rockland school will continue to learn and grow with expanded makerspace opportunities for students during exploration opportunities with Learning Center directors," Youngman said. A makerspace is a metaphor for a unique learning environment that drives curiosity and innovation by fostering opportunities to share tools, ideas, and skills to explore and create. Activities typically relate to science, technology, engineering, arts, and math. "Makerspaces are unique, relevant, and meaningful spaces for schools to create conditions to inspire students to build, tinker, explore, think, question, design, create, struggle, collaborate, try, solve, invent, reflect and learn."

This year, at Highland Middle School, teachers will look into enhancing technology, as well as reviewing the international language program, along with science and writing, and evaluating new material for each. District 70 will continue working with Community High School District 128 on aligning argumentative student writing.

"Using technology to improve and amplify teaching and learning will be a focus at Highland this year as technology enhancements provide Highland students with tools to support their success at school and home, in the community, and with future careers," Youngman noted. "The goal of this enhanced focus is to develop Accountable, Collaborative, Creative, Engaged and Self-directed Students (ACCESS)."

To that end, the school's ACCESS 1:1 program will be distributing Chromebooks to sixth-graders the second week of school. This is a pilot program for District 70 in an effort to support student success at school and home, in the community and with future careers, said Principal Jon Hallmark.

"The Access 1:1 program allows us to extend opportunities for learning and helps us create self-directed digital citizens who are ready for the future," Hallmark said.

In line with an ongoing commitment to safety and security, cameras continue to be installed outside District 70 buildings and interior entrance wings that will monitor and record activity on school grounds to enhance safety at the buildings, said Supt. Dr. Guy Schumacher. New lights also were added to Copeland Manor School's playground to provide more safety.

Stage lighting will be installed for Copeland Manor School's stage to encourage greater outside use of the new gymnasium with stage. Last year, the school underwent a $5.7 million renovation, which included adding a stage.

New carpeting was added to the Butterfield School kindergarten wing, and new carpeting also replaced old carpeting in the basement classrooms at Adler Park School. Drainage was reconfigured in the back of Adler Park School.

Part of the entryway sidewalk to the front door of Butterfield School also was replaced due to deteriorating conditions. But the newest item this year, a new playground, was completely funded by Butterfield parents and friends, and they helped install the equipment during a June weekend.

The major changes can be seen, in part, at Rockland School, which is undergoing a $5.3 million renovation that will double the size of the gym, add two new classrooms, remodel the front office, add an access door on the west side of the school and install a new teacher-only parking lot on the west side of District 70's oldest school. The sprinkling system was updated throughout the school over the summer. While the bulk of the school will be done in time for school to start, the gym and additional classrooms won't be ready until the first of the new year.

Parents drop-off and pick-up traffic flow at the school will be changed as construction crews take over most of the east parking lot as they maneuver large construction equipment on the landlocked site behind safety fencing. This will make street parking around the school a premium. When it opens, the new west side parking lot will be for teachers-only during the school day.

Students are encouraged to walk or ride a bicycle when the weather permits to reduce car traffic. Parents are encouraged to create a carpool. While school starts at 8:15 a.m., adults are on the playground at 7:45 a.m. and parents are encouraged to drop off their children between 7:45 and 8 a.m. Traffic is expected to be heavy between 8 and 8:15 a.m., so please allow yourself extra time for drop-off and pick-up.

The drop-off in the east side parking lot will continue to flow from east to west but will be limited to a single lane closest to the street. Staff will assist drivers and students, so please obey their instructions. Staff will assist students on debarking at orange cones and will use a clearly marked walking lane to get to the sidewalk.

For pickup, families will be given a laminated card with their last name to use on their dashboard so staff can radio ahead to other staff members near a student holding area which family vehicle has arrived. If the child is not ready, vehicles will be sent to a holding area until the child is ready.

During both pick-up and drop-off, cars may only go west once exiting the Rockland parking lot. People who drop off their child on Rockland Road in front of Rockland School can expect to be ticketed by Libertyville police because it is unsafe.

This year, District 70 is welcoming six new staff members, speech and language pathologists Victoria Vaccaro and Valerie Van Roeyen, along with teachers Highland Middle School life skills and Rti teacher Analiese Deflorio, Copeland Manor third grade teacher Max Dolinko, Highland Middle School special education teacher Christina Kiotis, and Copeland Manor physical education and health teacher Chris Ramlow.

Other activity during the summer included cleaning each school from ceiling to floor.