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In accordance with Federal law & United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) policy, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, or disability. To file a complaint of discrimination, write USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400IndependenceAvenue SW, Washington, D.C. 20250-9410

On Tuesday, August 5, 2008, neighborhoods throughout Burr Ridge are invited to join forces with thousands of communities nationwide for the 25th Anniversary of “National Night Out”!

Join your neighbors & the Burr Ridge Police for an evening of family fun!

Learn ways to keep your home & community safe! Refreshments will be served!

Date: Tuesday, August 5, 2008
Time: 6pm to 9pm
Location: Harvester Park

For more information, please contact Officer Angie Zucchero, 630-
323-8181 Ext. 322

We are so proud of this group of TeRRiFiC students. They have consistently demonstrated all of the character pillars throughout this school year. The pillars are, Trustworthiness, Respect, Responsibility, Fairness, Caring, and Citizenship. On Friday May, 23rd 2008 a CHARACTER COUNTS! Assembly took place, with numerous parents in attendance to help us celebrate these award winning students. Our Parent Teacher Council donated t-shirts for all the winners in the 6 colors of the character pillars. The staff at Anne M. Jeans Elementary School are so proud of these special students. Congratulations!

Mrs. Yates and the Burr Ridge Middle School art students are in the Doodle 4 Google competition to create their own Google doodle inspired by the theme, "What If.."

Unfortunately, Google will only allow us to send 6 doodles and you told us what doodles should be sent to Google! On May 7th State Finalists and Regional Winners are notified. Good luck to our Burr Ridge Middle School’s doodle winners!

A group of 7th and 8th graders have designed a GATE web page for the CCSD 180 web site using Hypertext Markup Language (HTML) rather than web page design software. They experimented with fonts, lists, tables, images, video editing and links to other web sites. Mr. Eliscu, District Technology Director, assisted with this project and says he didn’t do anything like this until he was in college! Click on the link below to view their web page where you can learn about the GATE program, read about recent and current GATE units, see a photo gallery, and find links to web sites of interest to gifted children and their parents and teachers.

Kara Green and Shaun Nelson of the DuPage County Public Health Department explain to Burr Ridge Middle School students how they analyze disease outbreaks.

Every single student in the 8th grade is going to miss something from BRMS. Here is just a sample of what we love and will miss from 8th grade at BRMS.

This section of the web page was designed and created by Burr Ridge Middle School Student, Akvile Zakarauskaite

How exciting to be able to use an art medium to help create the website. Please enjoy the student’s artwork and thank you, first and foremost, for supporting the Arts! We are looking forward to an action packed 2008-2009 School Year! Continue to Look, Draw and Dream!

Want to know about your teacher Mrs. Bazon, her class expectations, cool websites (links included) for 4th grade students,great books to read, and the curriculum for the week. Visit her website!

Congratulations to the BRMS Scholastic Bowl team on winning second place in regionals! They also participated in a conference meet at Westview Hills but, unfortunately, lost to Old Quarry. However, they triumphantly beat Gower! Now we have some major bragging rights. We've had a great season with 10 wins and 7 losses. The team members:

This section of the web page was designed and created by Burr Ridge Middle School Student, Akvile Zakarauskaite

The District's GATE program has taken on some outstanding challenges this year. Click on the link below to read about the engaging and innovative lessons that our students have been challenged by this year.

This section of the web page was designed and created by Burr Ridge Middle School Student, Chintun Sheth

Last Spring, Mrs. Pekara and Mrs. Hickman wrote a grant for the Foundation of Excellence requesting funds to purchase blank books so students could write and illustrate their very own picture books. Fifth grade students were paired up with Kindergartner students from Anne M. Jeans. The fifth graders then created books based on surveys that the Kindergartners had completed. Fifth grade students took a short field trip last week to present and read the books to their Kindergartner. Later that night, friends and family were welcomed to an Open House to see the books that were created. We were so excited to see how the Kindergartners loved their books! We saw many of the kindergartners thanking their buddies and even hugging them for a wonderful story. Thank you to all the students and parents who attended the Reading Night. We are so proud of our students for a job well done!

Misplace your reading log? Want to know what's scheduled for class this week? Well look no further than Ms. Kotlow's classroom website! Students and parents can navigate through the website to keep track of our place in the novel, The Cay, print a copy of our Accelerated Reader weekly reading log, and check our weekly classroom assignment and activity schedule.

Students who are interested in learning more about classroom novels can connect to suggested websites to learn background information behind each novel. You can also find a link that will inform you if a novel you would like to read qualify for Accelerated Reader points. Updates and additional information to come!

The website will give students and parents an opportunity to read about the class expectations, binder information, navigate helpful math websites, check out recent projects done in class, play Mrs. Vita’s Jeopardy, and look at class pictures. Updates and additional information to come! Check it out……..

This Spring, Burr Ridge 180 Middle School students, Miss Melissa Nava and Miss Emmeline Paintsil will join a very select group of some of the most highly acclaimed students in Illinois to take part in an extraordinary leadership conference sponsored by the Congressional Youth Leadership Council (CYLC).

The National Young Leaders State Conference (NYLSC) in Illinois honors and recognizes outstanding middle school students for their scholastic achievement and leadership potential.

The 5th grade team is happy to announce that starting Monday, March 31, we will be posting homework assignments online. Parents will have the ability to view assignments at anytime. We believe that communication is vital to success in education, and this is just one more way to establish another strong form of communication to parents and students. We will still continue with our traditional Homework Hotline, but we fell this is easier for the parents to view all of their student’s assignments rather than having to make several phone calls to get the work.

Checking the assignments is as easy as 1-2-3. Simply log on to http://www.5thgradeteamhomework.blogspot.com and all of the teachers’ names and date are there with the assignments for that day. The website even keeps a history of assignments, so if you forget one night, it will still be there!
We are very excited to start this, and hopefully it will help our students and parents!

Our SPRING Scholastic Book Fair begins at BRMS in just a few days. Attached is a flyer what highlights just a few of the books available at the Fair. Our April Fair will provide books selected specifically to appeal to Middle School students.
Everyone is invited to join this celebration of reading. Books inspire minds & give students educational advantages. Readers have larger vocabularies, a greater knowledge of the world, and higher academic achievement. In fact, being a reader is more predictive of success than intelligence, economic background, or gender. A successful Book Fair will not only help a child discover the rich rewards of reading, but it will also help our school raise important funds for books for the library.

At our Book Fair, we will have a Classroom Wish List display for anyone interested in helping our teachers add more books to their classroom library shelves. It gives you an easy, immediate way to show your appreciation for the teachers. Students will be able to earn Community Service hours by helping with the Fair, joining the Student Crew, and volunteering their time as well as bringing fresh ideas, energy, and enthusiasm to our Book Fair. Parent Volunteers are welcome!

P.S. OUR BOOK FAIR ACCEPTS CASH, CREDIT CARDS, AND CHECKS (made out to BRMS). The state of Illinois requires that a 6.75% sale tax be collected. Book Fair dates and times:

April 14th, 2008 – April 18st, 2008
8:00 A.M. – 3:00 P.M.
Students will visit Book Fair during their Reading classes

Our Scholastic Book Fair is coming soon. We hope you can visit the Spring Scholastic Book Fair during week of April 14-18 , 2008.

This year we have an opportunity to bring more books to our students and classrooms. We call it One For Books. Donate $1 and sign the attached Book Slip. All signed Book Slips will be displayed at our Book Fair in the Library.

All of the money collected goes directly to purchasing more books for our school. We will use it to help to upgrade The Sports section (700 Dewey) and/or to widen the Mystery selection.

Scholastic will match monetary donations raised with donation of up to a million books to three non-profit organizations dedicated to helping kids and families in need. They include: Kids in Distressed Situations, National Center for Family Literacy, and Toys for Tots.

Please send your dollar(s) and signed paper Book Slip back to school. On behalf of the students and teachers of Burr Ridge Middle School,

This morning school district personnel received a report of a man exposing himself to students at the middle school bus stop near the Hinsdale Lake Terrace Apartments and Townhomes close to the Waterfall Glen Apartments.

The school immediately contacted the DuPage County Sheriff and they have started an active investigation. They will be increasing patrols in the apartment and townhome areas and will notify security at the complex. Neighboring law enforcement agencies have been notified as well.

The parents of the students involved have been contacted and are working with the police. The school district has also made counseling and additional supports available to these students. After receiving clearance from the DuPage Sheriff we utilized our automated calling system to inform parents in the Hinsdale Lake/Waterfall Glen area of the incident.

We will continue to do all we can to keep our students safe. On the back of this letter we have provided our families with some information from the National Crime Prevention Council. Please use this opportunity to take a few moments to discuss neighborhood safety with your children and reinforce with them the importance of notifying adults right away when something unusual happens.

Additional links regarding child safety is available on the district website: www.ccsd180.org.

Thank you again for your continued support of our school district’s efforts to ensure student safety.

With the help of the Technology Director, Mr. Eliscu, I have created a webpage. I wanted to create a webpage for a couple of reasons. First, I wanted to make it fun for parents or students to go online and see what up-coming events or projects we are currently working to complete. It is also a great way to keep parents and students informed on assignments, materials needed, class expectations, etc. On the website you can check upcoming news, link to the Homework Blog, view a copy of the class syllabus, find my contact information, and more. I plan on updating the website regularly.

On Tuesday, March 11th, the kindergarten classes at Anne M. Jeans School performed an outstanding rendition of Stone Soup. The students wore costumes created by Anne M. Jeans teachers Mrs. Wright and Mrs. Razzaq. These two outstanding and dedicated teachers created over 80 costumes for their students. The result was a yummy combination of song, dance and fun for the nearly 200 parents in attendance.

Ms. Roth, Ms. Phelan, Mrs Biersborn, Mrs Potempa and Mrs. Yates conducted the March faculty meeting for their masters class. One of the many activities was for the teachers to pick a name out of the hat and draw the person who they picked.

They titled the activity…”My teacher is an artist just like me” The kids love the drawings and are very proud to see their teacher’s artwork hanging just like theirs! The teachers did a great job!

Parents and Students,
Take the Mrs. Vita's Jeopardy challenge. Mrs. Vita has been using the Jeopardy game show format to prepare her students for their 6th grade math tests, and now you can play at home with the Jeopardy home edition.
Click on the link below to play 6th Grade Math Jeopardy.
Mrs. Vita¹s web site and the use of technology to educate students is just one of the ways that Burr Ridge Middle School teachers are working to engage students in the learning process. Technology plays a vital role in the education of students at Burr Ridge School District 180.

It has been my distinct pleasure to serve you and your children over the past few years. It is with excitement for the future and a little sadness that I share that I have accepted a principalship at Tate Woods Elementary School in Lisle District #202 for the 2008-2009 school year.

I have thoroughly enjoyed my years in Burr Ridge Community Consolidated School District 180 and at Anne M. Jeans. During this transition, I will be working closely with Dr. Schneider, our Superintendent and the Board of Education to support our school community. My focus will remain with the children. I will work with all stakeholders to ensure that the movement from my leadership to the new leadership will be as seamless as possible.

Some students may have trouble understanding this transition, I know that the teachers can count on you, our parents to help reassure students that their school will continue to provide the warm and caring environment that we always have.

I thank you for your dedication to your children and Anne M. Jeans Elementary School and I look forward to hearing about all the wonderful things that will continue to happen here even after my departure.

Mrs. Wesley Gosselink the principal at Anne M. Jeans Elementary School has accepted a principalship at Tate Woods Elementary School in Lisle for the 2008-09 school year. I know that you will join with me in wishing her and her family well as she begins this new stage of her outstanding career. We know that the students of her new school in Lisle will benefit, as we have, from the leadership, knowledge and grace that Mrs. Gosslink brings to her new school.

I will be working with Mrs. Gosselink and our Board of Education to make the transition between now and the end of the school year as smooth and professional as possible. I know that during this time, my focus, Mrs. Gosselink’s focus, as well as the focus of all of the teachers and staff at Anne M. Jeans School, will be spent continuing to provide our students an outstanding education.

This change in leadership comes at a time when the district is facing many important issues. I hope that you will take a few moments to provide me with some of your thoughts as we look for guidance on what form of district and school leadership should take place in the future.

Tuesday, March 11th at the Anne M. Jeans Library from 5:00PM until 6:30PM and
March 17th from 5:30PM-6:30PM at Burr Ridge Middle School.

These are informal meetings so even if you can only attend for a few moments,
please stop by to let me know your thoughts.

I am sure that you will agree, that working with Mrs. Gosselink has been a wonderful experience. We wish her nothing but the best as she continues to explore this opportunity to grow as a person and as an administrator. I look forward to meeting with you and discussing the future of our district.

Burr Ridge School District 180 is proud to announce the launch of a new Art Club Link showcasing art from both Anne M. Jeans and Burr Ridge Middle
School.

Take a look at some of the great projects our students have created. You can also see some of the excellent art projects that will be available on February 15th as a part of the family dance.

Burr Ridge Middle School hosts the Southeast DuPage
Band Festival. Saturday, March 8, 2008 180 image

On behalf of our Students, Parents, Staff and Board of Education, we are pleased to welcome eight area bands to the Southeast DuPage Band Festival. It is an honor for our school to hold this prestigious event and to celebrate the hard work of all of the students.

I am especially grateful to our Band Parents who are volunteering their time to make this festival a success this year. We would also like to thank our Administration, Faculty and our incredible Custodial Staff. An activity of this magnitude takes a tremendous amount of preparation, time and effort. Thank you for all of your support.

Our distinguished group of adjudicator/clinicians will give comments and lead clinics with every band after their performance this Saturday. Dr. Kenneth Steinsultz is the Assistant Director of Bands from the University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana. Mr. Ross Kellum is a Band Director at Elmhurst College and Mr. Brayer Teague is the Fine Arts Chairman at Downers North High School

Finally I would also like to thank all of the participating schools for recognizing the benefits of this festival and for supporting the music program in their schools. Best wishes to all of the participants and I hope this is an exciting and memorable experience for all involved.

Board Adopts Bullying Policy
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In keeping with recently approved legislation, the Burr Ridge C.C.S.D. 180 Board of Education adopted a Preventing Bullying, Intimidation and Harassment policy at its last board meeting.

The policy stipulates that bullying, intimidation, and harassment diminish a student’s ability to learn and a school’s ability to educate. These behaviors will be taken seriously and are not acceptable in any form. Preventing students from engaging in these disruptive behaviors is achieved by fully enforcing these Board policies: 7:180 (Preventing Bullying, Intimidation and Harassment) and 7:20 (Harassment of Students Prohibited).

Full implementation of these policies includes providing each student who violates one or more of them with appropriate consequences and remedial action as well as protecting students against retaliation for reporting such conduct.

This information will be provided to parents annually as a part of the student-parent handbook. All board policies are available on the district handbook under the tab: Board of Education.

February 6, 2008

Dear Burr Ridge C.C.S.D. 180 Community,

As you know, the recent referendum effort was defeated. The parents, students, staff, and
board members of Burr Ridge C.C.S.D. 180 are incredibly disappointed by this result.

While the referendum may have failed, the issues facing our school district have not gone
away. Our district is still short of the funds needed to maintain our educational programs.
These issues still need to be addressed before they further impact the quality of education our
children receive.

We still believe that our community and our parents overwhelmingly support our schools and our efforts to provide students the finest education possible with our limited resources.
However, within the coming months we will begin to see the ever increasing impact our
financial situation will have on our programs. Reductions in programs and staff resulting in
larger class sizes will be among the situations our students will face when they return to
school next year.

We hope that you will continue to support our school and work with us to address these very
real and significant problems that our school faces. Our next opportunity to save these
valuable extra-curricular and academic programs and maintain low class size will be in
November and your input is needed.

Finally, please do not hesitate to call me or any member of the administrative team if you
have any questions or concerns regarding the school, or school finances. One thing that the
election has taught us is that there is some misinformation about our schools in the
community. This not only leads to confusion, but also can hurt our schools’ quality
reputation. We hope that we can work together to end this hurtful practice and share the truly
good news about our school.

Please contact the school should you have any questions or concerns.

Sincerely,

Paula Dupont

Board of Education President

Thomas Schneider, Ed.D.

Superintendent

The Burr Ridge C.C.S.D. 180 Board of Education approved a .3295 percent, one-year referendum to be voted on during the primary election of February 5, 2008. The official, and somewhat confusing, ballot language states:

Shall the limiting rate under the Property Tax Extension Limitation Law for Community Consolidated School District Number 180, Counties of DuPage and Cook, Illinois, be increased by an additional amount equal to .3295% above the limiting rate for levy year 2006 and be equal to 1.9435% of the equalized assessed value of the taxable property therein for levy year 2008?

But what it doesn¹t state is that this is the exact same tax rate as residents currently pay. This .3295% referendum is identical to the rate currently collected to pay interest on building bonds. These building bonds will be paid off in 2009, meaning as the result of the district¹s excellent
financial management, this rate will no longer be collected.

The referendum is really just a tax rate swap. Instead of using the .3295% tax rate to pay off the building bonds, residents are being asked to continue at their current rate in order to maintain the district¹s educational, extra-curricular and sports programs as well as low class size.

History came alive at Burr Ridge Middle School this fall. The eighth grade class simulated the experience that millions of immigrants, mostly from Eastern and Soutern Europe, endured when they arrived in America during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Those who arrived in New York navigated their way through the processing center on Ellis Island in New York Harbor. From the island they could see the city skyline and the dreams that awaited them. Most successfully entered the United States, though their reality did not always live up to those dreams.

To experience the chaos and crowded atmosphere of the center, students spent two class periods in the band room, which was modified to resemble the maze of desks and waiting areas at Ellis Island. Students were also only allowed to speak English with people from their home
country to help them understand the language barrier that existed. The experience was loud, chaotic, and nerve-wracking....just like it was for millions who experienced the real thing!

In order to be nutrionally knowledgeable about trans fats, calories, serving portions, and recipes, students have to know their math! Math teacher Mrs. Danielle Vita and Chef Laura Valcour teamed up on December 11 to give her students some practical math applications for their nutritional benefit. They were able to practice their fractions while making quesadillas, pineapple/mango salsa, and authentic salsa. Of course, the lesson ended with a sampling of the delicious results of the day’s work! Thank you to all the students who participated! It was excellent!!!

Shop all day, just use District 180 voucher or simply let them know you are with District 180.

Teachers have provided favorite titles for each grade level and those books will be available for purchase.

We have teacher wish lists so books can be purchased for your child’s classroom.

15% of all purchases will be donated back to CCSD 180 PTC (not including gift cards).

Hand out extra vouchers to family, friends, neighbors, co-workers. People do not need to live in our district. (vouchers will be available at the store, just ask!)

Can’t make it?? No problem, you can still participate. Just return this portion of the flyer to your child’s teacher and attach money/check. We will purchase books for your child’s classroom.

How would you like to be able to purchase gift cards for all of the places you shop and have Anne M. Jeans and BRMS earn 2 – 10% each purchase?

The SCRIPS program does just that! This is similar to the MANNA program we offered several years ago. Many of you have asked us about it – so it’s back.

Burr Ridge C.C.S.D. 180 in the News

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Check out this great story about our gifted program from The Doings.

November 20, 2007

Dear Burr Ridge C.C.S.D. 180 Community,

We are proud of the accomplishments of Burr Ridge C.C.S.D. 180. Our students receive a high quality of instruction and assistance and have many outstanding educational opportunities available to them. Our teachers and aides are highly qualified and dedicated to student success. We believe that as a result of our outstanding programs and dedication to excellence, our students are well prepared to not only succeed in high school but also in life.

The Burr Ridge 180 School Board and Administrators are dedicated to providing the best educational program possible for our students. However, increasing program costs and property tax caps are having a significant impact on the quality of education that we will be able to provide.

After carefully managing the finances and facilities, the district now finds itself in a financial crisis. In short, in order to keep our quality educational programs, low class size and student assistance programs in place, we need additional funds.

It is for this reason that the school board of Burr Ridge C.C.S.D. 180 unanimously approved a referendum question for the February 5, 2008 election.

This election will have a significant impact upon our children and the education they receive. Should you have any questions or concerns please contact Superintendent Tom Schneider at the number above.

To help get out the word about the referendum, the P.T.C. is sponsoring a informational kick-off meeting on December 5th at 7PM at Anne M. Jeans School. Your help is needed to get the word out about this important vote. Additional information is provided here on our website at one of the links below.

Sincerely,

Mrs. Paula Dupont, President
Board of Education
Burr Ridge School District 180

Dr. Tom Schneider, Superintendent
Burr Ridge School District 180

Dear Parents,
As you gather around your holiday table and give thanks for the privilege of being able to join together as family and friends, consider for a moment sharing, not only a dish to pass, but honest and realistic drug prevention information with your children.

What better time to have a great discussion than when you are sitting at the family table? Studies show that parents are the single most important influence in their child’s life, and are central to preventing substance abuse in their children. In fact, kids themselves say that losing their parents’ trust and respect are the most important reasons not to use drugs (theantidrug.com).

Recent surveys have brought good news about falling rates of marijuana use among teens. However, rates of current marijuana use vary greatly across the country and past month use can range from 11.4%-30.6% in state surveys… in other words on a school bus carry 48 students, that’s a difference between 5-15 kids on that bus!
Additionally, 9th and 10th grade students were more likely to have used marijuana before age 13 than students in the 11th & 12th grade. An alarming number of youth think that marijuana use is not risky despite scientific evidence that it is (The Best of IDEA, Spring; 2005).

As a parent, your actions do matter. As parents/caregivers we need to make sure our kids are getting the right message about the dangers of marijuana. When you suspect, or know, that your child has used drugs, take action to stop it as soon as you can. It may be the most important step you ever take.

Funded in part by the Illinois Department of Human Services
For more information please contact Cathy Rager @630-968-6408; cathy.rager@dgtownship.com

The Golden Rule of Respect started off our 2007-2008 school year at Anne M. Jeans 180 image

Moms and Dads: Parent Teacher Council Needs You!

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We are the parents of students attending Anne M. Jeans and Burr Ridge Middle School working together with teachers and staff to make school a great place for our children

District 180 PTC: Is FREE!!! PTC is a great way to meet other parents. Meets once a month – but attendance at the meeting isn’t necessary.
Keeps you in touch with what’s going on at your child’s school. Helps your child!!

Please come be a part of PTC and help your children grow. We can’t do it without you. Any effort – from an hour a month to chairing an event – is a huge help!

Students Learn from Poet

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Burr Ridge School District 180 will be hosting a series of poetry writing workshops as a language arts enrichment activity in coordination with GATE (Gifted and Talented) poetry writing units. We have a nationally known, award winning poet, Heidi Broemer,coming to work with students at AMJE and BRMS. Grade level language arts teachers are selecting students to participate (8 from each grade level) along with the GATE poetry students. Each workshop will be one hour long and will be held in the LRC.

Financial Concerns Remain Priority for District

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At their September meeting, the Burr Ridge C.C.S.D. 180 Board of Education approved a 2007-2008 budget with a significant deficit. This budget relies on district fund balances to make up the difference for the current school year. However, for future years, these fund balances will not be available.

As a result, in the coming weeks, the Board is going to have to make some very important decisions regarding the long-term finance of the district as well as take some immediate action as an effort to lessen the impact of the current budget deficits.

These very serious decisions will effect the quality of education our district can provide and require additional diligence. This is especially true in light of new information which continues to come to light regarding Impact aid and state funding.

As a result, the board has called a special board meeting for Monday, November 12th at 6:30PM. At this meeting, the board will further attempt to gather information regarding the budget and explore options regarding the district’s financial situation.

The efficient and responsible management of taxpayer funds is a fundamental focus of the Burr Ridge C.C.S.D. 180 Board of Education. In fact, the Board of Education values taxpayer resources so greatly that they have set the efficient management of District funds one of the five primary goals of the district for the 2007-2008 school year.

Four individual staff members and the special education team from Burr Ridge School District 180 received recognition from the Illinois State Board of Education as a part of the Those Who Excel Education Awards program.

This year, the State Board of Education program will honor one hundred and sixty-thee outstanding individuals for their service to education and we are proud that represent Burr Ridge C.C.S.D. 180 in receiving this award.

The 33rd annual Those Who Excel/Teacher of the Year banquet honors the efforts of teachers, administrators, student support personnel, educational service personnel and community members. The event will take place on Saturday, October 13, when the Illinois State Board of Education honors them. The highlight of the awards banquet will include the announcement of Illinois Teacher of the Year for 2007-2008.

“These educators and community members represent the thousands of people who support our schools everyday,” said State Superintendent of Education Christopher Koch. “They are working together to help all of our students become successful lifelong learners.”

Their local schools and people in their communities nominate candidates. The nomination includes a brief biography of the nominee, his or her philosophy of education, professional development and community involvement and their opinions of the state’s most pressing educational needs. Letters of recommendation are also required.

A committee of peers chooses the award winners. The committee represents statewide education organizations and includes former award winners. Seventy recipients will receive the Award of Recognition including these outstanding Burr Ridge teachers and staff:

Team—Special Education Team: Dawn Biersborn, Diana Pahnke, Megan Van Weelde, Jan Schlemmer, Teresa Armstrong, Tammie Pry, Patricia Vlk, Megan Radtke, Toni Humanski and Dr. Debbie LeBlanc.

Fall Family Festival Friday, October 26, 2007 180 image

6:30 pm – 8:30 pm
Anne M. Jeans School Gym
DINNER/DANCING/ENTERTAINMENT!!
Dancing/DJ Music for the first hour! Costume Parade and Magician Show 7:30 pm

BRMS Fall Dance Friday October 26
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Friday October 26 at 6:30 until 9:00 Student Council will be holding their annual dance. This year the dance is called Fall Ball. Tickets will be sold at lunch for $5.00. They will also be sold at the door for $7.00. Every student will receive two tickets in which they can use to buy chips,
cookies, pop and other snacks. We will also be selling additional items if you want more. Please come and support your student council! It will be a lot of fun!

Girls Varsity Volleyball Team wins Division II title at Saturdays tournament defeating Lisle for first place. Congratulations to the Girls Varsity Volleyball team for being the Division II Champions! The girls’ first match was against Westmont and they won in two games. Their next match was against Lisle and they won in three games. All the girls played well and had positive attitudes. This year the girls played great together and I enjoyed coaching them. Next year please come out and watch our girls win another title! Here they are with their trophy! (Click the photo to enlarge it)

Early Childhood Education Has a Website!

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Mrs. Humanski has created a website to share with the district her unique program as well as share rules, parent tips and links to great websites for her students and parents.

A special thanks goes out to Mrs. Humanski for her hard work in making this website happen.

Anne M. Jeans Family Reading Night

Register

The children and staff of Anne M. Jeans Elementary school would like to thank the Hinsdale South High School Baseball and Target for their help with the Family Reading Night that took place on Thursday, October 4th.

Thanks to your help the students of Anne M. Jeans have a new appreciation of the wonders of reading.

Thanks again for your support.

Superintendent's Informal Report from the National Association of Federally Impacted Schools Conference Washington DC September 30th-October 1st, 2007 Dr. Schneider

As was reported in The Doings, the Board of Education from Burr Ridge CCSD 180 sent me to the NAFIS conference in Washington to develop contacts and gather information regarding Impact aid. This aid is so tremendously important to the district’s financial health. An informal report of what took place at this conference is provided below.

Dear Burr Ridge School District 180 Parents,

You send your child to our school to learn. And learning can only take place when students are respectful, responsible and safe. That’s why teachers have spent the first few days of school teaching children about our “Four Be’s” (Be Responsible, Be Respectful, Be Safe and Be TeRRiFFiC).

Attendance Policy Announced Dr. Schneider

This policy is in keeping with the district's belief that student attendance is critical for academic achievement. It is the belief of Burr Ridge 180 School District that students must be in
school in order to learn, achieve and be successful.

As the teachers, administrators and Burr Ridge District 180 Board Members want to do everything we can to ensure your child¹s success we expect that your child will be in attendance every day.

Check out the on-line version of our new grade level newsletters which was sent home with students on Friday.

Misplace your newsletter over the weekend? No problem. Use the link below to see the important information that your child¹s teacher has provided for the coming week.

At Burr Ridge School District 180 parents, teachers and students are working together to improve student learning.

Burr Ridge 180 Board Sets District Goals for 2007-2008 School Year Dr. Schneider

At their most recent meeting, the Burr Ridge 180 Board of Education approved five goals forthe coming school year. The Board publicly set these goals to help provide direction to the teachers and staff for the coming year.

New Superintendent Meets the Press

On his second day at Burr Ridge School District 180, new Superintendent Tom Schneider was asked to respond to a few questions from the Suburban Life Newspaper. The interview is supposed to be published in the paper this weekend, but an early version of the correspondence is available below..

Burr Ridge School District 180 would like to thank the many volunteers, runners, sponsors and supporters who helped make the Xtreme 10 run such a success. The event was held on Saturday, July 21st where this year’s participants were treated to weather as beautiful as the surroundings of Argonne Family Park where the race took place.

The efforts of our Burr Ridge Educational Foundation help to provide our teachers and staff with additional materials and student experiences which make the Burr Ridge 180 School District such an outstanding place for children to learn.

These efforts are greatly appreciated by all members of the Burr Ridge 180 community.

On behalf of the Burr Ridge 180 Board of Education and the CCSD Foundation for Excellence and most importantly the children that these groups serve, thank you to all who gave of their time to make this event a success.