Wilmette Students Donated 31 Boxes of Goods to Food Pantry

Romona Elementary School students hosted a food drive to benefit the Greater Chicago Food Depository

Wilmette, Kenilworth Schools Named to State Academic Honor Roll

Five schools from Wilmette Elementary Schools District 39 and the Joseph Sears School in Kenilworth were given the honor for sustaining high academic performance for three consecutive years.

  Both Wilmette Elementary Schools District 39 and Kenilworth School District 38 were given high honors by the Illinois State Board of Education this week. The districts have a total of six schools named to the Academic Honor Roll and given the 2012 Academic Excellence Award. Central Elementary School, Harper Elementary School, Marie Murphy School, McKenzie Elementary School, Romona Elementary School and the Joseph Sears School are among 454 Illinois schools receiving the award. The schools honored all sustained high academic performances over the past three years.  According to the Illinois State Board of Education, schools that receive the Academic Excellence Award must have at least 90 percent of elementary and middle students meeting …

• Photos (1)

D39's New Teachers: Katherine Porter, Third Grade at Romona Elementary

A series interviewing District 39's new teachers to help you get better acquainted with these additions to the Wilmette community.

Name: Katherine Porter Position: Third grade teacher at Romona Elementary School Hometown: Wilmette, IL Age: 28 Education: She has a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Indiana University at Bloomington and a Masters of Education in Social Policy. Teaching Background: Porter was a student teacher in a third grade classroom at LaSalle Language Academy in the Chicago Public School system. So you’re from the area? “Yeah, I grew up in the district and I went to McKenzie [Elementary School] and all the levels of education that we have in Wilmette. And then I went to New Trier, as well. It is very strange. I’m not quite at the point where my students would be potential students of my former classmates. That will be interesting, …

• Photos (1)

Neighbors Surprise Family with Wheelchair-Accessible Van

'We Are Not A Community of Strangers.' Residents and organizations from Wilmette and Glenview helped raised money to buy a van for a Romona Elementary School family whose daughter has a severe neurological disorder.

When Wilmette firefighter Ben Wozney learned that a neighbor could not afford a much-needed wheelchair-accessible van, he decided to take action.  In just over a month, Wozney, along with his neighbors, and Wilmette and Glenview organizations were able to raise $8,000 to buy a wheelchair-accessible van for the Kurtz family.  “It was just extraordinary touching,” David Kurtz said tearing up when the community presented the van to the family Tuesday. “It’s amazing the outpouring and generosity of people, it came entirely unexpected to me.”  Watch a video of the community surprising the Kurtz family on the right. Growing up, Kurtz’s daughter Addie, 6, was a happy baby until she was suddenly diagnosed with severe neurologic disorder as a …

•  5 Comments
• Photos (1)
• Videos (1)

Rockin' Romona Concert Set for Sept. 8

Get involved with the community and enjoy a free concert at Romona Elementary School.

Kenilworth’s Joseph Sears School, Best Public School in Cook County

New Trier High School ranked second based on ‘Chicago Magazine’ ranking of public schools.

Kenilworth’s Joseph Sears School took the top spot for best elementary school in Cook County, according to rankings released by Chicago Magazine Thursday.  That’s a huge leap for the Kenilworth School District 38 school, which was ranked 18th by Chicago Magazine in 2010.  New Trier Township High School was ranked the second best public high school in Cook County behind Glenbrook North High School.  Using a formula based on spending per student, student-teacher ratio and scores on state tests, among other factors, the magazine issued rankings of the top 20 elementary schools and top 20 high schools in suburban Cook County.  Wilmette’s Marie Murphy School placed fourth in the ranking among Cook County elementary schools. Four schools in …

• Photos (2)

Readers Weigh In On District 39's Circus Fundraiser

News of the village's approval of Kelly Miller Cirus fundraiser sparks resident concerns.

After approval was given to Wilmette School District 39's Educational Foundation by Wilmette trustees to hold a circus fundraiser in September, readers commented on Patch about animal cruelty and safety concerns. Read: Wilmette Approves Permit for District 39's Circus Fundraiser Valerie J. Chalcraft, who also brought these concerns to village trustees' attention at last week's meeting, wrote on Patch, "My points at the meeting were that the brutal training NOT SEEN BY THE PUBLIC combined with confinement and travel the animals experience lead to fear, frustration and unpredictable behavior." Patch reader Janie Jenkins wrote," Having a circus at a school fundraiser or anywhere in our community is a bad lesson for kids. We need to teach our …

•  19 Comments
• Photos (1)

Wilmette Approves Permit for District 39's Circus Fundraiser

Wilmette School District 39's Educational Foundation plans to host a circus fundraiser on Sept. 28.

Wilmette trustees approved a temporary use permit Tuesday for Wilmette School District 39's Educational Foundation to hold a circus fundraiser on September 28.  The sixth biennial Kelly Miller circus fundraiser will be held behind the Mikaelian Education Center, 615 Locust Rd. The fundraiser will include a 150-inch circus tent, activities, concessions, and animals such as elephants, llamas, camels, ponies and dogs, according to village document.  Wilmette resident and animial behaviorist Valerie Chalcraft objected to the permit approval, telling trustees that an elephant attack may be likely, given the brutal training methods circuses use, including the use of bull hooks. Resident Concerned About Elephant Attacks  These methods are not …

•  11 Comments
• Photos (1)

Romona School Auditorium To Get New Projector, Lighting System

A group of Romona Elementary School parents have raised enough money for basic upgrades at the Wilmette school auditorium.

Just two years into a three-year fundraising campaign, the group raising money to upgrade Romona Elementary School’s auditorium has already reached its goal of $52,000. “The original goal was to get $52,000 for a projector system and lighting. We have met that goal essentially a year early,” said Tracy Kearney, a Romona parent who helped with the campaign. The school requested the mounted projection system because the old LCD system was taking up seating for students. “You can’t sit in front of it because it projects at the back of the children’s heads,” said Romona Elementary School Principal Heather Glowacki. This will be the first major projector upgrade for the auditorium since it was built more than 50 years ago, according to Romona’s…

• Photos (3)