A look inside …

Fairhaven School

Address: 634 Countryside Highway, Mundelein

Phone: (847) 949-0991

Web site: www.d76.lake.k12.il.us/fh/fairhaven.html

District's name and Web site: Diamond Lake School District 76 (www.d76.lake.k12.il.us)

Number of students/grade levels offered: Serves 325 Mundelein-area students in early childhood, prekindergarten, kindergarten and first-grade classes.

Number of staff: 49

School mascot: The Friends

When was school built: 1953

Interesting fact: The school won the Exemplary Reading Program Award from the International Reading Association in 2006.

Principal: Michele Allen

• Serving in her first year

• What do you think is the most unique aspect of your school? "I think it's a very nurturing school. This year, we're doing (an approach called) responsive classroom, where we're building community and self-confidence and the independence of each child."

• What are you most proud of? "The strong reading program. And this year … we're going to intensify the writing program."

• How has technology changed the way students learn and has that been a good change? "It has been a good change. Right now they get to go (to) a computer lab three times a week, and they do a reading program on it. … When you have a kindergartner that knows how to use a mouse and how to type in a story of his own, or how to open a folder and get to different programs, I think that's a good foundation for what they're going to use in second, third or fourth grade."

• If you can accomplish one thing this school year, what would it be? "I would like more community involvement from community members and parents. That is one of my goals this year."