Founding Fabyan

There was clapping and some cheering when “blue” was recently announced as Fabyan Elementary
School’s official color, but that approval by students was nothing compared to when the school’s mascot was revealed.

Fabyan Elementary School is now the Home of the Falcons, and students couldn’t be more excited. From a list of five possible mascots–frogs, leprechauns, falcons, foxes and monkeys–the Fabyan Falcons was the clear winner; and at least one-second grader, Rachel, was on board with that particular choice from the start.

“They’re cool, and they are very strong,” she said of the birds.

Nick, a third grader, was also a supporter. “We just like falcons,” he said matter-of-factly.

Principal Darcy Thompson said the selection of a school color and mascot was an exciting time for the new school community, as it was the first in a long line of traditions that this first Fabyan class and staff was able to embark upon together.

“The applause and cheering brought music to my ears,” she said. “I looked across our Fabyan student body and came to the conclusion that we are becoming a cohesive group. For all of our students and staff that have come from different schools, we are forming a great togetherness here at Fabyan.”

The kindergarten through fourth grade students each contributed by a “write-in vote” for mascot and school colors. From those write-in votes, the top five choices for each category were put on a ballot; and the fifth grade and Fabyan staff voted.

But it wasn’t until Bernadette and George Richter of SOAR–Save Our American Raptors–walked into an all-school assembly with Damsel, a 6-year-old Peregrine Falcon, and Lacy, a 4-year-old American Kestrel, that the students knew the outcome of the vote. And they heartily approved.

“The kids were just really excited that they were able to participate in the choice,” said Principal Thompson.

Kelley Munch is the Communications Coordinator for the Geneva School District.

This article first appeared in the October 2009 issue of eGeneva Magazine.

Acknowledging Greatness

What an amazing school year it’s been!

What’s more amazing is that it’s only a little more than half over! Academics, athletics, you name it! Geneva’s students and staff are making headlines!

Had you heard that:

• Four Geneva High School students achieved perfect scores (36) on the ACT.
• Four students were named National Merit Scholarship Finalists, five were named Semi-Finalists and 16 were named Commended Students.
• There were 102 Illinois State Scholars this year at Geneva High School.
• Fifteen students received College Board Advanced Placement Scholar Awards, some with Distinction and Honors.

How about the fact that:

• Another Geneva teacher achieved National Board Certification, bringing Geneva School District’s number of National Board Certified teachers to 12.
• Geneva School District was the recipient, for the fifth year in a row, of the Bright Red Apple Award for academic excellence.
• Geneva High School ranked #23 in the Chicago Tribune’s list of the top 50 high schools in Illinois based on performance on the 2008 Prairie State Achievement Exam.

And we’re sure you heard that:

• The Varsity Girls’ Cross Country team won their second consecutive state championship.
• The Varsity Football team had an undefeated season and made it to the state championship for the first time since 1975.
• The Varsity Girls’ Basketball team finished fourth in state.
• The Dance Team won first place at state in lyrical dance and third place in open dance.
• The Vikings were conference champions in all eight conference fall sports and four of the winter sports and activities in which they compete.
• The Varsity Boys’ Cross Country team finished third in state.
• Four Girls’ Tennis players and one Girls’ Golf Team member competed in the state finals.
• Eight Geneva High School students were selected to perform in the All-State Music Festival.

All of this in a matter of months! And we haven’t even gotten to the end of winter sports and activities, the start of spring sports and activities or the second semester of academic accolades!

We simply do not have enough good things to say about the amazing students and staff at Geneva School District or the incredibly supportive community in which we reside. It is through the efforts of all that these and many other students and staff members are able to achieve and succeed to such profound levels!

Kelley is the Geneva School District’s communications coordinator.

This article first appeared in the April 2009 issue of eGeneva Magazine.

PRIDE in Geneva 304

In the fall of 2005, Geneva School District opened its doors to senior citizens wishing to volunteer their time in classrooms working with students and providing an “extra set of eyes, ears and hands” to the teachers.

In four short years, the program known as Proud Retired (and other) Individuals Dedicated to Education or P.R.I.D.E. has come to be called “a win-win,” “ success” and “very satisfying.” It has also grown to include nearly 40 volunteers in six of Geneva School District’s eight schools!

“I do think there are times when some of the kids just need a little bit more help, and when you have one teacher and 24 kids that’s difficult to do,” said Rose Fausey, one of P.R.I.D.E.’s first volunteers. “To have that extra help, it really benefits the child.”

“The P.R.I.D.E. program creates intergenerational relationships, opening doors and allowing for the sharing of experiences to create a better understanding between students and seniors,” said P.R.I.D.E. coordinator Steve Lillie.

“Students are so full of energy; and P.R.I.D.E. volunteers are positive, high-energy people, too,” Mr. Lillie said. “It is a wonderful match, and both the student and the volunteer benefit.”

At each level volunteering is flexible to accommodate the talents, availability and comfort level of each volunteer; and there is no special training required. Rose Fausey has volunteered at the elementary level for four years and has both learned from and enjoyed the weekly interaction with today’s students.

“It is satisfying,” said Mrs. Fausey. “They do want to learn, and you can see the results by how much effort they put into what they’re doing and when you do the follow-up. It’s just a good feeling you get.”

If you or someone you know would like more information about the P.R.I.D.E. program, call Geneva School District’s administrative offices, 630-463-3000.

Kelley Munch is the Communications Coordinator.

This article first appeared in the March 2009 issue of eGeneva Magazine.

Plantings Earn District “Green” Award

The wispy foliage and colorful flowers of Geneva Middle School North’s native plantings provide an aesthetically pleasing prairie view. What is a little less obvious to the naked eye, however, is that those plantings filter the water that flows toward Peck Lake, provide a habitat for local birds and wildlife and create a learning environment for Geneva’s middle schoolers.

It is for these many reasons that the native landscaping surrounding Geneva Middle School North has earned recognition from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Chicago Wilderness. The 2008 Conservation and Native Landscaping Award was presented to Geneva School District as a result of the successful 2005 project.

“The Geneva Middle School project is an excellent example of successful incorporation of natural plant communities in a school development,” said George Milner, Ecologist and Senior Project Manager for V3 Companies. V3 Companies designed, planted and is maintaining the native landscaping.

Three years since the planting of the landscaping around the middle school expansion, the native plantings have become more established and are filtering water as it leaves the middle school property and flows toward Peck Lake. The landscaping was designed to allow as much water as possible to seep back into the groundwater supply and to filter runoff in three stages: through the deep roots of prairie plantings in bioswales near North’s parking lots, through wetland plants in basins on the west side of Viking Drive and finally through another vegetated swale to the south of the basins.

“The idea is to provide some opportunities for the water to be cleaned before it enters Peck Lake,” Milner said, calling the process a “storm water treatment train,” and adding, “This has been very successful.”

More than 85 plant varieties, many of which flower beautifully in the spring and fall, are incorporated on the middle school site. Similar native plantings can be found on a smaller scale at Fabyan, Mill Creek and Williamsburg Elementary Schools.

“This is something that has momentum,” Milner said of this type of landscaping, adding that traditional grass detention basins are falling out of favor in new construction projects. “This is the wave of the future.”

This article first appeared in the January 2009 issue of eGeneva Magazine.

American Education Week

We all have a lot to celebrate in Geneva!

Just last year, there were 106 Illinois State Scholars from Geneva High School. The varsity girls’ cross country team earned a state champion title. The average ACT score of the class of 2008 increased to 23.9 compared to the state average of 20.7.

Dozens of students and teams qualified to compete in state competitions including girls’ golf, girls’ and boys’ tennis, girls’ and boys’ track and field, boys’ gymnastics, dance team, math team, the Worldwide Youth in Science and Engineering team, the Illinois Drafting Educators’ Association team and more! And believe it or not, the list of amazing accomplishments goes on and on!

School District’s staff works hard to help each and every student succeed, and a huge factor in the success of Geneva’s students–at the elementary, middle and high school levels–is the fact that we have parents and a community that place a high value on education. This value is translated into successful educational careers, inspiring athletic performances and smart, well-rounded students ready to take on the world after graduation!

It is this partnership with the greater Geneva community that we celebrate during American Education Week! American Education Week was first observed in 1921 to shine the spotlight on the wonderful things public schools do for students and to thank local communities for their support of public education.

It is during this week–November 17 to 21–that we recognize our educational partners like the City of Geneva, the Geneva History Center, the Geneva Library and Park Districts, local businesses and civic organizations, student leaders, Parent Teacher Organizations, and volunteers who contribute so much to our students’ success.

From time, talent, and treasure … everything you do to help and support Geneva’s youth speaks volumes to the tradition of excellence that includes the greater Geneva community. Thank you for all you do! We really can’t do it without you!

This article first appeared in the November 2008 issue of eGeneva Magazine.

Welcome to Williamsburg!

One month into operation and Geneva’s Williamsburg Elementary School is still receiving rave reviews from teachers, parents and students!

“I just keep hearing, ‘It’s beautiful,’ ‘It’s beautiful,’” said Principal Dr. Julie Dye. “They like all the light; they like the color scheme; and they were surprised and delighted by some of the features of the building, like the two-story art room.”

In addition to being visually appealing, the 1812 Williamsburg Avenue building is also proving to be a perfect educational space for the 560 students currently enrolled!

“The building combines efficiencies in design, construction, and sustainable maintenance with an excellent learning environment for students,” said Geneva Superintendent Dr. Kent Mutchler, adding, “We are very thankful to the community for making this vision a reality for our students.”

Appropriately-sized and well-laid-out classrooms, as well as well-planned storage and an abundance of natural light, make it easy to have an active and engaging program for students.

“The design makes sense for an elementary school,” said Dr. Dye, adding that teachers especially enjoy the grade-level wings, which provide opportunities to interact as teams. “The staff absolutely loves the building.”

Crews broke ground on the Williamsburg Avenue site in May 2007 and worked non-stop to have the site ready by August 2008. It then took every day, hour and minute in the weeks leading up to the start of school to unpack and prepare the building for the students’ arrival, but the air of excitement never died.

“People gave freely of their own personal time,” said Dr. Dye. “It was a massive undertaking, but it was done by a committed group who did it in a cheerful manner.”

This article first appeared in the October 2008 issue of eGeneva Magazine.

Transitioning in Every Sense of the Word

New faces, new places.

This statement encapsulates much of Geneva School District’s hard work this busy summer. Coultrap Elementary School was moved to its replacement on Williamsburg Avenue, the Harrison Street School community moved to its temporary home in the Coultrap building and seven administrators took on new roles within the district beginning July 1. We’d like to introduce you to these new additions to Geneva School District’s administrative team:

Dan Killeen, Harrison Street Elementary School principal, has taught and held administrative positions in Elgin and Lombard. He is known for his commitment to collaboration and has a strong record as an elementary teacher and administrator.

Dr. Margaret Pennington, Heartland Elementary School principal, is known as a knowledgeable and resourceful leader. Margaret has taught in Wisconsin, at the Illinois Math and Science Academy and has served as a consultant to the Illinois State Board of Education. She earned her Doctor of Education degree from National Louis University.

Ron Zeman, Western Avenue Elementary School principal, was a physical education specialist, teacher and student services coordinator before becoming an elementary principal in Indian Prairie School District. He is viewed as an effective school leader with a genuine commitment to children.

Olivia Smith, Geneva Middle School North assistant principal, is known to have good communication skills and confidence. Olivia begins her administrative career in Geneva after teaching English in Michigan and at West Aurora High School.

Donna Oberg, assistant superintendent for business services, has many years of experience and extensive knowledge of school finance. Donna is known for her expertise and work ethic. She has worked in Marengo-Union, Grayslake and St. Charles school districts.

Patty O’Neil, assistant superintendent for curriculum and instruction, became Geneva’s first director of curriculum in 2006 after a successful teaching and administrative career in Sycamore and Plainfield. She is known for her problem-solving abilities and is currently pursuing a doctorate at Northern Illinois University.

Kathy Pease, director of curriculum, served the last two years as principal of Western Avenue Elementary School and has a reputation for bringing about constructive change in the classroom. She has held teaching and administrative positions in Indian Prairie School District.

Please welcome and support these administrators throughout the year. It is with their expertise and care that we make great strides every day toward our goal of success for all students!

This article first appeared in the September 2008 issue of eGeneva Magazine.

The Return of the Routine

Gearing up for the return of more than 6,000 students to school may not be easy, but we could hardly call it a chore. The first day of school – August 20 – is just around the corner, and here at Geneva School District, we couldn’t be more excited!

While the summer provides a perfect break to reflect on the past year and plan for the next, it must be said that life is much more colorful when the students are around to bring life to our buildings. The beginning of each new school year gives all of us – students, parents, staff and administrators – a fresh start to make this year the best year yet.

In Geneva 304, we recognize that there is always room for growth. Even in high-performing districts such as ours, programs and practices must be regularly reviewed and oftentimes tweaked to ensure that the best possible instruction and opportunities are being offered to students to help them succeed.

It is with this in mind that Geneva School District has set as priorities the following studies and initiatives for the 2008-09 school year:

Reading Interventions: Teachers will work in problem-solving teams to determine appropriate interventions to support literacy throughout the district and meet student needs.

Kindergarten Foundations: The Kindergarten Foundations program will be developed, implemented and evaluated to provide support for at-risk students while the district moves toward the long-range goal of an all-day kindergarten program for all Geneva students.

Response to Intervention (RtI): A district-wide steering team will provide oversight and guidance for the planning and implementation of Response to Intervention (the process of using data to make decisions, providing instructional interventions and monitoring progress).

Special Education Service Delivery: The current district-wide special education service delivery model will be studied, including methods of instruction and support, pedagogy, curriculum and interventions, programming and teacher workload.

Acceleration/Enrichment (A/E) Program Delivery: Evaluation of the A/E program is underway, including a review of current research and practice, program purpose, identification protocols, program goals and stakeholder needs.

K-8 Science: The newly adopted textbook series and revised curriculum frameworks will be used to implement the K-8 science curriculum, which includes an emphasis on problem solving and the use of the scientific method.

Geneva High School Expansion: A task force will continue to plan for the expansion of Geneva High School.

Problem-Solving Strategies for Student Achievement: Students will learn problem-solving strategies (the ability to identify problems, think critically to analyze information, process, make predictions and test theories) and be given opportunities to apply those strategies to real-world situations.

Watch for the Board of Education Purpose, Goals and Administrative Action Plans booklet!

Kelley Munch is the communications coordinator for Geneva School District 304.

This article first appeared in the August 2008 issue of eGeneva Magazine.