District87 staff newsletter 01/15/05

January 18, 2005

Bi-weekly e-newsletter for District 87 employees

Draft of 2005-2006 School Calendar available online
Click HERE for a pdf version of the 1st draft of the 2005-2006 School Calendar, as presented to the Board of Education on January 12th. If the file does not open, click HERE for a .jpg image of the calendar.

Board of Education hears final report for BJHS addition
Bill Payne, from Fanning/Howey Associates, Inc. provided the final report on proposed building addition options for Bloomington Junior High School during the January 12th meeting of the Board of Education.
Additional classrooms are proposed to be added to the southeast corner of the current building (near the softball field) and will consist of two stories. A larger music room will be added to the front of the building. The nursing clinic will move to the former music room, making room for additional administrative space, and the 6th grade BD classroom will move to the 6th grade hallway, making room for an additional art classroom.

Option 1: 10 classrooms 15,400 sq. ft. ($2,235,156) Arts for Life ($268,946) Discipline Office ($185,260) Gym 15,200 sq. ft Total: $5,828,162	Option 2: 10 classrooms 15,400 sq. ft. ($2,235,156) Arts for Life ($268,946) Discipline Office ($185,260) Larger Gym 24,500 sq. ft Total: $7,604,062
Option 3: 12 classrooms 15,400 sq. ft. ($2,548,800) Arts for Life ($268,946) Discipline Office ($185,260) Gym 15,200 sq. ft Total: $6,141,806	Option 4: 12 classrooms 15,400 sq. ft. ($2,548,800) Arts for Life ($268,946) Discipline Office ($185,260) Larger Gym 24,500 sq. ft Total: $7,917,706

If approved, construction will begin before August 2005 and will be completed by Fall 2006. The gymnasium may take longer, but should be completed by the second semester. Funding for the construction could be financed by releasing bonds. Property taxes will not be affected.

BHS reports record number of students receiving AP honors
Last May's Advanced Placement test results proved to be the most successful at BHS, as 34 students received academic recognition - 13 more than the previous year's record setting numbers. With its 13 courses, BHS offers the most comprehensive AP program in the area and is currently the only public high school in B/N to offer AP courses. Each May, students enrolled in AP courses at BHS take national AP exams. Based on their scores, they may qualify for college credit if they receive a score of "3" of a possible "5." Each year, many of our graduates enter college with a full semester worth of credits, due to their success on the AP exams.

Fourteen 2004 graduates received AP Scholars recognition (scoring a "3" of a possible "5" on 3 or more exams) were: Cassandra Clingon, Michael Coons, Patrick Dunn, Kaylyn Eash, Bethany Heins, Kristen Jackson, Chelsea Kingston, Laura Knight, Amruta Mate, Amanda Parsons, Matthew Rolfs, Hans Skillrud, Jeremy Steinberg and Rebecca Vayo. Nine current BHS seniors received AP Scholars recognition: John Arnold, Laura Colee, Mark Jones, Adam Kim, Andy Kubiak, Tabrez Mohammed and Jared Woodrey.

Four 2004 graduates received AP Scholars with Honors recognition (scoring an average grade of "3.25" or higher on all exams and grades of "3" or higher on at least 4 exams) were: Jamie Downing, Christopher Kelley, Laura Leinhop and Ann Ochiltree.

Nine 2004 graduates received AP Scholars with Distinction recognition (scoring an average grade of "3.5" or higher on all exams and grades of "3" or higher on at least 5 exams) were: Sawyer Campbell, Adam Coffman, Sarah Demeritt, Anthony Gardner, Andrew Lawrence, Kayleigh Miller, Allison Reu, Lindsey Titus and Katherine Wiley.

District receives grant for Summer Bridges program
Irving and Sheridan students qualifying for Summer School will be eligible to attend "tuition free" again this year, thanks to an ISBE grant in the amount of $33,000. The grant will support the Summer Bridges program at each school.

Volunteers sought for District's Sesquicentennial Committee
The year 2007 will mark the 150th anniversary of the founding of Bloomington Public Schools! We are currently seeking volunteers for our Sesqui committee. If you are interested in helping out, please contact us. Retirees and alumni are encouraged to apply. Click HERE to see our history site.

Congratulations to...
• Carol Roehrig (Sheridan School Title I Intervention teacher) and Dr. Nielsen. Roehrig and Nielsen have been nominated for Those Who Excel Awards from the Illinois State Board of Education.
• Irving School took 1st place in the float competition during the 75th annual Jaycee Christmas Parade.
• BHS Poms recently placed 1st in the Mahomet-Seymour Sectionals and qualified for Super-Sectionals.
• our 8th grade boys basketball team for winning the Intercity title.

District Trivia:
Last issue's trivia answer re: BHS graduation rate was:
d) all of the above. Click HERE to see more information.

This issue's trivia question...
is a follow up from last issue:
According to this year's School Report Cards, BHS' graduation rate is higher than the state average, higher than NCHS' and higher than NCWHS'.

So, according to the ISBE's School Report Card, how many years since 2000 has BHS had the highest graduation rate of the three intercity public schools?

a) this was the first year
b) each year since 2000
c) two consecutive years
d) in 2000, in 2002 and again in 2004

Click here to see a detailed answer and a chart of BHS' rising graduation rate.

5 correct anwers! Thanks for playing!

Upcoming events

Friday, January 21
• Stevenson School will hold a "Hats On" day for Cancer Research. Students donating $1 may wear a hat all day.

Week of January 24-28
• Irving School's Spirit Week.

Wednesday, January 26
• Board of Education meeting. 6:30 p.m. ESC.

Thursday, January 27
• Irving School's Grandparent's Day. Students are asked to invite their grandparents to visit or to have lunch with them.

Friday, January 28
• Stevenson School's Spirit Day.

Friday, February 4
• Oakland School wraps up its week-long Adlai Stevenson II week with an all school assembly. 2:00 p.m.

Have a story or event to list? Click HERE !