D39: Foundation Funds Grants, Future with Referendum

Standing outside of a classroom with a handful of balloons ready to surprise someone is not Publisher’s Clearinghouse, but something much more important to the Wilmette public schools, the District 39 Educational Foundation grant awards that were announced on March 3.

In order to support educational initiatives in math, science, social studies and environmental awareness the educational foundation provides grant money to fund selected proposals twice a year, said Wendy Irwin foundation Gripp Grant chair.

"District 39 is very fortunate to have the Educational Foundation as a partner in enriching the lives of our entire school community,” District 39 Superintendent Ray Lechner said, “We have them to thank for a number of innovative and progressive programs throughout our schools.”

But, if the District 39 referendum on the April 5 ballot does not pass the independent organization may be forced to stop funding these grants, Irwin said.

“If the referendum fails, the educational foundation will likely revert to its origins which roles were to fill the holes left from the cuts made; foreign language, arts, gym, music,” Irwin said.

Instead of bringing excellence in the form of engaging educational opportunities to the students of the New Trier High School feeder district, Irwin said.

Superintendent Lechner noted that range of projects considered by the group has led to positive changes within the district in the past.

“These initiatives include opportunity for students to question, understand more deeply, and adapt their approaches," said Irwin in a press release on March 14.

Spring 2011 Gripp Grants

Solar Car – Wilmette Junior High School

Debbie Clark, 8th grade science teacher at WJHS, has been awarded a grant to fund a Solar Car science initiative. This project will engage all of the 8th grade students in real world problem solving and allow them to experience inquiry‐based learning as well as provide deeper understanding of an alternative energy source. They will build and race cars and then seek to improve their vehicles’ performance based on experimenting, learning, and adapting angles, mass, and other parameters.

This particular grant round the foundation universally excited, as were the students who were the loudest when they were told about the project.

"For years now focusing on math and science as our nation fell in math and science instruction," Irwin said.

This cutting edge program will keep Wilmette one of the top school districts with its focus on science, Irwin said.

"It’s a great example of total engagement grant that draws the kids into this type of learning," Irwin said.

National Council of Teachers of Mathematics Conference – Wilmette Junior High School

Andrea Kowalchik, and 3 other WJHS math teachers will attend the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics annual conference in April 2011. This conference will allow our teachers to collaborate with colleagues, drawing on best practices from math teachers around the country. These teachers will learn about new math technologies and approaches to teaching math to 7th and 8th graders across the academic spectrum. They will then share their experiences and learning with their WJHS colleagues through collaboration at weekly meetings of their Professional Learning Community. 

This year, because of the proximity of the event in Indianapolis the entire math department from Willmette Junior High wanted to attend, math teacher Andrea Kowalchik said.

However, this will not be possible because of staffing issues with having enough substitute teachers, Kowalchik said.

At one NCTM conference in Las Vegas that Kowalchik was able to attend the Las Vegas public schools shut down so that its teachers would be able to take part in the conference.

"Attending the annual conference together will teach us valuable information, learn from one another, take off on each other’s ideas, and easily bring it back to put into practice in the district," Kowalchik said.

She added that much of technology, lessons, and activities that she uses daily comes from knowledge gained by attending NCTM conferences.

Lunchtime Ecology – Central

As part of the Foundation’s ongoing support of the District’s garden‐enabled
curriculum, a grant has been awarded to Central School for the piloting of a lunchtime recess activity enabling a hands‐on exploration of ecology and eco‐systems through creation and nurturing of tropical and desert terrariums. Through exploration and discovery of soil, plants, and animals that thrive in these varying eco‐systems, as well as problem‐solving skills and creativity associated with building the terrariums, students will have the opportunity to experience many of the learning components called out in the District’s strategic plan. This initiative will be piloted this spring in conjunction with the Evanston Ecology Center.

 African American History Presentation – Harper

Harper third grade teacher Laura Nerenberg has been
awarded a grant to enhance the Social Studies curriculum as third grade students learn about Wilmette and Glenview history. This grant will bring Dino Robinson, founder of Shorefront Legacy Center, to Harper to speak to students about the important historical contributions and lives of African‐American North Shore residents.

 Bottled Water Phase Out – Wilmette Junior High School

In an effort to support an all‐school green initiative, the District 39 Educational Foundation will be supporting efforts to phase out water bottles in the
WJHS cafeteria. This initiative focuses on an applied understanding of the environmental impact of bottled water consumption, with students viewing the documentaries “Tapped” and “The Story of Stuff,” complemented by a service learning component where students engage in the decidedly “low‐tech”
approach of pouring water for their classmates in the cafeteria line. This grant is part of a community‐wide partnership with D39 Food Service, WJHS PTO Environment Committee, local business leader Dean Thanos of Ridgeview Grill, and Wilmette’s Go Green Foundation.

In addition to grants the D39 foundation also recognizes distinguished citizens of Wilmette who make contributions to the district and the village.

2011 Distinguished Citizen Award

If you are interested in theater in Wilmette chances are you’ve heard of Carole Dibo, but in case you hadn’t she was recently named the 2011 Distinguished Citizen Award from the District 39 Educational Foundation.

“I am still in shock and laughing, humbled and embarrassed, because it is what I do and love,” said Dibo of receiving the award.

Dibo, a District 39 parent turned theater owner, found that when her children began attending the Highcrest Middle School when it was first built it lacked certain opportunities for students to express themselves when it first opened so she began teaching a drama class there.

“They didn’t have books or a library,” Dibo said.

As a mom first and an actress second, Dibo moved to Wilmette for the schools and its proximity to the city in order to continue her acting career which has included appearances on television commercials and other theater acts.

Little did she know that she would begin a tradition of dramatic theater that has blossomed in the village by the lake.

“It started off pretty small, just teaching a drama class,” she said, “Giving them a chance to express themselves, take risks and trust each other,”

And with that, the Highcrest Variety Show was born.

Begininng with around 60 students participating and a handful of moms dedicating their time ended with wireless microphones and a staff technical people for the production, Dibo said.

“It was a whole different ball game,” she said.

Then five years ago Dibo learned that the village theater in was in danger of being sold to a furniture store.

Wasting no time, Dibo and her partner stepped in and purchased the historic theater.

She eventually launched the actor’s training center at the location with 50 students and this past year they have just topped out at over 215 actors.