Feature Archive - May 2008
Urbana Middle School Teachers Keep In Touch Via Collaboration Board
[featured 5/29/08 - 6/2/08]
In a school the size of Urbana Middle School, it is hard for teachers to keep up to date on what their colleagues are doing in their classrooms. A lesson on American History might dovetail into an English lesson, or a Chemistry lesson might tie in to a Math lesson. In order for teachers to share lesson plans, the UMS Collaboration Board was born. The Collaboration Board is finishing its first year.
UMS Chorus Teacher Bethany Schmitt started the Collaboration Board. She says she was inspired to do this after attending the U of I Chancellor’s Academy. She says, “The Collaboration Board is a chart that I made on a white board in our faculty mail room. I put up a grid with 6th, 7th and 8th grade on the left, and all of the departments along the top. The teachers who attended U of I's Chancellor's Academy in August came up with the concept during our conversation of painless ways to better connect people in such a large building.”
Schmitt explains the Collaboration Board’s purpose, saying, “Teachers from around the building write what they are working on in their classes so that everyone else can see what our students are learning. This allows people to be more informed about curricula, allows us to make cross-curricular connections more easily, and bolsters a little more pride for all of the different things our students are learning.” Schmitt continues,
“We hope that teachers will be able to see connections and differences in what we're working on. 7th grade history could pay extra attention to 6th grade history, whereas 8th grade math might check on 8th grade science for similar skill requirements. As an elective teacher, I was personally looking for a quick way to find out what our students are doing in team classes. If I know that a group of students is going to be covering slavery and the Underground Railroad, for instance, I might take that opportunity to teach my students "Follow the Drinking Gourd" as a connection. All of the music teachers--band, orchestra and choir--might check to see what similar skills all ensembles are working on.”
Schmitt says participating in the Collaboration Board is voluntary, but she also reports that many teachers use it, and are filling out the chart. She says only time will tell the success of the board saying, “I was thrilled to see that lots of teachers had put up information the very first day the chart was posted. It's hard to know how much people are getting out of it, but I can certainly tell that they are using it!”
2008 UHS Commencement
[featured 5/27/08 - 5/29/08]
The 126th Urbana High School Graduating Class received a fine sendoff on Sunday at the U of I Assembly Hall. The Class of 2008 was inspired by great music, laughed with keynote speaker Mark Roberts, and received their diplomas from UHS staff, District 116 Staff, and members of the Board of Education.
Mr. Darren Hicks and the Urbana High School Band played "Pomp and Circumstances" while the graduates marched in to flashbulbs and cheers from the friends and family in attendance. The UHS Honors Choir under the direction of Angelica Franklin sang our National Anthem, and then inspired the graduates and the audience with the song "Never Would Have Made It" by Marvin Sapp.
After the musical number Keynote Speaker Mark Roberts gave his keynote address calling on the Class of 2008 to go out in the world and approach life with passion. Roberts is a Hollywood Producer and a UHS graduate from the Class of 1979. UHS Class President Anneliese Booth gave the Graduation Address and reminisced about the four years spent at UHS.
Urbana High School Principal Dr. Laura Taylor presented the Class of 2008 to District 116 Superintendent Dr. Preston L. Williams, Jr., who accepted his first class of graduates as Superintendent. Williams congratulated the seniors on their accomplishment.
After the diplomas were handed out to all graduates, Ms. Booth performed her last function as class president. She lead the class in switching the tassels on their caps to signify that they are now UHS Alumni.
The graduates were cheered out of Assembly Hall by the audience, while the Urbana High School Band performed "Fanfare of the Bells."
The Class of 2008 is the 126th Graduating Class from Urbana High School.
More Commencement Photos
Urbana Middle School Students Encouraged to be Leaders
Students of the Month for 2008 Enjoy Leadership Retreat
[featured 5/21/08 - 5/27/08]
The 2007-08 Urbana Middle School Students of the Month have been encouraged to continue developing leadership skills during a special retreat. The students of the month for grades 6-8 enjoyed the day-long activities recently at Crystal Lake Park in Urbana.
The students of the month are selected by each of the nine teams at the Middle School. This year there have been 81 students of the month at UMS (nine teams multiplied by nine months of school). Barb Linder helps coordinate the Student of the Month Program and she says this year’s theme is “Stay the Course.” Linder explains, “They’ve (the students) have chosen to do the right thing this year to be selected as students of the month so we’re encouraging them to stay the course for next year. We had a couple of high school students who were students of the month at Urbana Middle School come by and talk to the current middle school students.”
Linder says the goal for the retreat is for the students to have fun but to also challenge them to stay a positive peer leader. The kids heard that message from District 116 Superintendent Dr. Preston Williams. The students participated in a photo scavenger hunt with the “Stay the Course” theme. They also made posters about leadership and doing the right thing to take back to the middle school for display.
The Champaign-Urbana Optimists Club helps fund the UMS Student of the Month program. The club donates money that helps the school pay for the retreat and helps the school purchase t-shirts for each student of the month. Linder adds, “The Optimists have been great supporters of this whole idea of character education and encouraging kids to be positive leaders.”
Urbana Middle School Track Team Takes Individual and State Honors
One Team Places 4th, Two Win Individual Championships
[featured 5/19/08 - 5/21/08]
The Urbana Middle School Boys and Girls Track team has just completed a very successful season which saw the team score high at the Illinois Elementary School Association (IESA) State Championships and receive compliments all year on how the team comports itself during competition.
At the IESA State Championships at East Peoria, Cate Hummel and Nicole Choquette both won individual state championships. Hummel won the 7th Grade Girls Pole Vault, and Choquette won the 7th Grade Girls 800 meter run. Overall, the UMS 7th Grade Girls Track team placed fourth in state.
The following students competed at the IESA State Championships:
- Pole Vault: Brandon Carrel (8th Boys), Melinda Mendoza (8th Girls), and Cate Hummel (7th Girls)
- Hurdles: Amber Marion (7th Girls) *actually a 6th grader*
- 100m: Lateshia Dove (8th Girls) and Anthony Miller (8th Boys)
- High Jump: Pierre Tuell (8th Boys) and Jarayjnee Griffin (7th Girls) *actually a 6th grader*
- 200m: Lateshia Dove (8th girls) and Amber Marion (7th Girls) *actually a 6th grader*
- 800m: Nicole Choquette (7th Girls)
- 1600m: Nicole Choquette (7th Girls)
- Discus: Jarayjnee Griffin (7th Girls) *actually a 6th grader*
- 4x400 Relay: (8th Grade Girls) Melinda Mendoza, MiKhayla Eveland, Anwen Parrott, and Nicole Choquette (Meredith Headtke - alternate)
Track Coach Krista Ruud says, “We were hoping that at least 10 kids would make it to the State Track Meet in East Peoria, but honestly expected about 5 would make it. We are really pleased that our students did so well. There were definitely some great races and the track students really rose to the occasion. The coaches are thrilled. The students who made it to state worked really hard all season and deserved to go.”
Not only has the UMS Track Team been recognized for on-field accomplishments, the team has been complimented many times by the opposition for its outstanding display of sportsmanship. Ruud explains,
“We have been told throughout the year that our students have been respectful and shown good sportsmanship. At one of our first meets of the season in Rantoul several coaches praised our kids (for) their behavior and willingness to help out as needed. Additionally, it is not unusual to see Urbana track kids talking with and encouraging athletes from other schools. I have witnessed Nicole Choquette, Pierre Tuell, Anthony Miller, and others congratulating other athletes after completing a race. At the Sectional meet some parents from St. Joe stopped me and praised Nicole for not only being a great runner, but they also said she had great sportsmanship.”
Ruud says learning to be good sports is a teaching opportunity for the kids. “Track and Field at UMS is a competitive sport, but it is also a learning experience. Hopefully the sportsmanship and responsibility learned (by) the track and field team will transfer over to the classroom and to the high school,” she adds.
For more results and come photos of the UMS Track Team in action at the State Championships, please see: http://www.iesa.org/activities/tr/
Yankee Ridge 5th Graders Perform American History
[featured 5/15/08 - 5/19/08]
Yankee Ridge Elementary School students and the community learned a little more about American History and the United States Presidents during the patriotic performance "Presidents on Parade" on Thursday. The entire 5th Grade at Yankee Ridge played a role in the red, white, and blue spectacular. The 5th Grade history curriculum is American History, so the students were able to perform what they have learned this year.
During the play, the 5th grade students led the audience in the Pledge of Allegiance and our National Anthem. Each 5th grader recited a poem and facts about our 43 presidents. The Yankee Ridge Dancers performed a special dance to "This Land is Your Land," the Yankee Ridge Jumpers performed a jump rope piece to "Stars and Stripes Forever," and the entire 5th Grade concluded the assembly with patriotic songs. Uncle Sam (played by 5th grade student Isaac Dumoulin) hosted the event.
Teacher Diane Meister helped the students put on the show with the help of parents Lisa Amaya, Patti Pattison, dance and drama teacher Betty Allen, and music teacher Peggy Weinberg. "I've had the play for years and years," Meister says. "It just seemed very appropriate (to perform it in an election year), plus these kids are phenomenal." This is the first time Meister has had her Yankee Ridge students perform "Presidents on Parade."
Meister hopes that after the play that the 5th graders take away more knowledge about the presidency. "I ask them questions all the time about the news," Meister adds. She hopes that even at a young age that her students become interested and involved in the political process.
After the play the audience enjoyed cupcakes with red, white, and blue frosting.
Photo 1: Yankee Ridge Dancers perform to “This Land is Your Land.”
Photo 2: Yankee Ridge students enjoy red, white, and blue cupcakes after the performance of "Presidents on Parade."
Urbana Adult Education Graduates Latest Class of Certified Nursing Assistants
[featured 5/14/08 - 5/15/08]
Twenty Adult Education students are on their way to a new career. That's because they received their Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) certificates at Urbana Adult Education on Wednesday. The CNA graduates received certificates and enjoyed a cake and punch reception after the graduation ceremony.
Adult Education holds the eight-week Certified Nursing Assistant courses four times a year. The students go through extensive classroom instruction, followed by doing their field work at Carle Arbors Nursing Home in Savoy. The graduation certificate allows the students to take a final test to formally be allowed to work. However, Susan Marshall, CNA Director, says the test is a formality. "Actually, some of our students can start work tomorrow because their employer just needs to know the date of their test and assuming that they pass they stay on (the job). This is one of the programs at Adult Education that provides instant and plentiful job opportunities," Marshall explains. When students pass their test they go on a national registry and can be a CNA in other states. CNAs (sometimes called "health techs") work in hospitals, nursing homes, free clinics, home health, or for other health care providers.
The State Health Department oversees the curriculum and the training of the CNAs at Urbana Adult Education. Marshall and all the instructors are vetted and approved by the state. Marshall says becoming a CNA is a stepping-stone for many of the graduates to becoming a Registered Nurse or to expand their horizons in the health care industry.
Adult Education Director, Dr. David Adcock, says the CNA graduation is always an enjoyable event for him. Adcock adds, “In eight weeks (the students) can be certified in a position that there’s a lot of jobs for. That’s a pretty short training program. Anytime you’re celebrating and seeing people graduating and seeing doors opening for them, it’s definitely the most positive part of any job - people celebrating their accomplishments.”
Photo 1: Urbana Adult Education students receive their Certified Nursing Assistant graduation certificates.
Photo 2: After the graduation ceremony, the students and their families enjoyed a cake and punch reception.
Urbana High School Students Honored
All Grades Honored
[featured 5/13/08 - 5/14/08]
It's a highlight of the school year for both the students and the faculty. Urbana High School honored some of its high-achieving students at the school's Honors Night on Tuesday.
Honors Night features new juniors and seniors inducted into the National Honor Society. The high school also uses the night to recognize other students for various achievements - ranging from athletics to leadership to community service to academics. "These awards and scholarships are sponsored by high school departments, community and regional organizations, and dedicated trusts. The program also showcases some of UHS' talented musicians who perform during the ceremony. Honors Night is sponsored and coordinated by National Honor Society," says Lucreta Meng, National Honor Society Sponsor.
Meng adds, "Honors Night is one of the highlights of the school year, a chance for students, family members, organization and trust sponsors, faculty, staff, and community members to celebrate student achievement and excellence in various fields of endeavor."
This is Meng's 10th year as National Honor Society Sponsor as coordinator of Honors Night. She says the ceremony is very rewarding for her and her fellow faculty. Meng explains, "It gives all of us a sense of pride to see students whom we have taught and worked with over the course of their high school careers recognized for their hard work and dedication to excellence. Those of us who participate in the ceremony find it especially rewarding. On an evening such as this, we are gratified to be professional educators."
Urbana High School Principal Dr. Laura Taylor echoes Meng's sentiments saying, "Without a doubt, Honors Night is one of my favorite events at Urbana High School. It is a time when we publicly recognize the remarkable accomplishments of many talented students. I always feel an overwhelming sense of pride as the students receive their honors, knowing that they will have a significant impact on our world in the future."
Below is a complete list of UHS Honors Night recipients:
2008 Honors Night Awards
1. Charles Carpenter Award - Emma Fell, Sarah Mustered
1.5. Lincolnland Legends Scholarship - Ethan Sanders
2. English Department Awards
Carol LeSure Rhetoric Award - Lucas Trout
Audrey Wasson-Curley Creative Writing Award - Meagan White-Domain
3. Art Department Award
Artistic Excellence Award - Zoya Kruse-Wu
4. Marcum Scholarship - Anneliese Booth
5. Foreign Language Awards
German - Paul Cuno-Booth, Emma Fell
Spanish - Zack Kulczycki
French - Julie Weatherhead
6. Science Department Award
Stephen Storch Science Scholarship - Samantha Schwartz
7. Math Department Awards - Runtian Bai, Rudi Bredemeier, Leah Dong, George Klein, Brian Lee, Tian Xia
8. Business Education Student of the Year - Samantha Mathis
9. Cooperative Education Students of the Year
Cooperative Education - Shawn Sitton
WECEP 1 - Nakila Moore, Shakila Moore, Kajari Young
10. Choral Music Awards
National Choral Music Award - Jeniece Mitchell
William Warfield Vocal Music Award - Anneliese Booth
Highest Senior GPAs - Anneliese Booth, Jessica Parks, Jeniece Mitchell
11. All-State Musicians - Julie Weatherhead, Peter Deal, Liesel Booth, Timothy Sands, Aaron Schwartz, Samantha Schwartz
12. Athletes of the Year
Senior - Mykhail Chambers, Mandy Kirby
Junior - Caleb Blaney, Camille Parsons
13. Matt Busey Scholarship - Max Tomaszewski
14. American Legion Post 71 Awards - Betsy Dalton, Marcel Grant
15. Martin Luther King, Jr. Scholarship - Runtian Bai, Kyndra Campbell
16. Lyman B. Larson Scholarship - Chester Dols
17. Dr. Ray H. Braun Scholarship - Brianna Hall
18. Vulcan Scholars Program - Amy Gray
19. Champaign-Urbana Optimist Club Scholarship - Jeniece Mitchell
20. Junior League Outstanding Student Volunteer - Jessica Parks
21. Norris L. Brookens Memorial Scholarship - Stephen Lucas
22. Main Street Bank and Trust Scholarship - Ethan Sanders
23. Kristin McCartney Scholarship - Jeniece Mitchell
24. Exchange Club Student of the Year Award - Mykhail Chambers
25. Omega Psi Phi Scholarship - Jeniece Mitchell
26. Key Club Scholarship - Hannah Cao
27. Spanish American Cultural Center Scholarship - Alissa Briones
28. Champaign County Farm Bureau Foundation Scholarship - Emmett Yearsley
29. Kiwanis Club Vic Shaul Scholarship - Shasta Mathews
30. Jeld-Wen Scholarship - Shannetta Jenkins
31. Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Scholarship - Shasta Mathews
32. Ameren Illinois Minority Scholarship - Mykhail Chambers
33. Lawrence Family Trust Scholarship - Kyndra Campbell, Ashley Hummel, Shasta Mathews, Luna Pierson
District 116 Staff Walk to the Moon for Fitness
[featured 5/12/08 - 5/13/08]
Employees at Urbana Middle School hope to collectively walk to the moon all in the name of fitness. The Moonwalk is a 12-week race sponsored by the Champaign County Extension that encourages people to walk more, and people at UMS are taking up the challenge by forming a walking team. This year's goal is to have Champaign County residents walk the equivalent of two round trips to the moon - almost a million miles.
"We have 46 people on our team. This is composed of UMS school staff, some district staff, and some family and friends who wanted to join. We have sisters, husbands, and wives and administration," says UMS teacher Deb Heater. "We have had a great time doing this. Originally, we were just trying to get to the 100 miles average, but we are all continuing to log our miles to see how far we can make it. It will be interesting to see how far we go before the end of school on June 5th! One of the best things that have come from this (competition) is a better sense of being a team; we all encourage each other to 'get those miles in!'"
Other schools in Champaign County are participating in the Moonwalk and are in a competition with Peoria-area groups to see which county can log more miles. "We decided to join to give us some motivation to get moving and to share a common goal among the staff at UMS after a LONG winter. We have (people walking) from 3 miles all the way up to almost 400 miles and just about ever number in between. Some people set personal goals and some just did it for fun. I think we were all surprised at how many miles we actually walk in a normal day of school," Heater explains.
The official end of the Moonwalk competition is June 27. Stay tuned to see how many miles the UMS team logs!
Urbana Middle School Concert Honors Former District 116 Superintendent
[featured 5/9/08 - 5/12/08]
Members of the Urbana Middle School Orchestra and Concert Band honored former District 116 Superintendent, Dr. Gene Amberg, Thursday with a special concert at the Middle School. The students performed an arrangement of several movements of the "Carnival of the Animals" by Camille Saint Saens under the direction of renowned composer James Curnow.
"I commissioned a piece to honor Dr. Amberg's retirement from Urbana," says UMS band director Karen Debauche. "I had Mr. Curnow as a band director at the U of I and his children attended District 116, and he happily agreed to be a part of the commission. I knew that Jim writes quality music for bands at all levels and that our students would receive a great learning experience from him. He has ties with the Urbana School District, making the process even more meaningful and exciting!" Urbana School District #116 bands have had special guest conductors before, but Debauche says this is the first time an Urbana band has had a piece commissioned.
Curnow has 35 years of experience in teaching music at all levels and Debauche says her students greatly benefited from working with him. "Mr. Curnow reinforced many basic playing and musical concepts as well as giving the students insight into the world of composition and arranging. Many students were involved in the commission process from the beginning. The students had a positive and engaging day working with Mr. Curnow," Debauche explains.
Debauche says she hopes that the students who worked with Mr. Curnow become inspired by the process of creating music.
Prairie Elementary Students Learn about Beethoven
Three Faculty Members Perform Concert
[featured 5/6/08 - 5/9/08]
Three Urbana School District #116 faculty members helped teach Prairie Elementary School students about classical music, and Beethoven specifically, at a special assembly about the composer. Music teachers Dr. James Lyons, Tamera Gingold, and Ivy Dixon (former student teacher and current District 116 substitute) performed several of Beethoven’s selections.
Lyons says this was the first concert of its type ever held at Prairie Elementary. "We hope to do it in the fall over at Wiley Elementary," Lyons adds. The trio played the piano, violin, and cello. Each teacher talked about how they learned to enjoy music and talked a little about the instruments they were playing. Lyons took some time to teach the students about Beethoven and also explained the pieces of music before the trio performed the works.
Lyons was looking for classical music selections and found the Beethoven piece that the trio performed. "I found this piece about a year ago and started looking at it. I thought 'Well this would be kind of kid-friendly.' I made up some words in the last melody (a song about green beans that he taught the students who sang along) and thought the kids would enjoy this so we went ahead and did it," Lyons explains.
As the kids were filing out of the Prairie gym, several came up to Lyons and complimented him along with Gingold and Dixon. Lyons says, "I hoped they learned a little something about Beethoven, I hope they enjoyed the music, and I hope they learned something about how people work together and make something happen, how to listen, share ideas, and then something good comes out."
Photo 1: (L to R) Ivy Dixon, Tamera Gingold, and Dr. James Lyons perform works from Beethoven at a special concert at Prairie Elementary School.
Photo 2: Music teacher Dr. James Lyons teaches about Beethoven at a special concert at Prairie Elementary.
Urbana Adult Education on Display
Open House Education Public about Adult Ed Programs
[featured 5/5/08 - 5/6/08]
Urbana Adult Education (http://www.usd116.org/adult/) was proudly on display last week as the unique program opened its doors to the public. The Adult Education Building and Storefront School held its open house May 1.
"We do this about every other year," said Adult Education Director, Dr. David Adcock. "It's really to let the community know, and especially our other community agencies who refer students to us, know a little more about our programs in depth." Visitors to the open house enjoyed lunch and refreshments, special presentations, and tours of the Adult Education and Storefront School facilities. Adcock also said that visitors were able to look in on classroom sessions. Adcock explained the open house was also a chance for prospective students and other members of the public that were interested in taking an Adult Education course.
The Adult Education Program in Urbana offers GED and the opportunity for students to earn an Urbana High School Diploma. The Adult Education Program serves 1,400 students per year. Adult Education is open to students age 17 and older who wish to obtain a high school diploma, or who wish to enrich their education. For more information, please contact Adult Education at 384-3530.
Photo 1: Adult Education Director, Dr. David Adcock, is interviewed by the local media at the Adult Education Open House May 1.
Photo 2: Local author and illustrator, Melodye Rosales, gives a presentation to students at the Urbana Adult Education Open House May 1.
Urbana School District 5th Graders Tour Urbana Middle School
Open House Gives Students a Taste of What’s to Come in the Fall
[featured 5/3/08 - 5/5/08]
Elementary students in Urbana School District #116 had the chance Thursday night to tour Urbana Middle School - their new school home this coming fall. This open house event was designed to help elementary school kids get acquainted with the Middle School.
The evening featured tours of the building, information about registration, information about UMS clubs, contact information, and building information. Hundreds of students and their families came to the Middle School to find out all they could about entering the 6th grade.
Principal Nancy Clinton welcomed the families to Urbana Middle School. She noted that the middle school years are challenging for students entering adolescence. Clinton told the parents, “These are the roller coaster years. Strap on. We’ll ride with you. We enjoy helping your children grow up and working with you. My job is to make sure your children are safe, healthy, happy, and learning while in our care and we do everything possible to make that happen.”
This is the sixth year of having the Spring Middle School Open House. Clinton says she and Urbana Middle School staff want to make the transition from elementary school to middle school as easy as possible. “It’s a frightening step for children, and their parents by the way, to go from 5th to 6th grade and to come to such a large building. So, we do several things along the way to help the kids make that adjustment (and) become comfortable with us, our building, and our staff.”
On August 20, the incoming 6th grade students will have the chance to have a school day all to themselves and get used to going to Urbana Middle School.
For more information about Urbana Middle School please see http://www.usd116.org/ums/.
May 2008 Urbana School District #116 Monthly Online Newsletter
[feature 5/1/08 - 5/3/08]
Stay up-to-date with current events in District 116 with the "Urbana School District Monthly" online electronic newsletter.
The May 2008 issue features a message from Superintendent Dr. Preston Williams, an article about Junior Scientist Day at Yankee Ridge, charitable donation efforts at King, the District calendar and more.