Bartlett school to get ISAT workbooks

Practice workbooks for students taking Illinois State Achievement Test exams will once again be available for Centennial Elementary School students, thanks to the schools annual walkathon fundraiser.

The Bartlett school's Parent-Teacher Council raised about $12,000 at the Sept. 27 event, and about half of that sum will go toward the classrooms for curriculum aids.

"Teachers don't get a lot of funds from the district for things like this," said Charlene Hill, Centennial council president. "They found that these study guides were helpful in preparing for the ISATs because the guides are tailored to individual areas where students need help."

Hill said that the council purchased the study guides last year for students in third through sixth grades. Last spring when developing their annual parent council request list, Centennial teachers asked for the workbooks again because of their helpfulness.

Hill said her group also expected to purchase additions to the school DVD library, both for curriculum and entertainment purposes.

In the past, funds raised from Centennial walkathon, which takes the place of smaller, multiple fundraising events throughout the school year, have gone toward the purchase of playground equipment, novel sets, digital cameras and educational software. Last year's funds were also used on an emergency basis to buy copy paper for the school when Elgin Area Unit District 46 cut off funds for its purchase later in the school year.

On the day of the walkathon, students walked a designated course around the school 10 times. The parent council provided a disc jockey and music, and awarded each participant a pencil and a coupon for a free ice cream cone from Dairy Queen.

Students were asked to raise $40 each. The top fundraisers were sisters Paige and Brooke Benders, who received $100 and $50 American Express gift cards for their efforts. The classroom with the highest participation was Cathy Griff's second-graders, who achieved about 80 percent of students bringing in funds. Students will received a pizza party for their efforts and Griff will get a Market Day pie.