Eighth-graders end study unit with tasty traditional Field's treat
Tuesday afternoon eighth-graders at River Trails Middle School, 1000 N. Wolf Road, enjoyed a very special end to their study of the rise of department stores in Chicago.
They were allowed to enjoy snowman sundaes in a replicated version of the State Street Marshall Field's famous Walnut Room.
The treat was the brainchild of eighth-grade history teacher Caroline Skelton.
"River Trails Middle School received national recognition as a Blue Ribbon School and the eighth-graders were a big part of why we won that award," Skelton explained. "So we wanted to reward them for working so hard the past couple of year to help us win."
Over the past 2½ years the students have studied such things as Egyptian hieroglyphics, probability, the constellations, water pollution, global warming and many other topics -- the range and depth of which helped to earn the national recognition.
So Skelton had the students make "windows" like the Field's holiday windows representing these various topics.
And the faculty decorated a white Christmas tree like the one in the Walnut Room and covered it with blue stars, ribbons and ornaments to represent the Blue Ribbon award designation.
"Then one of my favorite childhood memories of eating at the Walnut Room was their snowman sundaes so we are replicating those for the kids to enjoy," Skelton explained.
"We try to do lots of cross-curricular things to tie things we are studying in science, for instance, into the things we are studying in history and so forth," she continued. "This accomplishes that same thing."
Home for the Holidays concert:ŒEleven college students and two recent college graduates will collaborate at 7:30 p.m. Friday to present the third annual "Home for the Holidays" concert program at St. Raymond Church at Elmhurst Avenue and Lincoln Street.
All of the young people involved got to know each other while performing in the church music ministry during high school. Two years ago they decided to put on a show over their semester break to raise money for a good cause and to give them a chance to work together again, according to Danielle Larson, one of the organizers.
Admission is free, but baskets will be put out at the reception afterward to accept donations for World Vision, a Christian relief and development organization dedicated to helping children and their communities worldwide reach their full potential by tackling the causes of poverty.
The singers and musicians involved this year are Rachael Steacy, Roslyn Anderson, Matt Anderson, Erin Larson, Olivia Masini, Joey Behun, Megan McDermott, Leslie Anderson, Mark Irwinski, Nicole Kapolas, Mary Haskins, Tommy Moore and Danielle Larson.
Two of the participants are first-year teachers in area schools. The others attend such schools as DePaul University, Miami University of Ohio, Dominican University in River Forest, Elmhurst College, Western Michigan University, Indiana University and the University of Illinois.
New Mount Prospect calendar:ŒThe Mount Prospect Historical Society has released its second annual calendar and this one features historic photos of automobiles.
Mount Prospect has a long love affair with cars, from William Busse opening of one of the first Buick dealerships in the state, to the current downtown car shows; this town has been fascinated with automobiles, says Gavin Kleespies, executive director of the Society. This calendar fits right in with that interest and features everything from a 1936 police chase to a Schlitz Beer delivery truck at Kruse's Tavern.
The new calendars are $10, which helps to support the Mount Prospect Historical Society, and are available at the Historical Society, the Mount Prospect Public Library, Norway General Store and Cycle Shop, Neat 'N Cool Gifts, Busse Automotive, and Keefer's Pharmacy. For more information, call 847-392-9006.