Crossings: Rockland School

Address: 160 W. Rockland Road, Libertyville

Phone: (847) 362-3134

District's name and Web site: Libertyville Elementary District 70, ww.d70.k12.il.us

Number of students/grade levels offered: There are 380 students.

Number of staff: There are 33 staff members including teachers and support staff.

School mascot: The Raptors

When was school built: The school was built in 1927.

An interesting tidbit: Rockland School was first built as a kindergarten through eighth-grade school to serve the southern portion of Libertyville. Four classrooms were added to the original building in 1929, three in 1952 and a gym in 1958.

Principal: Jean LeBlanc

• This is her first year serving as principal although she took her first teaching job 13 years ago at Rockland School .

• What is your favorite memory from Rockland School? LeBlanc said it would be the opening and closing ceremony. Everyone gathers outside on the school's front lawn, and as principal she rings a bell donated by a former class to officially mark the start and end of the school year. "It is really a unique Rockland tradition," she said. "When I got to ring the bell as principal, I got goose bumps."

• What do you think is an unique aspect of your school? LeBlanc said it is an incredibly strong sense of community. The teachers look out for the kids. The neighbors look out for the kids, and the parents look out for the teachers. There is a strong sense of respect and citizenship within the school.

• What are you most proud of? "I'm most proud of the fact that my staff is dedicated to meeting the individual needs of 380 kids and they do an outstanding job of it," LeBlanc said.

• If all school enrollments were determined by choice what would you say to potential parents to convince them to choose Rockland School for their children? First, LeBlanc said, the staff will do anything they need to do to meet each child's needs whether the child is struggling or needs extra enrichment. What also makes the school special are the parents who support the staff and their children whether it be academic, social or emotional needs. "This community rallies in a way that is truly heartwarming," she said.

• How has technology changed the way students learn over the past five years? Has that been a good change? LeBlanc said students today are being taught technology is a tool that is available to them that was not available to their parents or grandparents. Technology is a powerful tool, and learning to use technology is helping students to prepare for the 21st century. "It is nice kids can get their hands on information more quickly, but it can be a distraction if it is not monitored correctly," she noted.

• If you can get one thing accomplished between now and the end of May in your school, what would it be? "I would want every student to be performing at his or her level of success and to be able to recognize their own uniqueness and how all skills are different for each child," she said.